Azcarsandtrucks.com

Review: On September 26, 2015 I was contacted via phone by [redacted] of [redacted] regarding placement of an ad for the sale of my vehicle on the [redacted] website. She had seen the ad I had on the [redacted] website and got my contact info there. After listening to her pitch and reviewing information she subsequently sent, I agreed on Sept 27 to pay $145 for an ad listing with her company, with the promise that it would be posted within two days. I provided her a credit card number at that time, and the charge was posted that Monday. After approximately two weeks, with several excuses given, the ad was finally posted.

Given that the ad is not discoverable at the [redacted] website by any of the common web search engines, I have my doubts about the legitimacy of the site. I had resigned myself to "lesson learned" until she further charged my credit card for $259.95 without my authorization, with the charge posting to my account on October 19. Since then, there has been a litany of explanations, apologies and promises to refund that charge, but to this date it has not happened. At the cost of considerable inconvenience to myself, on November 12, I deemed it prudent to have that card cancelled as a result of my concerns over her having that account information.Desired Settlement: At this point, I want the refund of the misappropriated $259.95, and the $145 paid for the ad. The only method of payment I will accept will be a bank cashier check mailed to me. Beyond that, I wish the ad for my vehicle be removed from [redacted] and that there is no further contact from them.

Business

Response:

On the first day that this complaint was lodged, I attempted to reach out to the Customer and received no response. This complaint is certainly about a billing issue, which will be corrected. Regarding the November charge of $259.95, this had to do with a newsletter placement that the Customer had already paid for when He made His $145.00. payment. This payment will be refunded to the credit card by 15 November. Although the Customer claims that they cancelled their card, the refund should be credited to the replacement card. If the Customer could confirm this, and agree to this solution, I hope that this will be satisfactory. There was a flood of enormous proportions in the Southeast that affected the [redacted] at the end of September, 2015. I was en route to tend to a property issue that was being affected. From the end of September through approximately 07 October, I was unable to post ads, and the Customer was made aware of this and understood that the ad would be live as soon as services were restored to the area where I was during the storm. Despite the fact that the work was done, the Customer was deeply upset. I asked the Customer to allow me to market His truck. Despite a storm of historic proportions, the Customer began to question my legitimacy as a business, and these concerns were compounded by the Newsletter charge, which the Customer received as a discount when He signed up originally. Considering the frustration suffered by the Customer, I am willing to list His truck free of charge; primarily due to the majority of His complaint, which questions the legitimacy of my business. We have made several changes in our website, and this has had a terrible effect on our search engine positioning. Although temporary, this is disturbing, and despite the disturbance, search engine positioning, when it comes to classic cars is by no means the primary method of effective marketing. I am willing to refund His original listing fee by 15 January, and I am willing to continue to list the truck. Overall, I am very sorry that my Customer has had a disappointing experience. I would like to do something to make this a rewarding experience, and request His forgiveness for any harm that He has suffered. Thank you. [redacted]

Consumer

Response:

The explanation given for the unauthorized charge for $259.95 is patently untrue. I never agreed to or was offered a "newsletter" subscription prior to or after agreeing to pay $145 for an ad placement. I was notified by the owner herself that the charge was made by mistake by an employee of hers. I have kept the voicemail message explaining this. I cancelled the credit card which was charged, explicitly because of my concern that she would further abuse it. This caused quite some inconvenience in re-arranging various automatic payments which I used that card for. For that reason, I will not provide the new card number for her to credit back my refund. Further, January 15 is not a reasonable time for me to wait, given that the taking was unauthorized. A bank cashier check mailed to me is the desired payment form. My desired outcome is that this all be rolled back as if she had never called me in the first place. I also want my truck ad removed from [redacted]. The truck is now consigned to an auction house and is no longer available for private sale.

Business

Response:

The explanation for the unauthorized charge is true. This is notwithstanding the fact that the Customer was charged $145.00 for all services He was receiving for us without any additional fees. It was not proper for Him to be charged for inclusion in the newsletter. His understanding that the total fees would be $145.00 are accurate. I have requested written confirmation from my Merchant Service, but as of this moment, I have not received any definitive information besides a verbal assurance. However, I am told that the $259.95 will be back on His card on or before 19 December 2015. Although the credit will go back onto the old card, the adjustment will reflect on the new card number. It is not necessary to provide us with the new card number. I would be happy to explain that there is no security risk in using this option. I am told that it is very common for this to happen when a Customer cancels an old card. Relative to the $145.00 for the webpage. Due to the inconvenience, I told the Customer that I would refund His initial charge if He was dissatisfied with the service at the end of the season (typlically, March). It appears that the Customer has decided to use a different method to market His truck. However, I would also like to go back to a time before this ever happened. With that in mind, I will remove His truck no later than Monday, 14 December 2015. I will also send a payment to His address on or before 19 January 2016 for the $145.00 payment, and that will completely end our business. I hope that this is satisfactory.