Howaboutwe.com

Review: Bought a promotional, time-specific membership. Unchecked automatic renewal. Account renewed anyway. This business attempts to sneak such transactions through by neither forwarding an e-receipt or notice of upcoming renewal via email. When I identified the unauthorized transaction, it was after doing a line-by-line reading of my checking account statement. Called customer service. It had been 3 days since account was automatically renewed. Won't refund. Instead, they extended membership which a) I didn't want, b) I did not explicitly approve and c) was not compensation for original bogus charge. All this was justified by reference to something buried in the fine print of the agreement user clicks just to start membership. Management exploits their "Terms of Use" to cheat members out of their money if they are unaware that membership renews automatically and without advance notice or post-charge e-receipt.

Last email sent April [redacted] for which I received no response:

Hi,

I am in the process of filing out a complaint with the RevDex.com and want to include the names of HowAboutWe.Com's owners. I

have Brian S[redacted] and Aaron S[redacted]? Please confirm.

Some emails to and from rep by the name of Dana:

Hi Dana,

Thanks for getting back to me.

I'll be frank. As the renewal was unintended, neither a renewal reminder nor a receipt was ever emailed to me, and I have offered to pay a prorated amount, I invite howaboutwe to avoid manipulating the pathetic argument of fine print and refund what I have proposed. If that remains unacceptable, I'll redirect my ire by sharing howaboutwe's questionable business ethic with the state attorney general's office, and the Revdex.com in New York.

Dana,

I'm not interested in a freebee in exchange for a Terms of Use manipulation. Complaints are in process. As former communications consultant for a Hollywood-based online company, I can tell you, first hand, that playing fast and loose with your customers is the most cost-effective way to generate horrible word-of-mouth publicity. You've earned my loyalty in being a spokesperson for that. And, apparently, HowAboutWe has no qualms in taking $70 to earn it. The upshot? When customers make a courteous and ethical request, don't make empty apologies, hoping to win a nickle and dime battle. It only loses the war of ethics in the public arena.Desired Settlement: $70 refund.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by Howaboutwe.com regarding complaint ID [redacted].Sincerely,[redacted]

Review: 1.) There were programs for [redacted] : $7.99 per month, or $9.99 per month. 2.) When I signed up for the service then without letting me know explicitly, or without a pre-order confirmation of costs I was immediately charged $54.99 for 6 months of service without my knowledge 3.) I sent a complaint about this and other matters one week later around 6/*/13 and have not received a response. 4.) I sent an E-mail yesterday asking to cancel the account and receive a refund, and without a response thus far. (only automated messages) 5.) the website and service is terrible and is worst than their competitors: [redacted] (free), [redacted] (free version), [redacted] etc. 6.) [redacted] I never received an E-mail confirmation of my purchase from the company 7.) Thank you.Desired Settlement: Refund, change their business practices

Review: I thought I was signing up with AARP/Dating and found I was signed up with this [redacted]. When I discovered this and e-mailed them re: how they billed me, i.e. $72 instead of $6/month, they sent me an auto reply with zero information.

Then I found out they sign you up for auto-renew and tell you how to opt out. But when I followed the "instructions" their was no opt out choice.

I sent another e-mail and failed to get any reply.Desired Settlement: Remove me from "membership" and give refund Credit Card Credit.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved. I have received a full refund from [redacted] for the fraudulent charge which I sent to you. Thank you. Sincerely,

Review: I have a ($18/month) membership with how about we. This allows me a free date once a month. The location we picked was not the one shown in our booked dates. I inquired about it the day before the date ( July [redacted] ) through email (the only you can contact ). No one responded.The day of the date (July [redacted])I sent two emails, no one responded. The day after the date(July [redacted]) , I sent an email and the day after that (July [redacted]). I have received receipts from these emails letting me know someone would get back to me promptly but no on has. I missed my date as well because of the discrepancy.Desired Settlement: That includes an apology and also my free date with a follow up of a cancellation of my membership.

Business

Response:

Hi there,

Thank you for writing in. We received the other emails and responded via email about this issue; we offered to either reschedule the date that was missed due to an editorial error or refund the user the cost of the membership fee for your free date that month. The user opted to to receive a refund and cancel their account; this has been processed.

Best,