Roomster Corp.

Review: On Feb[redacted], 2014, I went to Roomster.com to cancel my service. The only option I found was "deactivate account". which I did. About 10 days later, they charged me the monthly fee ($29.95) for Feb. 2014. When I found out abut that, I tried to have that charge reversed. They repeatedly gave me instructions about using their website, which were unclear and ambiguous. Eventually, I "cancelled (my) subscription", after wasting much time. I exchanged about a dozen emails with them. They charged me again in March, and then credited me for one month service. Not clear if they refunded for Feb or Mar. Went on internet and found a whole bunch of dissatisfied customers who had the same problem I did. The people who run this company have to know that their website is deceptive, causing users to be charged for services they did not want and/or receive.Desired Settlement: Refund me another $29.95 and stop billing me.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

We received a [redacted]customer complaint letter from user [redacted] with assigned ID [redacted].

Per customer's request all future billing has stopped, additionally we issued refunds for both transactions of $29.95, please see confirmation below:

Transaction ID: [redacted]

Transaction Status: Refund

Card Type:[redacted]

Card Number:[redacted]

Expiration Date:[redacted]

Total Amount:USD (29.95)

.............................................

Transaction ID: [redacted]

Transaction Status: Refund

Payment [redacted]

Card Type:[redacted]

Card Number:[redacted]

Expiration Date:[redacted]

Total Amount:USD (29.95)

Thank you,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution may be satisfactory to me. I am waiting to see if the recredit actually shows up in my bank acct.

Sincerely,

Review: Sing up for their 14 day trial and when I thought it would be done they charge me another 30 days before my 14 day trial was over and they say that because I was a full member they are allowed to do this. Yes it is true that I agreed to their to be part of their service but all I was agreeing to was the 14 days not the rest for in their page it says that if you get the 30 you will be charged again after your time is up to me that was what a full member was not. Someone who was trying out their site for only 14 days. Also I don't like that they keep your credit card information and can charge it when ever they want when it even says that it will be renewed after your days are over not the day before. I feel that they do this so they can get more money out of people. An they don't have a helpful support line and no one responds to you right their for in their site they say they have people helping you 24/7 but you don't get any help and all.Desired Settlement: I want my money back for their site is a scam the people that email you don't even sound real and you get nothing out of the site but the lost of your money. These people are robbing everyone of their money and I would hope that someone can stop them from doing that also I would like to see that the site is held responsible for their actions for reading comments now about the site they do this money thing a lot and they get away with it.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

We received a Revdex.com customer complaint letter from user [redacted] with assigned ID [redacted].

As a courtesy to the client, we have refunded the last transaction of$29.95, even though the premium

membership was canceled after the scheduled renewal took place.

Client name: [redacted] [roommate, tenant, landlord]

Email: [redacted]

Date: 6/**/2013 12:08:49 AM

Thank You,

[redacted]

Founder & CEO, Roomster Corp.

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.

Sincerely,

THIS BUSINESS IS A SCAM. They post phishing ads on [redacted] and force you to purchase a subscription if you want more information about the room.

Review: I have been charged unexpectedly for service that I believe is overpriced, and I do not plan to use. I received several email notifications from the service about messages and new rooms, but no email about the automatic charge. I only discovered it after logging into my bank account and viewing the transactions.

I also cannot delete my account. I wish to be refunded for the charge, and have my account deleted.

Roomster's online service makes no indication that it is a subscription service at the time of sign up, and it allows signing up on their service through a two button clicks using [redacted].

It looks like a completely free service, and allows one to fill out their information (in anticipation of being rewarded a useful service). Instead, they allow users to post their information as listings. This allows other users to see the listings and reply with messages (inquiries).

After receiving the first message, and clicking the message notification icon, there is the first indication it is a payed service. They asked to pay ~$3 to have access to read the messages. It is obviously low enough to coax users to link their bank / financial information now, as well.

They then charge the users ~$30 now that they have the account information in 3 installments every 30 days, even if they do not use the service. Additionally, while they send email reminders about new room postings and messages, they send no reminded or indication or bill of charging one's account. I received no receipt from them for the charge. It was only after looking through my own bank's website that I saw the charge on my account.

Additionally, the cancelation wording indicates that once a user's subscription is canceled, they will not be able to use the payed features (ie. they will not be able to communicate with other users once again) even though they have been charged for the next 30 days.

The business must be clearer about their intention to have users pay for their service. The service is obviously unusable without being able to contact other users, but they make no indication that it is impossible to contact others without paying until after users have provided all information. Even then, they do not ask users to pay the full amount they really want to get from a user. They ask for a small amount that users are willing to pay just to get the user's account info to charge them at a later date (without notification) for 10x the amount (an amount that a rational user is not willing to pay for a subpar service that can be found elsewhere at a higher quality for much cheaper).

The tactics of this business are underhanded. They over-charge users unfairly in a round-about way. If they are honest up front, users would not pay that much for their service because it is ridiculous. At least, if I had been presented with the information in a clear manner, I would have decided not to use their service. However, the manner in which they disclose these vital informations to customers is intentionally underhanded to coax customers to pay more than they are willing to pay.

Just look at all the other complaints. And it's ridiculous their rating is coming up, when the service has not changed. They just refund people who put in the time/effort to file a complaint. What ratio of users is that? What ratio of users is satisfied with their service?

This is not a business, it's a scam that tricks customers to pay more than they would otherwise pay for such a service.Desired Settlement: Refund and deletion of account.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

We received a Revdex.com customer complaint letter from user [redacted] with assigned ID [redacted].

Aa courtesy to the client, we have refunded the last transaction of $29.95, even though the premium membership was canceled after the scheduled renewal took place.

Refund confirmation:

Name:[redacted]

Transaction [redacted]

Original payment$29.95 USD

Amount Refunded by Seller$29.29 USD

Total Refund Amount$29.95 USD

The account was removed from the system as requested by the user.

Thank you.

Roomster Team

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.

Sincerely,

Review: Roomster is in the practice of having people put up fake [redacted] ads for room shares. In the past 2 days, I've received fake mirror websites that are linked to Roomster's website. They are only interested in getting people to sign up for their website and paying membership. I saw on the Internet that this has been an ongoing practice.

From: [redacted]

Roomster Shills Are Choking Up [redacted]

By Peymon - 09/**/2014

CHICAGO, CALIFORNIA -- Roomster is engaging in very questionable business practices by clogging the room and apartment listings in [redacted] with dozens and dozens of fake ads. It's so frustrating!! When you shoot a text to the person posting the ad, you get a reply that includes a link to one of Roomster's many bogus mirror sites. Then you're urged by the party you contacted to sign up to be able to look up more details about the room.

Signing up, though, is just a way to lure you into paying their ridiculous subscription fees-- otherwise you have no way of accessing messages from individuals you've contacted through the site. If you get one of Roomster's links, just ignore it. This is a total scam and rip-off. And an outrageous abuse of [redacted], which is meant to be an open, free community forum. Not a place to siphon people off to some scam website.Desired Settlement: Explanation by the business, discontinuation of practice, and, possibly, a class action suit for fraud.

Business

Response:

In response to this Revdex.com complaint, We're sorry to hear your complaint, but had you contacted us directly we would have advised you that Roomster is not behind any posting on [redacted] which is a privately held company not a non-for profit. We do not have any affiliation with [redacted] and do not have control over what Roomster members do or post while on other sites.We do not post anything on [redacted] or any other site for that matter. This may be an affiliate who is doing this, we however are not. We have a clear warning to all affiliates not to do this. If you have any links or information that we can look at we will investigate and take action right away![redacted]

Attention affiliates!We will not do business with any affiliates who post on [redacted].We will not accept any leads that come from [redacted].We will not pay for any leads that come from [redacted].If you post on [redacted] your affiliate account will be terminated.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

It is very clear that numerous e-mails and text messages that I have received have the same fake link leading to Roomster under different names. Whether it's initiated by Roomster or it's affiliates, Roomster is ultimately stands to benefit from links to their site and are ultimately responsible. The ads seem to good to be true and another friend has experienced the same problem. The person sponsoring the (fake) ad wants to find out right away when you've logged in. There is no further contact by the person sponsoring the ad after you've logged in nor the same ad to be found in Roomster. I even had a brief phone text conversation with one of the individuals who acknowledged that it was a fake ad. It's so prevalent that it would be easy for an independent reviewer to investigate.Example. "[redacted]." (Leads to Roomster website.)Secondly, I tried to call Roomster at a phone number listed in [redacted], but there was no response. I tried to communicate via e-mail, but there is no e-mail address or customer service number listed on their site. The only way that I could see to contact Roomster was to logon via [redacted], etc. After having this experience, I did not wish to login into their site with my personal information and become a member.Roomster seems to be trying to avoid responsibility for bogus ads leading to their website. This does not solve the problem and leads to a lack of responsibility by anyone for the problem. There are other roommate matching websites that do not seem to have this problem with bogus ads lead to [redacted] does not allow people even to use the term 'Roomster' in their ads. Ultimately, a business' reputation will lead to it's long term success and how it handles problems with the public. [redacted]

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

I am sorry, but Roomster does the best we can to limit any abuses of our affiliates just as [redacted] does which is a for profit company. We work in conjunction with them and take action whenever we are alerted to this type of activity. We block all affiliates who break these rules, and we have clear warning not to do this. It is a waste of the Revdex.com's time (which is a non for profit) to continue to deal with complaints that do not pertain to customer service and billing issues.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

My complaint is the fact that Roomster is unsuccessful in stopping the abuses of your Affiliates on [redacted]. There is only so much [redacted] can do to limit your Affiliate’s spam mail, such as by having users flag them, and blocking terms, such as ‘Roomster.’ It’s a matter of opinion whether Roomster is doing enough to stop these abuses, but I suspect that this problem has to do with Roomster’s business model. I haven’t encountered any other roommate matching business soliciting fake ads on [redacted], yet out of 15 roommate ads that I responded to, I was contacted 4 times by phone text message or e-mail with fake roommate links to Roomster.You mentioned that this type of issue is a waste of time for the Revdex.com. Yet, Revdex.com has a specific category on complaints for ‘Advertising Issues’. I’m not the first person to bring up this same complaint on advertising against Roomster with the Revdex.com. Let’s hope I’m the last one to do so and that Roomster can stop wasting the time of potentially thousands, tens of thousands, or more individuals seeking shared housing annually on [redacted].

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Review: I signed up for a 3-day 5.95 access. Roomster, without telling me, charged me for a full month of membership automatically for 29.95. I did not receive notification that they were going to do this. Roomster did not make it clear they would automatically charge me for a month of membership.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund of my 29.95 immediately.

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.

Sincerely,

Review: I signed up and paid for a 3 day subscription, where it was agreed after 3 days, my subscription would be over. I found a bank draft of $29.95 in my account that I did not authorize Roomster to do. I tried to reach out to their 24/7 Customer Service several times with no answer from anyone.Desired Settlement: I want to be refunded of the $29.95 I never authorized.

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.

Sincerely,

Review: I recently tried Roomster.com for their services in locating a sub-tenant. I found their services to be misleading and "bait and switch." Their "free service" allows you to post your listing, but not to read the emails that tenants send you. I decided to pay $5.95 for their three day access so I could read the emails already received and then stop using their services. I specifically did not choose the 30-day subscriptions. In the fine print of their user agreement, they state that buying ANY package, even only a three-day pass, results in follow-on charges of $89.85. I only discovered this by reviewing my bank statements - the Roomster.com company charges the additional payments of $29.95 without issuing emails, receipts, or notifications to the account holder. There isn't an explicit authorization of this during the purchase process, where you are led to believe you are only purchasing a three day period, not a 93 day period. I logged in, followed all directions for unsubscribing, then contacted the company to request that the money be refunded for the period that I did not authorize and do not intend to use. They have refused, and point to their fine print. I acknowledge that the follow-on charges are buried in the Terms of Use, but also point out that this is not indicated or even alluded anywhere in a purchasing process which specifically offers a "three day pass." I am filing a complaint due to unethical and deceptive marketing and collection practices. Offering a three-day membership for $5.95 and then charging $89.95 in non-refundable follow-on payments without receipt or customer notification is an unethical practice that has likely snared hundreds of unwary consumers who don't check their bank statements to notice the series of small transactions. At the very least, charges should be able to be refunded for the current period when cancellation procedures are followed.Desired Settlement: Refund of $29.95. Modification of purchasing screens to highlight true costs to customers. Institute emailing of receipts to customers when each charge is billed.

Business

Response:

Good day!

We received a Revdex.com customer complaint letter from user [redacted] with assigned ID [redacted]

User is requesting a refund of the last transaction of 29.95. Our billing shows that the user had already Charged Back the disputed amount. To clarify, Chargeback is the return of funds to a consumer, forcibly initiated by the issuing bank or the instrument used by a consumer to settle a transaction.

We are unable to refund a charge that was already charged back by customers financial institution.

Please see the screenshot-confirmation from PayPal admin below.

We understand what the problem is and are sorry to here the customer was not able to see the renewal rates before the renewal took place.

The subscription policy is stated on all these pages:

1. Terms of use

2. Credit card page

3. The subscription tab on account page

4. FAQ page

5. Paypal made the user sign off on the transaction as well and sent user an email confirming the transaction with instructions on how to cancel and an email was sent to a customer for every renewal.

The user was required to check off on the terms of use TWICE in order to create an account Roomster.

Please find a screenshot of Credit card page attached.

Thank you,

I have signed for a 15 days trial and I didn't want it anymore after the 15 days. I didn't know after that period they would keep charging me. They are telling me they sent me an email about the renewal of the service but I have never got it. It is not fair to charge for a service you didn't request or need anymore. All I want is my money back and they are terrible at responding to your emails and they don't have a phone number to call on their website. Just be honest with your costumers, don't try to take advantage of them, I will never use their service again and will tell everyone I know that they shouldn't use their service. Just give me my money back!

Review: I purchased a 3 day trial on the Roomster site. Once the 3 day trial was complete I was charged an additional $30 because of an automatic renewal which I knew nothing of. I tried contact customer support but there is no number available to speak with anyone. All the billing matters are handle on through messaging them through a 24/7 support. For a moment I was getting replies and was told I was getting my money refunded to me. After a while, no one will respond back and I am still fighting for my money to be returned to me. I am highly upset with the site for being very sloppy in handling this matter. The customer support representative claims that they state there is a automatic renewal when you agree to the trial but it must be in very fine print because that was not visible when I signed or agreed to the 3 day trial. The site can do a way better job with informing the customers of automatic renewal before just taking money from people in that manner. I feel cheated out of my money and would like for it to be refunded to me.Desired Settlement: I want the $30 charged to my account to be refunded immediately.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:We received a Revdex.com customer complaint letter from user Dominique Harris.She contacted us through our Helpdesk, we have responded right away and sent her all the information about renewal transaction, and we sent her a link to her billing history page where she could see that our warning about automatic renewal is very visible and not in small print. Also we asked her to cancel the subscription couple of times, so we can issue her a pro-rated refund on the last transaction. When she finally did it we have issued her pro-rated refund even before receiving a complaint from Revdex.com, so her state, that she is still fighting to get her money back, is false. Also to provide a great customer service as a courtesy to her we have issued the remaining balance of $3.71. We consider this matter is closed and waste of Revdex.com's time.

Review: I signed up for a 3 day subscription. They hid in the fine print that I could cancel my subscription, but do not make it clear that they plan to renew on a monthly basis. There is NO CUSTOMER SERVICE phone number. I have complained and they are still charging me. A total of 3 unauthorized charges of $29.95 for March, April, and May 2015. I want these amounts refunded and have proceeded to open a dispute with [redacted] and my credit card company. This company should not be allowed to operate as they do with thousands of online complaints and plenty of additional complaints on Revdex.com.Desired Settlement: Refund of 3 payments of $29.95

Business

Response:

This complaint is one that you get when you are dealing with a person who is so reactive. Before we had received a letter from the Revdex.com a refund for all the transactions had already been completed. to [redacted]'s [redacted] account. The statements that [redacted] makes are reactive and untrue. [redacted] did not contact us until 5/*/2015 9:38:36 PM on our 24/7 staffed help desk. We responded at 5/*/2015 10:52:40 AM. Before we could even respond [redacted] had already charged us back via [redacted], where we accepted the charge backs and initiated a full refund. We assume within that same period [redacted] had filed a complaint with the Revdex.com. What [redacted] fails to understand is that the Revdex.com's purpose is to assist with a resolution if there is none, but allow the merchant time to respond! A full refund has been issued and we consider this matter closed.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

I was charged $29.95 3 times for monthly subscription even though it was supposed to be cancelled after the 3 day subscription. I was only refunded for 2 of the 3. Still awaiting final refund of $29.95.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

[redacted] had reversed the refund. We do not know why. We have since sent [redacted] $29.95. Had [redacted] had the decency to allow us time to resolve the matter it could have been quicker.We consider this matter closed.Roomster Corp, you have sent $29.95 USD to [redacted].

Review: Roomster created false roommate advertisements on [redacted], that send fake SMS claiming to be trying to verify address. These are clearly falsified.

The fake craigslist ads have been flagged for removal already. Here are the URLs where they were located:

[redacted] (still visible as of 3/*/2015, [redacted])

They ask you to pay to sign up in order to view messages.Desired Settlement: Roomster is using false advertisements. They are pretending to be people they are not, in order to get traffic to their website. There are also numerous reports of canceling subscriptions being unsuccessful; I am concerned that I will have to cancel my credit card to avoid future charges.

Business

Response:

not sure what this is conspiracy theory is all about, anyway we issued a refund and closed his account.3/*/2015 [redacted]3 day subscriptionRefundApproved($5.95)CreditCard

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 received a refund, and the company claimed they knew nothing about the text bots that led me to their site.

Sincerely,

Review: I created an account on Roomster in mid July in order to advertise that I needed a roommate to take over my lease in Lubbock, TX. I received an email from Roomster Corp. dated July **, 2013, informing me that I had new "Roomster Mail." I would not be the least bit surprised if this was essentially bait to get me to pay for a subscription because I messaged the two people that I received messages from and never heard a peep back. The only way to have access to the Roomster Mail service is to purchase a subscription. I decided to purchase a three-day subscription for $5.95 to try out the mail service and ask the people that messaged me to contact me via my personal email. I purchased it on July **, 2013, as my bank statement will verify. The way that the page is set up on Roomster to choose your subscription option makes it appear to be a one-time purchase. There are three or four options that go up in the price and number of days you hold the subscription. While there is a very small section on automatic renewal in the terms and conditions there is absolutely NO indication of this on any of the purchase option pages. So, my three days end and I assume that the subscription is terminated. I was mistaken. I was checking my bank account and Roomster had debited $29.95 out of my account on August *, 2013. It had automatically renewed to the most expensive thirty-day subscription at the first of the month! I contacted the customer service desk online (because I came to find out they didn't have the decency to have a phone line to allow customers to talk to another human being) to get this resolved, but they won't help me at all. All they have done is, in a leery condescending manner, shown me screen-caps of where I had agreed to the terms of service. I do realize that yes, there is technically a warning in said terms that tells customers about the automatic renewal, but why should I have reason to believe that by purchasing a subscription for 6 bucks I will then have to pay 30 at the first of the month? Why offer multiple subscription options of you are going to do such a thing? Why not lock the auto renew price in at the price paid? I was not sent any warning email or anything like my that this was going to happen. I have cancelled my subscription with Roomster to prevent any further loss, and I have continued to try to get results through their customer service desk. This is wrong, and I believe it is shady practice.Desired Settlement: I would very much like my $29.95 credited back into my checking account. Furthermore, I'd like to see Roomster Corp. take a little more responsibility for their questionable business practices by having a customer service phone line and by making their subscription options much more clear. I feel cheated and blindsided and I would like future customers to be safe from this. I know I am not the first to file a complaint against them and I know I won't be the last if they don't clean up their act. Roomster has the potential of being a very helpful and great service, but they need to conduct themselves more responsibly.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

We received a Revdex.com customer complaint letter from user [redacted] with assigned ID [redacted]. User used a different email address to register with Roomster: [redacted] As a courtesy to the client, we have refunded the last transaction of $29.95, even though the premium membership was canceled after the scheduled renewal took place.

Thank You, [redacted]

Founder & CEO, Roomster Corp.

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.

Sincerely,

Review: After being charged 30 dollars for the month of October, I logged in to investigate an account I thought was no longer active. I had attempted to cancel the account. When logging in it says that my subscription has been cancelled but they have charged me $30 on October [redacted], 2015, for a subscription the site says I no longer have. I attempted to call to settle on the issue and the operator hung up on me. I would like my $30 back for the month of October and to have my account permanently canceled.Desired Settlement: I would like my $30 refunded back into my account, and to terminate my account with [redacted] permanently.

Business

Response:

This customer never contacted us before going to the Revdex.com. We have issued a refund for the last charge![redacted]10/**/2015 12:52:39 PM RE: Help & Sup­portWhy didn't you just con­tact us?We would never charge your card with­out your per­mis­sion and au­tho­riza­tion, please note the Proof of pur­chase taken on 7/*/2015 7:07:47 PM and the Re­ceipt that we emailed you on 7/*/2015 7:07:47 PM to [redacted]. We also sent a mes­sage to this 24/7 sup­port page on 7/*/2015 7:07:47 PM thank­ing you again for your pay­ment and a re­minder to can­cel your sub­scrip­tion with in­struc­tions and a link "Your sub­scrip­tion can be can­celed at any time. There is a link to man­age your sub­scrip­tion right on this page."[redacted]10/**/2015 12:52:48 PM RE: Help & Sup­portYour sub­scrip­tion was can­celed by Room­ster after your third and final re­newal which is con­sis­tent with our sub­scrip­tion pol­icy. Had you can­celed your sub­scrip­tion all billing would have ended.You can view your billing his­tory by click­ing here.Customer Service10/**/2015 12:52:55 PM RE: Room­ster re­fund pend­ingIn re­sponse to your con­cerns re­gard­ing billing, your ac­count has been ap­proved for a full re­fund. The re­quest has al­ready been sent to Room­ster’s billing de­part­ment to be processed. We will let you know as soon as your ac­count has been cred­ited. In the mean­time your ac­count sta­tus had been re­verted back to the basic “free ac­count”.Customer Service10/**/2015 12:53:04 PM RE: Room­ster re­fund pend­ingGood news! Your full re­fund in the amount of $29.95 has been cred­ited to your ac­count. You should see your credit back in your ac­count within a few busi­ness days. We wel­come your busi­ness in the fu­ture and hope that we have pro­vided you ex­cel­lent cus­tomer ser­vice.