Lately I feel like I am really getting taken advantage of. Two situations really have me wondering is anyone honest anymore. The first and really non-harmful one is, eHarmony. Back in December I figured it was time to get out there and start dating. They were doing a special, sign up for 6 months and pay over 3. It was a learning experience and I got some good stories out of it but by my third month I knew it wasn't for me and I went through the process to end automatic renewal. I wanted to do it then because I was afraid time would get away from me and I would forget to cancel and get charged.  At the time as I was looking at my screen tell me it was complete and that even though I shut off automatic renewal, my membership was good until June. The last thing I was thinking was to take a screen shot of that page. Forward 3 months and I sign in to check my checking balance. It was off by about $200.00 and how surprised I was to see that it was eHarmony charging for automatic renewal. No worries, I looked up their phone number sure that I would get this refunded. It didn't even need to be refunded as the charge had just hit my account and was still pending. They could easily cancel the charge and all would be well.

HA! I spent at least 15 minutes pressing one to tell them that I didn't want to speak with an AT&T rep, or any other rep but an eHarmony rep! At first I thought I dialed the wrong number as the computer voice was trying to get me to go off on many different tangents. By miracle I get an eHarmony rep only to be told that they have no proof that I turned off automatic renewal and it was too late to get a refund. After going back and forth I asked to speak with a manager only to be told that a manager would tell me nothing different. I thought I was in an alternate reality. I have never been refused before when I have asked to speak with a supervisor or manager. I explained that I know I turned off automatic renewal because it told me I had as well as reassured me that my membership would continue till June. I was again told that they have no proof of that and my ONLY option is to email their billing department and ask them to reconsider. Oh, and that will take 10-14 days before I would hear back. AND the only way to deal with them was by email. They take no calls. 

I can't even begin to tell you how angry and frustrated I was. I have NEVER seen a company do this. Because I was so angry I did some research and low and behold I am not the only one who turned off their automatic renewal only to be charged and told there was no proof that they did this. SCAM!!!! I then contacted my bank, the government's internet fraud department and Consumer Affairs to complain. I also filled out eHarmony's form only to get back a letter the other day stating that since they have no proof that I turned it off I was going to be charged and they would no longer discuss(discuss?? don't you have to have an actual conversation to use the word discuss?) this with me. 

I am currently waiting to hear back from my bank and the other institutions. So be warned! My advice is to NEVER sign up for eHarmony. If you must and cancel automatic renewal please take a screen shot of that so when the day comes that you are charged you have proof that you turned it off.

My hope is to come back and say that I was victorious against the big bad company who completely takes advantage of people and is committing Internet FRAUD, In the meantime, I still get my match report every day telling me I have 6 new matches. BE WARNED!! 

As this story took way longer to tell than I had originally planned, I will finish this post tomorrow:-)