Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
I had a membership with TLG-Buyers Advantage for 2002. I didn't get much use out of it, so I didn't renew it. But the company charged my credit card $79.99. As soon as I saw the charge, I contacted Buyers Advantage. I was given a cancellation number, which I called in to my credit card company.
I did get a refund, but it was $13.34 short. I was told it was prorated. I am an 83-year-old retiree, and I don't spend money on something I don't need or can't use. What I want is a full refund of $79.99. I am hoping you can get this corrected. Walter Sorenson
Response: Kristin Buonagura, director of customer relations for Trilegiant in Norwalk, Conn., the parent company of TLG-Buyers Advantage, said customers are never forced to remain members. According to the company's policy of "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back," the unused portion of a membership is refundable at any time during the annual membership.
She said the company is sorry your initial request to cancel was not effectively processed. This has now been done. An initial credit of $66.65 was issued to your credit card April 28, she said. Two additional credits in the amounts of $13.34 and $69.99, totaling $83.33, will be issued as full reimbursement. Buonagura did not say, but we suspect the additional $69.99 credit is for your first year's membership.
We checked them out at theBetter Business Bureau site, www.bbb.org According to the Connecticut Better Business Bureau report, Trilegiant Inc. offers a variety of membership programs to credit card customers. The bureau's report states the company "has an unsatisfactory record with the bureau due to a pattern of complaints concerning deceptive selling practices, unauthorized charges to customers' credit cards, and non-cancellation of memberships following cancellation requests." Although the company has resolved most of the complaints brought to it by the bureau, some remain unresolved or unanswered.
Trilegiant, a spin-off of Cendant's former direct-marketing division, Cendant Membership Services Inc., also does business under these names: AOL AutoVantage, AOL Credit Alert, AOL Netmarket, AOL Travelers Advantage, AutoVantage, AutoVantage.com, Buyers Advantage, Citishopper, CompleteHome, Credentials Services, Dental Plus Group Plan, Dinner On Us Club, Family FunSaver Club, Great Fun, Great Options, GreatFun.com, Health Saver, Homeowners Savings Network, Hot-Line, Just For Me, Macy's Hot-Line, Netmarket, Netmarket.com, OurCompleteHome.com, PrivacyGuard, PrivacyGuard.com, Sears Discount Travel Club, Shoppers Advantage, ShoppersAdvantage.com, Today's Homeowner Values, Travelers Advantage and TravelersAdvantage.com.
The bureau's report suggests that residents of Florida mail any complaints against the company to the Economic Crimes Division, Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050. We contacted that office and learned that the company is under investigation for unfair trade practices in direct marketing.
Gifts free, not shippingI sent an order to Tristar Products on Jan. 3 for the pasta pot express offer. I received the larger, but not the smaller pot or the free chopper and cheese grater. I have called several times about the missing items. The last time, April 30, I was told I would receive the pot within three weeks but would have to pay $7 shipping and handling for the free gifts. There was no mention of an additional shipping and handling charge when I placed the order and sent in my payment. Marie Iannacone
Response: It took an unsigned letter from Tristar's customer service department in Wallingford, Conn., plus a phone call, but we can now clear up the confusion. You ordered the pasta pots for $14.95 plus $7.99 (shipping and handling), for a total of $22.94. Your check, at $21.45, was $1.49 short, but the company has written that off. What it cannot do is send you the chopper, cheese grater and spoon unless you pay the $9.99 shipping and handling. The gifts themselves are free, shipping is not. This was clearly stated on the infomercial.
We leave you with good news, however. The smaller pot, which was on back order, has arrived and will be shipped this week.
- If you have a question for Action, or your attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write: Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, (800) 333-7505, ext. 8171.