CONTACT

Jenna Davis/Communications Director
Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado
Telephone: 719/636-5076 Ext/ 118
Fax: 719/636-5078
Email: jennad@bbsc.org

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Watch your junk mail for this one! A company called Trilegiant Corporation is sending out packets informing consumers that they have been lucky enough to get a free trial offer of their program called AOL Credit Alert. This program normally costs $89.99 a month, but “for you, it’s free!” The catch is; if you don’t call them at 888-289-6318, within 90 days of receiving the packet, your credit card will be billed $89.99 for the membership fee, which renews automatically each year.

One Southern Colorado victim says that Trilegiant sent them a packet back in March and charged his credit card without authorization. “We thought it was junk mail and threw it out. The charge showed up on our card and we called to complain. They cleared it up, but then we got the same packet sent to us in the mail again…It was just starting all over.”

Based on BBB files, Trilegiant has an unsatisfactory record with the Connecticut BBB due to a pattern of complaints concerning deceptive selling practices, unauthorized charges to consumers' credit cards, and non-cancellation of memberships following cancellation requests. The company has resolved most complaints presented by the Bureau, however some complaints remain on file as unresolved. If you have a complaint against this company, we suggest that you send a written complaint to the State of Connecticut Attorney General's Office, 110 Sherman Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 06105. Trilegiant does use numerous company names, so be sure to check the BBB website at www.bbb.com for a full company report.

The BBB of Southern Colorado offers the following tips to make sure this type of scam isn’t happening to you without your knowledge:

• Check your credit card statement every month for unauthorized charges. If something doesn’t look right, call your credit card company and talk to their fraud department about what to do next.
• Read through your junk mail carefully, especially if you see the term “Free Trial Offer.” Many times the type of mailing described above is sent out by buying clubs, vitamin stores, and other companies in the hopes that you won’t cancel the trial offer in time. Find out what your responsibilities are concerning the offer and always be sure to make your cancellation in writing. Be sure to send the letter certified and keep records given to you by the post office.
• Check out the company offering the free trial offer by calling the BBB at 719-636-1155 or toll free at 866-206-1800. You can also visit our website at www.bbbsc.org.
• Also, get a copy of your credit report from all three reporting agencies to watch for new, unauthorized lines of credit. (You can tier the requests to cover you through the year.) Call Equifax at 800-685-1111, Experian at 888-397-3742 and Transunion at 800-916-8800.

“It’s Just Good Business!”