Don’t’ get caught by this bunch of con merchants

[Richard C]

Yes believe it or not, I’m posting General

My Visa credit card was debited £10 by a company called Shoperdisk.co.uk. Unauthorised as far as I was concerned but after a phone call to the Shoperdisk 0800 phone number (at least that was free), it appeared I had apparently “signed up” to a £10/month dodgy discount deal by clicking on a pop up window on the Ryanair web site. They said I was sent a confirmation E mail but I don’t recall getting one or being advised that my account would be debited £10 a month. The pop up window offers a discount on your next purchase but by clicking the link to have a look at the deal, you will automatically authorise the web site operator to disclose your card details (which you thought were secure) & for Shoperdisk to deduct £10/month for their dodgy discount deal after a trial period; 30 days I think. You probably won’t know anything about it until you notice your account being debited £10/month by this shower but by clicking the Ryanair (or other web site operators) "I have read & agree the terms & conditions” box when you buy your air ticket (who ever reads through them anyway), you will automatically sign up to it despite the fact it has nothing whatsoever to do with the airline or the tickets you have just bought. You will be able to cancel your membership easily with one phone call & (should) get your money back after 10 days or so they say; but they are getting a nice, cheap 40 day loan of your tenner & that’s assuming you spot it.

On checking with Google, I discovered this dodgy company is renowned & this dubious practice has been going on for several years, it’s apparently perfectly legal because of the way it is done, which I initially found difficult to believe & many on-line shopping websites appear to be signed up to it. Some folks appear to have paid the monthly fee for many months before twigging it but if you don’t check your statements, you could find yourself unwittingly funding this company & some could be paying for years, what a total scum bag scam; be carefull you have been warned.

 

[Nige F]

Thanks for the info . Tho` I thought it was a dodgy shower cubicle / tray/ mixer

 

[Richard C]

Thanks for the info . Tho` I thought it was a dodgy shower cubicle / tray/ mixer

 

[joinerjohn]

Just done a web search for shopperdisk/disc and found loads of forums all with complaints about this company. Seems they are operating this scam all over the internet, even in the USA.

 

[Richard C]

Yup prior to today I'd never heard of them. I've been a prolific & pretty savvy internet shopper for many years & I never, ever thought I would get caught out (I’ve never been caught before); but this just goes to show how easy it can be.

This companies tactics should be illegal but they ain’t; they obviously offer suitable incentives to major website providers to get a license to con what may be millions of internet shoppers. I suspect the company has absolutely no interest at all in offering the “discounts”, which are pretty easy to come by anyway. They are just using the company mission to “cloak” what I believe is their true business model; to screw innocent punters into loaning them money. This company is global & I cant believe what they do is actually “legal”, even if they end up giving 95% or more of the cash they extract back after a few months (which it appears they always do), it’s a pretty good scam by any means. But there will be a % of folks that never realise what’s happening & then they get to keep the money!

It’s totally disgraceful that major well known internet sales companies will sign up to this but they are obviously offered a suitable incentive to do so. I never did like “gob” O’Leary & his business model much & I loath to use him (but needs must!); however this latest scam on his website is in the gutter as far as I’m concerned. I will now keep a very careful watch on any web sites I use & if I get this pop up scam, I will ditch it immediately & go elsewhere for my requirements. Prior to today I'd never heard of them. I've been a prolific & pretty savvy internet shopper for many years & I never, ever thought I would get caught out (I’ve never been caught before); but this just goes to show how easy it can be.

This companies tactics should be illegal but they ain’t; they obviously offer suitable incentives to major website providers to get a license to con what may be millions of internet shoppers. I suspect the company has absolutely no interest at all in offering the “discounts”, which are pretty easy to come by anyway. They are just using the company mission to “cloak” what I believe is their true business model; to screw innocent punters into loaning them money. This company is global & I cant believe what they do is actually “legal”, even if they end up giving 95% or more of the cash they extract back after a few months (which it appears they always do), it’s a pretty good scam by any means. But there will be a % of folks that never realise what’s happening & then they get to keep the money!

It’s totally disgraceful that well known internet companies will sign up to this but they are obviously offered a suitable incentive to do so. I never did like the “gob” O’Leary & I loath to use him (but needs must), however this latest website scam of his is in the gutter as far as I’m concerned. I will now keep a very careful watch on any web sites I use & if I get this pop up scam, I will ditch it immediately. Guys spread the word, be aware & do the same; consumer awareness is the only way to beat this, it seems like the law doesn't give a rats asre!

 

[Blasphemous]

You hit Ryanair's web site... that was your first failing and from there it went down hill.

 

[JohnD]

Hurrah for the EU - protecting the consumer against these crooks


//www.diynot.com/forums/general-discussion/more-eu-directives.294456/#2143590

 

[Susiejb]

Totally agree that its shameful of Ryanair to allow that on their website, but just a little word of praise for them, when we had our luggage stolen they allowed us to fly back from holiday with no passports, the consulate wanted 240 euro for a form permitting us to do so ..... which was out of the question as we had all our money stolen too, so just a tiny thumbs up to Ryanair who were very helpful indeed.

 

[Richard C]

Don’t understand the mentality on here & can’t be asred with it TBH; I guesse I'me probably too serious! Done my bit in bringing something to the attention of those who might be interested & I assume some are. That’s as far as it goes with me but please feel free to continue to slag each other off to your hearts content; I've got more important things to do!

 

[Gasman28]

Don’t understand the mentality on here & can’t be asred with it TBH; I guesse I'me probably too serious! Done my bit in bringing something to the attention of those who might be interested & I assume some are. That’s as far as it goes with me but please feel free to continue to slag each other off to your hearts content; I've got more important things to do!

Always look on the bright side of life - de dum de dum de dum de dum de dum Your original posting was spot on mate and thanks

 

[cantaloup63]

Point taken.

Thanks for the useful thread Richard - we has something not dissimilar where the agreement of terms and conditions signed us up for some discount website.

Goes to show how important it is to check the small print as much as possible together with your bank statements for anomalous withdrawals.

 

[Djnikon]

This scam also exists if you purchase anything from a company called Vistaprint. I bought some business cards last year and got a pop-up, I clicked on it thinking it was part of the purchase process and closed it when I realised that it wasn't. What I didn't realise was that, by even just clicking on the pop-up link, I had "signed-up" to a shopper discount scheme that cost £9.99 per month.
Again, I see myself as savvy to scams but this one was just that level too clever for me.

 

[expertgasman]

Don’t understand the mentality on here & can’t be asred with it TBH; I guesse I'me probably too serious! Done my bit in bringing something to the attention of those who might be interested & I assume some are. That’s as far as it goes with me but please feel free to continue to slag each other off to your hearts content; I've got more important things to do!

What am I missing, or is a lot beeen deleted.


Susiejb Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 1:12 pm Post Subject:
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Totally agree that its shameful of Ryanair to allow that on their website, but just a little word of praise for them, when we had our luggage stolen they allowed us to fly back from holiday with no passports, the consulate wanted 240 euro for a form permitting us to do so ..... which was out of the question as we had all our money stolen too, so just a tiny thumbs up to Ryanair who were very helpful indeed.


Surely not THAT Ryan Air? It's a liitle ironic, given that if you had lost your self printed boarding card, they nwouold have charged you FORTY POUNDS per traveler (each way).

 

[Susiejb]

[quote="expertgasman";p="

Surely not THAT Ryan Air? It's a liitle ironic, given that if you had lost your self printed boarding card, they would have charged you FORTY POUNDS per traveler (each way).[/quote]

Yes it was, and they didn't charge us a penny, so I did think that was good

 

[Alarm]

This scam also exists if you purchase anything from a company called Vistaprint. I bought some business cards last year and got a pop-up, I clicked on it thinking it was part of the purchase process and closed it when I realised that it wasn't. What I didn't realise was that, by even just clicking on the pop-up link, I had "signed-up" to a shopper discount scheme that cost £9.99 per month.
Again, I see myself as savvy to scams but this one was just that level too clever for me.

Have nothing but praise for Vistaprint. They do what they say.
Your error is not a valid point to slag off a company.