Bizrate

Last March I reviewed a product after purchasing it on the Bizrate form that popped up. They said that they would give $100 in free gifts, if I did. (Oh foolish me!) It turned out to be 4 magazines, which they said they would send free. All I had to do was pay $2.00 processing fee for each one. I, unfortunately, did that. Before the year was over, I received renewal requests. I informed them that I did not want to renew and to cancel them. I saw on my Amex bill that they had charged me $45 for O magazine and 32 and 32 and 37 for Simple, Dwell, and Cooking Light. I looked up my charge and found that the vendor was Time Subscriptions. I called the number and all I got was an automated message. The only options I had were to subscribe again or get a refund and get 2 free months. There was no option for a full refund of what I didn't even ask for. I finally found their website: TMESUB.com and called that number. The woman told me that I had no options to get a full refund. She said the same thing that the automated line did. I told her that she could either give me a full refund or else I would dispute the charges with Amex. She put me on hold and said that she could do all but O magazine, because the publisher had already cancelled that one and had prorated my subscription charges. I called Amex and disputed the charges. When I looked on the little strip that is on my magazines, it says they don't even expire until March 15 and it was February 27 when I called her. I just looked up the price of O magazine on Oprah's site today and it is 2 years for $25, not the $45 which this place charged me. It is a scam. Beware!

I've had issues with surveys and the rating system of their businesses. First off the surveys are fraudulent. I would get surveys and try to take them. I'd be told it was worth a lot of points but when I submit them they say they reached their quota and was given maybe 50 points for my time. Many times I was sitting at my PC when the survey came in. I had already filled out a couple pages of survey information when this happened. I suspect by the time I put in my age that's why they won't use me.

Then I bought merchandise from one of their listed business. I didn't even know this until a couple weeks later the survey came in to rate them. I never received my merchandise and the survey wouldn't let me rate them until I received it. So I hung onto the email so I could rate them later. 3 months later still no shipment and I had to contact PayPal for a refund.

I contacted Bitrate to say I'd like to rate this company but the link they sent me will not work until I get my order. I told them the whole situation of how this company took my money and never sent my product and how they won't respond to emails. I asked how I could please rate them so other customers would know. This is the response I got. I felt like I was talking on deaf ears.

Hello,

Thank you for your email. Bizrate.com is a shopping comparison and consumer rating site. We partner with retailers who list their products on our site. From these listings, customers are directed to our retail partner's site to complete their purchase. We do not charge customer credit cards. Bizrate.com does not make, sell or ship any products. For specific questions about orders, products, product availability, refunds, shipping or payment options, please contact the retailer. If you have made a purchase and do not remember which retailer you purchased from, you can call your bank or credit card company and they should be able to provide a contact phone number or email address.

In addition, I am sorry to hear you received the Bizrate.com fulfillment survey before you received your order. The timing of the survey is self-selected. During the initial point of sale survey you took you were asked "When do you expect all of the items in your order to be delivered?" The date you selected determined the timing of the fulfillment survey. I recommend saving the survey for when you feel you can accurately rate the merchant from which you purchased. I hope this helps clear up any confusion. Have a wonderful day!

If you have any additional questions please send them to *******@bizrate.com.