Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!wugate!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!rwp
From: rwp@cup.portal.com (Roger William Preisendefer)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: PC Pursuit Horror Story
Message-ID: <24037@cup.portal.com>
Date: 14 Nov 89 02:12:46 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 35

A word of warning to all current and potential PC Pursuit
subscribers.  I cancelled my account as of May 31, in writing
over a month in advance, and they are STILL billing me!

The account was definitely cancelled.  I tried it two weeks into
June, and it was closed.  However, the bills kept coming.  When
PC Pursuit raised the rates, they sent out a card for everyone to
sign, authorizing them to bill a credit card account.  I did not
return this card.  I specifically withdrew authorization to debit
my credit card when I cancelled my account (also in writing.)  I
gave them until two months after the cancellation date to clear
up any outstanding charges.  The date passed, but the bills keep
coming!  I sent them a registered letter explaining the
situation, and again denied them authorization to debit my
account.  They ignored the letter.  This month, I got my account
statement, and lo and behold, another $30 charge from PC Pursuit!

The credit card company marked the first two charges as disputed,
and I assume they will so mark the third when I notify them
tomorrow.  I am also going to have them treat it as a stolen card
and change the account number.  This will not get the $90 back
from Telenet, however.

Making charges to a credit card account without the owners
consent is theft through credit card fraud.  After all of the
correspondence (registered and otherwise) I can only assume that
it is deliberate, with criminal intent, or a result of extreme
incompetence.  Are the savings in connect charges (much less
after the rate hike and cap) worth giving your credit card number
to thieves or, at best, incompetents?  I doubt it.

Before you sign up for PC Pursuit or recommend it to someone,
consider the risks.  You may end up paying more in the long run!

Roger Preisendefer