Membership Services
Complaint 146522 Details

I vaguely recall getting a call on my cell for a promotion last year that was going to charge my debit card $1 in exchange for a book of coupons in the mail. I then had 14 days to cancel it, i was told, and in the meantime i was told I was going to receive the book of coupons in the mail for various services. I was also offered, but declined, an additional service during the same phone call for an additional fee. I recall the operator kind of changed his attitude over the phone when I declined the second service, he didn't seem to want to finish the "pitch" with me and we hung up. I later called the 800 number he gave me if i want to cancel the $1 promo thing but I vaguely recall a woman telling me i had no membership with them and since i had never received the coupon book in the mail I just thought this was the end of the story. By coincidence, i got a call from my bank today telling me my debit card may have been compromised and so i did a check of my various debits. I found a monthly charge going back to August 2011 listed as BUDGET SAVERS which I didn't recognize. I had no idea what service this was. I called the 800 number on the bank charge details and realized they had been charging my debit card $29.99 every month for 13 months for some kind of online grocery savings plan. I didn't recognize any of the details of this service or the company and asked to be switched to a supervisor. He was very condescending with me when i tried to explain that i didn't know anything about this service and that i doubted i had understood or approved the original sales pitch. He ended by saying that i should allow myself to "take advantage of the opportunities of our service". When I insisted on speaking to a manager who can rectify this situation he told me I can write a letter asking for a copy of the audio tape of the phone call in which i would have authorized this service. He gave me an address in Edina MN for his company headquarters but no phone number or website. He said he represents 30 various companies and products under the banner of "Membership Services" but nothing else. I had to google the company later and saw many complaints against them and the suggestion from other angry customers to contact our local AG.