Viaziz.com
Complaint 186230 Details

I saw an advert on Facebook, which I assume vets its merchants. I clicked the advert and it took me to viaziz. It looked interesting: an auction site certified by Thawte. I thought it was legit.

I filled in my details, and on step 3, they said they needed my credit card details to continue the "free" registration process. Step 3 DID mention giving me 300 credits, but the wording was such that it sounded like a gift, and it did not clearly state that the 300 credits were NOT free and equated to 300 dollars (US). I submitted my details in good faith that the registration process was in fact free.

However, on registering, they took $300, without presenting me with an invoice or any other indication that they'd do so. I only found out when I saw my bank statement online later that day.

I also think that their system is run by "bots". If you bid on something, it resets the bid counter, and keeps on reintroducing anonymous "bidders" who keep bidding. The bids never seem to finish. So you keep bidding (unaware that it costs $1 per bid) until it tells you that you have no more credit, and that you need to buy more. In effect, I bid $250 on an item and lost $250 even though I didn't even get a whiff or scent of the item.

Nowhere on their site do they make it clear that it costs you money to bid. They certainly do not make this clear in the sign-up process.

I consider this deceptive and dishonest business practice. I can provide screenshots if required.