# Have you been scammed by Classmates.com's Gold Membership? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968 "2011-01-25T20:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/1 "2011-01-25T20:54:57Z")
A year ago I purchased a 12-month Gold upgrade for [Classmates.com](http://Classmates.com). This week I see a charge on my credit card statement for $39 to renew it for another year. But I didn’t ask to renew it. I have been trying to reach [Classmates.com](http://Classmates.com) to talk this out like adults but when I call their customer service phone number it seems it is always outside their normal business hours, which I suppose are continuous from noon to 1:00 PM except a one-hour break for lunch. I called my bank to dispute the charge. The rep I talked to was quite familiar with [Classmates.com](http://Classmates.com). She said that when you buy a Gold membership, there is “a little tick-box” that you have to uncheck if you don’t want automatic renewal. She said if that is written into their terms of service, the bank will not dispute the charge. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Outcome? ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/2 "2011-01-25T21:10:11Z")
Call your credit card. Don’t bother with the website. If they don’t do anything, CANCEL your credit card. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/3 "2011-01-25T21:15:52Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > Call your credit card. Don’t bother with the website. > > If they don’t do anything, CANCEL your credit card. That’s kind of unfair to the CC isn’t it (to cancel it)? If the OP left the box checked to auto renew, it’s not really the CC’s fault, and they shouldn’t be expected to do a charge back if the OP simply wasn’t paying attention during the registration process. Now, if there wasn’t an auto-renew option and they just went ahead and did it, that would be different, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. CWG, you might try running through the registration process again to see if you can find the auto renew button and see how obvious it is or if it’s something really buried and designed to be missed. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/4 "2011-01-25T21:23:51Z")
This is from their [terms of service](http://www.classmates.com/cm/reg/terms#misc): > [@](#): > > 1. Automatic Renewal Program. Upon your acceptance of an offer for Subscription Services, you will be enrolled in Classmates’ automatic renewal program to help ensure that there is no interruption of your Gold member privileges. Under this program, you authorize Classmates to automatically renew your subscription at the end of the term of the subscription you purchased, and each subsequent term, for the same term length of the subscription you initially purchased (unless otherwise stated in the offer you accepted). Unless you take the necessary steps to remove yourself from Classmates’ automatic renewal program, at the time of each such renewal you authorize Classmates to charge your credit card (or other payment method) at the then-current, non-promotional price for the renewal of your Subscription Services. If you no longer want to be enrolled in Classmates’ automatic renewal program, you can change your renewal status at any time by logging on to Your Account, clicking on “Membership Information”, and changing your renewal option from “automatic” to “manual”. Please note that changing your renewal option in this way will only stop future automatic renewals of your subscription and will not impact any automatic renewals that occurred prior to the date of your status change. FWIW I have signed up with auto-renewing subscription services before (not [Classmates.com](http://Classmates.com), tho) and forgot to cancel my account before they auto-renewed. When the charge showed up on my card I called the company and they took the charge right off and canceled my account. Seemed like SOP for them. The trick is getting someone on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/5 "2011-01-25T21:25:50Z")
> [@](#): > > **4. Automatic Renewal Program.** Upon your acceptance of an offer for Subscription Services, **you will be enrolled in Classmates’ automatic renewal program to help ensure that there is no interruption of your Gold member privileges.** Under this program, you authorize Classmates to automatically renew your subscription at the end of the term of the subscription you purchased, and each subsequent term, for the same term length of the subscription you initially purchased (unless otherwise stated in the offer you accepted). Unless you take the necessary steps to remove yourself from Classmates’ automatic renewal program, at the time of each such renewal you authorize Classmates to charge your credit card (or other payment method) at the then-current, non-promotional price for the renewal of your Subscription Services. If you no longer want to be enrolled in Classmates’ automatic renewal program, you can change your renewal status at any time by logging on to [Your Account](https://secure.classmates.com/profile/user/my/login), clicking on “Membership Information”, and changing your renewal option from “automatic” to “manual”. Please note that changing your renewal option in this way will only stop future automatic renewals of your subscription and will not impact any automatic renewals that occurred prior to the date of your status change. BOlding mine.) [http://www.classmates.com/cm/reg/terms](http://www.classmates.com/cm/reg/terms) Their TOS page is hidden within a popup window that doesn’t make it easy to locate the specific URL. BTW, [you are not the only one complaining](http://www.google.com/search?q=classmates.com+renewal). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/6 "2011-01-25T21:26:48Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The trick is getting someone on the phone. Now that you say that, the OP said they couldn’t get someone on the phone. If you really are, honestly trying and no one is answering the phone, I could see using that as a good reason to do a charge back. If you explain to the CC company that you’ve been trying to cancel this membership but you can never get a human (and the website says you need to call), they might be willing to work with you. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/7 "2011-01-25T21:32:22Z")
I did get someone on the phone within the last 30 minutes. I asked to cancel for a refund. Even though the transaction occurred 1/14 (posted to my account 1/19) she said the charge was non-refundable. She explained that I accepted the terms when I signed up. I asked if they had a record that I agreed to anything. She referred to me their web site. I said, “That’s what someone would agree to today. What exactly was presented when I made \*my \*purchase?” She said she would email it to me and I don’t have access to my email account at the moment to see what they sent. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/8 "2011-01-25T21:33:52Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > She explained that I accepted the terms when I signed up. I asked if they had a record that I agreed to anything. She referred to me their web site. I said, “That’s what someone would agree to today. What exactly was presented when I made \*my \*purchase?” She said she would email it to me and I don’t have access to my email account at the moment to see what they sent. That’s a really good/smart argument. I’m curious as to what they sent you. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/9 "2011-01-25T21:38:23Z")
Not a scam, IMO, but an unsavory business practice. I’ve seen those little tick-boxes on other sites and try to never do business with those places again. AAA got me on this via mail (not online) years ago. They got a little money out of me once and lost my business and good will forever. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/10 "2011-01-25T21:39:05Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > That’s a really good/smart argument. I’m curious as to what they sent you. I am fully expecting them to send a list of terms just like those that were quoted above. I am not expecting them to show me a screenshot with a checkbox marked off. I am not expecting any kind of auditable record of my transaction. I am not expecting my bank to dispute the charge. Frankly I don’t even care about the 39 bucks. I am just pissed. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/11 "2011-01-25T21:42:36Z")
Obligatory link to [The Onion.](http://www.theonion.com/articles/classmatescom-employees-dont-have-heart-to-tell-ce,6710/) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/12 "2011-01-25T21:48:16Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I am fully expecting them to send a list of terms just like those that were quoted above. I am not expecting them to show me a screenshot with a checkbox marked off. I am not expecting any kind of auditable record of my transaction. I am not expecting my bank to dispute the charge. > > Frankly I don’t even care about the 39 bucks. I am just pissed. That’s my thought as well. If you just keep making a stink, at most you’ll get them to reverse the charge just because they’ll eventually realize it’s not worth their time anymore. But at the very least I’d verbally get them to turn off auto-renew and even see if you can get them to remove your credit card from the system so ‘this can’t happen again’. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/13 "2011-01-25T22:00:48Z")
I bought a 3 month [match.com](http://match.com) subscription and they auto-renewed me and refused to issue a refund. There wasn`t even a check box to decline. So I got Amex to reject the charge and they did. Then a year or so later I decided to try the site again. I didn’t have any ill will since I got my money back the first time and I didn’t really even try it in my first 3 months because I was busy and less motivated than I expected to be when I signed up. It turned out they had blacklisted the Amex card I used to buy my first subscription, which Amex had put the chargeback through on. Seems like a reasonable thing to do, I was just surprised. So when I bought a new 3 month membership, the very first thing I did was log in to cancel my membership. If you cancel your membership, you get to use all the time you’ve paid for but they won’t auto-renew you. After 3 months, they charged my card again so I called up enraged to find out why they auto-renewed my account when I canceled it mere minutes after buying the membership. They said they didn’t have any record of me canceling my account and asked if I had the e-mail they sent proving it. I remember the e-mail but foolishly didn’t save it for 3 months. So I did another chargeback and got my money back. So in spite of their best efforts to fuck me, I won twice. 😃 At least I won’t be doing that a 3rd time… ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/14 "2011-01-25T22:02:00Z")
This is a common tactic with many web-based businesses, even legitimate ones and many with monthly subscription fees as well. You have to read the forms carefully and the fine print at the bottom. Classmates will cancel your subscription and refund your money if you can get them on the line. Dispute it with the CC company now, just in case you can’t get them on the phone and you don’t want the subscription. In that case the CC company will be obliged to charge it back. Classmates always seemed like pretty much of a scam to me. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/15 "2011-01-25T22:03:26Z")
Wow, I turned off auto-renew on match and didn’t have any problems at all with it not auto-renewing. But now I’m going to turn it on, then back off just so I can get the email and save it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/16 "2011-01-25T22:10:56Z")
It’s a crappy business practice but common enough that I’m always on the lookout for it when I sign up for something. A friend of mine worked for an on-line subscription service that did that but would always refund the money if someone complained. (Actually they would first ask if you wanted _two_ years for that price and if you said “no,” they’d refund your money immediately.) Every day people would call up all furious and waiting for a fight. Some of them would be almost disappointed that the company gave in so quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/17 "2011-01-25T22:23:36Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It’s a crappy business practice but common enough that I’m always on the lookout for it when I sign up for something. What really _really_ pisses me off is when you’ll uncheck the box on such a site, then you click submit, and they’ll suddenly say “Oh, your password needs to have a number character. Please try again.” and while you weren’t looking the box was checked again as a default. I can’t remember the site, that did this. But I remember catching it. It was a “Yes subscribe m for all the spam you can muster!” checkbox. I clicked it off and every time there was something wrong with the way I was inputing data (“Oh, this has to have an uppercase letter,. Oh, don’t put the dash in your phone number.”) the form would reset with the little fucker checked again. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/18 "2011-01-25T22:41:52Z")
I find it very frustrating that they tend to bury the automatic renewal notice during sign-in. No doubt it is made clear, but only if you are \*really \*paying attention. Here is what I do. I use a Discover secure card. It is generated specifically for a site and can be canceled at any time. I always allow the charge to go through and then I cancel the number. It can’t be used again. If I want to renew the following year, I generate another number. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/19 "2011-01-26T02:52:45Z")
As I mentioned, my bank says they are familiar with Classmate’s policy and will not take a dispute from me. Here is what I received by email from customer disservice: > [@Classmates.com](#): > > Thank you for contacting Classmates. This message is a follow-up to our recent phone conversation. > > The Classmates website displays several different payment pages with a variety of offers and designs. While we’re not able to provide the exact page you saw when you purchased your Gold membership, please be assured that each payment page includes information regarding automatic renewal and our refund policy, as well as a link to our Terms of Service. This information is located directly above the Submit Payment button. > > Please see below for an overview of the wording that is provided on each payment page: > **Automatic Renewal:** Your membership will be automatically renewed at the end of the term until you cancel. Your credit card will be charged at the then current rate (currently $39.00) on each renewal date. Visit **[FONT=Verdana]Your Account** any time to make changes. > > **No Refunds:** No portion of any membership fees is refundable. By clicking **Submit Payment** , you agree to the Classmates [[COLOR=#0000ff]Terms of Service](http://www.classmates.com/cmo/terms.jsp) and [Privacy Policy](https://secure.classmates.com/cmo/reg/privacy.jsp) and to upgrade to a Gold membership. > > **Submit Payment \>\>** [/FONT][/COLOR] > If you have any further questions or concerns, please reply directly to this email and let us know. Sincerely, [Classmates.com](http://Classmates.com) ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968/20 "2011-01-26T03:53:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > That’s kind of unfair to the CC isn’t it (to cancel it)? Being fair to a bank that refuses to help me would be the least of my concerns. What I would do is file a formal chargeback request, in writing. Even if you know that the result is a forgone conclusion, both the bank and the merchant need to respond. You may still be out the $39, but at least the fuckers worked for it. Then cancel the card. I would then spend the next year using my Classmates account to do nothing but post how shitty Classmates is. Of course you’ll be preaching to the choir, but you paid your $39, you may as well vent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-scammed-by-classmates-coms-gold-membership/568968.md?page=2)