Beware Ireel.com
Update - Someone actually posted that this sounded like a fair deal to them and we were the ones who screwed up. I figured I would show the screen where it asks for the CC info. Now I know you should always read the fine print, but come on, they make it very hard to find. Nowhere on the sign-up page does it mention cancelling in 5 days and it says that you will only be charged if you upgrade or purchase. From their site "Signing up to iReel is FREE! Credit card information is only required to facilitate future purchases. No charges will be applied to your credit card for signing up as a regular member. Today's charge: $0.00" and "Never any hidden fees We make sure to provide our members with a detailed transaction history so that they know what they are paying for. Credit card information is required to facilitate future purchases only. No charges will appear on your credit card statement, unless you upgrade to Premium Membership or you make a purchase from iReel."
I have not posted in sometime and I am sorry, but these people pissed me off . I wanted to warn anyone who still reads this blog.
Do not sign up for an ireel.com free 5 day preview. The site is for watching movies and videos online. If you do not cancel in the 5 day period they start charging you 34.95 a month until you cancel. I found this out the hard way tonight when checking my bank account online. After 16 minutes and 3 people I got them to refund the money with threat of contacting the States Attorney General.
Comments
It would be fair if it said this on the same page, in letters of equal size, where you sign up for the trial and put in your info. Not buried on some page that most people won't read.
Paul
You were one of the 3
sites I checked and boy am I glad.
You are doing good by having blogged
about this so props and high five.
p.s to the "confused" anonyomous "non-biased" commenter...go fuck a goat.that is all.
They say over and over that there is no charge and you'll only pay if you upgrade. That implies action on the user's part. This is definitely shady business.
Glad I did a search and came across this post. :)
After 20 minutes of waiting on hold....
I went with the threat of complaining to the Better Business Bureau coupled with lodging a State Attorney General complaint with a sprinkle of "i come from a family of lawyers" and my two months worth of charges were immediately reversed and account cancelled.
"We GUARANTEE that you will NOT BE CHARGED for signing up as a regular member. No charges will appear on your credit card statement unless you upgrade to Premium Membership or make a purchase." Umm, yeah.... right. Thank you for letting people know about these scammers.
Thank you for posting on this.
DO NOT give your cc details to ireel unless you're prepared to start paying $34.95/mth.
Is a pity an idea that seems so good for somebody like us who live far from a city get screwed by doggy business practices.... ireel your monthly membership cost less than one babysitter for a night out with my best half but what you do in your signin page is dishonest and I don't want any deals with people like you no matter how many people you hire to support you on the blogs.
These are real assholes i would say.
I figured if they are asking for your card, they will be charging you some where down the line.
That's just common sense.
Regardless of what is perceived as "common sense," and even if iReel is not guilty of intent to defraud, their method of doing business is predatory and people on the Internet who become victim to their predatory practice(s) should help other consumers avoid or fight back against such practices.
All IREEL Online membership plans allow members to access IREEL's free movies library by paying a periodic fee. You can watch as many movies in the IREEL's free movies library as you want."
Free movies by paying a periodic fee? Thats when I decided to look it up. I'll not be signing up !!
Don't believe a word of the promises they make about not charging your account! Any intent to do so after the 5 day trial period is very well-hidden in the small print.
How are they allowed to get away with it?
I wish I'd seen these comments before I signed up for this swindle!
Sam
I want to thank you for taking the time to post. You saved a "near sucker" time and hassle.
You action and considerations is much appreciated.
Regards
alc
"Dear Client,
Your account information has been completely removed from our database. Your feedback is very appreciated.
Regards,
Natalie
iReel.com"
So all seems well, so far. I shall have to wait to see if any charges appear on my bank statements.
I already tried to call them and it picks up and says good-bye. I was willing to pay for the movie too, but not this.
-Adam Prince
get a real service, you blood leaches.
I agree with Anonymous who wrote on Jan. 3, 2010 that there should be an e-regulatory body that goes after scrounging predators online.
And to the blogger who got scammed, go ahead and try to get your money back by using the "Triple-layer Cake" threat that another blogger mentioned above. It sounds like she might be an attorney, or at least somebody who knows that there are alternatives to feeling foolish and losing your money. Just write yourself out the three options she mentioned in her note and then call IReel or email them.
Another tip: I have always (for decades) had success with getting my money back from scams by calling my credit card company. They will definately believe you when you have been robbed, and I think they then go ahead and report the incident to the state attorney's office.
Thank you main bloggee whose site this is, Sue
Thanks again Paul
The comments here indicate this scam has been going on for quite a while and shows no sign of being closed down. So where are the internet police when you need them?
Maybe your right, but i think nothing give you the right to tell company details after you got fired. You just show to everybody you have no respect for anything. They probably help you to pay your bill couple times no?? I got fired too from my last job and i don't have any hate...Keep it cool man
They claimed I had ordered whatever service they offer in October of 2009 and that I had used an email address that I know I haven't used in over a year. They refunded the most recent charge and canceled my "account".
Then it occurred to me to call my bank and see if there were other charges, and of course there were, so I called ireel again. At first they tried the "you didn't read the terms of service" and "if you are the only person who has your credit card number..." AND they asked for my IP address, supposedly so they could match it to the one used when I "signed up" (I didn't give it to them). After I threatened speaking with lawyers, attorneys general and the BBB and pointed out that there were no confirmation emails from them in that old account, either in my inbox or the spam folder, they were willing to refund the charges going back to November.
Thanks for the warning folks. You and google saved me a few bucks!
I called them just now, 1888-382-8966, and told them I'd file a dispute with my credit card company for a chargeback, I'd contact my state AG, and the better business bureau. After some arguing she gave in, first person I talked to. If I don't have the $$ in the 5-10 days she promised, I'm filing the chargeback. If I do, I'm still contacting the AG and the BBB. These guys are awful and I'm shocked they do what they do from the USA.
BTW, there is another good thread on this here: http://consumerist.com/2009/08/ireelcom-offers-free-trial-downloads-your-money-instead.html
We should all report them. Sue