Same service, different domain and an attempted unauthorized charge
Same service, different domain and an attempted unauthorized charge I received an attempted credit-card charge connected to FreeShipments/ShipmentsFree even though I never knowingly subscribed to this service, authorized a paid membership, or entered my card details on either FreeShipments.com or ShipmentsFree.com. There is also a serious transparency issue concerning the two domains. ShipmentsFree.com has an “Excellent” Trustpilot rating based on approximately 30,000 reviews. However, FreeShipments.com—the website currently advertising the same type of shipping-rebate membership and providing membership cancellation and refund facilities—has zero Trustpilot reviews under its own domain. The companies’ own online policies cross-reference these two domains, so they appear to be connected rather than unrelated businesses. Consumers deserve to know: 1. Are FreeShipments.com and ShipmentsFree.com operated by the same legal entity? 2. Was the service renamed or transferred to a different domain? 3. Why does the current domain have no Trustpilot review history? 4. Why have the profiles and review histories not been transparently linked or merged? More importantly, how did this operation obtain access to my card information when I never entered it on either website? If they claim that I enrolled through a retailer, post-purchase rebate, affiliate, or third-party checkout, they should provide documentary evidence showing the referring website, enrollment date and time, IP or device information, exact offer and payment terms displayed, proof of my express consent, and the payment authorization. I am requesting immediate cancellation of any account associated with me, deletion of my personal and payment information, confirmation that no further charge will be attempted, and a complete explanation of how my card details were obtained. Until these questions are answered with evidence, I consider this experience highly concerning and potentially deceptive. Consumers should check their card statements carefully and exercise particular caution with “free shipping” or rebate offers displayed after an online purchase.
By Mian Omer S.