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Orbitz Sharing Customer Credit Card Information

Posted by timothy on from the to-err-is-corporate dept.

tstorm writes "ConsumerAffairs.com has a warning about Orbitz and their affiliation with a company called MWI. Apparently numerous people who have booked travel through Orbitz are finding unauthorized $9.95 monthly charges on their credit card bills from MWI for membership in a 'discount entertainment service,' despite that fact that MWI doesn't appear to provide any actual product or service. It's also very difficult to opt-out of this membership, some people have gotten refunds for what they were already charged only to have another charge appear the following month."

10 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. this stuff never happens to me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    maybe it's because I

    1) READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS .. people think I'm some kind of dork for reading them all the time (which I am, of course :) but that's where they hide this bullshit. READ IT BEFORE CLICKING!

    2) I use a one-time virtual number from Citibank. Not sure if this can thwart the scam but they seem to do the trick.

    3) READ THE TERMS!

    1. Re:this stuff never happens to me by ln+-sf+head+ass · · Score: 3, Informative

      AMEX used to have this--I wonder if they killed it because too many of their merchants didn't like getting stiffed on recurring billing services. I'll have to get a card from Citibank now--it's great not having to worry about signing up for some service and forgetting to cancel after the end of the month then having them hit the card again and again. At least until Citibank drops the service, too.

  2. Bastards by elmegil · · Score: 5, Informative

    MWI have been doing this in conjunction with Harris Publishing (aka those idiots who call you up trying to sell you class reunion directories) for a long time. Just WONDERFUL to see Orbitz in bed with them.

    --
    7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
  3. Browse-wrap conditions by pdcryan · · Score: 3, Informative

    Scary as it sounds, many courts have found that similar "browse-wrap" and "click wrap" conditions are valid contracts. So long as you have to affirmatively agree to the conditions, and either are presented with them, or giving the option to read them, they can be valid.

    For some background on these types of contacts check out:

    http://gsulaw.gsu.edu/lawand/papers/su03/darden_th orpe/

    It's hard to tell from the consumer warning if that's the case here, of if they're just jerks and are overtly committing fraud.

    --
    Ryan Kennedy opposes comm
  4. More Info by tstorm · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here is the Orbitz response and the Better Business Bureau's take on the issue.

  5. Just deal with visa instead by Macgyver7017 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If it is difficult to get them to refund your money, contact your bank instead. Usually they will refund the charge and deal with the investigation themselves just on your word that the charge wasn't authorized. Last time this happened with my American Express card, they just said "the charge has been reversed, if we need any forther information we will contact you, otherwise consider it taken care of". Your bank and ultimately visa/mastercard has a lot more leverage with a given buisiness than you. They can threaten to not allow them to process visa/mc/amex transactions if they are the cause of too many fraudulent charges or complaints.

    1. Re:Just deal with visa instead by HardYakka · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Bawhhahhahha! If only this were true! Let me tell you my tale of woe.

      My AMEX card number was obtained by someone, somehow and they used it to sign up for 2 AOL accounts.

      When I received the bill, I called AMEX and they gave me the same line they gave you. Next month, charges again - called AMEX again (30 min hold) - said they would take care of the fraud, but I asked for a new card number to be sure. OK - they sent me a new card.

      Next month - more charges! I called again - how can they get my new card number? The AMEX operator told me that AOL subscribes to a service that UPDATES THEM WITH THE NEW CARD NUMBER when a "subscriber" changes the number.

      Six months of this and I was finally told by AMEX that I had to call AOL (who I have never dealt with) and cancel the account and see if I can find out the screen name and phone number of the unauthorized user. I called AOL and was hung up on three times and spent 30 minutes on hold to be told they could not give me any information on the account they were charging me for for "privacy reasons", but they could cancel it and I would only be liable for the charges up to that day!

      AMEX said - we will see what we can do but AOL is hard to deal with. That is the story so far - see how well your CC takes care of fraudulant charges for you!

  6. Orbitz Orig Press Release... by sahtanax · · Score: 4, Informative
    Here's the Orbitz side of it... the Original Press Release

    IMHO, Clicking 'yes' 2x and entering your e-mail address, while definitely interactive, is not sufficient enough process to allow sale of your CCard info. I'd prefer an e-mail/reply system, or something more explicit

    --------

    Orbitz Statement on Inaccurate Media Reports Regarding Memberworks (MWI) Connections

    Chicago, IL, April 20, 2004---Orbitz has partnered with MemberWork's Connections program to offer customers increased savings opportunities at America's most popular retailers and restaurants. MemberWorks assures us that it follows National Best Marketing Practices that go far beyond its competitors in pro-consumer protections and the company maintains a "no questions asked" refund policy.

    To ensure Orbitz's customers are aware they are signing up for a paid membership, they must enter their email address twice and click "yes" to enroll in the Connections program. Each step of the sign-up process includes disclosures about the program and how much and when the customer will be billed. Customers who change their minds about membership receive ongoing opportunities from Memberworks to cancel and request a full refund through its "no questions asked" policy.

  7. business practices by tolldog · · Score: 3, Insightful

    *disclaimer - I previously worked for Orbitz, this post is my own opinion, not that of my previous employer, this is not based off of any information I have, purely speculation and guessing based on general business practices*

    I tend to avoid any "special offers" because they almost always have some sort of string attached. I don't like strings. From tstorm's follup posts, it looks like some of the methodology is at least changing. It is very possible they have some sort of contract with the company so that they can't drop the promotion. I would not say this is an example of a company being bad. This is an example of how the standard web based sales company works. Most of them have contracts with people, some good, some bad. Sometimes you just don't know until its too late and you have to ride it out.

    I would say that contacting customer service before you decide to never use Orbitz again makes more sense. If you are upset enough to not use them again, let them know why. They need to be better informed as to what customers like and don't like. Thats the only way a company can better serve you, the consumer. Without you, there is no company.

    -Tim

    --
    -I just work here... how am I supposed to know?
  8. No surprise, this. by Teddy+Beartuzzi · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Orbitz had/has some of the most annoying pop up, pop under, banner, full screen ads, etc.

    A company willing to pull dirty tricks in advertising is of course willing to go the extra mile and blatantly steal from their customers.