Ulamisu
02-07-2006, 04:21 PM
My friend has gotten about 25 calls this week from a company called all star access... we did a little research.. the address they give is actualy a mailboxes etc/UPS store in Denver colorado. Well... we found out that the company is a big scam.. And we are getting even :)
We have called numerous times today, up to 6 of us so far, playing charachters and just giving them a hard time. My friends sister talked for 20 min about a butterfly in her pants, another friend got them to call him a redneck for asking them about a bolt not fitting on a muffler. Has been very amusing so far.. well, we need more people to call and get revenge.
Allstar Access
Removed. -Yrys
If you go to the site www.labbb.org and put in this code 100008595 or search for star communiciatons or consumer rewards you will find this company. I'll post what the site says.. its a big scam, thats for sure.
And a news article from denver about them.
link to news story (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/call7forhelp/6601758/detail.html)
Consumer Reward Network
Removed. -Yrys
Company
Rating
F
Rating Explanation:
The rating the Better Business Bureau assigns a business is determined by our composite score of such factors as its type of business, length of time in business, compliance ...
» Full Rating Explanation
Company Profile
DBA: Consumer Reward Network
# Other DBAs: Consumer Reward Network
# Health Network Unlimited
# Auto Gold Consumer Reward
# Net Forever
# Health Network USA
# Fun Pass
# Star Communications
# Family Fun
# Family Fun Pass
# Half Price TV
# Fantastic Fun
# Arch Communications
# Mega Movie Club
# Consumer Reward Network, Inc.
# Star Network
Address: Removed. -Yrys Other Addresses: Removed. -Yrys
# Primary Phone: Removed. -Yrys Other Phone Numbers: Removed. -Yrys
Primary Fax: Other Fax Numbers:
Primary Contact: Paul Tosi
# President Other Contacts: Paul Tosi
President
Email:
# Richard Clarke
Account Manager
Email:
#
Email:
# Kevin Oliver
Account Manager
Email:
E-Mail Address:
# Website: http://www.starcommunicationsllc.com Other Websites: http://www.starcommunicationsllc.com
Company ID: 100008595
Business Start Date:
BBB Created Record on: 4/15/2005
Nature of Business:
This company's nature of business is providing various gift certificate or membership packages for a fee.
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Bureau Membership
Join Date:
This company is not a member of the Better Business Bureau. This fact does not disparage the company in any way.
» Back to Top
Licensing and Bonding Information
We believe this company is a Discount Buying Service organization and is therefore subject to certain regulations in California. In general, companies subject to these laws must give written notice of a three day right to cancel; they must establish and escrow account out of which refunds must be paid, and they must post a bond. The law also provides for other types of disclosures which are relevant to the program. It does not appear that the company has complied with this law.
» Back to Top
BBB Comments and Analysis
This company makes telephone solicitations offering promotional products and memberships on a trial basis along with coupon packages for gasoline, restaurants, auto services, long distance services or movie passes, as incentives to join their program. If consumers accept their offer, they must call to cancel the membership within seven days or risk incurring additional membership charges. Membership fees vary between $19.95 per month to $99.95 per year. We urge extreme caution. Ask the company to send information regarding the membership terms and conditions prior to accepting the offer. Prior to agreeing to the purchase, consider asking the company for the phone number to cancel since customers report the membership is not received prior to the seven day expiration of the cancellation period. Customers claim the only way this company accepts cancellations is over the phone; therefore, requests for cancellations may be difficult to implement. Verify your bank statement to confirm all charges are valid. If there is an unauthorized charge contact the bank to dispute the amount.
» Back to Top
Complaint Closing Statistics
The following grid displays the number and responses to complaints over the last 36 months:
No. of Cmpl Type of Response
226 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
10 Making a partial refund
339 Agreeing to perform according to their contract
64 Refusing to make an adjustment
50 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
632 Unanswered
0 Unassigned
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Complaint Experience
Of the complaints we have received against this company, in at least some cases, the complaint allegations are very serious.
All complainants allege they were unable to cancel the membership before the company debited their checking account for the full membership fees. In addition, customers state that they were to only pay $4.95 and receive $500 worth of coupons, but instead they were charged hundreds of dollars in most cases and never received the coupons. Despite the company's offer of a refund, some consumers report that they never received them.
» Back to Top
Government Actions
Agency: Attorney General (AG)-SAMP/Credit Svcs
Description: On June 3, 2005, the North Dakota Attorney General, Wayne Stenehjem issued a Cease and Desist Order against Consumer Rewards Network and its affiliates Mega Movie Club, Health Network and Net Forever.
The company is believed to be engaged in deceptive telephone solicitations in North Dakota. The company calls customer with claims that they are from Wal-Mart and offer vouchers for Wal-Mart shopping sprees worth up to $500 for a nominal fee withdrawn automatically from bank accounts. The company used the consumer account information to commit the consumer to various additional and automatic charges for movie and health services, which was not affiliated with the bogus solicitations.
The investigation exposed the companies' fraudulent practices and prompted Stenehjem to issue the Cease and Desist Order prohibiting the company from conducting business in North Dakota. Violations of the order subjects the business to civil penalties of $1000.00 per violation of the Order. The solicitations also are violations of the consumer fraud law and could result in civil penalties up to $5000 per violation.
Consumers in North Dakota who are solicited by this business should contact the Attorney General's Protection Division toll-free at 1-800-472-2600.
Date of Action: 6/3/2005
Agency: Attorney General (AG)-SAMP/Credit Svcs
Description: On September 12, 2005, the North Carolina Attorney General's office filed a complaint in Wake County Superior Court seeking temporary and permanent injunction, restitution and other injunctive relief. The complaint alleges the company promised consumers $500 in vouchers to spend at Wal-Mart or K-Mart, or $200 to spend at local movie theatres in exchange for fees less than $5.00. Instead the telemarketers debited the consumers account for more than $100.00 each, then failed to deliver the promised vouchers. The suit further alleges that the violated State law by calling consumer's whose name appeared on the Do Not Call Registry, and failing to register as a telemarketer in the State. The State's request for injunction was granted . The injunction prohibits the company from further telemarketing sales or taking money from any North Carolina resident during the time period required for legal proceedings. The case is pending.
Date of Action: 9/12/2005
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Advertising Review
We believe this company's advertising is deceptive and misleading. Reports received indicate this company is advertising BBB membership, implying that a percentage of their recievables actually benefits the BBB, and even verbally advising prospective buyers that the BBB requires them to record and retain their customers' bank account or credit card numbers. This information is false. This company is not a BBB member, nor do any financial considerations benefit the BBB in any form. Any references by sales personnel concerning BBB requirements for collection of personal information is also untrue. It is not within the scope of our activities to propose or dictate a company's policies or operating procedures.
» Back to Top
Other Considerations
We know of no other matter or practice relating to this company that may assist you in your consideration of this company.
» Back to Top
We have called numerous times today, up to 6 of us so far, playing charachters and just giving them a hard time. My friends sister talked for 20 min about a butterfly in her pants, another friend got them to call him a redneck for asking them about a bolt not fitting on a muffler. Has been very amusing so far.. well, we need more people to call and get revenge.
Allstar Access
Removed. -Yrys
If you go to the site www.labbb.org and put in this code 100008595 or search for star communiciatons or consumer rewards you will find this company. I'll post what the site says.. its a big scam, thats for sure.
And a news article from denver about them.
link to news story (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/call7forhelp/6601758/detail.html)
Consumer Reward Network
Removed. -Yrys
Company
Rating
F
Rating Explanation:
The rating the Better Business Bureau assigns a business is determined by our composite score of such factors as its type of business, length of time in business, compliance ...
» Full Rating Explanation
Company Profile
DBA: Consumer Reward Network
# Other DBAs: Consumer Reward Network
# Health Network Unlimited
# Auto Gold Consumer Reward
# Net Forever
# Health Network USA
# Fun Pass
# Star Communications
# Family Fun
# Family Fun Pass
# Half Price TV
# Fantastic Fun
# Arch Communications
# Mega Movie Club
# Consumer Reward Network, Inc.
# Star Network
Address: Removed. -Yrys Other Addresses: Removed. -Yrys
# Primary Phone: Removed. -Yrys Other Phone Numbers: Removed. -Yrys
Primary Fax: Other Fax Numbers:
Primary Contact: Paul Tosi
# President Other Contacts: Paul Tosi
President
Email:
# Richard Clarke
Account Manager
Email:
#
Email:
# Kevin Oliver
Account Manager
Email:
E-Mail Address:
# Website: http://www.starcommunicationsllc.com Other Websites: http://www.starcommunicationsllc.com
Company ID: 100008595
Business Start Date:
BBB Created Record on: 4/15/2005
Nature of Business:
This company's nature of business is providing various gift certificate or membership packages for a fee.
» Back to Top
Bureau Membership
Join Date:
This company is not a member of the Better Business Bureau. This fact does not disparage the company in any way.
» Back to Top
Licensing and Bonding Information
We believe this company is a Discount Buying Service organization and is therefore subject to certain regulations in California. In general, companies subject to these laws must give written notice of a three day right to cancel; they must establish and escrow account out of which refunds must be paid, and they must post a bond. The law also provides for other types of disclosures which are relevant to the program. It does not appear that the company has complied with this law.
» Back to Top
BBB Comments and Analysis
This company makes telephone solicitations offering promotional products and memberships on a trial basis along with coupon packages for gasoline, restaurants, auto services, long distance services or movie passes, as incentives to join their program. If consumers accept their offer, they must call to cancel the membership within seven days or risk incurring additional membership charges. Membership fees vary between $19.95 per month to $99.95 per year. We urge extreme caution. Ask the company to send information regarding the membership terms and conditions prior to accepting the offer. Prior to agreeing to the purchase, consider asking the company for the phone number to cancel since customers report the membership is not received prior to the seven day expiration of the cancellation period. Customers claim the only way this company accepts cancellations is over the phone; therefore, requests for cancellations may be difficult to implement. Verify your bank statement to confirm all charges are valid. If there is an unauthorized charge contact the bank to dispute the amount.
» Back to Top
Complaint Closing Statistics
The following grid displays the number and responses to complaints over the last 36 months:
No. of Cmpl Type of Response
226 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
10 Making a partial refund
339 Agreeing to perform according to their contract
64 Refusing to make an adjustment
50 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
632 Unanswered
0 Unassigned
» Back to Top
Complaint Experience
Of the complaints we have received against this company, in at least some cases, the complaint allegations are very serious.
All complainants allege they were unable to cancel the membership before the company debited their checking account for the full membership fees. In addition, customers state that they were to only pay $4.95 and receive $500 worth of coupons, but instead they were charged hundreds of dollars in most cases and never received the coupons. Despite the company's offer of a refund, some consumers report that they never received them.
» Back to Top
Government Actions
Agency: Attorney General (AG)-SAMP/Credit Svcs
Description: On June 3, 2005, the North Dakota Attorney General, Wayne Stenehjem issued a Cease and Desist Order against Consumer Rewards Network and its affiliates Mega Movie Club, Health Network and Net Forever.
The company is believed to be engaged in deceptive telephone solicitations in North Dakota. The company calls customer with claims that they are from Wal-Mart and offer vouchers for Wal-Mart shopping sprees worth up to $500 for a nominal fee withdrawn automatically from bank accounts. The company used the consumer account information to commit the consumer to various additional and automatic charges for movie and health services, which was not affiliated with the bogus solicitations.
The investigation exposed the companies' fraudulent practices and prompted Stenehjem to issue the Cease and Desist Order prohibiting the company from conducting business in North Dakota. Violations of the order subjects the business to civil penalties of $1000.00 per violation of the Order. The solicitations also are violations of the consumer fraud law and could result in civil penalties up to $5000 per violation.
Consumers in North Dakota who are solicited by this business should contact the Attorney General's Protection Division toll-free at 1-800-472-2600.
Date of Action: 6/3/2005
Agency: Attorney General (AG)-SAMP/Credit Svcs
Description: On September 12, 2005, the North Carolina Attorney General's office filed a complaint in Wake County Superior Court seeking temporary and permanent injunction, restitution and other injunctive relief. The complaint alleges the company promised consumers $500 in vouchers to spend at Wal-Mart or K-Mart, or $200 to spend at local movie theatres in exchange for fees less than $5.00. Instead the telemarketers debited the consumers account for more than $100.00 each, then failed to deliver the promised vouchers. The suit further alleges that the violated State law by calling consumer's whose name appeared on the Do Not Call Registry, and failing to register as a telemarketer in the State. The State's request for injunction was granted . The injunction prohibits the company from further telemarketing sales or taking money from any North Carolina resident during the time period required for legal proceedings. The case is pending.
Date of Action: 9/12/2005
» Back to Top
Advertising Review
We believe this company's advertising is deceptive and misleading. Reports received indicate this company is advertising BBB membership, implying that a percentage of their recievables actually benefits the BBB, and even verbally advising prospective buyers that the BBB requires them to record and retain their customers' bank account or credit card numbers. This information is false. This company is not a BBB member, nor do any financial considerations benefit the BBB in any form. Any references by sales personnel concerning BBB requirements for collection of personal information is also untrue. It is not within the scope of our activities to propose or dictate a company's policies or operating procedures.
» Back to Top
Other Considerations
We know of no other matter or practice relating to this company that may assist you in your consideration of this company.
» Back to Top