Unauthorized Billing

[jsbarone]

California,

Hello---first post. Thanks for the help in advance.

About two years ago, I signed up for a one month subscription at a website called IGN.com. It's a gaming website, and provides content, articles and various other gaming relks/IGN.com/American Idol/etc. They have no option to talk to anyone directly, so I left a message explaining my situation. After leaving the message, I look back into my credit history and find that my I've been being charged 19.95 every three months for the last two years. That's $180!

So I wait a few days and call back and leave another message. No return. I leave another a few days later. No call. This goes on for over a week, when I decide to just use their online support option. I write in a ticket, and miraculously someone responds to me in two days telling me that they'll refund the most recent charge, but that's it. Not willing to take "no" for an answer, I keep replying and opening up new support tickets, until I get completely blown off by the Customer Service Manager. She told me to quit opening tickets, and that they refuse to help me any further. She says I will not be getting any money back.

This situation has gone from "Crap---they made a mistake and I didn't see it" to "IGN.com has horrible customer service, and thinks they can just push people around and bill them for things they didn't authorize". In other words, it's personal.

I aim to sue them in small claims court, understanding that the court costs will approach the amount of the money I aim to get back. What I'd like to know is how to best go about this, and what I should expect. Knowing a little about legal stuff, I'd imagine that they wouldn't waste their lawyers on anything less than a few thousand dollars, so they'll probably settle.

How much should I sue for? I've put hours and hours of my time into this ordeal and incurred tons of stress.

Thanks again for the help. Looking forward to hearing your responses!

 

[racer72]

Your chance of winning anything is zilch, nada, zero, zip. You don't have a case. When you joined, it is painfully apparent you did not read the subscription terms of service.

Payment Obligation and Credit Card Authorization. You are responsible for paying any and all charges relating to your Premium Service account, including without limitation, periodic subscription fees (the initial fee and automatic renewals). You grant IGN permission to charge your credit card (or other approved facility) to pay for all such charges. The subscription fee will be billed at the beginning of your subscription and on each annual, quarterly or monthly renewal thereafter, dependant on the original subscription term selected at registration, unless you cancel at least 10 days prior to the renewal date pursuant to the process set forth below.

You grant IGN permission to automatically renew your subscription and charge your account up to five (5) days prior to the day on which your subscription is scheduled to end. However, you may "opt out" of this automatic renewal by visiting The Support Center (http://support.ign.com) and canceling on your own or by using our online form to notify IGN.

 

[jsbarone]

Your chance of winning anything is zilch, nada, zero, zip. You don't have a case. When you joined, it is painfully apparent you did not read the subscription terms of service.

Payment Obligation and Credit Card Authorization. You are responsible for paying any and all charges relating to your Premium Service account, including without limitation, periodic subscription fees (the initial fee and automatic renewals). You grant IGN permission to charge your credit card (or other approved facility) to pay for all such charges. The subscription fee will be billed at the beginning of your subscription and on each annual, quarterly or monthly renewal thereafter, dependant on the original subscription term selected at registration, unless you cancel at least 10 days prior to the renewal date pursuant to the process set forth below.

You grant IGN permission to automatically renew your subscription and charge your account up to five (5) days prior to the day on which your subscription is scheduled to end. However, you may "opt out" of this automatic renewal by visiting The Support Center (http://support.ign.com) and canceling on your own or by using our online form to notify IGN.

Thanks for responding. After reading your post, I wonder if you fully read what I typed. I *did* cancel my account, and I did read the TOS. What do I do if they continue to bill me unchecked, even if I cancel my service? Don't they owe me a refund?

Also, even if I *didn't* have a stellar case, wouldn't they just be willing to settle with me instead of having their high price lawyers meddle over such a petty ammount?