Ventrillo Annual Subscription Scam from Dallasxtreme.com

[ramu]

I purchased an annual subscription to Dallasxtreme.com.

Order Summary: Main Package 25 User Ventrilo Server:
Annually (10% Discount) @ $118.26 + Setup: FREE
Location:: Dallas TX


Package(s) Total $118.26

Sub Total $118.26
Coupon (50%OFF 50% Off) -$59.13
Tax Due $0.00
Total Due $59.13*

* $118.26 will be due on the next renewal date: 07/16/2011
(Domain renewals billed separately.)

It is now January, and they cut me off, giving me some BS line that the 50%off was the first month only.

They advertised it as $118, 50% get the year for $59.

Well, I opened a ticket with paypal, and it was closed in the blink of an eye.

I shopped around for the best vent server price, but instead got shystered.

What makes this worse, the company has no phone number and are not in the Better Business Beuro database either.  Any help would nice, but I think I have to choke this down.  I think i'm going to ditch paypal if they are going to discard this so quickly.

[ramu]

I have still been swindled by Dallasxteme.com.  Why is there no recourse for an anual subscription that was terminated half way through.

[nazusko]

You can file with the BBB against the business. You'll just be the first person to do so. Just type in the address etc and BBB will send them a letter notifying them the reason you are unsatisfied.

Sorry I didn't answer your paypal question, mine wasn't answered either.

[ramu]

Thanks Nazusko. I took your advice and filed with the BBB and the case is now open. I don't know if I will see results, but I have a keen mind about customer service and not getting **bleep**ed. I think this is a of a bit complicated case, so I thought I would share my BBB file so any peeps reading would understand: ***BBB file Dallasxtreme.com hosts ventrillo (allows game players to talk to each other over the internet using head phones). On their facepage, they list the services and prices. Below that, they offer 50%OFF coupons for the first month. When you select an annual (yearly) subscription for $118.26, it gives you back an invoice for $59.13. Then a person pays the $59.13 for an annual subscription. In the customers mind, they understand that they will get a years worth of ventrillo service for $59.13, which is reinforced with this follow-up invoice: Package(s) Total $118.26 Sub Total $118.26 Coupon (50%OFF 50% Off) -$59.13 Tax Due $0.00 Total Due $59.13* * $118.26 will be due on the next renewal date: 07/16/2011 (Domain renewals billed separately.) The customer's mindset is further reinforced with an email receipt of subscription: Subscription Details ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date of sign up: Jul 16, 2010 Subscription Name: DallasXtreme.com Subscription Number: S-6N568923490909328 Item Number: 48120 Subscription Terms: $59.13 USD for the first 12 months Then $118.26 USD for each 12 months The customer is charged $59.13 and pays 59.13 and does NOT receive 50% off first month or the first year. Here is my receipt from paypal: Total amount: -$59.13 USD Fee amount: $0.00 USD Net amount: -$59.13 USD Date: Jul 16, 2010 Time: 18:23:36 PDT Status: Completed I noticed that Dallasxtreme.com set up a recurring payment on my Paypal account, and I discontinued that, deciding that I would renew in one year, and also protect my account from fraudulent withdrawals. Sure enough, in six months, they attempted to take out $5, and canceled my subscription when they couldn't get it. Dallasxtreme.com does this on purpose, as it has been going on for years. I have seen other complaints on the internet. Because I could have chosen a company to host my vent that was honorable and quite probably cheaper than $118, and becuase I have been mistreated by dallasxtreme.com and blamed for their misleading marketing practices, I am seeking a full refund and desire them to change their website to project true and accurate subscription figures. Sincerely, Jonathan Full Refund and they change their prices and website to project accurate subscription prices. BBB Case # [intent. left blank]. *** End BBB file What bothers me is how bad paypal is on this subject. I opened a file, complained. They closed it and I can't do anything with it now. Just NOTHING. It would be NICE to hear from paypal also. Why do they pawn me off like discarded trash? Sooo IF YOU ARE PAYPAL-CONTACT ME!

[ramu]

wow, i do like the avatar they gave me 🙂

[PayPal_Olivia]

Welcome to the forums, ramu!

I'm really sorry to hear that you're having difficulty with your Ventrilo hosting. Because it's a service/digital goods, there really isn't a way for PayPal to monitor delivery, which is why Purchase Protection doesn't extend to that kind of payment. A buyer weighs his or her own risk in a payment for intangible or virtual goods or services. That said, filing a dispute definitely brings the problem to our attention, and sellers who have a pattern of such complaints don't stay sellers on PayPal for long.

It sounds like you filed a dispute and you also took nazusko's advice. Here are a few other resources for you:

Internet Crime Complaint Center - http://www.ic3.gov

National Fraud Information Center - http://www.fraud.org

Department of Justice - http://www.onguardonline.gov

I hope this helps!

Olivia

P.S. I like your avatar, too. 🙂

[ramu]

The BBB file was closed for-

 insufficient information, inappropriate language or a duplicate of an existing dispute.

Looking at the reasons, there can be only one reason it was closed.  I didn't use profanity and I didn't open a second dispute.  Surely it was closed because Dallasxtreme.com doesn't have a phone number.