VIN History USA are scammers and Bank of America is little help

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Arizona

Arizona

Former Yooper, always a MoPar fan.
Joined
Aug 16, 2017
Messages
108
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Location
Gilbert, AZ
Last August I ordered a VIN report from VIN History USA for $1.00. All over their website it says $1.00 reports. Even on the page where you enter your credit card #.

They immediately charged the $1.00 and also $18.95.

B of A called and asked if they were both legit. Of course I said only the $1 was good and they reversed the $18.95. Since then VIN History has charged my card $18.95 (changed to $24.95 later) for a "subscription" EVERY MONTH.

Bank of America reversed 4 such charges without much question, but now wants details like when I started the subscription and when I cancelled it.... and the letter states that I have only 3 days to get the info back to them or I would be stuck with the charge... They say I can fax it but I refuse to go to any store, what with Arizona having the highest covid rate in the world right now. The guy I talked to said 'don't worry about the deadline' but the letter plainly says the deadline is the deadline... we will see.

I also asked B of A twice to block this merchant but they now they say they can't because the charges are not billed on the same day every month. VIN History apparently knows this and purposely bills everyone on different days each month to avoid blocking.

I also called VIN History and the only options they have are to cancel a subscription or start one. When I press 1 for cancel, it asks for the last 6 digits of my credit card. I enter that and their computer says "already cancelled" but they keep charging....

Looking at VIN History USA's website, you have to read the Money Back Guarantee, where it says that they don't sell $1 reports, only subscriptions. What? Why say $1.00 reports all over their website then? And why would I read the money-back part when I am only spending $1.00?

Bottom line is that I recommend you stay away from VINHISTORYUSA.COM. They are crooks.

Thanks for letting me rant!
Jim
 
Bummer !
Thanks for sharing.
So many like them that scam.
I have had to call the credit card company and dispute before as well.
 
Pay off credit card, cancel credit card....

Sigh... been there done that dance.

New bank!!!
 
I found out a few years back that BOA's customer service is the pits. I was trying to close out an account I had to open when I was working out of state. My bank didn't have any branches where I was working. I was told I had to go to the bank to close the account, in Louisiana. I take a day off, go to Louisiana to close the account. They asked me how I wanted the money & I told them I wanted it all in small bills, nothing bigger than a 20. The clerk looked at me like I had sprouted a 2nd head because the account had over $32,000 in it. The manager came over & explained that they didn't have that much in small bills, & proceeded to tell her that since I took a day off work & made the trip that it was her duty to make sure I was a satisfied customer. I stood there for about 10 minutes while she was on the phone before I let her off the hook & told her I wanted a certified bank cashier's check for the amount. Now days, I still don't get junk mail from BOA. LMAO
 
Arizona said:
Last August I ordered a VIN report from VIN History USA for $1.00. All over their website it says $1.00 reports. Even on the page where you enter your credit card #.

They immediately charged the $1.00 and also $18.95.

B of A called and asked if they were both legit. Of course I said only the $1 was good and they reversed the $18.95. Since then VIN History has charged my card $18.95 (changed to $24.95 later) for a "subscription" EVERY MONTH.

Bank of America reversed 4 such charges without much question, but now wants details like when I started the subscription and when I cancelled it.... and the letter states that I have only 3 days to get the info back to them or I would be stuck with the charge... They say I can fax it but I refuse to go to any store, what with Arizona having the highest covid rate in the world right now. The guy I talked to said 'don't worry about the deadline' but the letter plainly says the deadline is the deadline... we will see.

I also asked B of A twice to block this merchant but they now they say they can't because the charges are not billed on the same day every month. VIN History apparently knows this and purposely bills everyone on different days each month to avoid blocking.

I also called VIN History and the only options they have are to cancel a subscription or start one. When I press 1 for cancel, it asks for the last 6 digits of my credit card. I enter that and their computer says "already cancelled" but they keep charging....

Looking at VIN History USA's website, you have to read the Money Back Guarantee, where it says that they don't sell $1 reports, only subscriptions. What? Why say $1.00 reports all over their website then? And why would I read the money-back part when I am only spending $1.00?

Bottom line is that I recommend you stay away from VINHISTORYUSA.COM. They are crooks.

Thanks for letting me rant!
Jim
Click to expand...


Take the VIN to your local police station and they can run (no charge) it to see if it's clean... Or your insurance guy...
 
rumblefish360 said:
Pay off credit card, cancel credit card....

Sigh... been there done that dance.

New bank!!!
Click to expand...

Agreed. If it doesn't stop now I am going to change banks. I have been a customer of BofA for over 25 years and they have earned a LOT off our charges and the money we have in our savings account that pays something like 0.4% (not 4, .4) on the balance.
 
Demonracer said:
I found out a few years back that BOA's customer service is the pits.
Click to expand...

And they treat their employees like crap. I worked there 4 years and couldn't wait to leave. Should have changed banks then.
 
Oh trust me, when I finally quit being a road warrior for work & retired I consolidated all of my accounts to an account that I opened in 1987. They were a small bank at the time, now they are one of the mega banks. Since I've been with them for so many years, I'm treated like royalty when I have to go inside the bank or use the drive up window.
 
rumblefish360 said:
cancel credit card....
Click to expand...
ya, the second something fishy happens like that with a charge, i call the bank, tell them about the fraudulent charges and kill the card. i would not of got in to it about the $1 being legit and the other not, it just confuses them. they ripped you off so the whole thing is BS. your way more patent then i would be.

thanks for the heads up :thumbsup:
 
kursplat said:
ya, the second something fishy happens like that with a charge, i call the bank, tell them about the fraudulent charges and kill the card. i would not of got in to it about the $1 being legit and the other not, it just confuses them. they ripped you off so the whole thing is BS. your way more patent then i would be.

thanks for the heads up :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Well, I just cancelled my card because Woodworkers Guild of America charged my card $130.09 for a purchase I didn’t make. I have never bought anything from them.

With a new credit card coming hopefully I won’t have charge problems for a while at least.

If you don’t already, check your charges online daily.
 
as a rule of thumb, i use a credit union instead of a bank, whenever i can
seems to be a lot better customer support
 
Also, never use your ATM Debit/Credit card, as it does not allow you to stop or dispute charges. Once the $ is gone from you account from using a bank debit card, it is gone forever with no recourse.

Always use a dedicated credit card that you use for online purchases. If you need to dispute the charges on something, they will at least do it initially while they investigate.

Does anyone remember the Funk Brothers? That guy ran a component restoration scam and stole some $ from me for a radio restoration. That's how I learned the above the hard way.
 
jbc426 said:
Also, never use your ATM Debit/Credit card, as it does not allow you to stop or dispute charges. Once the $ is gone from you account from using a bank debit card, it is gone forever with no recourse.

Always use a dedicated credit card that you use for online purchases. If you need to dispute the charges on something, they will at least do it initially while they investigate.

Does anyone remember the Funk Brothers? That guy ran a component restoration scam and stole some $ from me for a radio restoration. That's how I learned the above the hard way.
Click to expand...

Using a different card for online is a good idea. Thanks for suggesting it. That way if you have to cancel it you don’t have to change your card number with legitimate companies like utilities etc.

Also, never let any business take money from your checking or savings accounts.
 
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jbc426 said:
Also, never use your ATM Debit/Credit card, as it does not allow you to stop or dispute charges. Once the $ is gone from you account from using a bank debit card, it is gone forever with no recourse.
Click to expand...
my personal experience. i've never had a problem with a fraudulent charge using my debit card. the card is with Ally Bank and they've always put the $$ right back, then done the investigation and always found for me. i also check my account almost every day
 
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