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Welcome to the Internet Age. Along with ease and convenience, and a world of information at your fingertips, there are also a lot of risks associated with using the Internet. Aside from Internet scams and online predators, signing up for memberships and accounts online can lead to a lot of headaches. When consumers sign up for memberships online, they are often subject to rebilling procedures that automatically enroll them in another service commitment they didn't necessarily want. Rebilling can go unnoticed, often until it's too late. Here are the top 10 ways to avoid rebilling scams:
If you shop online, sign up for memberships, or perform any financial transactions using the Internet, always be sure to read the fine print. Before you click 'Agree' it's necessary to understand every piece of literature pertaining to that online agreement.
When you sign up for a membership online, you should receive a copy of the transaction receipt. Click, 'Print This,' or take a screenshot of the receipt. That way, you can refer to your records if you need to prove when and how you signed up for the account.
Shopping online is so easy, it's possible to get caught up in the convenience. Sign up for accounts sparingly, and try not to perform too many transactions over a short period of time. That way you can easily track where your money is going, and when it is being taken out of your account.
Always have the contact information and/or customer service information leading to the most direct way to speak to a representative of the company. By having the contact information of the online membership you are a part of, you can easily get a hold of whomever you need to, when you need to the most.
Keeping a close eye on your credit card statements will allow you to catch a discrepant charge should one ever occur. The faster you track a rebilling charge, the quicker you can get a refund. Many companies, like BillGuard offer flagging services that will catch unwanted charges before they cost you a fortune.
Keep track of your online banking accounts, especially those you use to sign up for online memberships. Online banking is so easy, there's no reason not to be stringent in keeping an eye on your transactions. Some online banking websites can even set an alert when your checking account dips below a certain amount. That way, you'll be more likely to catch an erroneous billing transaction before it's too late.
If your online membership is set to expire on a certain date, set a reminder on your calendar or smart phone one week before that date. Doing so will allow you to contact the company and stop a rebilling transaction before it wreaks havoc on your credit score.
The Internet provides a wealth of information, and gives every customer a voice. Research the online company with whom you are signing up with before joining an online membership to be sure you are dealing with a reputable, honest company.
Every online membership company will send a slew of emails to your inbox. Create a separate folder for these emails so you can refer back to them if you ever need to in order to dispute a charge.
You should never give out any account information. Doing so can put you at risk for rebilling scams, and other dishonest practices that can wind up costing you money. Keep all your account information safe and sound, and protect yourself against a host of online scams.
