SCAM ADVISORY -- 12/13/12 -- TRILEGIANTS

Posted: 13 Dec 12

Purpose

To alert readers to traps that may appear in their "snail mail" (and elsewhere) to drain precious dollars away from their financial accounts, involuntarily.

This advisory explains how this matter came to my attention; who this company is; the class of creature to which it appears to belong; a partial consumer complaint track record; some remedies in the works; at least one law firm ready to help you take legal action; and a friendly recommendation (since the well being of society is everyone's business).

Background

This morning, my wife was going over the monthly bills and found a mysterious check for $11, from "TrileGiants," claiming to be reimbursement for transactions that made no sense.  Alarm bells.  Is this another way for the bad guys to get good info?  A quick Google check revealed that this was not a "free-bee" and triggered this investigation.

A Corporate Profile

• TRILEGIANTS (Google search) -- oh, there's much that has been said about all of this.
• Who are they?  Their website
• Here's what Wikipedia says. (Affinion Group is the parent of TrileGiants, among others)

Apparent Class of Corporation

• VERTRUE (ex-MWI) -- This [VerTrue] is one of a rash of "negative-option" schemes now making the rounds.  Companies like Vertrue (formerly MWI, alias MemberWorks Inc.) enroll you in their plan without your asking and it's up to you to cancel the enrollment. Often cancelling isn't enough and more drastic action is needed. (Consumer Affairs, Scam Alerts)

Corporate Reputation

• Here's what ConsumerAffairs.com says. [check out all the familiar names this company operates under -- and be warned].
• Here's what RipoffReport.com says.
• Here's what Yahoo Answers says: Have I been scammed by Trilegiant and my bank? How do I stop it? 

Remedies in Play

• Webloyalty and Affinion/Trilegiant Settlements (New York State slammed them in 2010, and they have to pay restitution to NY consumers)
• Trilegiant Membership Program Class Action Lawsuit (California suit and settlement for abuses from 1998 to 2008)

From Gilman Law LLP

• The Leading National Consumer Protection Law Firm Gilman Law LLP is investigating claims and complaints in the Apollo, Trilegiant, Affinion Lawsuit involving deceptively marketed membership discount clubs operated by Trilegiant Corporation, Inc., Affinion Group, LLC, and their controlling owner Apollo Global Management, LLC (“Trilegiant”). 
• The consumer protection lawyers at Gilman Law LLP are investigating allegations that Trilegiant colluded with numerous merchants in an effort to sell “memberships” to discount “clubs.” The firm is accepting claims from consumers who believe they were deceptively enrolled and repeatedly billed by one of the following membership discount clubs operated by Trilegiant, Apollo, or Affinion:  [at this point, the article lists names of relevant discount clubs -- click here]
• The site also invites consumers to CLICK HERE TO FILE AN APOLLO, AFFINION, OR TRILEGIANT TLG COMPLAINT AND JOIN IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

Recommendation

Keep a close eye on changes in family and business financial accounts -- don't let unknown expenditures stand without figuring out what they are for.  If they are not authorized, Google is a good place to check for remedies.  Daily visits to on-line accounts is not a bad habit to develop.

Here's to as prosperous a new year  

as you deserve.

Editor