Bleargh! Fileshack.

[Murgatroyd]

In my mad dash to get the 1.6 patch, I signed up with FileShack (they were have some introductory $1 offer), so I could dl the patch in relatively good time.

Big mistake.

Although this did allow me to download the patch in decent time, it seems that I now cannot cancel my account. Their website has no option to cancel a subscription, and I've sent 4 messages to their billing department, with no replies whatsoever.

I'm beginning to get really pissed off. Short of taking this up with my credit card company (which looks bad on credit), does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do? Has anyone else had this problem with these clowns? Please help. Thanks.

Edit: Now looking at it, I used my debit card, so taking this up with my bank might not work.

[RCglider Profile]

I had the same problem. I contacted their billing department and they did cancel my account, but for whatever reason I can still access the Mercury download speeds. It's been several months. Don't ask don't tell.

You have more power with your credit card than you may think. Plus, you can report Fileschack as internet fraud. I've done this before.

[shockwave203 Profile]

you should use filefront. free and fast, and not 'too' many people know about it, so it's not clogged up for hours like fileplanet is

[Murgatroyd]

I wonder how many people have had this problem with FileShack and why it hasn't become a legal issue. Thats a pretty skeezy thing to do. I knew I was in trouble when I saw they had no way to cancel your own account.

[Ryan Profile]

Hmm.. i got in that introductory offer as well, and have already been billed the regular price. I don't mind because i've used the hell out of it, but won't be able to afford it next month (still searching for a job...) so ill e-mail em and cancel and get back to you.

[RCglider Profile]

Originally posted by C. Murgatroyd


Edit: Now looking at it, I used my debit card, so taking this up with my bank might not work.

Best thing to do with the fake credit card is throw it in the trash.
http://clarkhoward.com/library/tips/debit_cards.html

Also, never pay a bill by phone with your checking account. It's not right, but once you do that, the payee can withdraw at will.

edit: contact your bank.

[igloo17 Profile]

Originally posted by RCglider
Best thing to do with the fake credit card is throw it in the trash.
http://clarkhoward.com/library/tips/debit_cards.html

Also, never pay a bill by phone with your checking account. It's not right, but once you do that, the payee can withdraw at will.

edit: contact your bank.

Thanks RC, I just cut up mine!

I didnt know there was no protection against fraud.

[Kurith]

Paying for downloads seems pretty stupid to me, I miss the days where you click a link and download, now you click a link to be sent to an ad to sign up for this so you can download that and so on.

[Chacal Profile Website]

Originally posted by RCglider
Best thing to do with the fake credit card is throw it in the trash.
http://clarkhoward.com/library/tips/debit_cards.html

Er... all debit cards are not fake credit cards. I've been using one for 20 years (everyone uses ATM/debit cards in lieu of cash here in Canada) and never had any problem, whil I had lots with credit cards.

This fake credit card business just looks like common fraud to me.

[Ryan Profile]

Just got an e-mail back.. account will be cancelled soon.

Strange, its not letting you cancel. Make sure to go through Speakeasy to cancel, not FileShack.

[RCglider Profile]

Originally posted by Chacal
Er... all debit cards are not fake credit cards. I've been using one for 20 years (everyone uses ATM/debit cards in lieu of cash here in Canada) and never had any problem, whil I had lots with credit cards.

This fake credit card business just looks like common fraud to me.

Maybe I should have said "pretend" Visa credit cards. They are Visa/MC cards, but are debit cards. People have a false sense of security with them. Banks and businesses like them because the money is transferred immediately.
If you use a debit card for online purchases, that is just plain stupid. Sure, you may not be responsible should it be used fraudulently, but what happens when your checking/savings account is wiped out while the bank does their "investigation"? You have no money.

I was charged $500 on my debit card by mistake for an online purchase. It was corrected, but it cost me an overdraft charge plus the hassle of reporting it. Now I only use real credit cards and pay it off at the end of the month.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/12/15/Consumers/cardfraud031215
http://www.canadiancreditcenter.com/CCC-media-views2.htm
http://www.securepin.com/CertaPIN01.html
http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/DebitCd1002.htm

[Murgatroyd]

Originally posted by RCglider
If you use a debit card for online purchases, that is just plain stupid.

You do realize that you just called me stupid. I'm sure it wasn't intentional.

On topic - Thanks Ryan, I'll try through speakeasy.

Off topic, on the topic of fraud: If you're so paranoid about misuse and mistakes made with your money, you might as well not buy anything anywhere ever. Did you know that someone with half a brain can empty your bank account just knowing your bank's routing number and your account number - information that is printed on every single check you write? Did you know that all someone needs is your SSN to open an account at stores and totally ruin your credit? If you're gonna live your life in fear of identity theft you're not gonna have much of a life.

I used to work for an internet company developing fraud prevention techniques. What I learned: if someone wants to rip you off bad enough, they're gonna rip you off and there's not a whole lot you can do about it.

I'm gonna spend my money in whatever method suits me - I don't have credit cards because I use them too much and spend way too much money; therefore, I use my debit card. I have three bank accounts. I put money in my debit card account for the purpose of using it with my debit card. I have a second bank account that I write checks from. The third is a savings account. It all has to do with my weird system of accounting.

I'm not afraid of identity theft/fraud. That's like being afraid to carry cash because you might get robbed. If it happens - it happens. Se la vis.

[igloo17 Profile]

I'd rather loose a few hundred in cash, being robbed, than go thru the idenity theft process, it can cost thousands if not more to somewhat recover(not mentioning the time involved or the hassles).

I know 2 people that went thru it, its not fun.

But thats my opinion.

[RCglider Profile]

Originally posted by C. Murgatroyd
You do realize that you just called me stupid. I'm sure it wasn't intentional.

On topic - Thanks Ryan, I'll try through speakeasy.

Off topic, on the topic of fraud: If you're so paranoid about misuse and mistakes made with your money, you might as well not buy anything anywhere ever. Did you know that someone with half a brain can empty your bank account just knowing your bank's routing number and your account number - information that is printed on every single check you write? Did you know that all someone needs is your SSN to open an account at stores and totally ruin your credit? If you're gonna live your life in fear of identity theft you're not gonna have much of a life.

I used to work for an internet company developing fraud prevention techniques. What I learned: if someone wants to rip you off bad enough, they're gonna rip you off and there's not a whole lot you can do about it.

I'm gonna spend my money in whatever method suits me - I don't have credit cards because I use them too much and spend way too much money; therefore, I use my debit card. I have three bank accounts. I put money in my debit card account for the purpose of using it with my debit card. I have a second bank account that I write checks from. The third is a savings account. It all has to do with my weird system of accounting.

I'm not afraid of identity theft/fraud. That's like being afraid to carry cash because you might get robbed. If it happens - it happens. Se la vis.

That's how my wife would answer me!! I said THAT is stupid, not you

I'm well aware of identity theft, cc fraud, etc. I've had my signature forged to cash my work check. It's never going to be 100% secure, that's obvious.
All I'm saying is if you use Visa/MC debit cards for online purchases, you are opening yourself to have your bank acct depleted much more so than using a real credit card. At one point I even used my savings acct as overdraft protection. Now that was asinine.
I use online banking to conduct my bill payments as I hate writing checks, so I'm not that paranoid.

[Murgatroyd]

Originally posted by RCglider
That's how my wife would answer me!! I said THAT is stupid, not you

Hey, the best way to win those arguments is to learn their tactics!

Yeah, I got into trouble with an "overdraft protection" account before.. kinda went and spent the money from it.. which is why I can't have credit cards.. "Oh, I can afford this $200 joystick, I'll just put it on my credit card..."