ComplaintsforAmerican Greetings Corporation

• Initial Complaint

  12/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This concern has been billing me at $6.99/month since February 2021. I have no purchase history with this concern. Moreover, the billing continued even though the credit card used had expired over a year before today's date. I do not know why this charge went unnoticed.

  Business response

  01/02/2024

  Hello ******,
   
  Thank you for contacting American Greetings Customer Support.
        
  We are sorry if your membership renewal has caused you any inconvenience. Our memberships are designed to automatically renew so that you can enjoy continuous, uninterrupted service as was described in our Terms of Service when you ordered our service.
    
  Members are required to cancel trial memberships during the trial period. Since we did not receive any communication from you before the trial period ended, your account was billed $6.99 monthly. Consequently, your membership is no longer refundable per the Terms of Service when you joined. If you would like to view our Terms of Service, please review *****************************************
   
  Your membership will expire on 1/30/2024.
   
  We hope you will reconsider using our great services and membership benefits in the future.
       
  If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.
   
  Thank you,
   
  Shyla J.
  Your Customer Support Representative
  American Greetings
   
      
  
  

  Customer response

  01/02/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.  The so called offer consists of nothing except an excuse.  

  
  I do not believe I EVER signed up for a trial offer.  I'm not sure how this operation obtained my name, let alone a credit card number.  I should have noticed this reoccurring charge sooner, but I failed to do so.  In reviewing this operation's website, I found NO history of ordering anything from them.  That's in THEIR OWN DOCUMENTATION!  It's even worse that this scam operation was able to continue billing this card for over a year past its expiration date.

  After reviewing this scam operation's complaint history, it appears that they routinely start these "trial offers" without people's knowledge and then people get nonsense replies like this from "Shyla."

  They are saying I took some sort of "trial offer."  I DID NOT.  Show me any documentation of such!  There's none.  There's no email from this scam company prior to the current lying nonsense.

  No, you aren't going to get away with lying about a "trial offer" that I never accepted.  I want the full amount refunded.

   

  
  
  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** ********
  
  
  
  
   

  Business response

  01/03/2024

  Hello,

  Thank you for contacting American Greetings Customer Support.

  Your AmericanGreetings.com membership has been closed. As a courtesy, we have refunded 6 month's worth of charges totaling $41.94. This should appear on your next credit card statement.
   
  Your confirmation number is ************.

  If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.
   
  Thank you,
   
  Shyla J.
  Your Customer Support Representative
  American Greetings
   
      
  
  

  Customer response

  01/05/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  This business has now said that they will refund six months of a membership that I never opened, when they have been billing for ALMOST 3 YEARS!

  There is NO indication that I ever opened any such "trial membership" and I have no idea how they got my credit card number.  It appears that this is a pattern with this scam operation.  I want ALL of the fees refunded.  That is $245.XX.  They have been following the same pattern that's well documented in BBB's complaint history.  i refuse to let them keep my money.

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, we would like to know your view on the matter.]
  
  Regards,
  
  ****** ********
  
  
  
  
   

• Initial Complaint

  12/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  A good friend gifted me with an ********* ****** ********.I activated it, but was unable to download it. Apparently this company has no usable phone where I can talk with a person and get this resolved.This same thing happened last year.I never received the calendar. My friend is out her money- twice.Apparently , the company has a "pissed off consumer " website, but I don't just want to vent. I want my calendar, and I want to warn others to beware lack of service. i am not alone. Their ratings are very low- about 2 out of 5.

  Business response

  12/11/2023

  Hello ***,
  
  Many apologies. 
  
  We're sorry for any troubles.
  
  We want to help, but we were unable to locate your account in our database under the email address of ***************.
  
  There are a number of reasons that this might occur:
  1. You used a different email address when you originally purchased your membership.
  2. You may have entered the email address incorrectly when joining.
  3. You are not currently a paid member of our website.
  
  If you used a different email address when you purchased your membership, sign in with the original email address. If you do not remember the email address you originally used, or feel the address may have been entered incorrectly, please respond to this message with the information below.
  
  1. Any additional email addresses that may have been used to register your account.
  2. The customer number you received when you joined.
  
  We assure you that we will resolve this problem as quickly as possible once we receive your information. You can contact us via live chat or email at **********************.
  
  Best wishes,
  Shyla J.
  **********************
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Deceitful billing practices. I didn’t even know I had a membership with them until I get an email saying they billed me and it was non refundable. I logged in by requesting a password reset to see they have been billing me for 3 years and I’ve never used the service.

  Business response

  11/21/2023

  
  Hello ****,
   
  Thank you for contacting American Greetings Customer Support.
    
  We are sorry if your membership renewal has caused you any inconvenience. Our memberships are designed to automatically renew so that you can enjoy continuous, uninterrupted service as was described in our Terms of Service when you ordered our service.
   
  We want to help, but we were unable to locate your account in our database under the email address of ***************************
   
  There are a number of reasons that this might occur:
  1. You used a different email address when you originally purchased your membership.
  2. You may have entered the email address incorrectly when joining.
  3. You are not currently a paid member of our website.
   
  If you used a different email address when you purchased your membership, sign in with the original email address. If you do not remember the email address you originally used, or feel the address may have been entered incorrectly, please respond to this message with the information below.
  1. Any additional email addresses that may have been used to register your account.
  2. The customer number you received when you joined.
  3. Your full name and mailing address including zip code.
  4. The date, dollar amount, and payment type (Visa, AmEx, Discover, etc.) for the most recent charge. Please DO NOT provide any digits of your cards' payment information.
  5. The Invoice ID number that may be associated with our charge on your billing statement.
   
  We assure you that we will resolve this problem as quickly as possible once we receive your information.
    
  If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.
   
  Thank you,
   
  Shyla J.
  Your Customer Support Representative
  American Greetings

• Initial Complaint

  11/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I agreed to a 7 day trial for a service in Feb 2011. I opted to cancel the membership in March 2011. I continue to get billed every month, most recently Oct 2023 for $6.99/month. I simply want to cancel this subscription and my membership. I have been trying to do so for several years, starting back in 2011. It has not been a major issue because it is just $7 per month, but I really do not want this service. Bluemountain.com has made it extremely difficult to cancel, and for me it has been impossible. There are three main issues: 1) I am not able to cancel an online subscription/membership. I am charged monthly. I have selected "do not auto-renew" multiple times, and called their customer support. I have received "we are sorry to see you go" emails confirming my cancellation of my membership, but I continue to get monthly charges on my credit card. 2) I am not able to delete or edit my "saved card information". When I log into the Bluemountain.com website, I can view my saved card information but I cannot edit or delete. I can add a new card, and that is my only option. 3) They use Visa Account Updater and have my updated card information (new expiration date, new number). So, when my old card expiration date expired, they started charging my new card. Evidently, this is a service they have paid for to Visa, my card service provider that I was not aware of, and I cannot opt out of. I have disputed the charges on my card. And I have escalated the issue to Visa to attempt to opt out of the Visa Account Updater server, but so far I have been unsuccessful. I have attached the page 29 of the Online Orders screenshot from their website that shows my first membership subscription Feb 2011, and page 1 that shows the most recent charge Oct 2023. And page 21, that shows the subscription "ended". I can send you the other 26 pages of the online order history if needed, but it all says the same thing - expired, expired, expired. Recent credit card statement is attached.

• Initial Complaint

  10/24/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I BOUGHT AN E CARD FROM THEM AND THEY BILL ME EVERY SINGLE MONTH FOR A MEMBERSHIP THAT I CANNOT CANCEL.

• Initial Complaint

  10/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I successfully used a 20% coupon ("Coupon applied!") for a $29.99 membership. It did not reveal the price being charged until AFTER I submitted. I was charged $29.99. I contacted customer service the next day to tell them they charged me incorrectly. We've been going back and forth about how their memberships are "nonrefundable." They said the coupon--which was accepted without issue--should not have applied to the membership. If that was the case, I would not have gotten the membership and wouldn't be so mad. Since they don't want to give me the $6 back, I want the whole membership refunded because I will not use it now. This is another unethical business that shouldn't be able to get away with this. Account under ****[email protected] I am fine with a prorated refund--364 days unused.

  Business response

  10/09/2023

  Hello ****,
   
  Thank you for contacting American Greetings Customer Support.
         
  We're sorry to lose a valued member. Your AmericanGreetings.com membership has been closed and a refund of your membership fee of $29.99 has been issued to your credit card. This should appear on your next credit card statement.
        
  If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.
   
  Thank you,
  
  Shyla J.
  Your Customer Support Representative
  American Greetings
   

  Customer response

  10/09/2023

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ******
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I marked my American Greetings account "Do Not Renew" last year, and I was still charged a renewal fee this year. I would like a refund of the $29.99. When I tried calling American Greeting's customer service, I got a message that they are temporarily closed. According to the Better Business Bureau, their customer service has been unreachable by phone for over a year. This is unscrupulous business. Please refund me and cancel my membership.

  Business response

  10/05/2023

  Hello,
     
  Thank you for contacting American Greetings Customer Support.
      
  We are sorry if your membership renewal has caused you any inconvenience. Our memberships are designed to automatically renew so that you can enjoy continuous, uninterrupted service as was described in our Terms of Service when you ordered our service.
   
  Your AmericanGreetings.com membership has been closed and a refund of your membership fee has been issued to your credit card. This should appear on your next credit card statement..
   
  We hope you will reconsider using our great services and membership benefits in the future.
       
  If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.
   
  Thank you,
   
  Shyla J.
  Your Customer Support Representative
  American Greetings

• Initial Complaint

  09/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Hello, I am contacting BBB because American Greetings has charged my account in Augusta and September for 9.94..I spoke with a representative by the name of Feliza stating that she could not refund the account. The last time the account was used was in January of 2022- a one time usage. Then American Greetings charges me after the account has been cancelled 9.94 for August and another amount of 9.94 for September. I need the amount credited to my card and the customer service rep failed to understand.

• Initial Complaint

  08/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  American Greetings Corporation ( under the name AM Greetings) has been charging a yearly fee to a business charge card that has been inactive for more than 2 years. This yearly fee was never authorized. When we called the number 800 711-4478 to dispute the charges the phone had a message saying it is an unassigned number.

  Business response

  09/01/2023

  Hello *****,
    
  Thank you for contacting American Greetings Customer Support.
    
  We are sorry if your membership renewal has caused you any inconvenience. Our memberships are designed to automatically renew so that you can enjoy continuous, uninterrupted service as was described in our Terms of Service when you ordered our service.
   
  Your membership is under the email address: *********************************
    
  We regret to hear that you would like to cancel your membership with us. As requested, we have turned off the auto-renewal feature on your account. Your membership will expire on 3/29/2024. Until then, we hope that you will take advantage of all of the great features and benefits of your AmericanGreetings.com membership. To learn more about your membership, please visit: ********************************************** 
  Please note that our memberships are nonrefundable.
   
  If you would like to view our Terms of Service, visit: *****************************************
   
  If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.
   
  Thank you,
   
  Shyla J.
  Your Customer Support Representative
  American Greetings
   

• Initial Complaint

  08/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  American Greetings.com withdrew $32.94 from my checking account. (Not sure how they got it.) on July 3 2023. I tried several emails to tell them I did not purchase a membership They said they could not find my account. They said I used an email account which I havent used in yrs. Ref ID is *******. They asked ne for invoice number, and customer ID I did not have any of these bc I did not purchase a membership. They say they do not refund memberships but I did not purchase a membership

  Business response

  08/16/2023

  Hello *******,
   
  Thank you for contacting American Greetings Customer Support.
   
  We're sorry for any trouble with your recent charges. We want to help, but we were unable to locate your account in our database under the email address of ********************. 
   
  There are a number of reasons that this might occur:
  1. You used a different email address when you originally purchased your membership.
  2. You may have entered the email address incorrectly when joining.
  3. You are not currently a paid member of our website.
   
  If you used a different email address when you purchased your membership, sign in with the original email address. If you do not remember the email address you originally used, or feel the address may have been entered incorrectly, please respond to this message with the information below.
  1. Any additional email addresses that may have been used to register your account.
  2. The customer number you received when you joined.
  3. Your full name and mailing address including zip code.
  4. The date, dollar amount, and payment type (Visa, AmEx, Discover, etc.) for the most recent charge. Please DO NOT provide any digits of your cards' payment information.
   
  We assure you that we will resolve this problem as quickly as possible. Please call Customer Sales at 800-711-4474. We are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.
   
  If you have further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact us.
   
  Thank you,
   
  Shyla J.
  Your Customer Support Representative
  American Greetings
   

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩