On March 28, 2006, I signed up for a 7-day trial of the Freelance Work Exchange, a website that claims to provide freelance business/work opportunities. The website is: http://freelanceworkexchange.com and the cost of the trial is $2.95. Freelance Work Exchange made it perfectly clear that “There is no risk and you can cancel anytime” for a full refund.
Payment for services provided by Freelance Work Exchange is done through http://www.ccbill.com, a
billing company.
After the 7-day period I canceled my subscription to Freelance Work Exchange but observed that $29.95 was still charged to my credit card for a full month’s subscription. When I contacted Freelance Work Exchange, I was referred to http://www.ccbill.com, who went on to inform me that I did not cancel on time (whatever this means) and which contradicts the Freelance Work Exchange promise that “There is no risk and you can cancel anytime” for a full refund. That is exactly what I have done. I canceled after my 7-day trail period was up, and do not require the services either of http://www.ccbill.com or Freelance Work Exchange. That I am now being coerced to pay for and subscribe to a service that I don’t want is fraudulent.
Though they are in partnership, Freelance Work Exchange and http://www.ccbill.com seem to have different rules about refunds. Although my subscription has been canceled and I cannot log into http://freelanceworkexchange.com, I am still being charged $29.95 for a month’s subscription. Steps should be taken to ensure that neither of these companies coerces people into paying for services that they don’t want.
