A follow-up - the charge name that is listed on my statement for 2013 registration is WithdrawalACT*Council on Library which is different than what you have listed in your statement. :-(
Thanks, Becky Sent from the ball and chain On Mar 12, 2015 7:22 PM, "Becky Yoose" <b.yo...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello Brad, > > I'm sorry to hear about the suspicious charges! Per your request, I > checked the history of the the account I used to pay for 2013 and did not > find a reoccurring charge like the one you described. I wonder what > happened with your account... > > Thanks, > Becky > > Sent from the ball and chain > On Mar 12, 2015 7:09 PM, "Brad Busenius" <bbusen...@uchicago.edu> wrote: > >> Hi everybody, >> >> I hope this is the right place to inquire about this. I have some >> information about a possible problem with the company handling registration >> for code4lib. I recently noticed a suspicious charge on my credit card for >> the amount of $64.95. The charge showed up as ACT*ACTIVE-NETWORK. After >> some investigation I found out this was from a company called ACTIVE >> Network, LLC. Apparently this company handles registration for events. >> >> To my dismay I found out that I had been charged for this annually since >> 2013. I'm very embarrassed that 1. I didn't notice this during the >> registration process and 2. I didn't catch the charges earlier. Anyhow, >> after a quick email search I found something surprising; I had received >> emails from this company at my /work/ email address. I never noticed the >> emails because they looked like junkmail, however, upon reviewing them I >> discovered that at some point I had supposedly registered for a free trial >> that ended after a month, at which point I was automatically enrolled into >> an annual subscription. Needless to say, I//did /not/ ever sign up for any >> trial or subscription, at least not to my knowledge. >> >> Since I have only used my personal credit card for work purposes 3 times, >> it was easy to tie this to code4lib 2013. I looked at my receipt for >> code4lib 2013 and saw that something called RegOnline (owned by Lanyon >> Solutions Inc) was used to process my event registration. Though I'm not >> sure this is the same company, RegOnline, Lanyon Solutions Inc, and ACTIVE >> Network, LLC all share the same physical address. I suspect these three >> companies are one and the same and will refer to them as ACTIVE Network, >> LLC for the rest of this email. >> >> I did a little investigating and found out that ACTIVE Network, LLC. uses >> unscrupulous business practices to trick people into singing up for their >> annual subscription. The crux of this is an "automatic opt-in" they employ >> while processing enrollments for third parties. Though I'm very embarrassed >> I didn't catch this, in my own defense I wasn't expecting it while >> registering for an academic conference. I'm not blaming anyone nor am I >> angry with anyone on this list. I only send this email to inquire and >> inform: >> >> 1. To see if anyone else has had a similar experience. >> 2. To warn other people from code4lib to check their bank statements. >> 3. To plead with the community to stop using ACTIVE Network, LLC and >> anything affiliated with them for registration. >> >> Let me be frank for a moment. ACTIVE Network, LLC engages in highly >> unethical business practices. I did not intend to enroll in any annual >> subscriptions when I registered for code4lib and I never would have agreed >> to anything of the sort had I noticed what was happening. Additionally, the >> subscription isn't at all relevant to code4lib. I'm not even sure what >> value is being provided by the subscription. I think it has something to do >> with coupons for outdoor exercise equipment but I'm not even sure. Also, >> these guys are bad. They lost class action lawsuits in Iowa and Vermont. In >> fact, this whole thing is just bad all around. Since noticing the >> fraudulent charges this morning, I've already disputed them with my bank >> and filed a formal complaint against ACTIVE Network, LLC with the better >> business bureau. Apparently I'm not the only one: >> >> 1. http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/the-fit-list/ >> Active-Network-Consumer-Complaints.html >> 2. http://www.yelp.com/biz/active-network-san-diego?sort_by=date_desc >> 3. http://legalnewsline.com/news/253622-active-network-will- >> pay-160k-to-consumers-after-action-by-vermont-ag >> 4. https://encrypted.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Iowa%20ACTIVE% >> 20Network%2C%20LLC#hl=en&q=Active+Network+scam >> >> I apologize if I've made an error in my investigation or if I've done >> something inappropriate by emailing this list. I can't imagine that anyone >> would have intended anything like this but I thought you should all be >> aware. >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Brad Busenius >> Web Administrator >> The University of Chicago Library >> (773) 702-4391 >> >