Consumers Beware – (“The Gas Savings Center”) Phone 888-325-1064

Even though I am not "actively" involved in providing consumer advocacy services at this time, I still do help people where I can. And well, it just so happens that I am helping my son in regards to the company called, "The Gas Savings Center;" at least that is what they told me the name of the company is...when I called them on the phone.

My son was listening to the Kid Kraddick Radio Show on 97 BHT Radio in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PA market and heard about a promotional offer where if you call a toll-free number and participate in their "FREE" fuel company survey - (gas card and Wal-mart/Target Gift Card promotional offer), but pay $17.85 for shipping, (they record the calls and I heard the amount with my own ears); you will receive a $100 gift card from either Wal-Mart or Target plus a $300.00 gift card that can be used at any gas station for fuel only for up to one full year. Keep in mind he had the call on speaker phone so I heard the calls. He called more than once and spoke to a Dan and then to a Jason. What was interesting is that Dan and Jason gave conflicting sales pitches.

Because I love God and Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and because as God hates injustice as I hate injustice and fraud, I put just the amount of money to cover the transaction into one of my bank accounts to see what would happen. What happened is that they withdrew more money than they stated they were going to which overdrew my bank account. I will get my money back plus the overdraft fees - you can be sure of that. 

A few of the promotions that you have to evaluate and then cancel either in 14 days or 30 days or they will automatically re charge your card are:

• Discount Savings Escape - My son was promisted either a $100. Wal-Mart or Target Gift Card. When I called out of curiosity and spoke with a rep named Pat, Rep #030 she told me it was 2 $25.00 gift cards and not $100.00. I asked her about the difference and she stated it was because of the area I lived in. I live with my son so the information he provided would be the same as mine.  (MUST CALL 800-316-9561 TO CANCEL THE PLAN WITHIN 30 DAYS OR YOUR CARD WILL BE CHARGED AGAIN).
• Stonebridge - $25.00 Dining Gift Card and another offer of coupons is included- (MUST CALL 888-272-5027 AND 888-527-2589 TO CANCEL THE 2 DIFFERENT PLANS IN 14 DAYS OR YOUR CARD WILL BE CHARGED AGAIN).
• Magazine Direct - Order a trial of 3 magazines of your choice from the magazines they offer. (YOU MUST CALL 877-645-6809 TO CANCEL THIS SERVICE OR YOUR CARD WILL BE CHARGED AGAIN). There is a Magazine Direct that appears in the search engines when you type it in, but that is not the same company. The company they are using is a different company altogether.

Kid Kraddick, Cumulus Media and Citadel Communications, Magazine Direct,  are not to be blamed for this happening. It is not their fault. It is the fault of the people at the company that is promoting this program and they need to be and will be held legally responsible for their actions. I have already contacted appropriate individuals in the government and media and although it may take some time, eventually this company's activities will be reported by enough people that hopefully the FTC and Attorney General's offices will go after them and stop them.

If you have had a bad experience with the "Gas Savings Center" please let me know. The more people who speak up about this situation and contact the FTC and the Attorney General's Office the better.

The "Gas Savings Center" Customer Service Line number is (888) 643-9227 in the event you need to call the company.

The number to file a complaint with the FTC is 877-382-4357. Someone will take your information and give you a reference number at the end of the call. Be sure you get that number and keep it.

So consumer beware before you take advantage of this company's "too good to be true" offer.

Just a sinner saved by grace!

Harold
Philippians 1:21

Comments

[Maggie Tucker]

Thank you for posting this! It seems I fell into the same trap as your son. I'm a college student who does a lot of commuting so the gas card seemed like such a great thing, even if the receipt submission process was complicated. But it's caused me nothing but trouble. The most trouble I've had was with the magazines, which I neglected to cancel in time because they had mixed up my mailing and permanent address so I wasn't receiving any notices, just the magazines. It also seems I've been dealing with two different companies - Magazine Direct (which I just called to cancel everything from), and also Coastal Readers Services which had been calling me constantly. I didn't recognize the # and they never left a message, so when I finally answered they said they couldn't just cancel the subscription because they'd already paid for it and I had to pay them; they could only shorten my subscription to 2 yrs instead of 4yrs. Why am I dealing with 2 companies who say two different things?? Feeling beyond frustrated. But your blog here was very helpful and informative - thank you!!

[Harold Cameron]

Maggie, I am sorry to hear that you have experienced what you have with the company. I would wonder about the third company that they enroll people in when they take advantage of their offer. Check your bank statement to see if there are any other charges to your account that you did not authorize because with my son there were 3 companies he had to cancel the plan with. Also, file a complaint with the FTC and with your state Attorney General's office. This is vital. If enough complaints are lodged against the company maybe the government can shut them down or at least force them to comply with the guidelines established to protect consumers by the FTC. The website for the FTC to file a complaint is www.ftc.gov. Please let me know if I can be of any further help to you. God bless!

[Melissa Smith]

I just read your blog and in fact just realized that in addition to getting this so called free gas card, i signed up for the two different saver plans, Thank God i have not been charged yet for the savings plans, but i will call them first thing tomorrow and make sure they dont charge me. I have not even gotten anything from these companies yet and it has been twp weeks since purchasing the gas card. I was mislead by the whole FREE GAS idea, I was never told it was going to be vouchers for gas rebates and must be paid for with a major credit (not debt) card. So not sure how successful l I will be but I am going to try and get my money back under the pretenses i was mislead and lied to about the gas deal. Thank you for this information, i should have known it was to good to be true especially with the price of gas these days.