Thank you, Mark.

On Fri, Mar 13, 2015 at 10:41 AM, Mark A. Matienzo <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Becky, Brad,
>
> I passed on links to this thread to Louisa Kwasigroch at DLF, who may be
> able to let you know if any other registered attendees had this issue.
>
> Cheers,
> Mark
>
> --
> Mark A. Matienzo <[log in to unmask]>
> Director of Technology, Digital Public Library of America
>
> On Fri, Mar 13, 2015 at 11:26 AM, Becky Yoose <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hi Brad,
> >
> > If there was an option for an annual subscription for ACTIVE as part of
> the
> > registration process, I'm wondering why this wasn't brought up during the
> > registration period. What you are describing would have been suspicious
> to
> > anyone signing up for the conference.
> >
> > If I remember correctly, DLF was the one who handled the fiances for
> 2013,
> > so if someone from DLF is on the list, can they doublecheck to see if
> there
> > was anything like Brad described below?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Becky
> >
> > On Fri, Mar 13, 2015 at 10:17 AM, Brad Busenius <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > They are separate charges. WithdrawalACT*Council is probably the charge
> > > for the conference. I probably have that one too. The Active charge
> came
> > > later as an annual subscription. They used the conference registration
> > as a
> > > way to trick people into opting in to their unrelated service. I assume
> > > most people noticed this and opted out. I did not notice and therefore
> > did
> > > not opt out. That's what I think happened, anyhow. I am looking for
> > > confirmation on this. I've had to piece things together.
> > >
> > > Brad
> > >
> > > On 3/12/15 7:48 PM, Becky Yoose wrote:
> > >
> > >> 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" <[log in to unmask]> 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" <[log in to unmask]>
> > 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
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> >
>