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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 >>>