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Thanks Mark! Becky, did I misunderstand about your charge? Was yours also reoccurring? Brad On 3/13/15 10:43 AM, Becky Yoose wrote: > 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 >>>>>>> >>>>>>>