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I think Mark is on to something. Was this one of the years CODE4LIB used DLF for registration? I recall DLF having a similar issue due to the company they contracted with for registration a few years back - at least one DLF registrant got caught out by it. As I recall, DLF changed registration vendors after that. Louisa should be able to confirm and as Mark says, provide moire information. Jenn ----------------------------------- Jenn Riley Associate Dean, Digital Initiatives | Vice Doyenne, Initiatives numériques McGill University Library | Bibliothèque Université McGill 3459 McTavish Street | 3459, rue McTavish Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 0C9 | Montréal (QC) Canada H3A 0C9 (514) 398-3642 [log in to unmask] On 2015-03-13 11:41 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 >> >>>> >> >>>> >>