Buyer Beware: Reserve America / Active Advantage

[Freightguy]

Just a PSA for you. I recently got a charge on my credit card fr $89.95 to a company called Active.com for their advantage membership. I had no idea who they were but I have found their parent company may own Reserve America and the charge came from a reservation I made in FL using RA.
This is very disturbing to me that the Florida State Park dept would allow this to happen as well as Reserve America.
Also, I made another reservation in RA to see if there was a check box I missed that caused the transaction, but there was no such box or any notification or mention of Active.com
I just got off the phone with Active to cancel this and they did it with no issue since I called them the next business day.
Happy Camping.

[beemerphile1]

I've heard of this before, it was mentioned that you must opt out or you are signed up automatically.

[wa8yxm]

I am wondering if you should notify the proper attorney General. Not that I think Floridia's will do anything. But I am thinking that just signing you up without a check box or other affirmative action by you is a form of FRAUD and thus Criminal.

[delwhjr]

time2roll wrote:
Fair enough. I do wonder what happens if the pop-up is actually blocked.
Hopefully the OP was able to obtain a full refund without too much trouble.

If the website is configured for it then the pop-up won't show up because the blocker is enabled but it will still process the sign up(if the default is opt-in)and you would never know until you get the email or the charge.

[WVcampground]

time2roll wrote:
Fair enough. I do wonder what happens if the pop-up is actually blocked.
Hopefully the OP was able to obtain a full refund without too much trouble.

When you get right down to it they're doing you a favor and looking out for your well being by signing you up, maybe not so much your wallets well being? It's touted as "Designed to support and encourage active lifestyles". I guess that means no more sitting around guzzling beer. :B

[time2roll]

Fair enough. I do wonder what happens if the pop-up is actually blocked.
Hopefully the OP was able to obtain a full refund without too much trouble.

[WVcampground]

time2roll wrote:

WVcampground wrote:
Deceptive? Maybe, maybe not.

This is on the Florida DEP website under Florida state park reservation information. You have to click on policies from this siteand it takes you right there. I guess folks just click, click, click, without reading rules, policies, or other info when making reservations?

It's not in what could be considered fine print.

OK and if there is a fee involved the fee needs to be right next to the opt in button.

If this is one of those promotional mailers that you need to opt out then it is deceptive.

The explanation should also include the eventual fee. Where is it?

When on the final page where you enter your CC info and click on "complete this purchase", then the active.com popup appears, which explains the terms (30 day trial, then billed $89), and gives you the option to accept or decline before making a final click to confirm the ressie. It spells it all out. I remember seeing it when making reservations late 2017.

What I can't remember is if you have to uncheck a box, or check a box, as it's been over a year since we made Florida reservations. I am certainly not going to make a reservation to find out. It's all spelled out in that popup. I guess folks just check or uncheck boxes without reading.

The bottom line is you should read everything before clicking buttons.

[time2roll]

WVcampground wrote:
Deceptive? Maybe, maybe not.

This is on the Florida DEP website under Florida state park reservation information. You have to click on policies from this siteand it takes you right there. I guess folks just click, click, click, without reading rules, policies, or other info when making reservations?

It's not in what could be considered fine print.

OK and if there is a fee involved the fee needs to be right next to the opt in button.

If this is one of those promotional mailers that you need to opt out then it is deceptive.

The explanation should also include the eventual fee. Where is it?

[WVcampground]

Deceptive? Maybe, maybe not.

This is on the Florida DEP website under Florida state park reservation information. You have to click on policies from this siteand it takes you right there. I guess folks just click, click, click, without reading rules, policies, or other info when making reservations?

It's not in what could be considered fine print.

[rk911]

Freightguy wrote:
Of course something was clicked is error. I feel it is deceptive for them to even be allowed to insert their subscription option into the check out process. If it were not in the check out process and just advertised on the page somewhere that would be different. But to have it in the check out where it is normal to have to click check boxes to agree to things is down right wrong.

'deceptive' is imprecise but will do. what has been described is very similar to what some software distributors will do. when preparing to download some providers will, by default, have a box already checked signifying the user's agreeing to also download a second piece of software. look carefully before downloading anything.

[wnjj]

Freightguy wrote:
Of course something was clicked is error. I feel it is deceptive for them to even be allowed to insert their subscription option into the check out process. If it were not in the check out process and just advertised on the page somewhere that would be different. But to have it in the check out where it is normal to have to click check boxes to agree to things is down right wrong.

Completely agree. Any “company” that has to trick people into signing up is peddling garbage.

[Freightguy]

Of course something was clicked is error. I feel it is deceptive for them to even be allowed to insert their subscription option into the check out process. If it were not in the check out process and just advertised on the page somewhere that would be different. But to have it in the check out where it is normal to have to click check boxes to agree to things is down right wrong.

[ajriding]

Active dot come is a legitimate company that operates a service for online sales for many industries.

You probably clicked something at one time to "agree" to be charged. This would be the campground company, not the Active dot com, who was the origin to be charging you, and is the reason Active reversed the charge so quickly.

The good news is that credit card purchases can be reversed. Debit card spending is much harder to reverse as it is your money gone, not theirs.

I never sign up for anything that has wording for reoccurring charges, I run away fast.

[rk911]

Freightguy wrote:
Just a PSA for you. I recently got a charge on my credit card fr $89.95 to a company called Active.com for their advantage membership. I had no idea who they were but I have found their parent company may own Reserve America and the charge came from a reservation I made in FL using RA.
This is very disturbing to me that the Florida State Park dept would allow this to happen as well as Reserve America.
Also, I made another reservation in RA to see if there was a check box I missed that caused the transaction, but there was no such box or any notification or mention of Active.com
I just got off the phone with Active to cancel this and they did it with no issue since I called them the next business day.
Happy Camping.

this is precisely why I have purchase alerts on our CCs set to $1.

[rr2254545]

There are lots of deals out there - be careful what you click on - most times it is your error not deceptive of the company