Now, members of Congress are taking notice because a growing number of people have been finding charges that they weren’t expecting. Specifically, the consumers in question have been complaining about affiliate marketing programs on various websites that use misleading text and small print to sway consumers into signing up for monthly charges they may not fully understand.
With that in mind, Senator Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced recently that the committee has released an investigative report on the topic.
“After six months, this committee has found that the companies we are investigating have figured out very clever ways to manipulate consumers’ buying habits so they can make a quick buck. American consumers have been complaining for years about these misleading practices and asking for answers – and rightly so,” said Rockefeller.
The report found that several leading online marketing companies trick consumers into joining membership clubs that often include monthly credit card charges, and that these companies have earned more than $1.4 billion with such tactics, with help from some 30 million consumers who are thought to have signed up for them.
A number of large companies and websites have also partnered with these outfits, sharing millions of dollars in proceeds.
While the debate over these companies unfolds, the matter serves as a reminder of the importance of routinely checking all financial statements and credit card bills to ensure proper budgeting procedures and to avoid identity theft.
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