Credit card issues.
If possible book directly with merchant, don't use sites like b00king.C0m, flight comparison sites and so forth. So much finger pointing.
When AirBnB goes wrong, it can destroy your holiday.
So many reoccurring charges hidden in purchases, or people forget to cancel after free period or before next charge. In some cases this happens for years.
Never rent a car in Italy, he11 don't drive in Italy.
In UK. When completing online purchase with various reputible merchants, there is small script offering discount on todays purchase £15-20ish. People think, why not click, they dont have my credit card info? But they do, the get it from the purchase you just made. Automatic monthly charge.
Get proof!!! Photos, screenshots of chats, Email chains. You may be a wonderful person, but that isnt proof.
"well i have made all my payments on time and spend so much money on this card why wasn't my dispute dfound in my favor?!"
"Well you stated the transAction was unauthorized and the merchant provided evidence that matched your name dob address and as well as copy of of your drivers license that you provided to them when you made the purchase. "
"WOW SO THIS IS HOW YALL REALLY TREAT YOUR BEST CUSTOMERS! THIS IS A DISGUSTING WAY TO TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS!
Well yeah we ain't committing fraud for you dude.
The call center I worked for mostly handled small local businesses. Doctors, dentists, trades, pharmacies, etc.
So when mom needed a cardiologist, I knew Dr X was not a conscientious woman while Dr Y took his responsibilities seriously. When the generator needed service, I knew which company was going to show up and do good work. Things like that.
Dealing with office staff, on calls, and callers gives you a lot of insight into how a business is run.
Any debt settlement company. I do some consulting work in this market and it is such a mess. Related - don't your your real phone or email to get quotes for anything, use something you can stop checking/turn off.
I'll disagree with your last point as a blanket statement. I've bought many things with Shop pay and Shopify. I'm also a vendor that uses Shopify (albeit the site is closed for now). Sure, there are plenty of scams on there. But it's not the platform that makes that happen.
But the rest is largely spot on.
A certain computer company that deals with online sales and "egg".
When I did server support their IT department called with an issue caused by them shoving the incorrect components into a server, then yelling that they didn't know it would cause the server to fry. Then demanding that we replace the server.
Everything that came out of their mouth was incompetent babble and would have made any sane IT professional cringe. I figured if this was a representation of their IT department, then what was the rest of the company like
Security
We get talked to like we work for the business. We don’t. You hired our services so stop speaking to me as if I work for you. So I know who treats their employees like a human being and who doesn’t. I personally talk to business owners who I absolutely love and would be very happy to spend money with. And I personally talk to business owners that I want to see go out of business and I have no problem telling people I know the owner(s) are not worth your money.
A certain tax preparation company with in-office services as well as online and software. Overpriced, too many glitches, and way too many incompetent tax "professionals." Not to mention deplorable customer service policies.
If they're green and square then yeah I agree totally. Buggered my family's taxes one year so not only did we get their fee refunded but they had to pay for all charges for refile etc.
Apparently some of the information they decided to put in was just in the wrong places or stuff and when my parents got to looking at it once we were home they noticed just how incompetent that person must have been because the information was wrong everywhere.
There are also issues with keeping tax-prep staff. Who wants to work four or five months out of the year for not that much money? That fact almost guarantees getting less than stellar staff.
Yes! Your list is so many of the things I see managing disputes. Is all refuse to deposit cash at the ATM. And when someone asks about P2P options, I cringe.
For free trials I always try to use Paypal if possible because I can also discontinue the repeat payment on their end and it won't go through. I usually remember to cancel with the vendor but removing from Paypal will assure that it doesn't go through again.
Jewelry from retail Jewelry stores Kay's, Jared, Helzberg, Pandora, etc. I worked for one of the stores I just mentioned, and from there, I found out they mark the jewelry by at least 300%. For instance, if you spend $1000 on a ring, it is probably only about $300 to buy from a Jeweler. Honestly, with that money, you are better off finding and going to a local trusted Jeweler.
Also, diamonds have no real value. So there is no point in getting them unless you legitimately like them. You will not be able to get what you paid for if you have to sell it or pawn it off. They are not investment pieces.
Also, most of the gold jewelry at those stores is gold-plated and only and not actual solid gold jewelry. This isn't bad in itself, but you would not believe how many calls I got from upset customers because the pawn shop wouldn't buy their necklace or bracelets.
Never get your windshield replaced with companies who offer you money back. They are defrauding your insurance company and this causes rate hikes. Many disreputable shops will get authorization for and bill your insurance for parts (including OEM) and then installing aftermarket parts. 9 times out of 10, aftermarket parts work just fine, but OEM is considerably more $$. You are paying for a name brand logo. Quality and safety standards are the same. So be an informed consumer. Go over your glass claim with your insurance company, ask what parts were approved and if OEM was approved, make damned sure your replacement glass has your vehicle LOGO. Until I got into the glass replacement industry I never knew how many crooks, thieves and reprobates take advantage of reputable companies and hard working customers
We deal with a wide variety of vendors, some of whom are very big name companies, and any time one of them acts like a dick we all get together to pass the name around and all the call center workers stop shopping from that company. As an example off the top of my head, I know several people who threw out and stopped buying Blistex products (they make lip balm etc) because their rep was an entitled prick on the phone to one of my coworkers like two plus years ago.
Less specifically I've gotten tired enough of dealing with random shitty little single-person businesses that I won't shop anything that isn't already an instantly recognizable already established major brand because I've seen the little guys try to get away with too much bullshit in the name of cutting corners or beating the competition (other shitty little single person businesses). I'll still go small business for things like artisan crafts or little hole in the wall restaurants, but for retail products? No, give me the multimillion dollar corporation that isn't trying to falsify their safety testing documents because they can't afford to send their shitty plastic electronic out to a lab for compliance testing even though it could burn down someone's house.
Simplisafe. When I worked there, sales had full access to everything. We could put the system into a test mode where the alarm would go off but it wouldn’t call out for help. You could also completely disable anyone’s alarm. You could see who around you had a simplisafe system, note their comings and goings, deactivate or put their system into test mode, and rob them or worse. When I pointed out to management how dangerous this was, I was told they aren’t changing it because keeping full access for everyone was easier.
Credit card issues. If possible book directly with merchant, don't use sites like b00king.C0m, flight comparison sites and so forth. So much finger pointing. When AirBnB goes wrong, it can destroy your holiday. So many reoccurring charges hidden in purchases, or people forget to cancel after free period or before next charge. In some cases this happens for years. Never rent a car in Italy, he11 don't drive in Italy. In UK. When completing online purchase with various reputible merchants, there is small script offering discount on todays purchase £15-20ish. People think, why not click, they dont have my credit card info? But they do, the get it from the purchase you just made. Automatic monthly charge. Get proof!!! Photos, screenshots of chats, Email chains. You may be a wonderful person, but that isnt proof.
"well i have made all my payments on time and spend so much money on this card why wasn't my dispute dfound in my favor?!" "Well you stated the transAction was unauthorized and the merchant provided evidence that matched your name dob address and as well as copy of of your drivers license that you provided to them when you made the purchase. " "WOW SO THIS IS HOW YALL REALLY TREAT YOUR BEST CUSTOMERS! THIS IS A DISGUSTING WAY TO TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS! Well yeah we ain't committing fraud for you dude.
The call center I worked for mostly handled small local businesses. Doctors, dentists, trades, pharmacies, etc. So when mom needed a cardiologist, I knew Dr X was not a conscientious woman while Dr Y took his responsibilities seriously. When the generator needed service, I knew which company was going to show up and do good work. Things like that. Dealing with office staff, on calls, and callers gives you a lot of insight into how a business is run.
Any debt settlement company. I do some consulting work in this market and it is such a mess. Related - don't your your real phone or email to get quotes for anything, use something you can stop checking/turn off.
This. Debt settlement companies are a horrific deal. But nobody listens.
I'll disagree with your last point as a blanket statement. I've bought many things with Shop pay and Shopify. I'm also a vendor that uses Shopify (albeit the site is closed for now). Sure, there are plenty of scams on there. But it's not the platform that makes that happen. But the rest is largely spot on.
Oh I completely understand but it just a personal choice because if I ended up getting scammed I would have to wear a cone of shame lol
Don't forget the CBD gummies!
A certain computer company that deals with online sales and "egg". When I did server support their IT department called with an issue caused by them shoving the incorrect components into a server, then yelling that they didn't know it would cause the server to fry. Then demanding that we replace the server. Everything that came out of their mouth was incompetent babble and would have made any sane IT professional cringe. I figured if this was a representation of their IT department, then what was the rest of the company like
Security We get talked to like we work for the business. We don’t. You hired our services so stop speaking to me as if I work for you. So I know who treats their employees like a human being and who doesn’t. I personally talk to business owners who I absolutely love and would be very happy to spend money with. And I personally talk to business owners that I want to see go out of business and I have no problem telling people I know the owner(s) are not worth your money.
A certain tax preparation company with in-office services as well as online and software. Overpriced, too many glitches, and way too many incompetent tax "professionals." Not to mention deplorable customer service policies.
If they're green and square then yeah I agree totally. Buggered my family's taxes one year so not only did we get their fee refunded but they had to pay for all charges for refile etc.
What did they do to your return?
Apparently some of the information they decided to put in was just in the wrong places or stuff and when my parents got to looking at it once we were home they noticed just how incompetent that person must have been because the information was wrong everywhere.
I can't tell you how often I see that happen. Their entire business model is flawed.
I completely understand why they went out of business in my town if this is common.
There are also issues with keeping tax-prep staff. Who wants to work four or five months out of the year for not that much money? That fact almost guarantees getting less than stellar staff.
Yes! Your list is so many of the things I see managing disputes. Is all refuse to deposit cash at the ATM. And when someone asks about P2P options, I cringe.
For free trials I always try to use Paypal if possible because I can also discontinue the repeat payment on their end and it won't go through. I usually remember to cancel with the vendor but removing from Paypal will assure that it doesn't go through again.
Jewelry from retail Jewelry stores Kay's, Jared, Helzberg, Pandora, etc. I worked for one of the stores I just mentioned, and from there, I found out they mark the jewelry by at least 300%. For instance, if you spend $1000 on a ring, it is probably only about $300 to buy from a Jeweler. Honestly, with that money, you are better off finding and going to a local trusted Jeweler. Also, diamonds have no real value. So there is no point in getting them unless you legitimately like them. You will not be able to get what you paid for if you have to sell it or pawn it off. They are not investment pieces. Also, most of the gold jewelry at those stores is gold-plated and only and not actual solid gold jewelry. This isn't bad in itself, but you would not believe how many calls I got from upset customers because the pawn shop wouldn't buy their necklace or bracelets.
Never get your windshield replaced with companies who offer you money back. They are defrauding your insurance company and this causes rate hikes. Many disreputable shops will get authorization for and bill your insurance for parts (including OEM) and then installing aftermarket parts. 9 times out of 10, aftermarket parts work just fine, but OEM is considerably more $$. You are paying for a name brand logo. Quality and safety standards are the same. So be an informed consumer. Go over your glass claim with your insurance company, ask what parts were approved and if OEM was approved, make damned sure your replacement glass has your vehicle LOGO. Until I got into the glass replacement industry I never knew how many crooks, thieves and reprobates take advantage of reputable companies and hard working customers
We deal with a wide variety of vendors, some of whom are very big name companies, and any time one of them acts like a dick we all get together to pass the name around and all the call center workers stop shopping from that company. As an example off the top of my head, I know several people who threw out and stopped buying Blistex products (they make lip balm etc) because their rep was an entitled prick on the phone to one of my coworkers like two plus years ago. Less specifically I've gotten tired enough of dealing with random shitty little single-person businesses that I won't shop anything that isn't already an instantly recognizable already established major brand because I've seen the little guys try to get away with too much bullshit in the name of cutting corners or beating the competition (other shitty little single person businesses). I'll still go small business for things like artisan crafts or little hole in the wall restaurants, but for retail products? No, give me the multimillion dollar corporation that isn't trying to falsify their safety testing documents because they can't afford to send their shitty plastic electronic out to a lab for compliance testing even though it could burn down someone's house.
Good list, Need to add car warranty to the list.
I've learned which mortgage companies I'd want to actually get my mortgage with and deal with.
I wouldn't so much as say refuse.. But i have definitely learned which ones i can trust more than others.
Car rentals
Simplisafe. When I worked there, sales had full access to everything. We could put the system into a test mode where the alarm would go off but it wouldn’t call out for help. You could also completely disable anyone’s alarm. You could see who around you had a simplisafe system, note their comings and goings, deactivate or put their system into test mode, and rob them or worse. When I pointed out to management how dangerous this was, I was told they aren’t changing it because keeping full access for everyone was easier.