MWI Consumer Complaints

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Here is a tiny sample of the complaints we receive about MWI. We receive two to three complaints daily along the lines of the samples quoted below. If this has happened to you, we'd like to hear about it. Please use our complaint form to tell us about your experience.

Miriam of Northridge CA (9/5/04):
This is the second time this has happened, the first was 2 years ago when I started to notice charges for $29.95 on our monthly bank statements. I called the company and over a month later they finally removed the charges. This time we received an overlimit notice from our credit card company for a charge of $179.95, which then led to an overlimit fee on our card. I have never, nor has my husband ever authorized these people to charge anything to our accounts. I will never buy anything from an infomercial or online again... it's back to good old-fashioned store shopping for us.

Our credit card company told us that there was nothing they could do about it, that we have to contact the company directly. They said that it was not a "FRAUD" matter. How can this not be considered fraud. We are struggling financially as it is and do not need extra stress on our money right now. We immediately cancelled the credit card because of the card company's (Household Bank) refusal to do anything about it.

Anne of Minneapolis (8/30/04):
Last month, I received a charge of $14.95 on my credit card bill from something called MWI connections. Because I had recently had to use my credit card to pay for a trip (plane ticket, hotel and rental car), the bill was rather large, and the MWI connections fell in between the other purchases that I recognized, so I didn't really notice it. I thought it was an extra charge on one of my travel purchases.

When I received my credit card bill this month, 8/11/04, I noticed the MWI connections again with a 14.95 charge. Unable to figure out what purchase of mine this was, I looked it up on the internet. Roght away, I got "MWI Ripoff" articles. I then called them , they did not have any of my real billing information and could not find me by looking up my name. Only by looking up my credit card number could they find me on their billing list. So I requested to be removed, and have been promised that I am removed and should receive a refund for the $14.95 charge in 3-5 buisness days.

I was told also that I was put onto their list by checking out items on an internet survey to receive a $25.00 free dinner gift certificate. I do remember starting to fill out an internet survey about two months ago to get a $25.00 dinner certificate, but I never completed it. In any case, this was a scary wake up call to what can happen when using personal informatino on the internet, and I"m glad that I caught it after only 2 or 3 months, rather than a whole year's worth!

Stacey of Layton UT (8/17/04):
On June 30th 2004 I made a purchase via phone for a product offered on an infomercial, I declined all other offers given. On August 9th 2004 I noticed on my credit card statement that there was an unauthorized transaction fee for $139.95, at this point I contacted my credit card company and they replied with the merchants Customer Service Department phone number, which I called.

The customer service representative claimed that I had been enrolled in some "coupon" membership with a yearly club fee. I specifically told this representative to cancel my membership immediately and refund my money...so we'll see what happens IF they give me my money back, if not, you will be hearing from me again.

Victoria of Beaverton OR (8/17/04):
Service envelope arrived my home in December. It promised to charge me for pending services. I both called them and I used their online connection to refuse all services and ordered MWI Connections not to charge my credit card or it would be submitted for fraud. My husband has also called and the MWI Connections spokesperson said membership was non-cancelable. Again, my husband told them that they were not authorized to charge our credit card. When my husband, Greg, saw the charge on our online statement, he called and the representative, Rachel, said no one cancelled in December and hung up when Greg said he's disputing the fraudulant transaction with our bank.

Since then, monthly, we've been charged for an approximate total of $119. My husband wasn't dilegent checking our statements and discovered the charges just today. This figure has been disputed with my bank. Greg had called MWI Connections at 888.840.6299 to dispute the charges and Rachel refused to provide contact information except for a PO Box 24128 Omaha Nebraska, 68124.

Sandra of North Oxford MA (8/11/04):
I keep receiving debits on my bank statement totalling $25.90 each month and I have NO idea. This was not pre-authorized and there is NO WAY to contact them! They invaded my privacy -- what else do they have on me?

Donna of Gulf Breeze FL (8/9/04):
I have been charged $12.95 monthly for something I DID NOT want! This has gone on for almost a year. I see thru investigating that there is or was a suit against this company in the state of Florida. I would like to know if I can recoup my money they withdrew from my account without authority to do so.

Jane of Staunton VA (8/8/04):
I have a charge of $10.95 on my check card. After reading the other complaints on this sight, I don't understand how they could get my card number. For one, I don't watch television, haven't for years. Two, I would never order anything from an infomertial. The amount taken is small compared to some but it's my money! Really, I'm confused and frankly angry that this happened in the first place. I've never even heard of this place or any of the others that were mentioned.

Danyelle of Woodland CA (8/4/04):
I have been a loyal customer of Victoria's Secret for a number of years. Recently I made a purchase for apparel through their website, as I have done many times before. Today I noticed that there is a charge to my account for $89.95 from MWI*VS ESCAPES TRAVEL 888-256-3916. I called the number and the automated system answered that it was Victoria's Secret Travel. I was never able to speak with a live person through this number.

I then called my banks and was told that this was not fraud but a dispute. Apparently if you have ever used your credit card or ATM/VISA card with a company in the past, they are free to do whatever they please with your account and the only recourse you have is to dispute the charges. This is a whole other issue!

However, I was informed that US Bank did set a protocol for handling issues with all MWI complaints. This also disturbs me that this problem is so prevalent that they need to set up a procedure for them but have done nothing to protect their customers from such charges such as requiring a signed acknowledgement before honoring them.

I then called Victoria's Secret and informed them how unhappy I was with them and discovered that this MWI*VS ESCAPES TRAVEL is an "affiliate company". In other words they are an independent company that is supplying some sort of initiative to what was formally to me a reputable company, to provide them with the credit card information that I had entrusted to them. They transferred me over to this "affiliate company" that was very obviously not even in this country. I discovered that they had apparently mailed me something that looks very much like junk mail that is usually tossed that stated if I did not contact them they would assume that I wanted their "service" and would bill my credit card. Surprise they did just that!

Now I am aware of the "try this for 30 days risk free" scam and would never fall for that. But this is an entirely new tactic that seems to me should be highly illegal! "We have against your will obtained pertinent financial information from a company you trusted and will now begin dipping into your money that you depend on for survival as we please unless you tell us we can't." At this point it is too soon to tell whether I will have my money returned or how much of a fight I am in for.

I have been out of work for 4 weeks. At the time I became unemployed unexpectedly, I had enough money to survive at our normal standard for 2 weeks. I am a single mother with four teenage children still at home and am the only means of support for them. I do not receive any assistance from anyone (i.e. deadbeat dad or any agency). We have all had to make sacrifices to get through this period of time. Although I have a position beginning in 1 week, it will still be 2 weeks after that before I receive any further income. This has been a horrible blow for someone who has been struggling to be self sufficient and independent for 10 years and did well to be able to put enough aside to survive during my employment issues. That $89.95 made the difference between successfully being able to get through this hardship or failing.

Jenny of Storrs CT (8/4/04):
Today I checked my bankstatement and there was a withdrawal of $9.95 from this MWI Galleria place. I had no idea what this charge was from. I looked it up online to find that this has happened to MANY other people. I called them and supposedly Lynn cancelled my account. She said it was for a service that helps me with my everyday shopping, and that it was from when I used Snapfish. She said I wont be charged anymore. We'll see.

I'm trying to save for college! I can't just have people taking money from me like it's taking candy from a baby. This is too easy for them and its not right. I want my ten bucks back!

Aaron of Vancouver WA (8/3/04):
MWI Essentials charged my checking account/debit card $11.95 for 4 months, and I did not sign up for their "service" and when I called to have them stop, they amazingly could not find my account. Charged $47.80 to my checking account without my consent and would not stop when I asked.

Douglas of Owasso OK (8/2/04):
This is the fourth time MWI has stolen money from me. The last time was about three months ago and it was the smallest amount they have attempted (about $2). On July 29th, they went the other way and took the largest amount of the four "service charges" ($249.95!). My rent check almost bounced because of this stunt.

Kudith of Lauderhill FL (7/30/04):
I received my Account Statement from Bank Atlantic. I began looking over my account statement and I noticed that on the 16th of July a purchase was posted in the amount of $179.95 and payment was made to MWI*CONNECTIONS. I could not reconcile that amount because I had no note nor recollectation of having done business with these people. I did not know who they were.

I called the bank and the Customer Service Specialist gave me a telephone number 888-868-6216. I dialed the number, there was an automated service in place, I followed the instructions given. I waited for approximately 10 minutes but no Customer Service Rep. was available to deal with me. I hung up and called back the bank. I gave my information to another C.S. Specialist who checked out the information I had given to him. He then informed me that they were scams, and he advised me to file a report to Consumer Affairs and he also put in place steps to protect my account.

Mary of Frederick MD wrote:
I ordered the Copa product about 1 month ago and have not been satisfied. I intend to return it. However, I found that an unauthorized amount of $84.00 was withdrawn from my credit/check card from MWI Essentials. I have since researched the companies on-line and found numerous complaints such as mine leading me to believe that these two companies are partners and have stolen my money. I may have to discontinue my credit card or take these people to court if I don't get my money back, which means time away from work.

Laurie of Glendale, AZ, thinks it might be Steam Buggy:
I ordered the Steam Buggy from an infomercial. Somehow MWI Essentials took an unauthorized $84.00 from my debit card on 1/31/01. They said that they got my credit card number from my Steam Buggy order. I called them today, 2/5/01 and demanded that they refund my money and cancel the subscription to whatever it was they said I receiving. I have no clue as to what the subscription is to or anything. I feel as though this is totally illegal and should be stopped.

Mark of Montague MA (2/15/03):
I bought a product off an infomercial, it was a product called the Ultimate Chopper. Ever since then I have been getting billed $99.00 a month for some stupid membership that I NEVER authorized. We call them every month to complain, they promise it will never happen again, they refund our money. And then BAM next month same time -- another $99.00. It is a pain in the butt, I have had checks bounce because of this. It needs to stop.

Carole of Renton WA (1/27/03):
I ordered a "driveway patrol" device from a tv commercial. It works, I was billed for it and paid for it with my credit card. MWI Connections for months afterward charged $9.95 to my credit card. I called and asked them to stop billing my credit card for a product I did not even know. They would not tell me what the charge was for. They said I agreed to it and all the information had been mailed to me. This is not true.

After complaining to the company with no results I contacted the Attorney General's office in Nebraska. All my money was returned by check. I received a copy of a letter that the company had mailed to the Attorney General's office. It was filled with falsehoods.

Janet of Watertown WI (7/24/02):
Ordered diet pills from Dr. Atkins off the tv, then not only paid for them but got two additional charges of $98 each for MWI Essentials. Have since put stop on credit card. They should be stopped immediately. It feels like they broke into my house and stole all my possessions. It is just too scary to think this can be done so easily.

Rita of Hazel Park MI (7/22/02):
My husband has ordered OrangeGlo over the phone. I received my bank statement with an amount of $109.95 taken out of our bank account on 7-9-02 which we did not authorize over. Called the phone number that was on my account. The girl that answered the phone said my husband had ordered OrangeGlo a year ago and that he ok'd a membership with them. I said my husband would not ok any one to take money out of our account over a year later for a membership. I told her that she was scamming people out of their money. She said that they would refund our money within 30 days.

Lynne of Milton FL (8/1/02):
On 7/17/02 I received a charge from MWI Essentials for $119.95. I called the company at 1-800-313-3540 talked with Ervin TP-429 and told him I did not authorize a charge on my account. He said I had purchased Good Time Videos from an infomercial and I was asked to enroll in a promotional program and should have gotten a packet of information on the promotion. I never ordered or received Good Time Videos or received the promotional information. On 7/30/02 I called the company and asked for the charge to be taken off my credit card and Ervin said it would take up to 60 days. I also contacted my Visa company through the Navy Federal Credit Union and asked them to take off the charge and faxed my credit union the information they needed.

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