SoCal240/6

Be careful of the "free" 12 month trial period!

Towards the end, I got a letter from Tele-Aid saying "The credit card number we have for you has expired. In order for us to continue providing service after the 12 month period, you need to provide us with a new credit card number, on the form enclosed. If you do not do so, your service will automatically be terminated at the end of the 12 month period, and not renewed."

So, cool, I thought, I don't want to renew this useless service anyways, I won't send them my new credit car number.

Well, they went ahead and charged the old number! (which is still good, but for which they do not have a current expiration date).

No problem, I figured, I'll just call them and straighten it out.

As with all things Tele-Aid, its never that simple.

They apparently take a pretty hard line. The guy refused to cancel and give me my $240 back! He said that I had to request in writing that the service be cancelled. I said no, the letter said it would automatically be cancelled.

He then said "Do you have a copy of the letter?" As if I were lying. I don't have it here at work, and I told him that. Although I also pointed out that they sent it, so they have it themselves (and, its a form letter anyways). He then gave up on that line of questioning.

He then said "Do you know your password"? I said no, I never use the thing. What does it matter? When the call started, he confirmed my identity by phone number and other info. Sensing that I didn't have the password, he seized on it. He then said, "Well, if you had the password, I could cancel it"!!!

Umm, that is ridiculous. If you forget the password, you are stuck with the system forever?!?!? Couldn't I just hang up, call Teleaid back, get a different operator, and tell them I forgot my password, and get it from them?

Finally, after a ton of wrangling, I just cut to the chase: I don't really care what you do, you'll either cancel it voluntarily or I'll just call the CC company and have the charge charged back to you. So just tell me, here and now, if you will reverse the charge voluntarily.

He then changed his tune again, and said if I sent in a written request, he could do it.

So I sent it, we'll see what happens.

MB really needs to get a handle on the Tele-Aid service. It sucks in all regards, technically and from a customer service standpoint.

Had I not been assertive, I would be stuck with another year of it, at $240.

Mach430

You need to check your contract regarding Tele-Aid when you bought the car to see what their policy regarding cancellations is. In many cases such as pagers and cell phones, you are not cancelled unless you specifically state that you wish to cancel.

greg230

yea but with cell and pagers, your not automatically renewed for 1 year if you dont cancel in time. it simply continues on a month to month basis.

greg

MB-BOB

...And the renewal fee seems to vary all over the lot. I've read anywhere from $200 per year to SoCal's $240. I was quoted $225.

I recall my contract said it would be automatically renewed (without notice) unless I initiated action to cancel, but it appears several of you are getting notices.

You're right, they need to get their act together.

Buellwinkle

We need a lawyer with an MB that is so pissed that he'll take on the class action lawsuit against Tele-Aid and MB to reimburse every MB owner $750 for the useless device. The press would be so bad that MB would have to take immediate action.

bluec230

Hey Socal,
Maybe they're treating you like the garbage you are. I mean you got the cheapest Mercedes offered in the 2001 year, the lowly C240 with a "whopping" 168 HP haha. Couldn't even afford the automatic option which all the reviews recommend on the slow sedan you purchased huh?

P.S. I can sleep very well at night referring to my car as a "sports coupe" (in reference to another post in here). Ahem, I have oh.. 25HP more. The question is can you call your car a Mercedes when it's overpriced and underpowered, a good second slower on the 0 to 60 than the sports coupe. Oh and yours was the cheapest Mercedes when you bought it.

The real question is not why you'd buy a segment busting 192HP Mercedes sports coupe that starts at 25K. It is rather why you'd buy a 2001 168HP 4 door sedan with a bummer 6 speed manual transmission for $33,000, when there are many better cars in that price segment. You got screwed over my dear friend, not us as coupe owners.

awiner

bluec230, that post was totally out of line ! What the heck is going on in these C-Forums the past few days to warrant such hate ?

I hate to have to do this, however, if this type of junk continues to happen, violators will be warned once and ONLy once. If a subsequent violation happens, they will be baned for a period of time or life depending on what the administrators decide. Again, MBworld.Org WILL NOT tolerate these types of posts !

Richard

Cant U just complain to your credit card company and have them reverse the charges [tell them it was an unauthorised transaction and send them the letter MB sent you] ?

That would work in the UK .. (where the cc company is equally responsible for the transaction, and therefore they have contracts between all the CC companies and the shops that let them pull back bad transactions and get money back from the shop)

benzomonterey

AWINER you need to read all of his posts. They are all about 90% offensive.

MB-BOB

bluec230, thankfully, there are just a few folks on this forum who can be counted upon to ALWAYS take a derogatory position in their posts. I finally decided to take a stance and poke one of them last night, so in an effort not to be hypocrital, you get it today.

I don't have anyone marked as "ignore" in my personal settings, because I think it's important to hear everything that folks say (the good, bad, and ugly). However, it is disappointing to see some who have a hair trigger to turn not just negative, but offensive, with every post. You're nothing if not consistant.

I'm not a moderator here, but IMO, you need to temper your tirades with some positive comments somewhere, anywhere, if that's possible.

Lynn

Instead of banning, perhaps miscreants should be banished to the A-class forum.

SoCal240/6

It doesn't matter what the contract says.

When they send a letter in the 11th month, saying that unless I give them a new credit car number, they will automatically cancel the contract, that is what counts.

I followed *their own instructions,* didn't send the new credit car number, and they said if that happened, it would NOT be renewed.

They sent the letter, I relied on it. Period. Had I not received their letter, I would have called and cancelled in the 11th month.

I am correct on a number of theories, no matter what the contract said. Reliance, estoppel, fraud, unfair business practices, etc. etc. etc.

Its no biggie, because as someone above pointed out, I can have the charge reversed by simply calling the credit card company. But chargebacks look bad on a vendor's account, so I want to give them the chance to do the right thing.

revstriker

It sounds like you have a good case. I know in my experience, when a flag comes up for a customer's expiration date, a polite letter or phone call is normally made asking the customer to give us the new date or a change of CC. If we don't get the date, and are not able to process the fee, we are forced to cancel their account. However, sometimes the customer just gets a renewed card (same number), and the CC company will still process the charge (without the updated date). In other words, we were advising them that if we weren't able to process his fee, his account would be canceled. Just because a customer would not respond, didn't necessarily mean his account would be canceled.

Sounds like your letter was worded different. Anyway, thanks for the "heads-up" about that. I put a "sticky" note on my 11th payment voucher to remind myself about it (in case I don't get a letter in the mail).

jlc320

Unbelievable! I had exactly the same experience. I ended up calling my CC, because I was just sick and tired of dealing with them. They eventually credited back to my account plus interest. Good luck

--Jeff

SoCal240/6

It really is a scam.

They send you the letter on the 11th month saying it will be automatically disconnected if you don't give them a new credit card number.

If you want to cancel, that lulls you into not doing anything. After all, you are just following their own very specific directions.

They then fail to do what they say they will do, and put the unauthorized charge on your credit card.

25% of people probably don't even notice the charge. So they get away with it.

Of the ones that do notice, and call to correct it, MB Tele-Aid's strong-arm tactics probably intimidate another 25% into giving in. So they get away with it again.

Of the ones that are not intimidated, a good percentage probably just give up, given the hassles involved (you have to call, then wait 10 minutes on hold, then they give you the runaround, etc. etc.).

Its disappointing that MB would be involved with such poor customer service. (Actually, its more than poor service, its an intentionally designed scheme/fraud).

TIP: If you intend to cancel the service after the free trial period, send the letter today! Even if you have 8 months left to go. Just say "This is to give notice that I want to cancel at the end of the 12 month period, and you are NOT authorized to make ANY charges to my credit card." That way you are protected. And, if you change your mind, believe me, they are so desperate to trap people into buying the lame system that they will gladly re-sign you up.

BrabusCClass

Hmm. I wanted the C240 over the C320. I love driving stick. Who cares about 25hp? Its not like the C320 is that fast? Now the C32 is something to brag about. Regardless that ealier post was very childish. I love my car and I have raced C320 and I still beat them...with my lowly 168hp engine. Blah. It not always about the car but the driver ya know. If not Ill just go get my 1999 C43 and kill any C320.

BrabusCClass

Opps I read the post wrong. LOL. Blue lets take our cars to any car show and see whos car looks better. Also I can afford the trunk thank you.

BrabusCClass

BTW sorry if i offended anyone with a C320 and C230. Didnt mean to. I really like my C240. I do wish they offered C320 with stick. If they did I would have bought that instead. Anyways thanks for the info on the teleaide. I think I might disconnect it very soon before my year contract is up. When did they send you the letter? I still have not recieved mine. I have about 1 month left for my car to be 1 year. Should i call them up now?

vinmanc32

That kind of stuff needs to be banished from the board entirely!! Unnecessary and useless information. As for the real part of the MB thread, that is so typical. you know that teleaid is a cash cow for them. They charge you this money for a service that 9 out of 10 of us will never use. But I will keep it cause it drops my insurance by 100 per year. I feel the other 140 is worth it for peace of mind. Remember, I dont have a spare.

Boo2

We are all happly MB owners, isn't that what really matters?

Budrwp

Just got billed for $240 on my CC from Teleaid. When I call Teleaid to cancel, they said NOPE! No Refunds, and wanted to know if I wanted to stop the service (with no refund). I can't believe MB would associate themselves with this scheme! So then I go looking through the fine print, and sure enough, once you've paid, no refunds. Please consider your situation with this company at once! Also, they say in the fine print, that if they send someone (assistance) to help you, there is a "charge" and a late fee if you don't paid. Read this carefully :

6. Subscription Fee. The subscription fee for the Service Plan you have selected is payable in advance of the initial term and any renewal term. The subscription fee is not refundable. The fee for routing assistance is charged on a per-use basis and is payable monthly within 30 days of the invoice date. For any late payment you may be charged a $5.00 late fee. By providing your credit card or bankcard number, you authorize ATX to charge your account for all fees, wireless charges, taxes and other amounts due under this agreement. You authorize ATX to review your credit history and obtain credit reports to determine your credit worthiness. If ATX determines you are not credit worthy, ATX may refuse to extend credit to you, may refuse to provide Services, or may cancel this agreement.

Hope this helps you!

neurodave

Holy mother of old thread revival! I think this is the oldest thread revival I have seen in ANY forum site I frequent.

Moviela

What makes it really funny is that the analog radio used in the nineties has been shut down. The system in W203 is useless unless you stuff piles of cash into the dealers pockets. Since 2010 smart phones have not only been changing the way we poop, and call for help on the roadside. Who needs an operator to place that call for you?

C230 Sport Coup

In the year 20 0 15 if man is still alive...
he may thrive.....