‘Complimentary check’ has strings attached

It may not seem relevant now, but I’m a hardware store nut. Sure, that scraper-gouger-pry-bar-lid-lifter-widget-twister might sit on the workbench for months, but someday I might need it.

Similar reasoning might lead some of us to jump at an offer that was in the mail the other day. Along with a credit card bill came a “complimentary $40 check” just for trying something called the Hot-Line program. It bills itself as offering comprehensive credit card protection service for two yearly payments of $49.99.

The first question: Do you need it? The second: What do you know about the company offering it?

Trilegiant Corp, which runs the Hot-Line promotion, has also done business as Everyday Values, Protection Plus, PC SafetyPlus, Traveler’s Advantage and Elite Excursions. Trilegiant settled a lawsuit in 2006 brought by Maine and 14 other states. At the time, Trilegiant and Chase Bank were mailing out smaller “checks,” usually $2 to $10. By cashing them, people were unknowingly allowing Trilegiant to place periodic charges on their credit cards after a free trial period ended. Trilegiant and Chase paid a $14.5 million settlement to the 15 states with $650,000 in civil penalties, costs and fees coming to Maine.

One major deceptive practice two years ago was Trilegiant’s mailing of its offers in envelopes bearing Chase Bank logos. The checks sometimes came with bank or mortgage statements from Chase Bank or Chase Home Finance; consumers often thought they were rebates. Once they had cashed them and triggered an automatic monthly or annual charge for a variety of membership programs, consumers usually paid those unwanted bills until they finally canceled their memberships.

These days, Trilegiant is operating differently. You claim your $40 “check” by sending your credit card information and agreeing to try Hot-Line for a month (you’re advised to wait four to five weeks for the check, however). Hot-Line is touted as a way to get sale prices that are advertised after you’ve bought “virtually anything” at the regular price. Hot-Line also promises it will get you refunds if you return “eligible purchases” in good condition within 60 days.

Now, grab a magnifier and study the fine print in the offer: “Motorized vehicles and their parts, live plants and animals, food and beverages, services, jewelry, tickets, negotiable instruments, weapons, layaway items and one-of-a-kind items are excluded” along with liquidation and going-out-of-business sales. Maybe just waiting for the sale flier is a better deal.

That money-back guarantee on return items includes the above exceptions, plus artwork, collectibles, forged or counterfeit stuff, and used or damaged items. Remember, if you deal locally, most stores will refund a dissatisfied buyer’s money to maintain good customer relations.

If you go for the offer and cancel during the first month, there’s no fee. Stay with it and you’ll be billed automatically every six months “at the then-current fee.” If you call and cancel, you’ll get a pro-rated refund.

The settlement 16 months ago requires Trilegiant to spell out its offers clearly, which – despite some really tiny print – it seems to have done. The company is using the term “complimentary check,” rather than “rebate” or “refund,” which are terms prohibited under the settlement terms. The “Important Notice” about regular automatic billing is even in readable type.

One last bit of fine print reserves the right to “modify or improve any part of the service at any time and without prior notice.” That disclaimer is probably typical of promotions you’ll receive from any number of companies.

Did I mention my latest bargain tool includes a magnifier?

Consumer Forum is a collaboration, now in its 30th year, of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual and business memberships are available at modest rates. Interested and motivated prospective volunteers are always needed and welcomed to apply to help with our mission. For assistance with consumer-related issues, including consumer fraud and identity theft, or for more information, write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor ME 04402-1329.