Joho the Blog
An Entry from the Archives

(1) cancel it through your credit card company, and (2) write to your state's attorney general.

As Jeff said, just tell your credit card bank to "take care of it".

They will ask the merchant bank (Trilegiants bank) for documentation for the transaction and if Trilegiant can't provide it your bank will be happy to give you your money back. (Actually, if I remember the law right then as soon as you dispute it the money will be marked as "money you don't have to pay").

- ask

... unfortunately i have also been a victim of this fraud.. i may perform legal action against them. i was charged several times and they overdrafted my bank account.

PRIVACY GUARD IS A BUNCH OF HUSTLERS CANCLE ANY BODY WHO DOES BUISNESS WITH THEM, LIKE US BANK. THEY ROB YOU IN SMALL PRINT AND LAWER WORDS. I ASKED MY BANK TO CANCLE PRIVACYGUARD AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. THIS HAPPEND SEVERAL TIMES. THEY CONTIUED TO NOT KNOW OR HAVE A RESONABLE SOLUTION. EITHER THEY ARE INCOMPETENT MORONS OR CROOKS. EITHER WAY US BANK SUCKS. I SUJEST NOT TO DO BUISNESS WITH THEM UNLESS YOU HAVE ALOT OF MONEY YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOSE.

I faxed a letter to their Executive office to 'request' for a credit (11.99/mo for 6 months). Just last week, I got a letter from them denying my request. I feel like there should be a class action against Privacy Guard especially since I did not sign up for a membership with them. I know I should have reviewed my credit card statements more carefully but I wonder if there is anything else I can do to get my refund?

Here's how we finally got free of these theives! We dialed customer service and got the run around- it was like trying to quit AOL all over again. They simply won't let you! These theives have been stealing $12.99 a month from us (via automatic draft)for longer than we are willing to admit. Our online banking rep advised against simply stopping payment on a specific amount as the theives are savvy and then just change the amount by one penny & it then goes undetected.
Finally we reached tech support 1-888-883-6303 option 2. A very nice lady CANCELLED our subscription immediately- no run around. WE even got a confirmation number. Good luck.

Thanks to the post by Wendy Jo I was able to cancel my membership with this so-called business. You have to listen to their spiell but after that it was easy to cancel. Don't forget to write down your cancel confirmation number. When you dial 1-888-883-6303 they will answer credit care or guard but not privacy guard but it is the same company. Thanks again Wendy Jo for the post. VERY HELPFUL (:

I personal have Privacy Guard and absolutely love it. I know for a fact that the only way you can become enrolled in Privacy is if they recieve a positive response. I know this may sound like a lie, but if you ask for it they can provide it for you. Also if you are unsatisfied with PG you can always call the customer service number and cancel it. The agent will give you two rebuttals (and if you listen PG actually offers wonderful benefits) and when given 2 negative responses your membership will be cancelled. For those of you that are disappointed and say PG are crooks and won't cancel you, maybe you need to be nicer. If you call and are upset and won't let the representatice speak, then you are right, you will not get anywhere with trying to cancel. Just be polite, it won't kill you to be nice! Remember the agents you speak with are only doing their job, and they are not the ones that personally signed you up! Also in response to anyone that wants a refund for months of service... PG is good at reviewing and refunding, but if you have been a member for several months/years, and now want a refund, you must see it from PGs point of view. It is YOUR bank account/CC that the money is coming out of. YOU are responsible for looking at your bank statement and calling about any unwanted/unauthorized charges, right then, not 6 months later!!!

Melissa, you sound like the rep I had to talk to on the phone when I tried to cancel, again. Apparently, when I called and cancelled within the first three months my cancellation was not accepted. So for 2 years i have suffered a charge on my account that i mistook as an internet service, because the entry is completely cryptic.

Hello,

Thank you all for the information. I have found that Privacy Guard's customer service will give you a number that will never work. However, I have found this blog to be much more helpful. I tried the number posted above, but it doesn't work if you are calling from inside of Canada. So, I found a new number that does work: 888-609-2455.

We've been charged every month since 05!!! I thought it was the wifes she thought it was mine.

Here's what to look for:

TLG*PRIVGRD########MAR 800-374-8273 CT 11.99

Kurt

I tried to cancel my Privacy Guard membership by phone, nothing happened, my credit card was charged almost a year later, I did not notice it at first. I contacted US Bank, they say I am responsible as I did not contact them within 60 days of the charge appearing on my credit card bill. I intend to pay off my US Bank credit card, and then cancel it this month. I hate US Bank now for aiding and abetting these crooks into stealing my money. I regard this as a learning experience, albeit an expensive one.

I tried to cancel my Privacy Guard membership by phone, nothing happened, my credit card was charged almost a year later, I did not notice it at first. I contacted US Bank, they say I am responsible as I did not contact them within 60 days of the charge appearing on my credit card bill. I intend to pay off my US Bank credit card, and then cancel it this month. I hate US Bank now for aiding and abetting these crooks into stealing my money. I regard this as a learning experience, albeit an expensive one.

I've been dealing with TLG* Credit Alert after I found that they'd stolen $99.99 from my bank account. They so sweetly offered to return $70 into my bank account and I had to write a letter requesting the rest or something stupid like that. So basically, I have to beg them to return the money they stole from me. Yes, I even got a conformation number but I'm thinking my money is long gone and the rest of it they stole from me before I found out what they were doing. I to thought it was something my husband was buying and he thought I was buying it. I didn't ask for Credit Alert which they (Credit Alert) said was from AOL (Haven't had AOL in years and it took around two for them to finally stop charging me) but I read on another site that this company sends things through snail mail and if you don't answer, they'll charge you and that AOL sells them your bank account number. Doesn't surprise me.

I asked them more that 10 time to cancell it. They never did it. They charged me 11.99 since I had this card. I'm student and I can't afford to lose any more money.

I have worked for Privacy Guard for longer than I would like to admit and finally found a job that is comparible to my pay rate. The Agents make bonuses on 'saving' you. I make anywhere from $700 to $1400 a month just in bonuses. The company is a thief. They do not provide the services they promise and if you do want help with ID theft you better have a good lawyer. CHASE is the biggest offender when it comes to enrollments. When my boyfriend opened an account with them I activated his card..(this is how most enrollments happen) after I denied the offer knowing what to do he still ended up with the service. My advice to you is STAY AWAY FROM CHASE and if you get a charge cancel it ASAP and PLEASE WRITE DOWN YOUR CONFIRMATION # OR YOU WILL END UP WITH NOTHING. Half the time the rep will not cancel you even if you get the cancel #!! Just some inside advice.

The VA identity scandal has affected my personal info...VA turned me over to PG and offered to pay for one year. I have been dealing with PG since May and have yet to get my credit reports (as promised). Is there anyone else out there experiencing the same problem???

The Chase fraud division called me about recent charges to my CC. Privacy Guard was one of them. I was in bed with the flu at the time and verified the charges because I thought they were something else. I called the bank and they said they were cancelling the charges, but I have to contact PG to cancel the service. I guess I'll start with the Tech Support # that Wendy suggests, then watch my CC bill.

That isnt nothing my wife called me this afternoon and asked why $120.00 out of our checking account. I told her I never got anything and when we looked up the company I found out that I canceled with them last month because we never got any results. And then still charged us. And they also said it would take 10 to 15 days to refund. I dont think it should take that long. Do you????

Carol, Like you, I was contacted by the VA about my privacy being compromised and they put me in touch with privacy guard. I delayed responding to them until I had time to research this further. I am relieved I did. I received a followup letter stating from them that they could not access my credit info (which I never requested them to do). Luckily my address was incorrect which is why they couldn't get my info. Now I wonder what to do. After checking this site, it looks like I'll need to do this on my own. Again, the government agencies like the VA are the least secure of any company. You'd think they'd check the reputation of Privacy guard before referring us to them.

I just called today to cancel TLG*PRVGRD, you have to call between m-f 9-5, the customer service number is 1-800-374-8273, You're credit card company, (Chase), will give u the customer id/member number that you have with them. They told me i got signed up when i actiated my credit card, they tell u get a month free, then u have to cancel, but i guess most people don't. It is one of those things u have to make sure u tell em ur not interested in i guess. Good luck on gettin any money back, but they will credit last payment.

Chris

I noticed this charge on my Chase statement today as I was making my last payment to paying the card off. I haven't used it in months since I wanted to get out of debt and I noticed a purchase that I couldn't recognize, come to find out it was Privacy Guard. I just canceled with them today. I was extremely put off by the way the rep at Privacy Guard tried to tell me that I spoke to someone to activate the account and he has record of it. When I told him to prove it he then tried to assure me that the service would work and he would send me some material to review and sign and he would keep the account open. I replied with a stern NO and he again tried to sell me, because I read this blog first I knew he would tr twice before he would agree to cancel it. Again I replied with a clear message of no I do not want this service, I am not interested, please remove me from this account and he gave me my confirmation number. The funny thing is I could have sworn I canceled this service a long time ago, now I'll just cross m fingers and hope it is not there next month. Stay away from this company at all costs to anyone that may not be aware. If there is some kind of large class action suit being put together, I WANT IN!!!

I was also contacted by the VA indicating that my personal information had been compromised. I was put in touch with PG. About 2 months later I received a notice that they couldn't access my credit information for some reason. After reading everyone else's comments, I think I'll just try to cut my losses with this company and cancel

Jon

I fell prey to this too! It's a scam!!!! I've been charged several years for it...what a joke & I never sign up for this stuff but it was through my cc...so I thought, OK. Well - I got the same run around by phone call. I am disputing the current charge & changing my cc #!!!

My wife is getting charged $99.99 every year, by Privacy Guard, on her Chase credit card, apparently based on her decision from 5 years ago to accept some promotional material that she can "easily" cancel any time. Truth be told, we don't even remember that and were apparently very naive at the time. It's been going on for 5 years. Maybe we wouldn't even notice this charge, but our balance on this card is zero, so we notice. Every year year she cancels the service, after approximately 5 hours and dozen phone calls between Chase and Privacy Guard. Chase claims that they have nothing to do with it and when you call Privacy Guard, after enduring nightmare of robo-voices, they promise you that they will cancel it, they give you cancelation number, but they don't cancel it. Next month, when Chase charges you late fee, same story happens again. They do not cancel your service, when you confront them with cancellation number they apologize and promise you that they will cancel. They may or may not cancel. You have to pay at least minimum amount to your credit card for as long as this process takes place, usually 3-4 months. Privacy Guard is to be avoided by all costs. The ONLY way to stop this is to close your account and this is what we will do as soon as we see that our balance is $0.00 again. Chase always says that they have nothing to do with this. If you do not close your account you will be billed again next year.

Re: Privacyguard. looks like there's a class action? Here's the url:
http://www.girardgibbs.com/trilegiant.html?gclid=CN3wvoKZzI4CFQYjWAodRUFKAQ

I tried to cancel and was told there is no confirmation/ cancellation #, so I asked to talk to a supervisor who was able to give me a cancellation # . Keep that in mind when you call them

I called Wells Fargo today and asked for contact information in order cancel the Privacy Guard service. The number Wells Fargo gave me is (800)374-8273. It was quick and painless. Be sure to write down the cancellation code they provide in case it doesn't get cancelled. Now I just have to wait.

It is incredibile how the very first post from D. Weinberger from nearly a year ago is EXACTLY what happened to me, trying to cancel this thing last night. They've never done ANY of the things they advertise, and being automatically re-billed I'd keep forgetting about it. That's the first hallmark of a bad company: automatically re-enrolling you instead of giving their customer an option, and then making it purposely impossible ("due to high number of calls" still? A YEAR LATER?) to get out of it. I assumed they were on the up-and-up because the original solication was via my bank, which has always been excellent. But PrivacyGuard, just by how they even answer their phones AMBIGUOUSLY, what a bunch of crooks. Thanks for 888 number. Though the cheerful young woman on the other end, when she gave me the hours to call when their Membership department is open, and I asked, OK, which time zone is that? She didn't know. I had to ask her, OK, what time is it there. 9:30. Oh, East Coast. Thanks. Yikes.

OK, Finally after 2 years, I was able to cancel my TLG*PRIVGRD. I spoke to a nice gentleman who cancelled my plan for $11.99. He gave me a CONFIRMATION number. Make sure you get it. He was very nice and helpful.

Chase card signed me up for privacy guard. I'm trying to get refunds for (at least) 19 months that they billed me. I'm getting a runaround between Chase and Privacy Guard. Apparently Chase signed me up, they deny that. It's a complete scam. Do NOT sign up for this.

Ahaha!! I found your post entertaining in that I also went through the same hassles.

I did sign up for PrivacyGuard knowingly though, to get a rebate for a USB drive (that never came, so I was doubly shafted). I had been too lazy to cancel, so I've been paying $12.99 every month for this "service" since last December, or quite possibly, even before that!

I finally called today and canceled. I got a cancellation confirmation number, so who knows! If I see their charge again next month, I'll call Chase and complain, and pass along that info to the class action lawyers.

Being an internet professional, I knew this thing was a scam when I signed up -- a scam to trick less tech savvy people into paying for vaporware -- a non-existent product. PrivacyGuard is absolutely USELESS -- I still get junk mail as before, and there's a National Do Not Call Phone registry run by the US government that you can register with to stop telemarketers, so why give PrivacyGuard free money? The Do Not Call website is:
https://www.donotcall.gov/

These Triligent guys are scum. They offer other promotional garbage "discount" plans like Shopper's Advantage, which I also had to call today. Shopper's Advantage came as a result of a Chase bank promo: $8 free check for trying them, or something like that. I canceled after my membership package came, months and months ago, but I got a letter in the mail just a few days ago saying they would renew my $129.99 annual fee if I didn't call them before the deadline. Scumbags.

This one, I KNOW I canceled, so the lawyers are getting more fuel for their case.

WoW what a bunch of slimeballs.

I took down my virus protection last night to do some file transfers on the local network and forgot to bring it back up.

Later I downloaded a video codec that didnt work.

Shortly therafter Privacy guard starts spamming me that my system has been infected by a trojan and I mean spamming, window after window requesting me to download their software. This of course is a double suprise to me because I had never heard of privacy guard...

I go to desk top and find that my wallpaper has been replaced by a big red sign saying that im infected and there are now 3 new icons on my desktop (I keep my desktop pristeen) all privacy guard related.

I brought up my virus protection again (Avast) and sure enough The codec I downloaded was infected.
I never EVER downloaded or installed PG software and I keep tabs on whats running in the back ground.

The only explination is that the low lifes installed their trash via the trojan and then raised the alarm about the very trojan they used to get in.

Can you say fraud?

If I find any trace of a charge anywhere im signing up for that class action suit.

Alright. I've read everything that has been posted on this blog. I'll give my 2 cents in. First off I'm 19, living on my own, paying all my bills and putting myself through collage. Keep this in mind. I currently work for Privacy Guard in the retention sales. So basically when you call in to get your service cancelled and whine and complain I have to deal with it....everyday. It sucks and its awful. But the job pays my bills and is extremely flexible with my school schedule which is very important and its easy.

Now a little about the service that so many don't belive they authorized. I'm not defending the company, yes its shady how it works but I also have to deal with the bad end of the situation on the phone. Most every account gets activated when a phone call is placed (that means YOU called the bank or whatever) mostly to banks (Chase, BOA, Citizens, ex..) and through their automated system they offered you the service, probably a free month trial and that is how you got enrolled. You hitting that number key to hear about the service or more commonly just hitting random keys to get the thing to shut up gave it authorization. You DO NOT have to speak to a live person, as I said hitting the wrong key can cause this to happen. Now within two weeks of this happening you will get a big envelope with a bunch of stuff in it. Junk mail you think and in the trash it goes. Perhaps you should have read that junk mail. Again I'm not defending the company I don't want to get crap online when trying to help you all out, trust me I get enough on the phones daily. The service is kinda cool if you actually activate it. The service won't be activated until a credit report is viewed, but if you threw out that envelope that was out of the question already. So thinking the charges are unauthorized is wrong. You just didn't realized you signed up for it and the things sent to you was viewed as junk mail. There is proof of enrollment for every account. JUST ASK! When you take this issue into the bank branch the tellers won't know what it is because it was done behind the scenes. Its true, they have no idea.

As the rep who posted on 06/20/2007 stated. We get bonus for getting you to keep the service. This is why when you call in to cancel it seems impossible because there are certain things we have to meet in order to get this bonus and yes it does range from $50 to $2,000 which can be awesome. Most of us that you end up talking to on the phones are in collage and any extra money is always needed. Sure you're probably thinking now, find a new job. There is nothing wrong with this job, its a decent job for my age, good hours and good pay.

My advice for you calling in to cancel. Listen to what we have to say, don't argue with us because we sure as hell don't want to argue with you and really don't want to hear about how this ruined your life or whatever. Yes it sucks you got over drafted on the account and your wife divorced you because of this and your dog died and whatever. We understand, really we do. Just don't repeat the same thing over and over again. We did in fact hear you the first time and really are just trying to get you off the phone as much as you want out of the service. If you have a crazy uncommon last name don't get angry when we ask you to spell it multiple times. Talk to your parents about that one. Be patient, listen to our two rebuttals and just deal with it. Screaming, threatening, interrupting and everything in the like isn't going to help you out. That just pissed us off and if you really want your service cancelled I would be on the nice side. If you hostile to us, just like anybody you would encounter in daily activity, we're going to be hostile back. and DO NOT EVER I repeat DO NOT go as far as personal belittling such as calling us uneducated, stupid, various cuss names and personally attacking us that will only casue hell and you will get hung up on. We don't want to talk to you as much as you don't want to talk to us. Keep in mind we're just doing our job and for the both of us to make things easier do not make it a battle. We do not care if your going to call a lawyer, the news, write a paper ex...So don't even talk about it. If you want to get anywhere ask for a supervisor. I do have to say thank you to Melissa (03/03/2007) for finally putting herself in our seats.

One last thing. WRITE DOWN YOUR CANCEL CODE AND KEEP IT! (Trust me on this one)

Well I hope you'll all consider what I've written and try to view it from my point. Talk to you all Monday.

I got something in the mail in June (I think) about this and remember signing up for a "free" month, which due to my work schedule I was never really able to use. Then all of a sudden my checking account was being hit for $12.99. Fortunately I only got hit for 2 months worth. While I am sure I signed up for something, I know for a fact that I did not authorize this debit from my account - it's just not something that I do. So, I went on line to find out more about the company and found this blog - which of course made me more leery than ever. When I called the 888 number, they told me I had to call the membership number - 877-202-8828 - which I did and spoke to a very nice woman named Erica. She was trying to give me the hard sell, but I was very firm with her and told her I was uncomfortable continuing with the service because I know I did not authorize the debit and told her I wanted to cancel. She finally gave up on me and gave me a cancellation number, so I will cross my fingers. I am also going to write a letter to my bank, through whom I first received the solicitation, and send them a copy of these exerpts from the blog because I think they should know what is going on with this company.

I was also charged without signing any documentation for this service. I did know that such a thing was legal. Anyway, I called them and demanded that they cancel the service, I was told "they would keep the account open so I could check my credit scores". I had to demand they cancel the account four times before the woman relented and gave me my cancellation number.

Once this charge is resolved I am saying goodbye to chase...no need to use them if they work with companies like this.

READ CAREFULLY. It seems we have two subjects going here. Privacy guard associated with credit cards and a virus with the same name. Note Darin Barnes Oct 12/07. Re the first, I never subscribe to credit card protection. It's totally useless. Re: the virus. I too am stuck with the red desktop, and Avast recognizes it, but it keeps coming back! I'm sure I picked it up on myspace.com. I mis-typed my own URL and hit myspace.com/studeeo. I don't blame them and it has been reported. Mine is stewdeeo (as in s-t-u-d-i-o) Anyone know what works to get rid of it? Email me. allen@picmobileads.com Thanks and good luck with solving the other problems. Credit cars suck!