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United Benefit Advantage

United Benefit Advantage review: Ripoff 26

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5:36 pm EST
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Talk about a scam! You get the promise (in my case) of $150 in free gas, but you have to sign up for their "program" to buy items online, which you cannot see the goods or prices until AFTER you are a member. You also get signed up for a magazine subscription service (for a monthly fee), and when I received the package for that, they had signed me up for 4 magazines THAT I HAD NOT ORDERED.
As soon as I saw the magazine "deals", there was not a single magazine that I would want so I cancelled the service (I have yet to see if they still try to bill me).
The shopping/lifestyle/car care/travel/legal service I also cancelled. The package ordered was on 27 November and I received the package on 9 Dec with a postmark of 3 Dec! The "introductory" price was for 2 weeks. I am glad that I cancelled this mess before getting charged the monthly fee (again, I had better not see it on my credit card).
I still haven't seen the "prize return" letter for the gas vouchers, and I was told WHEN I WAS CANCELLING that there is a $9.95 "processing" fee. Add that to the $13.90 for a nothing service and you have to wonder if I pay it, will I ever see the "prize"?
Do yourself a favor and if you get a mail solicitation or phone call from these scammers, hang up or don't reply.

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26 comments
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nguye605
St. Paul, US
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Dec 10, 2008 8:53 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have the same problem. Some lady called me over thanksgiving and they were telling me about a sweepstake i was being entered into. And all i had to do was do this magazine subscription for $49.95 where instead of paying 49.95 a month for like 70 months you only pay 21 months. So it thought why not, but as sa stupid college student i was not thinking. when i got the confimation letter in the mail i cancelled with one day to spare. That was only the cancellation for Reading Club of America. Then I checked my bank state and I got charged for $19.99 from UBS. I didn't know who that was. So i called my bank they gave me the phone number and the location which was Virginia. I called the number and it was United Benefit Advantage. They told me when I got that phone call it was for UBA and that I had time to cancell and that they gave me the number. If I did not know if it was a spam then how am I suppose to call the number. So now i'm stuck w/ a 19.99 charge for something I did not use. DUMB. I didn't even get a package in the mail or anything from United Benefit Advantage. I cancelled my card number after seeing the 19.99 so I know for sure they cannot charge me 49.95

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Hershnc
Cincinnati, US
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Jul 11, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

I had the same problem! I got a phone call explaining that I was entered in a sweepstakes, they asked me if I wanted magazines, and at first I said sure! Then I realized I have too many payments a month as it is, and I will be a college student in the fall. When I proceeded to tell the woman I probably cant afford to do that, "do I have to get the magazines?" I asked, and she said "well we are already almost done with the order." So she basically forced me to continue with it. I will admit I am a nieve soon to be college student and I should have jsut HUNG UP! I was charged the $24.99 charge and then a week later I was charged $19.99, for someting I have no idea, the charge came from UBS in Virginia. I called and explained I didnt want this, and they said it was cancelled. I looked a week after the call and there was another $24.99 charge on my account! WAS ANYONE HERE SUCCESSFUL IN CANCELLING IT?!

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Flash101
Llano, US
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Jul 17, 2009 11:05 pm EDT

Will not answer phones ! All lines are busy ! This company is a rip off.

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Laoma
Shipman, US
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Oct 16, 2009 2:00 pm EDT

My husband and I were forced into this also. I was told that I won some sort of shopping spree and that for some reason I NEEDED to pay for magazines each month and they never even asked me if I agreed to it. The only reason I gave them my ordering info was because they made me believe I only needed to pay a small shipping fee for the shopping gift card. Then I got a letter in the mail saying that I had chosen 5 magazine titles (which I did NOT pick) and was going to be billed 49.50 per month. When I called to cancel, the man I spoke to said "oh you were given the wrong plan" and he said he could cut the price in half for me and send in the right titles that I wanted. I should note that after I got off the phone with him, 49.50 was taken from our account, which overdrew our account in turn. I was also signed up for this United Benefit Advantage company and when I asked the person to please not sign me up for it, they only laughed at me. I can't cancel it right now because they say they will charge for it and since our account it overdrawn, I have to wait till our next paycheck. No magazines have arrived yet and I am nervous about calling these people to cancel because I am sure they will laugh at me.

If you recieve a call from Blue Whale, Viking mags or another "publishing" company, DO NOT ANSWER.

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Candacey
Henderson, US
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Nov 18, 2009 4:10 pm EST

I have had the same problem. I have been contacted by them several times. I have had to had money refunded back into my account several times because of them also. Just be watching your accounts because they have sister companies that stick their hands into your accounts also. I cant recall their names right off hand but just watch out. I was just contacted by them again a couple weeks ago and I am right back in the same situation I was in last year. All you have ot do is cancel your account with them and call your bank and if you gae them your debit card number, cancel that. If you gave your checking account number, cancel that.

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shaun3333333
alden, US
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Dec 08, 2009 9:50 pm EST

PEOPLE...maybe instead of hearing you might Listen better by seeing the words...
these people are paid to call and talk and sell... you guys who were so called "forced" into this ...that is a riduculus accussation..im pretty sure at any point you guys could have hung up ..let them go..or simply said no..obvisualy they needed some form of permission from you guys...or were they mind readers with special powers who have access to everyones account numbers?

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Fumbin
Enfield, US
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Dec 14, 2009 12:35 pm EST

I remember the phone call very well. I specifically asked them if there would be any initial charges and what they would be. The guy on the phone told me there would be no charges until after the trial period if i did not cancel within 15 days, and he lied! I cancelled shortly after because i did not recieve the packages promised, but i had to call the customer service number about 6 times just to get past a busy signal, then had to wait about 1 minute of silence to get ahold of somebody. they then asked for my name, then there was more silence for another 5 minutes until i asked if the lady was still there. She said "yes im still here, what were you calling for?". It was extremely difficult to cancel, and i was charged an unauthorized set-up fee of $39.99. Apparently in the e-mail they sent me AFTER they charged me, it says i waive all right to a court/jury jurisdiction, also without my consent. I guess they got my money by lying to me about the terms, then waiving all my legal rights to argue and dispute the charges.

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stevebatman
Ridgecrest, US
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Dec 21, 2009 11:37 am EST

might as well hold a gun to ours heads! i never agree to anything, but kept gettin phone calls about how happy they where for me visting there sight, which is bull the sight i visted has nothing to do with them unitied benafit co never paid the shipping fees but still got there items! told the last guy no and hung up the phone! and bam im missing 39.99 from my bank, if you ask me that is just plain ole stealing! and no one waves my legal rights but me! and that is done in a court of law no matter how you sugar coat it

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Cmoney123
US
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Jan 17, 2010 3:33 pm EST

Maybe if you listen very close to what people are saying. Its not stealing, for all of those who think it is. Making excuses about it either is just dumb, you know you were called and they offered it to you so DONT say yeah my 10 year old son used my credit card answered the phone when they called back and verified all of his fathers information. Yeah that makes you sound real smart. This should be a lesson to all of you people to not put your card on the internet in the first place if your not going to read terms and conditions. Yeah win a car ! win a laptop. i phone... etc... Nothing is free in this world. So dont be one of those dumb people who signs up for it or you'll be living in telemarketing hell.

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gourav kamboj
Beavercreek, US
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May 14, 2010 9:59 pm EDT

i m not satisfied this service. i don't want service please deactivate my card.

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becca Anders
Kingsport, US
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Jul 01, 2010 2:02 pm EDT

I did hang up on the guy when he said magazines and i said no and hung up and they still charged me and i did not give out my accct# . I have went through this with this company before and changed my card # but did not change my acct# .But i know i hung up on the guy because my boyfriend actually did it and i was like that was mean. I can not belive that they took money from me after i hung up on them that is robbery and i will never do another survey again cause thats what i do in spare time and thats how they got all my stuff again. I had no clue what the company was and still dont never received any thing from them, so they took 39.95 out
+ i will be charged to close my acct but in the long run it will be worth it and they wont be able to take anymore money from me. I could not belive that it happened again i thought i had it all taken care of. But I have never received any thing from them and so they stole 80 bucks after all said and done because i have nothing to show for- no product. Still not sure what they sell or do, i researched it and a bunch of scam alerts poped up, so they got me cause i fill out surveys and i wont be anymore!

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Beta Tenney
Sandy, US
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Jul 19, 2010 3:03 pm EDT

Yep, I was promised a 1000 online shopping spree. 49.95 for six magazines and now just received a bill for unitedbenefitadvantage for 39.95 a month . So I was stupid not doing the math in my head when the woman had me on the phone. The 1000 shopping online is my 20 month 49.95 payment, plus 39.95 . Im a single mom and told them I could not afford it . They will not let me cancel and now if I don't pay it goes to my growing debt. One more thing against my credit report.Very upsetting,
SCAM!

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HAAATERS
licoln, US
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Aug 05, 2010 9:47 pm EDT

i disagree.. Everyone who is complaing was just to dum to listen to what they were saying... I got the call and the ladie asked for my permission threee times and would not proceed with the call until i said ok.. If i would have hung up they wouldnt have charged me. People are really out of line.. They get upset that they choose to put there info online.. What do you think online is its a big sale. DO NOT GIVE YOUR CARD ONLINE IF YOU DO NOT WANT THESE CALLS> or just simply hang up.. These ppl are paid to do there job. As read above any one who was not happy were able to cancel which they were told that they could.. if you dont recieve what you think it should be.. Try paying attention to what they are saying. If you say YES you agree.. I guess its just upsetting to see everyone complaining about something they said yes too.. Good Luck..

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PhishHead
Denver, US
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Nov 02, 2010 11:37 pm EDT

They did not say anything about a damn shipping and handling fee until after i said yes that i would be "INTERESTED" in identity theft information! Once you have said yes your screwed! I asked if i would only be charged for one ship&handle fee and the Indian accent [censor] said yes, so why the hell was i charged for two? So I agree that in a way they do force this crap on you and all of you who disagree, most likely work for this illegal bogus company! I get the last laugh though, the "credit card" i used was a prepaid card from my local grocery store that only had $20.00 on it in the first place.So yeah, i got ripped off, but I learned a valuable life long lesson. I hope someone takes this company down soon.What they are doing to hard working Americans who could actually use the bogus offers UBA sucks you in with, is unmoral and just straight up wrong! So UBA and all of its employees can go screw themselves! Please excuse my language and good luck keeping your money.

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ddummkuff
Sacramento, US
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Dec 09, 2010 11:28 pm EST

I also got sucked up in this scam. First was the mag$8.98 then I said that I didn't want anything else, well thay charged a fee for road side servise for a nuther carge of $58.18 well I actuley got through to a person. They said they woud refund my money but I havent seen it. Scrued again! The 1000.00 dollar shopping was junk!

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DETC101
Everett, US
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Mar 03, 2011 7:19 am EST

MAYBE IT IS A RIP OFF, IN FACT I WILL AGREE IT IS. I CAN ASSURE U THESE MARKETING COMPANIES ARE DOING EVERYTHING LEGAL ALTHOUGH IT DOES SEEM DIRTY. A WORD OF ADVICE: SAY NO, DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD # ON THE PHONE, THROUGH MAIL, OR ONLINE. YOU ARE MESSING WITH FIRE WHEN YOU DEAL WITH THESE TYPES OF COMPANIES. I WORKED FOR ONE WHILE IN COLLEGE SO I CAN
ASSURE U IT IS VERY LEGAL WHAT THEY ARE DOING. AS FOR PEOPLE MAKING EXCUSES FOR BEING TALKED INTO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW THE DEAL SOUNDED GOOD TILL YOU WERE CHARGED, WHICH IS
UNDERSTANDABLE. LIKE I SAID DO NOT GIVE YOUR CARD # TO ANYONE IF YOU DONT WANT A MONTHLY
BILL.

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angryson42
HOUSTON, US
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Sep 02, 2022 8:07 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of DETC101

They are calling senior citizens, preying on the elderly in many cases. it shows up as united benefits on a billing statement, so their elderly victims will mistake it for an insurance payment. Is it legal? I'm not convinced but even if it is technically, these people and their employees are not innocent.

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Brad S
Chesapeake, US
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Mar 06, 2011 4:42 am EST

I didn't sign up for anything. I signed up months ago for a $1000 Walmart gift card. After going through various...sign up for this...sign up for that...I logged off. Somehow, I got charged by this company. I've tried a couple of times to cancel with no success.
Brad Slusher

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DETC101
Everett, US
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Mar 09, 2011 4:47 am EST

HERE ARE THE STEPS FOR DEALING WITH UBA, ID PROT, AND SALES. THE MOTHER COMPANY IS IMA LOCATED IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. ALL SALES, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS AND MANAGERS ARE TOLD TO FOLLOW A SCRIPT OR THEY WILL BE FIRED. IF YOU USE ANY OF THESE TERMS WHILE THEY ARE READING THE SCRIPT YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE REFUNDED: BETTER BUSINESS BUREA, FRAUD, DIDNT Authorize THESE ARE MANY THAT WILL HELP GET YOUR REFUND BACK. ALSO DONT COUNT ON YOUR $ YOU NEED TO REPORT THIS TO THESE DEPARTMENTS. DONT HANDLE IT YOURSELF HAVE YOUR BANK FRAUD INVESTIGATOR CALL WITH U. AS FAR AS THEM TELLING U THEY DONT NO WHO THEIR MARKETING PARTNERS ARE THEY DO BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL IN THE SAME BLDG!

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DETC101
Everett, US
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Mar 09, 2011 4:57 am EST

ALSO THEY TARGET PEOPLE 50 AND UP SO BE AWARE. PLEASE LISTEN WHEN I SAY DONT GIVE ANYONE
YOUR INFO OVER THE PHONE, INTERNET, OR MAIL. IF YOU NEVER HEARD OF THE BUSINESS BEFORE DONT TRUST IT. ITS LIKE THESE PEOPLE PHISHING FOR INFO ONLINE, THEY ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO TAKE YOUR MONEY. ALSO I LEARNED THAT THIS BUSINESS HIRES CRIMINALS. ALTHOUGH CRIMINALS ARE PEOPLE TO, THEY ARE DEALING WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO. SO LIKE I SAID BE AWARE! THIS COMPANY IS VERY UNPROFFESSIONAL INCLUDING THE PEOPLE THEY HIRE.

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whyme85
US
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Apr 15, 2011 11:46 am EDT

I received a call about 6 months ago offering me a shopping spree with Wal-Mart. They told me I would be getting a $100 gift card and 2 $40 gas certificates. When she asked would you like this free gift. I said yes, after that I find out that they already have my CC information and that they would be charging me a $4.95 shipping fee (I checked my account right after I hung up and it had been) and then if I did not cancel within 15days of receiving the package I would be charged a monthly fee. I waited for a month and never received anything. So I called the # that called me to cancel the lady gave me a cancelation # and I never saw any more charges to my CC. But today I received another call from a very rude man on an unavailable # he said that he was a manager with united benefits and he wanted to apologize because I never received my gifts. I told him that I did not want it and that I have already canceled. I gave him the # that the lady gave me but he said that was not a cancelation # for his company and then insulted me, he said maybe your not to smart, a canceled a different membership. I then asked to speak to someone else but he refused I told him to have a good day and that I was hanging up now and he told me that they would be charging my CC for the monthly fees and that I could not cancel with out the conformation # and the only way to get the conformation # was to go threw the automated questions again, the same ones that I answered the first time they called months ago. I told him I was not going to give it my CC # when it asked he said I had to or no conformation # like it was a threat. I then asked again to speak to someone else he said fine and transferred me to some one who was just as rude and sounded just like the first man. Then he would not even let me speak I was almost in tears, I didn’t know what to do the second man asked me why is it a big deal to give the CC # we already have the hole # I asked him to read me my CC # then, and he did! The hole 16 digits and expiration date. I was shocked I told him fine let me do what I need to do to get the conformation # so I can cancel all of this. As soon as I got off the phone with these men I called my bank and canceled my Debit/CC and yes they had already charged me the $4.95 shipping fee again.

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Ladysilverfox702011
Brighton, US
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Jun 25, 2011 7:39 pm EDT

I tried to cancell my magazine subscription-- wow--- they put their "lady pitbull supervisor" on the line who promptly told me to I needed to "listen to her and not speak". I have not received any magazines and will be billed for $289.00 in 2 payments (must be paid before I get any magz). This price is "the lowest persentage allowed".. yikes what have I done to my family as I am a senior citz who has gotten cought in this mess. They played back my recorded order-- where they quickly said "non refundable" in the scripted monalogue.
My family is going to have to pay this and maybe we will see some magz (probably not any we really want) in the next 20 MONTHS-- I MAY BE DEAD BY THEN-- HOPE MY FAMILY ENJOYS THE READING MATERIAL AS MY INHERITANCE. oNE DOES NOT WANT TO UPSET US SILVER FOXES --I WILL KEEP POSTING THIS COMPLAINT AND TELLING MY FRIENDS TO STAY AWAY FOR 888 & 800 CALLS.
LADY SILVER FOX 702011.

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Lisa Juran
US
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Sep 01, 2015 12:49 pm EDT

I did not sign up for this service, I told the caller, "No, thank you", I do not understand why I was a membership package, I do not understand how they are going to charge me $1.95 one-time charge when I did not give them my credit card#, but, previous comments have made me very nervous that they may have it, anyway. The cancellation #[protected] is a non-working #, the customer service#[protected] checked the line and said it wasn't working, but, the agent would not take a message, the member sign-in # [protected] checked the line and found it out of order, and, told me to try back in about an hour, that it should be fixed by then (oh- that is a phone bank that answers calls for about a hundred companies, the representative said...).

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Lisa Juran
US
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Sep 01, 2015 12:51 pm EDT

I did not sign up for United Benefits Advantage. I was NOT interested in their services, and, I said NO. Yet, I received the membership paperwork in the mail notifying me that there will be a one-time charge of $1.95 if I cancel within 14 days, and, if I don't, there will be $19.95 per month membership charges. I did not give them my credit card #, and, reading previous comments, I am very nervous (that they may already have my credit card #, somehow...). I actually said, "No, thank you", and, was signed up, anyway... HELP! The Cancel Line# [protected] listed on the membership info is not a working#, the "Customer Service" line [protected] tested the line associated with my group# and found it to be a non-working #, but, they would not take a message...the member sign-in line is a phone bank that answers calls for over 100 companies and they tested the line and said that they have never had a problem with the cancellation line, that this must be an isolated incident (that they have never had a problem with the cancellation line being a non-working number before), and, for me to call back in an hour, that it should be fixed. If I knew what credit card number they have of mine, I would just deal with it that way...this looks like it is going to get messy!

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Reviewer22926
Send a message
Nov 16, 2015 4:46 pm EST

I've tried to call and cancel and can't get on I wait wait wait. No go. I really feel it's a scam now .an honest place would not make you hold on so long ...I never even signed up...now they want to. Barge me 19.00 per month. They are in ILL. Which doesn't make me feel good about that state.

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angryson42
HOUSTON, US
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Sep 02, 2022 7:56 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My father just passed away and I've been settling accounts, cancelling services etc. I saw United Benefit and ID SEC on his monthly statements. I called think maybe this was the insurance policy he had mentioned but I had not yet found. Turns out both names listed came back to the same number. I thought it was an insurance company based on the name, so I advised them he was deceased and wanted to speak to someone about his policy. They were a magazine company which confused me. 'so my father was being charged 40 a month for magazines?" " No, he hasn't bought any magazines in a while" They apparently had gotten him to purchase some magazines and according to them he agreed to these services and had never stopped them, so they just kept charging him every month. I asked "but what service were you providing and she repeated United Benefit Advantage and ID Security. "But what are those, what was he getting for his money?" My father with a fixed income had been scammed into buying these worthless services he wasn't using and apparently just kept paying. Is this something they can be reported for or sued?