Apparently when I signed up for my Avenue Credit Card, the sales person (who is on a commission basis for this service) signed me up for a "protection" service called Account Assure. This protection is supposed to pay off my account in the event of loss of employment. I receive my Avenue Credit Card statements online and usually just make the minimum payment. The Account Assure fee does not show up anywhere on the main page or payment page.

When I lost my job I obviously did not know I had this service or I would have used it to cover my Avenue balance. It wasn't until over after a year of unemployment that I finally couldn't even manage the minimum payments anymore that I found out I had Account Assure and had been paying for it for years. Now that I found out and am asking for coverage, they are saying that the claim was filed too late. I have proof of the date of my unemployment and as I was covered at the time of becoming unemployed (which I can prove, and did send proof of to both Account Assure and Avenue), they should honor my agreement and balance as of that date. I never received any information or terms from them until after they canceled my service and denied my claim.

Also, these agreements should be signed up for completely separately from signing up for your credit card on site, instead of as a slight extra that a commission based salesperson can add without your knowledge.

They should provide either a refund for the amount paid to Account Assure as I obviously did not even know I had it (or I would have used it when I became unemployed) or settlement of my Avenue account.

Redcats, Avenue and World Financial Network National Bank are also responsible as they allow this to happen to their clients.

I signed up for a Avenue account and specifically told the salesgirl I did not want insurance on my card. I got my letter today stating that I was instated in their plan on the day I signed up for the credit card. I assume I am in for a fight from all the complaints all over the web. I am fortunate that I paid my bill immediately after shopping so I had no balance to be charged on. But I intend to call Account Assure and ask for an email confirmation that I am no longer enrolled in their program, then I'm calling the credit card people and cancelling my card and telling them why and then I'm contacting Avenue and tell them why I will no longer be shopping in their stores and then I'm going to find that nice young sales girl that filled out the credit card info and explain how I don't appreciate having to spend this time.
The only way to stop them is to cancel your cards at all the shops and tell them why. It isn't worth a hassle for a couple of dollars and they are counting on it. But when the stores lose your business and the credit card loses your business, they will get rid of this rip off. It is probably directly connected in some way to the credit card and a couple of dollars from all of us really adds up.
I also suggest you contact the attorney general of the state that Assure is located in and fill out the forms and request your refund and why. It's a lot of paperwork but just how mad are you? The Attorney General will fight this fight for you and for free. They will also straighten out the company from doing illegal practices.