I'll admit that I'm a lazy bookkeeper when it comes to balancing my checkbook. For the most art, I know my budget and stick to it, with the certainty that money is there when I need it. However, recently as I was searching for a particular charge on my bank statement, I noticed a 'shopping essentials' charge for 17.95.

Thinking it could have been something I purchased online recently, I dug into my receipts to find nothing. After feeling a little panicky, I searched online and read the hundreds of reviews on this website. I called the 1-888 number this morning and talked with 'Nova' who immediately canceled the membership, stating that I had joined off of restaurants.com back in September of 2007.

SHe said she could only give me a refund for the latest charge and that I had agreed to the membership. I told her she was wrong and was then put on with her manager, Alisa who said the same thing. She said they couldn't do a full refund.

Once I said 'Ok so you're the manager and your name is Alisa and the other customer representative was Nova right?' She said yes and I said 'Good. I want to make sure I get the names right when I contact your State Attorney General's office, the better business bureau, and file a fraud report with my bank.'

She immediately stated 'You will have a full refund in two business days.' and she gave me the confirmation number. I'll be canceling this debit card and getting a new card so these jerks don't try this again.

I was looking up my new statement online with my bank and notice that there was a charge for $32.45 from a place called Shopping Essentials. My bank told me until they pay them can I report a Fraud charge against them, of course in the meantime, because of taking this money out I am not overdrawn at my bank and they are charging me $34.00 every day till they get something back from these people, of course the more I read about these people and the fake 888 number with people that dont speak English well, I just figured that someone even in the banking system might of stolen my debit card, or any place... So now I am facing all these overdrawn fee's and the Fraud People at my bank are taking there own sweet time to get my money placed back into my account.

Just realized Shopping Essentials have been charging my bank account $19.95 a month since July 2008 and have no idea for what. When I called they said I had signed up for this-I have no idea what "this" is. I never signed up for it-they started charging me at the same time I signed up and paid for a trial membership in Classmates.com. They said they would cancel my account. This is totally a scam!! Who should I complain to?

This company 'signs you up' when you purchase something from an unrelated company. When you buy from anyone on the Web be sure there is not a statement on the billing that says something to the effect that the purchase you made automatically qualifies you for the benefits offered by Shopping Essentials. There is another one that may 'sign you up' on the same purchase called Passport of Un. Both of these have been charging me a total of $36.90 on my Citi Credit card without my knowledge. The never sent any information by mail. I don't know who they are or what they do. They were unable to tell me why I should remain a "member".

Check your credit card detail billing!!!

I noticed three different 'purchases' from my checking account for $19.95 each starting in August. When I tracked down a phone number to call Shopping Essentials they claimed I signed up with them when I subscribed to Classmates.com - I told them I never heard of them and had no idea what they were talking about. I got them to remove one charge, but they refused to remove the others because they said I signed up (which I absolutely did not) and they were incredibly rude. I am beyond furious - have contacted my bank to dispute the charges. I see they have many other victims as well.

I feel very violated that they got my check card number and just started charging away totally outside of my control. I have complained to Classmates.com as well and canceled my 3-month membership.