http://www.ryanlee.com/make-more-money/forced-continuity-and-free-trials-are-almost-over-read-this-now/

Here’s the email I received from one of my merchant account providers. This is serious business..

-(name withheld) wants to inform everyone of changes expected from the Payment Brands regarding practices that are considered “Brand Damaging”. As you may be aware, both Visa and MasterCard are taking action in response to increases in consumer disputes related to card-not-present and direct response products and services. (name withheld) is endorsing the adoption of Best Practices to support our merchant base in conducting business in a manner that protects both businesses and consumers from fraud. To date no formal announcement has been received, however (name withheld) is issuing this communication now in an effort to educate and assist our agents/merchants in complying with anticipated Payment Brand mandates and actions.

MasterCard has recently warned the Acquiring community that “Negative Option” enrollment will be considered a “Brand Damaging” business practice. “Brand Damaging” is a very broad term and is still being defined, but in light of recent fines to our counterparts, we must be proactive. Indications are that MasterCard will require immediate termination of merchants identified as using this business practice, along with any other practices considered “Brand Damaging”. This follows recent policy changes from Visa regarding descriptor formats and disclosure of corporate entities related to Direct Response offers, with the intent to enforce all chargeback and transaction monitoring programs as defined by the associations.

(name withheld) cannot accept merchant applications for products and/or services employing “Negative Option” enrollment, in addition to the following practices:

Marketing models that employ “Free-Trial”, “Deferred Billing” and/or “Shipping Only”. Customers must be receiving a tangible good or contracted service in exchange for charging of payment cards. Incentivized discount offers are acceptable when the cardholder is receiving something in exchange for payment, however we will be unable to support accounts engaging in hidden or delayed charges and ‘free’ offers that are not truly free.

“Cross-Selling” and “Up-selling” business practices. All sales should be directly between the business entities (merchant) processing the transaction and the cardholder, with cardholder authorization for all purchases.

Per Payment Brand guidelines, the use of multiple merchant accounts, billing descriptors and merchant processors may be viewed as an attempt to avoid chargeback monitoring programs and is prohibited. Perceived non-compliance has led to termination of processing relationships. (name withheld) will review the business consideration for opening multiple merchant accounts to ensure compliance with Payment Brand guidelines.

Transactions generated from internet traffic and all other lead sources must be managed and monitored for potential fraud using an approved system. Third Party service engagement may be a requirement for account approval.

The FTC has recently published guidelines regarding “Negative Option” enrollment programs and is taking a very aggressive position against merchants utilizing/employing this business practice. Recommendations take in part from the FTC’s website may include but are not limited to the following:

Material terms should be disclosed in a clear, concise manner. Unnecessarily long or inconsistent terms are viewed as an attempt to mislead the consumer.

Terms should be disclosed in a conspicuous manner, clearly placed and labeled on websites in a location that indicates the importance and relevance to the transaction. Fonts and colors must be easy to view.

Material terms must be disclosed prior to completion of the transaction and before a financial obligation is incurred by the consumer.

Customers must provide affirmative consent to any offer, examples include a mandatory “I Agree…” statement checkbox, where the customer is acknowledging the Terms and Conditions of the offer and consents to be entered into continuity program as a result of completing the transaction. Pre-checked boxes do not qualify as affirmative consent.

Merchants must not discourage or make difficult in any way the disclosed cancellation procedures and all cancellation requests must be honored in accordance with the stated terms of the transaction.

My comment: i am very happy of that.Industry has to be cleaned of fraudes and fraudolent merchants.People wants to buy they buy no hided fees or tricks has to be permitted.Viva mastercard!!

Also and especially on Internet Marketing there are guy’s who lost the value of the money and who doesnt respect people like me and you who earns on the internet but not the millions they do.

I bought 6 days ago the “Halloween scary pack” one promotion of Howie very happy that i found a product of this guy that i respect as one of the most intelligent and innovative figure on the IM escene.

I pay for it 37 dollars who is nothing if you sell thousands of products per week but who are enough for who goes to work from 9-5 every day.I was so excited to see what i could find in the inside specially coz the sales letter was so good that i felt that i really could learn something new (after 10 years in IM?).

What a desillusion My friend!After the sales page i saw 10 different upsells some of then clearly giving to understand that the entire Halloween pack i bought was second hand material and the real deal was spend more money to buy more garbage.

You can imagine how bad i was feeling after the espectation i had before.But is not finish.I decided to write to support saying that this kind of upsells are only a way to lose customers but i didnt asked for a refund coz i really estimate Howie to do that.

I did it before to arrive in the supposed members area where i had the last surprise: videos promosed where only to see and not to download and after the 4 links for a total of 4 videos of about 13 min each where you see Howie talking with some students but practically giving content for just the 2 central videos fora total of 26 minutes with something interesting but nothing special .And to give me the last shot i arrived to a warning whre it was stated :

Come back soon and check for bonuses!!

So promised bonuses where not even there to downlad yet.This was the last really.I wrote back again to support and after 6 emails and also them trying to make me change idea saying you want to see the other content Howie delivered coz now the same package you bought cost 47$ i finally had my refund.

I wrote them that even if Howie would have delivered 5000 dollars content more i keep asking the refund for the way he considere the money of his customers same people ho made him rich and famous.

What do you think about it?Today the same pacjkage with a couple of garbage tools more it cost 67$ and is pumped like the real deal of this period of the year.LET ME SUGGEST YOU WICH IS THE REAL DEAL : STA AWAY FROM HOWIES PRODUCTS.THIS GUY LIKE SOME OTHERS GURU’S AROUND THE MADE SO MUCH MONEY THAT THEY DIDNT RESPECT ANYMORE YOUR MEASLY 37 DOLLARS AND THEY THINK THAT US ENOUGH TO PUT A STUPID DOLL IN THE BATH TO WRITE THE STORY OF INTERNET MARKETING.

ANOTHER GOD IS DEAD,GOD IS ALIVE!!I will never ever buy anythong else fronm this guy and if we all will do the same maybe those people will remember from where they came from and what means struggling to make money.

To all of you who will read this letter have a good sunday from the deep of my heart

Paul aka the italian marketer

P.S exscuse me for my english i had no time to review this email