Campfyre Stories

I used to be a member, but about 6 months ago I cancelled it because I wasn’t going to pay the exorbitant prices and I wasn’t very good about remembering to decline the monthly selection.  Fine.  Done.  Didn’t think about it anymore.

Until today.

On Monday, I looked at my bank account statement online and noticed that there was a charge reserved for $28.02.  I couldn’t match it with any of my receipts, but the number sounded familiar…  I just couldn’t place it - even after asking around if anyone recognized that number for any reason.

On Tuesday, I noticed that there was now a reserve of $56.04 ($28.02 x 2).  Ok, I thought, maybe it’s a restaurant charge…  except that I haven’t eaten out since [whenever] and that charge already went through.  Mystery charge and, at this point, it’s putting me in jeopardy of bouncing an outstanging check.

Today I went and looked to see where this charge was coming from, I mean, it must have cleared BY NOW, right?  Nope.  Still hadn’t cleared and now I’m finding $84.06 on hold!  So it’s the same charge being reserved THREE DAMN TIMES!  This isn’t right at all, so I call the bank to try to figure out where this is coming from, since I can’t see my reserves, only what’s cleared.

The bank tells me that it’s coming from the RYO club and that they’ve sent it for reserve Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  There’s nothing they can do about it, even though I ALREADY CANCELLED MY MEMBERSHIP, like, 6 months ago, so I should call them and threaten a dispute.

Fuck.

So I go and log into the RYO website.  It’s showing a pending order from 6 weeks ago (!?!?) and there it is, $28.02.  But there’s only one pending order.  Attempt to call and am told that their call center isn’t open.  Fine.  I wait.  Call again.  THIS TIME their automated system doesn’t want to register my selections, so it takes FOR-EV-ER to get a person on the phone.  Meanwhile, I’m checking all the information and trying to see why this is happening.

Turns out, they have old credit card information from my check card that EXPIRED!  See?  I knew that I cancelled that membership, but apparently, the combination of an unused email address, an expired check card (with, unfortunately, the same card number as the new one) and my phone call (6 months ago!) to cancel simply wasn’t enough.

I finally get someone on the phone who explains that they keep running that charge through because my (expired) card isn’t allowing them to charge it.  Ya think?  She removes the card, thankfully without my having to threaten the company, and thanks me for my time. 

At which point I explain AGAIN that in addition to cancelling *that particular charge*, I want to cancel my membership, like I thought I did 6 months ago.  "Why are you cancelling your membership with us today?" she asks.

"BECAUSE I THOUGHT I CANCELLED IT SIX MONTHS AGO AND I CLEARLY DO NOT WANT TO BE A MEMBER ANYMORE!!!"

Never again with the Rip-You-Off of the Month clubs.  Of course, I said that 6 months ago, but apparently, they just weren’t paying attention.