That shipping rebate offer may come with a monthly charge

Thanks to Malwarebytes research engineer Stefan Dasic for his help with this article. A name like ShipmentsFree suggests a way to save on shipping. The service does offer shipping rebates, but its Better Business Bureau (BBB) complaint r ecord shows that some customers did not realize they had also signed up for recurring charges. We found a number of very similar websites (which triggered our spidey senses), so we investigated. Related shipping-themed domains use ShipmentsFree or ShipmentFree branding, similar account pages, overlapping policy language, and shared support details. For example, freeshpmts.com and shipmentsfreezone.com both direct users to a “ShipmentFree – My Account” page, while shipmentsfreezone.com lists dataprotectionofficer@ shipmentsfree.com as its data protection contact. While their layouts and color schemes vary, the websites that were still live followed the same general pattern. ShipmentsFree is a rebate service, not a shipping company. The ShipmentsFree FAQ says members can claim up to $100 per month in shipping and return rebates, provided they submit proof of the eligible costs. The service is also a paid, auto-renewing subscription, according to its Terms and Conditions . When we checked, ShipmentsFree’s BBB profile listed 529 complaints in the previous three years, including 179 classified as billing issues. The BBB is not a regulator or court, and complaint totals should be read with some caution. But they show that billing has been a recurring point of friction. Several complaints describe a similar experience: Someone notices a recurring $25 charge, doesn’t recall knowingly signing up, and tries to work out where it came from. One complainant said they “did not understand” they were enrolling in a paid membership or authorizing the monthly charge. Customer complaint on Facebook The route from a rebate offer to a recurring charge may be hard for a customer to retrace. Someone who signed up through a retailer promotion, browser pop-up, checkout offer, app, or one shipping-themed domain may later see a name on their statement that they don’t recognize. There definitely seems to be a lack of clear communication. A shipping rebate is useful only if you understand what you are joining, what it costs, and how to leave. When consumers say they expected money back but found a recurring charge instead, that is worth taking seriously. How to stay safe Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. Before entering your payment details for a rebate offer: Make sure you understand what you’re signing up for. Read the terms, conditions, and privacy policy (or let an AI chatbot analyze it for you). Save the offer page and confirmation email in case you need to refer to it later. Look for the company name, business address, terms, and contact details you can independently check. Use a reversible payment method that offers consumer protection. What if you get charged? If you find a charge from ShipmentsFree, FreeShipments, ShipmentFree, or other unfamiliar variation, don’t assume it is a one-time shipping fee. Check the original purchase confirmation, inbox, spam folder, and browser history for the date you first entered payment details. Save screenshots of the charge, the name on your statement, the offer page if available, confirmation emails, and any cancellation attempt. If you have a membership you do not want, cancel through the provider’s official account or support channel and keep the confirmation. Ask the company for the enrollment date, the sign-up and consent records, and an itemized list of charges. Contact your card issuer or bank promptly if you didn’t authorize the enrollment, believe the offer was misleading, or continue to be charged after cancellation. Monitor the card for other unfamiliar recurring charges. They can be easy to miss when the name on your statement differs from the brand you remember. Domains URLs We found these shipping-themed domains during our research: free-shipments[.]com freeshipments[.]com freeshpmts[.]com myshipmentsfree[.]com shipmentfree[.]com shipmentsfree[.]com shipmentsfreeclub[.]com shipmentsfreezone[.]com Telephone number A telephone number listed for several of these services: 0800 524 2165 App We also found a ShipmentsFree app in the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shipmentsfree/id1658146882 “One of the best cybersecurity suites on the planet.” According to CNET. Read their review → About the author Was a Microsoft MVP in consumer security for 12 years running. Can speak four languages. Smells of rich mahogany and leather-bound books.