Editor note: We have northern Illinois consumers available for interviews.
CHICAGO, IL- January 15, 2013 – Consumers
from Alaska to Florida, and points in between (35 states in
total), have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago
and Northern Illinois (BBB). These complaints allege that they have had
unauthorized charges made to their debit and credit cards, and that they have
received harassing phone calls from Waka Network, Inc. located in Des Plaines,
Illinois. On its website the company describes itself, in part, as managing memberships
of consumers and merchants for promotions, information matching, and loyalty
reward programs.
“The Better
Business Bureau has received 83 complaints in the last two years. This large
number demonstrates a ‘pattern of complaints’ as many consumers allege that the
company contacted them repeatedly. Some
complainants describe being charged the membership fee after they cancelled,” according to Steve J. Bernas,
president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago
and Northern Illinois.
Because
of the increasing number of complaints, Waka Network, Inc. was contacted by the
BBB in June of 2012 to discuss the claims being made by consumers. Many allege
that for a $2.99 fee they were promised they would receive either $10 Walmart
gift cards and/or $100 dollar gift cards (for Waka Network’s online store) at
no charge. However, in many cases the consumers allege they never signed-up for
the promotion or did not get what was promised. There has been no response from
the company.
David Macklin of Riverdale, Illinois
is among those who filed a complaint.
“I was surprised to find that my
checking account was debited $2.99 and then $45.98. I did not recognize these
charges, I didn’t sign up for anything. I left phone messages and sent three
e-mails to the company on this and they did not respond. I went to my bank and
complained. I’m not sure what they did but the money was refunded.”
Jamie Vallejo of Martinton, Illinois
complained of harassing phone calls.
“They would keep calling me even though
I told them to stop and even said that I was on the Do Not Call list. They
would just wait around a week and then call again; they tried around seven or eight
times. They claim that I filled out some kind of survey and I didn’t. They kept
trying to get me to go to a website and fill out some personal information in
order to get a Walmart gift card. I know better than to do that. I filed a
complaint with the Better Business Bureau to try to get them to stop. Now they
haven’t called in around three weeks.”
“Waka Network has a F rating with the
Better Business Bureau,” stated Bernas. “BBB requested that the company provide
a ‘plan of action’ on how they would eliminate the issues outlined in the
complaints. However, the company ignored our requests.”
Bernas added, “When consumers choose to
participate in online or telephone surveys they must always be vigilant and ask
questions. They must be extremely cautious when asked to provide personal
financial information.”
For more information about Waka
Network, Inc. review the company’s BBB Business Review here.
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As a private,
non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to
promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by
means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising
claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop
and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage
people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.
