ECA Discussion Thread - WARNING: Some CAGs Who Cancelled Are Being Auto-Renewed

Just pulled the email I received back in December of '09.

"Thank you for your letter requesting to terminate your membership with the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA). This notice is confirmation that your request has been processed and your membership in the organization, cancelled.

All credit card information relevant to processing your dues has been removed, so if you wish to re-join the association going forward new/updated payment information will need to be manually re-entered."

Yep... Good... Thanks ECA.
 
I havent gotten a response to the email I sent letting them know about this except for this auto-reply which states:

"Approximately one month prior to the end of your paid year, the system will email you a reminder that your dues are coming due and how the process works."

So everyone that got charged should have also gotten the reminder email. Right? RIGHT??
 
Thanks for stickying this, Cheapy. Even though my membership expires 9/11, I went ahead and canceled it. Let's hope that that actually works and I don't get fucked like others here.
 
[quote name='ElektroDragon']Just keep your membership. This is not a discount club, dammit! It's a legitimate organization that fights for the rights of video gamers in the political arena, including issues such as unfair censorship. And like all political organizations, it may have some managerial issues. Most staff probably do this in their spare time and get paid peanuts. This is not a traditional "company".[/QUOTE]

What the hell Hal? You already kicked all of us off your forums, how are you going to show up here?

Love the tags.
 
I had mine set to not auto renew, but I was still able to login. I was also a part of the giant CAG box of cancellations.

You CAN cancel through the website immediately, if you wish.
1. Login to the website
2. Go to your profile and select membership status
3. Go through the steps, but be careful on the steps because step 3 says "Yes/No auto renew" and Step 5 says "Yes/No Cancel my membership now". Step 5 defaults to "No" so your membership will still be valid if you just click submit.

I just did this and after I terminated I was unable to log back in. I also got a cancellation email right way.

Now if people still end up being charged after this, then you should be angry.
 
I cancelled in with the bunch on the letters, however, lately I started getting "ECA Today" e-mails. Looks like I'm going to have to keep an eye out. I get the blocked message when trying to login, but I'm still going to lean on the side of caution for right now.
 
Not to beat a dead horse, but I decided that it would look best to the bank if I gave the ECA a day or two to refund my money and apologize. Filled out their customer service form. Submitted it. Here's the confirmation message:

"Thank you for your valueable feedback and we appreciate your business."

My BUSINESS? I thought this was supposed to be an organization of like minded individuals coming together to support a common interest. Clearly, this is the problem. The ECA isn't a beneficial organization for its members. It's being run as a business to take money from the people it claims to help. fuck these people. fuck them in their stupid faces.
 
So let's run the history so far.
  • Some people have memberships that they paid for long before the abysmal dance that's about to begin.
  • People are able to get free ECA membership, mostly for Amazon discounts.
  • Some people get charged even after canceling. Why?
  • Learn that online canceling is NOT possible. Likewise, these options are removed online.
  • We determine that you MUST mail something in order to cancel membership.
  • First huge scandal erupts with Hal claiming we're cheating the system.
  • Hal further claims that ECA has no real capability/understanding of their membership system.
  • Outspoken forum members on ECA's website are banned/silenced/ridiculed by ECA employees.
  • Over several weeks, including one massive mailed box, memberships are canceled. This was basically December 2009.
  • All credit information was SAID TO BE ERASED COMPLETELY by email confirming membership removal. This did not happen.
  • Fast forward to now - people are again being charged, despite the big party months ago.
  • Not only are people charged again, BUT they received no month-prior warning of this.
  • People who canceled their accounts cannot log in, as it says their membership is dead. But there's no real way to tell.

That sound chronologically correct?

Edit: Slight update to include people like Chakan.
 
[quote name='LegendK7ll3r']I cancelled in with the bunch on the letters, however, lately I started getting "ECA Today" e-mails. Looks like I'm going to have to keep an eye out. I get the blocked message when trying to login, but I'm still going to lean on the side of caution for right now.[/QUOTE]
I recently started getting the emails too. Jackasses.

Here's hoping they get enough chargebacks to ruin them for a while at least.
 
[quote name='caltab']if you were charged it would helpful to say how you canceled, I did so online and 1 other person said they did and we were both not charged, so it may be only those who did so using the letter(which is quite a few CAGS). If this is the case, anyone who hasn't canceled and wishes to do so may be able to prevent a charge by using the website.[/QUOTE]

I don't know a single person that sent the letter and got a cancellation confirmation email that can still login to the site.
 
[quote name='watcher0']I don't know a single person that sent the letter and got a cancellation confirmation email that can still login to the site.[/QUOTE]

ya I meant if they didn't send the letter already, I already knew that those accounts were disabled. If you haven't tried canceling yet and wish to I think that the online way may work, at least I am not aware of anyone yet who has been charged that canceled that way.
 
[quote name='watcher0']I don't know a single person that sent the letter and got a cancellation confirmation email that can still login to the site.[/QUOTE]

I was in the CAG box to the ECA. I got an email notifying me of my cancellation, yet I was still able to login to the site until a canceled just a moment ago.

ECA obviously didn't follow through with my account at least.
 
Sounds about right, Strell. I was one of the few that jumped in ahead of your timeline and actually paid $19.99 when ECA reached out to the CAG community with promises of advocacy and discounts.

And don't ever let them get away with saying it's not about the discounts. That was a big part of their "sales pitch" to this community as well as the GI article.
 
I can't login but it's obvious that they know that I used to be able to login.

"The username Halo05 has not been activated or has been blocked."

Is the message that comes up when I attempt to login with my email (which is different than my "handle"). Presumably I'm blocked because I was part of the giant box and received a cancellation email. I don't think there's much I can do until ~August when it will have been a year since I signed up.
 
[quote name='major morgan']I was in the CAG box to the ECA. I got an email notifying me of my cancellation, yet I was still able to login to the site until a canceled just a moment ago.

ECA obviously didn't follow through with my account at least.[/QUOTE]

I sent my cancellation in the big box and was immediately "banned" from the site as well. It looks like you are one of the only ones who still had access. I'd be extra careful if I was you...well, at least you just canceled again :p

I better not get charged anything. Mine isn't set to renew until September I believe, but it better be fixed by then, and my CC info better not still be in their systems.
 
[quote name='Strell']So let's run the history so far.
  • Some people have memberships that they paid for long before the abysmal dance that's about to begin.
  • People are able to get free ECA membership, mostly for Amazon discounts.
  • Some people get charged even after canceling. Why?
  • Learn that online canceling is NOT possible. Likewise, these options are removed online.
  • We determine that you MUST mail something in order to cancel membership.
  • First huge scandal erupts with Hal claiming we're cheating the system.
  • Hal further claims that ECA has no real capability/understanding of their membership system.
  • Outspoken forum members on ECA's website are banned/silenced/ridiculed by ECA employees.
  • Over several weeks, including one massive mailed box, memberships are canceled. This was basically December 2009.
  • All credit information was SAID TO BE ERASED COMPLETELY by email confirming membership removal. This did not happen.
  • Fast forward to now - people are again being charged, despite the big party months ago.
  • Not only are people charged again, BUT they received no month-prior warning of this.
  • People who canceled their accounts cannot log in, as it says their membership is dead. But there's no real way to tell.

That sound chronologically correct?

Edit: Slight update to include people like Chakan.[/QUOTE]
This should be added to the OP.:applause:
 
[quote name='Halo05']
"The username Halo05 has not been activated or has been blocked."
[/QUOTE]

I got that too, and I was also a part of the giant box. Blocked hardly sounds like canceled. Perhaps we were locked out of our accounts but never actually canceled? Wouldn't that take some seriously scam artist intentions to execute?
 
o_O this just doesn't seem to end

I honestly feel horrible for everyone caught up in this never ending debacle and I can say without a second thought that I thank god I'm a slow adopter (still mulling over twitter).

Tho them amazon coupons would have been nice they certainly wouldn't be worth the horribleness that I have been reading about every handful of months.

How this hasn't turned into a massive lawsuit is frankly beyond me.
 
[quote name='chakan']Sounds about right, Strell. I was one of the few that jumped in ahead of your timeline and actually paid $19.99 when ECA reached out to the CAG community with promises of advocacy and discounts.

And don't ever let them get away with saying it's not about the discounts. That was a big part of their "sales pitch" to this community as well as the GI article.[/QUOTE]

Yep, I paid the full $19.99 too... so I'll be watching my card like a hawk.

I am really trying to remember when I signed up. I know my name was in the 'Big Box' and I did get an ECA cancelation letter.
 
[quote name='chakan']Sounds about right, Strell. I was one of the few that jumped in ahead of your timeline and actually paid $19.99 when ECA reached out to the CAG community with promises of advocacy and discounts.

And don't ever let them get away with saying it's not about the discounts. That was a big part of their "sales pitch" to this community as well as the GI article.[/QUOTE]

Definitely the biggest part of their sales pitch. They pushed it real hard. And then when the shit hit the fan, they tried to make us all out to be a bunch of bums that were just in it for the discount.
 
[quote name='shinryuu']I didn't get charged and I wasn't in the box of CAG cancellations. I cancelled when they finally updated the site.

hrm, fishy.[/QUOTE]

right, so its looking like the issue seems to be with people who sent in letters, which was the only method to cancel at the time.
 
[quote name='caltab']right, so its looking like the issue seems to be with people who sent in letters, which was the only method to cancel at the time.[/QUOTE]

I just checked the site, it found no account for my email I used to register, nor my school one I had it switched to later... if I get charged they will have hell to pay.
 
[quote name='caltab']right, so its looking like the issue seems to be with people who sent in letters, which was the only method to cancel at the time.[/QUOTE]

So the question becomes: Did anybody send in a letter themselves, NOT in the CAGbox, and still get auto-renewed after a year?
 
wow good thing someone caught this I was one of those that sent in a letter and I never bothered to check to see if it was cancelled.

I just did so via the website, I was due to re-new on 5/27.
 
that is ridiculous. i actually considered it once, but remind me to never ever sign up for ECA

make sure no one you know ever does either. hope this bullshit backfires on those damned crooks
 
[quote name='ElektroDragon']Just keep your membership. This is not a discount club, dammit! It's a legitimate organization that fights for the rights of video gamers in the political arena, including issues such as unfair censorship. And like all political organizations, it may have some managerial issues. Most staff probably do this in their spare time and get paid peanuts. This is not a traditional "company".[/QUOTE]

Im going to assume this is sarcasm. Because if your being serious you're as stupid as Hal halpin.
 
[quote name='Not Pennys Boat']that is ridiculous. i actually considered it once, but remind me to never ever sign up for ECA

make sure no one you know ever does either. hope this bullshit backfires on those damned crooks[/QUOTE]
I might spend an hour of my time at PAX next to their booth with some EFF fliers, and try to convince people not to become entrapped with them.
 
[quote name='Metalic']Im going to assume this is sarcasm. Because if your being serious you're as stupid as Hal halpin.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, it's probably not sarcasm. This same guy was posting this crap back in the previous ECA discussion threads as well.
 
Wow that is some shady stuff! How do I cancel again? I never sent in a letter with the rest of you CAGs. I almost forgot that I was still with ECA until I saw this thread.
 
So, I sent in a letter and a BBB report when this all went down last year. I received two cancellation emails and the credit card I signed up with expired months ago. I would assume I'm safe, but so did most of you when you canceled.
 
[quote name='caltab']right, so its looking like the issue seems to be with people who sent in letters, which was the only method to cancel at the time.[/QUOTE]
This has to be correct. I cancelled via the website when they updated it (turned off auto-renewal [a second time since I turned it off right after I joined March last year] in my profile) and I did not get charged late last month.
 
omg reallly?! I was one of the 718 names on the cancellation box sent! Better not be charging me...I did receive an cancellation email. I don't even think I can log into my account anymore. ergg...if they were to autorenew me it wouldn't be till september.
 
[quote name='major morgan']I had mine set to not auto renew, but I was still able to login. I was also a part of the giant CAG box of cancellations.

You CAN cancel through the website immediately, if you wish.
1. Login to the website
2. Go to your profile and select membership status
3. Go through the steps, but be careful on the steps because step 3 says "Yes/No auto renew" and Step 5 says "Yes/No Cancel my membership now". Step 5 defaults to "No" so your membership will still be valid if you just click submit.

I just did this and after I terminated I was unable to log back in. I also got a cancellation email right way.

Now if people still end up being charged after this, then you should be angry.[/QUOTE]

Just cancelled this way. Here's hoping it sticks. :/
 
[quote name='Blackout']Wow that is some shady stuff! How do I cancel again? I never sent in a letter with the rest of you CAGs. I almost forgot that I was still with ECA until I saw this thread.[/QUOTE]

Look at post #504 for details on how to cancel online. I just did it. Make sure you read the yes/no options carefully. If this doesn't work, contacting the better business bureau and various states attorney general's doesn't seem to be too be too far of a reach. But doing something like that would be better done as a group rather than each individual contacting their own state's attorney general's office about the issue, should this not be resolved.
 
[quote name='Blackout']Wow that is some shady stuff! How do I cancel again? I never sent in a letter with the rest of you CAGs. I almost forgot that I was still with ECA until I saw this thread.[/QUOTE]
You can cancel online, now. Good luck though, they don't seem to honor their own ever-changing cancellation policies.
 
I was part of the CAG letter and can't even log into my account. T_T
Haven't been charged yet though, here's to hoping.
 
[quote name='major morgan']I had mine set to not auto renew, but I was still able to login. I was also a part of the giant CAG box of cancellations.

You CAN cancel through the website immediately, if you wish.
1. Login to the website
2. Go to your profile and select membership status
3. Go through the steps, but be careful on the steps because step 3 says "Yes/No auto renew" and Step 5 says "Yes/No Cancel my membership now". Step 5 defaults to "No" so your membership will still be valid if you just click submit.

I just did this and after I terminated I was unable to log back in. I also got a cancellation email right way.

Now if people still end up being charged after this, then you should be angry.[/QUOTE]
That was really sleezy, I had to read slowly, but I got my email confirmation of my account termination ASAP and couldn't log-in so I'm happy. I just don't think there's any need for an advocacy group for this industry and only used $10 in discounts from them.
 
Ok. We need to centralize information now.

History of ECA Issue​

So let's run the history so far.
  • Some people have memberships that they paid for long before the abysmal dance that's about to begin.
  • People are able to get free ECA membership, mostly for Amazon discounts.
  • Some people get charged even after canceling. Why?
  • Learn that online canceling is NOT possible. Likewise, these options are removed online.
  • We determine that you MUST mail something in order to cancel membership. First thread created by Caltab (contains links to many sites/reports.)
  • First huge scandal erupts with Hal claiming we're cheating the system.
  • Hal further claims that ECA has no real capability/understanding of their membership system.
  • Hal and company run around like douches on here with accounts trying to be apologist/inflammatory/trollish.
  • Outspoken forum members on ECA's website are banned/silenced/ridiculed by ECA employees.
  • Over several weeks, including one massive mailed box, memberships are canceled. This was basically December 2009. Second thread created by CheapyD.
  • All credit information was SAID TO BE ERASED COMPLETELY by email confirming membership removal. This did not happen.
  • Fast forward to now (April 22, 2010) - people are again being charged, despite the big party months ago. Reported by Lilboo first.
  • Not only are people charged again, BUT they received no month-prior warning of this.
  • People who canceled their accounts cannot log in, as it says their membership is dead. But there's no real way to tell.

That sound chronologically correct?

Edit: Slight update to include people like Chakan.

Cancellation Issues/Known Case Histories​

This denotes who has been charged again after canceling their membership and other known permutations, in order to try and track down a pattern. I will also try to include information on how cancellation was done, provided it is mentioned by the poster.

Who has been charged again, even after cancellation:
  • lilboo (Unsure how cancellation was done)
  • lobitoh (Unsure how cancellation was done)
  • badlieut (Canceled via CAGBox *AND* Own Google Postcard)
  • ddrlenz (Canceled via CAGBox)
  • MuzykMann (Canceled via CAGBox, Member before free memberships)

Conversely, here are people who canceled and have not been charged:
  • bassec (Unsure how cancellation was done)
  • shinryuu (Not in CAG box, canceled through site)

People who canceled via CAGBox who are awaiting future ramifications:
  • Strell (September)
  • L3gendK3ller (Began getting ECA emails again)
  • GaveUpTomrrow
  • Vader582 (Paid membership)
  • Kirin Lemon (August)
  • refusedchaos
  • ducci (Paid membership)
  • thehoweller
  • maxfisher (Also sent Google Postcard)
  • ohram
  • ajstorm1 (Sent own letter as well)
  • RedGamer

People who are canceling now via ECA site (based on posts in this thread):
  • SuperTongue
  • Ryukahn (September)
  • nightmare452
  • fmz65
  • Trudy
  • shieryda
  • eau
  • dabamus
  • SimaYi

People who canceled via their own mailed in materials:
  • crunchewy (Google Postcard, Paid for membership)
  • ncc1701p (Google Postcard)
  • dorkalicious
  • saturnotaku

People who had memberships before entire dismal dance:
  • xycury
  • chakan (In with CAGBox, sent own letters x3)
  • moonphrogg (September)

How to Cancel Now​

[quote name='major morgan']I had mine set to not auto renew, but I was still able to login. I was also a part of the giant CAG box of cancellations.

You CAN cancel through the website immediately, if you wish.
1. Login to the website
2. Go to your profile and select membership status
3. Go through the steps, but be careful on the steps because step 3 says "Yes/No auto renew" and Step 5 says "Yes/No Cancel my membership now". Step 5 defaults to "No" so your membership will still be valid if you just click submit.

I just did this and after I terminated I was unable to log back in. I also got a cancellation email right way.

Now if people still end up being charged after this, then you should be angry.[/QUOTE]

As suggested, you should attempt to log in now to see if your membership is really dead or not. However, as others have reported (namely Halo05), it is disturbing to see that memberships can come up as "blocked," suggesting that they knew/had an account for someone in the past, and who may or may not be recharged. I'm in the same boat - "Strell" shows up as a past account, but I cannot log in.

Bank/CC Statement Charges

Via Lilboo:
Ent. Consumer asso $19.99

Via badlieut:​
Point Of Sale Withdrawal ENT. / CONSUMER ASSOC 203-761-6180 CTUS 19.99​

I will try to update this as best I can.

PLEASE NOTE: If you do not want your name included in this information for any reason, please let me know and I will remove it immediately. I'm not interested in bothering anyone.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Strell - I cancelled via CAGbox, and I paid for my membership before the freebies. Good call getting info together. Let me know if I can help.
 
Strell:
Paid subscription. I cancelled via the CAGbox, received the cancellation email but have to yet to get charged for renewal.
 
Meh I don't remember the username or email I signed up with or they deleted the account. Anyways I signed up with one of those prepaid mastercards I got as a gift so they can go ahead and try to charge that all they want.

The username sleepydumbdude has not been activated or is blocked.

So either they did cancel it or tried to charge that card I had and blocked my account when it came back.
 
I, too, canceled with the CAG box. Guess I should start checking my credit card statements in August to make sure I'm not being charged again. Eesh, what an ordeal...
 
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