Look at this letter I got from Spiegel!!!

[jillbert2]

I see someone else rec'd this letter, but I wanted to do a separate post so everyone sees it.

I rec'd this letter in the mail today:

"Your recent irregular order activity has prompted a review of the credits that have been applied to your account and your use of Spiegel Merchandise Certificates. Our records show that yu have rec'd credits totaling $XXX.XX, which far exceeds the normal experience.

These certificates are sent to customers when purchasing catalogs and for other promos. These clearly state that only one certificate can be applied to an order, and the cert. can be used only once. Based upon these stipulations, your certificate(s) were used in a manner contrary to their stated permissible use.

In order for a business relationship to continue, it must be mutualy fair and beneficial to both parties. This is no the case with our business relationship. Therefore, after careful consideration and review of your ineligible and inappropriate us of the cert's, we regretfully have decided not to process any future orders you may place. Additionally, we have reversed the prior credits, which you rec'd on your acct, and have set up a temporary charge in the the amt of $xxx.xx. Please send your payment to:
blah, blah, blah...

Sincerely,
Collection/Recovery Unit"


I cannot believe this!!!
#1 - can they do this?
#2 - I placed orders just like everyone else when new promos were posted
#3 - almost every order I placed was cancelled

I'm writing them a letter stating all of this and for them to "show" proof of these so-called orders I supposedly rec'd.

[JCrosby]

be careful of spiegel.

they are coming back and i mean STRONG -- 'charging' back is more like it.
i first got a letter saying they'd acccept no more orders from me ( have 2 grown kids living under roof, DH, myself, and grown married ones living away -- all placing orders from spiegels using various, many GC's received) infact, still have a stack of GC's, actual paper merchandise certificates, never used,
make a long story short, they've decided to charge me w/ all the GC's by their "recovery loss unit" no less.
i really dont know at this point what i kept and what i returned, so much was wrong sizes, etc-- Geezh.... But what they've charged me BACK, and looking around, no where NEAR have that amount (?) of merchandise
furthermore, i've not placed an order w/ them since Apr 2


sad thing, (good thing?) i have a twin sis, we've never ordered anything except what the other did also,

she never got a derogatory letter, she's not denied orders: she used AMEX yeah!! she's still placing orders, still using the merch.certificates
I used my Spiegel CC

and moral of the story, i called to cancel my Spiegel CC
....... TOO late, they'd already recharged $275 on it

my sis is still basking in the sun..... LOL

looks like they are targeting a "select few" and

their recovery unit is trying to recover their "screwups"
best way possible -- those that have a Spiegel CC they can charge back too -- those that didnt , well, walk free

TOO BAD... looks like Spiegel has some lawsuits coming....

[sushiosushi]

boo to spiegel. i never did order from them because i couldn't figure out how to use the codes. and the one time i tried it i used fatshoe and the order was cancelled since i didn't have enough for the charge and the credit later. oh well.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

[JCrosby]

please, regardless of the amount ~~~~~~~~~please keep open HERE for all those that NEED~

[JCrosby]

BUMP

[dejavu]

This really is an important notice!

[shrartman]

I have never used Spiegel certificates but have watched from the sidelines a lot of the posts over the months. I can't believe that they can suddenly charge you for past "mistakes." It was their order entering system that failed to catch "overuse" of certificates. What they say may be partially true, that it was not a "fair" business relationship. But, I cannot believe that they can attempt to recover their money "after the fact." They need to correct their system to catch such overuses as they happen, not long afterwards.

Good luck. I hope that it doesn't require any legal assistance. I think that you all should absolutely refuse to pay back discounts that were originally granted. But, I am afraid that you will have to accept the fact that they will not take your orders in the future.

Good riddence.....

[JCrosby]

you could "refuse" IF it wasnt to THEIR CC as mine is , all my charges i made to Spiegel's CC.


as posted earlier, my sis made her purchases using her AMEX...


she's never received any notices, as i have...

yeah, after the fact.... really makes it hard...

how do you know what to send back, that they wouldnt accept your mech cert forthat CS didnt tell you at the time you placed the order that they'd do this?)
kind of hard now....

[bingobabe]

I totally agree with shartman...In this day of modern technology, the online merchants have the capability to catch any overuses of coupon codes. Many of us who use these codes or certificates do so without ever even seeing the stipulations and have no way of knowing whether or not they are acceptable until placing an order. I have always maintained that once an online site ACCEPTS your code or certificate, they should honor it.

[ibead_it]

WOW. That is completely unbelievable. I have never tried to use one of the codes to order from Spiegel because of all the posts on this board about orders being cancelled and all the confusion surrounding it. Now I NEVER will. I feel so sorry for you guys. Keep fighting this. They should NOT have the right to retroactively charge you for their mistakes!!!

[devlina2u]

Did you get this in snail mail or in email? I want to keep a look out all though I have used my fat shoe card and I have no money on that!!

I did have one incident with them some time back. I had used a $20 off code and I ordered some catalogs and used my fat shoe card. They charged my fat shoe card.......all though there was no money on the card. My card still has a negative balance. How can a payment be made when there was no money on the card? I don't understand!!

Good luck to all of you and hopefully, I might have to deal with them too since I used the codes a few times. I mean I used different codes once! Let's see what happens!!

[dkeppel]

I'm wondering if this is legal. After all, when you made a purchase with them, you made a contract- they will sell you the items at the listed price and you will pay them the same. They are altering the contract now.

All I know is that I would contact a lawyer before paying them.

[snooze14]

What is the latest with this Spiegel letter being sent out? Has anyone been in contact with an attorney or financial advisor? What are people doing to deal with this. Please let me know.

[jsalba]

Boo Hiss Boo Hiss to Spiegel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JCrosby]

snooze14
looks like we have 2 links on spiegel going here, i posted this yesterday on the other link:

Sorry i've not been up to date. My mom had heart surgery, been helping with her recovery.
Just got back today.

No, they CANNOT legally do this. what i suggest(and will do so later in BOLD--) we need to ban together, and make copies of merchandise certs that were sent to us. i have MANY that i never even USED!~~

Sis, gave me a bunch, mom (who NEVER uses any kind of discount, rebate, coupon ect) gave me ALL of hers, also DIL's and all other relatives.
to make a long story short, i made SURE the CS KNEW i was using other certs before i ordered..... mom's, sis's, etc~~~~
okay TIME TO BAN TOGETHER.

i'm making copies of all my certs (ones i didnt throw away) will send to those that need, cause all #s were the same.

I REFUSE TO SORT THRU AND SEND BACK merchandise AFTER THE FACT!! (pay for the postage too) .......

keep comments coming... ..... ....