Consumer complaint received 2015-10-07
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: IL
Product: Credit card
Issue: Billing disputes

Complaint:
I was either solicited via phone or contacted through online ad. I 'm not sure how I got in contact with the corporation originally, but the first thing they offered to do for me was to write a Business plan including the following : 1 ) A company summary including a description of my business, 2 ) Provide a target marketing strategy - with industry association analysis - and help with product selection ; and demographics ; 3 ) Provide a break even analysis. They would also provide a financial plan. This was all included in the initial charge of {$6600.00} on XX/XX/XXXX.The marketing plan was to include product selection and marketing techniques - including search engine optimization and social networking. The next charges for {$1900.00} and {$2600.00} on XX/XX/XXXX was to be for building the website and providing legal and tax planning.. It was very confusing because I had thought the original charge was to be for building a website. Why would I need the marketing strategy, etc ... If I did not have a website. Since I had already invested the {$6600.00} and had no website, I went ahead with these additional charges. After this it seemed like every week they were calling and saying I had to do something else in order to have a successful site. The next XXXX charges incurred were {$4200.00}, {$3200.00}, and {$890.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. These charges would be for planning, consulting, and product research. They would provide a credit coach that would help me get all expenses into a business loan instead of my personal credit. They would help with creating the XXXX and would be the registered agent for the XXXX. They were to also create a logo that would help with branding of my business. The next week they called and wanted an additional amount of {$5200.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. This was to provide traffic to my website - including banner ads and domain referral. It was based on my choice of how many visitors I wanted a month and I chose XXXX guaranteed visitors a month for a year. They would also provide website security for my customers and include a consumer trust shield on my website. They also created a merchant account for which I started paying monthly fees. On XX/XX/XXXX they called again saying I needed a preferred pricing website. They were wanting {$1300.00} for this. I paid {$300.00} for this, plus a {$390.00} merchant application fee, and financed the rest for an additional $ XXXX for XXXX payments beginning on XXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I was again charged {$600.00} for upfront monthly fees and financed an additional amount with XXXX XXXX. I think this was for a " XXXX XXXX XXXX '' to show me which products were selling good. I 'm not sure what the remaining XXXX charges of {$4900.00} on XX/XX/XXXX and {$500.00} on XX/XX/XXXX were even for. Here I am weeks later, and to my knowledge I still do n't have any income that is residual. They mentioned that my account is active, but I NEVER EVEN put anything on it or seen it. As it turns out this Merchant is in direct contact with XXXX ONLINE. My credit card company states they will not refund my money because it is outside of the XXXX time frame required for a billing dispute, under federal law. Please advise them Under the Federal Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) and Regulation Z, I have ONE YEAR to file a non-billing error type dispute. This is simply a claim of service not as described which can still be disputed. Please help me advise the credit card company that for this purpose allow they should issue a credit promptly. PLEASE HELP US! 
Thank you, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief