Shopper Discounts & Rewards
Encyclopedia
Shopper Discounts & Rewards is a UK company based in Kent
, England
. Its parent company Webloyalty
is based in the United States
.
Shopper Discounts & Rewards describes itself as "a premier online savings service operated by webloyalty". However, various sources including the US Senate,
international newspapers,
and money advise websites
have described its business practices using terms such as scam, robbery
and theft
.
It is owned and operated by Webloyalty whose headquarters are in the United States. One of it’s founders and CEO is Rick Fernandes. Shopper Discounts & Rewards was first launched in the United States in 2004 and in 2007 it was launched in the United Kingdom . In 2010 it was launched in Germany under the name 'Shoppen and Sparen'.
, Ryanair
or Interflora
.
Online shoppers who signed up for these "money-off vouchers" then find their bank accounts and credit cards are being raided in mysterious monthly payments, many claim they have no memory of ever having agreed to the payouts.
In 2009 Debenhams
and B&Q
severed or suspended their links with Shopper Discounts & Rewards.
In 2009 Webloyalty
was called before a US senate commerce committee to explain its business practices. Webloyalty responded to the Senate Committee's proposed bill by saying it had already refined its practices to help address senators' concerns and that it would fully comply with the bill once it was enacted .
In the U.K., the consumer group Consumer Focus has confirmed it is looking at this type of website and addressing what can be done to address such consumer complaints as unexpected credit card billings.
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its parent company Webloyalty
Webloyalty
Webloyalty is an online marketing company and the parent company of the UK company Shopper Discounts & Rewards. Its founding partner and CEO is Richard Fernandes...
is based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Shopper Discounts & Rewards describes itself as "a premier online savings service operated by webloyalty". However, various sources including the US Senate,
international newspapers,
and money advise websites
have described its business practices using terms such as scam, robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
.
It is owned and operated by Webloyalty whose headquarters are in the United States. One of it’s founders and CEO is Rick Fernandes. Shopper Discounts & Rewards was first launched in the United States in 2004 and in 2007 it was launched in the United Kingdom . In 2010 it was launched in Germany under the name 'Shoppen and Sparen'.
Marketing Practices
Shopper Discounts & Rewards, attracts members by offering a moneyoff voucher when they have completed a purchase on websites such as Premier Inn, TheTrainLineTheTrainLine
thetrainline.com, is an online and telephone service selling tickets for travel on British train services. It was created in 1997 and online ticket sales started in 1999. thetrainline.com Ltd was formerly part of the Virgin Group and is now owned by private equity investors and management...
, Ryanair
Ryanair
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
or Interflora
Interflora
Interflora is the most commonly used name for a group of organisations worldwide, providing florists with a brand under which flowers can be purchased and delivered to 140 countries, most with their own partnership, or unit.- History :...
.
Online shoppers who signed up for these "money-off vouchers" then find their bank accounts and credit cards are being raided in mysterious monthly payments, many claim they have no memory of ever having agreed to the payouts.
In 2009 Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
and B&Q
B&Q
B&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
severed or suspended their links with Shopper Discounts & Rewards.
In 2009 Webloyalty
Webloyalty
Webloyalty is an online marketing company and the parent company of the UK company Shopper Discounts & Rewards. Its founding partner and CEO is Richard Fernandes...
was called before a US senate commerce committee to explain its business practices. Webloyalty responded to the Senate Committee's proposed bill by saying it had already refined its practices to help address senators' concerns and that it would fully comply with the bill once it was enacted .
In the U.K., the consumer group Consumer Focus has confirmed it is looking at this type of website and addressing what can be done to address such consumer complaints as unexpected credit card billings.