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HomeNewsBBB says United Address Change website misleads movers

BBB says United Address Change website misleads movers

Better Business Bureau - BBBNashville, TN – May is national moving month, and at the top of everyone’s moving checklist is changing their address.

If you are planning a move, watch out for this website. Consumers report that United Address Change‘s website misled them into thinking they were submitting address changes with the United States Postal Service.

Instead, the site made unapproved charges to their credit cards.  
 
Movers Mislead by Website
 
According to Better Business Bureau of North Central TexasUnited Address Change as an “F” for failure to respond to complaints. BBB has processed 96 complaints, and the company did not respond to 29 of those.

Better Business Bureau warns consumers of change of address website scam.
Better Business Bureau warns consumers of change of address website scam.


 
One Virginia resident told BBB: “I used this website thinking it was the actual United States Post Office to do my change of address. Prior to submitting, it said that it’d be a $1.05 fee to verify identity. After submitting the request, it shows up as $79.95 in my bank account. I called the U.S. Post Office customer care number and was told that this was a scam.”
 
Another complaint from Birmingham, Alabama stated: “I was misled by this website. They charged me without my permission. I thought I was on a USPS site which only charges a dollar to process.”
 
A man in Anchorage, Alaska, reported, “Their website says USPS Address Change. Nowhere on the site does it indicate they are a ‘third-party’ company. Nowhere on the website does it indicate there will be a charge of $79.95 to change your mailing address. After entering my credit card information to pay what I thought would be the $1.20, fee the post office charges to verify the person making the request is the person whose address is being changed. Today the charge came through and posted to my bank account.”

Look Out for Lookalike Websites

Websites such as this are private businesses that allegedly facilitate address changes. However, consumers can go directly to the United States Postal Service to change their address.
 
BBB has also received reports of other lookalike websites that supposedly help people renew their driver’s license, get a credit report, or stop junk mail. All of these sites pay to get their listing at the top of search results. People inadvertently click on them thinking they are an official site. 
 
Don’t be fooled by lookalike websites:

  • Double-check the URL before you enter personal and payment information. Always double-check that you are on the right website and that the link is secure. Secure links start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase page.
  • Make online purchases with your credit card. Fraudulent charges made on a credit card can usually be disputed. Unfortunately, there is no way to get back the personal information you may have shared.

Learn more about change of address scams. For more trusted information regarding lookalike, websites visit BBB.org.

 

About BBB of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky

For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. BBB provides objective advice, BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviewsdispute resolution servicesalerts, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit bbb.org for more information.

There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including BBB Serving Middle TN and Southern KY, which was founded in 1961 and serves 45 counties in Middle TN and Southern KY. Visit bbb.org for more information.

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