TFCC Group Buy

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2012 17:56:45 GMT The Doctor said:

I have had the same reminder with the same date on it, which is strange as I joined March 20th last year and had assumed it would expire the same date this year.

Still waiting for the 6th of the 6 magazines I paid for...

-Ralph

I think they choose a random date after you joined to be your cut off point, I actually joined at the end of December on my first year, but my expiry date is 5th January

And my issue of TFCC 43 came yesterday so your's should be coming soonish I'd bet

[Philip Ayres]

Feb 16, 2012 18:43:51 GMT @aesir said:

Feb 16, 2012 17:56:45 GMT The Doctor said:

I have had the same reminder with the same date on it, which is strange as I joined March 20th last year and had assumed it would expire the same date this year.

Still waiting for the 6th of the 6 magazines I paid for...

-Ralph

I think they choose a random date after you joined to be your cut off point, I actually joined at the end of December on my first year, but my expiry date is 5th January

And my issue of TFCC 43 came yesterday so your's should be coming soonish I'd bet

In Ralph's case the date is a couple of months before he joined and he's got documents to proove it.

[Philip Ayres]

Oh look, There's problems with SG Drift!

[Philip Ayres]

Got this today

This is going out to all members:



Fun Publications wants to take this opportunity to apologize to all of our members.



After many days of analysis, Fun Publications has determined that there is a security issue with our e-commerce systems. We appreciate all of you who have sent in your details. Your help has allowed us to ferret out several different patterns of fraudulent charges that have appeared on some members' cards (any that have been used over the last year with both the club store and our event registration system).



We have several different internet/networking companies looking into the matter. Unfortunately, as of yet, we have not been able to identify any forcible entry either into our internet service provider's servers or network. This is like chasing a ghost through the wires, as unfortunately, the perpetrator did not leave a trail, foot prints or finger prints.



For those of you who have been affected, we apologize for all of your time this has wasted and any inconvenience it has caused you. We understand your frustration as this same type of fraud has happened to everyone in our office on our personal credit cards at some point in the past. Our merchant services provider wants us to remind everyone that even though this can be a huge annoyance for you, the customer, your issuing bank will not hold you responsible for any fraudulent charges that might be placed on your card(s).



We know that this issue has been a huge topic of discussion on all of the boards for the past few weeks. However, we are required to investigate to determine and confirm a security issue thoroughly before making any public statements. This is why we put out a general alert statement two weeks ago.



Until the analysis is finished (can take several weeks) we don't know if the shut down by our former (Jan 31st) e-commerce provider caused the security issue or not. We do know that it has not been limited to those who have purchased before the change to our new provider.



Please, watch your cards closely as this type of security issue appears to be on the increase across the net. No site is 100% safe. You may want to consider having any cards you have used with Fun Publications in the last year replaced.



At this time, we do not know how long our e-commerce site will be offline for both the store and registrations. We will get back to you once we have a solution for this security issue.



Thanks for your support - Brian

[Deleted]

Bloody FunPub...

[Philip Ayres]

The 2005 Boards have a rather amusing thread on the matter: www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/554190-tcc-update-re-credit-card-security.html

[Bogatan]

It's just insanity. Every time they say something it only manages to annoy more people.

[Bogatan]

Oh and apologies for not getting back to eveyone with prices. Having cancelled my credit card because of the fraud, the purchases are no longer showing up online and I've misplaced my paper statement so cant find the exchange rate. I'll have another look today, it shouldn't have gone too far.

[Deleted]

Have you got any ideas yet when the shipment will come in? (like a rough guess or something)

[Bogatan]

It should be sent out this week I guess. Then arrive within a week. Be trapped in customs for a week maybe.

[The Doctor]

Wow. Never thought I would say this, but I am glad there was a run on my account last December and my card was changed. Saves me the bother of having to change it now. Although I last bought from Fun Pub a year ago, I really wouldn't want to take a chance (as I use a debit card).

This mishap soundly redoubles my non-related previous decision to not buy from Fun Pub ever again. They way they treat their customers is deplorable.

If I ever had a hankering for a Fun Pub toy in the future I would use Ebay and the Paypal buyer protection.

In other news, still no sign of magazine #6 of the 6 I paid for.

-Ralph

[jasonw]

Jan 26, 2012 19:18:04 GMT Nigel said:

Like Ralph said.

Have a look at this then:

www.change.org/petitions/hasbro-remove-fun-publications-charter-of-the-transformers-collectors-club#

[The Doctor]

Hmmm, that seems rather petty and badly written. Personally, if folk don't like the club vote with your wallet and if you do like the club then vote with your wallet the other way. Or write (on paper) or phone Hasbro's customer services department with clear and polite expressions of concerns.

-Ralph

[blueshift]

They'd be lucky to get any signatures to that to be honest. I know there's a lot of dissatisfaction with Fun Pub, but I don't think it's a 'take away their license' dealbreaker. The main issue is Botcon, and as long as that continues to run smoothly, most people will be happy.

[Bogatan]

it's not very good and probably wont work but I guess it might make Hasbro aware of things.

Either they dont know or dont care. If its the former these things might be a wake up call.

[Benn]

I've not been a fan of the way the TFCC is run since I became aware of it. I deplore the US-centric nature of it, and think it is ridiculously overpriced. And all this going off just makes me determined that FunPub will never get my business.

[primenova]

Got an email this morning 1:15

Hello. This is going out to all members past and present on file.

In case you didn't get the email on Friday, please see our posting at TransformersClub.com concerning the security issue we have had. We have continued to work on this issue over the weekend. We still don't know the scope of the possible intrusion or if there was an intrusion. However, to be on the safe side, we are recommending that everyone who has used a card with us either for a store purchase or for an event registration in the last year have that card replaced at their earliest convieinence to avoid any potential unauthorized use. We again apologize for this problem and for your time this has wasted.
Thanks for your patience and support while we solve this issue.
Brian Savage
CEO Fun Publications, Inc.

[The Doctor]

There was also this:

'his update is going out to all members:
This week we are continuing shipments of the club exclusive orders.
The T-shirts came in this past week and we started shipping these orders as well. It will still take about 2 more weeks to get all of the orders out the door. Thanks for your patience! We hope you enjoy these great figures.
On Monday, we will have a pdf online on the club site for membership renewals and new memberships that you can mail in with a check or money order. We will process your membership as soon as they arrive.
Please note that the March 16th deadline is a hard deadline (in house) so please make sure any mail is in the postal system by March 9th.
If you want to receive the free club exclusive Runamuck, your membership must be active as of March 16th. At the bottom of this email you will find your expiration date. If it is after March 16, 2012, you are good to go for the 2012 figure.
Thanks for your support and patience during this difficult time.
Brian'

Just as well I didn't want the 2012 figure because I wouldn't have been able to renew to get it anyway! International members can't send in cheques!

-Ralph

[Benn]

And my point about it being horrifically US-centric still stands. <Sighs, shakes head sadly> Why do they make it so hard to be a fan?

[Deleted]

Feb 27, 2012 10:59:44 GMT Benn said:

And my point about it being horrifically US-centric still stands. <Sighs, shakes head sadly> Why do they make it so hard to be a fan?

[Andy Turnbull]

I deleted the bpdy of ypur text. While the club is quite obviously us-centric that does not necessarily inform any personal opinions of the people running it.

Andy

[primenova]

The Uk price has always been at the $82 - has the US price ever changed from $42?

[The Doctor]

This just in:

'While we continue to work on the current issues. We recommend that all members (even if you didn't have an issue with your card) go to one of the credit monitoring sites like Experian and file for credit card fraud protection. This service is free and it puts a watch on your credit ratings for 90 days (free). On the Experian site click on the Add an Initial Security Alert (this is the one that I used). They also provide you a free credit report. According the Federal Law, each agency must provide you with one free report every 12 months upon request. You can view your rights here at Experian.
You can also call these agencies but some of them are hard to get a person on the phone.
Equifax (www.equifax.com)
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
1-800-685-1111
Experian (www.experian.com)
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-0949
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
Trans Union (www.transunion.com)
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-916-8800

When you put the credit watch on your account, they notify the other two agencies.
I also recommend that you call the opt out number (1 888 567 8688) so that you will be taken off the list for pre-approved credit card and insurance offers. That way if your mail is ever broken into (happened to us personally a few years back), they can't get these items and open accounts in your name.
Again, we apologize for any problems these security issues have caused. Thanks for all of the kind emails we have been receiving and we look forward to resolving this issue.
Brian'

-Ralph

[primenova]

I wonder if Hasbro has been on to them to sort it out

[Deleted]

Feb 28, 2012 13:54:52 GMT primenova said:

I wonder if Hasbro has been on to them to sort it out

let's hope so

[The Doctor]

I would be very surprised if any company that tells all of their customers to change their cards is long for this world. That's not an easy thing to walk away from and stay viable as a business.

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

Every one of those emails has been so UScentric its not funny. I was then told that the club accepts international money orders.

How generous. It would only cost me about £10 to get one plus international postage. Oh and it HAS to arrive before the 16th.

And not just arrive apparently, but be processed too.

And, the Runamucks have already been ordered, so potentially (thought after the last month unlikely) they could run out before getting to mine.

Yup, this is the level of response they have risen to after the flustercuck that has been the last 2 months (6-8 if you include the Sideburn mess)

[kayevcee]

Feb 27, 2012 23:22:57 GMT The Doctor said:

Thanks for all of the kind emails we have been receiving and we look forward to resolving this issue.

I'm betting the kind emails made up a pretty small proportion of their total inbox experience over the past week or so.

-Nick

[Bogatan]

What kind emails could they possibly be receiving?

Dear FP,
I feel terrible that I left my personal details lying around on your site, just tempting some thief to come along and break in causing you all these problems. I do hope you aren't to inconvenienced having to make changes to your sites. I also hope all the mean people complaining about fraudulent charges on their cards aren't getting you down.

Chin up!
A. Simpleton


Also they chose now to put up all membership options because of postal cost increases.

Yes the same time they expect us to post in renewals.

[The Doctor]

They seem to be a 100th anniversary of the Titanic tribute act.

-Ralph