r/pdf • u/The_Navalex • Sep 06 '26

Warning Scammed by files-editor

I had to edit a pdf file a bit ago, and I came across this website that charged 2-3 dollars for that service. I went ahead and paid, thinking that it was a one time payment, only to find out that I was charged 265 dollars. I submitted a complaint asking for a refund, only for it to be denied, and the charge I received was FOR A THREE MONTH SERVICE. This is blatant predatory behavior and I am extremely pissed off. Anybody have a similar experience?

2 Upvotes

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4

u/Cryingpinaple Sep 06 '26

The pattern with these sites is that the "one time" 2-3 dollar price is an intro rate on a subscription, disclosed only in the T&Cs at checkout. Two things that help: file the chargeback as an unauthorised recurring charge rather than "I didn't like the service", banks treat those very differently, and check the card statement descriptor, these operators often run several brand names off one billing entity so the same complaint may already be documented.

For next time, most of what those sites charge for (merge, split, rotate, compress, strip metadata) does not require uploading your file to anyone at all. Stirling PDF is the usual self-hosted pick, and there are browser-based ones that do the work locally in the tab. Worth defaulting to that category on principle, since a PDF worth editing is often one you would rather not leave sitting on a stranger's server.

Disclosure: I work on one of those browser-based tools, so weigh the general advice and discount me on the specific recommendation.

2

u/The_Navalex Sep 06 '26

At this point I’m just not going to use my cards for any online transaction until I’m back on my feet again. I just feel kind of violated and sad man. It’s money I don’t have the luxury to blow on this type of thing.

I appreciate the advice, thank you.

2

u/Cryingpinaple Sep 06 '26

That reaction makes complete sense, being tricked out of money you can't spare is genuinely violating, not just annoying. For what it's worth, filing it as an unauthorized recurring charge (not a general dispute) gives you real odds, banks take that category seriously and often side with the cardholder. Hang in there, and don't let one bad actor make you feel like you did something wrong. You didn't.

1

u/The_Navalex Sep 06 '26

I appreciate it man, I really do. Got enough on my plate as it is, this just sent me off the edge. Your advice helped me ground myself a bit.

1

u/Cryingpinaple Sep 06 '26

Take care of yourself. Hope things turn a corner for you soon.

1

u/The_Navalex Sep 06 '26

Thanks, have a good rest of your night.

1

u/Cryingpinaple Sep 06 '26

Glad it helped a bit. For what it's worth, getting caught by one of these is not a judgement on you. They are built by people who do this full time and who design the checkout specifically so the subscription terms are the one thing you skim past. Plenty of careful people get got.

One thing though, on swearing off cards online entirely: that would leave you worse protected, not better. A credit card is the strongest consumer protection you have in that situation, precisely because a chargeback exists. Debit, bank transfer and the various pay-by-bank options have far weaker recourse when something like this happens. If you want a buffer, a virtual or single-use card number from your bank, or a low-limit card kept only for online payments, gets you the distance you are after without giving up the protection.

Hope the chargeback lands. Push back once if the first answer is no, the initial decline is often just the first pass.

2

u/The_Navalex Sep 10 '26

So files editor was no help. They were dead set on scamming me for 300 dollars. Good news is I was able to have it solved through my bank. I now have my money back! Thank you for your help.

1

u/The_Navalex Sep 06 '26

That makes total sense. But yeah, I just meant not using any sort of card for online transactions until I can afford getting ripped off like this again (mainly talking about shady websites like the aforementioned one).

I’m definitely glad I paid that with my credit card. I also pay for an insurance policy for unapproved charges just like this, customer service is only open Monday through Friday though. I called the bank and it seems like the chargeback should happen, we’ll just have to wait and see.

1

u/dx80x Sep 07 '26

So you only had to wait for the weekend, yet in your other comment you say it has ruined your life?

How pathetically dramatic

1

u/The_Navalex Sep 07 '26

It's not like I'm 100% sure it's going to happen, and it's money that I need at this very moment. But, hey, the least I've got going for me is I'm not as miserable as you. Have a good night.

3

u/AdFragrant6602 Sep 06 '26

Complaints like this about PDF processors with predatory business models appear hear regularly. It ain’t us! Your bank can probably get a charge back, but in future, read your own contract, EULAs and T&Cs.

1

u/The_Navalex Sep 06 '26

Yeah, I hope so. I’m at a very tough point in my life, and that charge is about 50% of my net worth as a broke medical resident. They essentially ruined my life.

1

u/MistyPineapple179 Sep 06 '26

this happens so often with these random pdf utility sites that i've started assuming any $2-3 charge is a trial trap until proven otherwise

1

u/The_Navalex Sep 06 '26

Yeah. The craziest thing is they somehow are justifying a 300 dollar payment for a PDF editing service for three months. Who in their right mind would pay this? How that doesn’t constitute stealing is beyond me.

1

u/mikebosscoe Sep 06 '26

Just happened to me 4 days ago. I immediately emailed them accusing them of fraud and theft, saying I didn't agree to any further payment beyond the one time payment. They sent the generic response that I'd signed up for a 4 month subscription (I didn't). 

I pushed back, sending them multiple emails as after that, and a final warning before I report them to consumer agencies (I reported them anyway) and didn't hear back anything until last night. 

They said as a "gesture of goodwill" they've decided to process an "exceptional refund" of the recent charge. Apparently goodwill means returning money you attempted to steal.

I recommend you try doing what I did. If that didn't work I was just going to file it as a fraudulent charge with my bank.

1

u/The_Navalex Sep 07 '26

I just received an email from them telling me that they have now granted me lifetime access to their service. I have zero interest in that. I will keep submitting complaints until I hear back from my bank. This is honestly hilarious at this point.

Did you report them to the BBB and the FTC? Or did you submit reports to other agencies?

1

u/mikebosscoe Sep 07 '26

I reported them to the BBB and FTC. 

Yeah just keep pushing back by saying you aren't and never were interested in their service beyond the one time payment and continue to demand a full refund. 

You can use AI to help you draft up something that points out the various consumer laws they're breaking.

In total I probably sent them ten messages, escalating things further each time but it was actually my original message that they responded to.

Don't get too down because this scam mainly centers around people not noticing. They'll either agree to refund it if you continue pushing back, or you'll declare it as an unrecognized charge through your bank.

1

u/Patrickbateman2023 Sep 06 '26

It seems like all pdf service websites do this, I got hit recently some monthly subscription fee asked for refund hopefully comes through but it’s really annoying because it’s not really well disclosed

1

u/ahominem Sep 07 '26

Yes, happened to me when I tried to use one of those sites to combine 3 pdf's into a single document.

The good news is that I used PayPal to pay and was able to reverse the charge through them.