According to Reuters, the lawsuit relates to a 1999 agreement
between Best Buy, the consumer electronics retailer, and Microsoft
in which Best Buy was to promote Microsoft’s MSN internet access
service in its stores. Customers who bought goods using their
credit or debit cards were presented with free trial CDs for the
service.
Samuel Kim made a purchase and was given the CD, which he says
he did not use. Both his debit card and the disc were scanned at
the checkout. The lawsuit claims that when Kim asked why the
compact disc had been scanned, the employee said it was to keep
track of inventory.
However, he alleges that Best Buy then sent his card details to
Microsoft, which opened an MSN service account for him. Kim knew
nothing about the matter until he discovered an entry on his bank
statement showing that MSN had deducted a monthly service charge
from his bank account.
Anthony Lee, Kim’s lawyer, told Reuters that Kim has not been
unable to get a full refund from either company. Kim has asked the
court to stop Microsoft and Best Buy continuing this behaviour, and
to award refunds to him and other customers caught by the alleged
scam.
Neither Microsoft nor Best Buy has commented.
