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BCA Scam Watch: Fan Authentics Fails to Deliver

sports fans

Authentics, or Fan Authentics, an online retailer that sells official sports fan gear, has landed itself on Business Consumer Alliance’s Scam Watch list for failing to deliver the goods. The company’s website advertises unique sports apparel and memorabilia and claims to go above and beyond to over-deliver. The problem is that for several customers, they aren’t delivering at all.

Some consumers have turned to BCA for help in dealing with the retailer. Their complaints typically allege they are charged for their order right away and after waiting weeks for delivery, nothing arrives. Attempts to reach the company by phone or to get a response by email are futile. In some cases, the company has blocked users from their social media site so they cannot reach them to check the status of their order, make cancellations, or request a refund. Although BCA has tried to reach the company to request they respond to complaints, they have failed to address them. The company currently maintains an F rating.

A call to the company’s phone number –877-864-1498—reaches a recording that prompts callers to press “0” to reach a representative.  After being placed on hold for some time, the call is routed to a message informing the caller to leave a message and the call will be returned as soon as possible. It is difficult to reach the business by any other method since they do not have a listed address and their website domain is hidden.

Several other consumers have reported similar experiences and call the business an outright scam. Their Facebook page lists multiple upset consumers, who claim their orders have not been delivered. If you are considering purchasing items from this business, proceed with caution.

By law, under most conditions, companies must ship your order when promised or within the time stated in its ads. If the company doesn't specify a shipping time, it must send the merchandise within 30 days. If there will be a delay, the company must contact you immediately and give you the option to either agree to a new shipment date or cancel the order for a full refund. If you placed an order and have not received your items in the specified timeframe, file a complaint with BCA first. You can also contact your bank or financial institution to file a dispute. Consumers that paid via PayPal or Apple Pay can click the respective links for assistance.

If you plan on shopping online, check out the tips in our Online Shopping Guide below:

shopping infographic

About Business Consumer Alliance Business Consumer Alliance (BCA) is a non-profit company that started in 1928. The broad purpose of BCA is to promote business self-regulation. BCA's mission is achieved by assisting consumers in resolving complaints with businesses and using that complaint information, along with other relevant information such as customer reviews, to forecast business reliability. With community support, BCA can identify trustworthy and ethical businesses and warn the public to avoid unscrupulous businesses whose purpose is to defraud the marketplace. BCA also helps businesses promote themselves by providing services and tools to protect their business and reach out to their customers. BCA obtains its funding from member businesses who support the mission and purpose of the organization and who agree to abide by high standards of ethical business practices.