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7/8/2008

Monroe, LA - At www.mygallons.com, company officials say it's easy as 1-2-3 to relieve consumers' pain at the pump. For about $30, anyone can become a member.

Once signed up, they say consumers can lock in gas prices at the current rate and use a company issued card to buy gas at participating stations across the country.

But just a week after its official launch, questions are surfacing about the site, the company and its validity.

The reason for that is there's a lot of confusion as to whether the company is actually legitimate at this point. That's because the BBB of Southeast Florida gave the Miami based company an "F" rating. A move that's supported by its national organization and being communicated to all BBBs. The BBB of Southeast Florida has learned they do not have a current contract with a credit card servicing company.

This means if consumers joined mygallons.com, they couldn't even use their card.

According to Lenard Crain, BBB CEO from Columbus, Georgia, on its website and in a letter was emailed to WTVM an ABC affiliate in Columbus, company president Steven Verona disputes the claim and says mygallons.com did have a credit card agreement in place. The company simply backed out.

But in another statement on its website, officials acknowledge, a deal isn't currently in place.

In addition, there's a lot of fine print to read and additional fees. Plus, consumers may not be saving money in the long run.

If you pre-purchase fuel at $4.00 a gallon and it goes back to $3.50, your set rate on that card is still going to be $4.00 a gallon. So there's a chance that you're going to lose money and they state that in their terms.

The bottom line, always be aware that in any transaction of this nature. You need to be cautious and do your homework about what is involved in becoming a member. There appear to be opportunities to lose money and be ripped off.

With the price of gasoline and the gadgets that are out there for us to spend our money on the following website is a good one to consult. The EPA has done some testing on these devices to assess their effect on emissions and fuel economy. This link http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/reports.htm takes you to the EPA list of devices tested and the results obtained.

About BBB (www.us.bbb.org)

BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability ReportsTM and charity BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 126 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring nearly 4 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.us.bbb.org for more information about BBB.