If you see a charge labeled “CIGARSINT,” “CIGARSINT* PURO PERKS,” “BPA Sales LP,” or “MEM-CILOYAL” on your card statement, that Cigars Bethlehem charge is a recurring monthly membership fee for Puro Perks, a paid rewards program run by Cigars International out of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is not a charge for cigars you bought. To stop it, call 888-645-4168, log in at PuroPerks.com, or email CustomerService@PuroPerks.com, and ask for a refund of any charges you did not knowingly authorize.
What the Charge Actually Is
Puro Perks is a membership program that offers cash back, shipping rebates, and discounts at Cigars International and other retailers. The fee is most often $14.95 per month, though consumers have also reported $15.94, $17.97, and $18.31 depending on the program variation or billing period.1BBB. Complaints for Cigars International Less common names for the same type of membership are Pipes Plus and Total Values Plus.
The reason the charge shows up under several unfamiliar names is that the legal entity behind the billing is BPA Sales, LP, the company that owns both Cigars International and CigarBid.com.2Cigars International Privacy Portal. Cigars International Data Request Form Depending on how the processor codes the transaction, it may read as “BPA Sales LP,” “MEM-CILOYAL,” or some variation with “CIGARSINT” or “PURO PERKS” in the descriptor.3Puro Perks. Puro Perks FAQ
How You Probably Got Signed Up
Most people charged for Puro Perks never meant to join. Based on consumer complaints and the company’s own responses filed with the Better Business Bureau, enrollment usually happens through a pop-up window that appears after you finish a cigar purchase on the Cigars International site. The pop-up offers a “shipping rebate.” Entering your email to claim it enrolls you in a 30-day free trial, and when the trial ends, the monthly billing starts automatically.1BBB. Complaints for Cigars International
Cigars International says it sends a welcome email and a mailed packet with the membership terms after enrollment. Many customers say they never saw either one. Because the charges can run quietly for months, cumulative amounts of $179 to nearly $300 are common in disputed cases.4BBB. Complaints for Cigars International – Page 2
How To Cancel
Puro Perks offers three ways to cancel:
- Phone: 888-645-4168, listed as available 24/7.3Puro Perks. Puro Perks FAQ
- Online: sign in at PuroPerks.com/sign-in, open “Account,” and choose “Cancel Membership.”3Puro Perks. Puro Perks FAQ
- Email: CustomerService@PuroPerks.com.3Puro Perks. Puro Perks FAQ
Benefits run through the end of the current billing cycle after you cancel, and any unused balance in the member “Savings” account is sent as an e-gift card rather than refunded to your card.3Puro Perks. Puro Perks FAQ
For problems that go beyond cancellation, Cigars International customer service can be reached at 1-888-244-2790, Option 2, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.5Cigars International. Customer Support FAQ
How To Get a Refund for Past Charges
Cancellation stops the next charge. Getting the old ones back is a separate request, and you should make it explicitly when you call or write.
Customers who have escalated through the Better Business Bureau have generally recovered their money. In documented BBB cases, Cigars International canceled the membership, issued a full refund of disputed charges, and sometimes added a courtesy coupon of $30 to $100.6BBB. Complaints for Cigars International – Page 3 Refunds typically take up to 10 business days to post to the original payment method.
If the company does not resolve it, dispute the charges with your bank or credit card issuer. In at least one BBB-documented case, the consumer went through the bank and Cigars International said it would work with the financial institution directly.6BBB. Complaints for Cigars International – Page 3 The scale of the issue is substantial: the BBB profile for Cigars International shows 158 complaints over the most recent three-year period, with 89 of them, more than half, categorized as billing issues.1BBB. Complaints for Cigars International
Your Rights and Where To Complain
Subscriptions that bill you until you cancel are covered by the FTC’s updated Negative Option Rule, finalized in November 2024. Key provisions took full effect by May 14, 2025. Sellers must clearly disclose all material terms before collecting billing information, obtain unambiguously affirmative consent before charging you, and provide a cancellation method at least as simple as the sign-up method.7Federal Register. Negative Option Rule, 16 CFR Part 425
In March 2026, the FTC issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking asking for more public comment on preventing unintended charges and removing obstacles to cancellation.8FTC. Negative Option Rule You can file a complaint with the FTC. If you live in Pennsylvania, where Cigars International is based, you can also file through the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s online complaint portal.9Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Submit a Complaint