$1.97 to Learn a Lesson is Cheap, Hundreds of Dollars is Not!



$1.97 to Learn a Lesson is Cheap, Hundreds of Dollars is Not! Posted Monday, August 31, 2009 by Jane Driggs Each day we get three or four emails from consumers as a result of our “scam” button on our home page, www.utah.bbb.org. Over the past year they’ve become repetitive, so let’s talk about this again. If you give your credit or debit card to someone on the Internet and they say they’re only going to charge you $1 or $1.97 or $4.99, don’t believe them. Read the terms and conditions Don’t use a debit card, you can’t dispute the charge. Use a credit card, you can dispute the charge! Read the privacy policy Know where the company is located Check their BBB report Here are some examples of emails we’ve received (spelling has NOT been corrected): First Example: Company is Offering: A kit (CD) to make money with Google What is Questionable: I ordered the kit for 1.96 postage then they also charged a monthly fee of $47.50. I contacted the credit card and they said I was suppose to cancel in 14 days as it said in the print. I never received the disk till last week and I had to call them again to get it. I couldn't know if I was satified with my kit and cancell it within 14 days if I never got it till last week. I ordered it on 8/4/09. Now I read where this has nothing to do with Google which I would assume to be laget. The hone number on the bill is fromAZ but the return address is from UT as listed above. I have called the number to talk then is says all line bust to leave a message after the beep. Then of course their mail box is full and you can leave no message. There is no one there I'm sure to answere your phone. Now I am still out of work and they are rich with no reprocussion as they said this is in the contract to bill me. Second Example: Company is Offering: 31 day free supply trial and cancel anytime after the trial period What is Questionable: False advertisement and big scam. I called Natra Pure on July 24, 2009 after seeing an ad showing Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz pictures on the Ad for the free trial product. I received it on Saturday, Aug. 15th and called to cancel membership on Monday, Aug. 17th. I found out that they charged me on my card for one bottle of Natra Pure for $92.31 the day the product was shipped which was on Aug. 5, 2009 and I didn't get it until Aug. 15th and didn't have the opportunity to use the product yet. I called for a refund since my membership was cancelled upon receiving the product. They claimed that there is no refund and their policy is to charged once the product is shipped. This makes no sense and I believe that they are scammers and sent product to consumers and charged them before they get a chance to use their products. Third Example: Company is Offering: Google search profits What is Questionable: They bait you with a 1.95 trial period but it you don't cancel in the 7 days, they charge your credit card $80. These fees were never indicated upfront. What's more is when I spoke to one of their representatives the day after I signed for the trial period, I specifically told them I was canceling. My credit card has sincebeen charged $160 over the past two months. I am now screaming at them and threatening them with Legal action. They still will not refund me my money. Now do you believe me?

Each day we get three or four emails from consumers as a result of our “scam” button on our home page, www.utah.bbb.org. Over the past year they’ve become repetitive, so let’s talk about this again.

If you give your credit or debit card to someone on the Internet and they say they’re only going to charge you $1 or $1.97 or $4.99, don’t believe them.

Read the terms and conditions
Don’t use a debit card, you can’t dispute the charge.
Use a credit card, you can dispute the charge!
Read the privacy policy
Know where the company is located
Check their BBB report

Here are some examples of emails we’ve received (spelling has NOT been corrected):

First Example:

Company is Offering: A kit (CD) to make money with Google

What is Questionable: I ordered the kit for 1.96 postage then they also charged a monthly fee of $47.50. I contacted the credit card and they said I was suppose to cancel in 14 days as it said in the print. I never received the disk till last week and I had to call them again to get it. I couldn't know if I was satified with my kit and cancell it within 14 days if I never got it till last week. I ordered it on 8/4/09. Now I read where this has nothing to do with Google which I would assume to be laget. The hone number on the bill is fromAZ but the return address is from UT as listed above. I have called the number to talk then is says all line bust to leave a message after the beep. Then of course their mail box is full and you can leave no message. There is no one there I'm sure to answere your phone. Now I am still out of work and they are rich with no reprocussion as they said this is in the contract to bill me.

Second Example:

Company is Offering: 31 day free supply trial and cancel anytime after the trial period

What is Questionable: False advertisement and big scam. I called Natra Pure on July 24, 2009 after seeing an ad showing Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz pictures on the Ad for the free trial product. I received it on Saturday, Aug. 15th and called to cancel membership on Monday, Aug. 17th. I found out that they charged me on my card for one bottle of Natra Pure for $92.31 the day the product was shipped which was on Aug. 5, 2009 and I didn't get it until Aug. 15th and didn't have the opportunity to use the product yet. I called for a refund since my membership was cancelled upon receiving the product. They claimed that there is no refund and their policy is to charged once the product is shipped. This makes no sense and I believe that they are scammers and sent product to consumers and charged them before they get a chance to use their products.

Third Example:

Company is Offering: Google search profits

What is Questionable: They bait you with a 1.95 trial period but it you don't cancel in the 7 days, they charge your credit card $80. These fees were never indicated upfront. What's more is when I spoke to one of their representatives the day after I signed for the trial period, I specifically told them I was canceling. My credit card has sincebeen charged $160 over the past two months. I am now screaming at them and threatening them with Legal action. They still will not refund me my money.

Now do you believe me?