I first discovered this company through Web MD. I have some pretty severe acne scars from my youth and have always wondered if scar removal products would help me.
I found Striaex's trial offer and it appeared to me that they were willing to send you a bottle free for only the shipping cost of $2.95. I remember seeing that the ointment costs $109.99 and telling my wife that if they're willing to send you a free sample and normally charge that much that it must work.
Needless to say I received not only 1 bottle, but 2 in the mail. They were very small, 1 fluid ounce a piece, so I figured that it was just the trial size and I would never have imagined that they charged $110 for one of those bottles. I tried the product that evening, following the instructions on the bottle, but did not see any visible difference in my scars. Later I remember laughing that it was just a scam which reminded me off the old snake oil cure-all tonics from old western movies.
Where Striaex made their mistake with attempting to rip me off is I do all my banking online and monitor not only my bank accounts, but my credit cards on a daily basis.
I logged online yesterday and saw that I had a $419.91 debit pending my checking account. Being that I paid the shipping charges with my checking account debit card meant they were taking the money straight from my bank account. I would not advise that after this experience.
I immediately contacted my bank and had them block the transaction. I was then told by my bank that if Striaex attempted to charge my account again that I would have to allow the debit to clear and then contest it with the bank. Ultimately, I had the bank cancel my debit card so that won't be an issue.
After all of that I went online and sent an e-mail to Striaex's customer service telling them that not only had their product not worked, but that I had not ordered anything further from them, and did not intend to. I then told them that any further action on their part to pursue me for the $419.91 that I would file a fraud complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, with my state's attorney general's office, and then forward all of it on to Web MD.
I received the exact same e-mails as the all the other complaints listed on complaintsboard. I received one from their customer service department stating that because I was threatening them that they could no longer help me and that I was going to have to deal solely with their legal department. I then received an e-mail from the legal department threatening hell and damnation if I don't pay them and stop disputing the charges. I believe that is where they make a mistake and their scam breaks down.
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