Warning: stroll / pimsleur approach makes their money by tricking people to authorize a puny $9.95 purchase, then, uses deceitful methods (in fine print) to make returns very difficult and then later bill you for hundreds of dollars.
Do not fall for this scam. I authorized a purchase for $9.95 for a Spanish Language CD from Stroll but was tricked into paying over $250.00... So far.
Pimsleur Approach initially sent me the CD's that I ordered and that was fine. However, soon after they sent another larger package.
Since I travel a lot for work, I did not even look at the package twice. I planned to simply return the package once I got back from work and had a bit more free time.
However, when I checked my online banking account a few days later, I saw that they had already processed and charged me $64.00 for the CDs.
After seeing that, I proceeded to call the company customer service to request a refund and to explain that I would return the product.
Unfortunately, I was told that the period (30 days or less) had passed since I could return, so there was no option but for me to accept the charge.
I decided this was OK, and consolidated myself by looking at the $64 for language CDs as a worthy educational investment.
What was funny was that the customer service representative told me another package would be coming shortly and that I would have to RETURN IT WITHING 10 DAYS or face charges. THE RETURN COST WOULD BE MY OWN EXPENSE.
I am a very busy person, working and in college; I do not have time to return these products that I did not order! I'm sure there are many even more busy people than I am who don't find time to return the product withing 10 days.
Despite being very busy, I did return the 2nd package within 10 days of having it.
Today I called Stroll customer service again to check if my return of the second package was received already. The representative to me 'not yet'. I will be interested to see if they try to dispute my return when I call in a few days time...
Furthermore, the representative told me that I am going to CONTINUE RECEIVING A BILL OF $64.00 PER MONTH FOR ANOTHER TWO MONTHS! THE FIRST TWO MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $64.00 I HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHARGED FOR ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND GO TOWARDS THE FIRST PACKAGE ONLY. Remember, this is all for a purchase I did not authorize!
Apparently, only ONE PACKAGE COSTS $250.00. The second package I received is not part of that four month payment plan, and is worth another $250.00 if not returned!
What this means is that Pimsleur SENDS 4 PACKAGES, WITH A VERY RESTRICTIVE RETURN POLICY, EVERY 65 DAYS AND CHARGES $250.00 FOR EACH ONE! = $1000.00 for 4, unauthorized packages!!!
I don't care how good the language course is. I am a struggling college student and this type of TRAP is cunning.
Each and every package of language CDs sent to a customer should be AUTHORIZED, EACH AND EVERY TIME.
How can Stroll be allowed to operate in this way, tricking people out of hundreds of dollars, by one single purchase for $9.95 that someone makes?
Are they even allowed to have such a restrictive returns policy?
It is simply unethical that they are not first receiving customer approval before they send packages (and leave them at the door if no one is there) that we DO NOT WANT.
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