I fell into the Tri-Clear scam over a month ago.
I purchased some tickets through Ticketmaster on-line, and after the purchase was completed, I was given this "free" trial from Tri-Clear. So, I signed up for it.
Well, I got the stuff, tried it, and found that my acne got worse with it. So, I discontinued the use of it.
I was checking my credit card accounts on-line when I saw charges from Tri-Clear for the product. So, I called Tri-Clear and asked why I was charged this money for a "free" trial. They said it was for shipping and handling of the product, which I didn't dispute overtly. After all, it was $6, and I wasn't going to cause a stink over that. I told them that I wanted to make sure that no further charges would be added to my account, and they complied nicely to my request.
After a few weeks passed, I was checking my credit card on-line again, but this time I found a $70 charge from Tri-Clear.
So, I called, and I had told my rep that I canceled everything with Tri-Clear and asked why I was being charged.
He said that it was for the cost of the product that they shipped me before.
Wait a second, I thought: why am I being charged for a product that was supposed to be used on a free trial? Because the product you sent was a free trial, and now you're charging me $70 for the product. This isn't adding up because the stuff you sent me was free, and any other stuff you sent me after that is what you would charge me for? At least, this was my thinking, however, my customer service rep (CSR) told me I was incorrect.
I told him that when I signed up for this product on-line there was no mention of a 14-day trial in plain sight or any indication that $70 would be charged for any other product after this. (Hell, Guthy-Renker and that non-working Proactiv solution will give you a full, money-back guarantee on things... Don't even dispute this Tri-Clear employees because I've dealt with you both, and G-R's business ethics are way above what you're doing right now.)
Allow me to get back on track...
My CSR said that I didn't sign up for this on-line, but I ordered this through a telemarketer on September 24th.
OK, this is where I'm starting to have my doubts about them:
1. I wasn't even at my residence during 9/24 and couldn't have ordered anything from a telemarketer.
2. The only person that was home was my wife, and I know she didn't order this product because I had ORDERED IT ON-LINE 10 DAYS PRIOR.
My CSR continued to insist that I bought this through a telemarketer — and a fact shouldn't be lost on the fact that we're on the No Call List and we don't receive any phone calls from any telemarketers anymore — and after I continued to disagree with these charges, he finally went to his supervisor.
I was left on-hold listening to the Glenn Miller Band, which is nice since I don't often listen to cuts from the Roaring '20s.
My CSR returned, and he told me he could offer a partial credit of $40, which he was allowed to do as a courtesy since I was outside of the 30-day return window.
I told my CSR to go back to his supervisor, and I wanted a full credit back on my card. My CSR put me back on hold.
I listened to Glenn Miller again... Or maybe it was Tommy Dorsey. I cursed at myself for being unable to distinguish the two.
When a person came back on, a nice woman who was my CSR's supervisor. She told me that all she could offer was a $40 credit, and even that she was only doing as a courtesy. She then explained the same information my CSR spewed to me, and she was steadfast in her belief that a telemarketer sold me this product, which they had not.
In the end, it was get $40 or get nothing, and I took the $40 for now. But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to get my other $30 back.
HERE'S WHAT YOU TAKE FROM THIS ENTRY: If you bought this product, like I did, as an on-line, add-on gift from another company, you've got a short time to decide on whether it's worth getting or not.
But this is not a free trial... A free trial is trying something and then you go back and sign up for more. This is a subscription scam hidden as a free trial.
Basically, it comes down to this: when you buy this product, you're entering a consumer contract, and they must be written in plain English. As long as it's not mortgages, real estate deeds, insurance policies and documents relating to securities transactions, you're entering a consumer contract. Nowhere on their website is this contract written in plain English.in fact, there's nothing at all about the terms of the contract when you enter this free trial.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is consumer fraud.
As with another dispute about Tri-Clear, the consumer made several good points as to how to get back your money.
I am going to add another. Go to your state's website, and search for consumer protection and consumer rights.in many cases, there's a place to submit complaints about a company, and I know that after I'm done with this blather, I'm going to post a complaint on-line and with the Attorney General of my state.
Many companies are out for a quick dollar, and even a partial refund keeps money in the coffers.
Don't let them get away with this...
Caveat emptor.
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