A class action lawsuit has been filed by the State Attorney General of Conn. Against Sunrise Herbal, Sage Advice and Valerie Hawk-Hoffman for unethical business practices. A link to the lawsuit at the state site is following.
Personally we ordered herbs from her by phone via an article in Redbook. She took our order by phone, but never mentioned her company had an auto ship policy... So it was a surprise to us that our credit card was charged again 3 months later. Per our credit card's fraud department recommendation, we cancelled our credit card and reissued it with a new number. After review, our card company found the charges fraudulent and refunded our money and we filed a complaint with the better business bureau, as have many of her ex-customers.
A search on her name or company will reveal some of the blogs left by customers and how she has treated them! We received insulting, irrational and unbusiness-like emails from her when we questioned her charges, which I copied and forwarded to the Attorney General's office and Better Business Bureau. We couldn't believe a business owner would conduct thier business this way. We also don't understand why auto-shipping is required unless the customer requests it and is satisfied with the products.
As a physician my husband was apalled at her lack of ethics. We've never seen this practice with any other health products. She ALSO requires customers to send a letter CERTIFIED MAIL in order to cancell the auto shipment. We did this, but what a hassle! Other victims we've read, were billed even after they sent certified letters... Or were billed 3 times in one month on their orders... It is a clear case of complete disregard for customers and taking complete advantage of them.
I pray she has rethought her business practices and has decided to be more ethical and customer friendly, but we have not heard anything hopeful as of yet, especially since her website is still on line as well as a few new ones she has started and they claim business awards with no information about where or who awarded them to her. She has relocated to coastal Maine & part time in Florida so be cautious if she starts a business there!
Lawsuit link:
http://www.ct. Gov/ag/cwp/view.Asp? A=2788&q=378410
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