I have been a CPA since the beginning of the internet in the 90's... This might be one of the most incredible scams (in that they scam you and then won't give a refund... Most scammers, when called on, offer refund, not them, their robots are trained to have no emotions and talk over you by reading, over and over, the fine print) I have ever seen.
The company promises to provide information on how to earn money on the internet. They state that for just $2.97, they will send you information on how to get started. I figured $3.00 for shipping and handling, if it is a cd, sounds about right (I don't fall for any of the "free" stuff, and read the fine print. I figured when I got the information, they would tell me what I would need to do and then find out the additional costs... But that is not the case! In the email you receive immediately after you approve the $2.97, at the very bottom it states that after a 3 day trial period, you will be charged $139.95. Now, rewind... When I was online, and the email receipt came through, I treated like any other receipt... I let it sit there. Little did I know that it contained this language (which I will copy and paste from there response to one of propbably 100's of complaines on this site). Oh, but here is a really interesting factoid (that others who have been ripped off have noted) Once you are taken for you money, you can't get back to that site... They apparently capture your ip address to redirect you!!! Back to when I signed up... I read the entire page and came to the conclusion that my risk, at that point, was $2.97... Even if it wasn't worth it, it was 3 bucks... Wrong.
When you call, the say that the terms and conditions clearly state (by the way, the fine print is several "clicks" in... Easy to miss, and with the apparent simplicity of the offer, and no mention of other charges... At all, even easier to overlook... The risk was (seemed) so small... But not the case). Now, I will give them the benefit of placing their own fine print, that they posted in response to someone's complaint, followed by additional statements from me:
"By placing my order I agree to the Terms of Offer, which explain this order includes the about for just $2.97 for processing. If you enjoy the 3-day trial and continue your path to making money, you will be billed a one-time fee of $139.95 and a monthly maintenance fee. You may cancel anytime by calling 1-877-863-3088."
O.K... So let's pretend I saw the fine print at the time I agreed to receive the information package for the cost of shipping and handling, or pretend I read the "receipt email" as I call it. Note that I have never seen a receipt email that after you authorize a charge tells you that they are going to charge you more... This is a new one to me, but I digress again. (as a side note, I think they charge the shipping and handling, instead of doing it for free, so you won't suspect and continue to investigate, because it is immaterial in comparison to the $140 they are planning to take you for... Just my two cents). I haven't recieved the materials that i ordered so I could look at the opportunity, review and decide, and therefore their "trial perid" is actually a negative period of time??? When I called, they said that the materials take 2-3 weeks (hmmm, but you charged me in 3 days, admitting the impossibility of my 3 day trial? Without being psychic and knowing that i had to move fast and do something else online before receiving the materials???) the email contained a user name and password which would have allowed me immediate access. But if I have ordered something through the mail, my next action would be upon receipt of such mail? So even with thier terms and conditions, I have not "enjoyed" my trial period. I told of this to the customer service robot and the manager!!! They stick with the "you couldve accessed the site immediately" are you kidding me? They refused to give me a refund or their names.
I have shared this information and I have a dispute in with Bank of America who has reversed the charge pending investigation. I have offered the site, via a second phone call and via email another chance to refund my money and I will move on without taking the following actions: (1) filing a comlaint with the BBB, (2) contacting Edmund G. Brown Jr., Orange County Attorney General, to begin an investigation (3) working with my contact at KABC channel 7 (their regional ABC affiliate, I won't name names, but he is on TV), contacting a certain columnist at the Orange County Register, and more (including starting several websites, the domain names of which I already have reserved at godaddy.com). All I wanted was a refund and they basically spit in my face.
Just give me my money back... That is all i want!
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