Pretty much ditto as in the other reports.
I saw the TV commercial which offered a free book and CD. The commercial directs one to a web address for ordering.
After gathering ones personal information, an order form appears listing the Product as "Free Book and CD Offer.includes the book "I Got Here. You Can Too!" and our "Money Making CD". The order form lists the Item Description as "Free Book and CD Package" at $0.00 Cost. A shipping charge of $3.95 also appears on the order form. There was no previous mention of the shipping charge on the website.
But not to worry, because immediately below the order form is their worry free guarantee. They will refund your shipping and handling fee if not completely satisfied. Next comes the credit card information request.
After completing the credit card info fields, the final step is to click the enter button which "appears" to be at the end of the page. End of transaction.
My free book and CD promptly arrived within a few days of ordering; however, a set of four CD roms entitled "Berman Differential" were also included in the package.
A fancy advertising-hype brochure was also included informing me that I received the "Book" and "Making Money CD" free for considering the 4-CD Berman Differential Program for which I would be billed $99.90 at the end of my 30 day consideration period if I did not call and schedule a return. This was the first I had ever seen or heard of this "Berman Differential Program".
I went back to the website and entered some gobblety gook info into the personal info section to get to the order form. No mention of or reference to the 4-CD Berman Differential Program anywhere!!! Or was there?
Remember that enter button I previously mentioned that "appears" to be at the end of the page? Well, it turns out that if you don't click the enter button and scroll down a bit further, a rather lengthy paragraph containing ambiguous information written in ultra fine print appears. It mentions the infamous Berman Differential Program and the necessity to call and "cancel the order" and receive a return authorization number within 30 days or $99.90 will be billed to your credit card. Nowhere on the website or in the ultra fine print does it say that the 4-CD Berman Differential Program will be included with the free order, and that it must be returned at your expense to avoid the $99.90 credit card charge.
This is the most bold and blatant scam that I have ever seen being waved in front of our noses. The old days of non-referenced, ambiguous, fine print on the back of the contract have ended. The court now considers intent. The intent of Berman is rather obvious. But wait! Here's the rest of the story!
Needless to say, I was not about to do business with an intentionally misrepresenting company. I called the return phone number. They had a specific option for return authorizations. I was the number one caller in que... And still on hold for approximately twenty minutes. A nice young lady answered, took my name, telephone number, and order number. She then proceeded to inform me that due to the backlog of calls, she would have to have someone return my call to give me a return authorization. After voicing my complaints, she informed me that she was only an answering service and assured me that someone would return my call.
Twenty-four hours later after no return call (I not only have an answering machine but was also accessible to my phone during the entire time.) I called again. This time I was number two in que and still on hold for about twenty minutes. The scenario repeated itself.
One week later, still after no return call, I decided to take it up with my credit card company. After describing the situation, they isuued an immediate credit for the $3.95 S&H. The amount was not large enough for an investigation, and they could do nothing to prevent the pending $99.90 charge until it was actually posted.
I once again called The Berman Investment Group. This time to my surprise after once again being the number one caller in que and on hold for twenty minutes, someone that actually worked for Berman in Newport, CA answered and issued my return authorization. I voiced my complaints about the obvious scam, and he proceeded to tell me that the program was clearly defined in several places on the website and then began reading that ultra fine print, nonspecific, hidden paragraph.
What next? The return authorization number he gave me on the phone did not match the return authorization number on the email he sent which was to be included with the returned unopened, insured, 4-CD Berman Differential Program shipped in a crush proof package within four or five days of receiving the return authorizaton. I suppose that if you inadvertently opened the CD packet not knowing what they were since you didn't order them that they will charge you. Mine remained unopened as did and will the free book and CD. I included both return authorization numbers with my name address and original order number.
It will be interesting to see if my credit card still gets charged. Berman is obviously doing his best to scam people out of $99.90. I hope the proper authorities will be made aware of this blatant fraud and take action against The Berman Investment Group.
I will post again if my credit card is still charged.
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