I purchased a "free-trial offer" of Pure Acai Berry from Advanced Wellness Research on 12/30/08 for the price of $4.99 (which I was billed $5.14). Immediately there was a fraudulent charge of $34.95 from Bromalite for some "tea" product that I did not purchase or want. I was able to get a full credit for the $34.95.
However, on 1/23/09 I found two new fraudulent charges on my account. The first was $78.81 $2.36 = $81.17 taken out of my checking account from Advanced Wellness Research. I immediately called them and advised this was a fraudulent charge and I wanted credit. I spoke with Ed who cancelled my account, but told me he could not assist me with a refund. He advised that I was supposed to cancel my trial offer within 14 days of ordering it. I had never seen any terms advising this.
I asked for a supervisor and spoke with a Misty Lynch. She also refused to credit my account and told me that I should have read the "terms and conditions". I looked at my receipt/packing slip and there are NO "terms and conditions" on it! I was then advised by Misty that the terms and conditions are found on the webpage. I NEVER SAW any terms and conditions on their webpage. Then she said "you need to click on the link at the top of the webpage that says terms and conditions"! Can you believe that crap? I told her when I ordered my free trial product that I just tabbed down to each of the lines where it was requesting information. There was no disclaimer or information that ever advised me to "click on a link and make sure I read the terms and conditions".
I'm sure all the other unhappy customers such as myself didn't see this "link" either! I then asked for her manager and was told "I don't have a manager". I asked for a phone number to their corporate office and was told it was on the web page. It was the same #866-964-1011 that I had already called, and got nowhere! I immediately called the fraud dept at my bank to place a dispute on the charges. I also had to go to my bank to cancel my debit card and have a new card issued.
I also sent a letter to their corporate office with a copy of their packing slip and have requested a refund. Their practice of not informing us of their terms and conditions is very DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT!!! I also noticed a different fraudulent amount of $29.95 from a company called Fit Factory which I had never done business with either. Apparently the Advanced Wellness people are sharing our card information with other companies. I was able to get a full refund of $29.95 from Fit Factory.
But the point is, they took over $100 out of my checking account WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION!!! It put me thru a lot of grief and aggravation, not to mention the time I spent at the bank, calling the company, writing letters, etcc... And the fact that I still have NOT received my refund of $81.17 to date (although I am praying my bank can help me via the dispute I placed with them). I recommend that you NEVER do business with this company. Their fraudulent and deceptive practices should be reported to all the media and any department of regulation over these types of products! I am all for a class action suit if this is what it takes to get our money back!
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