This relates to a television commercial for a skin care product—LifeCell South Beach Skin Care. It was very clearly stated that this was a fine product and that the manufacturer was offering it simply for the price of the shipping—a way of encouraging customers to try it, recognize its excellence, and eventually order it. I presented my Visa card number to pay for the shipping. The product arrived. I used it for about ten days and cannot attest, therefore, to its value. I was stunned to find a charge of $189 on my Visa statement some 30 to 45 days later! The television commercial did not mention any sum of money except the shipping charge. When I phoned the firm's 800 number, I had been informed of the $189 repeatedly. To have the charge removed from my Visa statement, I must file a particular form (there is a specific web-site for this form) and return it and the product. One must have the original invoice number and date of purchase. To acquire these, there is yet another email address to contact. This is clearly a manipulation from start to finish—no mention of any charge other than the shipping and, then, a time consuming, intricate process in order to have the charge of $189 removed. I've not yet completed the return form because I've not yet received the invoice number or purchase date. While this may not be an overt scam, it is very much characterized by a deliberate lack of clarity designed to entice consumers.
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