I responded to a local radio ad for hydroxatone which mentioned "free trial" 3 times in the script. I was told I would only be charged $9.95 for shipping and handling and that if I did not like the product I could return the jars.
Well, I did like the product and was about to order more when I was billed $119.00 for the "free trial". When I called customer service, I was told that it was a "risk free trial". When I disputed the charge, I began to receive letters threatening to ruin my credit report.
I spoke to Julio in customer service last week and told him that the information in the ad is very misleading. He told me that there have been other complaints. He told me that one (highly educated) woman was so confused when she disputed her bill that she had to put her husband on the phone. He said that all of the phone calls are recorded and when he played a transcript of her call for her, she was "speechless". He then offered to let me hear a recording of my call. He said that if women are listening to the ad while driving, they are probably "distracted".
It is clear to me that these ads target women during drive time at the beginning and end of the day and use language that is confusing. I am sure the language is perfectly legal, otherwise the reps would not offer to let us hear recordings of our calls. But tactics like these are unethical. This is not a free trial—beware of this ad campaign.
Carole
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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