On Line Free Trial Scams

I've put this on the media site because I couldn't see anywhere else to put it - its about a horrible trick played on women buying face creams.

Two companies Revoluxe and Retinolla whose products are made in Israel with dead sea minerals (but are billed from China) and are offering free trials. The free trial price is either £3.95 or £2.95 depending on which site you look plus postage. So you expect to be billed that sum.

However our friend, when she checked her credit card found she had been billed £100.74 and £102.83. It took her some time to find out who was billing her because she hadn't ordered anything from China. Worse to come, she, by agreeing to the free trial and not returning the products within 14 days - as she was teasting the product she used it for over the 2 weeks and found now she is in a contract for monthly supplies of the products and of course monthly bills also. Something she can't afford and would never have signed up for.

She is very worried and said she felt ill when the credit card company warned her about being sued by these scammers.

Has anyone else done anything similar or has any advice apart from not buying and trying free trials of course to help?

Shut the card down.. don't worry about them coming after her to sue.
They take what they can get and threaten.. nothing more

originally posted by: Shiloh7
I've put this on the media site because I couldn't see anywhere else to put it - its about a horrible trick played on women buying face creams.

Two companies Revoluxe and Retinolla whose products are made in Israel with dead sea minerals (but are billed from China) and are offering free trials. The free trial price is either £3.95 or £2.95 depending on which site you look plus postage. So you expect to be billed that sum.

However our friend, when she checked her credit card found she had been billed £100.74 and £102.83. It took her some time to find out who was billing her because she hadn't ordered anything from China. Worse to come, she, by agreeing to the free trial and not returning the products within 14 days - as she was teasting the product she used it for over the 2 weeks and found now she is in a contract for monthly supplies of the products and of course monthly bills also. Something she can't afford and would never have signed up for.

She is very worried and said she felt ill when the credit card company warned her about being sued by these scammers.

Has anyone else done anything similar or has any advice apart from not buying and trying free trials of course to help?

They have the same gimick here in Japan. Let me check with the other half and see how she is doing with the "free trial" stuff they sent her.

Teach everyone you know that any reputable company is not going to be giving you a free trial. If the product is good and they know it, they're going to have some confidence in it. And here's the big one. You'll probably have heard of it if it's worth your time.

a reply to: DogMeat

The bank told her to email the firms and both have come back cancelling the "contract' so they won't be billing her again or sending their product.

She hopes that no one else will have this problem and is being philosophical and thinks she was responsible for accepting the 'free-trial offer'. She isn't too far off beam with this because free trial samples use to e very small amounts of whatever, I do feel sorry for her and angry about this.

a reply to: musicismagic

Hey sorry to her your beloved is having the same problem - this is obviously a world scam. They are refusing to refund any money despite being told the product is defective because it doesn't work, but have cancelled their on-going supply and bill contract. If you need the email address for this nasty lot, I can supply it for you.

Definitely never pay for a free trial. If she calls her credit card company, she can likely dispute the charge, then cancel the card and have a new one issued.

a reply to: BrianFlanders

You are right, and to show they have no confidence in their product they have cancelled their contracts with her but won't refund.

There are three well known magazines shown on their advertisements as though they are endorsing these products and I suggested she contact them and let them know about this scam. The Editorial staff will apparently get back to her so she might even get a little article done as a warning to others if they decide its worth it.

The only "free" samples I have trusted were the ones in magazines and the ones that came through the mail.You know the ones. The minuscule packs of aftershave , etc. Of course , I have not seen these in a hunnert years . Free is never free.

a reply to: Atsbhct

Thanks for the advice, as this is a sham, they would probably sell her credit card details on elsewhere. She has done this now.

Same thing here. Lucky for me I ordered on a card that I got limited funds sent to so they couldn't get that amount.
Yes just shut down the card. Call the company and cancel and complain loudly that you didn't order this and tell your bank that you didn't authorize the charge.
I
They tried to get $300.00 from me.