The Dangers of Free Trial Periods

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I was charged with three months of the online video professor that was only supposed to be 3.95 or 4.95 or something like that and I had already ordered it before reading the fine print to see that they really charge you $165.00 plus shipping and tax on something that I really didn't want in the first place. I never even opened the box just returned it unopened and before I realized I had been charged for three of the @#$%%$things. When I called the 1-800 number they were real nice but they already had my money and was not going to give the first installment back because it had been over 30 days. Well now you live and learn, it makes you want to go kick somebodys ass, if you could find them.

clifford finley jr. of TX 3:42PM October 31, 2009

... the Federal Trade Commission and your state's Attorney General. They will follow through with investigations of these companies. I know this for a fact because I have reported four companies for abusive consumer practices. This includes national companies, fraudulent (phantom) collection agencies and these type of "free offers." Time is of the essence.

RRP of VA 3:12PM September 23, 2009

Notifying the Better Business Bureau may not be as useful as informing your State Arttorney General and The Federal Trade Commision...and informing the company that ripped-you-off...that you intend to notify these agencies.

RG of MS 5:38AM September 22, 2009

Just about everything in this world is a RIP OFF these days.

john felstow of CA 11:41AM September 21, 2009

"Fred of MN's" post is puzzling. We cannot process any order without the express permission of the customer, plus return addresses and contact information are provided through the sales and shipping process. Multiple contacts information is provided to the customer.
We have several call centers so we can assure you we do answer the phone!
If Fred needs further assistance, please contact our Escalated Customer Assurance Team at 800-500-1183 or www.letvideoprofessorhelp.com.

Video Professor, Inc of CO 6:08PM September 16, 2009

The same thing happened to with Video Professor. They sent extra product - no return address - VP wouldn't answer the phone anytime - Fortunately my credit card co. intervened but said they could not guarantee success. But this had a happy ending.
Readers' Digest does the same thing with their music and their condensed books. No address to cancel - no address to return to - I finally had to contact them via their website and cancelled. But what do little grandmas do?

Fred of MN 1:53PM September 16, 2009

About 12 years ago I was browsing through the monthly bills to make sure I wasn't paying for things that I didn't want or forgot to cancel. You rarely check the escrow draw of your mortgage insurance if you have to carry mortgage insurance, but at the time I did. When I started auditing my mortgage insurance escrow account, I found a charge that had been applied to my escrow account for a period of more than 2 years for discount coupons and discounts of all sorts for things that people never want or use. When I found out who the company was, I confronted them and assured them that I never agreed to this. Their response was: During some questionnaire or phone survey that they conducted with me, they were allowed to use my verifying of the correct spelling of my name as authorization of the transaction that I didn’t even know just took place. I eventually got most of my money back, but now I do not even verify my name or provide a single bit if information to anyone or any business that I don't know. In addition, if I am speaking to some business or an individual about a product, during the conversation I always state that "I have not nor do I agree to any purchase of any product or any service. I have been surprised how many times a call is suddenly ended when I make that statement.

Dave of FL 1:31PM September 16, 2009