GNS Charged s/h for free product, and now saying that I owe $79.90 shipping.Threatening to take me to collections! Lakewood Colorado
In January of 2009, signed up for product (Acai Berry Edge). They advertised that the product is free, and only need to pay $3.95 shipping. After talking to credit card company, I was informed that this company will continue to charge my card. She suggested that I close my account and open a new one...so I did. Now it is May, and they are saying that I have an outstanding balance of $79.90 that was due 21 days from the date of purchase. They say that they have contacted me several times by e-mail with no response, but I don't have any messages from them in my e-mail. Now they are giving me 15 days to to send in a check or money order to avoid collections and a negative mark on my credit report.
Is this true? Can they do this and ruin my credit rating and send me to collections?
Jan
Makawao, Hawaii
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Gns
Arvada,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Company Response
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, May 19, 2009
The offer you ordered from was our 21 day trial offer of Acai Berry Edge. It is explained in the terms and conditions of the offer that you would be billed $79.90 if the two trial bottles are kept. We do also give you an additional 9 days after the trial period ends to return the unused portion of the product for a refund. It wouldn't have been necessary for you to cancel your card to avoid charges. If you were unsatisfied with the products all you needed to do was call us and let us know you would like to return your trial order. We would've been able to cancel your autoship and provide you with a return authorization number to send back your shipment. If we receive your shipment back within the trial period then you wouldn't be billed a thing. This allows our customers to try our product, and if by chance they are unsatisfied and return it within their trial period they got to try the product out for free. Please contact customer service at 1-800-595-4670 we would be happy to assist you with your account.
Thank you,
Maria
Cherrieredd
Grove City,Ohio,
U.S.A.
$79 charge is in the checkout process - Free for only 14 days
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, May 06, 2009
Sorry you experienced this. A friend of mine did the same thing and before her 14 days were up and she realized she would be charged full price she forwarded me the "Free" trial ad. I looked it over and it definitely does say that you only have a certain amount of time to try it and if you keep it you will be charged the approximatley $79 for the item. It really isn't hard to find if you take a few minutes and read the web site. I found it in a matter of about 15 seconds, so it is there. I would suggest that if you have any left to contact the company about sending them back. If you took them all, then unfortunately they do have a right to collect. I work in the legal field and am not a lawyer, but since they posted it on their site, even if its in small print, they most probably can collect for it.
C.R.
Dee
Florida,Florida,
U.S.A.
You signed up for a free TRIAL of that product
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, May 06, 2009
When you sign up for those trials you must read the Terms & Conditions that you are agreeing to. The terms state that if you do not call within a certain timeframe to cancel your membership, you agree to pay monthly fees.
Nex time, make sure you know what you are agreeing to before providing your credit card info as they are not requried to refund you any money. If you do not call to cancel, you will be billed every month for the subscription you signed up for.