Complaint Review: Jaanu Skin care Julo Eye Creme - Anaheim California

For my wife's 60th birthday, I saw an online ad that said Marie Osmond endorsed a special, anti-aging skin cream.  The offer was for a promotional "trial size" for just $4.95 to cover shipping/handling.  A complementary eye cream was also mentioned as a separate order.  There was NO mention of joining any "product trial" or any continuing or recurriung order that was visible (I am very leery of offers that continue unless you "opt-out" in a week, 14 days, month etc.  It is too easy to forget!).

When I went to checkout, the site automatically added the 2nd (eye-cream) product for an additional $4.95 although I do not recall hitting that button but, silly me, I allowed it - $4.95 seemed minimal and the 2 were advertized as working together.  The products were delivered OK to my PO Box where I get all our mail.  My wife tried them and said they were OK but nothing "special".  Fortunately, I put this on a CREDIT Card, not a Debit Card!!

Imagine my surprise when, a month later, I received a new box of skin cream from the same Santa Anna CA address.  I did not open it as I suspected a mistake.  However, on checking my latest credit card charges, I was shocked to discover 2 (two) new charges one for $89.75 and the other for $85.75, both made 3 weeks after my initial $9.90 order.  I Never received any advance notice that I would be charged for any recurring/continuing orders of these products and certainly nothing anywhere that indicated such a High Price.  I was given NO chance to decline continuing with this order; it was just shipped.

Thank Goodness I consulted Ripoffreport.com and saw others had also been "taken in" by what I now believe to be a fraudulent, hidden, "join a trial" offer, where one is placed on a continuing order with No Advance Notice, at a ridiculously High Price.  As this was a Credit Card charge at least I had some protection because the company had not yet paid the seller. 

Based on what I read at Ripoff.com, I phoned the Company and was very, very firm in demanding (polite but not taking "No" for an answer) that I receive a FULL refund and promising to return the product but NOT paying any "restocking fee".  It took 10 minutes and 4 consultations (the phone rep. put me on hold 4 times to consult her superiors) before I received a promise of a full refund within 3 to 5 business days.  That was today - 27 Nov 2017.  I have until Dec. 7 before my Credit Card bill must be paid, so, next week, I will re-check my Master Card account and if there is No Refund, I will Contest the Charges formally.  

For anyone in a similar circumstance, it took 3 refusals to accept a 35% refund, a 50% refund or a 75% refund before I was offered the 100% refund.  The last time I did mention the Federal Trade Commission (where one can report fraudulent business practices) and that seemed to do the trick to get me the 100% refund promise.  I will report this to them if the charges are not reversed.  Do NOT believe it when they tell you that since you gave your 3 digit "code" on the reverse of your credit card that that equals an "electronic signature" agreeing to all their hidden charges etc.  I laughed at that (politely) and since I have a high credit score and long-time (15 years) relationship with my Master Card company, I knew they would side with ME over such a company if "push comes to shove".  Even without that I think a Credit Card Company will back you.

So my advice is:  1) Always use a Credit (not Debit) Card for online purchases 2) Always check your statement 1 month or so after making any kind of "trial" purchase 3) Do not hesitate to phone the company (800 # is on the credit card statement) and be very polite but very, very FIRM that you did NOT order this knowingly (a continuing charge) and you want a 100% refund applied to your Credit Card.   If you are lucky, and persistent, I think you will get the 100% refund; then Refuse the package (if you receive one) or Return to Sender.   If you opened it you may have to pay Postage.   Finally, Follow Up a week later with your Credit Card company to be sure they got the Refund.