Consumer Watch: ‘Risk-free trials,‘ phone scams

Beware of 'risk-free trial' offers, phone scams Scammers and opportunists don't take a break, so don't stop being vigilant.

Heed these latest warnings:

. . .

Always read the fine print.

A Richmond reader ordered what she thought was a free trial sample of AcaiPure, a weight-loss product touted on television.

She thought the "risk-free trial" meant getting a one-time free sample by paying $4.95 for shipping. Turns out it was actually a subscription for monthly product shipments charged to her credit card.

She also found out that the product cost $39.95 after the trial period ended, and there was a 15 percent restocking fee and $2.10 cost to return it for a refund.

She returned the product in May but has received no refund. She called her credit-card company and initiated a dispute.

AcaiPure's owner, Phoenix-based Central Coast Nutraceuticals Inc., agreed to waive the $5.99 restocking fee. But she won't get back the shipping and handling costs.

The Better Business Bureau of Central, Northern and Western Arizona said it has received 2,462 complaints from consumers nationwide about Central Coast Nutraceuticals during the past 36 months.

The BBB has rated the company F for its large volume of unanswered and unresolved complaints.

Arizona BBB spokeswoman Felicia Thompson said that before ordering online, check out a company at the Better Business Bureau's Web site. Carefully read the company's terms and conditions and watch out for pre-checked boxes.

The Arizona attorney general's office has sued Central Coast Nutraceuticals, alleging deceptive online sales practices. It announced a $1.375 million settlement with the company on June 25.

Are you a victim? File a complaint with that attorney general's office by tomorrow. Call (602) 542-5025. Find the complaint form at http://www.azag.gov under "Consumers."

. . .

Be on the lookout for unauthorized phone charges.

A Mosely resident learned that a thief with only your phone number can go onto the Internet, purchase services and bill them to your phone number.

They don't have to have the correct name and address that belong to the phone number, she said. "Just the number will do."

When she called the company that charged her for a voice mail service, it wouldn't give any information because she couldn't provide the name and address attached to the bootleg account.

She had been billed $13.60 after taxes and fees. Good thing she caught it the first month and called Verizon.

The charge was removed.

Verizon spokesman Harry Mitchell said it sounds as if she was a victim of "cramming." That's where charges are added to a consumer's phone bill without authorization.

Verizon provides third-party billing services for companies that offer various subscription services to consumers.

A person ordering such a service agrees to accept the charges on his or her telephone account -- or, in this case, put them on somebody else's telephone account.

Consumers can protect themselves, Mitchell said. Call the local provider and ask to have the charge removed. Ask the provider to block third-party billing. Dispute an unauthorized charge directly with the company that billed it. Regularly check each phone bill. Carefully read the fine print of any marketing promotion that they sign up for.

Contact Iris Taylor at (804) 649-6349 or .