Bad Billing Practices and Horrible Customer Service

ComplaintsOtherGUTHY-RENKER PROACTIV SOLUTIONS

Complaint

0
Linda Soyett
Country: United States
I'm ashamed of Guthy Renkers business practices. I was a loyal Proactive customer for many years. I used to joke with my friends and say I was their first customer.I referred so many people to them that I should have worked for them. If I knew then what I know now I would have never done that. I cancelled the product more than once. They kept telling me to put it on hold to see if I would change my mind. The last time I called I said I definately do not want to continue to call to put this on hold. PLEASE stop sending me the product. Send me NO MORE product. Then 8 months later I get a call from a collection company. They say I was mailed kits and I need to pay or ruin my credit. I assure them I've never made a late payment and this is a mistake. I tell tehm I will call and get it fuigure out with Guthy Renker. To make a long story short after many phone calls to the collection company and Guthy Renker it's still not resolved. Guthy Renker has called me a liar and said I created this problem. I have done everthing I can to resolve this except pay for kits I DID NOT RECEIVE!!!! I will not pay for product that was not shipped to me. I'm ashamed of Guthy Renker.

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    They are running a cramming scam, shipping and automatically billing your credit card once they get it by luring consumers with their "free trial offer for shipping and handling".  This is fraudulent negative option marketing, where they hide some negative option clause to claim you authorized the continuing charges, then put barriers in the way of cancelling.  This is a common scam with overhyped health products, and they are just one of many running such scams.

    Contact FTC and your state Attorney General for assistance.  In addition, contact the U.S. Postal Inspector to file a mail fraud complaint.  

    In addition, send a dispute and validation request letter to the debt collector, mailed certified, indicating that you dispute the charges as fraudulent and demand proof they are owed, and that you have filed fraud complaints with the above agencies.  Send this immediately to invoke your FDCPA collection prohibition rights until they provide proof.

    If they continue to harass you, find an attorney and sue them.  This scam has been run for a long time, and consumer attorneys are aware of it.  You might try www.naca.net
  • 0
    mmg
    | 1 reply
    I agree Proactive is scamming consumers. I have been dealing with a billing matter for a few months now. I called in March 2011 asking a “trusted Guthy-Ranker” customer service representative to please remove my billing information from their system. To my surprise, I was billed again in April! I spoke to a rep in July and guess what they said, “Ma’am you called us in April requesting that done, and our system does not indicate that you requested that done back in March!” And now, am being billed for yet another $29.95.

    It is not an issue of paying; it is an issue of paying what I do not owe and having my account charged against my wishes. This company is not conducting business ethically.  My caution to consumers: DO NOT PURCHASE PROACTIVE ONLINE OR OVER THE PHONE. The Proactive Corporation has shown to be unscrupulous.
    • 0
      Vicki replies to mmg
      Pro active stole from me.making me pay for things I did not receive.acting as if I was stealing. They are a disgrace. I put that on face book and pro active responded,told me to please call them with the complaint and not to Put my complaint about what they did on fb...I'm going to post another one in fb and will continue to.
  • 0
    lykacavanaugh
    | 1 reply
    Get Hipp.  The only way out of this is to change your credit card number and request a new card.  That is THE ONLY WAY out.  Most internet free offers are set up in this crooked manner.
    • 0
      steve douglas replies to lykacavanaugh
      I canceled my discover card and had a new discover card issued with a new number and Proactive somehow charged my new card without my permission...This company is owned by Guthry Renker. Be very careful when ordering any thing off tv.They pull the sam scam on products like Meaningful beauty,Wen Hair care..By Chaz Dean...Natural Advantage by Jane Seymore...Malibu Pilates by Susui Lucci..Just go to google and see all the complaints Guth Renker has against them. They are the largest and MOST UNETHICAL Marketing companies in the world....
  • 0
    carrie
    where have a;; thw f;wers fone longrime afrer
  • 0
    mack
    I ordered Proactive and was subjected to the WORST customer service EVER.  I asked about expedited shipping - if I could receive my order within a few days as I was going away.  I thought it was a simple FEDEX or UPS question.  The customer service lady said I had to order the product first and then be sent to the shipping department to find out about the shipping rates etc. because she didn't know.

    She placed my order and then said I would have to call about the shipping the next morning.  I called the next morning and was told that the order was already placed and I could not change the shipping!  HUH???!!!!

    A truly HORRIBLE company!
  • 0
    Bona
    | 1 reply
    I ordered the proactive & vitamin but I canceled after getting products.
    Unfortunately, vitamin sent automatically so I called again for cancel and
    changed my card number. After chnging my card number I wasn't worried at all
    an I didn't expect that I'll get payment request from Guthy-Renker. Now I don't have
    any clue. How do I have to do?? Do I have to pay?
    But actually I already canceled automatic sending and asked a lot of times.
    I was fool. They are con artist!! If I didn't pay,  will I suffer some bad things??
    I'm so worried about future billing. (I ordered 27 Oct, 2011 / Canceled 3 Nov, 2011 / Re-canceled 11 Nov, 2011)
    • 0
      Tia Webb replies to Bona
      Hi,

      I can relate to this. I first ordered Proactiv in March 2012 thinking it would be a good idea to try it out for $39.95. They then charged me $59.95 a month later in April which i was not aware of. I called to cancel my account as i was still going through my FIRST order. Yesterday i go to view my account and they have charged me ANOTHER $39.95 AFTER i cancelled my account. I have not even touched the second lot still!!!! I called today and said 'i have called me bank and have had to cancel my card, just giving you guys a heads up so you can no longer deduct money from my account which i never gave you permission to touch after the first payment.' The RUDE lady on the phone with shocking customer service then replies 'You need to check your invoice you received with the first batch as you signed up for a package. We will send an invoice and you can send us a cheque or pay online for next time in early August for the final payment.' I am furious! As far as i am concerned i paid $39.95 for ONE batch not a 'package' or continued batches of this product to be sent out to me. I am not paying them, i am going to send an email requesting my first invoice with the so called 'package' included, be sent to my email. Even then, i am NOT paying!!
  • 0
    Karen
    You can buy both Proactive and Wen without dealing with Guthy-Renker. Just buy through the major home shopping networks QVC-HSN, problem solved. Both of these are REPUTABLE companies who practice what they preach. I have NEVER had a problem with a purchase, a return, or stopping auto-delivery. It is the way to go TRUST ME!
  • 0
    Kat
    I cancled at the start of the year and then recived a kit I called up told them I cancled they said I delayed it till aug and I didnt the woman was the rudest person EVER in the end I changed my card but they still want me to return the item at my expense so they can refund my money so in the end I will be what $15 better $30 out of pocket all for somthing I didnt ask for SHAME PROACTIVE SHAME
  • 0
    michelle
    uh oh, i was thinking about cancelling, now i'm scared. their customer service people are just plain dumb. Maybe they're told to be. I am being told they cannot expedite any orders b/c they can't contact their warehouse or 3rd party shipper. are you kidding me? did i just hear that right?
  • 0
    Krista
    I have also had issues with Guthy Renker. I received the first shipment of Proactiv only to discover several weeks later after receiving a second shipment (which I did not want or ask for) that I had inadvertently subscribed to receive a shipment every few months. I cancelled any further orders, but decided to keep the second delivery (which I guess is what they rely on). They had my credit card details on file from the original order, but my credit card expired just before the second payment was due to come out, so I sent a remittance advice to them with my new details. A month later they say they have not received payment so I sent another remittance slip with my details, only to be referred to a Debt Collector the following month. They have not responded to my last two emails asking what has happened to my payment slips. I cannot believe the run-around, I will never place an order from them again.
  • 0
    sue
    | 1 reply
    I ordered Proactive for my daughter on the 8/4/2013 Im still waiting for the product sent them a cheque as i dont have credit card they said shipping would be 7 to 10 days its now a month later still keep ringing them they say yes we will ship today it never happens so today again after they said they would ring me but never did Im still waiting for my order . they took the money the bank said it was cashed in by that company , the company is actually in the Philipenes I just found out they say on letter head Guthy renker Australia the woman on the line was a bit hesitant telling me where they are you could just imagine my horror to find out they arent even from Australia we are ringing a 1800 number but its over seas , they keep saying they didnt get my cheque but I rang my bank they said it was cashed by that company on the 12/4/2013 so where are the goods . Im sick of asking every day where my products are. Or have we all been scammed or just me.Would like to here about other stories about this matter , I even sent a email to the company to there complaints department no reply at all , I asked the lady to give me the Australian number for guthy renker she said she couldnt think of it off hand hmmmm .Deary me.
    • 0
      tj replies to sue
      You're lucky you only lost money from one check.

      Others  who gave them a credit or debit card number, or worse a bank account number, have had charges for "automatic monthly orders" crammed against their accounts. They hide "automatic shipment" terms in their fine print, then keep charging claiming consumers "agreed" to it.

      Legally, a check only authorizes payment for a single amount.

      You would be wise to contact your bank to shut down your account in case they try to cram through unauthorized charges anyway.

      File a mail fraud complaint with the US Postal Inspector.
  • 0
    jazz
    | 1 reply
    bought this wenz product online,,,, at http://www.chazdeanwen.co.nz/ ....I went for the entire payment package of $149.97 .. which was bought on the 12th of april , ...I was expectant to wait 21 day's for the package to arrive to me...I waited for a little over a month until I enquired about it,The guy said they shipped it out on the 14th of april and that i should have received it by now.Which I didn't and that is why i was making the enquiry....Anyway I asked him which postal company was it sent through he said the main  domain,so i instantly thought it was New Zealand Post and enquired through them which didn't hold any record's of my parcel,My name or address...So i ring guthy renker again ...at this point im really frustrated and confused...I went through so much effort to try track down my parcel....anyway The guy had to just cancel my first one out due to me not receiving it...and had processed a new one for me...So backdating from the 13th of may when i rang to enquire about the delivery.This is when he took me through the process of it being shipped etc,So i initially thought it was being shipped 1-2 day's from then...And it would be on it's way again...
    Anyway come the 20th of may I make an enquire to New Zealand post again about the parcel giving name and address before ringing guthy renker again,Just to think they were scammer's!!! I finally proved that ...I ring guthy renker and im forwarded to a representative about the wenz product and I tell him,that there was no trace of my parcel in the new zealand post system..and this is where i went to try track it down http://csc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/337 .... I also asked guthy if they had a tracking number so that i could try track it faster through new zealand post.They said no they don't as there package was sen't through standard delivery...so there is noway that I could do anything and I was at fault...I quickly ran into another problem of guthy renker billing me again a total of $149.97 NZD ... which i also made a complaint about and this time the representative told me that they had refunded me the $149.97 prior to billing me again which i find absolutely dodgey!!...as i never asked for a refund! and the guy i spoke to said he would replace it only and didn't say anything about refunding me -.-  ....Another funny thing is the lady also said they refunded me on the 19th - 21st of may which is this week,so i check my statement's and there is no evidence of a refund there.which i also find appalling...Now i am forced to send evidence via email to them showing that my statement's show no refund from them backdating from the 19th- 20th ..I find this a joke!
    • 0
      Libby replies to jazz
      OMG I have been trying for the last 2 weeks to get my order. I first ordered online last month - July everytime I ring they say just wait until friday then wait until monday then wait till tuesday. Now when I ring there 0800 448046 number there is the most awful crackling noise and real loud. So yesterday I called the 0800 where you order and the CSR tried the number also and agreed noone should have to listen to that and advised she would get her team leader to look into it and I should try back in 2 hours so I did and it cracked and screamed. So this morning I call the 0800448046 and its still making the sound of death at me so I call the new order line to be told I will have to keep trying and that they have no way of checking my details. BTW I also replied to there confirmation email and said how bad there line was and could they reissue and they said I gave them a different address in my email. Which is weird cause I hit the reply button to their email which had my address in it already!!!!! Can someone please tell me where i can buy sheer cover without dealing with guthy renker cause frankly they suck!
  • 0
    jazz
    No! I'll actually requote this,That i just see fault's in them,When i ask a question,I can easily prove that they are at fault and liar's...Because if it say's that they record there session's for training purpose's I have no doubt that If i was to take them to court they would initially erase there record's So I am at fault..and that is such a shame,to do this to nice people..I have no doubt that If I took this issue to court I would not win the battle It would all fall back on me.
  • 0
    Elvin R. Lima
    Could you please cancel my account to your Database!!! I'm paying 1 year already to your [***]!!! Product! Until now you're still deducting the payment to my Card! I've just Order one set of your Pro Activ Product and I will pay until now? This is Big Scam! Hey! Gutly Renker Owner You're Cheating some of your Customer!! FUUCCCKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 0
    sarah cotter
    i just can't believe with all this evidence and unhappy customers that nothing is being done about it. It's so disgraceful and morally wrong. It's so disappointing in a company so large that treat people this way by stealing from them and accusing the customers of lying. They should feel ashamed of themselves..I believe in karma. I hope they get what they deserve..I feel for everyone who has had to go through this horrible situation caused by Guthy Renker

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