deceptive sales tactics

ComplaintsInternet ScamsGuthy-Renker

Complaint

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Jocelyne Houghton
Country: United States
This complaint is regarding Guthy-Renker,which is the parent company of both ProActiv Solutions & VitaPower supplements. I was a satisfied customer of ProActiv Solutions (acne cleansing system) for years, beginning in the mid-90s (before they used celebrity endorsements).  My mother got the account for me & I used the product for many years; we terminated the account only due to accumulating a stockpile of the product. Cut to this summer, when I opened an account with ProActiv for myself. There was an "Introductory Offer" of the VitaPower vitamins for $3.99, and I accepted it.  There was no information about how much the product was after the "introductory offer." When I received the product, it came with absolutely no paperwork - no receipt, no product information, no contact information, no way to accept or decline an actual subscription to the product.  Due to this lack of information, it was unclear that VitaPower was a separate entity from ProActiv.   The fact that there was no product information, receipt or any other paperwork gave me pause, and I did not want to continue with the product (I didn't try it; I  just didn't see fit  to add more vitamins to my regimen).  I should have taken steps to contact the company, but there wasn't any contact info provided with the product, and I promptly forgot about it ... until a month later when $33.99 was taken out of my account by the VitaPower company.  I did then contact ProActiv for VitaPower's customer service number and promptly called to cancel my unwanted and unsolicited subscription, only to get a very sarcastic attitude from the agent when I declined to listen to his lecture about cancelling without trying the product, and trying to keep me from cancelling the account.  I called back again to clarify about the lack of information about the product & subcription status with the shipment of the product & how it was a suspicious & deceptive tactic, to no avail.  I then expressed my displeasure re: the experience with VitaPower and the (lack of)information given when signing up for the "introductory offer" with ProActiv, whereupon I learned that VitaPower is part of the Guthy-Renker "Family" (umbrella company) and, in short, did not care about my negative experience.  I have subsequently cancelled my account with ProActiv.  It's shocking to me that they would be so unconcerned with complaints regarding these dodgy & cheap sales tactics, given that they actually have competition these days. Boo!

Comments

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  • 0
    Moti
    u r a fool....if u believe such things this will keep happening with u !!!!! GET IT...BOO..BOO..BOO.!!!
  • 0
    Shizuka-chan
    i know these company are fraud...u should not trust them..Boo for me and BOO!!!... for u...:P
  • 0
    GR WORKER
    | 1 reply
    For anyone who thinks GR is deceiving you, you would be wrong. When you call in you are read a agreement that states you agree to a shipment for a 90 day supply 30 days from the first shipment with 3 easy installments of X dollars. When you sign up online it say is BOLD print, the same thing. People are just in too much of a hurry and don't take the time to read it. Also, GR employees are DRUG TESTED and BACKGROUND CHECKED. They don't want criminals dealing with peoples credit cards. GR is a great company. You as a consumer just need to READ the print and listen to what the rep reads you.
    • 0
      Actually "bold" is only grey.. replies to GR WORKER
      Your "automatic shipment" terms are buried in the middle of a paragraph of light grey print, in only slightly darker grey print.  

      You could have chosen actual black on white print, with the "automatic shipment" terms broken out into their own paragraph.  Instead, you made two deliberate design choices away from clear disclosure.

      You've done as much as you can to obscure the terms while claiming you "disclosed" them.
  • 0
    I love gr
    All employees of GR under go drug test and back ground check. They hire smart and educated people to tolerate an idiotic people like you. It is clearly stated that after 30 days of you ordered date you will receive a new 90days supply and u will be charge xx amout plus s/h on the credit card you provided on ur first transaction. No one will proceed with ur order without your permission, then who is to blame? As far as I know when you order online no one is telling you what to do it is your own decision to purchase what you purchased. Stupidity is not an excuse.
  • 0
    shirlue, Jamaica
    I bought a trial of “It cosmetics”. 3 months later I  got  another package at which point I emailed “It Cosmetics" who gave me a 1-800 number to call. I wrote back to let  them know that I  am in Jamaica and I cannot call toll free from here.  “It”  said that I should  send my original order information and they will reach out to "them" on my behalf ( not mentioning Guthy Renkers name).

    6 months later I got another package and I wrote “it Cosmetics” again demanding to
    know who “them”  is as I would like to personally reach out  to them too.

    I have already spent J$32,451.56 on the two packages  sent me without my consent
    which is the  value of the items, freight forwarding charges and multiplied by our exchange rate,
    and I have not used any products from these packages as I have been ill and have not even finished using the Trial products.

    I was unable to purchase a birthday gift for my son because of the
    unauthorised charge that was placed on my credit card in May.

    Guthy Renker finally responded to say they have cancelled my account and will refund me for the last packagesent.  I am and looking out to see if they follow through it this promise.
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