Unauthorized charges to bank account
Complaint
Jasmine
Country: United States
I tried a free trial of Perma Slim from Momentum Direct. I paid about $9 dollars in shipping and 2 weeks later I received the pills.
The instructions that came with the pills stated that I have 14 day trial and if I wasn't satisfied to return the bottles and my account would not be charge $49.95. I called them a week of trying the pills they did not work. I went to the bank the following day to go pay some bills and found that they charged me $49.95. I called to Momentum Direct and spoke to a foreign guy who hardly spoke any english and told him a was canceling my free trial. He also promised to refund me my money.
Long story short, I never received my refund. When I called my bank, they told me that they can't do anything. Momentum Direct does not respond to my calls to 281-356-9939 and my emails all go unanswered.
The instructions that came with the pills stated that I have 14 day trial and if I wasn't satisfied to return the bottles and my account would not be charge $49.95. I called them a week of trying the pills they did not work. I went to the bank the following day to go pay some bills and found that they charged me $49.95. I called to Momentum Direct and spoke to a foreign guy who hardly spoke any english and told him a was canceling my free trial. He also promised to refund me my money.
Long story short, I never received my refund. When I called my bank, they told me that they can't do anything. Momentum Direct does not respond to my calls to 281-356-9939 and my emails all go unanswered.
Comments
Thanks
12/26/07 $58.93
12/10/07 $58.93
12/24/07 $58.93
1/09/08 $58.93
1/30/08 $58.93
2/19/08 $58.93
3/20/08 $58.93
4/03/08 $58.93
4/15/08 $58.93
4/24/08 $58.93
5/08/08 $58.93
5/21/08 $58.93
6/03/08 $58.93
6/16/08 $58.93
6/24/08 $58.93
6/26/08 $58.93
7/08/08 $58.93
7/08/08 $58.93
7/14/08 $58.93
7/17/08 $58.93
7/24/08 $58.93
8/01/08 $58.93
8/08/08 $58.93
And for all this withdraws the bank is only going to take care of $530.37, and the remaining balance is going to be $707.16 and the total balance was $1355.39. So right now the remaining balance is $303.63
On this statement you can notice the way you were withdrawing money from the account with out being authorize for anybody, so I hope that we can fix this problem the best way and I hope you are going to refund the money as soon as possible. And I didn’t sent all the products back because from 23 I only got 4 and I already sent those back.
So I need you to please take care of the remaining balance as soon as possible, because I don’t want to give this case to an attorney.
HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today filed an enforcement action against a Houston-area weight loss and skin care products retailer. At the Attorney General’s request, a Harris County District Court issued an asset freeze and temporary restraining order prohibiting Momentum Direct, L.L.C., and its owners, Robert B. and Christopher M. Jones, from making unauthorized bank account withdrawals from customers who attempted to cancel their orders, or who did not desire the defendants’ products in the first place.
Consumers filed more than 600 complaints against Momentum Direct with the Better Business Bureau, and more than 40 with the Office of the Attorney General. These complaints cited numerous instances of false advertising, deceptive business practices and unkept promises. The state’s enforcement action seeks restitution for customers whose bank accounts were unlawfully debited by the defendants.
"Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Online Weight Loss, Skin Care Retailer Agrees To Cease Unlawful Conduct
Momentum Direct failed to cancel orders, withdrew unauthorized funds from bank accounts
HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today resolved the state’s enforcement action against online weight loss and skin care products retailer, Momentum Direct, L.L.C. Last September, the state charged the defendant with unlawfully shipping unsolicited products to customers, failing to cancel customers’ orders and debiting customers’ bank accounts without their permission. Under today’s agreement, Momentum Direct and its owners will pay $150,000 in restitution and remain subject to an injunction that prohibits similar unlawful conduct in the future.
Momentum Direct has already paid $100,000 in restitution to its customers. With today’s agreement, an additional $50,000 will be made available to compensate purchasers who were harmed by the defendant’s unlawful conduct.
Media links
Final judgment and permanent injunction against Momentum Direct
According to the state’s enforcement action, Momentum Direct and its owners, Robert B. and Christopher M. Jones of Magnolia, made unauthorized bank account withdrawals from customers who attempted to cancel their online orders. The defendants also shipped products and issued invoices for products that the customers never actually wanted to purchase.
Consumers filed more than 600 complaints against Momentum Direct with the Better Business Bureau, and more than 40 with the Office of the Attorney General. The bulk of complaints indicated a systematic scheme wherein the defendant refused to honor cancellation requests. Others complained the company failed to provide promised refunds and some were sent and billed for completely unsolicited products.
Prior to the state’s enforcement action, Momentum Direct operated several Web sites, including “20Minutefacelift.com,” “2DaySlimdown.com,” “Momentumdirect.net” and “Momentumworldwide.com.” The defendant did business under various names, including Momentum Health & Nutrition, Momentum Worldwide, Nutrition Tech, Nutrition Express, Momentum Direct and Momentum Fax on Demand.
According to state investigators, the Magnolia-based retailer made unreasonable guarantees about its products. For example, the defendant claims its “2-Day SlimDown” would ensure customers “lose 6 to 12 pounds in two days, guaranteed!” Their Web-based ads promised a “first bottle free,” a “free trial program,” and quick, easy cancellation with “no risk” for dissatisfied purchasers.
Momentum Direct’s online ads also trumpeted the other products’ “life-changing” qualities, guaranteeing that users of the “20-Minute Facelift” will “look 10 years younger in just 20 minutes” – or purchasers’ money would be refunded.
The state’s investigation found that Momentum Direct ignored customers’ cancellation requests, charged for products never shipped and even continued to debit customer bank accounts for products that were never ordered. Many customers incurred bank charges for insufficient funds because of the defendants’ unauthorized withdrawals from customer accounts each month. Some customers even closed their bank accounts to prevent further damage. Customers who attempted to contact the company by telephone, e-mail or first-class mail were unable to get a response.
Momentum Direct and its owners will be bound by the agreement’s strict injunctive terms. Under the agreement, if the defendants conduct business in the future, they must clearly communicate whether a product is actually free. Further, they are barred from shipping unwanted products to customers, billing customers for unwanted products, failing to cancel customer orders and debiting consumers’ bank accounts without permission.
In addition to $150,000 in consumer restitution, the defendants must pay $145,000 in attorneys’ fees and a $30,000 civil penalty to the state.
Texans who believe they have been deceived by similar fraudulent business practices may call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 252-8011 or file a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov."