Unauthorized Monthly charges
Complaint
Carol B
Country: United States
I ordered WEN hair products and was offered the opportunity to try the GRC Vitamins for $2.99 with the understanding that I could cancel at anytime but was never told that I would automatically be charged $32.94 each month for 90 day supply. I received a couple of shipments and decided to cancel. I called the number provided on the vitamin box and was told that I could cancel and to return my last shipment but I would need proof from the post office that I had returned the item. I complied with the procedures provided by the customer service representative. Within the same month, I received another charge to my account, I called back to ask why there was a charge and the customer service rep stated that it might take 2- 3 weeks to process. I have just received another statement in which a credit for $23.97 was provided by GRC, not the $89.00 stated by the customer service rep and another charge appeared on my statement. Based on the number of complaints posted for this company for the same activity , it appears this is a chronic problem that DATELINE might need to check into.
Comments
Dispute unauthorized charges through your bank, and block the card number or close the account due to fraud to prevent additional fraudulent charges. Follow up with a written dispute or fraud affidavit sent to your bank's dispute address.
Do NOT waste your time trying to get your money back from any scam through the scammer. Always immediately file a bank dispute, as that is usually the only way you will ever get your money back. If you leave your account or card number active, you can expect additional monthly charges, probably around $58 to $150, until you get wise and shut it down. The couple buck charge was just a teaser to get your account number, and a test that it was valid.
The game they will play is to try to delay your bank dispute past the 60 day FRB Reg. E or FCBA dispute period, after which your bank will be unlikely to be able to get your money back. To do this they will use various excuses, like "mailing an information packet" that never comes, "cancelling your membership" but they lose the "cancellation" so monthly charges continue, requiring you to get, and send in, a "refund request" that never has any effect, having to call a "refund number" that is ignored, or the cancellation "lost", etc...