Unauthorized Charges
Complaint
Charles Callahan
Country: United States
GRC Meaningful Beauty charged my debit card $119.90 on 04/06/2009 for wrinkle cream. I am way past worrying about wrinkles. I am the only person with access to this account and I did not place this order. My Wife has a separate account but I checked and she also did not authorize this charge. Their customer service rep. was of no assistance. Told me they will ship the order and not issue a credit, plus I will receive automatic periodic shipments. Unable to obtain a fax number and their web email is rejected on the basis that the require security code is incorrect. Tried numerous times. I will dispute the charge with BOA which is very time consuming. Check your charge card debits frequently and report these unauthorized charges to the appropriate state law enforcementagency.
Comments
It sounds like they have charged you, haven't even shipped, and are threatening to keep charging and shipping even though you have notified them you never ordered it. That is out and out fraud, as well as a violation of the VISA (or MasterCard) merchant agreements, which among other things require that charges not be submitted until shipment. In fact, this sounds like a fly-by-nite company in the process of running through a bunch of fraudulent charges and run off with the money as they implode.
Contact your bank immediately to dispute all unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and CLOSE that account number to prevent future fraudulent charges. Follow up with a written dispute sent to your bank's dispute address on your statement, sent certified return receipt requested, and make sure your bank receives your dispute in less than 60 days from the statement date showing the disputed charge to preserve your FRB Reg. E or FCBA dispute rights.
Any company that would make unauthorized charges to your account once will probably keep doing it until you make it impossible by closing your account. Unauthorized charges, and automatic shipments are common sleazy tactics in the "health product" industry. Basically full of scammers.
Be sure to report the charge to your bank as fraudulent, and make clear that that is the reason the account is being closed. Also be sure to notify your bank IN WRITING that the charge is fraudulent, and to close your account to prevent additional fraud. Request a fraud afficavit, sign and notarize it, then fax in, mail in, and keep a copy of everything for your files.
If they are charging your credit card, be aware that charges run through as automatic repeated charges to a credit card account can roll over to a new account for a while after closing the old one, so watch your statements.
BofA is not known as the best protector of customers from fraud. You would bw wise to ensure that you have banking relationships with other banks or credit unions in case you have to burn this one.
http://www.la.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=100010281
"...
The following grid displays the number and responses to complaints over the last 36 months:
No. of Cmpl Type of Response
20 Making a full refund, as the consumer requested
3 Making a partial refund
32 Agreeing to perform according to their contract
0 Refusing to make an adjustment
1 Refuse to adjust, relying on terms of agreement
0 Unanswered
0 Unassigned
56 Total
..."
This may be another complaint against them.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/iRf0HVKZzgC32AjLf4z_5A
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/Sb0JG5DDDwBMcAjKGV15Ow
Other complaints against GRC for repeatedly billing for unwanted products. Note that charges may appear under various names, so cancelling once "order" may not stop charges for other "orders". Although they appear to respond to BBB disputes, since you don't know how far your account information has been passed around, only safe reponse appears to be to file written fraud dispute with bank and close the account.
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/grc-vita-power-program-c3515.html
GRC appears to be "Guthy-Renker", based in Palm Desert. Fulfillment might be from other sites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guthy-Renker
"Cramming" complaint.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/098/RipOff0098556.htm
Dateline article on their infomercial based business.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14856571/
Guthy Renker BBB report.
http://www.la.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=52353
If you search BBB on Guthy Renker, you will find various addresses from several in CA, to apparent fulfillment operations in NC and CO.
BBB reports appear clean, with BBB accreditation and high rating, but with complaint types consistent with shipping of product consumers may not have thought they ordered. Many complaints on consumer forums of unwanted charges and shipments, problems in cancelling, etc, but they appear to respond to BBB complaints. Problems of these types have been going on for years.
Automatic shipment plans, unauthorized charges, and problems cancelling are rampant problems to consumers in the "health product" field.
I also questioned the size of their 90 day supply. Per the 30 day trail size, the 90 day supply was only double. So they are trying to sell me a 60 day supply for 90 pricing. Her answer was all the products were not to be used every day. I quickly pointed out per their pamphlet, the mask was the only thing not to be used daily. Of course, she had an answer (excuse) for everything. No wonder GR is a multi billion $ company.
I then asked if I could just by the product as needed. I said I did not see it on the site to purchase separate, which is how they make big money. She said I could not online but had to call them direct. NOT!!
I can’t believe Cindy Crawford endorses this product. I really liked her, not because she is beautiful but because I thought she was a genuine good person, unless she is clueless. But I guess what does she care, just more money to add to her millions. After reading several complaints about this company, I read that Cindy does Botox. Is that false advertisement?
I suggest everyone run the any product GR sales. They need to change their marketing. Sure, right now they are raking in big money but it will catch up with them one day. Oh wait, they have billions of $’s to pay their way out of it.
Thank you,
Ramsey Ly
Maria