May 18, 2009 10:56 pm US/Eastern
Free Trials May Not Be Free Of Hidden Fees
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
You've probably seen the offers on television, the Web, or in your e-mail -- a free trial for a particular product. There are ads for makeup, tooth whiteners, and weight loss supplements. Are you tempted?
Mary Ann Mascoli of West Roxbury was when she signed on for a free trial of an acai berry weight loss product. At just $4.95 for shipping, it sounded like a great deal. ""I thought it was going to be 30 day, free trial, no risk."
But shortly after her shipment arrived, her credit card was charged $44.85. Then came another charge for $35.00. And Mary Ann is not alone.
James Wetmore was charged $89 for something called Power Flush, "We hadn't ordered it," says James.
Melinda Felice got charged for two products she didn't want, "I had no idea where they came from."
Consumer Web sites like
RipoffReport.com and
ComplaintsBoard.com are filled with complaints about these so-called free trial offers. "I don't think it's an unfair statement to say that some of the advertising is definitely misleading," says Paula Fleming of the Better Business Bureau in Massachusetts. That's because the real deal is often buried in the fine print. "It's very important to dig deeper," says Fleming.
And if you dig deeper, here's what you will find out. The free trial period is usually only for 12 to 14 days. And this is important. It starts either when you place the order, or when it's shipped, not when you receive it. If you don't return the sample during that trial period, the company will automatically ship you the product month after month, charging your credit card. It's called negative option marketing, "The cancellation requirements are so short that you literally can't do it. By the time it shows up on your credit card, it's too late to cancel, says David Newman of the Federal Trade Commission.
The Better Business Bureau has received numerous complaints about these free trial offers, which may be deceptive, but not illegal. "Many people do sign on and they don't read the fine print and the business really isn't liable for that situation," according to Fleming.
"There's no such thing as a free ride." That's the lesson Mary Ann learned after spending more than 30 hours trying to resolve the problem. She has put the charges in dispute and has cancelled her credit card. "I want to warn people all the time, don't do it."
The Federal Trade Commission just announced it will begin an investigation into negative option marketing to see if it needs to institute tougher regulations for these kinds of offers.
The FTC has also put out
tips for consumers to protect themselves.
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