Another “Free Trial” Scammer Bites the Dust

Posted By elissa on Apr 1, 2010 | 3 comments

Attorney General announces Settlement with Arvada-based Nutra Pills, Inc.

03/19/2010
 
…The Office of the Attorney General learned through its investigation that Bezoni’s Arvada-based company, which has operated under the names Golf Nutrition Sciences and GNS, used so-called “free-to-pay conversion” marketing since 2005, which resulted in consumers unknowingly incurring ongoing payments for products that they initially believed were free. Consumers, according to court filings, signed up for free trials of products, such as Acai Berry Edge, Acai Berry Elite and Slim Seduction, and believed at the time they placed their order that they were authorizing only the shipping and handling charges for the free trial. When the free trial arrived, however, consumers also received a two-month supply of the product and were given a limited amount of time to return the product or face a nearly $80 charge within 30 days.

Additionally, if consumers failed to take any action to cancel their order and send back the two-month supply of product, they were enrolled into the company’s “continuity” plan, which meant the company continued to send products to the consumer and charge the consumer nearly $80 for each shipment. More than one thousand consumers complained that they had no idea they were agreeing to the additional charges associated with the free trial offer and that once they did realize it, it was often too difficult or too late to get a refund from the company.

Obviously, UltimateFatBurner.com could have saved these folks a whole lot of grief… starting with Paul’s video on the so-called “free trial” scam:

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP8GcmU9f-M]

And Paul’s review of “Slim Seduction”…

And our posts on various acai rip offs, like the ones here, here, here and here.

Still, I’m glad to see Benzoni et al., being exposed and held accountable for their shoddy marketing tricks. But it goes to show you how little upfront research could potentially save people money and hassle.  While the wheels of justice do turn, it’s a slow process.  Prevention is a better option vs. waiting for redress.