Consumer Complaints: "The Ripoff Review"

It's Free! A free trial, a risk-free trial, a 14 day trial or even a 30 day trial. The Internet is jammed full of the latest freebies and your TV can't be viewed without hearing still more toll free numbers to call to get your own free trial by just paying shipping and handling costs. All you need is your credit card number handy to pay S & H!

Soon your full sized product arrives. That was easy! Then your credit card statement arrives. What's this? You have your small shipping and handling fee on your Credit card statement, but you also have close to a hundred dollars, or maybe more from the same company listed on your monthly charges. You have the phone number to call on your credit card and you call them. They tell you your 14 day (or 30 day?) free trial is past and since you didn't return the product, they assumed you liked the product. By then you probably have another product on it's way along with another billing for the next credit card statement. What? You didn't read the terms? By taking advantage of this company's FREE trial, you agreed to continue to receive a new supply of this product at your "special discounted price, and to pay for the trial product if you didn't return it within your trial period." You may even find another company charging you for a service you didn't know you ordered, too bad you didn't read the small print. They have your number now, in more ways than one!

Perhaps you've just heard, via your favorite media, about a cream that is erasing wrinkles so well that it replaces plastic surgery, or a magical drink or diet that will have you shedding those pounds effortlessly! Maybe musical mind lyrics are selling a service that you can't do without. Or how about those expensive gadgets you can have in your home risk free for a very small cost to you? Sound familiar? Everyone, it seems, is looking for that perfect product, that must-have great gadget, and free is just fabulously irresistible! Television commercials are far from free, and so are their products. You know the old saying, and it still rings true, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

The credit card companies are flooded with complaints. Disputed charges are keeping employees of credit card companies working overtime. This is the latest and the greatest way to sell products, and it does work, for them. No matter how hard the times, people will always want what they really don't need and credit cards make it too easy for companies to take your money... and keep on taking. Read your credit card statement carefully. If you find charges listed that are questionable, investigate further. If you conclude the charge is not justified, take action with your credit card provider to dispute the charge. Reputable companies who value their name will often issue a credit with the returned product, however in many cases, they will repeat their terms and tell you it was your obligation to read and comply with it.

Next time you see or hear about still another FREE trial, keep your credit card in your pocket or purse, keep your credit card number safe, keep your money for things you really need or want, don't let the latest pitch put you in the poorhouse! And that must-have product you had to have? Be patient, in time you will probably find it on the shelves of your local discount store, on sale. Be a smart shopper, not the latest statistic.