by Dan-N on November 20, 2009
Arizona (AZ) is quickly becoming our favorite state. In June we reported how the Arizona Attorney General had reaches a settlement with the makers of Acai Pure for their deceptive “free trial” scams. Now Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard is making it clear that Acai Scammers are not welcomed in his state!
“An Arizona company pushes “free trials” of acai berry products online and then repeatedly bills customers for stuff they didn’t order and don’t want, the Arizona Attorney General says. The attorney general says Nature’s Acai Berry hides its scam in “faded print” that mentions a bill of $85.91 and a monthly “membership” fee of $29.95.”
-Court House News Service - 11/20/09
But What About that 14 Day Free Trial They State on the Site?
“Nature’s Acai Berry offers a “14-day risk-free” trial offer, allegedly for $1.99 plus shipping and handling, the state says in Maricopa County Court.
But the order button on its Web site conceals a “faded print stating that the ‘14-day trial offer’ began on the date of the order, and that unless the consumer canceled before 14 days passed by calling a toll free customer service number, that the consumer would be charged $85.91 … and would receive a new shipment … 30 days after their trial order date,” Attorney General Terry Goddard in says.”
-Court House News Service - 11/20/09
So I Just Need to Cancel in 14 Days - Right???
But the state says that many people who order the “14-day risk-free trial offer” do not get anything within two weeks, and when they try to cancel by calling customer service they face “excessive hold times, disconnections, and customer service reps who say their cancellations cannot be processed because “‘the computers were down.’”
Customers who were led to believe they had canceled found their credit cards were billed anyway, Goddard says.
-Court House News Service - 11/20/09
How Do These Acai Scammers Sleep At Night?
I have no idea. Even with all the recent legal action taken acai scam companies, it is amazing that they continue to try to pull all their dirty tricks. Well, let’s look at the positive and applaud the Arizona Attorney General for doing the right thing and protecting the rights of their citizens - they are seeking refunds and an injunction.
Additional Resources:
Oprah and Illinois Attorney General File Suit Against Acai Scam Companies
How I Lost $90 in 30 Days Using the Acai Berry
What Did Oprah and Dr Oz Really Say About Acai
Acai Berry Scams - How to Avoid Them
Acai Berry Maxx named Texas Lawsuit
Free Black Belt Course in Spotting Acai Berry Scams
Information on Supplements
by Dan-N on November 3, 2009
If we had a dime for every minute we spent writing about Acai Scams we would be rich! And tired, from lugging all those dimes over to the bank… but that’s not the point. As the calendar turns from October to November we might actually see a very positive trend - a decrease in acai berry scams!
Oprah Lawsuit Might Finally Be Putting a Dent in Acai Berry Scams
Our unofficial review has shown the number of free trial acai scams increase every month since about July 2008. October 2009 looks like it may be the first month where the number of Acai free trial scams did not increase. Of course, it is almost impossible to scientifically measure this, but when we look at Acai related spam and Acai advertising - it did look like October was a cleaner month than September.
We have no doubt that the 267 Page Lawsuit by Oprah (Harpo Productions) had a lot to do with this trend. It was not just the companies that Harpo brought suit against, we believe it also had a ripple effect by scaring off many other acai scam companies. The Oprah lawsuit made it clear they would go after anyone who used her (or Dr. Oz’s) image to promote their Acai supplement.
Let’s Not Count Our Chickens Before They Hatch
Let’s not pull punches, there are still thousands of Acai Berry products being sold in deceptive and dishonest ways. If you have a shark tank filled with 100 sharks - it would be dangerous to jump in. If you then removed 70 sharks, I guess it is a little safer, but I would still be vary cautious about jumping in!
As we have said before, there are some quality Acai Supplements out there, you just need to be very careful before you give out your credit card to anyone.
We will report back at the end of November and see if this positive trend in decreasing the number of acai scam products can continue.
by Dan-N on October 14, 2009
by Dan-N on September 28, 2009
Anyway you cut it, it’s been a bad few weeks for Advanced Wellness Research (now called Netalab) and their products - Pure Acai Berry Pro and New Pure Acai Berry Burn. As we reported in August, Advanced Wellness Research was named in a lawsuit by the Illinois Attorney General for deceptive advertising on their acai products. The same day, Harpo Productions (producers of the Oprah Winfrey Show) also sued Advanced Wellness Research for using Oprah’s image without their permission and misleading customers.
Well, it looks like September is not getting any easier for them. The Florida Attorney General has now also sued Advanced Wellness Research for deceptive marketing of their Acai berry products. As is often the case with Acai Berry Scams, Advanced Wellness Research was offering a “free trial” but then autobilling customers $80 a month.
“TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced his office filed a law suit against a Miami company, a related company and company principals over allegations the companies engaged in deceptive marketing practices. Advanced Wellness Research, Inc. allegedly offered free trials for its products, including Acai berry supplements and whitening toothpaste, but failed to provide reasonable notice that customers would be charged approximately $80 on a monthly basis for products they did not intend to purchase.
The Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division began investigating the companies after receiving over 700 complaints about the companies. According to the complaints, consumers who tried to cancel the continuation program were unable to contact the company from which the products were purchased. ”
- Press Release from the Florida Attorney General”
Let’s hope that Attorney Generals from every state continue with these law suits against these Acai scam companies. If you live in Florida and have been victim to an Acai scam, you can contact the Attorney’s Generals office and file a claim - 1-866-9667226.
Additional Resources:
Full Press Release from Floria Attorney General
Oprah and Illinois Attorney General File Suit Against Acai Scam Companies
How I Lost $90 in 30 Days Using the Acai Berry
What Did Oprah and Dr Oz Really Say About Acai
Acai Berry Scams - How to Avoid Them
Acai Berry Maxx named Texas Lawsuit
Free Black Belt Course in Spotting Acai Berry Scams
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