Caught out by DazzleWhite

Wobbers

Hello all.

I am absolutely furious.

I run a well respected cosmetic teeth whitening practice in the midlands called Dazzle. It's not a big concern but we do a great job with hundreds of delighted clients.

You may be thinking so what?

My website is dazzlewhite.co.uk (note the .co.uk!). I am also a webmaster and so set up all my own websites etc including the one for Dazzle.

We get most of our business through the Internet.

In the last 2 months we (me and my 2 part time staff) have been obliterated by the dazzlewhite.com scam.

We have constantly got regular and predictable clients over a long period of time. We have had a 70% drop in appointments since the scam.

I have received plenty of emails from furious people who demand I stop taking money from their accounts (they confuse my site with the scam one).

The scam site even used our address for billing people month after month.

Me and my staff are devastated.

THE BIGGIE:

Google are still running adverts for affiliate sites of this scamming company (the sponsored results are on the right hand side of the search results). Simply goto Google and type in "teeth whitening"

I am now having to re brand the website, signage, literature.

I really didn't think this could happen to a small business light years away from the internet - but it has.

I will be assisting the authorities and making a BIG noise at Google.

I hope you all recover and no doubt know more about scam sites now.

With any website make sure there is a contact number, address, phone number and contact before you purchase anything that seems too good to be true. You can also check who the domain name is registered with through "whois" websites.

Hoping for the best for me and my staff.... have a good day all.

Best Regards to All,

Andy

competitionscafe

Wobbers wrote: »

In the last 2 months we (me and my 2 part time staff) have been obliterated by the dazzlewhite.com scam.

You are not the first company to be damaged by this Jesse Willms and his Just Think Media scams: https://www.webcops.net/just_think_media_spam_scams_8001.html

Can you not all get together a find a lawyer willing to take him on on a no win no fee basis?

Wobbers

WOW thank you very much for that research! The time and effort isn't worth it to me. I will just rebrand fast. It's a shame but I lose more money writing reports about it.

I would love to join a class action suit. Out of court settlement may be a cheap route to go?

Anyway... thanks for your support. I am reading the link in-depth that you sent me.

Cheers

Andy

competitionscafe

Wobbers wrote: »

THE BIGGIE:

Google are still running adverts for affiliate sites of this scamming company (the sponsored results are on the right hand side of the search results). Simply goto Google and type in "teeth whitening"

I am now having to re brand the website, signage, literature.

I really didn't think this could happen to a small business light years away from the internet - but it has.

I will be assisting the authorities and making a BIG noise at Google.

Do let us know if you get a response from Google and what they say. I have also contacted them about this as I (and I am sure many others) am sick and tired of seeing ads for scams when searching Google. And I am sure that these deceptive ads (for products / companies which have thousands of complaints online) are very damaging to peoples 'trust' in the Google brand.

Interesting article here on these free trial scams and some of the legal action being taken against them:
http://www.jayweintraub.com/2009/08/day-of-reckoning-is-near-fake-blogs-finally-under-fire.html

However despite this Google adwords and many other ad networks are still advertising these deceptive 'offers'.

MyRubyRed

I live justup the road from the so called headquarters. Am off to have a look and see if I can find out who lives there

competitionscafe

MyRubyRed wrote: »

I live justup the road from the so called headquarters. Am off to have a look and see if I can find out who lives there

Was anyone home?

rachiee

Me too Ohh i live in Bishop was thinking of heading up with the satnav!! Let us know if any1 is there!

CAROLH_3

Duritti, your experience is almost identical to mine just this weekend. I feel such a jerk! Having cancelled via live chat any further shipments and cancelled by debitcard, I'm even considering closing my bank account. Others have written (on other blogs I've googled) that the company has other subsidiaries in Cyprus (?) who are likely to draw small and regular payments from my account! I haven't received my trial pack (cost me near a tenner too) but apparently it has to be returned unopened within 14 days to 'get out' of this. With a national postal strike imminent, I'm worried sick about this. Especially as I only had my mothers funeral last month and my brain is like cotton wool! Even the girl at my bank has confirmed there is no way payments can be stopped if they are drawn in a different name to dazzlewhite? How can a direct debit be set up without a written DD agreement. I know I could submit 'disputes' with the bank to claim any monies back, but I don't need the hassle or worry of watching out for them - so I think best to close this bank account? Do you agree?

competitionscafe

Wired.com (Wired Magazine) has published an article on DazzleSmile etc today :
‘Whiter Teeth’ Products Stained by Dismal Advertising Practices:
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/whiter-teeth-products-stained-by-dismal-advertising-practices/

They got one thing wrong though:
"Now fraud busters are zeroing in on at least one teeth-whitening vendor — Cyprus-based Farend Services, doing business in the U.S. as Dazzle Smile and Dazzle Smile Pro" - they are not "Cyprus based" - they are clearly in Canada, see:
http://www.webcops.net/just_think_media_spam_scams_8001.html

-

Siri_2

Hi! My name is Siri, I'm coming from Germany but I'm living in London for two years now.

I want to tell you my experience with this bloody teeth whitener:

I saw the adverb on “Facebook” in September. It told a story of a British Mom who was absolutely convinced about two products for teeth whitening combined together: “Dazzle White” and “Idol White”. The adverb told about a “Free Trial” you can get on their websites.
Unfortunately I clicked on these websites and was blinded by the words “Free Trial”, “No Risk”, “You pay only for shipping and handling” (which was $1.95 – the first lie!). Nothing on these websites made it obvious that you get – once ordered the “Free Trial” - a lifetime membership for this product, otherwise I wouldn't have done it! I'm not that crazy!
I was not sceptical when they ask me for my Credit Card-Details, because I was willing to pay for shipping and handling.
All this happened on September 11th, quiet late at night. I've almost forgot about it when the “Free Trial” from Dazzle White arrived by the 15th of October (Yes, more than one month later!). I remembered the British Mom's advise to combine the two products, so I wanted to wait a few days for the other “Free Trial” Idol White to arrive. It arrived on Monday the 19th of October. On the same day I received another package from Dazzle White, wondering why they sent me another one.
With these two packages I also found my Bank statement in the Mail. I was shocked when I saw what was going on!

2 Oct Payment to Idolwhite.Com £64.24
6 Oct Payment to ultifreshwell Cyprus £51.34

I was in panic and researched online. Well, once typed in “Dazzle White” in Google it was obvious I was caught in a Scam-Trap.

In that night I cancelled via Live-Chat my lifetime membership with Dazzle White. Here an extract of this conversation with Gail (my Name and Details are disguised):

Gail:Hello and welcome to Dazzle Smile. I'll be your live operator today. May I know, whom am I chatting with?
Victim: Victim
Gail:Hi, are you here to place an order?
Victim: NO I want to ensure that I have been cancelled from everything Dazzle white has signed me up for and intends on taking from my account
Gail:Could you please provide me with your full name, email address and postal/zip code, so that I can pull up your details?
Victim: details
Gail:One moment please while I locate your account information.
Gail:You have been removed from the auto ship program and you will not be receiving any further shipments.
Gail: As per the Terms and Conditions which you indicated that you had read and agreed to before placing your initial order, you were charged discounted monthly installments of $87.62 for the one month supply of Dazzle Smile Teeth Whitening which you have received.

That was absolutely not obvious on that website. I had no idea that I signed for that! But I knew it was not worth it to argue about that.

Gail:Your cancellation number is: 00000
Victim: am I signed in other companies as well?
Gail: One moment please.
Gail:No, you haven't signed up with any other programs.
Victim: Now how do I go about Dazzle white NOT taking any money from my account and NOT sending my ANY Dazzle white products. I don't want to receive anything and I don't pay to pay anything
Gail: We would like to inform you that Dazzle Smile pro and Dazzle White pro both are same company.
Gail:Need not to worry, you have been permanently removed from our auto shipment program and you will not be charged for any further shipments.
Victim: So, to confirm, you and none of your associated companies that you have signed me up with will make any charges to my credit card, send me any products or contact me in the future.
Gail:You haven't subscribed for any other programs and we have cancelled your subscription with Dazzle Smile pro so you will not be charged any further from us.
Victim: I have received 2 deliveries and I haven't used them. I want to send them back to get my money back from you. What is the address for the UK?
Gail:You can do so.
Gail:We do provide 30 day money back guarantee. If for any reason you don’t find the product to be satisfactory, you need to return the unused servings

UNUSED? How can you try it without using it? Well, I'm glad I haven't even open the box!

within 30 days of the date of shipment to you for REFUND. The returned package must reach our Receiving Department within 30 days of the date of shipment to you.

HOW is that possible? How can I send it back within 30 days when it not even arrived in that time? Unfortunately I didn't ask her that question because my nerves were blank and I realized it when the conversation was finished.

Gail:We are unable to process return requests via live chat because of privacy and security reasons.
Gail:Please contact our member support staff at our toll-free number for all return information:
Gail:The number to call is 0-808-120-1987. They are available 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM (MST) Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, they are open from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (MST). They are closed on Sundays.
Victim: When the delivery arrives in time I will get the full amount back? And you wont charge me any further amounts?
Gail:Orders placed in the United States will ship immediately and arrive in only 5-7 business days. International orders may take 1-3 weeks, depending how far the package has to go.

Here she said it: International orders may take 1-3 weeks, depending how far the package has to go. Isn't it obvious that a package CAN NOT arrive back to them in the 30 days?

Gail:Your two week trial period doesn't start until AFTER you have received your package in the mail.

That's confusing... Wasn't she saying: We do provide 30 day money back guarantee. If for any reason you don’t find the product to be satisfactory, you need to return the unused servings within 30 days of the date of shipment to you for REFUND. The returned package must reach our Receiving Department within 30 days of the date of shipment to you.

Well, at that night I was glad that they cancelled me from this auto-shipping. At least something.

The very next day (Tuesday the 20th of October) I went to my bank to ask them for help. Fortunately they offered me a new Bank account and a new Debit Card after we learned that another payment took place without my knowing:

13 Oct Payment to ultifreshwell Cyprus £54.37

We emptied my old Bank account but left it open for (hopefully) Refunds from this companies. Now I'm a bit more relaxed because I know they can't take more money from me.

In the evening I had another Live-chat because I wanted them to confirm me that I would get my money back. Here an extract from my conversation with Marie (my name is disguised):

Marie: Hello and welcome to Dazzle Smile. I'll be your live operator today. May I know, whom am I chatting with?
Victim: Victim
Marie: Hi, are you here to place an order?
Victim: DEFINITELY NOT!
Marie: I will do my best to help you. How may I assist you today?
Victim: yesterday I cancelled the auto-shipping for dazzle white here in this live chat with Gail, because it was yesterday that I received the 2nd delivery and it was also yesterday I checked out my bank account and found that you have charged me already 2 x, one was ₤51.34 (Oct 6th) and the other one was for ₤56.64 (Oct 13th). LAST WEEK THURSDAY (Oct 15th) I received the first delivery of dazzle white and had no chance to try it. now I want to send it back but I want you to confirm that I'm still in the 30-days period in which I will get my money back.
Marie: Could you please provide me with your full name, email address and postal/zip code, so that I can pull up your details?
Victim: details
Marie: One moment please while I locate your account information.
Marie: We have charged $11.90 on Sep 11, 2009 for the shipping and handling.
Marie: $79.28 on Oct 02, 2009 for the product, you already received as trial.
Marie: $87.62 on Oct 09, 2009 and sent another 1 months supply to you .
Victim: you charged me for the trial BEVOR I received it! and you charged me for the next one BEVOR I received it! the first product I got on the 15th of October, the next one I got yesterday!
Victim: I am not willing to pay for it! I want a refund for both payments!
Victim: you charged me for the 2nd BEVOR I received the first!
Marie: One moment please.
Marie: You have been removed from the auto ship program and you will not be receiving any further shipments.
Marie: As per the Terms and Conditions which you indicated that you had read and agreed to before placing your initial order, you were charged discounted monthly installments of $87.62 for the one month supply of Dazzle Smile Teeth Whitening which you have received.
Marie: Your cancellation number is:
Marie: 00000
Marie: We are unable to process return requests via live chat because of privacy and security reasons.
Marie: Please contact our member support staff at our toll-free number for all return information:
Marie: The number to call is 0-808-120-1987. They are available 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM (MST) Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, they are open from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (MST). They are closed on Sundays.
Victim: I cancelled the auto shipment yesterday already. I WANT YOU TO CONFIRM THAT I AM STILL GET REFUNDED WHEN I SEND BOTH TUBES BACK!
Victim: it was not my fault that the delivery took so long!
Victim: I already have informed my lawyer, bbb and other institutions about this!
Marie: For money back request ,you need to call on our phone support and also please call them on their timings.
Marie: Is there anything else I can help you with today?
Victim: you better confirm that I will get a refund about the whole amount you took from my account.
Marie: We offer a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. If you don't experience the kind of results you come to expect from what some people call "The World's most powerful teeth whitener", then we don't want your money. You have two months from the time you receive Dazzle Smile Pro to try it for yourself risk free.

Never before it was said I would have 2 month! Where are these 2 month coming from? Especially 2 month from the time I received this bloody teeth whitener?

Marie: But for that,you need to call on our phone support.
Victim: why I have to call them when I have, as you just said, I have two month?
Victim: and how can you know, when I received this bloody toothpaste? if you would know, you also would know that I received the first on the 15th of October and the second yesterday. and than you wouldn't have charged me for the 2nd time before I received the "free" trial!
Marie: For money back request ,you need to call on our phone support .
Marie: Only they can assist you better.
Victim: I want you to confirm that I wont get charged ANY MORE!
Marie: Yes, You will not be charged any more.
Victim: thank you. I really hope I don't have to chat with you any more
Marie: Thank you very much for chatting with us today. We hope the rest of your day is an excellent one.

Well, I knew I haven't reach the end yet...

After this “very helpful” conversation with Marie I tried (again!) to call Idol White to cancel with them as well. I was lucky because this time I got through. I spoke with a lady (she was actually quiet nice) and she could understand my problem because the trial came one month after I ordered it. Unfortunately she couldn't promise me a refund but she wanted to send my case to the Head Office, from where I could expect an answer via e-mail within the next 72 hours.

Hard to believe but true: I got the answer the same night! Here it is:

Hello,
You have been charged a one time non-refundable membership servicing fee.
When you placed the order for the trial, all the terms are mentioned and they are listed as follows:
Start your RISK-FREE trial now to receive a full 1-Month Supply. You'll have 14 days from the date of your order to try the product. If you do not wish to continue, simply contact customer service online or call toll free (866) 928-8043 before the end of the trial period to cancel and avoid charge. If you enjoy the product, do nothing and at the end of your trial period we will charged a non refundable $99.95 to the card that you provide today for the Lifetime Supply Membership program. This is a one-time non refundable fee giving you access to our automated order management system so you can request additional supplies of the product month after month for the rest of your life for free!. Pay only s/h.
There are no products shipped when this charge takes place and there is never anything automatically shipped with this program. You will never be charged additionally unless you go in and place a new order. To order a new supply OR a new supply of ANY of our products that you may want to try, you would need to go into our customer support website and request a reshipment, and all you pay is the shipping and handling every time, for a lifetime!
Regards,
Web Support Center

This mail is FULL of lies! I don't think I have to list them – they're obvious!
Here my respond to this e-mail:

Hello!
Obviously you didn't understand my problem!
In the term it says
"Start your RISK-FREE trial now to receive a full 1-Month Supply. You'll have 14 days from the date of your order to try the product."
I received it on MONDAY, the 19th of October! You charged me already on the 2nd of October! Do you not know that the transport from the US to Europe could take a bit longer? I couldn't try it at all before you charged me! THAT IS FRAUD!
I want a refund for the whole amount! And the address where I can send this bloody toothpaste back to you! I will your company report to any institution I can get if you wont give me my money back! I also will contact my lawyer and my bank. I will do anything that nobody else will get in your FRAUD-Trap!
Refund, Address to send it back, Good bye! In that particular order! And all of this as soon as possible!
Have a nice day!

I guess I might could have been a bit nicer...


Tonight I will have the pleasure to call Dazzle White to confirm me my refund! Wish me luck!
I also wonder what Idol White will tell me next.

I'm just soooo happy that they can't get any more money from me!!!
I really hope that I could anybody help out there with my story. I will let you know what happens!