Fell for a teeth whitening scam :( Extreme White

green1970

I'm usually quite internet savvy but I've fallen for this one and I'm absolutely kicking myself. The Company is Extreme-white.co.uk and their website with the offer on offers a free no risk trial of their teeth whitening stuff for just £3.99 shipping costs. What it doesn't tell you on the offer page is that there's a continued subscription of £59.99 per month which they've already reserved from my card.

They impose all sorts of restrictions on the return of the trial equipment within an unrealistic timescale and make you jump through hoops to get any sort of refund. It has to be back with them within 10 days of them shipping it to you and there's been reports of it taking more than a week to arrive meaning there's no time to get it back before the deadline.

I emailed them minutes after ordering to cancel but they haven't replied to that, just sent me an order confirmation a few hours later with no reply address. I've had to stop my card to prevent any further amounts being taken.

Just a warning in case anyone else is taken in by these 'free trials' by either Extreme White or by Dazzle White Pro. It may be legal what they're doing but they're not open and clear in what people are signing up to.

Meepster

This is a common "scam" run by quite a few companies. I say "scam" as if you actually READ the T&C's it mentions it in there. They are simply relying on you not reading them. Unfortunately, it's your own fault

green1970

I know it's my own fault - I'm kicking myself. Just thought I'd put up a warning about Extreme White in case anyone else is as stupid as me :-)

Do you think it's worth contacting Trading Standards or the ASA to force them to display it clearly on their offer page rather than stuck in their T&Cs on a different page?

Radish72

I think you should, they might not do anything about it and it does state in the T&C, but if enough people complain about it something might change

Also point out the return procedure, if its unrealistic then maybe they could get them to change that also

green1970

Have sent this off to Trading Standards so will wait and see - don't hold out much hope but if it helps one other person who may get suckered in like I did, it'll be worth it.

I don't know if this is something that you could help with or whether I've just been extremely stupid.

From a google sponsored link ( [URL="mhtml:{192542FB-D03E-49D9-843C-14FDEB222517}mid://00000429/!x-usc:http://www.consumersgazette.com/?kw=teeth%20white&aid=23466&gclid=CPi7wo7fk5wCFV8B4wodZyV3eQ"]http://www.consumersgazette.com/?kw=teeth white&aid=23466&gclid=CPi7wo7fk5wCFV8B4wodZyV3eQ[/URL] ), I came across an offer on this website [URL="mhtml:{192542FB-D03E-49D9-843C-14FDEB222517}mid://00000429/!x-usc:http://www.extreme-white.co.uk/free/index.php?campaign=cxew&subid=16329-515151"]http://www.extreme-white.co.uk/free/index.php?campaign=cxew&subid=16329-515151[/URL]

I thought I'd give it a go and put in my card details. It never mentioned anywhere on the offer page that signing up to the free trial committed you to further payments of £59.99 every 26 days. It does mention that on a separate page but I feel that not mentioning it on the offer page was deceitful and unclear.

In addition, their returns policy seems designed to make it difficult to get the goods back to them within the timescale they mention. They state that the trial package must be returned to them within 10 days of it leaving their warehouse. They don't ship by special delivery so there's no guarantee that you will even receive the package within 10 days, never mind get it back in their hands within 10 days.

I've resigned myself to losing £59.99 and cancelled my card so that no further payments can be taken and will do my utmost to comply with their returns procedure, should I receive the goods in time.

I know I've been extremely stupid and it is my own fault but I've never fallen for anything like this before and although their website is legal, I really feel that they should be made to display what people are really signing up for, in large print, on the sign-up page.

Would this be something that Trading Standards could help with or would you suggest another body who may be able to help?

thequeenshead

..was just about to take up the free trial for Extreme White, but thought i'd google it first to see if it was a scam, and luckily came across your post - so thanks for saving me some cash!!! I was wavering at the £3.99 postage to be honest, I only like free if it really is, but it was well worth you posting the details you will be helping a lot of people!

bigmuffins

Just a word of caution:
I think you should also double check with your cc company too, as stopping your card may not be enough to stop the recurring payments - I don't know exactly, but I think if they have a continous recurring payment authorisation then they will still be able to take the money. I remember reading about this problem on several other threads in the past.

"If it sounds too good to be true then it is too good to be true" - I always read through thoroughly and tbh would never enter card details where there is any mention of further payments. :eek:
I am just too sceptical!
Hope you get it sorted painlessly!
:beer:

Blossom_Rock

Hi. I fell for this myself but I think all is not lost. By law there is a 7 day cooling off period from date of receipt. It is fully explained on the Office of Fair Trading website. I am not allowed to put the link on here but if you google Distance selling and online trading it will take you to their web page. I hope this helps. :mad:

BFG_2

green1970 wrote: »

What it doesn't tell you on the offer page is that there's a continued subscription of £59.99 per month which they've already reserved from my card.

.

Call your cc or debit c company and insist upon a chargeback being issued. They will give all sorts of crap about .goods received, you need to return, blah, blah' Let them waffle and then INSIST upon a chargeback..don't take no for an answer.

Then write to them comfirming your chargeback .

Don't let the cc co fob you off...INSIST upon a chargeback

Threaten to complain to the FSA/Banking Ombudsman.

If they still refuse, then DO complain officially to cc co and then when they still refuse, DO complain to FSA/BO [easy online form, 10 mins and job done]

You WILL get your money back....stick at it.

7286yvonne

Help i have just fallen for same toothwitening scam only orderd last night dont know what to do bank says they cant stop any payments to this compant extreme white i used my debit card can any one help regards yvonne....

Lillylocks

I'm afraid I also thought I was internet savvy, especially when having to give card details online, but I too, am left with egg on my face!
I only wish I did my 'investigating' and found this site before I handed over the details
I received an email saying thank you for your order, and the price on the invoice was £3.99, and then this morning when I checked my online bank (as I like to do every day) I saw this mysterious amount of £59.99 left my account yesterday. I called the bank and explained that I had checked this site minutes before, and the bank told me, although the terms and conditions are almost tucked out of the way, BECAUSE they are there, the bank could not give me back the money, of course. But they did tell me to contact these bandits again, telling them that I wish to cancel as from now - and if they persist to take money out of my account in 26 days time, the bank will recompense me, providing I can verify that I have cancelled with these awful people.
The irony of my situation, is the damn package is still in the post office, as it was delivered on the 12th August, and I only got back from arranging my dad's funeral last night from Northampton, so the parcel has been in the PO for 9 days.
This has been a real salutory lesson.