Fell for a teeth whitening scam :( Extreme White

cooldude255220

Good Post competition.

competitionscafe

Wired.com (Wired Magazine) has published an article on DazzleSmile etc today
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 post above and:
http://www.webcops.net/just_think_media_spam_scams_8001.html

cooldude255220

competitionscafe wrote: »

Wired.com (Wired Magazine) has published an article on DazzleSmile etc today
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 post above and:
http://www.webcops.net/just_think_media_spam_scams_8001.html

Wow, Lets all file a complaint on behalf of all MSE'S

knighterrant

I'm yet another one to fall for this. At least I know I'm not alone. And it's not that easy to know exactly who is going to be taking money from my CC. At the time of placing the orders (1 October) I didn't bother reading all the T&Cs because it was only for a couple of pounds! ..... so I thought.:mad:

Less than half an hour after "signing up" for "free trials" with Total White and Dazzle Smile I realised what an idiot I'd been and tried to cancel my orders. The American freephone numbers were of no use to me here in the UK so I contacted my CC company (MBNA for Alliance & Leicester). They told me that they had already had two small drawings on my account (£7.68 from Total White and £7.76 from "Beauty Club" - I still have no idea what the latter is all about, perhaps one of many names for Dazzle Smile?). Both withdrawals had the same phone number in the US and my CC agent connected me with them.

A very unhelpful American eventually said the contract was cancelled for future products, but he couldn't cancel the "trial" product (for which I had already been charged P&P). He said I could return the Total White product if I didn't like it and receive a refund of its cost only. He said that they have no connection with anyone else.

I phoned and emailed as many other people as I could to cancel everything. Over the next 2 days I received cancellation confirmations from TotalWhite and DazzleSmile/DazzleWhite (both names used in same email!). Both emails referred to the returns procedure, saying that the "trial" was already under way.

Today (20 days after my foolish order) I received a package from Total White for which I had to pay £15.01 to Royal mail for VAT and "International Handling". :mad: The tatty note that came with the tooth whitening pen said that I'd be "billed" $76.82 14 days after receiving the package. (I wonder how they know when I received the package.) There are no instructions on how to return the product if I'm not happy with it, but even if I did return it I'm sure they'd say it was too late and refuse to give me anything back. The label on the envelope told me that it cost them $2.28 postage so I can only assume envelopes are very expensive in Canada - that's where it was sent from.

I still haven't received anything from Dazzle Smile so I don't know if I've successfully managed to put an end to that one.

I suppose I'm just going to have to put it all down to experience. The main point of this is to add to the alerts to others not to get caught in the same way. Perhaps one of us should let BBC's Watchdog know about this.

lesley007

Hi guys I have also been scammed by these idiots selling teeth whitening sent 3 e-mails after purchasing the item which was supposed to be FREE!!! I expected just £3.99 p/p to be debited from my account and they had debited £29.99 about 5 mins after i placed the order???? Went to the bank today, cancelled my card but i have still been charged the £29.99 which apparently can only be refunded if i write a letter to the company. I was told that i was lucky it was a debit card i had used because if it had been a credit card they can still carry on taking money out evewn if you cancel the card My advice would be close down your account or cancel your card and do not request a refund because that way they cannot then take anymore money out your account. Do not send a letter with your acccount number and sort code for them to put the refund into coz that way they have your details and may still take money out your account. I also spoke to trading standards who told me this company had been in the newspaper (Mirror) some time ago and there have been loads of complaints. I suppose the only way i can look at is a lesson to me to be extremely careful giving out credit/debit card details over the internet. Ive learned the hard way and it was well worth the £29.99 coz it will never happen to me again.

ver82

Same thing happened to me yesterday i had to freeze my credit card account otherwise i was told they can take more and that they put a subscribtion on the card. They toke £29.99 when i got a receipt for £3.99. Surely that somehow must be a crime but told my bank and then was gonna investigate futher also sent an email to their customer service.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I have fallen for your offer of a free product, only paying £3.99 p & p, but also charged £29.99 straight away!!!
Unfortunately I did NOT read the terms and conditions posted right at the bottom of the web site page, rendering this FREE product not free at all, but costing £59.99 EVERY 26 days!!
I have been in contact with my bank, who will rescue me from your devious arrangement.
I will NO LONGER REQUIRE anymore of your services, and the arrangement is to be CANCELLED forthwith. I will also contact trading standards as soon as possible. A copy of this email will be sent to my bank.

they sent back

Dear Veronica,

Thank you for your mail.

Extreme Whitening is an effective at-home teeth whitening system. I am sorry that you wish to cancel your order. Can you please tell me why you wish to cancel to help us understand?
I have cancelled your order. You should see the postage refund in your account in 3-7 business days.
Thank you for your interest in Extreme Whitening.

Kind regards,
Julia
Extreme Whitening Customer Care


But as you say my account is frozen so they would not be able to refund me any money anyway. Quess i will also have to make it a bad experience that i will never fall for a again. Just cant believe they are getting away with deducting that kind of money when they say its only £3.99
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sooperb

Thanks CC, what a dope I am! Message without the info:

Oh boy, these people are dreadful. I read the above newspaper regarding dear Debbie and signed up to both Dazzlesmile and Premierwhitening. It was the DHL delivery man who alerted me to the mess I am in when he delivered the dazzle trial this morning. I checked my bank account and found £89 has been deducted. The bank, Firstdirect, said there was little they can do. I have tried ringing the premierwhitening but all their operatives were busy, funny huh! I have emailed cancelling the contract but have not so far had a response. I have spoken to a rep. from Dazzle who advised me as follows:
You are now chatting with 'Robert'
Robert: Hello and welcome to PremiumWhite. I'll be your live operator today. May I know, whom am I chatting with?
you: I have just received your "free" sample and have been told by someone else that I have apparently signed up to some sort of scheme that will debit my bank account on a monthly basis. I wish to cancel, please help me
you: I wish to cancel, what do I need to do
you: My name is sooperb and I live in the UK
Robert: Could you please provide me with your full name, email address and postal/zip code, so that I can pull up your details?
Robert: One moment please while I locate your account information.
you: Thank you
Robert: You have been removed from the auto ship program and you will not be receiving any further shipments. As per the Terms and Conditions you agreed to before placing your order, your card will be charged the discounted rate of $87.62 for the first shipment of PremiumWhite Teeth Whitening after the completion of the trial period.
Robert: Your cancellation # is
Robert: 689837
you: But why should I be charged, I have only received the sample today and am exercising my right to cancel the contract.
Robert: You will not be charged $87.62 for the trial if we receive the package back before the 14 days trial period is over. If the package arrives after that, then you will still be refunded. You are covered under a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.
you: Can you please give me the return address for the sample?
Robert: We are unable to process return requests via live chat because of privacy and security reasons.
Robert: Please contact our member support staff at our toll-free number for all return information:
Robert: 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.
you: Thank you for your assistance. I think the website ought to make it clearer just what the real deal is here, like recommending in big letters that the Terms and Conditions are read.

I don't know if I will get anywhere with getting a refund, or even stopping them getting any more money. I used a debit card. Well, the free number won't dial out!

nicky689

Shimmering White..........i did this a while ago and now i am going to check my bank account, i used a debit card at the time but then read that only credit cards were accepted and never thought about it since. Then it came through the post with no address and no email address to get in touch with them, i didnt know anything about being charged every month. If i cancel my debit card will that be the end of it
is this the same company and does anyone have an email address or telephone number i can ring

Oasis1

I'm in the same boat. Let me know how returning the item goes.

sooperb wrote: »

Thanks CC, what a dope I am! Message without the info:

Oh boy, these people are dreadful. I read the above newspaper regarding dear Debbie and signed up to both Dazzlesmile and Premierwhitening. It was the DHL delivery man who alerted me to the mess I am in when he delivered the dazzle trial this morning. I checked my bank account and found £89 has been deducted. The bank, Firstdirect, said there was little they can do. I have tried ringing the premierwhitening but all their operatives were busy, funny huh! I have emailed cancelling the contract but have not so far had a response. I have spoken to a rep. from Dazzle who advised me as follows:
You are now chatting with 'Robert'
Robert: Hello and welcome to PremiumWhite. I'll be your live operator today. May I know, whom am I chatting with?
you: I have just received your "free" sample and have been told by someone else that I have apparently signed up to some sort of scheme that will debit my bank account on a monthly basis. I wish to cancel, please help me
you: I wish to cancel, what do I need to do
you: My name is sooperb and I live in the UK
Robert: Could you please provide me with your full name, email address and postal/zip code, so that I can pull up your details?
Robert: One moment please while I locate your account information.
you: Thank you
Robert: You have been removed from the auto ship program and you will not be receiving any further shipments. As per the Terms and Conditions you agreed to before placing your order, your card will be charged the discounted rate of $87.62 for the first shipment of PremiumWhite Teeth Whitening after the completion of the trial period.
Robert: Your cancellation # is
Robert: 689837
you: But why should I be charged, I have only received the sample today and am exercising my right to cancel the contract.
Robert: You will not be charged $87.62 for the trial if we receive the package back before the 14 days trial period is over. If the package arrives after that, then you will still be refunded. You are covered under a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.
you: Can you please give me the return address for the sample?
Robert: We are unable to process return requests via live chat because of privacy and security reasons.
Robert: Please contact our member support staff at our toll-free number for all return information:
Robert: 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.
you: Thank you for your assistance. I think the website ought to make it clearer just what the real deal is here, like recommending in big letters that the Terms and Conditions are read.

I don't know if I will get anywhere with getting a refund, or even stopping them getting any more money. I used a debit card. Well, the free number won't dial out!

lisababee26

I fell victim also, it all began when i placed my order for my free extreme whitening teeth pen, under the illusion i was only goin to be paying the £3.99 postage and packaging costs i thought what a bargain! this happened on the 2nd October last month, i waited and waited some more for my bargain to arrive, but nothing showed up, then to my horror :eek: i checked my bank account and found tht on the 27th of Oct a company UKDlaboratoriesCD9016 had taken £59.99 from my account, i googled the mysterious transaction address, and up came a forum explaining that alot of ppl had experienced the same mysterious transaction from their bank account and it was from Extreme whitening! i quickly searched for a phone number but couldnt find one, then i came across an email address sending them a not very pleasant email on the 5th November i waited anxiously but still nothing back! so i sent the same email again but added to the end of it " FAILURE TO RESPOND WILL RESULT IN COURT ACTION" i got a reply back on the 7th November explaining tht i had been charged £59.99 because my trial period had expired! i replied back not to send me the free sample because i was not satified with their services, they tried to blame Royal Mail for the non delivery of my sample and seemed to be ignoring the issue of me saying DO NOT SEND IT TO ME! i think they finally realised i was meaning business and on the 10th Novemeber i recieved an email saying they were pleased to confirm that they had recieved the extreme whitening return parcel back into their warehouse and that they were issuing a refund for £63.98 and to give it 5-7 days to return to my bank account! and today the 12th November i have £59.99 returned to my account. Ok it's not the full £63.98 they had promised, but its most of my money returned! i never did recieve the FREE Sample :rotfl: just fight it! hope this helped! i have 2 email addresses for Extreme whitening! not allowed to add them being a new user!