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How to complain effectively

A recent online experience forced me to complain about the company that offered the product asd well as the way the site fraudulently took unauthorized money out of my account a month later.The website was advertised on my MSN home page and the way the ad looked it seemed Oprah and Dr. Phil both recommended the product.

On the actual page to place the order for the FREE TRIAL OFFER there was a a box to check that indicated I wanted no further orders. I made sure to check it and thought how nice it was that they had that available. I entered my debit card information and was billed the total of $3.95 for the shipping and handling of a thirty day supply.

The product arrived andthe invoice showed the amount due was 0. There was nothing on the invloice to indiate a future order was pending. I was happy with the transaction but had already decided not to purchase the product, it was too expensive.

A month later my bank account was debited $87.13. No product arrived, not notice was given. I had to dispute the claim and in doing so I did the research that showed what rip off this type of website is. They offer a freee trial offer and you are to billedonly shipping and handling but now they have everything they need to rob you or even sell your personal information to others for a tidy profit.

My first call was to try and reach the company by calling the number on the package itself. No response only a comupterized messsage that once again asked for account information used to make the purchase. My second thought was to go online and I found numerous complaints regarding the company.

My third action was to go to my bank with all my efforts recorded and get my account number changed. I filed a written dispute. The bank president took interest in this because it had happened to others in our small rural Texas town. The company was showing a Hollywood, Florida address.

During my bank visit a young woman was begging for help. The same company, using a different product name, had swindled her out of two unauthorized charges of $87.13. She had tried to reach them by phone, had mailed letters she could not find a way to cancel the unauthorized charges and she wasn't getting any product ! Theft by any other name is still theft!

On the same day I visited the bank and disputed the charges I also made a written complaint to the Texas Attorney General, The Florida Attorney General, The Better Business Bureau's in Florida and Texas and sent an email to the United States Attorney General.

The BBB in the county that serves Hollywood, Florida tried to reach the company and they got no where. They let me know the complaint will stay on the companies record for three years.

I filed complaints to several on-line Scam sites. I sent letters to editors of newspapers both local and national. My complaint went to regional television news shows and national. Not that they have covered it yet but in time they will.

This company is actually a Canadian business probably not even Canadian that is as far as I could trace it. FWM Laboratories was the name used with the colon cleans product I ordered. If you have been taken by this company or group then file complaints, lots of them. We need to stop this kind of rip off and crime on-line and the best way is to make it public. Complain in writing, by phone, by email, in every way you can to help get the attention this matter deserves.

A word or two of advice, before you purchase anything on-line or from a television ad check it with the BBB and other complaint sources.

Learn more about this author, S. Linda Jensen.
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