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Steve of Salt Lake City UT (04/18/07)
Well, we just got the bad news about our 2001 Volvo V70 XC. At 47,000 miles, the check engine light came on indicating that the transmission required service. The verdict: new transmission needed. Talk about total disbelief! Before this happened, we have been busy replacing light bulbs of all kinds. I have driven around for months without blinkers, etc. It has been nerve wracking to say the least. During the last oil check, the dealer informed me that we needed to replace various things amounting to around $1300.00. WE WILL NEVER BUY A VOLVO AGAIN! PILES OF JUNK!
Alison of San Antonio TX (12/31/05)
Without my authorization or knowledge, withdrawals totalling $279.80 were taken from my acccount by Vital Basics. I have no idea who Vital Basica is. I have never contacted them and asked for their product (Focus Factor). A person named Virginia is supposedly receiving the product from Vital Basics that I am payinfg for. Did she steal my bank card number and order this product, or is this a scam from Vital Basics itself? At this point, I have no idea, but my bank is pursuing fraud charges against "Virginia."
On the phone together, the bank and I contacted Vital Basics to demand that they stop sending their product. Naturally, I have also cancelled my bank card. The credit card company, by the way, did not follow legal procedures and verify that the address on the bank card and the address of the person receiving the goods were one and the same. They are not! It is interesting to note that when I called Vital Basics, they were abrupt and impersonal - apparently not concerned about fruad, but disturbed that they will no longer be able to illegally siphon money out of my account.
Judith of San Martin CA (07/13/05)
Took unauthorized money out of my account
Wilmaof Moreno Valley CA (05/31/05)
Heard television advertisement of focus factor and a free trial for shipping fee of $4.95. I specifically stated I did not want to be shipped or billed anything further. Within 10 days my account was debited for almost 160.00.
Erika of Byram MS (03/27/05)
i bought the product focus factor in hopes of increasing mental clarity but unfortunately i spent forty dollars on a bunch of bull
Kim of Milwaukee WI (08/04/04)
This company took money out of my checking account without authorization. I never contacted them to order anything. I was going over the withdrawals on my checking account and noticed a $99.90 withdrawal that I did not make. I called the 1-800 number the bank provided me with and this company was very uncooperative and evasive. When I asked what type of services they provide, she changed the subject. They asked me repeatedly for my personal information, such as bank account numbers, address, etc. I refused to give it to them. I told them that they must have all that information to take the money out of my checking account.
Joanne of Gloucester MA (06/06/04)
My husband ordered Focus Factor for a free sample and got charged $70. We were billed 159.85 and then again billed 299.95. I noticed this on my bank statement. I have called numersous times and now sending a certifed letter. I have called and e mailed them with no results.
I can not afford these charges and I continually look at my statement on line to make sure my other bills do not bounce.
Jessica of Baltimore MD (05/17/04)
I ordered Vital Basic's Focus Factor vitamin supplement from a television ad. The vitamins never came; instead, $159.85 disappeared from my bank account. I mailed them the Consumer Affairs letter demanding my money back, and they called, telling me that they'd send me the pills and upon receiving them, I should return them and then my money would be refunded through depositing it back into my bank. It's been several weeks, rather than the few days promised, and I've seen neither vitamins nor money.
Amanda of Tomball TX (05/13/04)
First my boyfriend orded the vitamins for memory and concentration for just a $4.95 shipping charge. They said you could call and cancel at any time, they would also send you your next shipment automatically, which was at the most suppose to be 2 bottles at the most so which would mean $150.00 at the most. Well I called 9 days after receiving the product I called to cancel and they told me the new shipment has already been sent out.
I was upset and told them I did not want the product. They then told me to send the product back and they would replace the money in my account. Well okay I thought I can deal withe that. Well then I go on the computer the next day to reconcile my check book and "BAM" I am seeing not one but two transactions on the same day one for $159.85 and the second one was for $299.95, that is a total of $495.80 plus over $150.00 in over draft charges. Well at this time I am ready to hit the fan.
I try to call the company and of course it is closed, so I call my bank and now we have to conduct a fraud case against them, cancel our card and what ever else comes along with that. Nice huh. This crap is suppose to help us but in the end it is just causing us more stress than anything. I am furious with this company. I am now leaving it in the banks hands and the better business bureau's hands.
This has caused us so much stress and worry just thinking they could do this again. We have to deal with canceling our credit cards, tons of overdraft charges, money transfered from our savings acct. to our checking acct., and much more just in mental stress from worrying about all of our bills being paid on time with out extra charges of overdraft. We now have to wait on the company and bank to disput this and hopefully refund us our money. I am ready to have a breakdown over all of this.
Pamof Troutdale OR (04/19/04)
I called for the advertised special of $4.95 for a 30 day supply of Focus Factor and now today realized they have charged the debit account of $299.95. I, upon receipt of the 30 day supply immediatley called to cancel any further orders. To date I have not received any further orders, but my account has been depleted along with bank fees.
Anthony of Louisville KY (04/16/04)
I saw a television advertisment for Focus Factor. The pitch was that they would send you a free trail of their product if I'd pay the $4.95 for shipping. Along with the Focus Factor they asked to include another product Omega 3 for an additional $5.00 in shipping. I repetetively asked not to receive any more bottles and was assured that I would not. I provided them my credit card information to pay for shipping charges. About three weeks later I received two bottles in the mail (One bottle of Focus Factor and another of Omega 3).
That same month my credit card bill reflected a $199.95 charge and a $9.95 charge billed by Vital Basics. When I called them to dispute the charges that they originally made abudantly clear would not be made I was disconnected. Upon calling back I was immediately disconnected again. I called American Express, who paid the charge, and explained the senario. They opened an investigation and during the interm credited my account. One month later I received correspondence from American Express advising that the charges were being reinstated.
Shannon of Gladewater TX (04/12/04)
I was watching TV when they had a commercial about Focus Factor. The commercial said that it would help with memory, energy, fatigue so I thought for $4.95 that I would try it. When I called to order the Focus Factor the salesman took my order then he started in on selling me some sort insurance. I told him that I wasn't interested. He was very persistant. I told him that if I had to purchase that then I didn't want any of it. He said that I could just order the Focus Factor.
On April 5th, 2004 I was going over my statement and noticed a $299.95 charge on my debit card. I immediately went to my bank and spoke with them about this because I knew that I had my house not that hadn't come through my bank yet. My banker got the number to contact TAI*Vital Basics so I did whith my banker there. They (Vital Basics) informed me that it was for some insurance. I told him that he did not have my permission to charge anythingelse on my account and that the only thing I ordered was the focus factor.
He then tried to sell me the insurance anyway and I told him that I didn't need the insurance and that I wanted my money back and not to ever charge anythingelse on my account without my permission. I went ahead and put a cancellation on my debit card but before they cancelled my card within a 30 minute period they hit me again with $159.85 which caused my account to be overdrawn. I have tried to contact Vital Basics and asked to speak to someone in management and after being on hold for 15 minutes and then was disconnected.This should not be legal for someone to just add whatever they want onto your credit card. What can we do about businesses like this.
Donna of Huntsville AL (03/31/04)
On or about March 12, 2004 I ordered the 30-day free trial of Focus Factor for memory and concentration for shipping charges of $4.95 to be billed to my debit card. The Indian speaking man was telling me of this free trial for the VB Omega Discount Health Plan that would come with it, which I stated I was not interested. When I received my 30-day Focus Factor trial, they had sent a membership card for the Omega Plan anyway. It had nothing of any charges, cancellation etc included. I received this complete packet on or around March 19, 2004. I was out of town trying to use my debit card and it was over drawn. I proceeded to call my bank and the only information they had was a $299.95 charge from Vital Basics.
I was infuriated. I called on March 22, 2004 and spoke with Nicole and explained and questions their actions. She proceeded to tell me she will issue a credit to my card of $299.95 immediately, but it may take my bank up to 30 days to process. Bull I told her. I checked with my bank the following day, and no credit had been issued and I had 3 overdraft charges of $35.00 each for my automatic drafts for my regular bills due to this charge. I called again on the 26th of March, 2004 and this same Nicole tells me it has been credited and refused to let me speak to anyone other than her.
Jay of Ftl. FL (02/29/04)
On Feb.9, 2004 I ordered the free trial of focus factor, I was expected to pay for S&H $4.95. That was o.k. with me. Two weeks later on Feb. 23, I find out they took 299.95 out of my acct. WITHOUT authorization! I immediately called them, the rep said the money would be returned back into my acct. in 24-48 hours. I continued for the next 2 days to call them, and my bank to make sure the money was being returned, each one of their reps. said the money was being processed and returned.
By the 3rd day, Feb. 28, 2004, I called my bank to see if the money was back in there and to my surprise another 159.95 was taken out!!! So now I'm furious, my rent is due and that check is going to bounce, because my bank acct. is now short over $ 400.00 and of course the billing dept. is closed all weekend. I have since learned that this company has done this before in prior years. Why wasn't it shut down completely. Why was this man allowed back on t.v. to rip people off.
Vital Basics has STOLEN $460.00 from my acct. And know I am going to suffer financially because of them. Not only am I out the $460.00, but I will be charged overdraft charges, because I don't have the money in my acct. to cover the bills I have sent checks out to.
Gerald of Grayson GA (02/22/04)
I too ordered the "Free Bottle" for the cost of shipping on or about 2/2/04. Upon checking my bank account on 2/21/04, I see they have charged my account with a staggering charge of $299.95! I am just starting the process of trying to get a refund.
Ed of Westfield NJ (02/10/04)
First I want to thank you for publishing other complaints about Vital Basics and for giving advice about writing letters rather than calling them. I "ordered" a free bottle of Focus Factor from Vital Basics based on a radio advertisement. The order was placed via the phone. The representative took my credit card number to pay for the $4.95 shipping. I was also asked if I wanted to try Omega 3 fish oils for free which I did (no shipping charge).
I had never heard the term "slamming" but that is exactly what they did. The $4.95 shipping charge was posted to my charge card on 1/15/2004. Then on 1/30/2004 a charge was made to my card for $299.95!!! I didn't find out about the charge until 2/3/2004. I called Vital Basics to find out what that was about. I was told it was for the "Omega Plan" which was a kind of health insurance. I requested that any on-going plans they had signed me up for be cancelled. I was told that a shipment of Focus Factor was scheduled to be shipped that day and that I would have to return it for a refund. On 2/3/2004 another charge was made to my credit card for $159.85. A refund was made on 2/4/2004 for $299.95.
So far, thanks to you, the damage is primarily my time. I called the credit card company and asked if I could dispute the charges and if I could stop Vital Basics from making charges in the future. The credit card company said that charges could only be disputed after the monthly statement was issued (I check charges via the internet and so see them before they are billed). They also said there was no way to stop Vital Basics from charging my card in the future. I wrote Vital Basics a letter exactly according to the format you posted and sent it via Certified Mail. The letter specified that they were not authorized to charge my card, to refund all money charged to date, etc. We'll see what happens.
Daniel of Yakima WA (02/04/04)
I ordered a bottle of Focus Factor from Vital Basics in response to their "free " offer ($4.95 shipping). I was leery of them and told the represenattive repeatedly that I did not want to enroll in any automatic payment program or any of the dozen or so other offers she tried to entice me into. Several weeks passed after the initial charge of $4.95 was deducted from my debt card and I still had not received the product so I called them.
I told the representative that I had not received the product, did not want their product, and did not wish to ever have anything to do with their company again. That day they charged my account $159.85 despite me repeatedly telling them that I did not want their product. To make a long story short, my bank tells me that the only recourse is to close my account, otherwise this company may continue to withdraw funds indefinately.
Rebecca of Kerrville TX (12/13/03)
In November of 2003 I ordered a trial offer of Focus Factor for $4.95. At that time, I let them know that I was only wanting to try the product. They said that there would be information with my order to purchase more products if desired. Less than 30 days later my account was charged $109.85. They did not have my consent. I noticed the debit from my account because I was checking my account online. Thank you for the assistance with the demand letter. I'm going to have the bank on Monday start the reversal process and I will follow up with the demand letter.
Rebecca of Mound MN (1/10/05):
I am complaining about the Vital Basics Omega Plan, that it does not count for the doctors that I go to or the pharmacy or chiropractor etc. I am unhappy that I paid out over $400.00 to this company and all I got were 3 bottles of Omega 3 and only 3 bottles of Focus Factor. The first bottle of Focus Factor came with one bottle free for $75 dollars, then I received another bottle that I did not need, so I sent it back.
The amount of the bottles of all that I received did not amount to $400.00 dollars, plus I can't even use the discount card. I would like to see some of my money back.
Betty of Studio City CA (12/2/04):
I too called and asked for a trial bottle of Vital Basic's Focus Factor. I received the bottle, but, as well, each month another bottle was sent to me and billed on my credit card. I did not order any product. I had previously been a customer of Vital Basic and ordered the product Focus Factor shipped to me, but in larger quantity (six per shipment). I called and explained this and the shipments and billings immediately stopped. (I informed them that I already WAS a customer.) I as well understood I was being stolen from by this billing and shipping of this product.
This is not an inexpensive product. For me, at this time, an extra $50 could mean an overdraft in my bank account.
Kim of Milwaukee (8/4/04):
This company took money out of my checking account without authorization. I never contacted them to order anything. I was going over the withdrawals on my checking account and noticed a $99.90 withdrawal that I did not make. I called the 1-800 number the bank provided me with and this company was very uncooperative and evasive. When I asked what type of services they provide, she changed the subject. They asked me repeatedly for my personal information, such as bank account numbers, address, etc. I refused to give it to them. I told them that they must have all that information to take the money out of my checking account.
As a result of this, numerous checks have bounced, including July, 2004 rent and the checks I wrote to my new landlord for a security deposit. For checks that have been returned NSF, I got charged $25 every time, which is creating financial hardship to me because I have direct deposit for my payroll. When my job deposits my check, the bank takes the fees, lopping 1/3 right off the top. I have sent a letter to Vital Basics demanding they refund me and take no further monies out of my account.
Jessica of Baltimore (5/17/04):
I ordered Vital Basic's Focus Factor vitamin supplement from a television ad. The vitamins never came; instead, $159.85 disappeared from my bank account. I mailed them the Consumer Affairs letter demanding my money back, and they called, telling me that they'd send me the pills and upon receiving them, I should return them and then my money would be refunded through depositing it back into my bank. It's been several weeks, rather than the few days promised, and I've seen neither vitamins nor money.
Anthony of Louisville KY (4/16/04):
I saw a television advertisment for Focus Factor. The pitch was that they would send you a free trial of their product if I'd pay the $4.95 for shipping. Along with the Focus Factor they asked to include another product Omega 3 for an additional $5.00 in shipping. I repeatedly asked not to receive any more bottles and was assured that I would not. I provided them my credit card information to pay for shipping charges. About three weeks later I received two bottles in the mail (One bottle of Focus Factor and another of Omega 3). That same month my credit card bill reflected a $199.95 charge and a $9.95 charge billed by Vital Basics.
When I called them to dispute the charges that they originally made abudantly clear would not be made I was disconnected. Upon calling back I was immediately disconnected again. I called American Express, who paid the charge, and explained the senario. They opened an investigation and during the interm credited my account. One month later I received correspondence from American Express advising that the charges were being reinstated. I am prepared to file suit in Federal Court.
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