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America's Law Line

Who, what and where America's Lawline might be is a mystery to us ... and, apparently to many of thsoe who've unintentionally paid for the firm's services, whatever they might be. One common thread is that many of those who've been charged by Lawline also ordered Chitosol, a supposed weight-loss potion.

April of Decatur GA writes (9/19/02):
Just like many other consumers, my Visa Check Card account was charged for the amount of $97 back in November of 2000. I was refunded the $97, but a week later it was charged again to my checking account. I called for months afterward trying to get the money refunded, but they told me that there were so many refund requests that they were sending the refunds out in batches and my refund was probably in one of those batches that was not sent out.

After waiting a few months, I called back and the number was not in service. I have been trying to get in contact with the company over the past two years and have recently found this website. Also, when I put in the website www.americaslawline.com it redirects me to the Amera Legal website that says "this site also serves America's Law line members." I thought that finally I had found the company, but when I called they said that they were not affiliated with America's Law Line and did not know why that was on the website.

During that time I was a struggling independent college student, with little income. I was working with Equifax, but my department moved out of the state so we were all laid off on November 30, 2000, which was during the time this all happened, so you can imagine that I needed all my money. Not to mention that I have a child and Christmas was approaching. $97 may not seem like much, but when things start bouncing out of your account, the $28 fee plus $25 fee the company charges you adds up. I was really stressed out during that time and its a shame that people would do this.

Christine of Woodbridge CT writes (1/11/02):
I have had an ongoing dispute with America's Law Line since November 2000. My bank statement from November showed a charge of $97.00 from them on November 10, 2000 using my Visa Check Card. I called to complain because I never placed an order with them. I was told that they did not have my address on file for the charge and would credit my account. Nobody could tell me who made the charge using my account.

I was credited for the $97.00 on December 15, 2000. My January bank statement showed the charge of $97.00 again on January 4, 2001. I don’t know how it got charged because I canceled my Visa Check Card after the first incident. I have made numerous phone calls to America's Law Line and nobody could give me an answer and another refund was never issued. On yet another attempt to call them, I got a voice message on their 1-800 number that said that refunds were in progross. It also gave a PO Box to write to. I wrote to them and the letter got returned to me!

My bank would NOT refund me the $97. Since Law Line kept insisting my refund would come, I waited over 3 months to make a 2nd claim to my bank. That exceeded the limit allowed for a refund. I have spend many hours trying to get my money back!

Alonzo of Richmond VA (9/13/01):
I ordered a product called Chitosol and was asked if I wanted to subscribe to the America's Law Line. I replied NO! Apparently, they passed my credit card information to America's Law Line without my permission. When contacted they said it was done in error and they couldn't do anything about it and referred me to Amerca's Law Line.

I called them and they refunded my account for the $100.00 and the next month debited my account again for $100.00. I called them again and they said they were going to refund my money again back in Feb., and as of yet they have not done so. When I call they keep saying they will refund it, but they keep giving me the run around.

I am a college student and this unauthorized action caused me financial difficulty. Checks bounced, rent was paid late, and I was without grocery money.

Caerri of Norman, OK (7/30/01):
A $97 charge was made to my debit card with out my permission about a year ago. I just got something in the mail that notified me that they were going to bill me again unless I called to cancel. I called and got only verbal affirmation that my account had been canceled. I still don't know what this company is or where it came from.

I lost my 97 dollars and would have lost more but I opened what appeared to be junk mail in a moment of boredom. Bless summer. $97 is a lot of money to a college freshman.

Vicki of Gardnerville, NV (6/14/01):
I too have been a victim of Lawline. Have been trying since December 2000 to get a refund. The first few months I was told it was being processed and to be patient. Then when I called I only got a recording -- left my name and number several times. Now when I call the line is always busy even at 11 pm, 1, 2, 3 AM which leads me to believe they have packed up and left.

Pam of Swanton, MD, writes (5/16/01):
I have a friend, Melody, whose checking account was debited 97.00 by "lawline.com" on 11-02-2000. She never signed up for the service and apparently they got her account information from another company she ordered a product from by phone. When she called they said it would be refunded within 14 days.

On December 18, 2000 her account was credited $97.00, however on January 4,2001 America's Law Line reversed credit her account for $97.00. The 800 no. only takes voice messages and numerous requests have me made without the Company contacting my friend.

Norma of Laredo, TX writes (5/7/01):
I have a credit card, but have sometimes borrowed my boss' credit card to order items. I then pay my boss cash for the items ordered. My boss told me that his credit card had been charged $97.00 due to me ordering Lawline services, which I did not. I work with the Police Department, and my boss is now upset with me for the charge to his credit card.

I do not want to lose my job or get in any kind of trouble being that I do work with the police department. My boss wants the company to credit his credit card ASAP. This happened in January and no credit as of yet. I have called them about 10 times and get the same response, my check will be mailed in a week or two due to many calls and complaints.

I have been stressed out, my boss does not trust me, he thinks I did this knowingly. He is not the same toward me, and I received a bad evaluation for using his credit card without his consent. He said that it was the same thing as theft. I have been working with him and can't even look at him in the eye. It caused me to lose out financially (evaluation) and my boss' faith and trust in me. I had had headaches, get very nervous, and even sick to my stomach.

Norma should show this site to her boss. It's not her fault this happened. And, since it's too late to dispute the charge with the credit card company, Norma should cough up $97 and repay her boss ... fast.

Janet of La Plata, MD, writes (5/14/01):
During December 2000, I ordered Chitosol, which was advertised on TV as an aid to weight loss from Beacon Marketing. I am still trying to get a refund from them. The issue is also that I got a charge on my VISA from Lawline MD for $97.00. When I called to inquiry about this supposed purchase, I was told by someone named Lloyd that Beacon Marketing had informed them that I wanted the service and they charged my credit card. What we have here is Beacon Marketing sharing my credit card number with another company who charged for a service (still not sure what service it is) that I did not order or authorize.

I am out $97.00 as it seems and am angry that this type of thing goes on. I am worried about people who can ill afford this happening to them and am hopeful that something can be done to stop this.

Mathilda of Dryden, NY, writes (4/30/01):
On January 12,2001 I noticed a $97.00 charge to my checking account. I called and was told that I had a 30 free trail of America's Law Line and that the 30 period had expired. I told them clearly that I had never ordered it not had I ever given them permission to withdraw any money from my account and that I expected a full refund ASAP. I was told I would have the money within 30 days.

After calling back at least 3 other times I still have not received a refund. In fact, I was told that they only collected money for the Law Line and that a previous company had not done a good job refunding money and they were the ones to blame for my late coming refund. As near as I can figure out, my husband had ordered something off tv (a tool for $5.00 that was worth maybe a dollar) and that is how they got our account number.

Fran of New Orleans wirtes (4/9/01):
In October 2000 I ordered Chitosol. With that order, they sent my credit card number to Law Line and I received a packet from them. They immediately charged my card $97.00. I called them and told them I did not need the service and to remove the charge. They have yet to remove the charge. Every time I call they tell me it will come off the next billing cycle. I do not know what else to do to get them to give me my money back. I call them on a monthly basis and there is always some excuse as to why the charge has not been removed.

Kelly of Decatur, GA, writes (3/26/01):
I too am having problems with America's Lawline. I still have not received my credit of $97 x2. The actually debited my account twice, once in November and once in January. As of March 20th, Lawline was to overnight me a check for the money owed me. It is now 3/26 and I have yet to receive the check. Also, now when you call their one and only number, you do not get to speak to anyone anymore. Their phone system puts you on "hold" immediately.

Between me and my friends we have gone up to 3 hours on hold. Like some of the other letters I have read concerning America's Lawline, I too have bounced many checks because of this unauthorized debit. I have not received the money for the bounced check fees either. After faxing and sending my bank statements to Americas Lawline since the end of November, I have now been told that they have no record of anything that I have ever sent or that they had never heard from me previuosly. I have to admit that my financial institution has finally paid these fees and credited my account back all of the money that was mine. They are now going to go after America's Lawline.

As of today 3-14-01, I have not received my $97.00 refund and after being given numerous bogus timelines as to when my money will be given back to me, I was told today that Americas Law Line doesn't know when they will return my money to me. On 2-13-01 I called the only number I have for them (1-800-373-6615) and was "promised" I would have my money by 2-28-01. Due to this lie I have now bounced 2 checks from this stolen money not being returned.

This has caused me financial loss and stress as I don't make enough to budget this kind of surprise loss. I need this money to pay back the money I borrowed to satisify the 2 bounced checks I had from believing the person on the phone.

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