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Barton Publishing

Barton Publishing review: Overcharging 58

M
Author of the review
4:40 am EDT
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I ordered an electronic PDF download of a report about suggested dietary regimes for curing acid reflux at a total cost of $17.00. I also added a couple of "free" offers as a part of the order. However, after submitting my credit card details, I received an email detailing my order which totaled $48.95 as it included a hard copy to be sent to my home as well as a "VIP" upgrade giving me access to the "free" reports. I had also ticked a box which offered 2 months free trial access to WellnessWatchersMD, a website relating to healthy living. The confirmatory email (from Barton Publishing) stated that I was now committed to a monthly subscription to this website unless I canceled it in 14 days, and that Wellness would email me with login details in order to do this. So far I haven't heard from Wellness.

Have emailed Barton Publishing and await their reply.

Martin.

58 comments
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peter
Aug 20, 2008 10:32 am EDT

Martin,

did the remedy work? I'm looking for some natural ways to pass my 3 kidney stones...

thanks

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Marina Waters
Aug 21, 2008 12:44 pm EDT

Martin,
Did you ever receive a refund or response? I had the same experience except I was charged over $250.00 and sent a variety of herbs to my home. I am furious as I made careful attempts to be sure NOT to authorize anything but the $17.00 initial fee. I am prepared to file a small claim to get my money back and also write a complaint to the FTC. Curious if you or others are interested in joining the complaint. I never do things like this, but I am so offended by this companies bad business practices.

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Bob
Aug 24, 2008 9:34 am EDT

Martin,
I strongly suggest you get onto your bank immediately re WellnessWatchersMD. In my opinion their practices amount to theft and should be stopped! Like you, I ordered a book from Barton Publishing, ticked no boxes and was still mysteriously signed up to WellnessWatchersMD's "free trial". How come they can do this when I've never even heard of WellnessWatchersMD never mind given them my credit card details. All I wanted was the book I ordered and paid for! I thought using your credit card through a secure server was safe - obviously not!
Bob.

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lara
Sep 18, 2008 4:53 pm EDT

I contacted WellnessWatchersMD support@WellnessWatchersMD.com or [protected] (outside of the United States call [protected])Monday - Friday 9am-9pm eastern.

Someone did answer the phone & so far they de-activated my account, they emailed me a confirmation that it has been de-activated.

I too went to Barton Publishing to order an online downloadable Anti reflux remedy but they trap you into all these other offers. What they are doing FRAUDULENTLY is that when you press confirm/checkout most other online websites go through a 2-3step process where you check out, then it tallies up what you have purchased & you have the option to add & delete. Then you do a subtotal again then once you are ok with everything you can submit then your Credit card is processed. But Barton Publishing does not do that, they skip a couple of steps & without seeing any totals, or subtotals or any options for editing you already have confirmed & your shipment has been processed. THAT IS FRAUDULENT. I only wanted to buy $9.95 downloadable acid reflux report & somehow ended up with $59.95 worth of products, plus a free trial with WellnessWatchersMD's.

I called my bank immediately & I am disputing this claim, I will pay for only $9.95 but nothing else. I contacted WellnessWatchersMD's, luckily I actually spoke to a real person & I hope it is not fake & they remove my details.

Barton Publishing I have left voice messages & about 30emails to cancel my order & all my personal information. They have not responded & I have been waiting 3 days. I think they are a SCAM. Absolutely appalled they are doing this.

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Steve
Sep 25, 2008 3:55 am EDT

I too got scamed from them with their gout remedy cure, and their enrollment fees for with WellnessWatchersMD's( that I knew nothing about)
Asked for a refund for the cure because it was all a scam. NONE OF IT WORKED. THEY GUARANTEED 100% SATISFACTION OR YOUR MONEY REFUNDED. I've been waiting over a week for an answer about my refund. Nothing yet.. I will report them to the BBB in their state.
DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING FROM THESE SCAM ARTIST

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Winfried Jutz
Oct 02, 2008 2:00 pm EDT

This is a scam.
Items are tagged on to your order without realizing it until it's too late.
Warning to all: Don't do any business with this company!

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Rob
Oct 08, 2008 8:40 pm EDT

Now I feel silly. I was just looking for a natural remedy and fell victim to the same scam. Wish something could be done to get scammers like this. I'd watch very carefully for other fraudulent charges on you card as well.

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 09, 2008 1:44 am EDT

I just went through this whole SCAM routine with Barton and WellnesswatchersMD. Barton didn't tack anything extra onto my order with him, but he gave all my personal info including my credit card number to Wellness. Sure nuff they put a charge of $29.00 on my card. We caught it early and told the credit card company not to honor the charge. It was to be a monthly recurring charge for using their rip off website. If you don't check your credit card bills carefully you can run up a tidy sum with them. They fight like hell when you call them on it and both stick to their guns that you are obligated to pay because you didn't cancel within their self imposed 14 day time period. They didn't get away with it with me, but it was a fight. They think they can sell you anything simply by sending you an email and telling you they are going to do it. I have reported their ### to the FBI. You guys should do the same. They have a simple form to fill out on their webpage. Go to this webpage to make your report:
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
I have also referred the FBI to this site to read you guy's comments on these jerks. Don't let the ### get away with it.

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Joe Barton
Oct 09, 2008 11:15 pm EDT

First of all, I'd like to reassure people that Barton Publishing is not defrauding or scamming people. We are forthright in our marketing, and anyone who reads the offer page for Wellness Watchers MD can easily choose NOT to sign up for it.

We clearly tell people (not in small print - it's right out in the open) that if they choose to accept the 2 free bonus gifts of a $25 gift card (to Wal-mart or Target), and 14 days of a personal health consultant, they will later be billed $29.95 if they don't cancel within 14 days. We also provide the toll-free phone number up front: [protected] (outside of the United States call [protected])Monday - Friday 9am-9pm eastern.

In addition to the clear writing on our website, they receive an email that restates what they agreed to. Then, Wellness Watchers MD contacts each new subscriber within 2 days with 1) a welcoming letter in the mail, 2) a welcoming email, and 3) a welcoming phone call.

So the charge 14 days later should not come as a surprise.

Unfortunately, some people don't bother reading what is clearly written on our website... and then later come to complaint boards online and express their frustration, despite our best efforts to remedy the situation.

I'd like everyone to know that ALL OF THE ABOVE CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN REFUNDED PROMPTLY.

If you have ordered from us and would like a refund, please email support [at] bartonpublishing.com, or call [protected]. We will reply to your message within 1-2 business days.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me personally at joe [at] bartonpublishing.com

Yours for excellent health,

Joe Barton, CEO
Barton Publishing Inc.

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 12, 2008 12:47 am EDT

The article in defense of his Businesses Scam activities by Joey Barton, is a nice story, but there is very little truth in it and what it does say makes very little sense at all.
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First of all I received no WellnessWatchersMD offer sheet. Thus I did not sign up for it.
I also did not receive an e-mail from Barton stating what I agreed to. I could not have since I had not agreed to anything. Why would Barton feel they needed to send me that email if I had already legitimately committed to the sale? All part of the SCAM

I also did not receive any of the following: 1) a welcoming letter in the mail, 2) a welcoming email, and 3) a welcoming phone call. Makes no difference if I did or did not, they do not have the right to sell me something I did not specifically order regardless of how many times they “Welcome” me and I AM NOT OBLIGED TO EVEN READ THEIR SNAIL MAIL OR E-MAIL.

I found the following in an Internet post relating to credit card fraud. It precisely describes what Barton and Wellness are doing:

"Web Firms Sharing Credit Card Numbers
Last night, we appeared in a DC Fox-5 (WTTG) investigative story exposing how web sites share credit card numbers with third parties and the third parties bill the credit cards for products the consumer didn't knowingly order. It's an old scam that's moved from telemarketers to the Internet"

Sound Familiar?

I just rechecked their website and found no mention of WellnessWatchers.MD. Even did a search. Perhaps they mean they tell you all about it when you order. I saw nothing when I made my order and even if I had seen something that fact does not constitute permission for them to order anything for me nor does it allow them to furnish my personal information to a third party so that the third party may use it to sell me their services. There was no response to my question to Barton as to where he got the authority or permission to peddle my personal information to a third party. Tough question to finesse huh Joey? They need a firm positive commitment from you in order to sell you anything. I found the following on my receipt from them on my legitimate e-book order only after I discovered the SCAM.

" Gifts 1 FREE $25.00 Giftcard, FREE doctor's 0.00
Advice Worth Over $149.00, and 2
FREE Weeks of WellnessWatchersMD -
Starting After 14 Day Free Trial
it's just $29.95/MO. To stay
Enrolled, billed by
WellnessWatchersMD - For More Info
Visit:

I don’t recall seeing it at the time and would have ignored it if I had. During the order process itself I saw nothing pertaining to WellnessMD whatsoever. If it had been there I would definitely have rejected it given the opportunity.

Anybody see anything in that receipt where I was given an opportunity to reject or accept the offer? I don’t even see an offer. About all it does is imply (and that is a stretch) that you will be given a choice.

Anybody think that their printing of the above on your receipt gives them the right to peddle your personal information to a third party and order services you have not agreed to? Anybody see anything in there that says “You will be charged $29.95/mo after 14 days if you do not take action to cancel it”
Anybody know of anything that requires you to read anything they may write on your receipt or in an e-mail? Or to even look at the receipt or e-mail? Anyone ever hear of a contract being legal if it is not signed? I received no notification of any kind, telephone or e-mail, having to do with this Wellness order. We do not talk to telemarketers making unsolicited calls to us. If it is an 800 number that we do not recognize, we simply reject the call. This, of course, is in order not to be bothered by all the SCAMMERS in that business. Barton and the Wellness people know full well that people do not read all the SPAM mail or e-mail that they receive and there is absolutely no requirement that they do so, yet they go ahead and charge you $29.95 per month on a recurring basis and hang their hat on the fact that you didn’t tell them not to. I don’t care if they called me a thousand times and e-mailed me a like number, they still do not have a legal right to make that sale. It is as simple as that. It takes two to enter into any contract, written or verbal.

I dare say few of us would get much sleep if we felt that this was legal and that there may well be other companies with demands for sales hidden in our SPAM mail or SPAM e-mail..

How, pray tell, can you tell them not to sell you the service when you have no idea that they are going to do it? Further, , even if you did get their e-mail, you do not have to respond to it. They cannot tell you they are going to sell you something unless you jump through some hoops they have erected in order not to be sold something that you neither ordered nor wanted. They also know full well that many people use SPAM filters on their e-mail as I do, and that those e-mails are directed to a Junk folder and later deleted unread. All e-mails from senders that are not on your approved senders list go to the junk folder. How many people would just happen to have a company such as WellnessWatchersMD.com on their approved senders list? Do you think that Barton and the Wellness people do not know this? Reputable companies DO NOT operate in this manner and anyone with any sense at all knows that.

If Barton and WellnessWatchers.MD intended to be on the up and up, they would, in the Wellness Welcoming SPAM, offer you the opportunity to accept their order and give you a link where you could make the order yourself instead of selling you by forfeit. No good though from their perspective as it would cut the blazes out of their SCAM sales.

Anybody see where Joey has addressed the question of the overcharging? Wouldn’t he have if there was a legitimate excuse for it? Probably just computer error, right Joey? Anybody think that a $250.00 charge on a $17.00 dollar order is just an inadvertent error? And what of all the others who were overcharged and didn’t catch it? Anybody think they got refunds? .

Those of us who have posted here know full well that this is a SCAM. Joey’s response is simply to hoodwink other potential customers, simple as that. Don‘t fall for it folks and don’t let them get away with it either.

Tell you what guys and gals, if Joey and Wellness can get away with this, we may all have stumbled onto a way to become fabulously wealthy. I live in Hawaii. I could create a website called “A Pictorial Vacation in Paradise.” I could fill it with beautiful scenic photos. I could then, by hook or crook, obtain a bunch of peoples personal information (names, e-mail addresses and especially their credit card numbers). Perhaps I could purchase them from another company, that I knew was in that kind of business, at a flat fee and a percentage of the profits on each. I would then send out an e-mail telling them all that they had been chosen to receive a 14 day FREE trial to the use of my website and that it would be only $29.95/mo thereafter unless they cancelled within the 14 days. I would of course in all fairness put up new photos on a regular basis. I mean we do not want to cheat our customers. The SPAM e-mails would go unread and the money would pour in. Sure, some might catch it and cancel within the 14 days, but if too many did I would simply change the trial period to 1 day. Why give the suckers a break, right? That probably would result in a 100% sales success. Anyone who complained would be told that yes, I would cancel their account, but that the first month charge of $29.95 would have to be paid since they had not cancelled in the required time. Sound familiar?

Eureka guys and gals, we have finally found that perfect home business we have all been dreaming of!

Check out the complaints of Barton’s buddies at WellnessWatchers.MD.com here Really nice business partners to have.. http://www.complaintsboard.com/byurl/wellnesswatchersmd.com.html

My purpose in going to all this trouble is to prevent others from being SCAMMED and to perhaps convince Barton and Wellness to change their ways. I am not in any business and am not competing with either of these companies. I’m just a 75 year old senior citizen who doesn’t like to get taken advantage of or see others cheated.

Remember friends, it is our fault this has happened because we are too dumb to read all of our SPAM snail mail and SPAM e-mails.

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Dan
Oct 12, 2008 4:07 am EDT

Earlier today I went ahead and ordered one of their reports, despite the comments here.

-First, I was asked if I wanted to choose 3 more report for 19.95, which seemed like a good deal so I said yes.

-Next, I was asked if I wanted a printed copy by mail - I only wanted the download PDF version, so I said no.

-Lastly, I was presented with the Wellness trialoffer - with this you also got a 25.oo giftcard to target or walmart + a free phone consultation with a doctor from Wellness, but in order to get those 2 things you had to accept a 14-days of service for 29.95 billed later, seemed like a tempting offer, but I also said no to this. Not actually seeing any fault in this, as it is very common these days.

My receipt indicated that I was only charged for the report I wanted and the 3 additional reports I wanted, so I didn't see any wrong doing by this company... Seems like they sell pretty inexpensive products so overall I have no beef.

Oh yeah, because I had previously came to this board before ordering and was skeptical, I called them to ensure my order was A-ok, left a voicemail and was called back by a very nice young lady who assured me that everything was fine. My understanding of all it is that they are a rapidly growing company that gets 1000's of orders, perhaps daily (they have nearly 100 websites!), so just about every company that size is going to have errors and a few unsatisfied customers, but by no means does this reflect on the overall customer satisfaction (or at least I'm satisfied). The report was actually pretty awesome and I was impressed with the customer support.

my 2 cents anyway - I'd say if you order to just read the offers and if you don't want them say no - kinda like they tell women to say to chant to men "No means No, No Means No" - or kids to stay off drugs "Just Say No"... My best guess is that complainers here probably accidentally said yes or didn't realize what they where say yes too - Golden Rule quoted by the smartest man I know, "Always think before you stink and if you smell don't blame others".

Peace to the crease,

Dan

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 14, 2008 2:29 pm EDT

Dan,

Despite your superior intellect, it appears you didn't fully comprehend what the above complainers were saying. They too, like you, thought their order was correct and were satisfied with it. They became disenchanted when the charges from Wellness showed up on their accounts after they too had said no or had not even been given an opportunity to say no like in my case. Do you really believe that people like the above, who are clever enough to seek out this method of complaining, are not capable of enough intelligence to "Just say no" to a very simple question? You also ignore the overcharging.. That cannot be explained by your superior intelligence and our stupidity. Also, if you were Barton and knew the the law would probably be coming around to check you out, wouldn't you clean up your act? Certainly you wouldn't continue with your scaming. activities.

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 14, 2008 3:54 pm EDT

One last post (I hope) on this Barton/Wellness SCAM.

Barton is obviously working as an affiliate of WellnessWatchers.MD.

Why don't they operate in the normal affiliate manner and give their speel on why WellnessWathersMD is worth $360.00 per year and then give you a URL link to Wellness, which would include Barton's affiliate identity so Barton would be credited with the sale?

You, then, would be able to directly take action to order the services if you so desired and there would be no question whether you wanted it or not.

The answer, of course, is darn few sales and less income for Barton/Wellness.

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samantha rudston
Oct 16, 2008 2:03 am EDT

they told me they have sent me a full refund i look into my account yhis morning yes a rfund went in but then they have took it straight back its a scam where my refund?

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Joe Barton
Brandon, US
Oct 16, 2008 10:11 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Gerald,

A little over a week ago, we changed our Wellness Watchers MD offer page wording slightly, so it is now more clear. Some people were clicking the "Continue" button and not reading the text on the page, thus agreeing to the terms & conditions and privacy policy, as well as the trial-offer for Wellness Watchers.

It now says "Choose below, Yes or No".

It is technologically impossible to go through our order process and have WWMD added to your order unless you clicked that "Continue" or "Yes" button - so I strongly disagree with your allegations and assumptions.

Again, if anyone has a problem with your order, if you want to cancel or need a refund with WWMD, you can contact their customer support here - http://www.wellnesswatchersmd.com/customerservice

We have taken drastic measures in the past week to improve the clarity of our sales process, and we hope you'll trust our integrity.

We do not want a bad reputation, and if you read Dan's comments above, you will get a genuine feel for how we do business and treat our customers.

Thank you, Dan!

For excellent health,
Joe Barton, CEO
Barton Publishing Inc.

p.s. Gerald, if you have any further comments, please email me directly to discuss before making false allegations and sharing your frustrations with the complaint board.

p.p.s. Wellness Watchers MD provides an EXCELLENT value for a low monthly cost. It is like having a doctor on call and a health coach at your disposal, whenever you need it. With the rising costs of healthcare and the slumping economy, this is an excellent value for everyone who accepts this offer - and there is no risk to give it a try.

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 17, 2008 9:48 pm EDT

Samantha,

I hope you have gotten your refund situation straightened out, but if you haven't, call your credit card bank, tell them the story and tell them that you are disputing the charge and for them not to pay it.

Which company is doing this to you? Barton or WellnessWatchersMD? Doesn't sound like something Barton would do, but Wellness certain would.

Good luck.

Jerry

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Lynda
Oct 18, 2008 2:14 pm EDT

It's nice to see all of these comments, but not one person said whether the reflux remedy worked? Anyone?

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goosain
Oct 18, 2008 6:30 pm EDT

Same complaint here in South Africa. Surely a seemingly astute businessman/health- concerned person like Mr Barton should know that his sales tactics and and fraudulent manner of overcharging customers is seriously flawed if not downright dishonest. I have sent an e-mail through to Barton publisher's. Failure to refund my money and stop further deductions, will mean that I will refer others to this site and the complaints therein related to this company, and comment aggressively on other sites to make others aware, not only of Barton Publisher's, but other similar money-seeking charlatans who prey on unsuspecting individuals. We are made to believe that dealing on the internet in money matters is safe and reliable. Obviously this is not so. Our faith in the cyber world has been given a heavy blow. We hope that by dealing with Mr Barton and his ilk our faith will be restored.
p.s. I am not convinced by Mr barton's attempts to redress the situation. There are far too many complaints to ascribe it to customer ignorance or technological glitches.

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 18, 2008 6:38 pm EDT

Hi Goosain,

Thanks for backing me Goosain. I was beginning to feel like the lone ranger on here. Stay tuned. More to come.

Aloha,

Jerry

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Mike
Oct 18, 2008 6:41 pm EDT

Martin, Steve, Gerald, Samantha, Dan or Lara,

Like Jerry I would like to know if Barton's reports are worth the money or better yet "cure" your heartburn problem.

I'm lucky enough to have a good bank. One phone call and any phony or scam charges are instantly removed from my bank account and the merchant VISA account number associated with the scammer is forever blocked against my account (at no charge to me from my bank). Believe me if do decide to buy one of Barton's reports I will be checking my account immediately and ready speed dial to my bank.

Sure would like some good news. I've used all of the over-the-counter and prescribed medicines Barton mentions in their online ad. I just need/want relief. If a couple of you can give the thumbs up it would be great.

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Mike
Oct 18, 2008 6:55 pm EDT

Correction I meant Lynda not Jerry...Jerry I know you've had probelm with Barton but did any of their advise or information help?

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 18, 2008 6:58 pm EDT

Hi Lynda,

It worked for me. I used only the top ranked method of taking 1 teaspoon of pure honey whenever I felt the need. I would take a teaspoon of the honey first thing in the morning and that was usually good for the day unless I pigged out. If I did pig out, another teaspoon of the honey usually did the job. Occasionally I had to go to the purple pill for relief, but that was seldom.

I now seem to have cured the problem permanently using the method explained at this link:

http://jimhumble.biz/

I no longer need to use the honey or the purple pill.This protocol has also lowered my high blood pressure to a point where I have cut my blood pressure medicine by 2/3 and still have normal readings.

It truly does seem to be a Miracle Solution and at $20.00 per year does indeed beat the blazes out of the Barton/WellnessMD SCAM system. I doubt if we will ever be reading about it on the WellnessMD pages. I sure won't whether it is there or not!

Aloha,

Jerry

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 18, 2008 8:16 pm EDT

Hi Goosain,

I'm sure you will be hearing from Barton soon, both by e-mail and on here, as they are busy with damage control and crawling out of the corner they have painted themselves into.

If you do not get a prompt refund, or even if you do and wish to pursue the SCAM claim in an attempt to force them to stop, may I suggest you report their activities to the FBI as I have:

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

This is an interagency office specialzing in Internet crime.

Jerry

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Gerald Mills
US
Oct 19, 2008 12:33 am EDT

Joe Barton,

Take a look at the post that follows. See anything familiar? The writer appears to be making the very same “False accusations” you accuse me of. I hasten to point out that you were not involved in the SCAM she describes, but the modus operandi is nearly exactly the same as the one you have been running with WWMD.

Also please note that she also did not receive ANY communication from anybody telling her anything about the sale. Exactly as I have claimed. I stated in my e-mail to you that I was now only about 50% sure that you were knowingly involved in this SCAM. I take that back. You are back up to 100% in my view. You stated in your e-mail to me that you had never heard of anyone other than me not receiving any communication pertaining to the sale. Now you have. Her story is nearly identical to mine.

There is no way this can be mere coincidence. Wellness is obviously involved with other companies in this SCAM and they all seem to operate in very nearly the same way. Did WWMD suggest the manner in which you should construct your sales page? Sure looks like it

I hope all you other readers of this complaint board take heed and stay away from doing business with these two companies. Even if you are convinced that they won’t pull the SCAM on you at this time, they still do not deserve your business.

There are other posts at the following URL that further describe the same things that Barton was/is doing in league with WWMD such as the Terms and conditions where the purchase is disguised:

/URL removed/?q1=ALL&q2=&q3=&q4=&q5=&q7=&q6=Wellness%20Watchers%20MD&searchtype=0

The post I refer to follows and can be read directly here:

/URL removed/

“I just read a report filed against this company on your site. I felt the need to file another. I also read the rebuttal from Wellness Watchers MD. In my case, I have not received any emails, phone calls or postal mail from this company. Granted, I have filters on the email account so any unsolicited correspondance would/could have been eliminated via spam. However, I do not have any such protection on my phone or postal mailbox. If I was sent anything via postal mail, it never made it. I read every piece of mail I receive, even the junk mail and nothing has come from either name used by this company. If any phone contact was illicited, I never spoke with anyone from this company and no messages have been in my voicemail from either name used by this establishment. I do not think that there would be an issue with all three forms of communication. So far, I have only been charged $1.00 per my credit card statement on 09-04-2008. When my statement arrived on 09-16-2008 I immediately began calling the number listed for this company and have only gotten a recording. The only information on my credit card statement was a telephone number for this company [protected]) and the charge listed from wellness md. No location, no explanation of what the charge was, no account number and I had no idea what this was. After having issues with the phone number provided, I decided to research this company via the internet. However, only being provided the name wellness md on the statement - I was unable to find a direct website. I did, however, find countless complaints on several fraud alert sites about charges to credit cards that were unauthorized. Also, similar experiences as mine in that no email, telephone or postal mail contact had been received. Also listed in these complaints were the issues such as mine with trying to contact this company for a resolution. These same issues continued to be noted, such as only getting a recording on the '800' number and no other information for follow - up. From the many complaints, I was able to obtain the website information under the name Wellness Watchers MD, not Wellness MD as the charge is listed on the credit card statement. I have sent an email to support@wellnesswatchersmd.com on 10-01-2008. This is when I finally found information to link the two together. I wrote an email request that no further charges be issued to my card as I had not received any goods, services or communication from such a company. Hopefully, they will honor this request. As of 09-16-2008, I had only been charged $1.00. I do not have my statement yet for any new charges that my have been submitted. If I signed up for anything from this company, I was surely unaware of it. If so many people are having these same issues, it seems there is validity to these claims. If enrollment was really authorized, straight forward and legit - why are there so many complaints of fraud. I feel their tactics are underhanded at best, especially when resources are not provided to the consumer to cancel something that is apparently marketed as a 'Free Trail Period'. I may have signed up for something in some fine print somewhere, but I'm not sure I did. Regardless, I never received anything from this company by any means of communication stating that I was enrolled in something, that I had x number of days to 'try' their product or service or any information on how to cancel said enrollment. I was lucky enough to get a statement within 15 day window from my credit card and noticed the charge. But even with that information, was unable to contact this company to find out what the charges were, what the product or service was or any options avaiable without much research and time. Having just sent the email today, after having to research a way to get in contact with this company - 27 days after my credit card was charged, I do not know if any more charges have hit my card or how this company will handle my personal situation. I hope they will, in turn, rectify my situation in a professional manner unlike the circumstances continually voiced by 100's of people about wellness md on many internet fraud alert sites.”

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Kimberly
Oct 19, 2008 5:55 pm EDT

Greetings to all,

A family member ordered something from Barton Publishing Co just under 3 days ago. I decided to check out the info about the company online and found many complaints about WellnessWatchersMD. I was leary after reading the statement, which Barton DID mail promptly and it contained all the information about the free 14 day trial. As the email contained the affore mentioned 800 number to cancel, I called it, they are closed on the weekend. I sent an email to WWMD to say we are cancelling. I called our credit card company, checked the last 5 transactions and the charge of $19.95 for the report was not there. We have cancelled our credit card so the charge will not go through. The family member said they remember checking the box they did not want the 14 day trial but they may have checked the box w/the freebies...hence the 14 day trial would have been put into effect. As the charge is not there now and the card is cancelled, we should not be billed...hopefully. This is why when someone on a phone call asks if I want a Free Trial Offer, I always say no as I am too busy to remember 14 days later. I have just told my family the same thing.

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Mark Robinson
AE
Oct 27, 2008 8:43 pm EDT

Well, lucky for me my bank called to "verify" a $1 attempted charge (which was declined by my bank), this is how I found out I was signed up with wellness watchers md.

as long as you have no knowledge of the charge, you can dispute with no problem.

I actually boubght a a medical remedy through a completely different website, they did offer these services, but mentioned nothing about charges...

i'm good now.

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Robie Daug
Nov 02, 2008 5:10 pm EST

Hi,

I, too, am wondering if the advise from Barton actually works. Do the plans work for all the conditions mentioned?

I suffer from gout and i would like to know if anyone has experienced any - none, little or complete relief after using the products sold?
It's all good that you complain about the over charging bit - i can appreciate that - but has anyone who had gout before actually have it under control, now, using what was sold by Barton. I would like to know that.

Thank you
Robbie

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Russell
Nov 16, 2008 7:59 pm EST

Barton Publishing can try to frame this any way he wants to - all about his integrity and such. He is a scam and he knows it. I had to cancel my credit card to get rid of him. I order a PDF file on High Blood Pressure for $19.95 and then they start charging me $29.95 a month. My credit card company is giving back my money.

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Gabriel
Casula, AU
Dec 14, 2008 4:15 pm EST

I too purchased a PDF format medical report from Joe Barton and after a couple of weeks I've been hit with a US$29.95 charge from WelnessWatchersMD on my credit card. I went back to my e-mails and found one classified as spam, from welnesswatchersmd, telling me that I've received a 14 days free trial membership and if not canceled in that period, my credit card will be charged monthly. When ordering from Barton Publishing, I don't remember being told that I'll be charged in the future for services I didn't ask or that my credit card details will be passed to someone else.
I've sent e-mails to both Barton Publishing and WelnessWatchersMD to cancel this so called membership and to refund me the money they took but had no response at all at the moment.
I want to mention that a couple of years ago I also bought a "get rid of kidney stones" report from Joe Barton and it worked for me, so I don't know why he started to involve his name into this sort of dishonest practices.

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John Jenko
Sacramento, US
Jan 03, 2009 2:28 am EST

Greetings all...

I am happy to see people have finally starting
to talk about what this company is doing to
consumers.

I am sure some of there information is good
but you have to be VERY careful with their
advice (keep this in mind when reading their
advertising or listening to the Doctor on their
web pages).

I purchased a report from him at:

http://www.www-lymedisease.com/

The screaming headline claimed:

"Find out Exactly How To Cure Lyme Disease
From Home, Using A Specific Combination Of
Grocery Items And No Drugs..."

It took me 3 years to even find out I had
it so of course I signed up for it.

I should have known better but that
wasn't the BAD PART.

Lyme Disease is a very complex ailment
and the body is like a laboratory. His
report in a nutshell told me to slowly
work up to taking 12 grams of sodium chloride
(salt) and 12 grams of vitamin C a day.

I was desperate so I tried it. I admit I felt
a little better within a week but later my
symptoms became WORSE and never
lessened! Now I was more screwed up
than before!

I later researched this crazy salt and
vitamin C idea and while some people
say they are feeling better I can't
find ONE DAMN PERSON WITH
LYME DISEASE WHO HAS BEEN
CURED BY IT!

Search the whole DAMN net...
YOU WON'T FIND ONE!
(unless Barton Publishing makes
one up!_)

Later when I found a guy who did help
me he said that Lyme is a pathogen
and why certain remedies like a
Salt and C or Herbs and even Antibiotics
on long term lyme infections actually
make them worse as the pathogen
has spirochetes which drive into
to low blood circulating tissues of
the body. So, when you stop the
the therapy the symptoms many
times come back worse...

You have to be really careful with health
stuff. Many of us have become so jaded
with MD's that we've become sacrificial
lambs to supplement and herb companies
and guys like this.

This guy does not make any money
selling his information. He makes it
after you give up your credit card
number by trying to sell you (*or slam
you!) into buying half a dozen other
things. Many of them supplements.

When I ordered my report I knew I made
a mistake because it would NOT let me
finish my damn order without trying to
sell me literally 6 or more other supplements
and offers.

The world does not need more people
who market like this. It is sleazy and
shady and he knows.

And he calls himself a Christian I am told?

(Figures)

http://bartonpublishing.com/about.php

Again, they "may" be "trying" to help people
but their advertising and marketing is
EXTREMELY misleading.

And, as the world turns, it IS coming back
to BITE THEM as it should.

Amen to the guy who started this post
and ALL who have contributed.

We DON'T need more weasels in the world.

Peace.

John Jenko
Granite Bay CA

P.S. Anyone reading this PLEASE post your experiences
here and at [redacted].com and anywhere else.
The money and headache you save may be an old friends!

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Ken Parks
Johns Creek, US
Jan 15, 2009 11:46 am EST

BARTON PUBLISHING designs their ads and ordering process to RIP OFF anyone ordering their so-called health products. The order process does not have a preview of what items you order prior to submittla. When you call the 800 number, you get a recording telling you to e-mail their dis-service department. You never get a response.

Once you do all of this... DO NOT accept their product nor click on their download link. Call your credit card company and file a complaint. You will be credited back and the investigation process may take up to 90 days.

BARTON PUBLISHING is a fraudelent outfit... period!

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Joe Barton
Brandon, US
Jan 27, 2009 7:46 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hi, Joe Barton here again... I'd like to say again that we aren't hiding anything in our sales offer. After purchasing the remedy report for $19.95, we give people the opportunity to add different items to their order. One of these is a 14-day free trial to Wellness Watchers MD.

You can view our offer on this page:

http://www.BartonPublishing.com/WWMD

It's important that everyone understands that we are not misleading anyone. An average of ONE out of every ten thousand customers (roughly) are complaining that they've been "defrauded" by Barton Publishing.

Those numbers should assure you we are not scamming people - but every once in awhile, someone will click "YES" without reading the page... only later to come and complain and "warn people" not to do business with us.

We are a reputable company that strives to do business with integrity. We've always stood behind our 12-month money-back guarantee. Simply email us at support [at] bartonpublishing.com, or call us on our toll-free number listed at www.BartonPublishing.com and we will respond within 24 hours.

And yes, we are a growing company that receives several hundred orders per day, so it's nearly impossible for any company not to receive complaints once in awhile.

We are also members in good standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

I hope this has helped give you a better understanding of our side of the story.

Best regards,
Joe Barton

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generonald
US
May 28, 2022 10:41 pm EDT
Replying to comment of Joe Barton

what about when i order your special for 20.00 and then get to like books they are both the same and was charged 87.00

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Zemlya
City, GB
Feb 03, 2009 12:14 pm EST

I made the mistake of ordering from Barton and I got a receipt by email that has no numerical values in it whatsoever. Nothing! There isnt a list of items ordered and there is absolutely no mention of Wellwatchers. And Barton, I did go back during the order process and remove all of the 'offers' before proceeding.

Barton has not sent me any email regarding WellWatchers or any login credentials. I still have effective no receipt...

My credit card company has been informed of this fraud and will reverse all transactions. My credit card is also now stopped and a new one is being sent to me.

The point is, the more of us who inform our credit card companies of this nuisance, the quicker Barton will be thrown out as a credit card acquirer and blocked from making transactions from my account. Barton has dug himself a hole and must lie in it. I hope the credit card companies take this idiot to court.

Every other credit card transaction in my life has always followed up with a reciept by email (or in the post) that clearly explains what has been ordered. Barton thinks he is immune from this... and credits all his customers as being stupid...

Barton's lack of transparency speaks volumes...

In addition Mastercard will add Barton and Wellwatchers to the fradulent acquirers list (yes I work at a credit card company) and this is what happens.

The sad thing is I thought Barton's report was worth the money... But Barton is clearly a business idiot... he still puts his 'special offer' in the middle of the checkout process, after the customer enters address and credit card... Not at the begining.

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primespice
Boise, US
Feb 09, 2009 4:40 pm EST

According to the above complaints and comments, it appears that welwatchmd.com and Barton are connected and may be in actually one company. I called welwatch and they could not tell me what I had ordered or give me help of any kind to locate anything. I called the Barton number but was refereed to their e-mail. I wrote to them and and have not heard from them. I was charged on my credit card from both welwatch and Barton. This is beginning to really look like a scam, but I don't know exactly what to do. I could ask the crdit card company to cancel and reverse the charges, but I would also like to get these people prosecuted. Apparently they have scammed a lot of people. In case anyone who has been taken by these people would like to e-mail me, maybe we can put our heads together to see what can be done. Richard Conner, primespice@msn.com

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snowbird2
west salem, US
Feb 14, 2009 1:58 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I too have a complaint. I ordered the downloadable book for $19.95 and rejected all the other offers that kept coming up before I could check out. When the receipt came in the email, it showed they billed me not only the $19.95 for the book, but for a VIP upgrade so I can access 4 additional books (that I didn't want) and that upgrade was also $19.95. PLUS, the 'free' gift of Wellness Watcher after a 14-day trial and then I'll be billed still yet $29.95 per month! I tried calling their customer service number a few times. There is an answering machine that says they are only there on Mon-Friday, 9am-9pm central. Well I called on Friday afternoon about 3:00 pm and no one was there. Got the same answering machine as before. I tried email on Friday also, no answer. I called Wellness Watcher to try and cancel that "freebie" and the woman said I'm not yet in the system and that it takes about 24 hours. I am to call back.
I thought everyone had 3 days when buying something to cancel an order? How can you cancel when they don't answer their phone? I've lost interest in their book now because I'm so aggrivated at this whole mess. My BP has probably soared through the roof by now! I may have to cancel my credit card now.

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jo oxer
Peterborough, GB
Mar 04, 2009 12:19 pm EST

Hi,

This has just happened to me, I emailed wellness to stop any transaxtions and a week later money has been taken from my account. I am in the UK. My bank have received lots of complaints about this company and are investigating.

I have resent an email to wellnesss today and to Barton direct.

I want my money back you fraudsters!

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Victor Taylor
Grimsby, CA
Mar 24, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

Well Mr. Barton, I'm afraid I'm going to have to concur with all those folks who are calling your company a scam. I ordered an e-book from Barton Publishing. After my one time order was placed I started getting charges on my credit card each month from "welwatchmd8005916383" for $29.95.

I remember placing the order with Barton Publishing and jumping through the hoops that customers are made to go through before the order process is complete. I was very careful not to click any boxes which would have committed me to anything other than what I ordered. When I called your Customer Service Department at [protected] and talked to Lucy at ext. 545 I was told that I had signed up for a free trial which I did not cancel in 15 days, hence the monthly charges. This is extremely sketchy business practice at best and a complete lie at worst. Companies like yours should be shut down.

I suppose your hope is that some customers will not make the effort to track down the charges and just roll over and accept them. It must happen or you wouldn't keep up the practice. It would only take a read of a web site like this one to tell any businessman that his company is doing something extremely unpopular with its customers. Instead of fixing the problem you make posts claiming that we are all wrong. If you had any morals you would just fix the problem so that people will not continue to be fooled into taking charges for things they didn't ask for.

My refund was requested today. We'll see if I get it in the 5 days I was promised. If not I will be contacting my credit card company to cancel my card as well as the BBB to report your company in the hopes that somebody else will be saved from having to deal with you. In any case I will back on this site in one week to report my result.

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warner treuter
Watsonville, US
Mar 29, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

I, too, had to contact Wellness to cancel a 29.95 monthly subscription I never wanted and so far as I know never signed up for, although a 9.95 newsletter (subject to cancelling in 14 days was automatically tagged onto my 19.95 order so i was conscious of having to deal with that. After a few tries I got hold of Wellness on the phone and the lady there canceled the newsletter, etc. before it could even be sent out. I presume this is taken care of. Some days later I was emailed by Joe Barton to say I was eligible for more extras than the 4 I had expected and so far I've been happy with this. Don't know what the future will bring but so far Joe has been generous with me, though it did take over a week.
What I want to do is inform others of possible cures that they may not have thought of.
Listening to your body is the main source of getting help; and giving-up rather than acquiring anything is the main ingredient of many cures.
For instance, many years ago I developed a degree of occasional gerd (sleep apnea?) to the point of being awakened from sleep with a constricted throat which simply was not letting me breathe. Twice in my life it was so strong and prolonged that I bet against myself, saying to myself that this time I would not survive, for sure. Somehow after being without breath longer than I would have thought possible without passing out, I did survive. I cured this by cutting down on the daily ration of hamburgers that I ate at the fast food places.
Then I developed a case of asthma (doctors said it was close to Pulmonary Lung Disease, because I had been a smoker) that grew severe enough that I was beginning to use a machine to deliver daily doses of medicine that I felt was scouring my lungs. I likened the feeling to scouring your car with a brillo pad rather than a polishing cloth, so I suspected this was not good for me. Again a change in diet was called for. The main change this time was forever quitting cokes (which I liked a whole lot) and adding essential fatty acids and taking yamoapowder (bark from the African Yamoa tree). It cured me in less than a year and halfway cured me in less than 3 months.
Years later, when retired, the gerd came back (though not as severe) so that I could no longer eat myself to sleep - I loved to fall asleep with a full stomach. It took me over a year to slowly watch the hints my body gave me as to how I felt and when and what after and I tried quitting bread -which was a product that all my life I simply could not envision myself living without - I made sandwhiches out of everything. I noticed that ten days after quitting bread I suddenly felt not only better but different, that is, extraordinarily better. So I got slowly bolder and began to eat - now that I had given up bread - closer and closer to bedtime. Sure enough, I found I could eat right up until the very moment I fell asleep, and no gerd - just so long as I didn't eat bread! I guess I've become gluten intolerant - I still am not sure, but I guess so.
The latest is that I developed Rheumatism, Rheumatic Arthritis, which attacks whatever joints you are using the most and is about unbelievably painful at times,
like when you can be afraid to sit down because it hurts so much and afraid to stand up because it hurts so much to do so. I've gotten so I can take quite a bit of pain.
I was scheduled to take a rigorous course of pills from an expert who said he cannot cure me but he could ease the pain and generally make things better.
But then I noticed that sugar (that product which all of us can't do without even if we replace much of it with honey), such as in canned cranberry sauce, was capable of spreading the arthritis all over my body within an hour after enjoying. So I gave up sugar - as much as possible. And my condition ameliorated - improved drastically.
I still haven't cured this one - they say it is incurable, except for a possible mysterious few. So I'm still working on this one. It seems to have found a home in my hands and some of my fingers swell up especially when I eat the least bit of sugar, like especially something like a sugary delicious sweet and fruity muffin - but I'm doing my best. I've got some hopes for this one.
One thing, though, High Blood Pressure, which runs in my family, Ive not been able to whip, but I'm still working on it, and that's my main connection with Joe Barton.
So far, so good, and I'm hoping it stays that way, I'm doing ok by Joe.
I really hope I've helped at least a few of you out there. One thing's for sure. You can cure yourself! And the older I get the less I believe in doctors and their pharmaceuticals because by the few pharmaceutical I've tried I realize these are not only dangerous poisons which may or may not be beneficial but they are incredibly dangerous and powerful. Vitamins you can screw around with but pharmaceuticals are a really serious proposition. Luck to us all! Motto: Rede labels.

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Victor Taylor
Grimsby, CA
Apr 01, 2009 12:32 pm EDT

I am happy to report that Barton Publishing did indeed give me 3 separate credits on my Amex bill today for the monthly fees that I was charged. It appears they aren't a total scam after all, although charging somone for something they didn't ask for is still mighty poor business practice.

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Capitanjan
MX
Apr 18, 2009 3:22 am EDT

All the before mentioned stories are tru. They are total crooks!

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