Advanced Wellness Research review: overcharged! scam!!! online orders acai berry 500 321

Andraste again, with an update. Upon further research, the product involved was ACAI BERRY DETOX, which is distributed by FWM Laboratories, one of many South Florida firms peddling Acai-related products (poor consumer protection laws?). I corresponded with the CEO (I think...?) of Advanced Wellness Research who disavowed any responsibility for my experience. I found four locations for FWM Laboratories, which I list below. I contacted the carrier for the phone number being used by the call center, and they discovered that it was being spoofed by that company, and is presumably pursuing fraud; they were most helpful. My guess is that the call center originates in the Phillipines.

Love a good puzzle, so will pursue this, if only to relieve thousands of poor suckers like me who happen to be too tired to do this. Now, FWM:...go to town, people. Let's find out who these a-holes are.

FWM Locations in Southern Florida

2495 Stirling Rd., #20
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

4961 Leeward Lane
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

3007 Greene Street
Hollywood, FL [protected]

2040 NE 163 St., #305
North Miami Beach, FL 33162

Got the same mess, they keep sending the stuff and charging my credit card. BIG SCAM!

Ok, so basically same story here for me folks. I ordered on 2/23/09 paying $4.95, then received my "free trial" on or about 2/28/09. I was scheduled to see a specialist for weight loss, and brought the pills with me on my visit. He advised me not to take these, so I cancelled my order soon as I got home. They stated "your refund will take approximately 3-5 business days." Mind you, the idiot on the phone had no customer skills at all, telling me that if I don't want it, why did i order it in the first place. Well here, ok [censored], did I stutter when I just said I can't take these and I would like to cancel. And she asked me personal questions too, as if it really mattered! When a customer tells you they're not satisfied and they're done, that's all there is to it. Don't heckle me over the phone, esp when you can't speak ENGLISH correctly! So thats me venting, but it all went down exactly like that. I told the lady she was being very rude and she said there was no proof that I cancelled. I told her tht I wrote it down but had thrown it away since I had trusted the company. She then becomes very loud and rude again asking me why I don't have the cancellation number and that she cannot help me unless I have it. Then towards the end, she tells me they will only refund me $20...I'm sorry, what part of I am cancelling and I want my refund NOW did she not understand. I was a sucker once but not again! So I keep telling "Angela Jones" (over there in India), that they will be refunding the entire amount, not a penny less. So she's negotiating refunds, and finally says $70 is all they can do, and I said ok fine whatever, it better refund NOW though. Ya, 3/11/09, still no refund. I call I have numbers this time and proof and fake names and all! But all they do is tell me the same thing, they'll process it now, here's your transaction number and cancellation # wait 3-5 business days. Ok now, seriously guys, today right now, it is 1:25am on 3/19/09 and yet nothing. I called 45 min ago, spoke with pretty much the same girl as the 1st time, but now her name is "Catherine" and she said "ppl were not getting refunds due to technical difficulties." Hmmmm interesting. So she then says it's successful and wait for my transaction # (again). As she names it off to me, phone disconnects. Call back, she gives me the 2 #'s, only this time after we hang up, I actually got an email confirmation of refund but for the entire amount. Honestly, I don't think I will get a refund, nor do I think any of you will either, unfortunately. But, the thing is, they have all our bank/credit card info, so that's what scares me. Oh and that's just a whole other story...try asking them to read off ur bank info and to cancel it...won't happen. I'm going to leave you all with every number I have and ever called. I hope the people running this company go to jail, because we are just the people that actually came to post our complaints. Imagine how many others there are?! Good luck to all of you, and I'm emailing the person on the 1st page saying she will start a class action if there are enough ppl. So come on everybody! Let's start a class action lawsuit!

~Geri
866.964.1011
800.503.9355...This is the one I spoke with Catherine earlier tonight
877.751.5333
866.484.2863

I ordered the free trial for 4.99 and was then charged 78.81 on my credit card. I received a fraud notice from my credit card letting me know that I have also been charged with several other charges for some wheat grass that I did not order. I contacted the company ( I am sure was in another country) who was of no help and said that they do not advertise for the wheat grass. I then asked if they often give out credit card #'s to other companies. He told me that I must have ordered it and don't remember. This is a load of +++++. He would only refund me 40.00 of the 78.81 because he told me that if I returned the shipment, they may not get it and I would still have to pay the 78.81 plus the cost of shipping it back. This company is a fradulant company. Do not order from this company! I am still fighting all of the charges on my credit card. My credit card company has even cancelled my card and issued a new one so they would be unable to charge anything else. My credit card company also advised me this has happened to a lot of people.

BEWARE - DO NOT PROVIDE YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION - Advanced Wellness Research selling the Whitening Now product (website: www.mywhitening.com ) This company scams those who visit their website and show interest in the "free" sample which was $6.99 S&H.

The "terms" information on the website does not appear when clicked on. Calls attempted to cancel will result in long waits, dropped calls or deceptive customer service representatives in India who claim to be unable to cancel the sample order, even those that were placed 20 minutes earlier. This situation and terms that are not made immediately available are unfair business practices.
This is the last email I recieved after requesting they cancel. The sample charge is not even correct:
Thank you for contacting Advanced Wellness Research - Customer Service.
When you place an order with us you get charged $4.99 as shipping and handling fee where you have a 14 day trial period, and in case you are not satisfied with the product you need to return it back to us (after canceling within 14 days). In case we do not receive any confirmation for the cancellation of the order from you within the 14 days, it is assumed that the customer wants to continue with the subscription; hence the card is charged with the actual cost of the product i.e. $78.81 on the 15th day. Further you also get automatically signed up for our monthly subscriptions for $ 83.80 .
This information is clearly stated in the terms and conditions on our website when you go ahead to process the order online.

However, we do apologize for the inconvenience caused.

For any further assistance please call us at our Customer Service toll free number [protected].
Thank you and have a nice day.

Regards,
Nick Enrique,
Advanced Wellness Research, Inc. – Customer Service

another one falls for the scam but I am persistant and will go to all lenghts to report and take them down I have nothing but time on my hands so BEWARE

I wish I had seen these comments before I ordered. The website is misleading and I had a $39.99 charge on an extra product that I did click on to get but didn't know how much it would be. Trying to change/cancel the order is an adventure. Plus, an order for some tooth whitening product came thru my email and when I called about that, I was told I must have ordered it or they wouldn't have my information, mistakes happen.

After over an hour of a runaround, I told the third guy I talked to I would get with my credit card company and stop the payment and I would return anything they shipped. VERY FRUSTRATING company to deal with.

I was also ripped off! What can we do to get our money back?

I have been ripped off as well - My Bank put a block on them so they can't charge me any more. I called twice to cancel and got a cancellation number and they still billed me.

Who says this crap does anything for you anyway?
"Oh, I read it in an ad"
DAMN you people are pathetic

I cancelled my products because I have acid reflux and told them to stop sending me their product. They continued to send it and bill me credit card. I will file a formal complaint with the Attorney General's office in Texas. Please make sure you do want this and know what problems you will have if you cancel the order. They owe me $150.00. I will get my money back.

I also ordered from the Advanced Wellness Research, Inc. they charged my account. I called in and cancelled my order and they said that they refunded my money which they have not. Again I keep fighting with them and don't get anywhere. I'm thinking about taking them to small claims court and turning it over to the Attorney General also. Kristie

i too got charged for my "free trial" only i got the whole kit and kaboodle. i guess i will loose weight because i won't be able to aford to eat! well learned lesson nothing for free!

DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY. As many of the other poster have illustrated it is a big scam. They send you the 'free' product and before you have a chance to try it they charge you 78.81 for the product. I called and spoke to a heavily accented man that I could not understand at all. I was offered a p[partial refund. Then a few days later, while checking my online bank account, I have another charge from another company Insiders secrets.com. They would not refund me my charges because they said that I agreed to the terms. This is a disgraceful practice in this economy. These companies should be SHUT DOWN immediately. I wish I had done the research before buying. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY.

RE: Advanced Wellness Research I canceled my trial order well within the 14 day limit. I emailed the company to cancel and talked with a representative by phone as well. Each responder promised no more charges to be withdrawn and no more product. Well, they made good on the "no more prodcut" but surprise, surprise! They charged my account $78.81 today despite promises. I talked with a representative who said that a refund was forthcoming. Should I hold my breath?
Unbeknownst to me at the time of my order, my daughter in Texas had gotten this same royal shaft.
Mad in Kentucky

I too had bad experience with AWR. I made an impulse purchase online paid the shipping and handling for product but decided against it within a few days; they have been an annoying pain in my butt EVER since. First, almost had to beg them to give me the appropriate steps in order to return the product (after being hung up on several times). Second, I mailed the product back within the 10 day window (I paid extra for delivery confirmation from USPS), but they still keep charging my CC 78.81 and not sending any products. I've only been dealing with this since February and as of Sunday my CC company closed my account and issued me a new number to avoid future fraudulent charges. My CC company did state that they were aware of problems with this company but they were not at liberty to discuss it further.

I wish I had read these complaints before I too fell for this scam. I never saw that the company would automatically continue sending the product without consulting me to see how I liked the "trial" supply. It didn't work and I was not interested in acquiring more of the same. However, today, another bottle came and also my credit card bill showing that I had already been charged $78.81. This charge appeared right after I received the trial offer, not today when I got the new bottle. I've called and talked to (someone) who assures me my order will be cancelled and no more should come. I intend to return this new unopened bottle and ask the post office to give me a confirm receipt when it is received by Advanced Wellness Research wherever they may be...Idaho/Florida? Hopefully this will end this madness. I've learned my lesson about ordering things on line.

EVERYTHING STATED IS CORRECT ! I TO WAS SCAMED !

SCAM! DO NOT ORDER THE ACAI BERRY. The same thing happened to me. They charged me twice within a couple of days. When I tried to cancel the Indian man on the other end tried to tell me I needed to try it for 3 months. He would give me a discount and only charge me $18.99. Seems they are getting desperate. I finally got a return number and address and a confirmation that they will be refunding my card. I definitely will be sending it certified mail. I am also going to report them to the Better Business Bureau.

I wanted to post this update to my account, I called the company again last night, and told them again that i know they are taking 79.96 out of my account and i want it put back. The gentleman that i talked to was of course inda accent, and he said that his computer wasn't updated to notice the charge of 79.96 and i would have to call back today! I never in my life told them they could take any money out of my account, and I want it back, i'm really up set about this. I really do hope this company gets shut down, this is nuts...

I just noticed today 3-6-09 that this company took money out of my account and said that there was a 14 day trial period and i was to cancell before the 14 days was up! Which under no cercumstances was there a price on the terms and conditions of the hole operation! so they went and charged my account 78.81 and 79396 and they are telling me that the last charge of 79.96 wasn't from them and here my bank has there name and number already posted on my account! PLEASE DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS EVER EVER! my husband is going to KILL me! But on the off hand the pills are working for me.

I too was taken by the Advanced Wellness Research. In January I decided to try their supplements but after a half hour a co-worker warned me that it was a possible scam. I then called back to cancel my free trial and I was told that they couldn't cancel the order. I had no choice but to take the trial and if I didn't like it to return it. I used their instant message customer service and luckily I printed out the whole conversation. They told me that when I returned the product they would cancel any further orders. I did exactly what they told me and returned the product (of course you can't just put return to sender on the package) and the kind postman asked if I wanted to get a confirmation when the package was returned. So I paid extra for that and SAVED EVERY DOCUMENTATION. Of course like others, I was surprised to see not one but TWO charges to my credit card. I was pissed off beyond belief and ashamed to be taken in by this scam. I called the company and after one failed phone call, I called again. After listening to people talking and not paying attention that I was on the phone wanting to speak with a customer service person, finally someone talked with me. A middle eastern woman "helped" me and after badgering her why they charged my account, I was put on eternal hold. I then emailed them and asked why I was charged and their response was to thank me for having a question and to call the number to resolve my issues. So I called back and finally spoke to another middle eastern person (a man who said his name was Den). I kept my cool but was persistant with him wanting to know why they charged my account. After some tension between he and I (and finally I told him to just stop talking from a script and TALK TO ME about why they would do this). I told him I had confirmation of returning the product to Nampa, ID (that looks like a ### hole if you google earth it and get the photo of the area. there is no company there!). I also told him that I printed out the online customer service conversation (that they strangely don't have anymore!) and have in writing that they would not charge me or send me anymore products. BTW, they did send me more pills and when I gave him the order number on the front of the package, he said that was not an order number. Then he wanted to put me on hold so he could talk with someone and I said no since the last person put me on hold and never returned. He promised he would return and said he needed a minute. I then became stern with him and said he had one minute and better do it now. He then said he may need more than a minute and I said "then put me on hold right now, go, and you better be back in one minute. Go, I'm timing you" His voice became nervous and said he may need 1-2 mintues and I then said, "GO, stop talking with me and go...put me on hold and you better be back in no more than 2 minutes". He put me on hold and I did time him. He came back in 2.5 minutes and said they would refund me both charges. I told him I wanted him to email me to confirm the refunds. He asked for my email address and I told him I already gave him the address and to repeat it back to me. He was a bit surprised by that and I said, "repeat the address back to me. You took my name, address and email address at the beginning of the phone call, so repeat it back to me". He then did repeat it back to me and I think I asked 2 or 3 more times (almost in disbelief) to assure me that they would refund my money. He confirmed the refund and promised to email for both charges.
I did receive two emails to confirm both charges would be refunded and I was so amazed that I did receive the refunds! I don't trust this company so as soon as my monthly charges from other vendors came through, I called my credit card company and requested they close that account and open a new account with a new number so if that fraud company thinks they can charge my account again, they won't be able to! PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CANCEL YOUR CARD AND OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT IF YOU MUST GO THROUGH THIS CRAP!

Acai Berry Pro -This is the biggest scam ever, I did it because I saw Oprah and Rachael Rays testimonys on there, so I figured they were good. But when I tried to cancel some foriegn guy answered, (aftre 1/2 of being on hold) I could barely understand him and told me it wasn't from him and I said bull cuz that was the number I used to order them, then he said I would have to get ahold of advanced wellness research and try to cancel, and I said but I ordered it from this number! This is a bunch of crap, how can these jerks sleep at night...all I have to say is Karma has a way of getting these a$$holes back! I finally just canceled my bank card.

WARNING!
This company is a scam, and I hope that Julia Lehman whose lawyer is going after them closes them down! I ordered their product, and then decided to cancel. First I was told that they would refund $60, but 2 weeks later there's no refund to my account. Then today a gal told me they'd refund $50! What a scam! I'm now afraid to even use this product! I notice that several "berry" companies state they are the ones promoted on Ophra and Rachel...boy! Does that slam them for not telling which company they really dealt with! What's wit the mystery! Come on America...isn't it time for TV programs to help stop the SCAMS by telling us the "safe" companies to deal with?!

That's complicated to pay somethin first then before you know it, the product is gone too aside from the money. Try to look same complaints on Scam Search.

This company is a scam. I was supposed to only be charged for S&H for the first bottle of pills and was charged $78.81, then continued to receive shiments a $83.80 each. I have tried calling for the past 2 months and could not get through. Finally 2 days ago I got someone on the phone late at night only to be told that I can cancel my membership but cannot send the unopened pills back for credit. But... the computers were down, therefore my membership could not be cancelled and I could not speak to a supervisor and would have to call back. The person that I spoke with gave me a web address to use to cancel which does not work. The only thing that I know to do at this point is call my credit card company.

I to was scamed I can't even get a hold of them. The phone number is not working for me. I never received a paper saying I had to cancel it said free.

I have no idea how to get in touch with these people, no phone number on invoice and I am getting the pills and I did not order them, only the trial size
and the ad said nothing about continuos shipment. What do I do now?

I ordered the product 2 weeks ago, I was not made aware of the automatic charge to my account until after I completed the transaction for the trial bottle. A computer generated chat box popped up and said that they were going to set me up for the automatic order and charge to my card, I replied on my end that under no conditions were they allowed to charge my card further. I did receive the product in 3 days but I only took it one day because it gave me a skin rash. When I tried to call and return it I could never get through to find out how to go about sending it. This Monday my card was charged the 78.81 and it caused my account to go into the negitive, it's not even a credit card it's my check debit card, so now they have access to my actual money not just credit. I emailed them after I couldn't get anyone on the phone and basically the response was that I didn't send it back to the company during the trial period and that they wouldn't give me a refund. I emailed back and let them know that I would be contacting a lawyer and that they had better refund my account and to cancel any orders that they made for me. I await a response, but now that I have read all these complaints about this company, I won't waste my time. I'm going straight to my bank, and dealing with them on the issue. I would also like to sign up for a class action against them. I'm just kicking my self in the ### about falling for this type of scam when I know better and felt apprehensive at the time.

Thanks Sabrina Kesterson- Austin Texas

Read some of the Complaints in "Mytrialsupport.com", you're not alone...

I tried to cancel my free trial 10 hours after placing the order. Needless to say, I still received it. Now I can't get anyone on the phone to cancel/return the product. Stay away from this company.

i would like to cancal my trial sample and not be charge for any more produts from your company chris jock

Same happened to me. First the guy was going to credit me $50 and then $70. I told him he was going to credit me $78.81. I ended to conversation and shortly thereafter received an email saying I had been credited $70. I called my CC before calling them and I will get all the money back other than the $4.99 trial offer charge. What a scam.

So you did get your refund from them? I just spoke with them after seeing the charge to my account and was told I would get a refund with in 4-5 days. I hate that I fell into this scam!

I also got caught up in the hype of this product. I ordered the product on 2/11 and received it on 2/17. I didn't think anything about it because 5 - 7 days is about the normal amount of time for shipping if you do not pay to have it rushed. I, like many of you, assumed the trial began once I received the product. I was WRONG! Within a couple of days I was charged $78.81 for a product I hadn't used yet and on top of that I haven't lost a pound. I spoke with an Indian guy named "David" who kept quoting that the product ships out within 24 - 48 hours, but also told me in the same sentence that my order was not shipped until 2/14. When I brought it to his attention that the company did not meet their 24 - 48 hour guaranteed shipping he started talking about something else. "David" continued to provide lots of B.S. that did not help or resolve the issue that the company charged my account before the trial expiration date. I asked to speak to a manager, but they were not available (they were in a meeting) and he could not transfer the call. Long story short I would not use or recommend this company or their products. They have poor business and customer service skills and are clearly scamming people. I called back to confirm that my order was cancelled, was assured it was, and was given a confirmation number. I also called my bank and they were able to place a hold on any recurring charges requested from this company or in the amount of 78.81. I learned a big lesson and the saying is true "buyer beware". I won't be able to get my money back from the first charge, but I refuse to fall victim to future fraudulent charges from this company. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

FYI- CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY. THEY WILL CREDIT YOUR CARD AND SEND A DISCLAIMER TO
ADV.WELLNESS REGARDING THE COMPLAINT . THE COMPANY IS FINED FOR THESE COMPLAINTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS AND CAN FACE FRAUDULENT PRACTICE CHARGES IF IT CONTINUES.

SCAM-SCAM-SCAM! NO DISCLOSURE OF FACTS...TOOK MY MONEY! MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED AND STATES THEY RECEIVE 3-4 COMPLAINTS A WEEK ON THIS COMPANY. BEWARE.

Back in the begining of February I ordereda a free trial of Acai Berry which I was charged $4.99 shipping and which was taken out of my account., but on February 23 I found out the Advanced Wellness Research, Inc had also taken $78.81 out of my account. I never authorized this to be done. I am retired and on many medications and need my money to pay for them. I cannot afford the $78.81 taken out of my account. I am outraged at this
business practice. My order #2626588 Batch 4879. Please refund my money as I need the money to survive.
Thank you for your assistance. I NEVER RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION CODE!

I ALSO WAS CHARGED ON MY CC CARD!

THIS WAS AFTER I REALIZED THAT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PRODUCT ON THE 1ST OR 2ND DAY OF PLACING THE ORDER LIKE PROMISED.

I HAD CALLED TO CANCEL AND STILL WAS CHARGED, AND STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED A DAM THING!

I WANT MY MONEY BACK !

i got caught trying this product ...bad mistake ...i have received several withdrawal from my bank acct ...the sad point is they were done about 10days apart ...i called this morning and asked for refund of second withdrawal ...rep state i would receive refund within 5days ...waiting to see because i take part of the blame but i would say buyer beware...i have discontinue the use of the product...i feel violated