Momentum Direct review: unauthorized payments! 375

I ordered this product on a trial basis in December 2006. I paid $4.74 for the shipping. When I received the product and the price of the product, I decided that I would just simply return the product. I sent them an 3-mail notifying them of my intentions. I sent the product back to them unopened.

Then, on December 22, 2006 they presented a check draft to my bank for $49.95. My bank paid it. I called them but the bank said they could not do anything. I called Momentum Direct and notified them of the problem and they stated I should receive a refund in two weeks.

Then, on January 12, 2006 they presented a check draft to my bank for $58.93 and the bank paid it. I called Momentum Direct and they said they never got the cancellation, however they never shipped any more product. Now they said I would get a refund in two weeks.

The Bank advised me to close the account.

This Momentum Direct Company is bad for the internet. I have never had a problem before.

This company is a complete scam. I want everyone that may consider ordering anything from them to be very cautious. When I ordered the trial package of Amazon Diet, they said they sent the package but it was never received by me although they said that they sent it and had a tracking number. If the postman didn't have me sign for it then it could be anywhere. Trying to resolve the fact that they took money from my account has been very frustrating. They debited 49.95 from my account one day then went back two days later and debited 58.93 from my account with no authorization from me. Finally, I called enough and I did receive a refund of the 58.93 (after calling for 1 1/2 months but I still haven't gotten the initial 49.95 back that they say they won't return it until the product is returned. How can I return something that I never received? I'm calling the Better Business Bureau to see if there's anything they can do to put these people out of business and stop running this fraud on people. It's not right what they are doing and it's time that someone put a stop to their scamming company!

Momentum Direct offers a Free Trial of their 2 Day Slim Down. The only requirement is to pay $7.95 to defer the cost of shipping. The company requires a checking account number for payment of the $7.95 shipping cost. The scam consists of submitting unauthorized payments to the consumer's checking account prior to the end of the 14 day free trial period. The terms and conditions aren't delineated until the consumer receives the product and the notification is enclosed with the shipment.

In my case, the package from Momentum Direct was postmarked January 8, 2008. I was in receipt of the package on January 11, 2008. The company deducted $49.95 on January 14 (3 days after receipt of the package and 6 days after the postmarked ship date). A second check for $59.93 was deducted on January 16 (8 days after the postmark and 5 days after receipt). The company never stated that such terms would be imposed and then violated their own terms and conditions by debiting my account prior to the end of the 14 day Free Trial Period.

I only received the FREE product, which I am sending back unopened. I am keeping the original box with the postmark, the terms and conditions, and copies of the unauthorized checks for the bank. My bank will investigate the allegations of fraud when they are opened on Tuesday.

On the company's web site, the company states that to cancel your account (which I never opened in the first place), the customer must call the 24 hour Customer Service Number. There is not a customer service representative available, except Monday through Friday.

I have sent an Email with supporting evidence that the company submitted unauthorized checks to my account. I will report the company to Consumer Affairs as well as to the Banking Commission.

I was trying to work online filling out surveys as I am disabled. I filled out one for the amazon diet and a few weeks later was sent a trial. I sent it back telling them I did not order it, that I filled out a survey. 3 days ago [protected]) I received another bottle and with no return info included. I found the site and called the number. A woman called me back letting me know that she gets a lot of calls for them and that it is a bogus number. the 1st 7 #'s are hers and the 400 is added on. I checked my accounts and the out a check thru for $58.93. I now have to cancel my accounts. You cannot reach by email as it says not valid. This 'company' needs to stop cheating the public! It uses the surveys to access your info.! One of the phone #'s they had for me isn't even mine! and the email address the used hasn't been valid for 6 months! Someone needs to stop this company!

I was fleeced by this company. I asked to have the service terminated. I returned the product and they promised to refund my money. I never received the refund. They resumed the billing and I was not monitoring my bank statement that closely. I've been billed seven times subsequently for a total of $412. When I called my bank, they told me that they can't do anything. I have to close my account and go through the process of notifying all the legitimate companies I deal with that the Account has been changed. This company should be stopped from dealing thought the internet and defrauding people. They now don't answer phone calls but are probably still draining the unsuspecting.

This company says that they are sending you a free trial of the Amazon Diet pill, and that all you have to pay is $4.74 in shipping and handling. I waiting 4 weeks for the product, which came regular mail and was post dated 3 days before I received it. Then I notice on my bank account that I am charged $58.93 for this. I have called their number [protected], and spoke with a representative that stated that I would receive a refund in 14 days. I am very upset that I have to wait 14 days to get a refund when I did not authorize the charge to my account in the first place. I am hoping that I do not have to close my account like the others, because I have auto bill pay set up for most of my bills and it is a pain to have to set that up all over again. This company should really be shut down. With 35 complaints before mine, you would think that someone would make this stop!

As I am starting to write this and read the other messages on the board it is surprising that so many people are being defrauded by fraudulent checks from Momentum Direct and nothing has been done.

I did not buy any products from these guys and yet I have started to see checks being cashed out from my account (checks I haven't written). I took all my money out of the account but have lost about 200 dollars and a lot of time speaking to the fraud department at my bank.

The other thing that is different is that the charges on the fraud checks on my account seem to be sourced from Virginia and not Texas even though it seems to be a Texas number.

This is ugly and someone needs to do something about it.

Momentum Direct is a company to beware of! They have charged my bank account for $49.95 and $58.93 for products that I have never ordered. When you try to call their customer service number they put you on hold then disconnect you. My bank has said there is nothing that I can do to stop these charges as it comes through looking like the charges are authorized. If you leave a message, they do not get back to you. Please be wary of using this company. You will never receive a product, and will just keep getting charged every few days for nothing.

The company has you use an electronic check to cover your shipment on your "free" product and within a short period of time they keep withdrawing money from your checking account. Within a few weeks a little over $1oo was taken out of my account. Plus no other shipment of products were received. I had to close my account and hopefully this will end the madness! It has my finances in a wreck! They should be in JAIL! How can this go on this long. I think that it should be put on one of those news programs about how they scam people and then that will get the ball rolling to close this company down!

This company offers a 2 week free trial on a product called the Amazon Diet well before I even get the product they tried to charge me 49.95 well they obviously typed my account number wrong it didn't go through so they turn me over to Cyber Collec collection agency for writing bad checks and charge me 30.00 saying now I owe them 79.95 oh yeah then I do get the product after realizing this is a scam I return the product immediately. I've called and left messages they don't return my calls they even turned me over to the bad check writers database I've never wrote a bad check in my life... at least I have a debit card or I'd probably be screwed. Do not buy from this company they are out to scam you.

April.

I ordered a weight loss pill called Amazon Diet from Momentum Direct. They required a check number and said that if I was not satisfied I could return the pill with in 30 days and cancel and not charge me anything. I tried the pill and it did not do anything, so I return the bottle by Federal Express (so I would have a record) and cancelled the product. It took a month or two, but now I have been charged over $58 a month for 4 months. I have sent them numerous emails and their product back but they still charge my account. I just put a stop payment on them deducting any more money from my account, but I may just change banks. I think it is horrible that they can get away with this. I am going to file complaints about them anywhere I can.

1. I ordered the product at "NO RISK" on Feb. 2, 2008.
2. I sent an email on March 3, 2008 requesting that my account/membership be CANCELED.
3. My fault for not being specific, I was charged $49.95 on March 6, 2008.
4. I sent an email with all the required information to have my account canceled/CLOSED on March 6th.
5. I received NO RESPONSE!
6. I emailed AGAIN on March 11, 2008 letting momentum direct know that their product is being returned (unopened) and demanding that the money be returned to my account.
6. I AGAIN was charged today (March 13), this time for $58.93 for something I did NOT order and requested to cancel.
7. They have been ILLEGALLY withdrawing from my account (posting as a check which was not per the agreement, I gave my debit card number ONLY!)
I emailed this set of facts today; we'll see what response I get (if any).
DO NOT BUY FROM momentumdirect.net, Momentum or the 2-day slim down... all are rip offs!

I had ordered a weightloss suplement from this company for only $2.97. I gave them my account info stupidly. They took out the 2.97 and sent me the product. About 2 weeks ago I got a letter from my bank saying that my mortgage check had bounced. The next day I got my bank statement saying that a check #143 for $49.95 had beeen taken from my account and written out to momentum direct. I did some research with my account and found that check 143 was written to my work place for $2.53 on October 2. I then called my bank to try to figure out what to do when they looked at my account they noticed the check for momentum direct and told me it was a counterfiet check. I then stopped using my account so that we could figure everything out. Now today I got another letter stating that I bounced another check for $58.93. I had over 200 in my account last I checked. It was for check 144 which was originally done electronically through my work just like the last one. I have both checks sitting in front of me. I'm wondering how many times they have done this to me. Tomorrow I will be going to the bank to close my account but that doesn't mean that this is over, it's just going to keep happening to other people. Luckily not alot was taken from me yet but it could be and it's just before christmas, I have a 6 year old son how am I supposed to do a good christmas if they are stealing from me?

I just want to add my 2 cents to this complaint board and tell you what steps I have taken that might stop this company from committing it's fraudulent activities. I encourage you to do the same.

On 10/25/2007, I responded to an ad , in an on-line survey, for a free sample from Momentum Direct, 1010 S. Magnolia Blvd, Magnolia, TX 77375. They have also been known to use the following addresses as well, 17350 Tomball Parkway Suite 330 77064 - PO Box 665 Magnolia, TX [protected] Prarie Village Drive Katy, TX 77449. They required me to just pay the shipping charges. The only payment option that they would accept was a bank account debit, which required that I give them my bank account number. I did this and they charged my bank account in the amount of $2.97 for shipping. I received the free sample but after reading the directions I chose to not use the product. A few weeks later they charged my bank account for the amounts of $49.95 and $58.93, charges that I did not authorize. I don’t even know what the products or services that the charges are supposedly intended to cover. I did not receive any additional products or services and did not order any. These charges are fraudulent. I called [protected] and got a recorded message that repeated "Thanks for calling", about 15 or 20 times, and then disconnected me.

There are numerous accounts, by other people, for similar unauthorized charges. There are also many similar accounts located on the web site –

http://w3./URL removed/?q5=Momentum%20Direct&q1=ALL&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search%21&Search=Search

I had my bank set up a block on any and all further debits from my checking account. I can't close the account yet because I have direct deposit funds being sent to the acount. It will take a little time to get the direct deposits going to the new checking account that I had set up, then I will close the first account. I have transferred all funds from the old account to the new one. My bank also informed me that once I gave Momentum Direct my checking account number, that I assumed all the responsibility of what transpired. They said that there was nothing they could do to recoup my money.

I have notified the following agencies and organizations of the fraudulent activities of Momentum Direct. I encourage you all to also file complaints with these agencies where it pertains to your own situation.

BBB of Metropolian Houston (Houston Texas)
1333 W. Loop South, Ste. 1200
Houston, TX 77027
Phone: [protected]
Fax: [protected]
email: bbbinfo@bbbhou.org
Web: http:/www.bbbhou.org
Complaint Number - 574882

Attorney General of Texas
Consumer Protection Division
Office of the Attorney General
300 W. 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701
greg.abbott@oag.state.tx.us
Consumer Protection Hotline [protected]
https://www.oag.state.tx.us

Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20580
http://www.ftc.gov

Internet Crime Complaint Center (Associated with the FBI)
http:/www.ic3.gov/

WAAF Radio Station (Provided Survey Link)
WAAF
20 Guest Street
3rd Floor
Boston, Massachusetts [protected]
Phone Numbers:
Office Line: [protected]
WWW.WAAF.com

Cedant Web Hosting (The Company that hosts their website)
7500 W 110th St., Suite 400
Overland Park, KS 66210
abuse@cedant.com
[protected]

TierraNet (The company that sold them their domain name)
P.O. Box 502010
San Diego, CA [protected]

Bank of America (My Bank)
1390 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04102
[protected]

Good luck and it's too bad that we had to learn the hard way, to not give our bank account number to anyone.

I ordered a product from momentum direct. They immediately charged my account even though they said there was a two week free trial period. I noticed then on my bank statement that they had charged my account three more times totaling over $200. In one month! I called them demanding a refund and informing them that I had returned their product and still nothing! Now two months later my bank account was down to $19.95. I went to the bank and canceled my account had the bank shred my checks and my debit card and ON THE DAY that I was closing my account they tried to push through another e-check for $58.00. I am now filing a police report. They have taken over $300 of the money I was saving up to spend on christmas presents for my kids. And now, they won't even answer the phone.

I ordered a free trial of Amazaon Diet and received the product. I called the company to cancel the account and return the product. They asked of an order number which was not included in my package and was told I could not cancel the account without this number. I looked the company up on the internet and found various other complaints about unauthorized charges. I called my bank immediately and a charge for 49.95 had been made to my account the same day I tried to cancel. They used a check number that had already legitimately been posted to my account. My bank has sent this back as unauthorized and I had to open a new account to avoid any new charges. DON'T ORDER ANYTHING FROM MOMENTUM DIRECT!

There are 41 other complaints on this board about this company BUT I wanted to post a complaint where my solution stays at the top of the post so that more people can take action.

Momentum Direct never cashed my online check for the sample, never sent the sample and then took $49.95 out via an online check. Then they hit me again for $58.93 one week later. Hours on the phone with the Bank, etc., etc. After reading all the complaints on this board (and others, just google the company and you'll find them) I decided to go after their websites.

As a webmaster, I was easily able to track down who hosts their sites...it's a simple solution...no website, no scam! Any website domain name registrar (the ones who sold them the names like momentumdirect.net, 20minutefacelift.com, etc. have policies that they won't use the domain for fraudulent activity, racism, hate speech, etc.) Same with the companies who actually HOST their websites (the place where their files and pictures and graphics are actually stored online to be viewed by unsuspecting people like all of us...those who end up on the site to get set up for ripoffs.) Again, do the math...no website, no innocent people to attack.

Bank of America (my bank) has received MANY, MANY complaints against them but they CANNOT block a company and they can hit you over and over again by simply changing the amount of the check...the creeps at Momentum Direct are sophisticated and savvy and think they can keep getting away with their scam because they have been doing so for YEARS.

Fact is folks, the FBI doesn't have the money or manpower to track and arrest baby rapers and online stalkers of children which means they don't have the resources to stop the thousands upon thousands of little ripoff scam artists like Momentum Direct.

If you really care about stopping them, join me in sending an email to Cedant, the company who HOSTS their site:
abuse@cedant.com and detail in your email what they did to you.

THEN, if you're really motivated by being ripped off and having these little trolls cause so much havoc in your life and your bank account, send a letter to the registrar of momentumdirect.net (the people who sold them that domain name) detailing what was done to you:
TierraNet
P.O. BOX 502010
San Diego, CA [protected]

If enough complaints are received, they WILL have their websites shut down and it's a heck of a lot quicker than slogging through overworked, underfunded and understaffed agencies like the FBI, the Texas Attorney General and the BBB! DO file complaints with them as well though because squeaky wheels do eventually get greased and the sheer number of complaints will most likely lead to arrest and conviction...do your part to stop these predators and help keep other people from being defrauded as well!

Company offered a trial program for weight loss and asked for an authorized direct withdrawal from my bank of $2.74 which I did. I never did receive any trial package. A few weeks later I was also charged 49.95 by the same company using the same preauthorized check number!

When I finally called them I reached a person who promised that I would be reimbursed the full amount of $52.69 directly to my bank account. Instead I have now been charged an additional $58.93 using the same check number again! It is now obvious to me that I have been defrauded and this company has no intention of returning my money. I see where they have several complaints filed against them (many for the same type of thing). I think we should proceed with action against this company to cease and desist and to return all monies collected from people fraudulently.

I enrolled in this company on line for a sample product costing $2.79 for weight loss. I never received the product sample although the check was cashed. On 10/15/07 the company then processed a check for $49.95 that was unauthorized. I found a report on this company from someone else that had the same thing happen. I do not see much sense in trying to get in touch with them since the other folks have not had any luck getting anything resolved. I will report this to all agencies and write them a letter.

Contacted and spoke to a representative and they stated they would cancel my account and future charges. Never refunded the cancellation and charged for the next month at a higher amount than it was agreed to. Now the phone number is disconnected and I placed a stop pay on future charges which the bank charged me a fee for that. But they cannot guarantee that will stop it if they do not charge the same amount as they were supposed to. Also tried to dispute with the bank and they said since I authorized the first transaction, its not a dispute and there is nothing I can do. Well i am doing something by cancelling my account with my bank making complaints and filing reports everywhere.

I just received returned item information from my bank this weekend, items I have no record of. When I called my bank they looked up the charges and found they were phone checks from Momentum Direct, a company I have never even heard of much less ordered from.

How can this happen! I now have to close my accounts that I have had for over 10 years! I know that since my bank is local and knows me that I will not be out any money, just time and frustration. But please, get the word out that this is happening so that other innocent people don't lose money from these scammers and thieves!

The tv offer said free trial offer of product. I called in and they only accepted check authorizations. I should have figured out the scam at that point. 2 months later the product arrives and I noticed from my bank statement that Momentum Direct had already (twice) used unauthorized checks to withdraw $58.93 from my bank account. I called my bank so that there will be stop payments in the future but, I am ready to close that account because scammers will keep trying to get free money. And, this company is a major scam. I called the phone number on the paperwork that was included with the product. Bogus. I tried faxing them with the fax # they provided. Disconnected. I am going to contact every law enforcement group that I have to to make sure they get brought to justice. Scu**ags!

company tells you FREE TRIAL must contcact us to reorder! i recieved the product, that didnt work and you think well maybe it just dosent work with my body type and go about your life. I never even thought they would be fraudulant yet they have created checkes in my name for $58.00 reusing check numbers that i have alreayd used. i never even knowticed tell i have $800.00 in over draft fees because they took out $58.00 4 times in the same month! now im trying to fight back i had to close out my bank account completly and start a new account. my bank is fighting for the money with in the last 60 days but that still leave about $300.00 that i have to try to retrieve myself. All the numbers they have listed dont work. you CAN NOT contact them at all. i must of called a hundred times hopeing some thing would work.

PLEASE BE CAREFULL!

do not order form this company!

I, like many others was charged fraudulent charges and have talk to them many times about getting a refund and keep getting the run arounds. So my bank advised me to file a police report and I will be contacting the Better Business Beauru. I am taking legal actions against them. If anyone else would like to get in on suing this company please let me know @ mandy21_2002@hotmail.com a.s.a.p.

I sent for a trail of 2 day slim down the price was 7.74 it took awhile for it to come. After it came 2 days later they took another 49.95 out of my account, 3 days later they took another 58.93 out since then they have taken a total of226.74 from me. I have spoken to one person who said they will be refunding my money. I will not hold my breath tomorrow I will get in touch with my bank.

Company is a fraud... they take money out of your account and do not refund any thing... had to cancel my credit card and get a new one sent to me to have them stop taking money, this is wrong that makes them nothing more than plain thief's... we need to stop this company what if they do this to senior's who don't have a lot of money...

I ordered a free trial product from Momentum Direct i was only suppose to pay for shipping, i have had 3 electronic checks posted to my bank account without my approval for a total of 167.81. I called Momentum Direct but i get an answering machine then get disconnected. It has been 2 months since i ordered the trial, been charged 3 times but i have received no products. Just want to warn everybody out there, they're not for real.

I ordered a product and returned it within 14 days. My account was still charged $49.95 even though they were only supposed to charged $2.95 for shipping.

I received an e-mail 11/6/07 stating the order was cancelled and a refund check will be issued. I have not received this refund as of 12/20/2007. Nice to know they are sitting on interest on my money.

I have the same complaint as others. I have had four deductions from my checking account to this company. It is for a diet product that was purchased once for the cost of shipping only. I now have to close my account.

I canceled a membership with this company subsidiary two months ago. I authorized one check to make a payment. Now for the past two months, I have checks all out of sequence from this company trying to get funds which has put my account in the negative by 236.00. I'm committing this complaint as a fraud and have to pursue litigation procedures.

This company STOLE $99.90 from my checking account. Attempts to contact them have been fruitless! Beware!

I had a draft of 49.95 taken out of my checking account at least 2 months ago. I contacted the company and a person who could barely speak english said that I ordered some face products which is not true. I am still wondering how they got my banking information. I did not authorize a purchase or a draft from my account. Have not received credit to my account of 49.95!

I agreed to pay for shipping and not the product. I call spoke to someone and was told that I was only going to be charged shipping and nothing else all I had to do was send back the merchandise. Well, I never received any merchandise. I was charged 2 days later by electronic check for 49.95.

I was charged to my checking account 48.95 plus a charge of 58.93. of stuff that they so say i received. I also had 3 nsf charges to the account that caused me to overdraw on the account.

I have not even heard of this company or product and just saw a $49.95 electronic check paid through my bank account to them. I am fortunate enough to have WaMu, a Respectable Bank and they WILL follow through on this FRAUD.

I ordered the product for a free 14 day trial. They charged my account immediately. When I tried to call the numbers didn't work. I tried to email and found this complaint line. They keep charging my account. My Bank has an active stop payment against them but each time the try for more money. I encourage everyone to beware of this scam!

I placed an order with them. They took money from my account twice and sent me a confirmation of order email. I called them about taking money from my account twice and gave them the corder confirmation number from there email and they cant find me anywhere on there computer. Now I don't know what to do. I am afraid they will take more money from me.

This company has taken check information from me and has cost me $2000 in one month. They have also forced me to close my checking account. Then they had the gall to send a second check through and then found out the account was closed and then turned that over to a collection service. I hope they enjoy meeting with my attorney in court.

I did not order any pills and then I receive them. My checking account was charged 3 times, 3 different charges and they used a check number instead of a debit. I had to close my checking account and open another to keep them from charging anymore. After filling out an affidavit from my bank, they did restore the charges and then charged another 58.93. How can they get away with this...

OK so I called this number [protected] and spoke to Kasey she assures me there will be no more charges and that she will tell Cyber Collect to stop the collection process... so we'll see I'll keep you updated I say we get a class action against these ba***rds.