NTR*acoptimumcs.com / AcaiOptimum review: False Advertising 135

I stumbled across a website with an advertisement similar to the one shown here:
http://acaiberrysite.com/beware-of-free-trial-offers-for-acai/
I paid the shipping and handling for two separate products on April 15, 2010, and never received any product. When I called customer service to inquire about delivery and to "cancel" as to avoid outrageous (nearly $80) additional charges as the fine print said, I was informed that my order had been cancelled by the company because the item was sold out or that the offer was not longer available (online customer service records indicated order was placed April 15 and cancelled April 19). The customer service rep (CSR) informed me that my money had been returned (my bank records indicated that it had).I specifically asked, "so no further charges will be made against my account?" She replied "no". Now here it is the end of July and I see two charges on my back statement totaling $2.52 each:
07/30/2010 Debit Card Transaction NTR*acoptimumcs.com 8664 07/29NTR*acopt $2.52
07/30/2010 Debit Card Transaction NTR*acoptimumcs.com 8664 07/29NTR*acopt $2.52

Now, if I had $100, 000 in my bank account, I’m sure I would not notice $5.04 being stolen from my account. Now that I’ve seen it and am reading about others who have experienced similar situations with this company, I see that on this website and others, this scam has been public for quite some time:
http://acaiberrysite.com/beware-of-free-trial-offers-for-acai/

Yet what I am wondering is why this scam continues when supposedly numerous complaints have been made? Shame on our government! I have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The above website has a link to file a report of your own if you have been scammed and ripped off. I guess Monday I will be going to the bank to close my checking account.

I was scammed as well. I am going to notify the Attorney General of AZ about this Company. This is clearly a case of fraud.

I also got scammed by this product, I thought I was paying 1.97 for shipping and handling and got charged, 104.00$ and im supposed to get charged another 104 $ in 30 days for my "second" bottle, which I did not want. So i called and asked the man to cancel my account with acai, so he said ok ill cancel your account, you wont recieve your second bottle. but u will get charged anyway. so wtf? what the hell is the point of canceling my account if ur going to continue charging me anyway? stealing my money. [censor]. DONT ORDER THIS [censor]

I've been scammed too :( Just found 2 amounts of $113 AUD on my bank statement that I did not authorise.

I called them on a local free call number (which I thought was in Melbourne) to dispute the charges. I was definitely speaking with someone overseas and not in Australia.

Was told that it is all stated in their terms and conditions and that the $1.97 shipping trial had finished so was charged the full price. $113 for the Colon Cleanse and $113 for the Acai Optimum. This is a bloody joke.

Called my bank to dispute the charges, while on the phone with the bank, the bank guy noticed another 2 payments of $109 had been taken out, 20 minutes ago. I was like "You've got to be joking!"

Whoever is doing this needs to be stopped and stopped now. My bank is investigating them for fraud and I hope they get the [censor].

You are never just out the money. Have your financial institution file a fraud form. If you do it within 30 days, you will get your money back. If you dont, switch to bank with fraud protection.

I was scammed also. I had to cancel my debit card and get a new one- As soon as I did, the withdrawls stopped. I was being charged $1 and some cents at a time, several times. I did receive the Advanced Colon- My question is, has anyone actually taken the Advanced Colon? I see no point in sending it back becuase I feel it is already said and done- but Im not sure about taking the pills. Has anyone?

I started taking the pills before the over-charging scam started and think they were working to a degree.
I stopped taking them after a week but will start again some time soon for a further trial.
I experienced some stomach ache and diarrhoea and my visits to little boys room increased. I interpretted some of what was going on with my body as colon cleansing but may be wrong.

The same thing has happened to me I paid the original 10.80 shipping and handling. I just received two more bottles and I don't even want them. I looked at my statement and they charged me another 85.56. I am so angry I could spit.. What can I do besides the BBB. Anything?

So true. I am having problems now with a credit card being charged. I am mad at myself for falling for this. FL Lady

This is a total scam. I just viewed my bank account statement and have found out I was charged $99.00 for what was supposed to be a trial offer of the product. This charge has come three and a half weeks after I purchased the "trial offer." I also talked with one of the company's customer service representatives and was given the run around which made me very suspicious. Unfortunately, I started using the product and have no recourse but to count this as a loss. Do not use this product. It is a complete rip off...

http://www.acaioptimum.com/offer/?sid=eb2892f9161b421dd1b6cee24e9002a6

Sold a 'trial' subscription - sold to me as a £3.95 payment. I ordered by clicking on the Free Trial link and believed this was all i was subscribing to.

6 days later, I found they had signed me up to a full programme for £64.66 and charged me an additional £2.77 inc Transaction fees.
Nothing received so far.

Upon checking the terms and conditions I read again that I would NOT be charged this £64.66 if I cancelled within 30 days.
When I tried to do so however, I was told that these terms and conditions were not applicable to the offer and/or I had signed up for the full programme.
Called company and got no-where - they also claim to have a no refund policy.

Same here. They are robbers, crooks, dishonest, should be ashamed of themselves and put out of business.

I ordered the $0.99c trial offer and found I had been charged $56.00. I will be getting the bank to get my money back.

Hope they sink.

Jenny
Sydney
Australia

I wish I had read this page before ordering. I spoke with a supervisor about their bogus advertising and rebate. Not only was she a foreigner East Indian or whatever diaperhead nation they are from, but she insisted I received 2 bottles of the crap, when I got 1 that I was to receive a full refund for. I had to go online and fill out rebate papers and still have not gotten my money back. Yesterday I saw another 99.96 taken out of my checking account. What a rip off. I will never do this again. First warning sign, the people taking your order speack english, but the ones in the compaint dept. do not. How fn crazy is that? May they all rot in hell for ripping off people.

BUYER BEWARE! I TOO WAS TAKEN IN WITH THIS TERRIBLE SCAM. FfILING AN AFFIDAVIT WITH MY BANK, SENDING OUT LETTERS TO OUR LOCAL BBB AND ONE TO THE PHOENIX ONE(ADDRESS 7102 W, ROOSEVELT ST NO 100) this is where it was shipped from--supposedly.
HOWEVER, I DO NOT THINK ANYONE IS ACTING ON THIS BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF FOR SOMETIME. BUT WHEN WILL IT BE TAKEN CARE OF.THE CS REPS ALL SPEAK WITH AN ACCENT AND I DO BELIEVE THEY ARE SET UP IN A PRIVATE HOME. OH WOULD I LIKE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL, I AM ALSO GOING TO WRITE TO THE LCAL (AZ) CONGREESMAN. DON T HOLD YOUR BREATH.CC SOMEONE IS MAKING A LOT OF MONEY AND HERE WE ARE--HOLDING THE BAG!

THIS IS A SCAM I ORDERED A FREE TRIAL FOR $ 9.99 INCLUDING TAX AND WAS CHARGED $86.35 CANADIAN. I WAS SENT TWO BOTTLES MORE WITHOUT ORDERING IT. I SENT IT BACK INCLUDING THE CAPSULES i DIDN'T CONTINUE TO TAKE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T DO ME ANY GOOD AND MADE MY BOOD PRESSURE GO UP. I HAVE TO CALL MY CARD HOLDER NOT TO HONOR ANYMORE CHARGES FROM THIS SCAM COMPANY.

CARMEN SAGUIN

I am from Scotland and I also fell for this scam. Like others I ordered the Free Trial, shipping and postage only. Next day I checked my card and £ 126.00 pound had been taken not the £ 3.90 I expected. When I phoned to complain I was told I had not signed up for the free Trial but for 60 days but she would cancel so that I would n't receive any more charges and also If I returned the goods there was no guarantee I would receive a refund. What annoys me is, some of these complaints are 125 Days old Why has nobody done anything about this company. So much for slimming with Acai

Mac Scotland

I am from Derby UK, and I also fell for this offer! I actually cancelled throught their customer services site the same day as placing my order, as I found and read with horror the T&C's. My bank were on the case at the same time and although I had placed the order, and after I told the bank I was cancelling, they stopped the payments. I aslo received cancellation confirmation of the orders two days later and thought that would be the end of it. Lo and behold, today I took delivery of a parcel containing 2 bottles of this product and on checking my bank account they had taken 2 x £65.94 from my account... three days after the canellation confirmation came through on an email! I called the bank straight away and was told that they have a whole department set up to deal with this company. I am lucky as I will get this money and any further payments that show up refunded via the bank.
All I can say is don't be fooled, always read the T&C's before pressing the confirm button. Vulnerable people, who if like me with a weight problem that never goes away, thought this was the solution, let our excitment and irrational thoughts get the better of them.

Never again!

Zena
Derby UK

I had the same experience. $100.97 was credited to my charge account. I received no invoice or bill of sale to notify me of the name of the company or how to call them or return the merchandice. The company is a fraud and a rip off.

I was scammed also. I was charged £65.78 twice from a company in Cyprus who is clearly acting on their behalf for any customers they can fool in Europel. This is an absolute disgrace and the people behind the scam should be stopped immediately.

This is a ripoff company. The products does not work. I tried this products, exercise for three months and eat more healthier (less qty). Nothing work, I loss nothing beside the money they are withdraw from my account every month.

I had tried to contact them to get my refund, or send me the products if they are going to charge me for them. Nothing, no call back or email. I am reporting them to BBB and Attorney General. If anyone have this same problem with this company please join me by contact the attorney general's office and report them. Shut them down, don't let them ripoff more hard working people like us.

Thank you for your time.

** PLS READ THESE COMMENTS BEFORE ORDER*
THESE PILLS DO NOT WORK "ACAI OPTIMUN - ADVANCED COLON
I TOTALLY agree on the above comments. Me too I order what I thaught was a FREE trial and I was charged USD99.96 TWICE- When I called to finally talk to Magun a supervisor after spending 10 min with a customer service employee, they kept on repeating to me that I have ordered a REBATE PROGRAM which I DID NOT.
When I asked about a refund I was told by the supervisor Than 40 days after my order I can get a rebate of $100.00 on my next order.
If after all these comments u r still ordering goodbye money
Ray -

yea i agree, it happen to me aswll, it saed free trail just pay forthe delivery with was £1.95, checket my bank £68 gon, called my bank straet a way, but its nuthing they can do, untill 30 days, they may ask 4 money back but its not guarantit, im so pisst of ab it. 16 Agust 2010

i'm the same as the rest off you put in for the free trail agreeing to pay shipping fee went to my bank couple of days later the took £65.89 phoned the company got told they would refund me £50 but they haven't (shock) phoned my bank and they are going to deal with it to stop them taking anymore money from me and hopefully the bank will get my money back. makes me so cross that people can con decent people

My wife did similar, but less than 5 minutes after submitting the "trial" order, called to stop. She was informed that there was no way to "stop shipment" and they would issue a refund in 6-8 weeks. Not good enough, and told them that we were filing a complaint with the Alabama Attorney General;s Office. They immediately put on a supervisor who said she stopped the plan and would refund the money.

It didn't happen. Today, there was another subscription charge, creating an overdraft in my account. I will be filing that complaint with the AG office today. DO NOT conduct any business with this company.

YO MUST HAVE READ THE TERMS & CONDITIONS FIRST...
it's the best thing to do...
there are two kinds of [censor]s in this world...the one who are scammers and the one who were scammed...
be careful next time...

ei guys! im previously working in the company whos handling acaioptimum and advancedcoloncleanse and I can say that its scam indeed... However, as a customer, we have to be very careful in processing an order online as the website always have the terms and conditions. But I do understand how frustrating it can be to all of you but the terms and conditions is in english language though the customer service is not good in speaking english.. LOL.. well, dont think that Im on their side. I just wanna let u know that next time, read the terms and conditions..

I already left the company because my conscience is eating me a Lot. I pity all the customer whos calling us to get a refund. and guys, I want to give you a tip.

FOR EASY REFUND, YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU WILL CALL BBB, BANK AND AG.. and they will definitely give a refund. First, they will give you partial. but do not deal with that. ask for a full refund and be sound upset so that refund will be given to you right away. haha!

By the way, once you call this customer service, ask for their boss. their names are Ryan Ives and Dan Depina.

@goodheart- do we know each other? I also worked in this so called 'legit' company as they claim but they are really a scam. and goodheart is actually correct that all you have to do is to threat and at the beginning of your call, mention that you will call bbb, ag and bank and the rep will go ahead and transfer the call to their supervisor and let the supervisor know that you are serious about calling the above mentioned and they will give a you a full credit.

the rep like me are actually obliged to lie. because you all thought that you are ordering a free trial wherein, you will be charged 99.96 because without you knowing, what you actually placed was an order for a rebate program which is actually a crap. because once you submitted the order, you are already binded with their f**cking terms and conditions that you will get two bottles and will pay 99.96 upfront then after 30days, you will be charged another 99.96 and there willbe no further charges but you are eligible for a rebate which is really s huge mistake and scam because 99.96 for 2bottles is very expensive. the rebate that they are talking about is just a buss strategy wherein basically, you re getting the [censor] for 99.96.. but the orig price of that bottle is only 9.95(they can offer you that amount if you are with their 14days) but again, what you have actually ordered WAS NOT A TRIAL BUT A REBATE.

so serve that as a lesson. and again,
FOR YOU TO GET A FULL REFUND, MENTION BBB, AG, AND BANK

and by the way, just a tip. receive the bottle first then call for refund request cause you will get the bottles then you will get a refund once you threatene. hahahah!

very poor busines. I can tell you where is their location. Im out of the company anymore becuase I cant accept the pain of the customers like you.

As what goodheart said, the bosses names are Dan Depina and Ryan Ives and Sheryl Villafuerte. so once you call, ask for their names. hahahahahaha! and let them know that you will let the NBI of the Philippines know about their bussiness.

I also fell for the trial offer scam. They told me it would cost 99.96, but they took an additional 160.29 from my account. I never even received the product. I guess it's a lesson learned, don't trust anyone.

upset in swansea south wales
i have just got off the phone with their customer services department! I have been charged £99 for my free 14 day trial which should of cost 99p postage! she said i was wrong and had signed up for a different thing and kept repeating that they were sorry but there were no refund policies. i am absolutley livid. is there anyone who can stop these theives?

I totally agree, I even wrote to the company, have not received any more products but they are still taking money from my account.
ThinkI shall have to change my card as well to avoid any more problems with this so-called company. The only LOSS we are having is from our bank accounts not from the scales!

I ordered what i thought was a 14 day free trial and when i called to cancel it they insisted that i Ordered through there reabate program and no matter what i said they WOULD NOT GIVE ME A REBATE FOR THE FIRST SHIPMENT. They did cancel my order and still charged me for the first shipment which i did not even open, they would not let me return the product at all. SO now i am still paying 99.96 for a product I don't want and i am not able to send back. They told me they are not scamming me but THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCAMS I HAVE EVER SEEN. DO NOT ORDER THIS PRODUCT. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT HELPFUL THEY JUST WANT YOUR MONEY. This was a expensive lesson to learn and i will never order on line again. These people will prey on you & talk all they can from you they do not care about the comsumer just the money they can get from them. BEWARE DO NOT ORDER FROM THEM. Read all these comments do you think all these people are wrong. I wish i would have seen this before i ordered because i would have listened to them.

I did not see anything about charges other than $1.99 for a free trial until I submitted my credit card info.Then I was shown that there would be charged
$99 that would be a rebate. I called credit card, Bank of America MC, and was told they could do nothing until it was posted. Calling NTR to cancel and was told they would charge me $39 to cancel. I cancelled thinking it better to dispute a $39 charge than a $99 charge. My statement had both charges. I disputed the charges with Bank of America and they were able to eliminate the $39 charge. Since I was charged a cancellation fee how could they charge a rebate fee? I consider Bank of America an accessory to this scheme. Their terms might have required a rebate of any ammount, thousands?

One month after my account was CANCELLED with this company they have taken more money from my account.
I don't even have the stupid products. How can these people keep getting away with this!?

I just wish my bank would hurry up with their investigation. These [censor] need to be stopped.

Sterling Management Solutions has advised BBB that it will issue a full refund to any customer that is not satisfied with their product or service. Consumers should call [protected] to obtain a refund

Sterling IS Acai Optimum [protected] they have made and agreement posted on the BBB

http://www.bbb.org/central-northern-western-arizona/business-reviews/vitamins-and-food-supplements/sterling-management-solutions-llc-in-phoenix-az-1000008416/#exch

Just tried calling the above number from Australia and it is disconnected? Is this number from the UK?

I had the same problem and today I noticed that they charged my credit card again after 7 months from the original order and full payment was made. I will be calling my bank and having the charge removed and probably have the company investigated for fraud.

I was a victim too. The pills don't work and they cost to much for a free trial. I also noticed today that after 7 months they are trying to charge my credit card. I will be contacting my bank and having the fee removed. I will also have them investigate the fraudulent behavior and see if something can be done about this.

i am also having the same problem, this is the 2nd time they have taken money out of my account! which i was told off my bank they could not do again...i am now going to the police with this as thay have taken my weekly wage each time...someone stop them now!

I got SCAMMED too! This company needs to be ripped to be taken down. I told them to take my credit card if off there system and I was just charged again! I will be contacting my bank and making a formal complaint.

Good Lord, it looks like I have been scammed too! I just read through all of the comments and have a sick feeling that my dealings with the company will result wth a great expense on my part. I(f I get anywhere with this company, I ll be sure to post another comment. Another sucker was born today!

THIS IS RIDICULOUS! I HAVE JUST NOW READ SEVERAL PAGES OF PEOPLE BEING RIPPED OFF/SCAMMED BY THIS COMPANY OVER SEVERAL MONTHS PERIOD! THE COMPANY SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY AND BE FORCED TO REFUND EVERY CLIENT NOW! I FOR ONE AM NOT VERY HAPPY TO BE ROBBED OF MY HARD EARNED MONEY! ACTION MUST BE TAKEN! THIS MUST STOP NOW !