Anchor: A MIRACLE IN A
BOTTLE.
ANTI-AGING SERUM MAKES BIG
PROMISES AND THERE IS ALSO A BIG
TWIST SURPRISING MANY.
I LOOKED.
AND THERE ARE THE CHARGES.
I ABOUT DIED.
Anchor: NOW IN HELP ME HANK
CONSUMER ALERT.
SERUM SECRET IS REVEALED.
GO WITH YOUR EYES OPEN
FURTHER THAN MINE WERE.
Anchor: THIS PARTICULAR
PRODUCT CLAIMS TO BE BETTER THAN
BOTOX AND PEOPLE ARE ORDERING IT
ONLINE.
IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL YOU COULD
GET STUCK WEIGH GIGANTIC BILL.
Anchor: HANK WINCHESTER
SHOWS US WHY SOME ARE SHOCKED BY
THE FINE PRINT.
Reporter: IT SOUNDS GOOD.
A PRODUCT THAT IS TOUTED AS
BETTER THAN BOTOX.
AND MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE.
BUT AS YOU WILL SEE, THERE IS A
BIG PROBLEM.
MAGIC SERUM THE ANSWER TO
REDUCING WRINKLES AND ELAINE
SAID THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE
WAS GETTING THAT MIRACLE FOR
FREE.
IT IS ALL MY FAULT.
I KNOW THAT.
Reporter: BUT QUICKLY
ELAINE'S DREAMS OF FOUNTAIN OF
YOUTH TURNED INTO A BIG BILGE
NIGHTMARE.
THESE ARE THE PRODUCTS.
ANTI-AGING LINE.
WHEN THE ENTICING OFFER POPPED
UP ON INTERNET ELAINE JUMPED.
ANTI-AGING SERUM.
I WRINKLE -- EYE WRINKLE
REDUCTION.
WHO DOESN'T WANT THAT?
Reporter: FREE IF SHE PAID
SHIPPING.
WHICH WAS $12.
PRODUCTS ARRIVED AND SHE BARELY
HAD A CHANCE TO TRY THEM OUT.
THEN PRETTY SOON I GOT A
SECOND BOX AND I THOUGHT WHAT?
AND THEY MUST HAVE SENT ME TWO
BY MISTAKE.
THEN I GOT A THIRD BOX.
AND THEN I REALIZED I WAS TAKEN.
Reporter: IT WAS RIGHT THEN
WHEN ELAINE REALIZED.
NOT A HUGE SHOCK TO MANY OF YOU.
FREE PRODUCTS CAME WITH STRINGS
ATTACHED.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T CALL AND SAY
I DIDN'T WANT IT.
SO THEN THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE
FIRST -- WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
FREE.
Reporter: BECAUSE SHE DID
NOT CANCEL WITHIN 14 DAYS SHE
WAS CHARGED ALMOST $200 FOR
PRODUCTS THAT SHE THOUGHT WAS
FREE.
PLUS $200 IN FEBRUARY.
AND $200 IN MARCH.
FOR ADDITIONAL SHIPMENTS.
AND ALL THAT KEY INFORMATION
ABOUT CANCELING BURIED IN TINY
FINE PRINT.
I LOOKED.
AND THERE ARE THE CHARGES.
AND I ABOUT DIED.
Reporter: ELAINE SAID THE
COMPANY WON'T TAKE RETURNS AND
DENIED HER REPEATED REQUEST FOR
A FULL REFUND.
AND HAS DISPUTEED CHARGES WITH
THE BANK BUT THEY ARE DIFFICULT
TO REVERSE BECAUSE THE POLICIES
ARE STATED CLEARLY IN DETERMINES
AND CONDITIONS WHETHER OR NOT
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS TO MAKE
MYSELF AWARE OF THE SMALL PRINT.
HOWEVER SMALL.
DIFFICULTY MOST PEOPLE DO NOT
SEE IS THAT THE BUSINESS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE TRANSACTION
NEEDS TO MAKE MONEY.
IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DO THAT
THEY EVENTUALLY HAVE TO CHARGE
YOU SOMETHING.
Reporter: MELANIE OF BBB
HERE IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN SAID
THAT NEVER RUSH INTO BUYING
SOMETHING ONLINE.
AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU SEE AN
OFFER POP UP ON YOUR SCREEN.
THEY ARE TRYING TO CATCH YOU
AT A WEAK MOMENT.
CATCH YOU WHEN YOU WANT TO BUY
SOMETHING.
Reporter: HERE IS BBB
REPORT ON INCONTA.
YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE AN F
RATING AND 65 COMPLAINTS.
WE WANTED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE
ABOUT THE COMPANY'S FREE OFFERS
AND THE WAY IT IS BILLING
CUSTOMERS.
THE COMPANY BEHIND INCONTA IS
HARD TO TRACK DOWN.
WE COULD ONLY FIND A NUMBER FOR
CUSTOMER SERVICE, NO ONE FROM
CORPORATE RETURNED OUR CALLS.
I DON'T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO
GET TAKEN IN.
Reporter: THIS IS WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW TO AVOID BEING
CAUGHT IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.
READ ALL OF THE FINE PRINT ON
ANY FREE OFFER.
AND ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE RETURN
POLICY.
AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS A TIME
LIMIT ATTACHED ON ANY
CANCELLATION.
AND LOOK FOR REVIEWS ON ANY
PRODUCT BEFORE YOU BUY.
GO WITH YOUR EYES OPEN
FURTHER THAN MINE WERE.
Reporter: JUST LIKE ELAINE,
MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY CENTERED ON
CONSUMERS NOT ABLE TO CANCEL.
AND ALSO BEING UNABLE TO GET ANY
TYPE OF REFUND.
I AM HANK WINCHESTER.
HELP ME HANK.
BACK TO YOU.
Anchor: ALL RIGHT.
FREE IS NOT A GOOD BUSINESS
MODEL.
NEVER FREE.
NO.
HANK IS ALSO POSTED SOME EXTRA
ADVICE ONLINE SHOPPING TO HELP