Medistress 60

This company offers a stress relieving product known as Medistress 60. The product is marketed as a "free supply". Respondents are required to pay shipping and handling fee of $3.99 and are asked for credit card numbers to cover the charge. Further website disclosures explain that by agreeing to receive your free supply, you agree to become a member of the MediStress 60 Program and agree to be set up on an auto-ship basis. Essentially, you are agreeing to receive a 60 day supply one week after signing up and every 50 days after for the cost of $89.99 plus $15.99 shipping and handling, for a total of $105.98 for each shipment. Careful reading of the terms of the agreement indicates that the original $3.99 charge and the shipping costs are not refundable. You can only cancel after the receipt of your fist shipment and you must contact the company, obtain authorization within 30 days and return the unopened product to the company for a refund of the product price only. At minimum, the product will cost $3.99 for the “free supply”, $15.99 for shipping and handling of your first order and the return shipping fees for your first order.

Although the company's many websites make cancellation procedures appear fast and easy, in reality customers report that cancellation requests are ignored, calls are not returned, credit cards continue to be charged, and unwanted product shipments continue to arrive.

This company's free treatment is conditional upon accepting their offer for additional product. FTC Guidelines for advertising this type of offer require that all terms and conditions of the offer, as well as cancellation instructions, be clearly and conspicuously displayed in at least 10 point type before asking for payment or obtaining the customer's consent. Clearly and conspicuously means, NOT disclosed in microscopic print accessed by a weblink to another site, but rather, disclosed along with the free trial solicitation.

Regardless, many consumers overlook the advisory, and are unaware of the charge until their next monthly credit card statement. In this company's case, consumers complain they are unable to cancel services by using the instruction provided by the company. Even worse, they are unable to contact the company at all. Emails are not returned or acknowledged, and calls are not returned. Industry guidelines require marketers to provide a fast easy method of canceling, either by mail, phone, or website, failure to do so may be a violation of consumer protection laws.

Most credit card issuers will allow the cardholder 60 days to dispute an unauthorized or inaccurate charge. Review your monthly statement carefully. If you discover a charge which is unfamiliar, investigate and dispute the amount with your card issuer as soon as possible to protect yourself from making unwanted purchases.