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Advanced Wellness Research

Advanced Wellness Research review: internet scam 63

K
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9:04 pm EDT
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Got SCAMMED from Advanced Wellness Research aka ‘Teeth Whitening Now’ I ordered a free trial teeth whitening via internet on 3/10/09 received the free trial on 3/14/09. When I called Advanced Wellness on 3/20/09 to cancel I was advised that the ‘new’ order was shipped out already and that I couldn’t cancel until product was received. (Duh the light bulb should have lite!) On 4/8/08 I received the product and called Advanced Wellness again to cancel the order, they advised me to send product back which I did that same day. They sent me an e-mail also on 4/8/08 stating the order was canceled. When I received my credit card statement the following charges from Advanced Wellness Research was on the bill: $6.99 (free trial shipping charge);$69.99; and$54.98. When I called the company on 4/20/09 I was given the ‘run-a-round’ first speaking to a ‘Kate Smith’ the floor manager then to ‘Bob Johnson’ the Senior Customer Service Manager, (The Middle Eastern accent was a dead give-a-way) both of which told me there was nothing they could do! I was forced to cancel my Macy’s Visa Credit Card so Advanced Wellness Research doesn’t keep charging me each and every month.

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

63 comments
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Howard
US
Mar 31, 2009 6:47 am EDT

As I state above, the internet ad indicates they will send you a 2-wk. supply of acai berry caps to try out if you send them the shipping fee (for me in Canada $11.63) I did receive a bottle of caps via UPS after a couple of weeks. Obviously, the free incentive is so this disreputable company can get your credit card info, after which they rip you off by deducting another $78.81 completely unauthorized by you! I discovered this fraud about a week after the did it when checking my VISA statement. I called VISA. They called Advanced Wellness, and someone there told me they had shipped more product to me (unauthorized, of course!) UPS. They told VISA if I then refused the delivery or shipped it back via registered mail so I'd have a receipt, etc., they would then refund the amount to my VISA card. It's been over 18 days now, and so far, no product has shown up. VISA has a note on my file and will not charge interest, but whether I ever get my money back is a moot point thus far. Watch out for this racket!

I cannot call their 800 number from Canada (800-503-WELL) since most US 800 number do not work from this country, nor do I get a 'live one' when I call their phone number showing on my VISA statement :[protected]. All I get is weird noises, rather like a fax machine. Their site is www.buypureacaiberry.com shows no way to e-mail them that I can discover.

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Margaret F. Miller
Olivehurst, US
Apr 01, 2009 1:03 am EDT

I ordered their product and received it on 02-22-09;
the product upset my stomach and I called within the 14 day trial period and cancelled my offer.

On 02-28-09 I was charged for another bottle of their product and called on 03-04-09 when I received it and ask why they had not acknowldeged their agreement with me to cancel the future shipment of products.

I was told that I did not call before the trial period was up...which I did and that I would have to pay the additional charges on my credit card. I wrote to them at the web address and they have not responded. I am just hoping that I don't get another bottle of these pills and that I am not charged again for this product.

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Tracina
Miami, US
Apr 03, 2009 3:17 pm EDT

Advanced Wellness Research

Have not received product ordered 3/5/09

Advanced Wellness Research
1000 SOUTH POINTE DRIVE #1901
Miami, Florida

Phone: [protected]
advancewellnessresearch.com

I have been waiting for one month for a trial shipment of Acai that I ordered on March 5, 2017. On March 20, 2017 I noticed a charged of $78.81 out of my account from your company and when I called and spoke with Maria she indicated that it was shipped and I told her I have not received it. We verified my address and they did not have the apt # listed so she added the apt# and said she would reship it and I would have it in 2-3 business days. Well today is Friday April 3, 2017 and my mail has just come and no product has come. I just called and spoke with a not so polite gentlemen who I explained everything to again and he is saying that my address is still wrong. He said its not their fault. Ok I let the first time go even though I have my print out from when I place the trail order, but the second time and I physically spoke to someone who verified and corrected the so-called problem NO. I told him that is unacceptable all he kept saying was it was my fault for not providing the correct address I said even the second time when I gave it to the lady. He saw where she gave me an credit for $50.0o for the inconvenience. I asked for a supervisor and he said he was some team leader and we are supervisors.

So I am going to contact the better business bureau and file a complaint with this company. I find this unfair and very insulting.

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Carolyn
Miami, US
Apr 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

I GOT A CALL TODAY THAT THE ID SAID COMFIRM ORDER AND WHEN I ANSWERED IT THE WOMAN ASK FOR CAROLYN AND WHEN I ASKED WHO SHE WAS SHE HUNG UP ON ME. I HAVE NOT ORDERED ANY MORE ACAI PILLS AND DON'T WANT TO. THEY ARE FULL OF JUNK AND NOT JUST THE BERRY. I HOPE THEY ARE NOT DUMB ENOUGH TO CHARGE MY ACCOUNT AGAIN. I AM WAITING FOR A RETURN LABEL BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT YET.

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ian m. streat
Brooklyn, US
Apr 07, 2009 5:48 am EDT

dear sirs: please remove my name off your mailing & close any account currently open. I am not interested in this product . Im am under doctor's supervision and have been adviced that this product, if taken would affect me adversely ! I'm contacting you today and returning a package I received earlier.. The package will be returned un-opened and I don't anticipate seeing any erroneous chagre to my charge card made my Advanced Wellness Research.. This is not the first time this has occurred! just last week i was on the phone speaking to one of your sale reps. who assured he would take care of the problem of me receiving unsolicited shipment resulting in un-wanted billing charges.. I will forward this e-mail to the better business bureau along with the name of sale rep. to file an official comp laint. RESPECTFULLY IAN M. STREAT 94 HIMROD ST BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ------IMS154@aol.com

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ian m. streat
Brooklyn, US
Apr 07, 2009 5:51 am EDT

pls read comment forwarded to you

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Jen
La Mesa, US
Apr 10, 2009 3:27 am EDT

Just a complete SCAM! Got my credit card bill and saw that I had 3 charges from this company and pending one more, totalling over $300. My phone call to their 'Customer Service' Department in India didn't go over too well... They gave me the old, "Oh, ma'am, you're call is breaking up, we can't hear you, but we can give a credit of $60." After asking for details about where their actual company is located and that I wanted the phone # to that office they simply hung up on me. My credit card company whose "Disputes" office is also located in India didn't give me much hope either. They said they will hold those charges until they can investigate them and that I should 'wait and see' if I get another charge before getting a new card...ridiculous! Oprah should be pretty pissed off that this company is luring people in with her good name!

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Loretta Kapolka
Yorkville, US
Apr 26, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

In February I ordered what I thought was a sample of their product Acai Berry for a shipping fee of $4.99. What they didn't tell the consumer was that you would be charged for the product in the amount of $78.00 for what was advertised as a sample of Acai Berry. Not knowing I only had 10 days to decide if I wanted to keep this free samle I was charged that amount on my credit card. I immediately called and to pacify me they credited me for$30 and I was told my account was cancelled. However I received another bottle of Acai Berry and I vehemently called and said I did not want their product. I did not receive any more credit. I'm stuck with their product and their deceptive practices. What can be done abou this?

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jds
Ferndale, US
May 04, 2009 1:31 pm EDT

i too was scammed by this company. i was told that it is a free trial but the product they ship for the free 'trial' in in fact not free but cost 69.99 plus shipping and enrolls one in their program where you are sent another shipment automatically and charged another $55 to your credit card - this goes on until you cancel. the product, when it arrives does not include any of this information.

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vicwarj
Winnipeg, CA
May 11, 2009 12:22 pm EDT

I went online and ordered the "free trial" of the Acai Berry from Advanced Wellness Research, Inc. and was to be charged 4.99 which they did. Now I find that they have taken $78.81 from my bank account WITHOUT my permission. After calling the company, they refunded my 78.81 but not the 4.99 shipping. They said they would take my name off their list and send no more of the unauthorized produce. Today I received another shipment and charged 83.80. I again contacted the company and was promised the same as last time. I am hereby issuing a FRAUD WARNING and suggest that if anyone has a similar problem that they contact their financial institution and get them to go after Advanced Wellness Research. They must be stopped!

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DMac
London, GB
May 19, 2009 7:17 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I am in the same position as Loretta. I took up an offer for a free trial sample of Acai Berry and, and ever since charged an extortionate amount of money for this product, which "Advanced Wellness Research" have been sending - even though I have not ordered anymore.

Please help!

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Kmeskell
San Diego, US
May 26, 2009 6:20 pm EDT

The company charged me $4.99 for their teeth whitening product for shipping. I never received the product and they are giving me the run around that I agreed to the terms of non-refundable shipping. Yes, for a product, not just to give them $4.99. They said the package was delivered, but I actually have a P.O. box and there is no package. They then want to send out a new product I may or may not get again. What a scam. Also, their call center in India is awful, they don't listen and keep quoting the terms and conditions. I have tried to contact the company, but get an e-mail with the same number. Also, I was told their "managers" don't answer the phone.

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Fred Dengler
Ripley, US
May 29, 2009 11:31 am EDT

I have the same problem and have been billed for 3 orders. I return a bottle and a bottle shows up. They are charging my card each time. This is fraud. Let's get a class action suite together. I have also contacted the Il. attorney general office I want my money back - they lied about billing, I agreed to NO auto shipment. If you want more info on what I am doing to take care of this email me at fredd@mikal.com

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Fred Dengler
Ripley, US
May 29, 2009 12:03 pm EDT

I have now filled out a complaint with the Ill. Attorney Generals office.
You can do the same at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/conscomp.pdf
and mail it in.
This company is a huge scam and fraud.

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Jan
Richland, US
May 31, 2009 1:32 am EDT

I ordered a trial of Acai Pure. I received the first bottle for $1.99. It was supposed to be a 30-day free trial. I was only 2 weeks into my trial when the first full-priced delivery arrived. by the time I had completed the free trial, I had determined that the product wasn't going to work for me. I consequently sent back the first bottle, with the invoice enclosed. When the second bottle arrived I sent it back 'return-to-sender.' I then received a third bottle.
When I called to correct the situation, I was told that all they could do was cancel further deliveries. The product has not been returned to me, nor have I been credited for the purchases. In other words, they have the product AND my money and are insisting that there is no way they can give me credit for the returns because I didn't call before returning them.
The process was all the more frustrating because the people on the phone do not speak English clearly.

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S Powers
Lake City, US
Jun 19, 2009 6:17 pm EDT

I ordered the above product. Received it and then received another one. Called [protected]. First I told them ( spoke with 4 or 4 people) I wanted the charge off my bill as I was sending product back. They said no, could not return item. I stated I wanted a supervisor and he told me he had no supervisor and I had to talk to him. He stated he could give me credit my account with $40 and I said no, then he stated he could give me $60. I again said no and that I wanted thew phone # and address of the big shots. Again he said no. I hung up and called later, spoke with a female, related the same thing to her, she told me not to sent back product as they would not accept it. I told her I wanted item off my bill. She stated she could only pay $40. Why can't you pay me $60 like the other person. She said she could. I informedthat I would get to someone higher than her. Next receivedanother paCKAGE. CALLED WITH BASICALLY THE SAME THING.
sO FAR I HAVE PAID FOR SHIPPING & RECEIVED $60. i STILL HAVE A BILL OF $83.92 ON MY STATEMENT. tHIS TIME THE MAN SAID i SHOULD HAVE RETURNED PACKAGE. I TOLD HIM THE LAST TIME I CALLED HIM, THEY STATED TO KEEP ITEM AND NOT RETURN ANYTHING. THIS IS A TOTAL SCAM TO ME>I did send both items back to: Advanced Wellness Reasearch, 1269 N Wood Dade Rd., Wood Dale, IL 60961
I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE PEOPLE CAN TALK OUT THEIR MOUTH AND ### AT THE SAME TIME. jUST CALL THEM AND SEE.
sHERRON [protected]

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Texas Fighter
Bedford, US
Jun 20, 2009 1:12 pm EDT

I took advantage of their offer for a trial product. This was at a cost of $4.99 for this company and
$3.99 for Ivory Brites Whitening . I was charged the $4.99 and 3.99 plus $l.00 and then $9.99 for something. About 12 days later I began receiving packages that I had not ordered and then my
credit card was charged an additional $78.93 and $88.97. I did not authorize these amounts . After reading this website, I find that I am not the only one who has been caught in this scam. These people need to be reported to the Attorney General for Illinois.

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jamesltt
damascus, US
Jun 30, 2009 11:55 am EDT

i am having the same problem except i cant et my money back they said the rma number that they gave me to return it expired and they couldnt authorize the refund.i had put a tracker on the package and they held it for two weeks before processing it and they say that went against my time.id like any info on contacting them if its available

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Kenny
US
Jul 08, 2009 5:05 pm EDT

I, like so many others, stupidly ordered the Acai Berry Supplement for a promotional price of $1.99, with an opportunity to cancel the automatic shipment within 30 days. Of course, I was then charged $78.81 about 12 days later. Boy, do I feel like an idiot and boy am I mad!

I think we should start a class action against this sham of a company (after we get our money back)!

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Oliver
US
Jul 11, 2009 10:00 am EDT

Got SCAMMED from Advanced Wellness Research aka ‘Teeth Whitening Now’ I ordered a free trial teeth whitening via internet on 3/10/09 received the free trial on 3/14/09. When I called Advanced Wellness on 3/20/09 to cancel I was advised that the ‘new’ order was shipped out already and that I couldn’t cancel until product was received. (Duh the light bulb should have lite!) On 4/8/08 I received the product and called Advanced Wellness again to cancel the order, they advised me to send product back which I did that same day. They sent me an e-mail also on 4/8/08 stating the order was canceled. When I received my credit card statement the following charges from Advanced Wellness Research was on the bill: $6.99 (free trial shipping charge);$69.99; and$54.98. When I called the company on 4/20/09 I was given the ‘run-a-round’ first speaking to a ‘Kate Smith’ the floor manager then to ‘Bob Johnson’ the Senior Customer Service Manager, (The Middle Eastern accent was a dead give-a-way) both of which told me there was nothing they could do! I was forced to cancel my Macy’s Visa Credit Card so Advanced Wellness Research doesn’t keep charging me each and every month.

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Steven
US
Jul 11, 2009 1:19 pm EDT

My sweet husband failed to read the fine print and like thousands of others complaining on this site alone, was suckered into a subscription with this company that requires a cancelation within 14 days to prevent further charges. That's not the worst of it. I called and cancelled today, SIX days after my husband placed the initial order. Despite being told by the Advanced Wellness rep I spoke with that my subscription was cancelled and nothing further would be charged (other than the $4.99 already charged for the "free" trial) my debit card was charged just MINUTES after I hung up from cancelling the subscription! Again, this is only SIX days from the initial "free trial" period, not 14 days as advertised. I called and cancelled my debit card immediately and would suggest anyone who's given this company their debit/credit card info do the same!

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Bill
US
Jul 21, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

I, like many others orderd a 14-day free trial of Pure Acai Berry, with the terms that no charges would be made to the dcredit card during this period. They caharged my credit card $78.81. I spoke to a representative and was promised a refund, which I did not receive. Now, they are telling me the trial period has passed and they are charging me. I have contacted the Better Business Bureau, The Federal Trade Commission, The Miami, Fl. Chamber of Commerce, the Fl. State Attorny General's office, and even Rachel Ray and Oprah, who are used in the company's advertising. I would suggest anyone with the same problems with Advanced Wellness Research contact the above government agencies about the illegal practices.

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Dr. L
Lindenhurst, US
Aug 26, 2009 1:17 am EDT

I have been having problems with this company (now renamed NETALAB-probably from all the complaints) for MONTHS! I wish I had read this beforehand. My mother both "$4.99" toothpaste on my card. There is a charge on my card for $78.93 fifteen days later. The following month i get another charge for $83.92. This is when i see my bill and am wondering, "what is happening?" So I call and I tell them to cancel the orders and I send back the package thinking i'm going to get a full refund for everything minus the $4.99 that I have ordered as that was my understanding at the end of the phone call. No charges or packages for the next month and am still waiting for my refund. Now today (a month later) I see that i have yet another charge on my account for $83.92! I call to find out what's happening. Apparently, the toothpaste my mom bought was not $4.99- that was the trial price. The full price was $78.93. The customer rep said that she could refund the the second amount minus the shipping and handling and restocking fee ($61.20, still a loss of $22.72). And I had to fight to get the last payment of $83.92 refunded. They were initally trying to get me to pay for the shipping and handling and I kept complaining that I had already canceled so why should I pay for shipping and be charged when it was all their fault and they made the mistake of even sending it out to me when I had canceled 2 months ago. What kind of company does this? Overall, my credit card has been charged $251.76. I have a $101.65 loss in 4 months. AND the product does not work.
Here is their number: 866.964.1011- BTW- I had to call back 3 times because there was an echo in the phone and it is not very easy to understand the customer representatives.

Dr. L.- Chicago, IL 8/25/09

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  1. Advanced Wellness Research Contacts

  2. Advanced Wellness Research phone numbers
    +1 (866) 964-1011
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  3. Advanced Wellness Research address
    2641 E. Atlantic Blvd., Ste. 202, Pompano Beach, Florida, 33062-4978, United States
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Advanced Wellness Research Category
Advanced Wellness Research is ranked 22 among 54 companies in the Diet Products category