Pimsleur Approach reviews and complaints 4
View all 53 complaintsPimsleur Approach - Frauduletnt sales technique and scam
Don't purchase from this company! I had ordered a "Spanish quick and simple" program for $9.99 from pimsleurapproach.com web site, But in May I received what is called the "gold edition" in which I did not order. I have tried to call customer service about it and each time I received their voice mail. After several tried, I finally talked to customer rep, but they told me I can't return it because it was over 30 days. So I need to pay $264 for something I didn't order in the first place.
Pimsleur Approach - Fraud
Hi,
I ordered a spanish language learning CD for 9.95 by seeing the advertisement. but within 3 weeks or so i got a deluxe gold package saying that they will charge $64 for easy payments 4 times which was very weard. When i called them they said i had accepted for all these when i ordered it online. It is really a fraud, then i paid $12 unnecessarily and sent it back . so pls donot order these CD's which is a very unsolicited merchandise and a fraud to cheat people who are really interested in learing a new language
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
The fine print in Pimsleur’s contract has an ambiguous link that must be pursued to yet another link en route to finding the language that explains the debt the buyer is signing up for. Contracts that require buyers to successfully pursue a legal reconnaissance mission is trickery and should therefore be invalid. I ordered one language CD for 9.95. Pimsleur then began drawing 64.00 from my bank every month. I called the company and was told that I had signed up for additional merchandise. I told the Pimsleur representative that I had read the fine print carefully and there was nothing about additional merchandise and additional dept. She told me that one of the words on the contract was a link to additional information and that if I had followed that link to another link I would have found the "fine print" detailing the additional merchandise and additional debt of hundreds of dollars. Following a link in the fine print to a second link and then a third? This kind of business practice damages social contracts. If all companies acted like this, buying merchandise would be tantamount to playing roulette. Most of us would rightly choose to go without.
It appears that I was scammed in the same manner as many others listed here. I saw a pop up on Amazon (I think) for learning Spanish. I ended up ordering the $9.95 CD and thought that was it. A couple of weeks later I received some type of Gold Package. Since everything in large print said "FREE" I did not pay much attention. However, upon review of my bank account I had been charged approximately $67.00 for this "FREE" gift, and when I read the very small font, I realized that I would be charged monthly. When I phoned them to have the charges reversed I was informed that they could do nothing since I did not cancel, but might be willing to give me a 50% discount.; I declined this offer. I immediately sent a letter to their website and via snail mail letting them know of the many organizations I would be contacting regarding their fraudulent business practices and the fact that they have crossed state lines likely puts them in a precarious position. Oddly, I had a refund within 2 days...in full, and they sent me the UPS pre-paid shipper I requested to return the merchandise; which I did the very next day. While I'm pleased that they reacted so quickly, I know that their response was because they knew I was right. There are many people out there that can be easily scammed, seniors, people going through stressful times, etc.. This is so very wrong!
In July of 2011, I ordered $9.99 language lessons in Russian. The CD arrived almost two months late; I called to complain and the sales person was very helpful. About a month later I received a box set of Spanish CDs; the bill inside said there was no charge. I figured this was a consolation for my Russian CDs being too late for me to use them.
After this, I never heard anything from the company and there were no unusual charges on my credit card. On February 2, 2012, I received a letter saying I owed them $256 and that they had tried to contact me repeatedly because my credit card had been "denied." The letter threatens to send me to collections if I do not give them a different credit card. There is nothing wrong with my card; the card just refused to pay them.
I ordered a Spanish starter kit that promised to have me learning a language in ten days though an adertisement on Tiral Pay. I did not recieve a conformation email with the 16-didgit code that I needed. I was charged on my credit card and am now in the dark. I have been scammed for a quick buck!
Pimsleur Approach - Internet Scam
I ordered the $9.95 trial version of the Pimsleur Approach Spanish course. Honestly, I never even got around to opening the box. A little less than a month later I received a "Deluxe Gold Edition" course in the mail. Confused, I went and opened the original box that I received and a note inside congratulated me on enrolling in a rapid fluency program and this "gold course" would be coming as a free 30 day trial. The note also said that I could cancel at any time within the free trial period. I called them that very day to cancel. They kept trying to talk me into keeping it a little longer, offered to make my free trial a few months longer, but I kept saying "no, thanks" so they gave me a code to write on the return box when I shipped it back to them. (Shipping it back to them cost over $25 by the way!) Three months later, thinking that I've wiped my hands of this mess, I'm going through my bank statements and guess what? They had been charging me for the last two months for something I sent back to them months ago! I even have confirmation that they received the returned product! What the heck!?! I had to go to my bank to dispute the charges and get a new card (most people know what a pain that can be, changing all your automatic payments and such) While I was there the clerk tried calling the phone number associated with this automatic withdrawal the Pimsleur people had on my account, and it turns out that it wasn't even a correct phone number! Yeah, pretty sure this is a scam. Oh, and just for clarification, this isn't necessarily the Pimsleur Approach peoples doing, but the company or website that I ordered from, STROLL. However, Pimsleur can blame Stroll for people like me who are now going to talk crap about their product. After all the stress I went through and all the money I lost, who can blame me? Its not like either party is going to make an attempt to set things straight with me or anyone else who got ripped off. So, I don't recommend buying Pimsleur Approach courses, but most importantly, DON'T PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM STROLL!
I have the same issue. When I realized after giving my credit card information that it was enrolling me in a program that was much more expensive than the $10 they promised in the video, I called them and recorded the conversation. If there is a class action suit, please post here and I will be glad to join and add my testimony, including how they refused to cancel when I requested, stating that I am living on a budget and they did not make it clear until they got my card information. I eventually had to cancel my credit card because when I thought I was complete with the first set of $64 times 3, then double billed me again. Now they are sending me cards and emails demanding payment, saying I owe another $400-500 in order to close my account. This should be illegal!
It's amazing how long they can go on doing this kind of fraudulent business and still not in jail. I thought this kind of thing happens only in Nigeria, not in our back yard. I am having a heck of time trying to stopping them from sending me packages that I never agreed to buy.
Me too. When I ordered from them I was in the process of moving. I just got
A bunch of old mail sent to my house and one of them was from Internet order
LLC. They said they tried billing my card for 256.00 and it was declined. They told
me if I don't pay them by the said date (6 months ago) they were going to sent it to collections! I'm losing my mind right now. I worked to hard to keep my
Credit good I can't afford this. If there's a lawsuit please contact me.
If you are 100% serious about this class action suit count me in.
Alejandro cruz stroll pilsmneur have riping off whit french courses please helpme aleko9495@gmail.com is about $130.00 I dont want these to afect my credit please help...
This EXACT same thing happened to me. I will never get my money back and I am sickened by this. This is a SCAM! I seriously want to file a class action law suit against these people and I would really like some back up here. I have many friends who are attorneys and said they would take this case. Please please please people, do NOT order anything from STROLL. You will seriously NEVER get your money back and they will steal from you FOREVER.
Pimsleur Approach - Frauduletnt sales technique and scam
Purchased three Quick & Simple Spanish learning CD for Christmas presents, at no time during phone conversation with sales staff or on their Internet order sight was the Rapid Fluency Program Gold program mentioned. After receiving the initial order I opened the package to confirm the shipment and read the flyer included. This was the first mention of the on-going Gold Program where 16 additional CD would be sent again no mention of cost or billing. I called the number in the flyer and after several demands to know the nature of the additional CD program and the cost I was finally informed my credit card would be billed for 3 payments totaling $ 248..00 for each of the three Quick and Simple programs I received. I demanded to stop immediately any affiliation with Pimsleur Approach and was first told I would have to wait until the 1st Gold CD arrived and then could cancel. I asked for a supervisor and was disconnected. I called back again requested a supervisor and was not none available. I finally demanded that the accounts be closed and no further shipments be made regarding any products from Pimsleur Approach. I was told the account was closed. I requested an e-mail confirmation and was told it would be sent immediately. 3 hours later I had not received the confirmation and called back this customer service agent told me the accounts were closed I again demanded a cancellation confirmation and finally received e-mail confirmation on both my email address and my wife's. a week later I received 3 additional shipments from Pimsleur Approach I called customer service to inquire about the shipments with cancellation email in hand. I was told nothing else was shipped out and the account was closed. I inquired about why I just received 3 additional boxes and she said they did not ship anything and I needed to open to determine what was shipped. I informed I did not want to open boxes wanted a return to shipper number to send back she told me they could not do anything until I opened the package to determine what was sent and the account number. With significant reservations I am going to be forced to open the 2nd shipments. This company is an obvious SCAM! WARNING DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING FROM THEM. I will contact the PA Attorney General Office tomorrow to file a formal complaint. I am also contacting the US Postal Service Agents in the Ft. Worth office to inquire about filing a complaint for mail fraud.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I agree with third complaint, because this same situation happen to me. I didn't see the additional information telling me I was ordering any additional CDs of this course.
Wife thought she was ordering a $9.95 course. Obviously this scam is designed to get the same amount of money out of a consumer as Rosetta Stone's above-board pricing but deceptively. We just saw our first round of doubled up $69 charges in one month. Wife had no idea she wasn't buying a 9.99 item, but rather a $700+ installment plan. Everything about the web page is deigned to draw your eye away from the minute-fonted 'terms" in which are buried quickly accruing sets of $277 dollar courses on installment charges. Even the method of cascading the payments is fairly obviously designed to test whether the card holder closely monitors their bill. Wait 30 days $69... 30 days later, bamm... another $69 then again... how many courses they have I have no idea. Wife will be calling today to demand credit and gladly return. If cannot contact or get no satisfaction, will dispute charges, file a complaint with PA attorney general, and complain to PBS that their name is being used for this scam.
I am sorry to hear about the problems you all have been having... I hope it all gets resolved. I have never (and will never) order anything from Pimsleur. What I do to avoid situations like this is just go visit all the public libraries in the area and check and see if they have any Language CDs. If they do great, I can check them out and rip them to my computer at no cost! Best of luck in your claims against Pimsleur. This is looking like it might turn into a class action suit one day...
I agree with first complaint on this site, because it is exactly what happen to me with Pinsleur Approach. I also bought Spanish Quick Learning CDs for $9.95 and was not told in ad or by person in customer service or order status that I would be recieving Gold Edition from Pimsleur. I recieved a bill saying I owed them $248.00 for Gold Editions of Spanish lesson. So was going to send back Gold Edition to Pimsleur and cancel all orher orders. Called Customer Service and Lady I talked to was very very rude and unprofessional and told me the time to return lessons had passed and that Pimsleur would not accept Gold edition back if I sent it to them. So I told her then anything sent thru mail without company notifying person product is being sent to is concidered as FREE and no charges can be collected by said company. So told her I guess Pimsleur had sent these lessons to me for free cause no one told me anything about recieving any further lessons from them. Feel I tried to give them a way to end all this by sending Gold Edition back but would not let me do that and would not let me know where to send Gold Edition. So, she immediately got very rude and said " Wel then. We'll just mark your order as unpaid!" and then hung up phone on me. So I have free Spanish Gold Edition Lesson from Pimsleur Approach. I will be contacting BBB, Attorney General in the State Of Indiana, Post Master General of US Postal Service and filing complaint with them for Frudulent charges thru USMail and Scam for fraud charges with Attorney General Office in Indiana on Pimsleur Approach in Phiadelphia, Pennsylvania. And sending letter to Pennsylvania Attorney General Office also. Maybe then this company will learn so disclose all information so that person cancel or just order first lessons and cancel Gold edition from them!
I really agree with you Thane David about Pimsleurs approch to the program, right now my credit company has done an investigation on how they charge you over and over...everything you said above start going wrong for me this Feb 2012. I started with them last year. Please email me at junejubert1@aol.com to be another person who is having problems with them and the charges. I will definetely stand by what you say, please let me know what I can do as well. Always, June Ejiogu
Yes, a video advertised a certain price and contents, then suddenly we are sent the gold edition. Deceptive.
I resently purchased 4 Quick and Simple language CD sets from Pimsleur. After reading these scam alerts and when the programs were one day late I called and stayed online till I was greeted by a representative. Her name is Charlene. She was very polite and located all my sets as to where they were. I explained what my intent was and we parted conversation. The next day I received two of my sets and the following day I received the third. One is on back order and in their warehouse. I fill sure I will receive this one also. I did also receive the Gold program that I did not want. I again called and stated I did not intend to order or want this program. The lady (whose name slips me) informed me that after my earlier conversation with Charlene the Gold program was cancelled to all programs. When I get my back ordered program I will of course verify this. These people were very courteous and proffessional. My only complaint is the way the Gold program is included and apparently many others have the same problem. This is poor copywriting and should be corrected. FM Sexton fmsexton@yahoo.com 1/20/12
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I ordered German speaking course from Pimsleur and paid 9.75 for that. After one month I recieved another package by saying it is free trial for 30 days.I I did not return it back, they will charge 60 $ from my credit card. When I tried to return it back, they told me I need to spend shipping charges from my pocket. Pimsleur cheating people by sending free trials and people are forced to buy whatever they are sending