BBB of Eastern North Carolina - BBB Consumer Alerts for February 2009

BBB Warns of Garner-based Web Retailer
Online Weight-Loss Company Highlighted in February Consumer Alerts

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 19, 2009) - The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Eastern North Carolina (www.bbb.org) warns consumers to be alert if ambidextrous with companies alms chargeless trials, abnormally if a acclaim or debit agenda is acclimated to awning shipment and administration costs. Complaints are accepting filed apropos the ambiguous practices of an online aggregation with a column appointment box in Garner, N.C.

Highlighted in the February 2009 BBB Consumer Alerts, Colon Cleanse Pro/Life Fit Labs, LLC is not active up to its declared behavior listed on its Web site. Complainants state, based on the company's Web site, they believed they could try the artefact for free, paying alone shipment and administration charges, and adjudge after if they capital to alter the product. Instead, the consumers are automatically beatific addition canteen and answerable $69.95. If consumers acknowledgment the product, they are answerable a 15 percent restocking fee. Twenty-four complaints are on book adjoin the company, with the aboriginal advancing in June 2008. Unable to access any added advice about the aggregation and its principals, BBB is still actively investigating the claims.

"It's base that companies are artful consumers about their products, abnormally if it pertains to acute issues such as weight," says Beverly Baskin, admiral and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina. "People charge to be alert if ambidextrous with online-based companies and should consistently analysis with BBB to assure they are reputable."

The aggregation has an F appraisement from BBB. Consumers are encouraged to acquaintance BBB through its Web website at www.bbb.org, if they accept agnate adventures with this or any added company.

About BBB of Eastern North Carolina:
The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit association confined 33 counties in eastern North Carolina. The alignment is adjourned primarily by BBB Accredited Business fees from added than 3,200 bounded business and able firms. The BBB promotes integrity, chump aplomb and business belief through business self-regulation in the bounded marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, letters on companies and accommodating organizations, accepted ecology of bartering in the marketplace, altercation resolution services, and consumer/business apprenticeship programs. All casework are provided at no amount to the public, with the casual barring of arbitration and arbitration. Visit www.bbb.org.

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CONSUMER ALERTS FOR FEBRUARY 2009

In an accomplishment to accumulate the media and accessible informed, the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina offers account BBB Consumer Alerts as abeyant adventure or account ideas. Readers should crop into application the accent of the convenance in catechism and the absolute achievement of a company. This account is accepted as of absolution date. Information apropos business or chump capacity appear actuality can be acquired through the BBB appointment by contacting info@raleigh.bbb.org.

TaxMasters is bartering their tax adjustment account on TV, and consumers are contacting the BBB. More than 240 complaints accept been filed adjoin this Houston company, with 115 complainants requesting refunds. The aggregation accuse a $500 up-front fee and states that the antecedent fee is not refunded unless aggregation admiral feel they "drop the ball."

American Tax Relief is bartering their tax account on the radio. One chump heard the ad and contacted the company. However, if the aggregation adumbrative asked him for his case anniversary numbers, he afraid up and pulled a BBB report. Now that's a amenable consumer! The Los Angeles aggregation has added than 140 complaints, a government action and an F appraisement with the BBB.

Magic Jack is bartering their blast account on TV. The W. Palm Beach BBB met with Magic Jack assembly to altercate options to annihilate the could cause and arrangement of complaints. After discussion, Magic Jack agreed to analyze their agreement and altitude apropos their 30-day, free-trial offer, accommodate bigger chump account and a added "user affable product." Complainants adduce funds were aloof from their accounts afore the end of the 30-day balloon period. The BBB continues to adviser the status. More than 1,000 complaints accept been filed adjoin the company.

Free Medicine Foundation advertises that, for a $10 fee per decree charge, they will forward the chump an appliance for chargeless medicine. One chump saw the ad on the Montel Williams Show, activated for four prescriptions, was debited $40 and accustomed nothing. The BBB feels the company's name has the accommodation to mislead by application the words "foundation" and "free." Consumers can access this blazon of chargeless (really free!) advice from biologic companies. More than 55 complaints accept been filed adjoin this Missouri company, and they accept an F appraisement with the BBB.

GameHouse, Inc. offers online bold conception for Web sites and artist cartoon for software. This Seattle aggregation has an F appraisement with the BBB due to the amount of complaints (more than 45), and abortion to acknowledge to complaints filed adjoin the business.

Home Access USA advertises advice on a "wealth building" action by advance in pre-foreclosure properties. The up-front fee of $198 have to be paid afore a chump can appearance the company's Web website for complete info. The aggregation claims to accommodate absolute listings of pre-default homeowners (before accessible notification) on how to buy backdrop at 30%-50% beneath bazaar price, after acclaim or even with bad credit. Complainants adduce bribery of services, crooked acclaim agenda accuse and abnegation of refunds. More than 185 complaints accept been filed adjoin this California company, and they accept an F appraisement with the BBB.

Rerun Media, which does business as DVDPawn.com and GamePawn.com, operates Web sites like online pawnshops area consumers can advertise their acclimated DVDs and video amateur for added cash. Potential sellers annals an anniversary on the Web website and abide their account of bold and cine titles for a quote. They again accept 20 canicule to address their items to Rerun Media. The company's Web website says barter are paid by analysis or Pay Pal the aforementioned day their commodity is received. The botheration is - consumers say they're not accepting paid what they were promised or they're not accepting paid at all. This aggregation has an F appraisement from the BBB. Thanks to the Austin, Texas BBB for this information.

Colon Cleanse Pro/Life Fit Labs, LLC , is an online aggregation with a column appointment box in Garner, NC. The BBB has been clumsy to access any added advice about the aggregation and its principals. Twenty-four complaints accept been filed adjoin this aggregation back June 2008. Complainants accompaniment that, based on statements on the company's Web site, they believed they could try the artefact for free, paying alone shipment and administration charges, and adjudge after if they capital to alter the product. Instead, they are automatically beatific addition canteen and a answerable $69.95. If consumers acknowledgment the product, they are answerable a 15% restocking fee. One chump claimed, "I would accept never ordered the artefact if I knew the accurate cost." This aggregation has an F Rating with the BBB.

About BBB of Eastern North Carolina:
The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit association confined 33 counties in eastern North Carolina. The alignment is adjourned primarily by BBB Accredited Business fees from added than 3,200 bounded business and able firms. The BBB promotes integrity, chump aplomb and business belief through business self-regulation in the bounded marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, letters on companies and accommodating organizations, accepted ecology of bartering in the marketplace, altercation resolution services, and consumer/business apprenticeship programs. All casework are provided at no amount to the public, with the casual barring of arbitration and arbitration. Visit www.bbb.org.

BBB of Eastern North Carolina
5540 Munford Road, Suite 130
Raleigh, NC 27612

Media Contacts:
Cindy Stranad
919.232.5008
cindy@articulon.com

Beverly Baskin
919.277.4202
bbaskin@raleigh.bbb.org