Dec 17, 2007
Was thinking about requesting free sample of Dermitage Instant Lifting Creme when --after a Google search of "dermitage"--I encountered plenty of posts complaining about Dermitage's meaning of "free". That is, customers complained they were charged $69 after the free trial ended.
This was enough to stop me in my tracks. No Dermitage sample for me.
In the world of social media transparency, free trials that end with an automatic credit card charge are perhaps a thing of the past. Or, at the very least, company's will be forced into moving fast to satisfy the customer. This was my experience with the Consumer Reports health newsletter (they quickly reversed charges).
Funny enough, I also noted Dermitage announcement about venturing into a more social media inspired website.
"We want to leverage this communication channel to provide detailed ingredient formation and clinical study data explaining how and why our products work so effectively."
I say, careful what you ask for!
Return to Beauty in Seattle
I received my free trial and need to know what is the cut off date if i decide not to keep it? please advise.
Hi nancy - I don't know the cut off policy. did they include a letter with the trial?
Hi... the free trial is 14 days. You have to call to cancel within that time frame to not be billed. You may have to return the sample, even if partially used.
My credit card was billed for the shipping charges on 1/31/08, although the product was not shipped until 2/5/08. It arrived here on 2/12. After having the product for 8 days (not 14), I called on 2/20 to get an RMA number to return it, only to be told that they had charged my credit card $69.95 the day before and would now have to charge me a $9.95 "restocking fee". When I explained the dates, they seemed to back down and said they would issue a credit, but then I received a very confusing email, so I'm not sure yet how this will end.
Under no circumstances should anyone sign up for a "free trial" from Dermitage. They claimed I had called one day late and had billed me the day before, similar to the experience of others. I had no idea that a "free trial" equaled a $70 charge to my credit card.
I was tempted to request a "free trial" until I read several reviews pertaining to the credit cards being debited before the so-called "trial period" ended. Been there and done that with other online companies promoting their "free trial".
BUYERS BEWARE...if anything is advertised as "free", whether it be samples, trial periods, or whatever, you can bet it is a ripoff. HOW DO YOU SUPPOSE THESE COMPANIES MAKE THEIR MONEY???
False advertising is big business today.