Information and Alerts
Alert Details
This business has 4 alerts.
Pattern of Complaints
BBB files indicate that the products listed in this BBB Business Profile have a pattern of complaints concerning unauthorized and/or unexpected charges and unresolved refund disputes. Complaints filed by consumers state that they signed up for what they thought was a free trial and later discovered additional unauthorized and/or unexpected charges to their credit cards for additional amounts. BBB contacted the business in June 2017 about the pattern of complaints, but have not received a response at this time.
Ad Review
According to information in BBB files, the business is using fake celebrity endorsements in its advertising, specifically The Pioneer Woman and Ree Drummond. BBB's Code of Advertising indicates that advertising which uses testimonials or endorsements is misleading if they are not genuine and do not represent the current opinion of the endorser (Section 30, Testimonials and Endorsements).
In June 2017, BBB contacted the business regarding its advertising of free trial periods of its products. Consumers that sign up for the free trial period are enrolled in a monthly subscription for additional products. BBB requested the business substantiate that the claims meet the standards outlined in BBB's Code of Advertising (Section 18, Negative Option Plans, Continuity Plans and Automatic Shipments). The Code maintains that "Any advertisement for a product or service that includes an offer to sell or provide consumers with additional goods or services under a negative option feature must include a clear and conspicuous disclosure of all material terms of the negative option feature." Material terms that should be clear and conspicuous include the existence of the negative option feature, the cost of the additional goods or services, how consumers can cancel and avoid future shipments and charges, and how consumers can return items that they do not want. The Code continues that "advertisers must avoid making disclosures that are vague, unnecessarily long or which contain contradictory language."
Additionally, BBB asked the company to substantiate claims made on its website about the efficacy or results of using the company's products. BBB requested the business substantiate the claims per standards outlined in BBB's Code of Advertising (Section 34, Claimed Results). Claims as to efficacy or results which will be obtained by or realized from a particular product should be based on recent and competent scientific or other objective data. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate such claims.
As of this date, the business has not responded to BBB's request for substantiation about its advertising.
Additional Information 1
In This BBB Business Profile provides information about the product name(s) listed in this profile. According to information in BBB files, this product has had its Returns shipped to Federal Association of Financial Services Corp., a business that is located in Odessa, FL. BBB files indicate that FAFS performs these shipping services for a large number of products in the skin care and supplement industries.
BBB has had significant complaint activity involving a large number of products that have their returns shipped to Federal Association of Financial Services Corp. Consistent throughout most of the product lines is a pattern of complaints concerning unauthorized and/or unexpected charges and unresolved refund disputes. Complaints filed by consumers state that they signed up for what they thought was a free trial of a product and later discovered additional unauthorized and/or unexpected charges to their credit cards for additional amounts.
A BBB Business Profile for FAFS can be viewed at http://bbb.org/h/jz78
Additional Information 2
This BBB Business Profile provides information about the product name(s) listed in this profile. According to information in BBB files, this product has had its orders fulfilled and shipped by Hashtag Fulfillment, LLC, a business that is located in St Petersburg, FL. BBB files indicate that Hashtag Fulfillment performs these fulfillment and shipping services for a large number of products in the skin care and supplement industries.
BBB has had significant complaint activity involving a large number of products that have their orders fulfilled and shipped by Hashtag Fulfillment. Consistent throughout most of the product lines is a pattern of complaints concerning unauthorized and/or unexpected charges and unresolved refund disputes. Complaints filed by consumers state that they signed up for what they thought was a free trial of a product and later discovered additional unauthorized and/or unexpected charges to their credit cards for additional amounts.
A BBB Business Profile for Hashtag Fulfillment, LLC can be viewed at http://bbb.org/h/ju13
Important Information
Reason for Rating - Factors Lowered
Failure to respond to 2 complaints filed against business.
Reason for Rating - Factors Lowered
Business has failed to resolve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complaints.
Reason for Rating - Factors Lowered
BBB concerns with the business's practices.
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