My posts on various scams are the most visited of any of my posts by a huge margin, which I find gratifying since, of all the posts these are the ones that might be achieving something worthwhile. The latest to hit the net is a slimming programme promising weight loss of a staggering stone per week, so if you are 14 stone and want to get down to 10 this programme supposedly will get you there within a month! This is a degree of weight loss only achievable by amputation of large body parts. Once upon a time I personally lost 10lb in 7 days, but I did have campylobacter at the time. As usual you are offered a cheap introductory sample, (offer ends tomorrow) and you have to buy two products, “Beri Lean Slim Ultra” (magic berries), and ”Lean Slim Cleanse” (a laxative). This latter stuff is claimed to:
• Helps Eliminate Bad Toxins that have Built Up Over the Years
• Removes 'Sludge' from the Walls of the Colon
• Helps Get Rid of Gas and Bloating
• Helps to Regulate the Metabolism
Toxins? Sludge? Regulate the metabolism? Strewth! And as for getting rid of gas there is already a pretty efficient way of doing that for free.
As usual the object is to get you to sign up to a regular debit authority which makes regular large deductions from your credit card, and which are then almost impossible to cancel.
The claims for these products are so obviously ridiculous that I am tempted to suggest that anyone stupid and gullible enough to fall for them deserves to be taken. But stupidity is not a crime and the gullible have a right to be protected from fraudsters. Don’t sign up.
They are s scam, read the terms and conditions. Your free trial costs around a fiver. Then you have to pay to cancel. If you return the products you have to pay the postage and then a returns fee. And the price of each product each month can be over 60 pounds. That's each, not joint.
ReplyDeleteShocked. I was, but don't forget even when you've cancelled your personal details, tel number, address, email ect is being passed and sold to god knows who, Read the privacy policys.
If you want acai berries go to the health food shop.
I have just seen an advert for these products, an article that appears to be a trial done by Channel 4? Next thing I did was google lean slim and beri cleanse and hey presto got this article, so THANKS, bullet dodged ;o)
ReplyDeleteI too have had £59.95 and £49.95 taken out of my credit card for what I believed was a free trial with only £3.47 shipping fee.They now tell me that after 18 days (I had mine for only 13 days)they charge you for these two containers with 60 capsules in each.I had to telehone to cancel goodness knows the cost of that call and no refund.They do not except e.mails.I would never knowingly have signed for this and I am glad the above escaped hence this comment to ensure others are made aware.
ReplyDeleteHaving fallen for this said free trial.The cost after 18days is hidden in the terms and conditions with the amounts written like this;fifty nine pounds and ninety five pence.A simple £59.95 would have drawn too much attention. they can continue to take money each month unless you phone and get a cancellation number or e.mail sent to you.
ReplyDeleteI sent for, received and paid the postage for the Free Trail offered by lean Slim. When my credit card statement arrived some two months later I was amazed to find that approx £59 and £54 had been debited twice to my account at irregular intervalsfor items I had not ordered or received. I had no luck trying to contact the compant as advised to do when I spoke to my credit card company who also told me they had stopped several debits from Lean Slim as the amounts were irregular. The fraud Department of my credit card company then took over tmy case and I received a full refund.i also learned that you do not, ever respond to pop up advertisments on your computer.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have a contact number for this company please that works ASAP
ReplyDeletei too had money taken. i went to my bank who advised me to cancel my card and get a new one. slimlean cannot now take money. if i still recieve goods i will simply ignore them, hopefully a court case will arise, then the scam will be in the open.
DeleteI also would be grateful if anyone has a contact number !!
ReplyDeleteinfo-eng@buypurecoloncleanser.com
DeleteGood luck
Thought it too good to be true!! Their address & phone no. is:
ReplyDeleteSlim Lean Returns Dept.
PO Box 17435, Edinburgh, EH12 1JF
buyslimlean@buyslimlean.com
Tel: 0-808-169-2001
Customer service hours are from Monday-Friday 08:00 AM - 5:00PM ,Saturday 9:00AM-1:00PM GMT.
Emails are returned from this address - it doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteThey don't answer the phone line just keep you waiting for ages ... and at what cost????
I've cancelled my card with my bank. Their fraud dept were aware of this company. It's probably the only way to stop them debiting your account.
Good Luck.
company address 3577a chamblee tucker rd 209 atlanta ch30341 tel [866]942 5005
Deletei managed to get through on the phone number which came with my order,i cancelled my subscription and told them I would be sending pills back unopened,i was told if they are not received in 7 dys I will get charged for this month! fingers crossed they get there in time:/ even tho he assured me no money will be taken from my account as long as they receive the goods I am still worried,am wondering whether to cancel my card too.
ReplyDeletejust cancel your card is more safer.
Deleteyes I fallen for it as well, going to bank tomorrow to see what help they can offer. Lesson learnt never reply to any offers.
ReplyDeleteI was looking to purchase these and after reading all this I wont - wondered why they would only take credit card
ReplyDeleteThAnx a lot guys I was about to make an order
ReplyDeleteI also have been ripped off, they are a real con please do not fall for it , go to the health shop. For advise it will be a lot cheaper
ReplyDeleteI called them, first the phone was put down then the second lady argued with me. I managed to only get half my money back which is better then nothing. It really is a scam (lessons learnt).
ReplyDeletethe police fraud department told me the Edinburgh address does not even exist this company is fraudulent and I have a crime reference number for them I believe they are the same company that worked in usa under the name lean slim ultra. Terms and conditions are not visible before you send payment and legally speaking a free trial can not be part of a shipment that you have to send back. Telephone number charges for a code to send back product consumer rights does not need this. Cancel card immediately contact actionfraud police on 0300 1232040
ReplyDeleteHi. I stupidly fell for this and ordered them online. But as soon as I received the package I realised it was a scam and cancelled my card so I've only lost the original £5 I spent on the so called "trial". My question is - am I under any obligation to send the product back via a tracked delivery (as they request) or should I just put them in the bin? I am reluctant to spend more money on postage to an address that may not even exist. I am just worried that this will come back to bite me if I don't follow the instructions and return them. Any advice?
ReplyDeletehi I did this as well didn't realise till I got them about this extra charge. ive cancelled my card now did you find out if you send them back? IF NOT WILL THEY CHASE YOU FOR THE MONEY??
Deletei have fallen for the scam but i paid with a visa card so technically its not my money i will contact my bank and stop any money being taken out of it and also i will contact actionfraud but do i have to send back the pills.
ReplyDeletei too fell for the scam but i paid for it with a visa so technically its not my money i contacted the bank and stopped any transactions but do i have to send the pills back as instructed.
ReplyDeleteI too have been stupid but have just got onto my bank and they have informed me i will lose no money and will be refunded if they try to take it from my account i asked about cancelling my card but it would make no differnce as they can still take the money from a new card!!!!
ReplyDeletebit scarey that as my bank said only way to stop payment was to cancel card. how can they take payment of a new card.
DeleteYes, I've just got caught too. The Ad appeared in Daily Mail Online so, stupidly, I thought it was genuine. I informed my bank (wonderful First Direct) who will refund any future payments but I have to go through the returns procedure. Fortunately my Broadband package includes free calls to the US.
ReplyDeleteI ordered SlimLean a month a go with the payment of £3 or something. Next minute two payments of £69 came out of my account!! The product still hasn't arrived!!! What should i do?!?!?!?!
ReplyDeletecontact the company asap and if that doesnt work contact your bank and cancel any further payments
ReplyDeleteIf you contact your bank they can give you a local rate number for the company!
ReplyDeleteI got through, but they told me it is not possible to stop the order, I will have to return the goods when they arrive. My bank has put a block on all future payments.
Their website is now under "maintenance" - so no chance of contacting them. Yet, the money (£69.97) have been taken out yesterday. Cancelling the card immediately.
ReplyDeletehey, do you have that local rate number?
ReplyDeleteI managed to get though to someone on this number 08081692002, supossed to be a 'free phone' number but could not get though on any land line. so used my mobile..eek!
ReplyDeletethe line was really bad and it's easy enough to cancel but was on the phone for 10mins! but then you have to send it back within 7 days and the office is based in Germany! and then call back again with the tracking number so fingers crossed i wont get charged the £69.79!
i used my debit card and that is not covered for fraud like a credit card. so if you do buy these pills use a credit card. or DONT BUY THEM AT ALL!!!
right i'm off to the gym...
Same has just happened to me ashamadely! The article that was on the bottom of Mail online looked like an un biased editorial review on Womens Health magazine!! At 81/2 months pregnant I thought this might be a good idea to try after baby born. Am hoping I can get this cancelled before they arrive. What a joke! the Mail online should be more responsible about what is advertised on their site surely?
ReplyDeleteI didn't even order I looked at it put in my details but didn't click confirm and I got sent a confirmation email saying that it has been successful I really need to go to my bank and get this blocked and cancelled !!! what a joke !!
ReplyDeleteI read that same article on womens health magazine so ordered some - tried cancelling the order about 10 mins later but all i got was a email back saying it had been processed and sent already so they said contact when received and then they will give me the address for the return!!
ReplyDeleteHappened to me also, thought this would be easy way to lose weight, what a con, they came from Edinburgh Scotland, call centre is in Costa Rico, and U.S.A. is were company is, i tried to cancel my order, they offered me 50% discount on all monthly subscriptions £70 every 30 days Slim Lean, i have had to get an R.M.A. number to put on each bottle for returning to Edinburgh Scotland, now I have to phone them back and tell them the tracking number, i have informed my bank Barclays, they have started to contact them, please do not buy it is a con, free sample they say, don't trust them stay away, i made a mistake, don't do the same as me.
DeleteUnder distance selling regulations, you have 7 days to cancel after you receive the goods and any other terms they try to press on you are illegal. Get the payment blocked with your card claiming misrepresentation in their terms and conditions. They claim that if you are no happy 14 days later after your order that they will bill you and they can't do that. The contract is only legal when you have received the goods irrespective of this being a 'trial'. Ours arrived nearly 14 days after the order (surprise, surprise) and this is how they sting people. Even most debit cards are backed by the likes of Visa so they should block it for you and then if you have cancelled within your rights, they have no come back legally. Once we realised what we had done, we called the number at 0800 but they wouldn't let us cancel or give an RMA. We sent an email back to the address that sends the order details and although it says not to, we received an RMA number and used it to return the pills the day after they arrived so well within the 7 days. We also clearly stated we were cancelling; we also sent them back tracked. If I get any further issues, I will contact trading standards with my audit and receipt trail. Also, although the action police guys are good as stated above, don't expect to get any advice. They will just take details and give you a number. Anyhow, don't worry if you've fallen for this, it's a very good one. Just get the RMA and return once you receive them having also blocked and sent the email clearly stating your cancelling and your covered legally. I doubt they will bother chasing people that do this, it's the others that don't they will get their money from! Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a complete and utter scam. Demand from them the RMA codes and send the products straight back. Email them proof of postage. I also notified my bank to keep an eye out for any other transactions by them. Cant believe I was fooled by this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this timely warning...almost fell for it!
ReplyDeleteI received the package yesterday and like everyone else, I was alarmed by the enclosed literature. I just had enough time to get to my bank before it closed and when I discussed it with them they appeared to know about the scam already and contacted their fraud department for me.
ReplyDeleteI spoke to the fraud department myself and they also knew about the scam. They have put a block on any further withdrawals by this company and will check on a regular basis to see if attempts to take money have been made. Although it rather contradicts what I have just said, they assured me that if the company do manage to withdraw any money, it will be returned to me with any charges incurred. I have however cleared all the funds from the account and as it is just a subsidiary account, I think I will close it and open a new one tomorrow, now that I have had time to gather my thoughts, because I could never feel comfortable leaving any funds in the account in the future, just in case they bide their time and attempt to take money once they think the bank and I have taken our eyes off the ball.
Having done all the above, I will say that I emailed Slim Lean on the following email address and received a comprehensive email detailing return (RMA) numbers and a postal address.
slimlean@rhinosupport.com
The postal address was however different from the address on the returns slip, so I will send the package to the address given in the email.
The email from the company said to get the return in the post within the next 7 days but whatever happens with the return, as I intend to close the account it will be impossible for them to obtain any money anyway. In fact, I actually hope they try (once I've closed the account) and waste their time like they've wasted ours.
I usually take financial security very seriously, shredding anything that has personal details etc., so I simply can't believe I fell for this.
My first post is still awaiting publication but I thought I'd post the return address I was given.
ReplyDeletePure Colon Cleanser and Slim Lean
PO Box 13263
Galashiels
TD1 9AJ
United Kingdom
When I entered the postcode into the Royal Mail website, the postcode returned the following address, which seems to exist and is for a company which would appear to be a logical destination for returns....having Googled it.
Sykes Promotions
PO Box 13263
GALASHIELS
TD1 9AJ
Interesting,my returns address was
DeleteCustomer returns
PO BOX 17435
Edinburgh
EH12 1JF
Anyone else got that one?
That was the address printed on the returns slip enclosed with the product that I received. Someone above said that that address doesn't exist. The address I was emailed does seem to have some credibility.
DeleteUpdate on my main post above.....the items have been returned with an accompanying letter stating that I am cancelling and expect no further contact. The bank account has been closed, so let 'em try to take anything now. The bank said that if I'd just cancelled my card and had a new one, rather than contacting them and their fraud department, Slim Lean would simply have been able to take money from the new card anyway.
That's the address I've got too. Just spoken to them and had a very patronising guy try to tell me that they wouldn't give out free products. Did anyone else see the terms and conditions before they ordered? I don't remember any being visible. Going to send the bottle back tomorrow and hope that is the last I hear of them. Very annoyed about having to pay for yet more postage but I guess it's better than having them bill me for more pills.
Deletewhat is the actual return address?
ReplyDeleteI have cancelled my card but do i need to send back the pills?
ReplyDeletePlease be aware that the banks say cancelling a card does not mean money can't be taken from an account. Someone else said this earlier and my bank confirmed it to be true, hence I closed the account altogether and opened a new one.
DeleteI did send back the pills, in plastic bags rather than the bottles to make the package a large letter.....I just put a stamp on and didn't send it recorded, although I wish I'd just sent the paperwork back now.
Re. the return addresses, this is the one given to me in the email giving the RMA numbers, so I used what they told me there.....
Pure Colon Cleanser and Slim Lean
PO Box 13263
Galashiels
TD1 9AJ
United Kingdom
I think it looks like a company who deal with many company's returns, hence the 2 items at the beginning of the address. With the RMA numbers on the outside of the package, I bet they never even open the returned package at all.
Thanks for the warning..almost fell for it too.
ReplyDeleteHaving gone through all the above when I first tried to cancel I was told I had to have the 14 day trial or they would debit the full amout but had to cancel before the 12 August. Just called them today andwould have made it very difficult but I have been emailed the RMA numbers for return. Conveniently there was no return address in the email so called them back again and was given the Edinburgh address.
ReplyDeleteReally lost over what I should do. Dont want to change my account due to the number of payments I have set up but dont want money being taken. Also not sure to which address to return the bottles.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
£187.00 lighter - thanks to slim lean , bank were fab and are dealing with the whole charade, including the 2 companies that took money out ive never heard of or had any goods from - i have left the whole thing with trading standards as well
ReplyDeleteI also have fallen for this cam, but have informed my bank as a result of your comments and stopped my card. Any further transactions made will then be investigated as fraudulent and covered under the credit card company scheme. Further:
ReplyDeleteThe website SlimLean.co.uk is owned by a Non-UK Company. The following details apply for the website name:
Domain name:
slimlean.co.uk
Registrant:
AVV Enterprise Pvt. Ltd.
Registrant type:
Non-UK Corporation
Registrant's address:
E-36-304 Jawahar Park
Laxmi Nagar
delhi
delhi
110092
India
Any further updates from anyone? I've received no further items nor any communications since I closed my bank account to present them with a brick wall.
ReplyDeleteThere are a LOT of us planks out there who have fell for this SCAM, yes I did to. just call your credit card company and ask them to put a stop on payments to this company and explain why, then and only then call AVV Enterprise or what ever their name is on the 0808 no for customer services !!!! you may have to wait and the line is so bad you are probably talking to a person in India, to cancel your order and return the product after you have removed your £5 pounds worth of product
ReplyDeleteToday these jokers sent 2 emails informing me that they had dispatched 2 further bottles of pills, this despite the fact that I returned the "free trial" (yeh, right) pills with RMA numbers they provided to the address they gave in an email several weeks ago. I replied (including their RMA email) and informed them that if they wished to continue sending pills at their own expense, it was fine by me because they would not be able to extract payment.....the bank account they have details for doesn't exist anymore.
ReplyDeleteIf they have indeed sent more pills, I will either bin them or possibly eBay them....it could turn into a nice little business with fantastic profit margins :-)
Oh well, no further bottles of pills arrived. I was looking forward to a lucrative little business, seeing as they couldn't take any money after I closed the bank account I'd paid for the "free trial" from.
DeleteOk, I now join the unfortunates who fell for this. Article in Daily Telegraph. Paid £4 odd for free trial on 25/7. Goods arrived 1/8.Read t&c's and immediately rang numbe, (within 14 days of order). Poor line. Cancelled further order. Not given or offered RMA. Checked bank account 13/8.Two amounts of nearly £70 taken. Phoned again to complain. Male said refund due but then said he couldn't hear me and promised to phone back. Surprise, surprise, never did. Contacted my bank, Lloyds TSB, and given phone number of their Fraud Dept. Explained position and money refunded. Said no further payments to Slim Lean would be made. I will still check. Pretty mad about scam and trying to extract full refund, which if given I will return to bank. Not happy with DT for publishing article. Why are web sites for these companies not closed down?
ReplyDeleteReturned my empty bottles nearly 3 weeks ago putting the two RMA numbers on everything including a letter saying I was not hapoy about the "scam". Sent this recorded delivery as told and although the parcel was redirected from the Edinburgh address it was signed for by an S. Ware (I think that was it anyway). Although I have had no confirmation from them to say it was received and cancelled, there has been no attempts to take funds from my account or any other communication regard further shipments.
ReplyDeleteWill be keeping an eye on my account but fingers crossed thats the last I have anything to do with rhis company.
As for the diet supplements they same ones can be purchased from places like holland and barretts for about £10!
I have just had a very difficult conversation with the company on the phone!!
ReplyDeleteThe man was very rude, and offered me a 20% refund.
I am beyond mad.
Hopefully my bank will refund me the money.....They were well aware of this scam unfortunately.
I fell for this too .... So furious after I got a crappy email from them after I complained. My response is below ..
ReplyDeleteDear Slim Lean,
I am completely and utterly shocked at your disregard for out right scamming customers. The fact that you are able to operate as an organization and allowed to offer services to the public is shocking.
Had I been more vigilant, I should have researched to find out how you outright scam customers. Its all over the internet, and the beauty of worldwide access is that the word will spread and karma will come back to those who effectively steal money, as it was not truly consented. I'm sure your aware of the content found below (These are a few of many sites ...)
http://www.scambook.com/company/view/21581/Lean-Slim-Ultra
http://www.reviewstalk.com/complaints-reviews/lean-slim-ultra-lean-cleanse-l8921.html
I have simply asked you to take back your product as it doesn't work ( I know from the trial), and its not any good. However you are refusing to give me back my money. Surely if my package is unopened (still in the red envelope) and I send it back to you (as it left your warehouse), I should be able to get 100% of my money back. Isn't that how a refund policy works? You have taken £140 from my account and a 50% refund will not suffice. It is simply unacceptable and incredibly infuriating.
I expect a response a very soon, especially as you don't even respond yourself and outsource the service to http://www.rhinosupport.com/ . @ Rihnosupport- this is the time to escalate the email to someone who is employed from the organization. If I am not provided with a solution to get 100% of my money back I will be making a formal complaint and look forward to spreading the word about your scamming service. Feel free to look me up on Linked in - I work in digital marketing, and am incredibly familiar with word of mouth marketing.
As you may gather from earlier posts, unless you've contacted your bank to report this fraud, you could well find that these scammers will continue to extract further amounts of money from your account.
DeleteI too have just received these pills which were supposed to be a free trial, having read the stuff that came with them, I was concerned over the statement that said they would take �69.97 from my account 14 days after my order was placed, this confused me somewhat as I thought it was a free trial. I tried phoning customer sevices, tried to voice my concerns, to someone who just grunted occasionally, then I was cut off. Got straight onto google and found all these complaints, the only reason I sent for them was because it was being advertised by Dawn French, who supposedly did a trial of the pills on a channel 4 programme? maybe they should also be held accountable?
ReplyDeleteIf Dawn French is taking them then they don't work for sure.
Deletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/24/dawn-french_n_3980281.html
I saw this advert on facebook and thought id try it as it was a trial.received them 2 weeks later and then realized they had taken 69.95 x 2 out of my account.there was no invoice or phone number in the envelope so i tried looking for an email onlineand failed at this as i didnt actually know what the company was called.a couple of weeks later i received more tablets (with invoice and phone number).checked my bank and they had taken 69.95 x 2 again.i phoned the bank and explained and they put me through to fraud dept and they said they would stop them taking any more from my account and if they did i would be refunded.the bank sent me a letter stating all this and that the merchant had been notified too (whoever they are) and they advised me to phone them as well and to contact the company and they were able to give me another phone number for them too.as i am disabled i have a support worker and she phoned and she told me there was no connection on the numbers.i have tried now and i got through to an asian souding man who offered me half my money back.i tried demanding it all but he kept going on about t & c which i hadnt seen.i didnt understand his accent and he had to keep repeating himself.i am now waiting for an email.WATCH THIS SPACE! I cant say i think ive been stupid because it looked so genuine with the woman from channel 4 saying it was the best diet pills she had tried.i am reluctant about taking these as im on a lot of meds including morphine.had any body tried them if so any luck.got to phone bank now and find out who the merchants are.adverts should be investigated first.perhaps we should be allowed to claim compensation from these advertising.its their fault we have all been scammed.
ReplyDeleteThis is a complete scam. I also (stupidly) fell for this based on a reputable website. I received the pills through the post whilst on holiday and by the time I returned I had missed the trial cut off. I then phoned them, agreed to pay the amount for the first set of pills (unopened) and cancelled my agreement with them. I have since had 2 further deliveries from them at full price that I need to return. Despite several emails refusing to pay delivery charges for their mistake I am no further on. I am pressing for a full refund but it is VERY slow. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY!
ReplyDelete