SlimTone Plus
Complaint 166649 Details

I've just been stung very badly by Slimtone Plus and Body Cleanse to the tune of £112 ($180). Now looking on the internet, I don't seem to be the first.

I was formerly a barrister and am now a copywriter and I've purchased thousands of products online over the years - but this is the first time I've ever been shocked to see money come out of my bank account that I wasn't expecting.

The products Slimtone Plus and Body Cleanse are advertised as FREE, just pay for shipping. I am among what looks like many consumers, however, who are shocked to then find, in a couple of weeks large sums being taken from their bank accounts.

I called the company immediately who informed me that I had clicked a Terms and Conditions box. I don't recall doing this. Having now looked at the process again, I see that when you press the submit button for a free trial (bar postage expenses) there is already a pre-ticked Ts and Cs box there (I'm not sure if this pre-ticking is legal but it's certainly very shonky). I can't say I even registered the small t&c line under the large submit button. Even if I did, it's common knowledge that consumers generally just click. Most people, when buying online, have a trust that they are not going to be ripped off and, therefore, don't go through to read Ts&Cs - and it's this fact which this wholly disreputable company is relying on.

This company is taking advantage of the fact that the majority of people don't read them (because they don't expect £112 to be taken out of their banks). This is made worse by the fact all this is done in a very stealth-like manner with no email sent when the money is taken. Nor is a confirmation email sent with the cancellation terms then put more up front. I only found out by chance when checking my bank statement online for another reason. Had I not, I'd have only found out about it when a next batch of Slimtone and Body Cleanse was sent to me (by which time I would have been £224 out of pocket).

This is especially abhorrent practice given the financial situation most people are in at the moment. I certainly wouldn't have gone into a health food store and spent £112 on similar tablets. And this is another issue - you can get the same for a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

Everything about the way this company works is designed to part consumers with their money. When you call them they're obstructive, beating you with the fact you've signed the Ts & Cs and they tell you they 'can't issue a refund. When you say you can't be the only one this has happened to, they cheerily inform you you're not and most people press 'submit' (with the pre-checked t&c button) without reading them.

I am now trying to find if there is a way to obtain a full refund from this company and, also, to see if this practice can be stopped so other consumers are not duped in the same way.