Proactiv "Trial Offer" is a scam

Proactive Solution constantly advertises their "risk-free trial" of their three top-selling products for $19.95, which seems reasonable. I ordered the "trial" over the phone giving my card number for the $19.95 + shipping total. I received the trial product and it was just OK, nothing special about it - didn't work any differently than anything else on the market. I would not have ordered any more Proactiv products as they are expensive and not worth it. The following month, I received a bill in the mail for $49.95 + shipping indicating that this was to pay for my first shipment of Proactiv. I contacted them to ask about this charge and was told that I had "joined their membership" by ordering the "risk-free trial" and that once per month I was now going to be billed that amount to pay for a "monthly supply" of Proactiv. I informed that that I had never agreed to joining their membership and to cancel it immediately, which they said they did and sent me a cancellation notification. Seemed OK until I received a letter from a collection agency informing me that my payment of $49.95 + shipping was long overdue. A collection agency? So I once again contacted Proactiv who told me that in order for them to call off the collections agency, I had to mail back the shipment to them. I asked if they meant the "trial" shipment that I had already paid for and they said no, the first shipment of my monthly membership!. I told them I had never received anything else from them other than the original "trial" package which they had already charged $19:.95 + shipping to my credit card for.. This went on for months and I kept telling them I never received anything to send back to them'. All I kept getting were more letters from the collection agency, who in turn reported this to the credit bureau!. Because it is almost impossible to purchase anything, like a car, house, etc,., with a negative on your credit report, I finally had to send Proactiv a check for this amount for a product I never received from them". If you want to keep a good credit score, don't purchase ANYTHING from Proactiv:. Also, their products simply aren't worth the money they think they are. 35b2640

Comments (7)

1. Written by rachel on October 5, 2011 I did the same thing with the trial thing and I tried it for several weeks it did nothing. And so I called them and cance.lled it I had already paid 29.99 for that. Trial set which the bottles were tiny and they told me it was supposedly a 60 day amount hahahahaha yea right well anyways my account was supposed to be cancelled and that I would receive no more shipmants we'll just today 8 months after the trial they sent me a huge set. For 90 bucks and I called them and told them that I did not order it I do not want it and I am not paying for it that my account was supposed to be cancelled and they told me they opened a new account for me with out my permission wtf I told them they better cancell both or I will be calling my lawyer so they said send back the box unopened that I have to pay to send it back even though I did not order it they have to get it withn 7 to 10 days or I will be charged full amount. Proactive is a terrible solution Report

2. Written by Sophie Morgenbrot on February 21, 2011 I was just about to order proactic solutions. Then I decided before orderingnit online i should google it first vthank goodness I found these comments. I will definately NOT be ordering it now. Thanks! Report

3. Written by Kerryn on November 20, 2010 I ordered ONE product - a body lotion - and then got send a 4PC OFM CONT OFFER containing four products that I did not order. This came complete with a charge to my credit card of $102.85. When I called to complain I was told that all customers who place an order are 'automatically signed up' for more orders. Be very wary of this company. Report

4. Written by concerned on July 20, 2010 Hi zipperten,  I'm in a similar situation as you, and wanted to know, what collection agency did they use? I'm getting my collection letters from a firm called SKO Brenner, and they told me they don't report to credit bureaus. I could go more into depth, but I really don't want to bore you, unless you want to hear it. I've basically been ignoring the collection agency, because, like you, this isn't a legitimate debt. I've been interviewing for jobs recently, though, and they all involve background/credit checks. In a flash of fear, I thought, 'what if this b/s debt is on my credit report and prevents me from landing a job?' so i dusted off a notice of delinquency from SKO Brenner from about 3 months ago and called them. Real calmly, I asked if my debt was going to be reported to a credit bureau, to which I was answered by the claim that they don't report anything to any agencies. I told her again that I wouldn't be paying this debt since it won't seem to affect me in anyway (sure, more junkmail, but whatever). Anyway, sorry for rambling, but I'm really interested in hearing about your story with the collection agency. Report

5. Written by Zipperten on July 14, 2010 Seamus - shame on you for saying it's not a scam because you need to read the fine print. The definition of the word "scam" is "a deceptive act or operation." This trial offer from Proactiv is most definitely a scam since there is no "fine print in their commercials that plainly states you will be charged for a continued supply" as you state. And while there may be some very "fine print" somewhere in one or two of "their ads," I have read several of their advertisements, even on their own website, and there is nothing that talks indicates a charge for a monthly supply. Even on their own website, this is the wording Proactiv uses: "When you order, you can register to receive a free membership as an ActivMember" and "When you order and create an ActivMember account, you are automatically upgraded to Preferred Customer status with many exclusive ActivMember benefits including conventient, timely replenishment." I have searched but have yet to find any wording that states you will be charged monthly for a continued supply, especially even if you don't register for it. This is a "deceptive operation" and therefore I am correct in calling this trial offer a scam. Report

6. Written by seamus on July 13, 2010 it's not a scam, you need to read the fine print in their ads and commercials, they plainly state that you will be charged monthly for a continued supply. Report

7. Written by saturner on July 12, 2010 gosh! I am having the same problem!!!!  My husband purchased the "risk-free trial" and after that was coming bills and bills, I try to call and they said it was "joined their membership" we did the same you did and they just ignored us. Because the collections agency now is calling us and this is on his credit report. We don't know what to do, because how we pay for something we never agreed and never received?? Report

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