KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The allure of white teeth is causing a black mark for several teeth whitening companies. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a warning before you click on one of these online ads.
The online ads make it look like a free trial, but consumers are complaining that it's costing them money.
The BBB says the ads often link you to what appears to be phony blogs and fake news sites that appear to be third party endorsements of the teeth whitening products. Joan Vaal bought a tooth whitening system called Dazzle White Pro.
She signed up for the free trail offer. All she had to do is pay the shipping and handling.
"It was a free sample for $1.95," Joan Vaal said. Then her VISA statement showed up with charges. "I'm charged $58.76," Vaal said.
Vaal says she was charged that amount twice. Now, she joins the club with thousands of others who are complaining about a trial they thought would cost just a few bucks.
You need to read the fine print of these trial offers. In the past, we've reported that the trial on some offers starts the day the product is shipped. By the time it arrives at your home, your trial is practically over giving you very little time to cancel the trail before you are charged. The BBB says some teeth whitening companies are even charging customers before the trial is up and can't get the charges to stop.
You also need to beware of third party endorsements, always read the fine print for the real charges, and research the company first.
The BBB says 450 people complained about Dazzle White, White Smile, Teeth Smile, and Dazzle Smile. The charges are racking up to as much as $79.
A total of 611 people complained about Ivory White for charges of $78 a month. The BBB say the company is related to Ortho White and Bella White and the complaints are mounting for those companies as well. The BBB has asked for more disclosure on their Websites but says they have not received a response to the requests.
The BBB says it's also getting reports on Advanced Wellness Research and its whitening products sold under the names Max White, My Whitening, Gleaming White Smile and others.
If you can't get the charges stopped, file a complaint with your Attorney General and the AG in the state where the company is located.
