On October 15, while I was out of town without Internet access, an order was placed online in my name on this company's Web site using my debit card. The amount of the charge was $4.95. A $4.95 charge for some company named "Acai Berry" was placed on the same day. Fortunately, my bank immediately noticed the suspicious transactions, contacted me, canceled the debit card, and refunded the transactions.
I assumed that was the end of it until, today, I received a package in the mail from Wu-Yi with some weight-loss product in it. My name and address were listed on the shipping label, but the phone number ("my" phone number) on the shipping label was fake (an unworking number). I figured there had to be some scam involved--after all, why else would they waste money sending me product? I called the bank and confirmed that the company would NOT be able to charge anything additional to my card (since it had been canceled).
Then, out of curiosity, I called the Wu-Yi company. Long story short, the scam is that they send you the product after charging $4.95 to the card (however it was obtained) and then, if you don't return the product, charge $59 to the card they have on file. Side note: the package had big signs on every side that said "Before breaking the seal, call this 800 number to get a message about your product." I listened to the message for about 5 minutes before hanging up but I can only assume that at the end of it, this don't-return-it-and-we'll-charge-you-$59 policy was disclosed.
The Wu-Yi guy I talked to had the nerve to suggest that I had ordered the product and then forgotten about it. I said, "I'm 5'6" and 104 lb. The last thing in the world I need is a weight-loss system. I have 17 days to put on 10 lb., or my wedding dress is going to hang on me like a garbage bag." Then he claimed that it must have been one of my friends. I told him that none of my friends have access to my debit card information. He told me that it wasn't Wu-Yi that had placed the order. I said, "Someone took my credit card and placed the order--as far as I can tell, the only entity who has benefited so far has been your company. All the money goes straight to you." He admitted this was true, but couldn't explain it. He stuck with the "third-party" explanation, that someone had stolen my credit card info and used it to benefit the Wu-Yi company.
Then, this guy had the nerve to tell me that I *had* to return the tea. I said I would do no such thing--that I had ordered it, hadn't asked for it, and was going to do nothing with it except throw it in the trash. He got very huffy and threatened me, saying, "I just want you to know that you're going to be charged $59 if you don't return it." I said, "Charge whatever you want to the card you have on file. It's been canceled."
He said, very nastily, "Do whatever you want. The tea is yours." Then he hung up on me.
So... thank goodness for USAA (my bank). It rocks, and I'm out $0 for this debacle!
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