In January I ordered 14-day trial bottles of Garcinia Cambogia and Pure Detox Max from N___L___Brands on the Internet – $6.95 each. I quickly read the Terms & Conditions which stated you had 14 days to call and cancel, or you would have to pay full retail price for them (with tax, almost $80 per bottle).

I received them on January 20 and marked my calendar to call by February 3. I called on February 2, because I noticed they’d already charged $159.40 to my debit card. I called them and was told, “You have 14 day from the date you ordered them, not from the date you received them.” And since I’d opened the bottle, they could not take them back, nor could they refund me any money. I asked how you can call it a “14-day trial” if you only have 9 days to try their product(?) The woman on the end of the line responded, “That’s our policy and it’s all in our Terms & Conditions.” I told her I thought the “14-day trial” was a rip-off, and she hung up on me.

I filed a claim with the Florida Better Business Bureau, and then called my bank to dispute the $159.40 charges to my debit card. You could say that what she’d told me *was* in the Terms and Conditions (that you get to through a link in their 14-day trial page), but the terms and conditions are so equivocally worded as to be barely comprehensible; they also bear the distinct odor of fraud.

I reached a man in the Disputes Department of my bank, and the receptionist who originally answered my call had already given him a short summary. He knew exactly what I’d experienced, and it was apparent that he’d dealt with hundreds of similar cases. I had a doubt or two that I’d actually be able to recoup my $159.40, but thought to myself: “The goal is to stay positive and envision a positive outcome. I’m going to leave this phone call with a smile on my face and a feeling of relief and joy.” By the way, I just remembered in the re-reading of this post, that the bank receptionist’s name was . . . wait for it . . . Joy! There are signs everywhere, if you are just paying attention! It truly amazes me.

The disputes guy actually stopped me as I started to give him more details. “Here’s the deal,” he said. “If you had called a month or two ago, I wouldn’t have been able to do a thing for you. But things have changed, and we can get your money back, provided you are willing to relinquish your current debit card, and wait a week for a new one.”

“Are you kidding?” I said, “I’d be thrilled and delighted! Bless you and have a fabulous day!” Then I danced out of my office, pumping my fist in the air.