# When is Truth In Advertising just not enough? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 4, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667 "2009-06-04T06:21:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![the\_first\_supraliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@the\_first\_supraliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_first_supraliminal)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/1 "2009-06-04T06:21:35Z")
We have “Truth in advertising” laws, but sometimes the truth is really a scam. My mother just got caught in one. When you went through it, every line seemed to be true, but it was a clear bait-and-switch. The banner ad said “Free Trial” then you clicked and it said “Free Trial only $3.99 shipping” and when you entered your Visa number they had you click on a box that said you read their disclaimer. I checked later and the disclaimer ran 23 screens. Buried in all that were the Terms: You can’t actually try the sample. You only get to look at the bottle. If it’s opened it can’t be returned. To return the unopened bottle you must get a Return code by calling a number that never is answered. And if you keep the bottle it’s $80 and they will send you another at the same time for $80 so you are up to $163.99 before you have opened it. And then you agree to $80 every two weeks until they answer that Return phone, which they never promise to do. She was in tears, blaming herself for not reading all 23 screens of drivel. Then I saw where she was also being billed for other products from the same company that she never heard of and which never arrived. And it was all laundered through a British bank account so they are hard to sue. I got Visa to block her card, give her one with a new number. and reverse all the charges. And then the scammers sent her an innocent little email saying “We have honored your request for a refund” Another lie, but presumably it covers their tracks if ever in front of a prosecutor. So they can make money selling these “Free” samples by tricking old women into blaming themselves. Without actually saying an untrue word. Ach! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/2 "2009-06-04T06:28:23Z")
For a nominal fee, I can straighten the whole thing out for you. Just send me your mother’s new credit card number… ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/3 "2009-06-04T07:16:33Z")
Mama always told me that reading would come in handy. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/4 "2009-06-04T08:13:30Z")
Lowtax - OH GOD NO Lowtax - NO Lowtax - NOT FREE SAMPLE!!! Sweet Princess - What??? Lowtax - Free Sample is the enemy robot who we lost competitian too last year. He was a filthy cheater! he attacked with unlegal weapons! Sweet Princess - Free sample? Lowtax - Yes, he was part of Team Barry, the notorous cheaters of the Robot Competitian League! Free Sample will steal your email. And yeah, scammers suck. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/5 "2009-06-04T13:26:41Z")
Why did your mother feel the need to increase her penis size? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/6 "2009-06-04T13:38:35Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Why did your mother feel the need to increase her penis size? What girl doesn’t want a large penis? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/7 "2009-06-04T13:53:38Z")
> [@the\_first\_supraliminal](#): > > We have “Truth in advertising” laws, but sometimes the truth is really a scam. > My mother just got caught in one. When you went through it, every line seemed > to be true, but it was a clear bait-and-switch. The banner ad said “Free Trial” then you > clicked and it said “Free Trial only $3.99 shipping” and when you entered your > Visa number they had you click on a box that said you read their disclaimer. > I checked later and the disclaimer ran 23 screens. Buried in all that were the Terms: > You can’t actually try the sample. You only get to look at the bottle. If it’s opened > it can’t be returned. I’d contend that “Free Trial” is false in this context, because you can only try a product if you can actually use it. Otherwise, by standing in my local supermarket gazing at the bottles on the shelves I’m having a “free trial” of those products. Of course, I’m not in any meaningful way. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/8 "2009-06-04T14:45:34Z")
You know, I’m amazed that we’ve let credit card companies get away with cheesy tactics like this for years (pages of fine print, late billing, etc.) and are just now starting to make some small inroads into basic consumer protection. I’ve heard them complain about not being able to offer credit cards to as many people when the new regulations are instituted and I have absolutely no sympathy. Maybe having a pulse should not be enough to qualify for a credit card. I’ve never seen a sleazier bunch of people, and that includes the assholes in the OP. How to ameliorate the credit card problem? Why, just make bankruptcy harder to declare. I swear, it’s enough to make this ex-Republican turn Socialist. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/9 "2009-06-04T17:28:06Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What girl doesn’t want a large penis? My wife _says_ she doesn’t… ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/10 "2009-06-05T13:38:20Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > My wife _says_ she doesn’t… She’s lying to _one_ of us. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/11 "2009-06-05T13:56:36Z")
Le sigh. I’ve decided not to post in this thread. Just wanted to let you all know. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/12 "2009-06-05T14:34:20Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Le sigh. I’ve decided not to post in this thread. Just wanted to let you all know. I thought this thread was about **truth** in advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/13 "2009-06-05T14:42:57Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > You know, I’m amazed that we’ve let credit card companies get away with cheesy tactics like this for years (pages of fine print, late billing, etc.) and are just now starting to make some small inroads into basic consumer protection. I’ve heard them complain about not being able to offer credit cards to as many people when the new regulations are instituted and I have absolutely no sympathy. Maybe having a pulse should not be enough to qualify for a credit card. > > I’ve never seen a sleazier bunch of people, and that includes the assholes in the OP. How to ameliorate the credit card problem? Why, just make bankruptcy harder to declare. I swear, it’s enough to make this ex-Republican turn Socialist. Is this a new complaint, which the OP’s troubles brought to your mind? Because the OP doesn’t complain about credit card companies, and in fact his story suggests that they acted appropriately and forced the scammer’s involuntary “refund” effort. So it’s not quite clear to me why, in a story complaining about product scammers, which incidently mentions credit card processes and shows them to have saved the consumer’s bacon, you would seieze upon the evils that pervade the credit card business. Not to say that such evils are non-existent… just that this story doesn’t seem to highlight them. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/14 "2009-06-05T14:44:38Z")
Jeez, Bricker, you act like you’ve never gone off on a rage-fueled tangent sparked by a throwaway line (in this case, pages of contracts). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/15 "2009-06-05T15:00:11Z")
Ive been hearing more and more dubious ads on the radio lately. Seems like the stations will take advertising money from anyone nowdays even if the products are scams. Most recent ones: Australian Gold Koala coins- “Through an agreement with the Australian government and introduced by collector demand we can now offer you these coins!” StopHardWaterNow- For those bogus “clip onto the outside of your water main” devices that are supposed to stop hard water. Complete scam. FreeLaptop.com- “It was so easy, I logged on answered a few questions and they sent me a laptop!!” You need a credit card, have to sign up for services which you have to attempt to cancel before they keep charging you, you have to give them a bunch of your friends info, and then you have to badger the hell out of them and hope someday you may get a laptop. Most people give up. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/16 "2009-06-05T21:30:52Z")
I’d like to point out to the OP that the free sample company is almost certainly violating consumer protection laws, and their disclaimer would likely be worthless in a court of law. Enforcement, rather than law, is at fault here. (Though “fault” is a bit misleading, because there is essentially no practical way to monitor the internet for scams.) If a “business” gets enough complaints, the gov’t will step in and punish them. Report the company to the BBB and the credit card company and teach your mom about internet banner ads. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/17 "2009-06-06T18:25:02Z")
Yes. Like I explained to my mom: sometimes there will be cockroaches crawling on your screen, but you shouldn’t try to harm them or they’ll steal your money. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/18 "2009-06-07T00:47:32Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Ive been hearing more and more dubious ads on the radio lately. Seems like the stations will take advertising money from anyone nowdays even if the products are scams. Most recent ones: > Australian Gold Koala coins- “Through an agreement with the Australian government and introduced by collector demand we can now offer you these coins!” > StopHardWaterNow- For those bogus “clip onto the outside of your water main” devices that are supposed to stop hard water. Complete scam. > FreeLaptop.com- “It was so easy, I logged on answered a few questions and they sent me a laptop!!” You need a credit card, have to sign up for services which you have to attempt to cancel before they keep charging you, you have to give them a bunch of your friends info, and then you have to badger the hell out of them and hope someday you may get a laptop. Most people give up. It’s the economy. It’s why you’re seeing 1-800 (but wait, there’s more!) spots in primetime TV…everyone is chasing what money is out there. ---
**Author:** ![SweetLucy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@SweetLucy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetLucy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/19 "2009-06-07T01:47:26Z")
How about the “earn thousands of dollars a day just sitting around and breathing in the comfort of your own home” ads? :p:D ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667/20 "2009-06-07T02:41:37Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > It’s the economy. It’s why you’re seeing 1-800 (but wait, there’s more!) spots in primetime TV…everyone is chasing what money is out there. Also, advertising is cheaper, so these types of folks can afford better spots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-truth-in-advertising-just-not-enough/498667.md?page=2)