The Green Millionaire : Buyer Beware!

* Update - 4/16/12 - FTC orders Green Millionaire founder has to pay 2 million in damages!
I recently had a friend and reader suggest I check out this great new free book he found called The Green Millionaire. He said I could get a free copy at the website (I'm not even going to link to their site because it's too close to a scam for my taste). When I went there, I saw something that looked very "scammish". Anything promising "free" anything immediately sets off my alarm signals. So I did a little digging (a.k.a. google) and found this article from Fibomercials and Scams.

Basically, you sign up for the "free" book and they need your credit card for the $1 "shipping and handling" charge. But the devil is in the details! The fine print says:

*Start your free trial today and we will also send you a free 14 day subscription to The Green Millionaire eMagazine. Just pay a $1.00 processing fee. You will have 14 days to try The Green Millionaire eMagazine and discover how to become wealthier while saving the planet. If you like the simple, powerful solutions presented in the program, do nothing. At the end of your free trial period you will be charged the discounted price of $29.95, and every 60 days thereafter.

And then gives you the number to call to cancel your subscription. I wonder how hard it is to get through to a live person?

After doing my research I asked my friend to check his credit card bill and guess what? Here was his reply:

Argghh!!! Looks like I’m in the scam wheel. I didn’t even know it was from an infomercial (which I never watch). I think I found the link through another referral.

Well I got the book, and it’s OK. Nothing earth shattering, but some good ideas. I’ll give you my copy if you want it… I’m too pissed to hold on to it. They did charge me $29.95. I will dispute with my CC company, and maybe cancel my card.

So, if you need some green tips then go ahead and get your "Green Millionaire" book, pay $29.95 every 60 days or take the trouble to cancel your "subscription". Or you can read this blog and the other great resources that are out there that cost you nothing. I won't say it's free though because I do "force" you to glance at ads. Hey, a guy has to eat (I just bough some nice grass-fed steaks) doesn't he?

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Education

Comments

Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/10/2010 - 10:11

BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband asked me to go online and get him this free book. As soon as I got to the website, I just thought it looked like one of these scam sites and boy was I right! I asked him are you sure that this is a legitimate site and he said of couse, it's on Planet Green, Discovery channel and others, it's got to be a safe! Well I used our debit account and paid for the s/h and got our book. The book, by the way, is pretty much a big advertisement for all these companys. I go online this morning to check on our activity in the bank account and see that they are going to debit us $89.95! I called them immediately this morning asking what in the world this charge was all about??? They said that they informed everyone in the commercial as well as when I entered my account information that they there is a "FREE" trial for so many days of their emailed newsletter for 1 yr and whatever other crap they're trying to sell. I said I NEVER ONCE saw anything at all about this charge when I was checking out esp since it already looked fishy to me. I said that is alot of money to us and we can not afford this! She initially said she would not be able to do anything since the trial offer exp 2 days ago and then she said she'd give me only half back and I said, NO, that is unacceptable!!! I want a full refund. I asked to talk to her supervisor, she put me on hold and came back and said that she will be able to issue a full refund due to our situation. That was after I told her that we can not put food on the table and that I was going to tell everyone about what a scam they are!!!! Now I know how they make their millions!!!!!! On these poor people that want to get a little more information on living green and saving money. They should be ashamed of themselves. I'm cancelling our debit cards today!!!!

Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/11/2010 - 13:48

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT ORDER ANY THING FROM THIS WEBSITE EVEN IF YOU DO READ THE FINE PRINT, THEY WILL SCREW YOU, BE CAREFUL...THE REASON THIS PERSON IS A MILLIONAIRE IS BECAUSE HE HAS A NICE WEBSITE AND YOU LET HIM INTO YOUR POCKET...DO NOT BE A SUCKER..DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING AND IF YOU HAVE CANCEL IT NOW...YOU WILL THANK ME LATER..

Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/25/2010 - 06:33

wow an "anti Green Millionaire " complaint site run by Green Millionaire how original.

Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/11/2010 - 13:07

I also signed up for free book with $1.95 shipping. I notice about two weeks later there was a pending charge of $89.95 on my card. I call my bank and they gave me the merchant number (not shown on bank charge) and call requested refund. They informed me of the trial, but gave me a refund after some bitching on my part.

Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/27/2010 - 14:58

We too were charged almost $90.00 for a "free book". I was furious. I called them and they gave me all kinds of excuses, saying they would only refund half of the money. When I told them about my plans to contact the BBB and the Attorney General, they promptly decided to refund the full amount.

Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/23/2010 - 16:14

hi,i have same problem, the only thing i want to know Liz is did you get your money back? please let me know -- my email is kunjal12@yahoo.com as i spoke with person and they told me to refund me. thanks for your input on this website.

Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/26/2010 - 04:20

Thanks for the tip on the scam. The price is now $1.95 for S&H and the small print about signing up for a subscription is even smaller. They are also advertising repeatedly on TV and radio

Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/09/2010 - 14:57

gm agent, it seems very unprofessional to belittle people for spelling errors, telling them to order the hooked on phonics program. I wouldn't want you to represent my company.

ckmapawatt Mon, 08/23/2010 - 16:53

GM Agent, I allow your comments to go through because I like letting people see both sides of the story, but surely you can't think you're helping your cause? (assuming you do indeed work for Green Millionaire).

Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/01/2010 - 13:40

To Carl,JUST SHUT UP ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES. WHO ARE YOU TO PASS JUDGMENT? ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO HELP EXPOSE THE SCAM SO DUMB A-HOLES LIKE YOU DON'T FALL FOR THIS BOOK. IF YOU GOT SCAMMED GOOD! YOU SOUND LIKE A REAL A-HOLE TO ME AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO GET SCAMMED BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!!!

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