Dazzle Smile and South Beach Brite have a sweet scam going. I signed up online for a "Free" product trial of these two products. If I liked the results, I would order some at the regular price although it was not posted on their websites because I checked.

Of course, as you go through the ordering process, the companies gather all necessary information to rip you off in the interest of paying for the shipping charges.

I recieved a tooth-whitening kit consistent with what you could find at Walmart for $15 to $45. Before I could finish the trial, three (3) companies had Piled $230 ($86.93, $78.95 and $48.92) in charges on my debit card. With my normal bills being paid as scheduled, my bank account was overdrawn by over $120 plus another $100 in overcharge fees. I was planning to make some holiday donations to some much needed local charities but that isn't going to happen now.

The Customer service representatives were very kind and helpful. Of course, I got the sense that they were all to use to hearing my story because they had the phone numbers to their partner companies so that I could cancel their portions my order.

My advice for anyone who wants whiter teeth: go to your favorite discount retailer and buy it off the shelf. They don't play games and devise elaborate scams to run on their customers.

Michael Kamau