Like others before me, I responded to a radio advertising pitch by non other than the respected Thom Hartmann for a New Vitality Product. I called the toll-free number to make a trial order, unknowing that I would subsequently be "Auto Billed" for orders I did not authorize.

After receiving a second order I did not authorize, I called the company to insist that future orders would not be authorized and to cease sending them. I called two weeks afterward to verify that I was removed from their customer lists.

Two orders were sent months later. I sent them back at my own expense, informed my credit card company, filled out the dispute papers, and once again called NV to reiterate I had refused their business months earlier.

My credit card company informs me that the refund for those two orders were made, less the "shipping charges" of $7.90 per order, which "New Vitality Company policy" does not refund. Despite the orders being unauthorized, returned at my expense, they want to retain the "shipping charges, " which on return cost me a total of $2.56 (for both).

The so-called "customer care" people who answer their telephones are another piece of work. They are obviously trained to filter out any hint of complaint, to insist on their authority and power over the customer, and to extract any possible funds under any false pretenses they can invent to cover their costs.

The company and their employees are despicable con artists and they will go wild with your credit card number given the opportunity.