Heeltastic Heel-Stick What a bunch of crooks! They inflated my invoice by 200%, charging for items I did not order. But wait! There's more: They offered to refund my $43.96, less $14 and shipping. Van Nuys, California

Impressed by their TV add, I called the 800 number to order Heel-Tastic to soothe my dry, cracked heels. The phone ordering system was completely automated and took my credit card number first. Then, however, the robotic voice hit me with so many "bonus" offers that I decided the heck with it, and hung up without completing the order. Lo, today -- three weeks later -- I received a small package from Heel-Tastic with a 2 oz. container of the product, a 0.5 oz. cuticle moistener that I hadn't ordered, and a very cheap (i.e., about $2.00) manicure kit.  Invoice amount:  $43.96.

I checked their web site, where the same "deluxe bonus package" -- icluding an extra 2 0z. container of Heel-Tastic -- could have been bought for $17.  Furious and feeling ripped off, I called their customer service number. They offered me a $5 discount. I said no dice, and they offered me $10.  I told them I would simply send the package back. They said okay, they would refund my money. But they were only willing to refund $29, and they would give no explanation for keeping $14 of it.

They were also requiring that I pay shipping charges on the return.  I asked for a supervisor and insisted that they refund 100% of the charges.  He said he would submit my request to "corporate," but that he couldn't guarantee it would be honored.  That's when I called my credit card issue to dispute the charge. Now let's see them steal my money!

It is beyond me why any company advertising on TV would stoop to this kind of thievery. The product itself probably costs under $3 to produce, and there is yet more profit in the $6.99 S&H charge. Neither can I understand why they want to play hardball with someone who is going to report this matter to the Attorney General's offices in California and Colorado, as well as to the Van Nuys BBB.