Midwest Stress Center
Reviews and Complaints

I ordered the cd's after watching a very moving infomercial about beating anxiety and depression blues. Once I found out that after the 14 day trial was up the stress center was to debit my account five (5) times for $80 dollars each time. That's way out of my budget but when I tried to tell the salesman that I no longer wanted the CDs he was very pushy basically forcing me to complete the order (he already had my debit info). He kept relenting that I could return the CDs with no hassle. It took almost two weeks to receive the CDs and somehow the start calculating the 14 day trial before you even receive the package. I did call to return the CDs but they debited my account anyway before the deadline came up for the CDs to be returned. The customer service is Horrible. The service agents are rude and not helpful. It really puts a damper on the good that the Stress Center is trying to do. I would NOT recommend!

I saw a very convincing infomercial and Lucinda Bassett's "Attacking Anxiety" program on TV. I have a 1year-old daughter who is struggling with anxiety and because of the 14 day try-it under no obligation refund policy I ordered the program during the middle of the night. It was dropped off at my door on Nov. 4, 2014 and I phoned them on Nov. 17th 2014 to say I wanted to return it. The "returns" dept. never answered their phone - so I called the main number. I got a rep who said sorry - the program is yours. The 14 days have lapsed and so you own it and will be charged for it. (There records show it came to me on Nov. 1st...and maybe the UPS driver dropped at at some house on Nov. 1st - but I did not get it until the afternoon of the 4th.! I asked to speak to a supervisor who never came on the phone. THIS IS FRAUD! Please help!

My name is LAURIE CROUCH
[protected]

Please help!

I was pressured into trying this program, After I thought about it, I decided not to use it the price was just to high, and my work provides the same kind of program. I sent all the materials back unopened. It took 10 to 12 days to even get the stuff. My checking account was debited $59.99, not two weeks after I cancelled this. I called the company at the number provided and was told I had exceeded the free trial, and that the charge was for the one on one coaching not the program. I told the person on the phone that I never used it and didn't even know I had that since I returned all the material.
Basically he told me too bad for me. When I asked to speak to someone who could help he told me that no one could help me.
The charge was what it was and there was nothing I could do about it.
In the first place it took 2 weeks to get the stuff, and in another (roughly) 2 weeks I am charged for a 30 day trial ? How can that be ?

I am looking into filing a class action lawsuit against these crooks based on the number of complaints against them . Check Facebook page Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety Lawsuit . I just started it, but post your story there!
In Mid- December, I purchased this product after seeing an infomercial on it. The product was advertised as having a 30 day money back guarantee, so I figured I would give it a try. It arrived on December 18th, over the couple of weeks I listed to the CD’s but I was not impressed so I decided to send it back. On June 8th I called to get a return authorization number. I shipped the package to the Priority Mail with tracking and $50.00 insurance that comes with it. I checked the tracking number a few days later and saw it was delivered on January 10th. I thought all was good. I was wrong.
When I opened my credit card statement for March, that I got in early April there was a charge of there for $59.95, I went online to see my current month activity and sure enough there was another charge for $59.95. So my first question is: Why would they wait till March to start billing me…and What could it be for? I call them, that alone is a challenge I was disconnected twice before I got to really speak to anyone. I was told by lady #1 that the first charge was because it was received back past my 30 days, and the second charge was in error and she would “submit an email to get that credited.” Needless to say I was not happy so I asked to speak to her supervisor. The supervisor (lady #2) told me that the first lady in incorrect and I was being billed because it was late and the late/restock fee is something like $159 I don’t remember the exact amount. So I tell her she is crazy and they had the package on the 10th, and if they didn’t check it in till the 20th that was there problem not mine. I told her I wanted both of the charges credited to my account and once again I was told that it would be submitted via email to “Bob” the guy who handles refunds. I asked to speak to Bob and she said he was not available, I offered to wait then she said he was not in yet, but she was “escalating “ the email and I would hear from him within 24 hours. 24 Hours came and went so I called again. This time I asked to speak with a supervisor directly and I was told that she was a supervisor, I told her my story and that I had not heard from Bob yet. I was then told that Bob didn’t come in the previous day, he had a sick child at home, and he would be in about noontime and she has sent him another email and I would hear from him again in 24 hours. She went on to say, If my refund was approved it would take 2-3 weeks. So now I am totally pissed and not being very nice on the phone. I wait 24 hours, no callback, I callback and got hung up on twice. I finally said screw this and went online and disputed the charge with my credit card company. I told them everything I said here and sent the priority mail tracking info that I got from the USPS website. My wonderful credit card company, sided with them because the company said I never returned the package it was a 14 day trial not 30 and the tracking info only shows a package was delivered to Van Nuys CA, and not the specific street address. At this point I am so totally fed up and frustrated I wanted to scream! I call the post office in Van Nuys to ask them why this sheet only shows it delivered to Van Nuys 91406, but not the address it was delivered to and told them why I needed the information. They told me that Midwest Center get so many packages that the do not do street delivery, they are picked up and all items with tracking number are recorded on a Firm Sheet and that is what the person getting the packages signs. She then checks my tracking number to the firm sheet from January 10th and lo and behold there is my package. I then ask her to please please please fax it to me so I can send it to my credit card company, she said, she was not authorized to do that, the Post Master would have to approve that, and he won’t be in till Monday, of course this was a Saturday, so now I am waiting on Monday noon Eastern time to call the post office and either get the firm sheet faxed to me or a letter from the post office stating my package was signed for by a representative of the company. If I can get either of those my credit card company will then reverse the charges. If for some reason I can’t get that information my next step is to file a claim with the post office because the package was insured for $50, when they investigate they will see that the package was delivered and I will require proof of that and then I will send that to my credit card company. Sorry this was so long, my actual point here is I am so fed up with this mess and this company, and I see so many others are also facing these same problems that I wonder if legally we can do something, like file as class action law suit. They really need to be held accountable for what they are doing and honestly they are just crooks!

I take care of the finances for my mother in law who has several medical conditions and suffers from dementia. She was apparently watching an infomercial that advertised stress management and bought the product for what she thought was $15.00. Now they are charging her many times $60.00 a month. It is a little box with a couple of cds in it. She never even opened it, but I was stunned to look at the finances and see many charges for this. IT IS A SCAM AND RIP OFF. How dare you people take advantage of people who are suffering and cannot take care of themselves. We work very hard for our money and only want to good in life. EVERYONE BEWARE THIS PRODUCT AND COMPANY IS A BUNCH OF CRAP!

I am very ill, I talked with this supposed merchant Time was 9 am in the morning, I was not up late drinking, I just wanted to see if they had some positive information. I was not looking for a quick fix, nor am I extremely depressed. I just wanted to take advantage of the free trial. These people are truly scamming, they charged me for vitamins that I did not even order. So I immediately tried canceling, that was an hour after talking to them. They reject all my emails and told me that they could not cancel. This is within hours. I called them daily but these people still billed my credit card. I learned that the founder killed himself yet the wife continues to scam people. Due to the stress of these people my disability is getting worse. I pray that no one else falls victim especially in this economy. .

I have been away for a number of months and unable to tend to my mail. Upon returning, I am quite surprised to find that I have received multiple packages from Lucinda Bassett's Midwest Center (c/o Good Living Labs) containing her "Positive Mood" supplements. Even more surprising is the fact that I have billed almost $29.00 for each of them! I NEVER ordered this product, nor did I AUTHORIZE such charges to my account. I see in looking at the invoices that they conventiently do not accept returns of these supplements. I have contacted Good Living Labs and requested that further shipments be CANCELLED immediately. (If you should need to do so also, be prepared to be put on hold numerous times while they fumble to locate your account.)

Bottom line: I am extremely angry that this situation ever even occcurred and have requested immediate refund of my three payments of $28.94 ($86.82). I was told by Good Living Labs that a free trial of these supplements is shipped every time an order for Lucinda's anxiety and depression program is received. Supposedly, at the bottom of their enclosed letter it is explained that these supplements will keep coming unless the consumer requests that shipments be stopped. Well, first, I do not read my junk mail. Second, it is a well-known fact that anyone seeing a psychiatrist and actively taking prescribed medications would be ill-advised to start mixing them with any herbal supplement. For these reasons, Midwest's and Good Living Labs' business practices are both unethical and underhanded. What a money-making scheme!

I have no idea whether the Midwest Center will respond to my complaint. If this matter is not resolved to my satisfaction, I will report their practices to the Better Business Bureau and will also post the reasons for my dissatisfaction everywhere possible on the internet to spare others the same experience. (I see there are already others out there doing the same.)

What a disappointment! Lucinda seems so sincere on her infomercials. If I could contact her personally, I most certainly would!

I began having anxiety attacks when something tragic happened in my family. One night while watching TV I saw the infomercial and in my depressed state decided to order the program - 30 day free trial - NO OBLIGATION. When the product arrived, it was a huge box containing several DVDs and books. I knew right away that it was not something that I could use, as I did not even own a DVD player.

I contacted the company and requested the "RA Number" which was needed to return the (unopened) program. I explained to the Customer SErvice Representative that this was not something that I could use, because I did not have a DVD player to view the product and that I could not even afford to buy one at the time. The CSR then proceeded to play on my fragile state of mind basically pressured me to keep the program and try to watch the DVD's at a family members house or somewhere else. The CSR even went as far to use the old "I've been in your situation and used the product and it helped me" tactic. After several rebuttals I finally agreed to keep the product for another 30 days with no financial obligation.

Prior to the end of the extended 30 day period, I once again contacted the company and (once again) let the CSR know that I still had not even opened the program, and that it was not something that I wanted to keep. I stressed the fact that I did not have a DVD player, and that I REALLY could not afford the $400.00 program. I requested the "RA Number" so I could send the product back. Again... the CSR began to pressure me and take advantage of my still fragile state - insisting that I not try to send the program back without even giving it a try. I was offered an additional 30 day trial period with no financial obligation.

Unfortunately - I let the 30 period pass... BY ONE DAY, and when I called the company on the 31st day I was told that by not responding before the end of the trial period, I was now obligated to pay for the program. The CSR was NO WHERE near as friendly and sympathetic as the other two and very sternly told me that I would be charged for the product. After pleading with the CSR for the "RA Number" and pointing out that I tried TWICE to return the product, and that I did not even own a DVD player, and that I did not even open the program, and that I could not afford the program the only solution that the representative came up with was charging me half price. I reluctantly agreed to pay $200.00, feeling extremely pressured and more stressed and depressed that I did before I ever contacted the company.

My warning to anyone thinking about trying this program is to be prepared to pay for it! The promise of "free trial" and "no obligation" seems to be an empty one. This company preys on people who are in a fragile mental state and once you have the product delivered to you they will make sure that it is yours forever. After all of that and the total dissapointment I felt with the whole process - I refused to use the program so I don't know if it works or not. I sought out professional help in the form of a licensed professional which my insurance paid for and I have been on medication which has worked wonders. I advise you to say NO to this company... UNLESS... you are 100% prepared to pay for it.

I was sent an invoice in April 2008 for payment. I had previously made payment on my VISA but was not satisfied that my account was being credited.

In April 2008, I sent a cheque for the amount stated. Yesterday, January 27, 2009 (nine months later) I received a phone call from Fidelity Information Corporation that they had received no payment. No correspondence or anything sent in the mail. Today I have sent a copy of proof of the cheque that FIC cashed. I have no confidence in this company. I have paid hundreds of dollar in extra charges because of they're fraudulent business practices.

I have also incurred an extra expense as I am seeking the counsel of a lawyer. I have made attempts to pay this account but they are in the business of unlawfully gouging the customer.