has anyone purchased water filters from Freewoodhut website? FRAUD

[Temp20231113w]

Today I purchased GE Water Filters on a website Freewoodhut.com. I thought it was strange that when I went to pay, I only received option to pay via Paypal. I also found it was odd that when I tried to go to the home page on the site, I received an error. None the less, I made the purchase. Immediately after, searched and found YouTube of several that advised the site is bogus and the filters are a scam/counterfeit. I immediately emailed the vendor and requested the order be cancelled and a credit issued. I also called the number in NJ and it went to voicemail. I must assumed I am not the only Paypal customer that has been scammed by this company: and if my assumption is correct, why has Paypal not removed them from the site??? Please share if you have been scammed. I am also assuming these people are using several Paypal names. Funds for my transaction went to "jeattyde". 

[Temp20240102D]

We also purchased water filters from this company and they don't work! $512.00 worth of them, we compared them to a genuine GE filter and they are are close but do not work . Total scam Figures, made in china...

[Bucky53]

Yes I just got fooled too. The filters arrived in packaging that looked like genuine GE but they did not work in the fridge and even worse, they leaked. They do not include the RFID chip required. Upon complaining they advised me to cut out the chip from my previous filter and tape it onto the fake filter. That will trick the fridge into dispensing water but it still shows the error that the filter needs replacing. And it leaked inside the fridge - the o-rings are slightly undersized. After looking at this merchant website I believe it’s just a front for selling counterfeit water filters. All the other dozen items for sale are high priced wood items. To their credit they were very responsive to my complaints and ended up giving a partial refund which is better than nothing.

[PayPal_Bindu]

Hello @Bucky53 and everyone,

Welcome to the PayPal Help Community and thanks for posting here!

Sorry to hear about the issue with your purchase. I understand that would be upsetting! No need to worry! If there's any issue with the purchase, PayPal purchase protection policy covers the payment and helps you to get refund if certain requirements are met. You can refer this article for the steps to report the purchase in the resolution center of your PayPal account : How do I open a dispute with a seller?

PayPal does review accounts regularly, and any concerns with security, violations of the User Agreement or Acceptable Use Agreement, compliance obligations, etc.. will be taken necessary actions towards the account. 

I hope this information helps you,

Bindu
 

[Sab46]

I asked and no refund from PayPal or Freewoodhut 

[Sab46]

Yes, I bought them too. I asked and no refund from PayPal or Freewoodhut 

[DaneeB]

I am in the same boat. Unfortunately, I received two filters and six months after receiving them needed to use one of them. Neither one works! I emailed the company but I don’t have high hopes that anything will be done and I’m probably out 50 bucks.

[Sab46]

Same here and I didn’t find out until December that all 4 were bogus.  Cost me the 4 filters and 3 visits from an appliance repair company. PayPal nir Freewoodhut would reimburse me.  Disgusting.

[DaneeB]

I was finally able to get a refund after a lot of back and forth. I called them out for fraudulent marketing and advertising as nowhere on their website do they state that the filters a) come from China and b) come without the required chip for them to work. I had to push back several times via email until they finally agreed to full refund - they started at 40%. My next step had they not agreed was to go to social media and the BBB, but I didn’t need to go that route because they finally gave in.