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Coming up empty?
The pitch: Pop a pill in the fuel tank and save money. The result: Questionable.
By IVA PENN, The Consumer's Edge
Published September 22, 2007
With gas prices creeping back up and everyone trying to find a deal, thousands are seeking answers to all of the fuel woes in a pill. They're called Miles Per Gallon Caplets or MPG Caps, produced by Altamonte Springs company Fuel Freedom International, which just completed its annual conference Sunday in Orlando. The caplet purportedly increases a vehicle's fuel efficiency while reducing emissions. But a word of caution: Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is investigating Fuel Freedom in response to dozens of complaints his office has receivedfrom around the state, the nation and the world. McCollum's office declined to comment further because of the ongoing investigation. In complaint documents related to the investigation, the Attorney General's Office stated it was "investigating, among other things, the marketing and business practices of Fuel Freedom International, LLC." Critics say the "gas pill" (not to be confused with any indigestion remedies) is bogus and provides no reduction in fuel use. In addition, they say the multilevel marketing strategy used to sell the product also is a detriment to consumers. Randy Ray, president of Fuel Freedom, said in a statement: "FFI has been working with the Florida Attorney General to ensure they have all the information they need. We applaud the AG's desire to protect consumers and are confident that they, like our hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers around the world, will see the value of using MPG-CAPS to lower emissions and save fuel." Through public relations firm Levic Communications, a Washington, D.C., company that specializes in managing crises in the media, Fuel Freedom says all Better Business Bureau complaints have been resolved. The company promises a 100 percent guarantee of its product or it will refund the consumer's money. In addition, the company says tests of the product have proved its claims, though the tests were conducted by a researcher hired by Fuel Freedom International. Another company similar to Fuel Freedom, called BioPerformance, was shuttered near Dallas after the Texas attorney general determined the company's gas pill was "bogus" and sold through a "pyramid scheme." Texas eventually received 10,000 complaints through this summer and reclaimed $7-million for consumers. Charles Reid, 53, of Tampa is among those who complained to Florida's attorney general about Fuel Freedom. And while he received a refund of most of his money after months of complaining, his experience with the company was troubling. "These people made me crazy," Reid said. "They stressed me out to the point of insanity." Reid spent $434.37 for a couple of bottles of gas pills and access to a Web site to help him sell the product himself. But he said the pills did not work. He said a friend invited him to a seminar in Oldsmar. "They assured me that it was all on the up and up," he said. "Basically, they had suckered me out of $400." Gregg Laskoski, a spokesman for AAA Auto Club South, would not comment on Fuel Freedom's specific product, but said AAA's tests of gas pills have not demonstrated any fuel savings. "We've never found one that actually delivered what it promised," Laskoski said. So here's the edge: - Test the product first. Does it work? Kevin Jackson, of Hillsborough Consumer Protection, says that before spending any significant money, ask for a sample of the product and test it yourself. - Know the business before getting involved. Some multilevel marketing businesses are legitimate; some aren't. Jackson says one key indicator whether the business is sound is if it can demonstrate viable product sales. Are the products useful? - Sleep on it. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
[Last modified September 22, 2007, 00:09:43]
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by Mike
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02/06/08 01:03 PM
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I've been a mechanic for 26 yrs and have 4 yrs of computer science at UWEC. The MPG cap absolutely works if you use it according to the directions. I've found if you mess up by overdosing by a .5% it tends not to work.
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by Agus
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12/11/07 02:07 PM
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I never even trust before any product that makes me safe fuel consumption. But when i got MPG to my car. Incrediblely, it makes me safe 30 % of fuel. They really work !
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by Tim
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12/10/07 06:48 PM
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Do your research on Bio. That product has since been tested and proven to work at an approved EPA testing facility in Houston Texas. They have been allowed to once again market that product. By the way, the Texas AG still has everyones $$$$, HMM???
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by John
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11/05/07 02:30 AM
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I've used the MPG-CAP according to the protocols set forth by Fuel Freedom International and I have found that they do work. Give them a good test (3 tanks of gas) and not some funky 50 mile test. I went from 27mpg to 40mpg. That tells me they work!
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by Dorothy
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10/24/07 04:13 PM
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The policies and procedures and compensation plan will reveal whether the business model is driving consumer sales or just recruiting. A company cannot stay in business if it is making its money through sign ups only. Nor will it be legit.
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by Gerald
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10/11/07 02:54 PM
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I think that if you check the test that they did, you will find that they did not follow the directions, how can you expect it to work if you don't follow directions... www.AmazingMPG.com
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by larry
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09/22/07 09:53 PM
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you really should research bio performance more. Because they proved it does work and its the only product tested by a epa regestered lab that proved to the texas AG and thats why he settled instead of closing them completely out .
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by Kevin
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09/22/07 09:39 PM
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Ultimate ME2 is the first tested and proven fuel additive under the SAE J1321 II test protocol by an EPA Certified lab in CA. Ultimate ME2 does work.
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by Randy
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09/22/07 04:15 PM
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Our product does work and we have reams of test results from all over the World and most of them are from retail customers, trucking companies, bus companies, fishing fleets, etc... It is not a fuel additive, it is a combustion catalyst.
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by Randy
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09/22/07 04:13 PM
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The gentleman you mentioned in the article signed up on June 2006 and requestd cancellation July 28, and August it was submitted to Accounting for refund, and was refunded on August 8, 2006. We have no BBB complaints that have not been resolved.
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by Bobby
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09/22/07 04:06 PM
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Evryone that complained about the product in the begining of the company did not use the correct protocal for application. AAA admittedly used the wrong application and filed a decetful claim. Will they test with supervision of the Cap? I doubt it!!!
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by Francis
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09/22/07 04:01 PM
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I have been using the product for over a year and have contiually got from 12 to 18% increase in mileage. My cars and truck run better and Have more power than before using the product. I have shared this product with all of my friends they love it.
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by Adrian
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09/22/07 08:38 AM
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No one could be that stupid to believe that a pill can improve gas mileage. But I may be wrong.
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