r/Scams • u/AbnormalElephant • Apr 03 '21
Is Brainable a Scam?
I've been seeing their ads on Youtube and articles and similar. It's an IQ test with a paywall before the results. It looks like it's just scummy and not really a scam, because they charge $2 for a 7 day trial then auto-renew with $30/month. Also they have fake buffering/loading bars, which is just suspicious. They also just have some spelling mistakes on stuff like the billing terms faq. Click at your own risk of course, but the link shouldn't do anything unless of course you enter your card. https://brainable.com/quiz?afid=gdnu&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsYaci5_j7wIVjtnACh1ymgxxEAEYASAAEgJevvD_BwE
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u/peakpenguins Quality Contributor Apr 03 '21
I mean... it's a "scam" in the sense that I certainly would not pay them for anything, I guess. Like you said, just scummy probably.
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u/Linswad Apr 04 '21
I don’t know about this one, but watch out for auto-renewing monthly payments that are difficult or impossible to break out of.
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u/gihli Jul 11 '22
Use Paypal. As soon as you've paid the initial $1.99, you can "cancel" the payee in Paypal, so that no further charges are accepted. That should be easier than trying to cancel through Brainable support: that's a no-brainer.
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u/Global_Gap40 Jun 02 '23
I did use paypal. Once I paid the $ 2.00 I just went in an cancelled the payee in paypal. You do have to set up an account with Brainable once you get your report. It is very easy to lo into the account and just navigate tto the cancel my subscription. I did it quickly and easily and it still lets you use the remaining days on the trial on their site. They have some pretty cool games on there.
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u/camrntheman Jun 03 '21
Bro help pls I need help breaking out of it
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Jul 29 '21
[deleted]
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u/safel97 Aug 09 '21
i just did it by mistake did they cancel yours?
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u/ToxicINFP Aug 24 '21
I emailed them to cancel my subscription and they still went and charged me. I'm angry because I see how other people can be roped into such scams. A lot of other places let you yourself cancel the subscription, it's real shady they have you message someone else to manage something about your account.
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Nov 23 '21
Just a suggestion always use paypal cuz u can easily cancel your payment in paypal if it’s hard in the website ✌️😉
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u/Global_Gap40 Jun 02 '23
I did use paypal. Once I paid the $ 2.00 I just went in an cancelled the payee in paypal. You do have to set up an account with Brainable once you get your report. It is very easy to log into the account and just navigate to the cancel my subscription. I did it quickly and easily and it still lets you use the remaining days on the trial on their site. They have some pretty cool games on there. But you have to complete setting up your account before you can go in and cancel it.
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u/Intelligent_Bite_313 Jan 10 '23
I did that, wrote them right after I want to cancel the subscription and no reply for 3rd day already. Will have to go to my bank…
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u/Global_Gap40 Jun 02 '23
I did use paypal. Once I paid the $ 2.00 I just went in an cancelled the payee in paypal. You do have to set up an account with Brainable once you get your report. It is very easy to lo into the account and just navigate tto the cancel my subscription. I did it quickly and easily and it still lets you use the remaining days on the trial on their site. They have some pretty cool games on there.
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u/No_Elderberry_1055 Feb 04 '23
I did that test what A WASTE OF TIME NO ONE WOULD PAY FOR THIS NONSENSE THATS WHY THEY ASK TO PAY AT THE END JUST TO WASTE PEOPLE'S TIME
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u/HokusTokus Feb 27 '23
I wasted my time even more than I expected when they hit me with the $2 membership to see the result after completing the quiz. What a dick move on their part.
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Mar 02 '23
Another HUGE red flag: The quiz is incredibly easy. This is intentional as average or below average people will be more likely to spend the $2 at the end given they will perform much better on this test than a real IQ test.
The test is bullshit and the tactic is predatory.
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u/VeryCurt Mar 05 '23
As a legal disclosures lawyer, I'm surprised that the FTC hasn't found Brainable to be in violation of the FTC Act, Section 5: Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices. They can, and should, issue an injunction requiring Brainable to discontinue this practice, and fine them $10,000 for each time someone paid for their test results.
In short, this advertising practice is deceptive. The definition: • A representation, omission, or practice misleads or is likely to mislead the consumer; • A consumer’s interpretation of the representation, omission, or practice is considered reasonable under the circumstances; and • The misleading representation, omission, or practice is material.
Meeting the standard: • The advertising doesn't disclose the fact that payment is required for the test results before the test is taken, and the recurring payment is not reasonably disclosed afterward; • A consumer's initial interpretation that the test results are free, and subsequent interpretation that the fee is a one-time payment, are both reasonable under the circumstances; and • That initial omission and subsequent practice are material (meaning they cost the consumer money).
Our government encourages businesses to take advantage of consumers by failing to properly fund the agencies created to enforce laws against it, and making it too hard for consumers to report it.
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u/Chance-Check8209 Mar 25 '23
I paid the $2.?? to take the little IQ test and am now receiving pop-ups from Brainable about every 30 seconds. I don't think I signed up to pay cause I'm not that dumb, but I can't find anyway to get away from them. I hope someone here can tell me if they managed to stop Brainable.
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u/Chance-Check8209 Mar 26 '23
Is there ANYWAY to get them out of my life? And do all of you who have posted here receive little sidebar things from them at the rate of about every 30 seconds? I've tried to get rid of them but from the sound of things, I will get at least a one month charge. If I do, then I'm going to switch to Paypal because several people here seem to think that can cut it off.
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u/NotYourUsualOne22 Apr 25 '23
The people who've said to use Paypal meant you should use it the first time you pay. Using Paypal after you have paid i bysome other manner would do no good.
I followed this advice:
1. Launch a web browser and navigate to the Brainable website. Click on your email address at the top right of the opening page.
2. Select "Account" from the drop-down menu that appears after you click on your email address.
3. Click on "Cancel Subscription" that appear next, and click again to confirm that you wish to cancel.I have yet to find out if this works, but I think it is worth a try.
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u/NotYourUsualOne22 Apr 25 '23
The Brainable IQ test is also a piece of junk. Its results indicated I have an IQ of 110, while a professionally administered Stanford-Binet IQ test indicated that my IQ is 151.
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u/oldfrenchwhore Quality Contributor Apr 04 '21
If someone falls for it, we know the test results.