100tasks.com
is a Scam
Bell Ventures GmbH (founder: Martin Bell) advertises a $3–$49 startup checklist but buries a $199/month recurring subscription in checkout small print. Hundreds of customers have been charged without clear consent. This page documents the evidence and shows you how to protect yourself — and future customers — by filing complaints.
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How the Checkout Deception Works
The checkout flow is engineered to maximise the chance that customers miss the recurring charge. Here is the anatomy of the deception, step by step.
The Low-Price Hook
Ads and landing pages prominently display prices of $3 (checklist) and $49 (Full System, "was $997"). The $997 figure refers to the total subscription value, not a one-off product price — a deliberate misdirection designed to make the $49 appear a bargain against a one-time cost.
The Buried $199/month
The PayKickstart checkout embed (vendor: Martin Bell) shows in the order summary:
starting in 14 days
The asterisk footnote is the only disclosure. The card consent text reads only: "charge your card for future payments in accordance with their terms" — no specific amount stated.
The 6-Month Lock-in Trap
Buried in the Terms & Conditions is a clause that most customers never see at checkout:
"You understand that the initial minimum subscription period is for six months with the right to cancel anytime afterwards. Failure to meet this minimum rental periods of six months presents us with the right to pursue the due payments by legal means in the country of purchase."
The Terms also clarify that payment plans "just finance the first billing cycle" — after which the full $199/month rebills automatically with no payment plan.
Impossible to Cancel
Multiple Trustpilot reviewers and Reddit users report that:
- No phone number is provided
- Support links loop back to help pages
- The billing platform login does not work
- Email responses take days and do not resolve the issue
- There is no customer dashboard or cancel button
- Approved refunds are never actually paid
Community Reports
The following accounts come from Reddit, Trustpilot, and other public forums. They corroborate the same pattern independently.
"They advertise the $1 dollar thing throughout, emails, marketing, selling a digital product and right at the end, they sneak in that little light grey line that says there will be future payments. National Consumer Protection law states you need explicit consent for subscription separate from the product. It's a scam."— u/Expose_Truth123, r/Entrepreneur (8 months ago)
"Frauds. Advertised in capital letters as a one-time $7 purchase turns out to be a $240 subscription. I requested a refund, which they approved. But this was months ago and I did not receive anything."— u/fraudulent_freud, r/Entrepreneur (3 months ago)
"I was scammed by 100 Tasks by Martin Bell. I am currently opening a cyber crime case against them for debit more than I agreed. They continue to debit $199 from my credit card. Their website doesn't have an option to cancel the subscription, no address, no telephone."— u/Hour_Meal1223, r/Entrepreneur (5 months ago)
"It seems to be a scam. They say they'll issue a refund but never do."— u/Efficient_Cry2382, r/Entrepreneur (5 months ago)
"Yeah, this just happened to me. Fortunately my card didn't have any funds (intentional) but I found out they were trying to charge me a monthly subscription. They never ever mention they're getting you into a subscription."— u/ElPesimista, r/Entrepreneur (2 months ago)
"They are a fraud company. Go to various social media and Trustpilot and the like. Many complaints of people being charged as if for once off only to be signed up for a subscription."— u/Bundles1991, r/Entrepreneur (1 year ago)
Trustpilot's AI-generated review summary identifies "Subscription", "User experience", and "Price" as the top complaint themes.
"I purchased what was advertised as a $7 startup launching list. At no point during checkout was I told I'd be enrolled in a $199/month subscription or even given the chance to opt in or out."— Trustpilot reviewer, 1 star
"Cannot cancel expensive, intransparent subscription. No phone nr, no response on email, their billing platform does not allow me to login and cancel online."— Trustpilot reviewer, 1 star
"Scammers. Bought a $7 product from an ad, ended up getting charged $199 weeks later. Martin Bell is a scammer."— Trustpilot reviewer, 1 star
"A significant number of people were dissatisfied with unexpected recurring charges, often after purchasing a low-cost item, without clear prior notification or consent."— Trustpilot page 5 summary
Dark Patterns Identified
Dark patterns are user interface design choices that trick or manipulate users into actions they did not intend. The 100tasks.com checkout employs at least five distinct dark patterns.
The $199/month recurring charge is disclosed only via an asterisk footnote in the checkout embed — not in the main pricing display, not in the headline, and not in the card consent text.
"Buy for $49 (Usually $997)" — the $997 is the total subscription value, not a one-off product price. This creates a false impression of a steep discount on a one-time purchase.
The card consent text states only "charge your card for future payments in accordance with their terms" — no specific amount, no frequency. This fails the explicit consent standard required by UK and EU law.
Signing up takes seconds. Cancelling is designed to be impossible: no cancel button, broken support links, non-functional billing portal login, and unresponsive email support that approves refunds but never pays them.
The first $199 charge arrives 14 days after purchase — long enough for many customers to forget they signed up. The Terms then impose a 6-month minimum subscription, with the right to pursue unpaid amounts through legal means.
Legal Basis for Complaints
These practices likely violate consumer protection law in multiple jurisdictions. The following legislation applies and underpins any formal complaint you file.
United Kingdom
Germany / EU
Payment Processor
How to File a Complaint
Filing complaints with regulators and the payment processor is the most effective way to protect future customers. Even if you have already received a refund, a formal complaint creates a paper trail that regulators use to take enforcement action. The more complaints filed, the more likely authorities are to act.
legal@paykickstart.com with the subject line "Merchant Compliance Report — Vendor: Martin Bell / 100tasks.com". Use the template in Section 6 below. Include the checkout embed URL: app.paykickstart.com/checkout-embed/ea8bc2cb4f344d7d1ec970aac5899cf63f304fb5How to Get Your Money Back
If you have been charged by 100tasks.com without clear consent, follow these steps. A bank chargeback is the most reliable route — do not wait for 100tasks to respond, as multiple users report that approved refunds are never actually paid.
Request a chargeback for any charges beyond what you explicitly agreed to. Describe the charge as "subscription enrolled without clear consent". Most banks will process this within 5–10 business days.
Most effective routeSend a formal refund and cancellation request to 100tasks@bell.ventures. Use the template below. Keep a copy — you will need it for any escalation.
File a complaint with legal@paykickstart.com naming Martin Bell as the vendor. Reference AUP Section 11. Use the template below.
UK: report via Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133). US: file at reportfraud.ftc.gov. EU: contact your national consumer protection authority. Reference the specific legislation for your jurisdiction.
Subject: Refund Request & Subscription Cancellation — 100tasks.com To: 100tasks@bell.ventures I am writing to formally request: 1. Immediate cancellation of any recurring subscription associated with my account. 2. A full refund of all charges beyond the initial advertised price. I was not clearly informed of the $199/month recurring subscription at the time of purchase. The subscription price was not prominently displayed and constitutes a misleading commercial practice under: - Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (UK) - Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (UK) - EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU Please confirm cancellation and refund within 14 days. If I do not receive a satisfactory response, I will escalate to my bank (chargeback), UK Trading Standards, and the relevant payment processor. [Your name] [Your email] [Date of purchase] [Amount charged]
To: legal@paykickstart.com Subject: Merchant Compliance Report — Vendor: Martin Bell / 100tasks.com I am filing a formal compliance report regarding a merchant on your platform. Vendor name: Martin Bell Merchant website: https://www.100tasks.com Checkout embed: app.paykickstart.com/checkout-embed/ea8bc2cb4f344d7d1ec970aac5899cf63f304fb5 The checkout advertises a product for $3–$49 but enrolls customers in a $199/month recurring subscription without explicit, prominent consent. This violates: - PayKickstart AUP Section 11 (misleading subscription disclosures, unlawful billing practices) - FTC guidelines on negative option marketing - EU Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU I request: (a) a compliance review of this merchant's checkout flow, (b) confirmation that recurring billing consent meets legal standards, and (c) consideration of Section 18 action if violations are confirmed. [Your name / contact details]
Key Facts at a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Website | https://www.100tasks.com |
| Company | Bell Ventures GmbH |
| Founder / Vendor | Martin Bell |
| Company email | 100tasks@bell.ventures |
| Payment processor | PayKickstart |
| Advertised entry price | $3 (checklist) / $49 (Full System) |
| Hidden recurring charge | $199 / month (after 14-day free trial) |
| Minimum lock-in (per T&Cs) | 6 months — they can pursue unpaid amounts by legal means |
| Trustpilot rating | 3.1 / 5 stars — 566 reviews |