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Complaints > Consumer Electronics > BEST BUY CREDIT / HSBC INSURANCE SERVICES

Store signs you up for Unwanted Account protection plan

By Phil, 29 Jul 2008 | Country: United States
For anybody signing up for a Best buy credit card, BE AWARE you are also signing up for HABC's "Account protection plan". They charge you a certain amount per month and if you don’t notice it before 60 days you can’t get your money back. If this was something I wanted or was aware about, why would they only give me 60 days to cancel it?????

I bought an entertainment system before moving into my new home and signed up for the Best buy credit card because I was told I would have 3 years to pay off $3,200.00. After a busy summer of moving in, I came to notice on my 3rd statement just yesterday I was being charged for something called "Debt Cancellation". I called Best buys Customer service number, after arguing with 3 or 4 people that did not speak good English and were no help at ALL they referred me to "HSBC INSURANCE SERVICES" they told me that this was the company that was charging me for the UNWANTED service, Best buy then told me that this company could only be reached through the mail and they had no phone number I could call to talk to somebody...LIES!!

I found the number for this company online in a matter of about 30 seconds, I called this morning and these people were even less help, they claim I have to send them a letter in writing to cancel this SCAM of a service that I never wanted in the first place, Oh and also that I will not receive any refund for the $80 they charged me for some Bogus service to which I have no clue what its even for!!

I called the store and spoke to the Manager to inform him of my displeasure that I was not informed that by signing up for his company’s card I would be signing up for this account protection plan as well. Of course there is nothing he can do for me!!   Once again a company in America gets away with Theft!!

SCAM....SCAM....SCAM!!  DONT SHOP AT BEST BUY!!
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Comments

Rating: +1 tj - 30 Jul 2008
Best Buy/HSBC have a record of such unauthorized charges, along with problems in "no interest for x months" deals, etc.  That is one reason you should never have store cards and accounts, once you establish sufficient credit to have decent unaffiliated credit cards.  

You don't want your bank in cahoots with any merchant you use your card with, conniving on how they will divide up your money.  Instead, you want your bank on YOUR side in any dispute.

In fact, when you are making a dispute, particularly when you are dealing with an adversary you cannot trust, you do not want to be dealing by phone.  Send your dispute via U.S. Mail, certified return receipt requested.  Under FCBA, if you send a dispute within 60 days of the statement date showing the disputed charge, they must investigate.  If they slipped this through without your authorization, and got past 60 days, your best bet is to go balistic and file complaints with BBB, your state AG, and FTC, noting on your dispute letter "CC:  BBB, <xxx> AG, FTC" so they know where you have complained.

What you are pushing on, beyond your FCBA rights, is that HSBC also has a fiduciary responsibility toward you their customer, beyond disputing a simple arms-length third party merchant charge, since they are aware, or should have been aware, of the deceptive trade practices employed by their partners Best Buy and HSBC Insurance Services, hence they were a willing partner in that deception failing to meet their fiduciary duties to protect their customer, you, from fraud when they are aware of it.
 Reply  
Rating: +1 Phil - 3 Sep 2008
Following up on this:

Nothing in the contract I signed stated anything about this service, after threatening Legal action against this company I was credited my money back just recently, and this "service" was cancelled on my account and remaining balance.

Best Buy Credit card subscribers BEWARE, they are adding this service onto your account without telling people, and without your signature or aknowledgement of this "service" and if you dont catch it wihin 60 days it's too late and they will steal your money.
 Reply  
Rating: 0 Tammy - 18 hours 46 minutes ago
I just spent all morning on the phone trying to get HSBC debt cancellation fees back.  I finally found the number for HSBC executive office 877-472-2005 and was help within a few minutes (by someone who spoke english)that all of my fees total $470.29 since 2003 would be reimbursed.  This is the number everyone should call.  The lady was very helpful.  I hope this helps others get back the hidden fees on Best Buy credit cards.
 Reply  

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