Store signs you up for Unwanted Account protection plan

ComplaintsConsumer ElectronicsBEST BUY CREDIT / HSBC INSURANCE SERVICES

Complaint

0
Phil
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!!

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    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.
  • 0
    Phil
    | 2 replies
    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.
    • 0
      D replies to Phil
      I too have this protection. I was told about it when opening the credit card.
      However, I cannot get it cancelled. I  have tried to call them. I did get through, finally, they saidit was cancelled but it is still showing active on my account.
      They have the worst customwr support ever!
      Also, the games they play are a disgrace to America!
      Try to find the right customer service for the card yoy have with them and then you redirected and disconnected!
    • 0
      samt replies to Phil
      Hello Sir, Could you please give me number to take a legal actions. Iam going to file legal actions against best buy.
  • 0
    Tammy
    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.
  • 0
    Julie
    | 1 reply
    Well Tammy I called that number (thx) and was still told to write a letter to get this resolved!  I'm now sending a letter to HSBC Insurance Services
    200 Summerset Blvd
    Bridgewater, NJ 08807

    Thanks at least I got someone who speaks english.
    • 0
      Connie replies to Julie
      I wrote that address on May 2, 2014 and  the letter was returned to me on May 15 as not deliverable as addressed unable to forward.  Anyone with suggestions or a new address.  They are now charging $18.35 per month for a service I didn't authorize.  Best Buy states they cannot help me I must go through HSBC Insurance.  Crazy since I didn't go through them to get it.
  • 0
    toBADyourDumb
    | 1 reply
    try reading what you sign up for. I recently signed up for the best buy card, and there is an entire section about this. Now.... They did not give any explanation as to what it entailed, but taking a millisecond to read it over explained it, and I did not sign or initial in that area.

    They do not have to spell and draw it out for you, if you are unable to read the contract don't sign. OR... Heaven forbid you wait a day, take the application home and have your mommy read it to you when she tucks you in.


    Try reading what you sign. God help you if you ever get arrested in a foreign country. You'll probably sign any old napkin.
    • 0
      Irony replies to toBADyourDumb
      I like YOUR name. Too bad you prove YOUR own stupidity by trying to demonstrate YOUR superiority to us children.
      Now where did i put that " 're "?
  • 0
    Jackie
    Did you get any satisfaction out of getting your money back?  If so any hints as to what you had to do?  I am ready to scream.  thanks
  • 0
    Phil
    Wow, heres another joker telling everybody to "read", looks like you need to "read" friend, did you miss the part where I told you its NOT IN THE PAPERWORK I GOT, and they refunded my money based on that fact genius!

    I love people like you that run your mouth about "reading something" Obviously you've never bought anything in your life, like a house! AND if you ever do, good luck "reading" every document at your closing, dont forget to tell everybody you'll be back in 6 months after you're done "reading" it all... You're clueless!!
  • 0
    AgreesWithPhil
    And I thought it was TOO bad YOU'RE dumb... like in you forgot the extra "O" on too and the "re" on your... I guess he can read but just can't spell or use the correct conjunctions...
  • 0
    Gloria
    They got me too.  I was just about to send a dispute letter when I entered this situation into the browser and read Tammy's message.  I called the number (It always depends on who answers on the other end).  The guy I got transferred me to Customer Service 888-890-4204.  I should be getting the charges deducted from my card balance. Many thanks to Tammy.

    As for too "toBADyourdumb" "TooBADyouputyourfootinyourmouth." I was informed by the guy in customer service that there was another area on the contract where the customer signs to accept the Debt Cancellation Insurance. Needless to say, I didn't sign there. The sales person and I was clear on the final charge of my purchase.  This was a hidden fee and should require an addition signature or initials which he didn't cover with me. All contracts I have signed over the pass 30+ years have always given me a verbal option to accept or decline followed by my initialing the contract.  This is just good business ethics.
  • 0
    John Orlando
    I worked at best buy for a very long time in customer service, and I would process the occasional application. There are two places you can sign, one is for the card with this service and the other is without. It is very easy to sign the wrong part of this application, but thats not the problem.. After the paper is filled out by the applicant it is put into the computer by an associate. On the computer, it says "Protection?" and there is a little box you either tick for yes or leave blank for no. I know for a fact certain employee's will tick the box, even if you signed in the right place. The reason is, the store gets 90$ cash for every person they sign up for this service, and the employee who filed the application gets recognition. Even knowing all of this, I just recently got screwed by them. I hope your number helps, they have been charging me 10 dollars a month for a year+.
  • 0
    Glenn Goff
    I signed up for the hsbc insurance coverage, and ended up needing it. When I called in to use my coverage, they were nice, and seemed helpful, but no matter how much paperwork i send in its never enough. I say [***] hsbc, and [***] Bestbuy. I hope they all fail. Things need to get worse before they get better.
    Power in numbers people.
    Stop paying, and let them feel the hurt for once.
  • 0
    michael frazier
    Well I bent over for HSBC also. I got a credit card was anonomusly signed for credit protection did not recieve a policy and became disabled. Guess what after 13 requests for the form I asked a supervisor what the F**ck where is the forms for my disibility insuarance finally a supervisor who spoke english sent me the forms. Guess what the insurance does not cover genetic disease althogh i was not diagnosed till this last Jan. and I have unknowingly been paying on the account not looking closely at my statements. Too make matters worse after my attorney looked over all my statements he found charges on my account for a play station and a car stereo hub whatever that is. Anyways they F****cked me and will not refund my money ive been paying on the insurance for two years im [***] again as usal so the attorney told me since they dinged my credit with a 30day late payment. my credit score is 788 it went to 780 he said don't pay the card since I own my home I think im going to do the same to them as they did to me f***ck them
  • 0
    Steve
    Thank you for the info! Will call in the morning. Debt cancellation has been a bad joke for about 4 months now. Hope this number will help or the next number is to an attorney. I am fed up with this company!
                                         Thanks again for the posting!!!
  • 0
    Absolutely
    I tried to use the service and was sent a letter of denial saying that I did not contact them within 180 days of the qualifiing event. I contacted them by fax in late june and the qualifiing event was in April. I have even begged them to sue me so that I can something else in writing from them. It has been 4 months now and they still keep calling and I keep telling them to either do their part or they will never see a dime from me. The lesson here is do not let these companies bully you around if you know you are in the right!
  • 0
    Dan
    Doing investigation with HSBC as I'm writing this.  Found out from HSBC services that they said I signed up for the debt cancellation over the phone.  I said I never called.  They said I had to call to verify the card.  I said I got my first bill WITH the debt cancellation on it before I ever got the card because BEST BUY input my mailing address, my birthdate and my telephone number wrong, so I never even got the card, so the only call that I made was to CANCEL the debt cancellation that I had on my first bill.  HSBC/BestBuy is DEFINATELY "SLAMMING" people with this service.  I will keep you posted on how it turns out, but hopefully if they cannot pull a telephone call where I ever verbally signed up for this which I no I didn't, I could very well have a great legal claim and class action law-suit for the thousands of people that I'm sure are being slammed on this service as well.  My debt cancellation was 58 bucks on the first bill which I definately had cancelled and the money refunded, but I'm going for the jugular.  This might turn out to be a MONSTER claim.
  • 0
    HappyToBeRefunded
    I called the HSBC Executive Office at 1-877-472-2005 and was transferred to Oscar who reviewed my account and their stored copy of my contract which had a descrepancy, so he refunded the entire balance of the "insurance" they call Account Shield.  I had already comletely paid my purchase price and was most of the way through the "account shield" charges before I noticed, but was still able to get my money back.  This account shield would have cost me ~$700 which is 19% of my purchase price.  Even if you've already paid a portion, don't let them keep your money.  Call HSBC and get your money back.  Between these types of bogus charges AND the ever increasing interest rates on credit cards(thanks for protecting us Congress) we should all be striving to be free of unsecure debt.

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