Don't make our mistake

Complaint

-1
Polly Globe
Country: United States
We attended their presentation and after some calculation decided to pay for the membership which was $4990. We wanted to update our kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as well as bedroom furniture. We put down about $1000, and the rest was financed through their lender Beta Finance.

A month later we started planning our purchases and realized we were about to pay more by buying through them than we would otherwise. What the don't tell you on their presentation is that while you save about 10% on furniture they add 8 % handling charge in addition to 7% tax, and that doesn't include shipping.

I am now trying to get our membership money back. Do not become a member! Buy from other stores.

Comments

  • 0
    Trudy
    Hi Roger
    Thanks for responding so quickly
    I'm glad that you agree and the reason that I can respond so freely is the fact that I can remain anonymous, otherwise I don't think I would give so much info.
    The more that I think about it, "Debbie" is definitely trying to trick people into giving up their e-mail address and their anonymity
    It is similar to INFOMERCIALSCAMS.COM, where they post phony complaints, and encourage you to add your complaint and they tell you to include all your personal info with your e-mail address so they can help "resolve your complaints"
    That is how they intercept each complaint, so it never reaches the public
    I am looking out for everyone here and I know you are, too.
    I learned the hard way on the first day that I got the internet, when I opened a letter that I thought was from my aunt, and it was a scam telling me to send it to as other e-mail addresses and get money... I never forgot that, I was lucky that there was nothing in my profile, so I just changed my last name on it.
    Thanks
  • 0
    WARNING*PLEASE DO NOT E-MAIL ANYONE *
    INFOMERCIALSCAMS.COM will respond to your e-mail address and try to help you resolve your complaint
    They have a statement committment to 100% customer satisfaction in complaint resolution.
    Good Luck, fill us in, we like to know what's going on
  • 0
    mm
    how is it a hoax when the odds are listed clearly on the card they bring in? i says that everyone but 1 person gets the vacation and cutlery. and there is 1 guaranteed winer every 6 months.
  • 0
    Tom
    I contacted Izard Nobel via email earlier this week about joining the suit against Direct Buy.  I gat a answer back pretty fast but it was not what I wanted to hear.  Although the lawsuit is still moving forward I was told by one of the attorneys that I would have to pursue a case against continuing payment to Beta Finance with a attorney locally.  I was hoping that I could stop paying Beta as I agree with all the posts that this is just a HUGE rip off!  I want to recind my membership as well, Trudy do you think the laws where you live or the course of action you took might apply to me in California?
  • 0
    Tom
    By the way I noticed in your post to Debbie that you said there are 2 lawsuits against Direct Buy.  Actually Jeffery Nobel and Seth Klein both work for Issard Nobel LLP who brought the original suit.  I was contacted by one of the junior associates.  She was nice but like I said in my post above, she could offer me NO relief from continuing to make payments to Beta Finanace or ideas about stopping the harassing phone calls I get at work!!!  Any ideas anyone???!!!!???
  • 0
    trudy -answer  for Tom
    Hi Tom
    I am so shocked that you are not allowed to join the suit.
    Thanks for the update, every bit of info that everyone provides helps.
    I hope that I can help
    Unfortunately you have 3 problems, so I'll try to separate them, but you have to do some research, too.  Trust me, it's worth your energy
    1)"harassing calls at work" - google:  "collection agency laws in calif"
                     Find     "State Debt collection laws and publications"
                               Privacy rights clearinghouse -find your State
                               Complain to Attorney general ofc.
    ALSO, at least speak to the collection agency and tell them that you can pay them, at least,some money soon
    They need to know that you are co-operating, just tell them that you have financial hardship
    If you have credit cards owing, you may ask them to consider lowering your interest rate, they usually do.

    2) Beta Financing-----------No matter what you do, you must pay them on  
    time or you will also get a bad credit rating to add to your problems.
    Options are: consider a line of credit to get a lower interest rate, or
                 apply for a credit card that has an introductory low interest rate for "BALANCE TRANSFERS"  & transfer the balance at least to lower the % interest
    BUT if you get a bad credit rating these options will no longer be available to you
    EXTREME OPTION:  Debt consolidation companies usually have a free consult

    3) RESCISION:   Google:  California Consumer Protection Act-contract law
          Click    Title:   Calif consumer protection law
                   then:    Guide to  Calif law
                   find:    contract law
                            MISTAKE DURESS & FRAUD
    See my post on writing them a letter...contrary to the law, you suffered DURESS by their high pressure tactics
    FRAUD- tell them examples of how they intentionally misrepresented their company ...uncoscionable behavior ...biased in favour of db
    there is also info at BUS AND PROFESSIONAL CODE   laws
    Send the reg'd letter, give them 10 bus. days to respond,
    then you at least have an idea where they stand
    Good Luck...........don't forget to stay in touch with this site and fill us in on any news.
  • 0
    Georgia
    Hi Deb
    How do you know that it "took way too much time to ...look through their catalogues, order, shipping..."  when you say that you have never went back to the location, in  a whole year.  You can only order from in their centre, and you refer to it as a "store" but it's a warehouse.
    YOu haven't even bothered to read the postings or you would know that there are pretty much, step by step, tips on trying to get your $ back.
    Why did you wait a whole year and you want an instant remedy, without reading the complaints and you don't want to do any work to recoup.

    WHY DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO GIVE UP THEIR PRIVACY AND RESPOND TO YOU BY E-MAIL?
    THOSE OF US, WHO HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF, ARE TRYING TO HELP.
    I AM INSULTED THAT YOU PUT YOUR E-MAIL ON THIS SITE, BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT YOU THINK WE ARE STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    ***IS EVERYONE WITH ME, ON THIS ISSUE.
      I KNOW THAT ROGER AND TRUDY ARE WARNING PEOPLE TO BEWARE OF LETTERS LIKE YOURS.
  • 0
    Tom
    Sorry Trudy, it was not that I couldn't join the lawsuit they said I could.  They said they could not help me regarding Beta finance and paiying for my DB membership.  I took their advise and I caontacted a local attorney to help me fight that.  I will keep you posted!! P.S. thank you so much for the information.
  • 0
    Mary
    Hi "unable to give name", I'm really glad that you have a conscience, it's very good of you to list the details that you  did.
    Have you heard if they are still offering these "prizes" because they didn't use that tactic with me, but I still got conned.
    Notice the comments from Deb and mm,who are rudely trying to make people feel guilty and at fault for getting scammed.
    Don't they know that THIS IS A COMPLAINT FILE!!!!!!
    Hopefully, they might get a conscience some day, too.
  • 0
    Roger
    Tom-
    Are you anywhere near the Los Angeles area? There are a couple suggestions I have as to getting legal advice for less. There are coffee houses called Legal Grind where you can get a attorney consultation for under $75. Also, you might try local Law Schools (in LA, UCLA, USC, Pepperdine, Loyola Law, etc.) to see if any of their law students want to take the case pro bono. Good luck with Beta. Thankfully, we didn't use them as we put the whole membership amount on a credit card.
  • 0
    BEWARE of  COMPLAINT BOARD site
    I just found some SCAM sites:
    COMPLAINT BOARD               THEY want your e-mail address and a password!
    INFOMERCIALSCAMS.COM          THEY want all your info, too
    MY3CENTS.COM        FAKE COMMENTS

    STAY with COMPLAINTWIRE, IT'S THE ONLY TRUTHFUL ONE
    There are a few other sites, but they are outdated, so people have not been commenting.
    Good Luck to everyone
  • 0
    Roger
    I noticed that Complaint Board wanted my email & password.....why, oh, why must these websites invade our privacy? It makes me a bit suspicious......
  • 0
    YI
    Hi Trudy,
    I just read your complaint and am so glad to hear about your success in getting your money back from DB.  I hope you can help me too.  I am in Toronto, Canada and wondered if you could post or send me at iwasakiyoko@hotmail.com what you wrote to DB and any other tips, details that could help me get my money back.  

    Thanks,
    Y
  • 0
    Sharon Webster
    Run, don't walk FROM Direct Buy.
  • 0
    nadine
    I'm so glad I researched this co. before committing! I'm having my master bath remodeled.  If you need more folks for the class action suit, here's another site that helped me with my decision not to go through direct buy: http://www.ripoffreport.com/searchresults.asp?q5=direct%20buy&q1=ALL&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search%21&Search=Search
  • 0
    Houston Texas
    I would like to thank all of you for sharing your experiences. Becuase of reading through all your comments, I am able to get my DB membership cancelled right on time, and get my money back.

    I went alone to DB for the presentation on the past Saturday. Originaly, I was just going to try out that "magic" key and see if I could get 50,000 in cash to remodel my bathroom and kitchen. I never thought about I would sign up the the membership when I stepped into the store at the beginning.

    Just like others, I was trapped there for 4 hours, and finally signed up for the membership. On Saturday night, after think about what happen over and over again, I began to feel something not right. So, I started to do the reserch (...damn..how come I never thought about doing reseach before I went there)
    I spent whole night reading all the comments you all posted, and other complaint websites. That totally freaked me out......

    The first thing I did was calling the credit card company to dispute the first payment I had put down and cancel my credit card. At the same time, I started to prepare the letter that Trudy suggest. I also looked into the 3-days cancellation law in Texas and try to be ready for the argument on Suday morning.

    Fortunely, I was lucky on Sunday noon when I walked into the store.There were still some people at lobby waiting for the presentation started. Maybe it was because the sales didn't want me to argue in front of those potential customers. The manager grabbed my letter and other paperworks they gave me on Saturday and went back to his office. Few minutes later, he came back with an unhappy face, and the other three payments receipts I pre-signed on Saturday morning. He said the accountant will take care of the first payment on Tusday morning.

    The sales manager didn't want to give me any cancellation form as a proof, since there was really no canncellation policy according to him. However, he did mention that 72 hours cancellation rule is applied to the store policy. So, please hurry up to cancel if you just signed up.
  • 0
    Roger
    Oh, when we look back in retrospect we all wish we had done our homework before sitting through 4-hours in hell.

    I hope your 3-day cancellation works. You're so lucky that you got to the owner when you did and were able to confront him face-to-face. Yes, I agree that he didn't want you to make a scene and have other potential members get scared off. He knew he'd make up for your lost membership with the people watching the video. In fact, he was probably counting the memberships as he lead them into the room. I have heard about people who try to cancel within the three day period & have their calls / visits ignored until after the 72 hours. DirectBuy is very calculating in how they do business and I hope they are stopped in their tracks very soon.

    As Trudy advises, get everything in writing, keep good notes as to days, times & people you talked to. It's your word against their's. I'm hoping someone sheds light on this company. All we can do for now is try to be as diligent as we can in warning others to stay away.

    Best of luck.....
  • 0
    jenn
    Thanks to all for the info, we had an appointment for next week  to check  it all out. Needless to say we are NOT going anywhere near the place!!

    Thanks again to everyone for speaking out.
  • 0
    Amie
    So I got duped into the DirectBuy membership also. Actually it is with my boyfriend who they told me to claim we were married for the paper work. Is there any way to use that against them? I am definitely writing a complaint letter and will continue to fight it until they let me out of my contract. I hate them! They put way too much stress on me and my boyfriend when we walked in there. Boy, were they willing to negotiate the down payment and were way too pushy. I hate that I fell for this scam! Anyway to help me out of the contract? I live in Florida and have been in the contract since September 2008. HELP!
  • 0
    double agent
    Trudy i just wanted you to be warned. I work for Direct Buy. I work in the legal office as an intern based out of one of the New york offices. Ive heard about your work. They are watching many of these blogs. Infact the company is implying they are customers on these blogs. Here is an example written by a store manager using a fake name out of the east syracuse branch  http://www.infomercialscams.com/scams/direct_buy_scams  
    on this page she is pretending to be Carol and Ron Sellers. i bring attention this site because this is the site they frequent the most. However i do know that these posts go as far back as 06 on other sites as well.

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