Don't make our mistake
Complaint
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.
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
I faxed a copy last night and already sent a letter via registered mail this morning. I also called the location to notify them that a fax was sent to them (I also have a transmission verification sheet for my own records that says it went through) and that if the owner would like to respond with confirmation of my refund, to do so via fax AND registered mail. I will be following up my letter within 5 business days if I do not receive a response, and I'll be sure to include this additional info with another copy of the original letter.
The woman I spoke to was pretty nice and didn't make a fuss or anything when I mentioned that I'm calling to end my membership as per corporate company policy of the 3 day cooling off period, and she said she'd notify the owner (he was conveniently unavailable until this evening, after the 72 hours are done) but I refused to let him contact me by phone in response. You've helped me so much, Trudy, the least I can do is to help you by continuing to support this thread.
I will keep you updated with how everything goes!
Good hard working people honestly think that they are going to save money on their purchases with throwing down 5000 bucks. And the HARD SELL tactics that this company does should make everyone run for the door. That should be the red flag for everyone even if you discount all the other crazy things that they do.
I hope everyone can eventually get all their money back. It really seems to me by reading every single post from page 1 through 105 that it depends on who the owners are and if they are trying to even half way be fair about things. But hopefully everyone will get their money back. Good luck all.
The other thing I SUGGEST is to contact the
Ministry of Consumer Services --Consumer protection branch in Toronto
Phone: 1-877-665-0662
416-327-8300
Discuss the terms & let me know what they say,
my head is spinning so much that I will contact them also, this week,
I will not stop researching any angle I can find...
Good Luck!!
& did you show written proof of cheaper prices & IF so, when?
& have you sent registered mail? very very frustrating,
when people blindly do not bother to read any of the previous help given!
The following is for you and for anybody else who happens to come across this and lives in Ontario, Canada. It is relatively good news.
According to the Ministry of Consumer Services, even though Christine DeMarsh claimed that there's a 3 day cooling off period and it's not in the agreement, because it is televised, you can definitely use that in your letter to them within 3 days of signing.
Lastly, they already have a HUGE number of complaints filed against this company and because it explicitly states in the agreement that they are waiving my rights to go to court, if DB doesn't response in a timely manner, I can follow up by mail or fax (fax is suitable as long as you have a time stamp on the fax and a transmission verification log), then the Ministry of Consumer Services will contact them on the consumer's behalf.
- fem
Congratulations on NOT becoming a member of DirectBuy! We are all so pleased that you did your homework beforehand because believe me, membership has been a horrible, expensive experience for all of us. Keep spreading the word that DB is a no-good company and warn others to stay away......unless they want to throw away $6000. If so, they can send it my way instead. Congratulations to you and your wife on the pending new addition to your family. Thanks so much for giving your feedback. Those of us who have been on this site for a long time are encouraged when we hear that someone didn't join because of this website.
NEW JERSEY Statute prohibits unconscionable commercial pratices, deception
FRAUD, or knowing concealment or omission of a material fact with the intent to trick the consumer
I googled "New Jersey consumer protection"
found NJ OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
You can check the complaint history for a business
& can get help with your complaint
New Jersey Consumer Service Center (Gov't agency)
(973)-504-6200
I HOPE THIS HELPS, DON'T GIVE UP!!
ACC. TO CBC MARKETPLACE "THE PRICE CUT PROMISE" Video investigation of db
MARCH 27, 2009
The competition bureau WILL NOT get involved with a signed contract
HOWEVER, tHE cONSUMER PROTECTION ACTS
& UNFAIR PRACTICE ACTS DO APPLY
& in a statement in the Video---
DB has a 3 day cooling-off period guaranteed by db's own corporate policy
IF your contract does not inc. it
you can rely on the statement in the video to enforce the policy!!!
There is tons of info regarding this at the end of this file
I just wanted to let everyone know I sent in my certified letter, and got one back from Direct Buy stating I owe no more money to Beta Finance and my membership is cancelled! I don't get the money back that I have paid for a year, but that's ok with me!! So glad I found this website! Thanks for the tips!!!!!
Thank you Google. I just made an appointment with DB but decided to research the name first. It sounded so strange that they didn't want to discuss anything before the meeting. Reminded me of the old Amyway ... deals. I backed out based on this website. Good or bad to much negative statements, not worth the time and money to investigate. Thank you and I hope it is true.
What do you mean by, getting no money back for the first year?
IT'S a 3 year membership, so I am guessing that you were on a long term payment plan, with a high interest rate...
I AM just wondering how much money that you lost,
Thanks for any insight that you might like to share,
Don't forget that you could still put your name in a class-action suit,
they are all over the States, If I remember , you are in New Jersey
There are a list of links to suits on P. 99
MANY have 1-800 numbers
Try to join a suit to collect the remainder of what you loss,
there is no charge to join,
Good luck!
Consider yourself $6000 richer and smarter for not getting sucked in. I wish I would have done my homework first. Lessons learned.....Please continue warning others to stay away. DirectBuy is a high-pressure, no good scam.