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
CAUSE YOU ARE A PUKE!!!!!!!!
DB = DESPERATE BUTHEADS
I LOVE HOW DB Defenders have such looooooooooooooooooong letters
cause the more [***] that they blab,
they think that they baffle us with their b.s.
HOW DO YOU LOSER LIARS SLEEP AT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE ARE innocent hard working people
WE just want to save money,
BUT scammed into a high pressure, high risk loan
they we do not even qualify for!!!!!!!!!!!!!
& we are so busy trying to keep up the payments,
to avoid getting a bad credit rating & to avoid a collection agency
db scams senior, disabled & UNemployed, low income,
IF DB USED THE PROPER LEGAL PROCEDURES FOR LOAN QUALIFICATIONS
...guess what !!!!!!! PROBABLY 80 % of us WOULD NOT QUALIFY
THEN we would be allowed out of the trap.........to freedom
db are vultured, they will not let you out,
unless you ask alot of questions at the seminar
and you have to be loud & abnoxious,
so you can get kicked out,, & you get to keep your money & your sanity
...but I USE my emotions of anger & disgust to help others
oN P. 119, I HAVE an outline on what to inc. in the REGISTERED LETTER
THAT ALL SCAMED PEOPLE MUST SEND FIRST
... THE post is to VANESSA IN ONTARIO, CANADA
...YOU just need to find the Consumer Protection Act
and/or Deceptive Trade Pratice Act where you live,
& REFER to your State or Provincial laws (& APPLY THEM)
WITH each complaint, PLEASE INCLUDE WHERE YOU LIVE.
then I can help you find the applicable laws........
PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE BEEN ON HERE FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS & have had many successes on this site,
I WON'T GIVE UP EITHER!!!!!
Plz plz could you help me. I live in ontario and fell into this trap. Yesterday (Jan 8th, 2011). Like many got into the membership signing at the London DB. In my case I paid $500 up front and asked for 15 months no-interest payment. On the way back to Chatham we felt that we have got ourselves into this trap that we can't afford. I want a way out...I am planning to go on Tuesday along with a notrized letter to ask them to cancel my membership and refund my $500. Please am seeking your expertise in this matter....
This is a sample of the Registered letter I will be sending to DB London Ontario...Please comment I would highly appreciate your input....
Manager of DirectBuy of London
DirectBuy of London #360
108-4093 Meadowbrook Dr.
London, Ontario N6L 1G1
RE: Cancellation of 3 year Membership Agreement
Dear Sir/ Madam,
This letter serves to request our immediate membership cancellation at your respected DirectBuy club of London which we signed regretfully on Saturday January 8th , 2011 with the help of your Staff Cynthia. According to the Consumer Protection Act 2002 we are entitled of a 10 days cooling off period which we have chosen to exercise.
The Consumer Protection Act 2002 in Part IV under the RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS RESPECTING SPECIFIC CONSUMER AGREEMENTS states that “ 28. (1) A consumer may, without any reason, cancel a time share agreement at any time from the date of entering into the agreement until 10 days after receiving the written copy of the agreement. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 28 (1)”.
We are expecting a response from you in writing within 10 days regarding this matter. We are expecting a full cancellation of our membership without penalty and damage to our credit, and a full refund of any money applied towards our membership. We will not discuss this matter by phone or email.
Thank you,
(My Name and My Wife Name)
& I HAVE heard them use every repulsive trick in the book to delay & stall you, because they know that they are not bound by verbal...
they put that in writing...& they lie, tell you to come in and talk...
so that your cooling period runs out......
they do not give the password to access prices until the 3 days run out
they have sent people home & refused to accept their letter
"GO HOME & REWRITE IT BECAUSE YOU CALLED DB LIARS,
& WE WON'T ACCEPT THAT..."
so please please please follow my advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I STRONGLY SUGGEST TO NEVER EVER GO THERE IN PERSON,
UNLESS YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THE FOLLOWING,
& you are going there with a copy of the following letter, IN YOUR HAND:
Send a Registered letter to the location where you joined
...you are RESCINDING the contract
are expecting confirmation in writing only,
that they have acknowledged receipt of your letter,
sent to them by registered mail on _________________
within the allotted 3 day (72 HR.) COOLING=OFF PERIOD,
GUARANTEED BY DB'S OWN CORPORATE POLICY,
YOU ARE expecting a full REFUND OF________________
& confirmation that you do not owe any FURTHER money to db,
& YOU are expecting the written response & refund,
within 10 business days of receipt of your registered letter.
you will not accept e-mails or telephone calls to discuss this matter/
Sign by all names on the contract
ALSO...IF YOUR CONTRACT DOES NOT INC. A COOLING OFF PERIOD,
YOU have another issue, if it says no cancel...no refund... not trial...
then it is an ILLEGAL CONTRACT
& THEN YOU HAVE to add this issue to your letter
there are 3 references of proof
1) Boston Channel news article from 2007
2)Video done March 2009 cbc marketplace the price cut promise video
Barrie ontario owner christine de marsh guaranteed that db was in the process of printing new contracts inc. the 3 day cooling-off
guaranteed by db
3) acc. to the Consumer Protection act of ontario
a contract with no cancel...forces the consumer to give up their rights
it is illegal unfair practice
any ?????? let me know
For those of us who have lost out, realizing too late we shouldn't have joined because it's not for us... we're basically forced to move on and get over it. Once time goes by you don't have much of a chance of getting out of the contract. Thank you Trudy for continuing to show people who have JUST signed up how to do the registered letter approach but after a week or so most of us are doomed.
Please take a look at our registered letter and advise us accordingly. After sending the letter what should be our next step to utilize the 10 days cooling off period and to act fast before too late. What if we dont get a reply from DB what shall we do? And how is the appropriate steps to take at that time?
Which DB local office did you deal with in Ontario?
Thank you so much for your help. We highly appreciate this.
Dear Sir/Madam:
RE: Cancellation of 3 year Gold Membership Agreement
On Saturday January 8th 2011, we signed a Gold Membership Agreement to join your DirectBuy club with the help of your staff member, Cynthia. We have made an advance payment of $500 with a Credit Card and 15 months in- house payments of $ 342.58 starting February 8th 2011 totaling to $5643.70.
Effective immediately, we are rescinding the agreement mentioned above. We are expecting confirmation in writing ONLY that you have acknowledged receipt of this letter sent to you by registered mail on January 10th 2011, within the allotted 3 day (72 hrs) cooling-off period guaranteed by DirectBuy own Corporate Policy.
On March29, 2009, Direct Buy of Barrie, owner Christine DeMarsh appeared in a public video (CBC Marketplace) stating the Direct Buy corporation was in the process of printing new membership agreements that would allow ALL future members a 3 day cancellation period. Since a 3 day cancellation period has been implemented into the Direct Buy corporate policy your franchise location has willingly and purposely violated this policy by using an older membership agreement that does not allow new members any option to cancel.
Furthermore, according to the Consumer Protection act of Ontario, a contract which does not allow cancellation (Cooling-off ) period and refunding of funds is termed as an illegal contract as it forces the consumer to give up their rights which is an unfair practice.
In addition, we are exercising our right to cancel the agreement under the 10-day cooling off -period provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2002.
We are expecting a full refund of $500 and confirmation that we do not owe any further money to DirectBuy. We are expecting the written response to this letter and refund within 10 business days of receipt of this registered letter. We will not accept emails or telephone calls to discuss this matter.
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEE READ MY DETAILS VERY CAREFULLY
I AM VERY SPECIFIC & I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY all the time
There are 2 letters written by CHATHAM BELOW
THE 1st one, is completely wrong, I never wrote any of those details,
it is not a time share
there is no such thing as a 10 day cooling-off... in this case
THEY WOULD BE AT GREAT RISK TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK
I DEMAND REFUNDS!!!!!!!!!!& I DO IT LEGALLY
---------------------------------------------------------------------
the 2nd letter by Chatham is more accurate
& applicable to the law
PLEASE, everyone be very careful about what you inc. in your
Registered Letter
the
be very, very, careful what you write
IF "Chatham" sent the 1st letter above
they would be humiliated, & dragged through the mud,
because the details "they chose" have nothing of what I said
READ your letter very carefully,
omit anything that could in any way refer to a 10 DAY COOLING-OFF
THIS DOES NOT EXIST IN THIS CONTRACT & it is NOT IN THE CPA in this case
I only refer to 10 bus. days --do not get these mixed up
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd para.
start it with the fact that the contract you signed
states "no refunds...cancel..." (be specific)
then refer to the Video (inc. the FULL title) CBC MARKETPLACE
THE PRICE CUT PROMISE
-----------------------
4th para.
do not use "termed as an illegal contract"
just refer to CPA of ON, pART 2
6. "Nothing in the act...
7. "The substantive...
--------------------------------------------
ADD: the CPA also protects against unfair practice,which includes
the undue pressure put on us, to sign our rights away
--omit 10 day cooling-off (n/a)
last para. is o.k.
lastly thank db for their prompt attention to this matter
======================================================================
any other ?, let me know
to sign a contract demanding that we give up our rights
so please read & COMMENT
You are an amazing person and we have no enough words to thank you. We have tried to correct the letter. Please comment on the letter we paste down here, The letter is addressed to the "Owners of the db club":
Dear Sir/Madam:
RE: Cancellation of 3 year Gold Membership Agreement
On Saturday January 8th 2011, we signed a Gold Membership Agreement to join your DirectBuy club with the help of your staff member, Cynthia. We have made an advance payment of $500 with a Credit Card and 15 months in- house payments of $ 342.58 starting February 8th 2011 totaling to $5643.70.
Effective immediately, we are rescinding the agreement mentioned above. We are expecting confirmation in writing ONLY that you have acknowledged receipt of this letter sent to you by registered mail on January 10th 2011, within the allotted 3 day (72 hrs) cooling-off period guaranteed by DirectBuy own Corporate Policy. On March29, 2009, Direct Buy of Barrie, owner Christine DeMarsh appeared on a CBC Marketplace video entitled “The Price Cut Promise” stating that the Direct Buy corporation was in the process of printing new membership agreements that would allow ALL future members a 3 day cancellation period. Since a 3 day cancellation period has been implemented into the Direct Buy corporate policy your franchise location has willingly and purposely violated this policy by using an older membership agreement that does not allow new members any option to cancel.
The contract we signed states that the membership is not cancelable and the membership fees are not refundable except as may otherwise be provided by applicable law or disclosed in the agreement. This goes against our rights as consumers. The CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF ONTARIO Part II Consumer Rights and Warranties clause(6) states “Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to limit any right or remedy that a consumer may have in law. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 6.” and (7) “The substantive and procedural rights given under this Act apply despite any agreement or waiver to the contrary. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A, s. 7 (1)”.
We strongly feel having been pressurized to sign the agreement on spot or else we will not be able to join the club in 7 years to come,if we walked out at that moment. The Consumer Protection Act protects against unfair practice, which includes the undue pressure put on us to sign our rights away.
We are expecting a full refund of $500 and confirmation that we do not owe any further money to DirectBuy. We are expecting the written response to this letter and refund within 10 business days of receipt of this registered letter. We will not accept emails or telephone calls to discuss this matter.
Thank you and will appreciate prompt attention to this matter.
Your advice seems to vary slightly (different wording) with each post and can be somewhat confusing.
Yes -it costs a high price. If you can't afford it and you don't plan on buying for a house etc to make the investment pay - then WHY did you join?
I've been a member of DB for a number of years in Canada. I have saved on a lot of items. They were VERY clear when I went to investigate joining about the 'rules' - which are meant to NOT penalize retail businesses. One of the 'rules' is don't publish the DB list of vendors NOR do you use the wholesale prices to 'bargain' with retail. (Personally, Debbie M- if you signed on as a member, I hope they sue you to the full extent of the law.)and yes - I'min IT and know they can find out who you are. if they choose
I've just rec'd the email regarding this Conneticut settlement and have yet to investigate the implications. It had better not impact my ongoing relationship with DB (Canada). If it does, perhaps a classaction countersuit against the plaintives is in order.
sorry for the delay, but your letter is great
BUT, in case you have not sent it yet, just change the sent date to Jan. 11
& Separate the para. starting with
on March...
Good Luck & don't respond to any phone calls or e-mails from db,
after sending the letter, I can 99% guarantee you that they will call
& ask you to come in & talk...on their turf, where they tape everything
& they will be super friendly on the phone, trying to make you feel guilty
& crazy for being so tough,
but don't fall for it, & remember that I have exposed almost every dirty trick that they have used to stall & intimidate you,
so please trust me!!!
first off, dispute the charge on your credit card.
I would bet the cc companies are very familiar with DB from many customer complaints.
let us know what your credit card company has to say. ( take it as far up the cc chain of authority as you can)