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
My husband just joined last week and I did not attend. He signed a contract and I told him that I wanted out because I was aware of their scams or whatever you want to call them. You are never going to get a bargain and it is something that we can not afford. His contract has a finance charge of 17.9 % He didn't realize that he was being financed. (though they did not run a credit check) I asked that he call them to cancel on Tuesday and they never returned his call saying only that she was on tour. He is as of now disabled and drove yesterday and they said that she had left when in reality she did not want to see him. Finally he told them that he was not leaving and was going to make a scene and all of a sudden she shows up. This is suppose to be the owner. She is the only one that he can speak to. I want to find out if I can sues or want to find out if there is a class action suit going on in NY. This location happens to be in Woodside Queens. Please advise me as we are currently struggling and really do not understand how he fell into this trap. We can barely make ends meet.
Today updated
I went back with him yesterday and she was too busy to attend me. When I interrupted her (getting something to eat) she advise us that she was getting ready to do a tour. She told me that someone else was going to speak to me. (When my husband spoke to them prior, she was the only one that can make that decision).
This person now starts giving me the run around on how this is benificial to me. I was there for 3 hours and I kept on asking and telling him that I am broke, do not have that kind of money. I want to cancel. My husband felt pressured thinking that he can not come back until 7 years. He lowered because now it's too late to cancel but he can alter. (oh ok)
now i am stuck with this contract because after 3 hours of bullsh__ all he could do is alter or that I pay about 4500 that he would be at a loss for.
Is this crazy?!?!?!
I usually deal with all the finances so he's really not to savy when it comes to details. He did not want a loan and that is what they gave him, only that they told him it's a contract. I guess that's what happens when you just trust and not read what you're getting into.
I feel that he had 3 days to cancel friday and monday being that it was closed he called on Tuesday and they gave him the run around. What can I do? We are currently under a lot of pressure, I guess just like many others.
Please help. are there any laws that can help us?
Thank you in advance.
& 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
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/13332558/detail.html
close to the end of the article,statement on cancellation.
"Regarding our cancellation policy, any new member can cancel their membership within three days of joining. Members outside of the three-day policy who are experiencing problems with their membership are welcome to contact their local franchise to discuss resolution."
************************
Statement From DirectBuy
Full statements from DirectBuy headquarters in Indiana:
May 16, 2007
is to SHOW PROOF OF CHEAPER PRICES!!!
& NEVER EVER TALK TO THEM, NO PHONE CALLS!!
E-MAIL ONLY for the purpose of requesting a full price,
ALWAYS quote their u.p.c. code, model, brand...as specific as possible...
ask for their TAXES BROKEN DOWN INTO THEIR CATEGORIES (since they have hidden taxes that they have consistently FORGOTTEN TO MENTION
...that's their dirty trick!!!!
they only give you a "base" price SO THEIR PRICE "SOUNDS" CHEAPER OR SAME
Do the same for your retail prices,
add 'NO SHIPPING' NO HANDLING FEES... THEN ADD % OF TAXES
to show how disgusting their prices are
***refer to the laws that they are breaking
PROMISE OF CHEAPER PRICES, THAT DO NOT EXIST
OMITTING MATERIAL FACTS OF THE CONTRACT, THAT if you knew, you would not join
NO CANCEL, NO refunds, not trial ... is vs. the law too
contract that forces you to give up your rights
there are others...
you need to find your
CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT and/or UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICE ACT
IN YOUR State or Province
Some ACTS have both names combined
MY 1ST REACTION IS TO SWEAR UNCONTROLABLY &
to call DB "EVERY NAME IN THE BOOK"
I AM personally shocked that this happened to you,
the only one that has stuck out this battle with me, for almost 2 years,
because we are motivated in a positive way,
to fight such incredible "organized crime"
I AM whole heartedly commited to fight this fight
& to continue to fight for "JUSTICE" & YOU KNOW I MEAN REFUNDS!!!!!!!!!
...DB management are ruthless vultures, with no heart, soul or brains
when are they going to wake up??????/how do they sleep at night!!!!!
...then we have lawyers "so helpful!! yah right!!!!
then we have the freakin psycho JUDGES IN COURT
WHO don't even care to acknowledge the ISSUES OF CRIMINALITY
& CONSUMER PROTECTION
...YOU will notice if you do any kind of search,
how old the SENILE JUDGES ARE,
Ages up to their 70's & 80 years old,
WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO DO PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENTS OF JUDGES
& Investigate the corruption of Judges
Roger (and all victims) PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the tips, it gets very frustrating, & I could not remember how to cut & paste...but, I HAVE done it now a few times
IF I am not consistent, give me a specific question,
I WILL always try to help!
I REsponded to you earlier, & I reposted some of my previous info,
so if I CHANGE my info slightly, just point it out, & I will try to help
as for NEXT STEPS: ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE SENT YOUR REGISTERED LETTER
1) Phone the post office, quote your tracking # from your reg. mail rec't
ASK FOR THE CONFIRMATION of the DATE , RECEIVED by db (your proof)
if they did not accept it, it would have been returned to the post office,
db has tried to say that they did not get the letter from CHATHAM
(but they claim that they ONLY got her e-mail) NOT Official proof,
/e-mails can be lost or altered at any time, so not dependable
==========================================================================
2) MAKE SURE that your reg. letter has been addressed to the OWNER(s),
IF NOT, just correct it in the following Fax:
FAX DB, Inform db that you have received confirmation from the post office that you have accepted my registered letter on ________________
...10 business days have been allowed for db to respond to my letter,
remind db that you will accept a response, ONLY IN WRITING,
you will not accept phone calls or e-mails to discuss this matter
...(was or are) expecting a response by ___________(count 15 bus. days)
...REMINDER, ...am repeating my request to RESCIND the contract due to ...(list your points briefly...)
Please respond in a timely manner
=========================================================================== 3) KEEP Faxing reminders until you get a response in writing
if they call (which they will, so you will not have proof of the conversation, but they will cause they tape everything, from the initial phone call on),
document every call that db attempts to make to you, & include it in your FAX, inc. ...since you have time to make telephone calls to respond to my requests for a response in writing,
then db has time to respond in writing,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMEMBER that DB ARE BULLIES, & VULTURES
THEY want to talk on the phone
BECAUSE "DB IS NOT BOUND BY VERBAL STATEMENTS"
That's how they got you in the first place REMEMBER????
ACTUALLY, most contracts apparently state ...not bound...
it is stated in your contract, you can add the fact to your FAX,
as your reason for not accepting phone calls..//
--------------------------------------
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP,
PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW, I responded to your last post on the 14th,
I HOPE that you like what I SAID,
please do not let that "settlement" stop you from finding a REAL
CLASS-ACTION SUIT......
I will not stop, & I will not stop hoping that you will get justice,
MY other suggestion, IF your membership is still "active",
you might take a chance at still collecting proof of cheaper price comparison, if you have any time or energy for this,
PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!!!!!!
anything out of the 5,0000 it cost us to join. What I didn't know is
they would and could close there Bakersfield Ca. store. The S.O.B.'s were
gone overnight. No warning, No kiss my butt, nothing. I was told that I can shop on line or vist their other stores. No.1 I DON'T LIKE SHOPPING ON LINE.B. The nearst store is hours away. No.3 I still have over a year on my
contract. Who the heck am I paying anyway,the S.O.B's up and left. Feels
like I got bent over a barell and am gettin monthly vists form their
Family Members. But I still get the Exclusive Publication for DirectBuy
Members Only. Yea, that's right,send me that speacial magizane "WITHOUT THE
PRICES IN IT". Don't tell me we didn't and aren't still gettin hosed. I
feel the fool for still paying who ever the Hell I paying.But I don't know
what else to do.By the way they sell ya just like a used car dealer dose,
"Fast and Hard" wisperin promisses in your ear.If DirectBuy wasn't a scam
They would let the people with contract obligations off the hook when the Frachise they got screwed by gose under. Whitie from bakersfield california. Oh I wish I leave.
I have noticed lately that the tv advertising is not promoting the 'buy everything for your home' as heavily as they used to, if I remember correct they were saying you can buy basic appliances, toaster, blender etc, at huge savings, looks like they are slipping away gradually.
Thanks for the information, does the below apply to New York?
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
cause "you don't know jack"
you say you read 120 pages, & you can't figure out who has given the most valuable advice, encouragement, education,
WHO HELPED PEOPLE TO GET REAL REFUNDS, ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA, FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS....
who has gone through every detail of the scamssssssssssssss
who gave the moral support, direct references to each law applicable
who answered questions in detail, as to define what a Registered letter is
ALL THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD FROM ALL THIS VALUABLE INFO
IS THAT "DB STALLS, SO THAT THE 3 DAY COOLING OFF RUNS OUT
BTW, I GOT MY EDUCATION AT F.U.U. (IF you can figure that out)
WELL, DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for sticking in with all of this mucky-muck! Yes, it is true that this particular settlement is a load a crap as far as I am concerned. I did not respond to it because it's such a joke. The case I am interested in is the one attorney Craig Matthews was working on. This one had asked for membership refunds. I don't know what happened to this case and if it was lumped in with the one they are trying to settle. I am really busy with work right now, so I haven't had a chance to read through all of the cases. If someone else has, please help shed some light on the subject. I don't want to join a class that has a cruddy settlement and find out that I can't be part of another class where I'd actually get my money back. DB may be sitting pretty right now, but they are being found out & we WILL ALL get our money back from those scumbags. I hope all is well with you. I really appreciate all you do especially for your kind words of encouragement. We need to spur each other on to do good work on the behalf of others!