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 love the fact that you can laugh a little bit now and that really helps me to know that those of us who are dedicated to this site, are helping.
I have been very discouraged so many times because I have gone into extreme details to help others and most of the time they do not answer back. One example was a woman who I referred to the Consumer Protection Act in her Province (B.C. I think) & she said they wouldn't help her. I answered that it was hard for me to believe & asked her who she spoke to, &
what she said. She never answered back, after that.
Your determination is very inspiring for me to continue on this site.]
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK.
MY BET IS THAT YOU WILL GET IT BACK BEFORE THEY EVEN ASSIGN SOMEONE TO YOUR CASE......LIKE I DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Thanks for staying right on track with our mission
It's great how we focus on different aspects of helping people & both methods are extremely helpful and informative...Thanks for not giving up, because I know how tough it is, sometimes.
One of the deceitful tricks that I just realized that DB used on Rita,
is the fact that they had promised her a password within 2 bus. days of joining. They withheld the password for a week, this was conveniently in their favour & I guarantee that this was done deliberately because her contract had a 3 day cooling-off period.
She urgently needed major applainces & there is no way that DB did not know that Rita was going to compare $$ immediately and find cheaper prices elsewhere. Which is exactly what she did...too late to cancel...based on their deliberately negligent actions. I have detailed this to her on the 1st page of this site, & she is including the details in her next fax, follow-up.
It's even more obvious than the way that they ignore phone calls & visits to the location, during the cooling-off period, which I have warned people about as the 1st rule, to never contact them by telephone.
Stay in touch.
Your help and assistance every step of the way is awesome and comforting.
And I'm all for making people aware of this situation. Since last Thursday when my two registered letters arrived at DB, that was the only time I heard from anyone there. He was going to try and talk me into another method of paying.
I have no idea what they are thinking, but don't they realize that not responding and dealing with me, gives them a bad rep and displays their unethical business dealings. I'm ex-military, so believe me, I can get the word out if need be. My building is only two streets from them. You'd think they'd be concerned about the possibility of losing a 1000 potential customers.....
How long does it take for someone to be assigned to my case?
When you got your money back, did you just get a cheque in the mail or what?
I'm prepared to go all the way with this... I want my money back like you!
There is a # number & e-mail address above, in the letters from Roger.
There is also info at the end of this site about the 5 class-action suits in the States.
Before you call anyone, maybe we can help you if you stay in touch with this site.
How long ago did you join & where do you live? What problems did you have?
Don't worry because they are in shock at how fast & furious you moved.
I was very lucky because it was about 4 months after joining, when I sent my reg'd letter. I detailed the prices from their sub-contractors and found the jobs that I needed done, cheaper at HOME DEPOT, right down to the very last detail. ...Undue pressure contrary to CPA of Ontario...
Response from the owner was a reg'd letter stating that he would like to talk & everything had been explained in the video
I sent a follow-up fax stating that anything that he had to state must be in writing, only
The owner sent a 2nd letter with a full refund to my credit card
When I got my $ back, CP Bureau was not even near assigning someone to my case. I wasted my time calling the Bureau to take my name off their file because I got my $ back & they didn't even care. I was just a number to them.
As for informing the public, you can still warn people about how much they charge & the fact that you cannot come back, if you don't join that day.
DB tactics are vs. the CPA... you don't have to tell them everything... you do deserve your privacy.
Thanks for the ongoing updates, dedication to this site & helping others wade through all of the muck with DirectBuy. You truly are an "eagle-eyed" spy in unraveling the Rita case. Yes, I do believe that DB employs counter-tactics to ensure people cannot cancel during the 3-day cooling off period. I have even heard that one franchise owner "allowed" a prospective member to use his laptop to compare prices before joining. Somehow, the owner had his laptop rigged so that DB prices seemed like they were always less than retail. It's sad when large retailers like Home Depot & Lowes prices come in below DB's.
It's sad to think about all of the corruption on the internet as well. Not only INFOMERCIALSCAMS.COM but so-called legitimate review sites such as YELP (in the US) as well. Our son just graduated from a University with Business/Marketing degree was approached by a company who had "marketing" opportunities......This company was under contract with "scum-bag" companies who needed "damage control" on the internet. The job would have entailed monitoring the internet and writing positive reviews for every negative review. Sound familiar? Our son also told us that YELP accepts $300-500 to put negative comments at the very bottom of the reviews. Therefore, when people look to see what type of reviews your restaurant or business has, they only see the positive ones unless they look through all of the pages to see the negative ones at the end. Also, the BBB and CP are paid by the businesses who "buy" their seal of approval. As consumers, we can't depend on them to fight for us and I think that's very sad.
We were not able to get our money back.....yet. However, are waiting for decisions on the class action lawsuits. We purchased our membership in late 2007 and tried to get a refund through the franchise, the credit card company, etc. Since it's been so long & we don't want to sink money into a civil lawsuit, we have decided to put our faith into the court system. Hopefully, we'll get our money back before DB goes bankrupt.....which they might do. I know they'll just start another mega-business under a different name just like they did with UCC Total Home.
All we can do is to continue warning people. Thanks for being such a great support!
You're really staying on top of this. Trudy's advice is so valuable.....I agree with her to have everything in writing. Conversations with them are heresay in a court of law and those scummy franchise owners know that. In fact, I believe they have all been coached to employs these unethical tactics. Are there other consumer advocate reporters on television or radio in your area? Perhaps you could try faxing the information to them and try to get some media attention. Whatever you do, don't give up the fight. Be thankful that your prior military training will give you the determination to see this mission through to the end.
on p. 15 of this site, there is a letter from Roger on June 19th
There is an address highlighted in blue letters about the class-action suits...check it out & let us know what you think.
It looks like DB is trying the stall tactic, I don't think they'll budge until they are forced to. I think come Monday, I'll put a formal complaint in with the Better Business Bureau as well. Can't hurt at this point, especially since Consumer Services takes awhile to assign a case worker. They will be my second call to see how long that does take. Trust me, close friends are learning about DB as I go along and they'll tell two friends, who'll tell two friends and so on and so on.... We'll get the words out.
You have done everything right but I have a few points for you to keep in mind. Remember that since you are asking for your response to be sent in writing, you need to give them some time to sort things out.
Remember that you sent them 3 letters, totaling 14 pages.
Your 1st reg'd letter was received on Friday June 18th
So far, you have given only a total of 5 business days for them to answer
It is suggested that you allow them at least 10 BUSINESS DAYS
So take a break for yourself & try to relax for another week, then you have to allow some "mailing time"
Try to be patient, they cannot back out of this
As for the BBB, I would check with their rules & policies before burning out your energy. Let us know what they say. I think db is allowed too much power, given to them by BBB.
hahahaha you are absolutly right! Sorry my military side was showing. As for the BBB they stated when I called last week, which I was surprised to learn, that they had an A+ rating and that they had five complaints against them, which have all been dealt with. It was them that told me to go see them in person. That was before I had a chance to sit down and read all the wisdom you've provided everyone. I'll sit tight and wait and see what happens in the next few weeks. Thanks for being the rock.
I have been reading these forums and I understand that this is mainly discussion of a Class Action lawsuit against DirectBuy by members who are trying to get their money back. I am wondering if the same law firm (Izard Nobel) would be the best bet in regards to a Class Action suit filed in regards to wrongful termination.
Please let me know
I GOT MY MONEY BACK!!!!!! In the mail today was an envelope with a single cheque for a full refund (3 yrs payment). My third letter was faxed on the Monday 22nd Jun 09. The cheque was dated the Tuesday 23 Jun 09 and mailed on Wednesday 24th Jun 09 and I received it today!
Trudy, thank you soooooo very much for all you words of wisdom, I followed everything you said to do. To everyone out there, it is possible to get your money back. Don't give up!
Trudy would be the one to answer your question, but if you read above, and go back through all 16 pages, she outlines how to get your money back. (see page 15 where she is telling me how to go about it)
Check out the Consumer Protection Act of Ontario. Because you've had it longer then 10 days I would push 15.2.h "undue pressure to sign the contract on the spot" and the fact that you've found prices cheaper elsewhere. Ensure you send a registered letter, name the owner and stress they are to communicate in writting only. On the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services you'll find a sample letter of how to address your complaint.
Unconscionable Representation 15. (2) (h) Without limiting the generality of what may be taken into account in determining whether a representation is unconscionable, there may be taken into account that the person making the representation or the person’s employer or principal knows or ought to know, (h) the consumer is being subjected to undue pressure to enter into a consumer transaction. 2002, c. 30, Sched. A, s.15 (2).
Again read through all the blogs above and Trudy supplies tons of information on how to proceed.
Wrongful termination is often difficult to prove, "he said, she said" ...
I suggest not to put your details on this site
First check out the laws where you live, and get as much info as possible before you call any lawyer... research as fast as possible because there are usually very strict deadlines for your situation
Be as specific as possible writing down the details,(for yourself) so that you can pinpoint what part of the law applies. Where do you live?
Let us know
You are the success story that we needed in order to show that this site is legit. I was confident that you would get your $ back, but not that soon. Most people ask a few questions & expect me to do all the work, but you are amazing, because you applied everything.
I hope that you stay on this site, to give others some encouragement.
I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe, you should buy a lottery ticket.
I think that you have a really good chance of $ back, since it has only been a few months since you joined. I can help you better, if I knew where you lived & if there was a 3 day cooling-off period.
If there was a cooling-off period, did you get your "password" or "access" to their prices within that time? There is a lady on the 1st p. of this site, who did not receive her password, until a week after the cancellation period & she immediately found cheaper prices. She has not received an answer to her reg'd letter yet...will fill us in soon
You say that they did not "twist your arm" but really they did by using the high pressure that Dawn mentions in her response to you.
TRUST ME, YOU MUST ASK FOR A COMPLETE REFUND, & ASK FOR THE CONTRACT TO BE RESCINDED (AS IF THE CONTRACT NEVER EXISTED)
THIS MUST BE DONE BY REG'D MAIL
Fill us in soon and we will do our best to help