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
Please don't go in there!!!!!! You agreed to a comprimise by phone, so you are not fully obligated to agree.
Inconvenience them, by stating in writing that they should mail the offer to you and you will review it, before you agree. Tell them that you have other urgent obligations and you are unable to attend your appt....
YOU HAVE THE UPPER-HAND NOW!!!!!!!
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE????
I have to agree with "DB Undue Pressure Tactics" You can play their game as you made the agreement by phone and I believe a tapped telephone conversation without your expressed / written authorization is against the law. You have the upper hand and I don't believe it's too late. Don't throw in the towel. DB is grasping at straws......you have them in the palm of your hand. Act quickly and as per Trudy's advice keep written records / copies of everything.
I hope it's not too late for Aziza to read and consider our suggestions.
He moved quickly enough to dispute db within less than 3 business days... Even tho they claim there is not applicable 3 day cooling-off period,
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it is VERY RELEVANT THAT THEY OFFERED TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL!!!!!!!!!
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I was very surprised to find out that Saturday is a business day in New York State, but you can bet that this essential information is not in the contract, either.
I wonder if they also withheld his password/access to prices until later, as well. This could be another strategy that he can dispute, if he decides not to agree to the telephone conversation.
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Speaking of "Undue Pressure Tactics" I found 2 more examples
ON P. 13 of this site, there is a letter from "Used Car Salesman"
He commented that there is finally someone lower than "him"
Which might sound amusing but, the fact is that they victimized his 83 year old great grandmother for all the money she had in the bank. He said that lawyers are fighting for her, but no result so far.
I left him a message asking if there is anything this site can do for them, but he has not responded...wondering where they live...
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The other scam is on "Directbuy Topix" TITLE:"Contract Scams (or Fraud)
ANOTHER NEW YORK SCAM, where an elderly man and his disabled daughter were offered a "trial" & while the daughter was out of the room, they conned her father into signing something he did not understand.
I am taking this personally now, because this behavior is outrageously criminal and I do not have any legal power BUT, I WILL NEVER GIVE UP, WITH ANY & EVERYTHING THAT I CAN DO WITHIN MY POWER...
Thanks for your comments...glad you ran out the door...
I hope that you will help us, by warning as many people as possible
I AM GLAD TO BE PART OF YOUR "SLEAZE BUSTERS INC." in the DB FIGHT
Trudy, Roger, Rita, and the rest, please don't be discourage. Your efforts will save a lot of people from joining DB. I will keep you guys posted.
I would not put it past DB to withhold a user i.d./password for their website (which is horrible anyway!). By withholding that information, the member cannot compare prices. Also, many of the centers are closed on Mondays. Therefore, if you sign up on a Saturday and the clock is ticking, it essentially only gives you until Tuesday or Wednesday to get your money back. They also play phone games whereby once they have your money they will not take your calls, they'll take a message & say they will call you back, but never do.......another stall tactic. DB cannot cancel anything if they "never get your call or talk to you"
I wonder what happened to the person who was happy with their DB membership? Why in heaven's name would someone actually take the time to find a complaint website to post on if they were soooooo happy with their membership? Strange, isn't it? Yes, DB is lower than a used car salesman. I think they are up there with the snake oil vendor. Yeah, DB probably does sell snake oil. Taking advantage of older people on fixed incomes is not cool. In this day & age of information, I feel so stupid that I didn't do my homework before I went to the open house. In retrospect, I learned a valuable lesson & now hope to warn others to stay away!
Thanks again for being so informative.....we should call you Erin Brokovich!
Keep up the great work!
Thanks for keeping us posted. Which attorney did you contact? I listed a few, however, don't know which page the listing is on now. Perhaps Trudy knows. The one thing about this site is that the replies are not listed in date or person order, which makes it difficult to reference. Since we're getting more and more complaints, the page quantity is growing.
I know how you feel stupid and duped. Believe me, my wife and I are on the same boat with you. If we only knew then what we know now......We learned a lot of lessons along the way and I know we will find the right class action case to pursue. The problem with filing a civil lawsuit is the outlay of cash for an attorney when we are already in the hole with paying for memberships we never use. I know this is difficult, but I know we will win in the end......even if it is a few years. We'll get our resolution, I'm sure of it.
I, too, attended a presentation last month and became really suspicious from the minute I walked in. When I was made aware of the membership fees I ran out of there as fast as an Olympic athlete on a gold medal run.
It was such an obvious scam! Once I got home, I immediately scanned the internet and found this wonderful site. The people who have established this site have been doing a superb job. Many, many of us are very grateful for this. Thanks again for your efforts in helping many victims.
I hope the CPA is able to do something to make your situation better. They are not as corrupt (or less corrupt) than the BBB crooks! They'll take your money, give you a rating and deflect attention off of the product & right back to the consumer. Good luck!
I am glad that you listened to your gut instinct and then followed-up by finding this site and taking the time to read and comment.
You used your "Fight or Flight" Instinct, thank goodness your wings worked to help you fly out the door as fast as you could.
Also, I am glad that you followed up with your logical instinct.
It's a great quality that you were not just content to run out the door and forget about it. You took the time to confirm your gut instinct...and you were right. Please keep referring people to us...we are dedicated.
You just gave me one of the best I could ever get from someone who has never met me. I will try to follow in the path of Erin Brokovich, the best way that I possibly can.
She is an incredible inspirational and courageous person. I just looked up some background on her. After 2 divorces, raising 3 kids by her self, she had a serious auto accident. She was severly injured & got a job as a file clerk, working for the lawyer that she hired to help her sue for her injuries. She did most of the investigating on her own, to prove that the water supply had been poisoned...very successful law suit.
She is now a motivational speaker encouraging people to stand up for their rights, and she also has a very successful business.
I hope that you realize that you are a very dynamic and compassionate person and I am very proud that we are working together to fight the good fight.
Did you know that Erin's fave movie is "Pay it Forward"
Although, I have never seen the movie, I know exactly what it means, and I live by her philosophy. I know that most people are good, but sometimes I have to convince myself to remember that it is true.
It gets more difficult to believe, as I see more ruthless people than ever, and the world is so much more hateful. I just try to remember that the evil people get almost all the publicity, but their are more of us good people.
Thanks for your motivation.
You have to be very proud of yourself for not giving up.
YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT RESULT, AND MAJOR SUCCESS.
THEY ARE INDIRECTLY ADMITTING GUILT OF AN ILLEGAL CONTRACT
& USING HIGH PRESSURE TO GET YOU TO SIGN....
I am sure that you already know what my response is, to "come in and talk"
NO, NO WAY, NEVER, NOT A CHANCE IN HELL"
You now have some power and there is no reason for you to waste your time or energy to "talk"... that is their favourite technique to exercise power and high pressure LIES. Whatever they SAY, they will not put in writing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------NOW, WHAT DO YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR LETTER? BE NICE BUT STRICT!!!
-Thank-you for acknowledging that you have received my letter and fax.
Please respond to me, only by mail, to prevent any misunderstandings.
I cannot agree to e-mails or telephone conversations.
The fact that the contract states "...no refunds..." is asking me to give up rights that I have under the BP & CPA - Part 2 - Division 1
REPRESENTATION: 4.(3) (b) (iv) that a transaction has or does not involve rights, remedies, or obligations. (No Refunds)
REPRESENTATION: 4.(3) (c) (i) that a price benefit or advantage exists, but it does not. I have shown proof of finding cheaper prices in retail, shows proof of a deceptive contract.
I have also felt undue pressure to sign a contract listing my boyfriend as my spouse. We are not married and have never lived together.
The fact that you stated that you would be willing to take his name off the contract, shows me proof that you knew that this detail in the contract is false and you agree that this contract should have never been approved by you.
I signed in good faith because I honestly just wanted to save money.
The remedy that I am requesting is a rescision of the contract and a refund in full. Please respond by mail as soon as possible.
Since you are willing to talk, then you should have no problem responding by mail.
=========================================================================== I think that if you had not found this site, you never would have even considered trying to get your money back.
Since you joined almost a year ago, I encouraged you to use the agencies in British Columbia to give it a try. You really had nothing left to lose by letting them know, IN WRITING, that you were upset because you could not find any savings.
I know it's a lot of info, but if you have any questions, please ask.
Left a message for the manager to call me , they had the flooring girl call me 4 days later.. Not the manager. Spoke to the owner in person , explained how upset I was with the customer service and that I wanted to cxl my membership. He said no, he was more interested in the floor that we did buy not how we were treated by DB. Help me get my money back.
Lauren Denver
I hope that you stick with us, because you have a really good chance of getting your money back. Where you live and when did you join?
We are the only site that seems to be having any success. If you found this site earlier, you would know why I always stress the same basic rules:
1) NEVER NEVER PHONE, E-MAIL, & DON'T EVER USE ANY UNSECURED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION. NEVER TALK IN PERSON.
2) REGISTERED MAIL, ONLY /DIRECTLY TO OWNER/DIRECTOR ONLY
CAN BE FOLLOWED UP BY FAX, (SO YOU HAVE PROOF)
3) Collect photocopies of your PROOF, the order form for the floor sample,
copies of the listed prices for both db locations,
(The only time I would suggest to call and/or go back to either location, is to quietly get the info, if you do not have the above info, in writing)... just say you misplaced your copy...want to pick it up...do not let them know that you are upset at that point or they will not be willing to help you.
-The bill for the floor you purchase
-Dates, names of who you spoke to, and details (in person or by phone)
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I check in almost every day, so any questions, let me know.
If you need help, you have come to the right place.
You do not have to use your real name and your complaint is posted right away "in front of your eyes"
We are saving people from joining, trying to help people get their money back, and referring them to the laws and last resort, is calling one of the lawyers that we have listed.
If you want to try to get your money back, you have to move fast.
Just post a letter at the end of this site, include where you joined, the date of joining and whethter or not you purchased anything from them.
When you have found items cheaper elsewhere, collect as much written proof as possible. Good Luck to everyone...and Please do not give up.
DB knows that we will not tolerate their behaviour and every time we catch up with one of their scam tactics, they come up with new ones.
We do our best here, to encourage people to expose them...and ripped off people are reporting more often.
I actually made a sheduled visit for this coming Sunday, Aug. 16. I'm probably going to cancel it based on the info here, unless anyone here wants me to do some espionage for them ;). I enjoy a good banter with unscrupulous people.
In Illinois, the store that solicited me was the Hoffman Estates location, on Stonington Dr. I signed up last night via the web, and got my first call this morning at 9:00 am. Spoke with a Paula, who then informed me that they needed my wife's full first name (since I only put her initial in the web signup). They're also going to call me on Friday to confirm that we are able to get a babysitter for our 4 year-old on Sunday since he's not welcomed to the "presentation". I told her that I have no interest in joining any "club, or dues paying service", but I am interested in finding out the fee and how much I can save on a new 42" HDTV I plan on purchasing. I was told that I'll have a 30 day free trial membership, but then must decide or I will not be eligible to be invited again for 7 years. Red flags everywhere. Found your site and it has confirmed my gut insticts about these clowns at DB. Best to all of you and good luck with the settlements.
Gather a group of names and number and FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL. They have had issues in many states with the AG. And some states are not happy with them