Don't make our mistake

Complaint

-1
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.

Comments

  • 0
    Trudy
    HI Christy
    I hope I AM not too late to help, I just found proof of cheaper prices,
    & I wrote a registered letter stating that their
    exaggerated promises of excess savings do not exist,
    & THEIR HIGH PRESSURE TACTICS TO JOIN WERE CONTRARY TO THE
    CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT,  I asked for a rescision of the contract,
    & a response in writing only (by mail) within 10 business days
    ***DB answered with a letter stating that they wished to discuss it,
    I responded back by FAX stating that they must respond in writing.
    My next letter from them was a refund

    You did not mention where you live, so you need to find your
    Consumer Protection Act    OR   Unfair Trade practices act
    for your State or Province
    Good Luck
  • 0
    Trudy
    Hi Rotzie
    Find written proof of cheaper prices & send registered letter,
    ask for rescision & response in writing within 10 business days
    Pensylvania Unfair trade practices & consumer protection law
    protects vs. the promise of excess saving that do not exist
    &  the high pressure tactics used to obligate you to join "today"
    or spend an extra $1,000 after a "free Trial"
  • 0
    Trudy
    HI RUBEN
    THAT is good news, be patient, it is worth it
    Please help us to warn others, people are getting scammed every day
    one of the newest law suits is for all U.S. victims from Oct. 29, 2003 on,

    www.milberg.com
  • 0
    JOIN THE NEWEST LAW SUIT
  • 0
    HELP
    HELP US TO WARN OTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!
    FOR US RESIDENTS FROM  OCT. 29, 2003
    WWW.MILBERG.COM
  • 0
    NEW LAW SUIT
  • 0
    chemae
    Dear Trudy:
     

    1. I sented a certified letter to DB in Edison, and they never response
    2. I contacted BBB with my proofs of cheaper prices from othes retail
      stores, but DB only offer me half of my refunds back.
    3. I contacted Consumer Affairs with all my proof and DB refunded all my
      monies back within 3 business days
  • 0
    chemae
    Hi Trudy
    I'm from New Jersey, My husband and I got our membership in August 2008 through DB of Edison New Jersey.  
    Our membership was $5490.00 for 3 years plus $30.00 renewal option from 4 to 10 years at $190.00 per year. At the end of our 3 years contract, will cost us $7210.63. The 3 items that we had purchased costed a few dollars more than the shipping and handling fee plus NJ state tax. It took 5 months before we got the itemw plus some of the items parts was missing, and we wait another 7 months for a replacement.
    My husband and I charged $1500.00 on our credit card and made 3 payment of $162.12 toward the 36 months payment plan to Beta Finance company.
    First I sented a certified letter to the owner of DB in Edison to cancel my membership, I got not response. next I sented a certified letter to BBB with proof of cheaper prices from other retail stores in middlesex county and DB offer me half of my money. finally I sented a certified letter and proof of cheaper prices from other retail stores to Consumer Affairs in middlesex county, with in 3 business days, DB refunded me in full all my money back.The Beta finance Company also cancelled my payment plan.
  • 0
    Bj in Utah
    Hi Trudy

    I have read most of the comments in this form and they are REALLY HELPFULL, my problem is i think i have waited to long ...
    singed 03/25/08
    put under the whole threat thing,have realy just been embarrassed by the whole thing,so I have ignored it.... well i cant do that any more times are tough and my husband and i cant keep paying. We need out!! I have been collecting ads etc of prices of other stores, and iam ready to write my letter i just need to know if iam to late for waiting sooooo long!!!
    Thanks in advance

    Bj in UT
  • 0
    Bj in Ut
    more info ....
    signed in 03/25/08
    NEVER bought a thing
    membership $6480.24 ughh
    alot of my contract is the same as "chemae" above

    Thanks again
    Bj in UT
  • 0
    Bj in Ut
    am i to assume from no replys that iam way to late to do any thing about my contract with db. man i feel like such a fool for letting it go so long!!
  • 0
    Trudy
    HI Bj
    No, never too late as Chemae has been successful, 1 & 1/2 YRS. LATER
    ....I've just been really busy...
    You can always complain by Reg. or Cert. mail to location where you joined
    You can claim that the contract is against the
    Utah consumer saless practices act  Chapter 13-11-4
    ...claims of characteristics & benefits it does not have
    ...price advantage promise that does not exist...
    high pressure tactics to join,
    & now realize that you are so busy struggling to paying for a membership
    that you cannot use, it is just a high-risk debt with no compromises
    ...could not compare prices before joining,
    had to join same day.......(read thru the law, they break all the rules
    ...You might like to mention that you have just became aware of the law suits all over the States   (see P. 67)
      contact any of the suits for advice
    I recc.    WWW.MILBERG.COM   for one
    Good Luck  & you might be able to join a law suit.......
    let us know, any ?????? or comments, always welcome here
  • 0
    Trudy
    HI Chemae
    Congrats!!!!!  You are an inspiration & a excellent example
    for others to follow,
    I hope that you will refer people to this site & help us warn as many people that you can,
    List of law suits on p. 67
  • 0
    TRUDY
    HI ALPHIE
    I'M  still here, been really busy,  
    what's the deal with the Niagara problem you keep referring to,
    All of Ontario, is covered by the
    CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF ONTARIO, 2002
    UNFAIR Trade practices
  • 0
    alphie
    civil lawsuits are piling up against db here
  • 0
    Bj in Ut
    THANK YOU TRUDY!!!!!!!!

    That was the pep talk i needed, and iam sorry for winning, the guilt was just killig me. ill finsh gathering my ads and finish my letter and get it sent off, (but of corse i would love you to look over it first). I cant praise you and this web site enough you guys are fighting the good fight and i tell everyone i know who is thinking about joining db to come here first.
    Thanks soo much, you and the people who are on this site are in my prayers.
    bj in ut
  • 0
    Shocked
    I cannot believe at this day and age people are still foolish. This is not the fifties were most people were very gullable. Once some company insists that you attend the invite with your spouse you must SMELL a RAT. Then holding you for a BORING presentation for more than 30 minutes (and this is pushing it) you got to ask why? To even stay there after 30 minutes is beyond me to understand why people like this abuse. It blows my mind to hear that they would dare to ask for 7Gs for a membership that you will only use once or twice and add insult to injury finance the damn thing. They are in bed with the finance company if it is not their own. PEOPLE WAKE UP. What happened to the class action lawsuit? Did those at DirectBuy take the judge out to dinner????
  • 0
    Stihl
    I would like to say Thank you to all of you.  We were considering getting a membership with all the renovations my wife and I are doing with our house.  Now I am for shure not even going back.  Thank you for saving me a big headache.
  • 0
    MTgal
    WOW! there is a lot of information here!! I too am a DB sucker.  We thought it would be great to take advantage of the savings for a kitchen remodle. Well, 15 months later and we have never used it.  During the presentation they said that although they have a lot of "high end" merchandice that they also have middle greade too online.  NOT TRUE! Trudy, PLEASE help! I live in Montana and signed at a Washington store. It has been past the 1 year mark, is there any hope of getting my money back, or at least not having to pay BETA fininace CO. anymore? Please help, any information you could give me would really be appreciated. Thanks
  • 0
    Trudy
    TO UNFAIR
    Are you for real? The fact is that people phone & phone for days & weeks, & don't get a return phone call,
    they let the cooling-off period expire, & still sit there waiting,
    & don't know why they didn't get a return call,
    then they don't know why you need to inform them in writing, by reg. mail,
    & they don't know why they need to find written proof of cheaper prices--
    & SEND copies of their proof,

    OH by the way, you claim to be successful, but you have no advice to help others?????????????/

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