What Have You Got to Complain About?
February 25th, 2010
by Amy
One of my favorite things about online shopping is reading user reviews, whether it’s for a pair of jeans or a digital camera. I still read articles and talk to friends, but it can be useful to see if a lot of people have the same kinds of complaints about the product I’m pondering. While there are obvious differences, I think filing a complaint with the FTC is similar — you’re helping the FTC and the 1,700 other federal, state and local law enforcement partners that have access to the information spot patterns and identify not only the scams and frauds that are happening, but the people behind them.
So what do you complain to the FTC about? And how do you do it? The FTC has a new animated video (also in Spanish and at the FTC’s YouTube channel) that shows just that, including examples of the kinds of experiences you might share with the FTC. Complaints can help stop scams, rip-offs and fraudsters, so I hope you’ll share this video and encourage people you know who’ve been ripped off or spotted a scam to file a complaint with the FTC.
On a related note, check out the FTC’s just-released top complaints from consumers for 2009.
Tags: complain, Federal Trade Commission, Money, scams
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 6:23 am and is filed under Scam Watch. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I recently purchased hearing aids from Perfect Hearing Aids.com on line, subject to a 40 day, money back if not satisfied, trial period. I’m not satisfied but my phone calls go un-answered and my e-mails get no response.
I’m convinced PerfectHearingAids.com is a scam operation and I want to warn the public about these criminals so no-one else loses their hard earned money.
Sams club in Kannapolis NC has a member that threatened me for my life. However they didn’t take action by removing his memebership. What is my best approach at dealing with the problem when he still acts the way he does.
Mrs. Jane Doe,
This issue sounds a little outside the scope of the FTC. You might want to consult with local authorities about it.
Where soea one go when the house they purchased was built on county certfied life threatening unstable land? We have seemingly hit a ceiling that no one wants to address. The house was literally imploding and with numerous propane leaks, flooding, and foundation cracking,etc and the builder has far more money than we do for us to have a fair fight so what federal agency would assist us with this because we are at ropes end? Is there any place to turn? It seems builders are capable of getting away with this and no one will hold them accountable. We have already lost everything that work for as retired military people.
A Griffin
Dagriffins,
If you are looking for a federal agency, you could try the HUD Office in your state. Visit this page to find your state’s office: http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/states.
Hi Dagriffins,
You might also try your local consumer protection office, which you can locate at http://consumeraction.gov/caw_state_resources.shtml, and your state real estate regulator, which you can look up at http://www.commercialinstitute.com/state-regulators.aspx.
I just ordered my credit report and noticed an account which was opened in my name. I have no knowledge of this account how do I go about disputing it with the collection agency. And most importantly have it removed from my credit report?
Hi Queenkweli, the FTC has a publication called How to Dispute Credit Report Errors at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.pdf. The information you want begins on Page 3.
It appears with nearly a half a million in deposit money taken from unsuspecting customers from around the country, the steel building business seems to continue. The scam starts like this: You consider a steel building for business or personal reasons so you search online. You fill out the form for a free quote after giving a building size. The steel building company tells you you’re in luck – they don’t have the exact size you want but they have a building that was ordered by someone else and they couldn’t take the building so they need to get rid of the building and will sacrifice 40% off the original price if you’ll accept the building a little smaller or larger than your original request. You jump on the savings and before you know it you’ve sent them $ 5,000 and more to secure the price and building. Then comes the famous “bump-up” plan that’s standard in the business. They bump up the price for engineering or windows or color change and if you don’t go along with the plan, you loose your deposit and never get your building. See the investigation
Buyer Beware.
Purchased a photo shoot from MAC Entertainment in Las Vegas, NV on March 2,2010. Did some research on this agency the following few days, and came up with no info. Called the agency on March 5 to cancel the photo shoot that’s scheduled for March 14. Was told that there are no refunds all sales final, according to the contract, and that monies have already been forwarded to corporate to the photographer. I signed no contract. Only thing that I signed was a paper receipt confirming date of shoot and that I paid. Was not made aware that it was a contract or that there were no refunds. It’s not a contract. How can they legally refuse refunding my money on an appointment time that hasn’t happened yet, and is being canceled far in advance? I have not used anything from the agency or their photographers time, film, etc.
Hi Punished22,
For a sample complaint letter, scroll to the end of the FTC publication How to Right a Wrong at http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/general/gen06.shtm. You can also try contacting your local consumer protection agency, which you can find at http://consumeraction.gov/caw_state_resources.shtml.
queenkweli,
An account you didn’t open can also be a sign of identity theft. At ftc.gov/idtheft, you can learn not only how to avoid and detect identity theft but also what to do if your identity has been stolen.
If any charges show up on your checking account that read MATCH.COM BOULOGNE BILLFR be alert! They are stealing your money. They tried to get $240+ from my account; that didn’t work. So they hit my account for $40+ and $20+. That’s $60+ I now don’t have. Had to deactivate my debit card. Check your account two or three times a day!
I closed my account. Changed to another bank. If this happens to you, do the same (minimum).
IN DECEMBER WE RENTED A VAN FROM FIRST CHOICE VAN RENTALS IN LOS ANGELES AIRPORT. AND PAID FOR THAT IN CASH. NOW WE FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE CHARGED THE CREDIT CARD WE LEFT AS A GUARANTEE ONE DAY BEFORE WE PAID FOR IT IN CASH. WHEN WE CLAIMED IT, PAYMON MARANDI, THE RENTAL COORDINATOR, TOLD US THAT HE WOULD RETURN THE MONEY IMMEDIATELY. THAT HE REMEMBERS US PAYING IN CASH, THAT IT WAS ALL A MISTAKE, AND THAT HE FEDEX US A CHECK. AND NOW HE DOES NOT ANSWER MY MAILS, NOR THE PHONE CALLS. WE WENT THERE AS TOURIST, AND WE DO NOT LIVE IN THE STATES. AND I WANT TO FIND OUT HOW I CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY TO MAKE THEM PAY OUR MONEY BACK. PLS HELP. THEY WERE VERY NICE IN THE BEGINNING, BUT THEY CHARGED ONE DAY EXTRA( 7 DAY INSTEAD OF 6 DAYS) AND NOW THIS SECOND CHARGE AFTER PAYING IN CASH.. PLS HELP ME GET IN TOUCH WITH THE AUTHORITIES TO GET MY MONEY BACK. SINCE I DO NOT LIVE IN THE STATES, HOW CAN I DO THAT? IS THERE AN E MAIL ADDRESS WHERE I CAN WRITE TO??I AM A GERMAN WORKING IN MEXICO RIGHT NOW.
HERE ARE THE INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY.
NAME: FIRST CHOICE VAN RENTALS
Phone: (800)906-9684 or (310)846-4431
Fax: (310)846-4433 or (714)908-3499
Hi, Germex, you might try filing a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, http://www.dca.ca.gov, at 916-445-1254 or dca@dca.ca.gov.
You might also have protections through your credit card company. We offer tips for consumers who wish to dispute credit card charges here: http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre16.shtm.
Finally, you might want to visit http://www.econsumer.gov, an international site for cross border consumer complaints.
I totally agree with CaptBry! I’ve been experiencing the same problems since November and I’m still waiting for my refund! They were very helpful, always answered the phone when I call during my purchase time, but once I became unsatisfied they no longer answer my calls, emails, or letters. I’ve filed multiple complaints with other sites & have found many other experiencing the same problems.
My advice is………..Stay Away From Them!
Impressive information! I really believe this site is speaking the truth. Thanks Evon Krumme
I too purchased a hearing aid from perfecthearingaids last March. I returned them within 10 days and as of July 7 am still waiting for my refund. I have reported them to BBB of Miss. They were taken over by Century Hearing Aid. Be ware!!!
The FTC has been cracking down hard as of late. They’ve been especially hard on online businesses. All I can say is that its about time they went after these people.
There are plenty of legit online businesses and the scammers were giving them a bad name.
You know how the FTC found out about all these shady characters? People like you and me complaining