Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[SlimJim77]

A $2 calculator could have saved that $250. There is no conspiracy here, only a lack of control over arithmetic.

[jettoki]

Thank you, but by the time I received my first bill, I was fully aware that the minimum payment would not cover the balance in the 18 months.  My contention is that I was told to my face there would be no fees after 18 months, no matter the remaining balance.

It was not sold to me as a cost deferment plan, it was sold to me as a reward for enrollment.  Yes, I should have read the fine print anyway.  I've already payed the exorbitant balance in full to be done with it.  Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right.

[SlimJim77]

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jettoki wrote:

Thank you, but by the time I received my first bill, I was fully aware that the minimum payment would not cover the balance in the 18 months.  My contention is that I was told to my face there would be no fees after 18 months, no matter the remaining balance.

It was not sold to me as a cost deferment plan, it was sold to me as a reward for enrollment.  Yes, I should have read the fine print anyway.  I've already payed the exorbitant balance in full to be done with it.  Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right.

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I'll take you at your word. The person that said that needs to be brought to the attention of management at your local Best Buy. I encourage you do to so.

[Kalagaraz]

While I can't say one way or the other that the best buy employee told you there would be no finance charges after promotional period, I can tell you that for future reference, that is pretty standard. Paypal, Gateway, and even the local rent-a-center here, it says in the terms and services if balance is no paid in full that interest will be charged for the entire original balance retroactively.

If the best buy employee did tell you otherwise, I'm sorry to hear that, but take this as a lesson that it's not what they say, it's what you sign that matters. Always read fully what your signing. I know you can get impatient sometimes wanting to hurry and use your new product ( and you most likely were since you were getting on credit instead of waiting till you had money), but as you can see if you just took 5 minutes to read the terms it would have saved you some money down the road.

[jettoki]

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Kalagaraz wrote:

While I can't say one way or the other that the best buy employee told you there would be no finance charges after promotional period, I can tell you that for future reference, that is pretty standard. Paypal, Gateway, and even the local rent-a-center here, it says in the terms and services if balance is no paid in full that interest will be charged for the entire original balance retroactively.

If the best buy employee did tell you otherwise, I'm sorry to hear that, but take this as a lesson that it's not what they say, it's what you sign that matters. Always read fully what your signing. I know you can get impatient sometimes wanting to hurry and use your new product ( and you most likely were since you were getting on credit instead of waiting till you had money), but as you can see if you just took 5 minutes to read the terms it would have saved you some money down the road.

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Agreed, I've learned my lesson - but I wasn't impatient, just naive.  I offerred to pay cash for this purchase, and I was talked out of it.  The employee really pushed the Best Buy card on me.  Once I started receiving bills, I just paid them like any other bill, because I had every reassurance that by the time the interest kicked in, I could just pay off the balance with no fees.  I know to pay better attention now, but it's unfortunate that I had to learn by being deceived.

[Dorothy-BBY Community Supervisor]

Hello jettoki -

Melissa, one of our Community Specialists, will be reviewing your issue and reaching out to you.  Thank you for sharing your experience.

[jeffgeraci]

JETTOKI:  You are so absolutely correct... HSBC is a scam, and Best Buy is well aware of that. In a moment, I will tell you how to get even with these scammers and solve your issue. The so-called representative from Best Buy who has been responding to your posts is either a liar, or he literally does not know a thing about this subject. HSBC is made up of small brokerage firms who found themselves in hot water for questionable practices, and grouped together under a new name. I am currently disputing a matter with HSBC, and I have found countless complaints on the internet, just like yours. HSBC has changed payment due dates without notice, delayed clearing payments on time in order to tack on late charges, and the list goes on.

I'll tell you what you need to do if you really want to score a blow back at these crooks. Remember, you're "nobody" when it comes to a large institution like Best Buy or HSBC, and you may feel totally powerless, but you have a LOT of power if you know where to look. When I got ripped off by a furniture store chain (legacy furniture in Cathedral City, California), I made every effort to rectify the matter, but the company was relentless. What I finally did: I printed out all of the complaints I found on the internet from other customers, printed up a flyer on how I was scammed by the store, and made a big picket sign stating that the company lies and is a rip-off... I picketed for 6 hours on a BUSY Saturday, waving my sign and handing out the flyers and complaints, and 98% of their business was turned away- they even sent 3/4 of their employees home!!! This tactic is so unbelievably effective, and it WILL GET RESULTS. Sure, you sacrifice your time, but it was well worth it for me. The furniture company lost thousands that day, when they could have easily accepted the return of the $800 sofa for nothing. THE LAST THING BEST BUY WANTS IS FOR YOU TO PICKET IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE ON A BUSY SATURDAY AFTERNOON, EXPOSING THEIR INAPPROPRIATE BUSINESS DEALS (you can also notify your local news and tell them the time and date you'll be out there picketing). While it is HSBC and NOT Best Buy perpetrating the dirty deed, BEST BUY is equally responsible, because they are contracting with a company that they know very well is guilty of racketeering and unfair business practices. Best Buy corporate will be forced to work with HSBC to remedy your issue. Take my advice and do what I just laid out, and I guarantee results!!! DO NOT let those crooks get away with stealing your money right out of your pocket.

This past Saturday I went through my local Best Buy store in Palm Desert and an employee called HSBC on my behalf while I waited. She had to argue with them, and then they asked for her manager so they could report her. HSBC was not only beligerent to her, but to her manager as well. The Best Buy manager was professional and polite, and even he got nowhere with HSBC. HSBC only wanted his employees name so they could report her, and couldn't give a dang about my issue, which was the purpose of the call in the first place! HSBC is borderline illegal in their business dealings, and Best Buy is responsible for reataining their services, knowing full well how shady that company is. Best Buy had better find a new and reputable finance company, and fast... you are NOT alone!

[Kalagaraz]

This just sounds like a bunch of conspiracy crap. Almost every time I have financed something it has been through HSBC and I have not had a single problem. My $1400 gateway tablet was through HSBC with no interest for 1 year, paid it off within 1 year and didn't have a problem. My $6000 suzuki SV650 motorcycle is through HSBC, been paying it off just fine without a problem for over a year now, in fact I was even late on a payment by 1 day one time and they waived the late charge and didn't report it to the credit bureaus.

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jeffgeraci wrote:

JETTOKI:  You are so absolutely correct... HSBC is a scam, and Best Buy is well aware of that. In a moment, I will tell you how to get even with these scammers and solve your issue. The so-called representative from Best Buy who has been responding to your posts is either a liar, or he literally does not know a thing about this subject. HSBC is made up of small brokerage firms who found themselves in hot water for questionable practices, and grouped together under a new name. I am currently disputing a matter with HSBC, and I have found countless complaints on the internet, just like yours. HSBC has changed payment due dates without notice, delayed clearing payments on time in order to tack on late charges, and the list goes on.

I'll tell you what you need to do if you really want to score a blow back at these crooks. Remember, you're "nobody" when it comes to a large institution like Best Buy or HSBC, and you may feel totally powerless, but you have a LOT of power if you know where to look. When I got ripped off by a furniture store chain (legacy furniture in Cathedral City, California), I made every effort to rectify the matter, but the company was relentless. What I finally did: I printed out all of the complaints I found on the internet from other customers, printed up a flyer on how I was scammed by the store, and made a big picket sign stating that the company lies and is a rip-off... I picketed for 6 hours on a BUSY Saturday, waving my sign and handing out the flyers and complaints, and 98% of their business was turned away- they even sent 3/4 of their employees home!!! This tactic is so unbelievably effective, and it WILL GET RESULTS. Sure, you sacrifice your time, but it was well worth it for me. The furniture company lost thousands that day, when they could have easily accepted the return of the $800 sofa for nothing. THE LAST THING BEST BUY WANTS IS FOR YOU TO PICKET IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE ON A BUSY SATURDAY AFTERNOON, EXPOSING THEIR INAPPROPRIATE BUSINESS DEALS (you can also notify your local news and tell them the time and date you'll be out there picketing). While it is HSBC and NOT Best Buy perpetrating the dirty deed, BEST BUY is equally responsible, because they are contracting with a company that they know very well is guilty of racketeering and unfair business practices. Best Buy corporate will be forced to work with HSBC to remedy your issue. Take my advice and do what I just laid out, and I guarantee results!!! DO NOT let those crooks get away with stealing your money right out of your pocket.

This past Saturday I went through my local Best Buy store in Palm Desert and an employee called HSBC on my behalf while I waited. She had to argue with them, and then they asked for her manager so they could report her. HSBC was not only beligerent to her, but to her manager as well. The Best Buy manager was professional and polite, and even he got nowhere with HSBC. HSBC only wanted his employees name so they could report her, and couldn't give a dang about my issue, which was the purpose of the call in the first place! HSBC is borderline illegal in their business dealings, and Best Buy is responsible for reataining their services, knowing full well how shady that company is. Best Buy had better find a new and reputable finance company, and fast... you are NOT alone!

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[jeffgeraci]

KALAGARAZ:

My wife & I previously had 2 payment accounts with Best Buy BEFORE they started using HSBC. We had no troubles at all, and all payments were on time.

Our third account, which was carried by HSBC, has been a complete mess. We had our payments set up on autopay through our bank, and since HSBC changed their due dates and stalled the clearing of payments, we recieved over 11 late charges... HSBC sent no letters, made no phone calls, etc. Our automatic payments were consequently 1 or 2 days off, and we were ripped off for over $400!! Whether you can accept it or not, HSBC is a scam, and their business practices are unfair, immoral, and borderline illegal... maybe you are associated with them, since it is very unusual for a consumer to comment as you did? Regardless, the picketing tactic is the ultimate tool for the consumer to obtain satisfaction.

[Kalagaraz]

People think just because they have "auto-pay" they don't need to check their bills. How can you go 11 months without realizing your bill was going through late, should have noticed that the first time. These kinds of problems won't happen if people will just fully read the terms of service of things before going through with them.

To warn you also, the Department of Motor Vehicles will do this too, because in their terms of service is says they can. If you let your vehicle go without insurance for even 1 day, they will usually cancel your registration and will not notify you of it. That's because it says right in terms of service that they will, and there is no law requireing them to notify you. You won't find out till a cop pulls you off and then tickets you for driving without registration.

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jeffgeraci wrote:

KALAGARAZ:

My wife & I previously had 2 payment accounts with Best Buy BEFORE they started using HSBC. We had no troubles at all, and all payments were on time.

Our third account, which was carried by HSBC, has been a complete mess. We had our payments set up on autopay through our bank, and since HSBC changed their due dates and stalled the clearing of payments, we recieved over 11 late charges... HSBC sent no letters, made no phone calls, etc. Our automatic payments were consequently 1 or 2 days off, and we were ripped off for over $400!! Whether you can accept it or not, HSBC is a scam, and their business practices are unfair, immoral, and borderline illegal... maybe you are associated with them, since it is very unusual for a consumer to comment as you did? Regardless, the picketing tactic is the ultimate tool for the consumer to obtain satisfaction.

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