BestBuy.Com

[ssieg003]

I signed up for the Best Buy credit card through HSBC as part of their promotion for 36/months Interest free in August of 2010.  The employee had confirmed with me multiple times that the only thing extra I was signing up for besides my purchase was the 'Best Buy Black Tie Protection Plan'.  For the past year and a half I have been unable to access my mail and had setup an automatic payment to pay the credit card unknowingly being charged more than I had agreed to. 

I opened my statement for the first time this morning and noticed that there had been a charge fee for "ACCT SHIELD PLUS".  What is this "ACCT SHIELD PLUS" I wondered?  After doing research and contacting the store and HSBC customer service I had been told to my surprise I had signed up for this plan when I signed up for the credit card. 

In disbelief I went through my original bill of sale and all agreements and paper work I had signed and paperwork I was given a copy of from the store and nowhere does it list I had purchased or signed up for the "ACCT SHIELD PLUS".  I started to do some digging on the topic and found that I am not the only one who Best Buy had forced into this agreement without my consent and violating all my rights as a customer.  I even travelled to the store and spoke to an employee and he had mentioned to me in a "hush hush" environment that he and the store receives a kickback for every person they sign up and he too had admitted to "checking the box" even without the consent of the customer in the past.

Am I surprised?  No, not the slightest bit, this is exactly what I would expect from this corporate giant who seems to care none for their customers and seems to omit the ethics training portion of their employee training. 

Please know your rights and check your statement to see if you are being charged monthly for the same fees as me.  If you too were taken advantage of like I was, check your records and find out how this all happened and take the appropriate actions to have this charge taken off your monthly statement.

www.bbb.org/

[DanK Best Buy Employee]

In order to enroll in Account Shield Plus, you must click a button on the signature pad saying you Agree to enroll, and then sign an additional time under the details of the debt protection plan. Even if the employee had checked the box on their screen, that does not bypass the two-step process that you must agree to in order to sign up.

[ssieg003]

Thats good to know "DanK", the problem is I was never told what this was nor did I receive a copy of my acknowledgement to this purchase. From what I got from your post is that this is something that is just an e-signature and is given to all customers to sign without being forewarned nor given ANY record of their actions. Sounds excellent! As an employee how would you even pitch this to a customer that they would agree to purchase such a thing, my thoughts would be not to...

[3i1n1c]

So you purchased the warrenty from best buy and the one from HSBC-Account Shield Plus? Now that makes perfext sense now doesnt it? I wanted to thank you for sharing your story, I saw it being passed around facebook from a mutual friend and had registered here to express my thoughts as well. Hope your situation gets resolved! -Cheers.

[Jimmienomam]

I think the question that DanK was posing was that did you read any of the prompts before clicking and signing?

I'm not saying what was done on the opposite side is right or wrong, but people really just seem to sign anything over quickly before reading.

All I have to the story is what you have told me and do not know if anything else transpired (cashier didn't speak loud enough etc). Given your side of the story I hoped BBY associates would make sure they explain what you are signing if not that can lead to some very shady practices/troubles. I also think some of that responsibility falls on yourself to read what you are signing.

[ssieg003]

Where in all the documentation I was given does it disclose this.  Odd that I was only shown this on a screen, how about the elderally or medically challenged who have trouble reading this LED screens or individuals who have trouble reading english.  I was never given any documentation about what I had enlisted in nor was I given a copy of my signature.  I am really upset at the way Best Buy is handling this situation and I see I'm not the only one who was taken advantage of according to the Better Business Bureau.   Its funny how Best Buy wants your business, they stick you with a TV then they want you OUT OUT OUT of the store as soon as possible.  

[Ryan-BBY Senior Social Media Specialist]

Hello ssieg003 -

Sarah from our Social Media team, will be reaching out to you regarding your concern. Thank you for your continued patience!

[ssieg003]

Thanks for reaching out to get in contact with me, I look forward to hearing from her!

[Sarah-BBY Retired: Community Connector]

Hi ssieg003,

Thank you for contacting us with your concerns and I am very sorry for any misunderstanding.  However, please allow me to clarify that our store employees do not receive any type of commission, to the best of my knowledge.

Also, as it appears you are aware, HSBC is a separate company from us whereby they provide credit card services to our customers, and I am very sorry to hear that you believe you were opted into HSBC’s Debt Cancellation program by mistake.  Please allow me to assure you that this program is offered solely as a benefit to those who wish to take part, and I apologize again if that was not the case.

In order to cancel this service HSBC does require that you contact them directly due to security reasons.  You can reach HSBC’s Debt Cancellation department directly at 1-800-298-4280.  Also, when contacting them I would suggest requesting that they provide you with a copy of your application demonstrating where you had opted into their service for your records, and any possible credit for the fees as well.

Please feel welcome to send me a private message if you have any further questions.

Thanks again and best wishes,