HSBC Watch News Release Forum Index
Forum Name: - Horror Stories
Topic Title: BowFlex ads deceiving and deceptive
Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:21 pm
I applied for a bowflex because I needed the extra excercise and I loved the machine. I was told that I would only pay 37 dollars but when I got the first few bills they were for 80 and 90 dollars. The last bill that I could afford to pay because I am a fulltime college student was 88 dollars back in November 2004. They are calling me and harrasing me about not paying and I have tried numerous times to negoitiate with them. They sent it to a collections agency that is even worse. they call my job and ask for where I go to school and they call my cell phone threatening me. Please send me any information that I can use to stop this. thank you.
Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:44 am
When the TV commercial tells you how easy it is to own a Bowflex, don't believe them.
On February 9th I went to my Nautilus Group HSBC Retail Services website to pay off my balance of $2188.24 and hit the pay bill button. I then decided that no, I would rather mail them a check, so I logged out. Little did I know that's all it takes, one click and they're authorized to debit my checking account.
I am not completely illiterate with online payments. I have paid other credit cards online with no problem, Sears, Visa, plus I have accounts with Paypal, Ebay, Amazon, half.com and others. Typically with online payments I'm taken to a second screen where I verify the bank account numbers, and before payment is made, I'm prompted with some sort of "are you sure" message.
Having no earthly idea that I'd made an online payment, the following day I mailed Retail Servies a check, $2188.24, and included a note, "Please close my account." As far as I was concerned, they were paid off.
On Feb. 15th I called Retail Services to make sure they had received my check and had closed my account. They said that I had paid twice, had a credit of $2188.24. Actually, I hadn't paid twice, because their online debit had been denied by my bank.
I was on the phone with them for half a day, trying to get everything cleared up, plus I made a trip to my bank, explaining my mistake, how I did not realize that I had made an online payment.
I spoke with four different reps from Retail Services that day, and was told repeatedly that my account would be closed, that I would be charged an additional $25 because the online debit they tried to make was refused by my bank. I accepted that, because after all, it was my initial mistake, not paying more attention to how their website is set up. I was just glad to have them out of my life.
Not true. On Feb. 17th I noticed a second NSF charge on my bank statement, where a payment had been refused by my bank again. I called my bank immediately, and sure enough, Retail Services, on the 16th, had tried to take another $2188.24 from my account.
I called Retail services, told them what my bank said. They denied it. They told me I would have to prove it with documents, then they would take care of it properly.
I asked Retail Services how many more debits were they planning to try to make in the meantime, and would I be charged another $25 for each refusal. She said something about by the 24th, everything should be cleared with the bank.
I made a second call to my bank and told them that I need the information that shows what Retail Services had done. Unfortunately, my bank said "We can't print out the documents that show who did this." All they could do was fax me a copy of the cleared check, which I have faxed to Retail Services.
I don't think it's fair that my bank verified by phone to me that Retail Services had done the second transaction, yet they would not give me the verifying information on a document.
I've lost a day's work, lost sleep, and suffered extreme anxiety over this. I just want HSBC Retail Services out of my life.
Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:26 pm
Watching TV tonight I saw an ad for Bow Flex, and it said "find oout how to get it for only $19 a month." Then I saw complaints on the Internet, found out they finance through HSBC, and decided to rethink the issue. Thanks for informing the public about this issue. As they say, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:28 pm
Booker wrote:
Watching TV tonight I saw an ad for Bow Flex, and it said "find oout how to get it for only $19 a month." Then I saw complaints on the Internet, found out they finance through HSBC, and decided to rethink the issue. Thanks for informing the public about this issue. As they say, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
One of the sad things is that the product is probably fairly good, although an expensive impulse puchase for most people. I know I have balked at several purchases using the Household/HSBC financing. If you really want the product (well considered and researched) it is no longer an impulse puchase. You may find the product in the classifieds slightly used or call Bowflex direct and find out about using the financing of your choice. Be careful on the phone, don't end up financing with Household/HSBC and paying using other credit or cash.
Let Bowflex know why you made your decision. I've told merchants why I wouldn't buy from them, if Household/HSBC was the only financing I had available.
Best wishes,
Drew
Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:39 am
A couple of years ago, I too fell for the "low montly payment" for a bowflex. Ever since then i have been struggling to pay off the $2000 price for my regrettable actions of calling for a bowflex. I always paid above and beyond the recommended montly payment in hopes of paying off the amount quicker. To my surprise, almost half of my payments were eaten up by interest. Due to this, I'm sure I've paid much more than the initial $2000. This year of 2005 I was finally able to pay off the last $984.17. It was a sacrifice to have to give up that amount all at once, but I was determined to get rid of this "plague". I hate this experience and I will never again fall for the so called "low monthly payments" from any finance company. What a nightmare of an experience.
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