HRS-USA AKA Best Buy ripoff fraudulent billing practices and discriminatory, unresponsive customer service abused & mistreated Wilmington Delaware

I am in need of your assistance to resolve a problem regarding the matter with HRS-USA. In good faith, I had entrusted a person to pay off his debt with HRS-USA for the purchase of a computer in August of 2000. When I spoke with primary applicant about this matter on numerous occasions, he had informed me that he was making his payments in a timely fashion.

Since I am a co-signer, but had no access to the account (despite customer service telling me that I have a credit card for this account to which I never received one), I have had no way of keeping tabs on this account. My only source of information in reference to it was with the primary holder, who again, told me he was making payments on this account.

In August of 2001, October of 2001, and December of 2001 I was in contact with HRS-USA Customer Service regarding this account. I had heard from HRS in August of 2001, when I was informed by a rude customer service representative that I was not making MY payments on MY Best Buy card. He had said to me that it is people like me who failed to pay our debts that made it difficult for the rest of us. I had said to him, Sounds like you are calling me a credit card bum. He said, You said it, I didn't, and if the shoe fits. At that time, I was naturally quite confused, as I had a balance of ZERO on MY Best Buy account. I later called back and spoke with someone else at HRS who informed me that I did have a ZERO balance on MY account. She then checked and found that the account in question that was late in payments was the account where I was a co-signer. At that time, I agreed to make a payment on the account and asked that I be sent any and all further statements from this account, so that I COULD PAY IT IN FULL! I was informed by this representative that I had to pay immediately and was not allowed the opportunity to review the account and a balance prior to making payment. At that time, I believe the balance was less than $1300.00. However, I never received a statement from HRS, even though I had requested that one be sent to me. It was, as I said, my intention at that time to make payment in full.

The Fair Debt Practices Collection Act (Public Law 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009 Sept. 30, 1996) states A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Clearly, the first customer service representative from HRS was abusive and did harass me.

Further, the Fair Debt Practices Collection Act states that A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt. However, the first representative laid the claim to me on the phone that I had defaulted on my credit card payments. He never at any time mentioned or referenced to the account to which I was a co-signer. Since I had an account with HRS in my name and my spouse's name that was paid in full at the time, I was naturally very confused and disturbed over this information.

When I never received a statement, I called back again in October of 2001. I had asked that this account be closed, that no further charges be allowed on it. I was told this would be done. I was also assured I would get the statements sent to my address. Again, no statements appeared. I sought out the primary card holder who told me he was getting and PAYING the statements on time and he promised he would do so. I told him to bring me a statement and I would make payment for him. He never answered to my request. After October, I lost touch with him and no longer heard from HRS. I called again in December and was told that I could not receive information about that account over the phone. The representative informed me that I was being rude and she refused to talk to me further. I was at a loss on what I was supposed to do. I had wanted to pay this all along, but apparently, it was more important that they went after the primary holder, all the while causing credit card woes to my name without my knowledge.

I have spoken with three of HRS representatives in March. I also spoke with a supervisor who said to me that I could file a written complaint to HRS regarding my credit report on this statement. He told me that I got just what I deserved, and that would teach' me for being a co-applicant. He also said to me, Well you can contact the office at the address I gave you, but if you want my personal opinion, I think it serves you right that your credit will be ruined. You should have called us every month to make sure the payments were being sent. Since when is it a co-applicant's responsibility to call to verify that payments are made monthly? Considering that I had no response at my request to get statements from HRS on this account, what purpose would that serve, other than I can pay them via check by phone at a cost of $10 each time to me? On March 28, I spoke with another representative who said to me, Maybe if you would quit whining all the time, we would help you.

I have sent a payment for the full amount owed on this account. This is despite the fact that it is not for anything that I have in my possession or in any way that I will gain. I just want this responsibility off my back.

Had HRS taken a responsible action in the first place and sent me the statements as requested, I would have made good on this account. Had they made an effort to contact me and inform me what was happening, I would have made good on this account.
I do not make a habit of late payments or failure to pay. Had HRS requested funds from me, I would have paid them. How could they expect me to pay a bill that I do not have access too? I don't have an account number, I was never given a credit card for this account (even though their customer service office tells me that one was sent to me perhaps it was sent to the primary card holder who decided not to give it to me, I do not know, I only know that I don't have one).

You may accept that I am foolish for making an error in judgment by being a co-signer. Believe me, I will be the first to admit that this was a horrible mistake on my part. I will never serve as co-signer for another person again. Accepting that I was foolish enough to enter into this, please also accept that I am the VICTIM in this horrid situation. I have not been the negligent party, but the person who is now paying for the negligence of another. At $1754, this is a very costly lesson for me. I believe that I have been victimized enough by this situation and do not believe that I should be further victimized by the damage to my credit.

Cathy
Winona, Minnesota

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