Best Buy / Retail Services / HSBC Retail Services BEST BUY CO, INC. Sneaky is the word the way they get you on $39 'late charges' even if your payment came in on time. Does it take more than 10 days to mail from downtown l.a. to city of industry? What a scam! CITY OF INDUSTRY, California

Best Buy may have the best deals in town especially with their 18-months 'same as cash' easy payments which is being serviced by HSBCretail services with p.o. box at City of Industry in L.A.. 

I can't figure out who's doing the dirty work between the two as far as nickel-and-diming gullible customers on fictitious 'late charges'.  My payment due date falls on the 18th of the month and which at first, I'd cut and mail out the checks about five days prior, only to get nicked $39.00 for late charges, but which I did not notice until a few months later. 

So this time, I did a little experiment.  I had issued three separate checks for the same billing and mailed them in one envelope on Dec. 28, 2009 (due date is Jan. 16).  Sure enough, hsbc sends an email confirming the first check on Jan. 7, 2010 and the other two checks (with larger amounts) on Jan. 13, 2010.  If I had mailed it another three days later, then I'd be nailed again for another $39.00 for late charges.

I understand the U.S. postal system is on the brink of bankruptcy but there's no way it would take as long as 16 days to send a piece of mail from downtown Los Angeles to the City of Industry which is only a good 20 miles by car. 

So it's just safe to say that since Best Buy can't make money on 18-month 'same as cash' no-interest installments, they'll get you another way with the help of HSBC.