Complaint Review: Circuit City - Nationwide
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- Author Confirmed
- Circuit City Nationwide U.S.A.
- Phone:
- Web:
- Category: Audio & Electronic Retail Stores
Circuit City Advantage insurance plan scam, ripoff, Customer service black hole, Cancelled plan after three days of phone time then never sent out check Nationwide
*Consumer Comment: Dont pay any attention to Omessiho. You have a legit complaint.
*UPDATE Employee: asdf
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I received a Compaq laptop as a gift about two and a half years ago. It was purchased with the full advantage warranty, which cost $269, between a quarter and a third of the cost of the computer.
About two months after purchase the modem burned out. Easy enough, I thought, I'll bring it in and they'll fix it. After calling Circuit City and wading through the customer service line for hours I was told to call the manufacturer, because the advantage plan only came into effect after the end of manufacturer warranties or for issues they didn't cover.
I called Compaq and was told they didn't cover my problem and to call Circuit City. It was back to the phone lines. This began a three day process that ate up all my free time and left me angry and frustrated. I would call the customer service line wait on hold for 20 to 45 minutes--all the while being told that my call was important, that the call volume was high and that Circuit City would understand if I had to hang up and try again later--then I would talk to someone, be told I was in the wrong department and be transferred back into the customer service void, a labyrinthine and seemingly unchartable path to rectification.
When I would become too demanding, for instance if I would ask to speak to a supervisor, I would be told, Sure, be put on hold, and then, as if by accident, the connection would be terminated and I would begin the process all over again.
After two day of spending no less than 4 hours a day, I began taking names before beginning any conversation about the issue. This helped in terms of not being disconnected, but by this time I only wanted to cancel my plan and be credited for the prorated value.
This began a whole new process of frustration. I would be told it was taken care of and I could expect a check in the mail in a few days, only to call back after a week to find there was no record of my request.
Finally, as though I entered the very heart of the labyrinth, I was given a secret number to fax my request to, being assured that this was indeed the foolproof way to end my struggles. I faxed the request off and waited. No check came. I had expended all I had in the battle and to no successful end. I gave up.
Today, a year and a half later, but still under plan, I called the service line again. My computer is crashed and not functional. Alas, I thought, I'll get some satisfaction out of that warranty. After 25 minutes of holding and going through my issue three times, I was told my warranty had been cancelled a year and a half ago. I have a problem then, I said, because I never received a refund for the cost of that warranty.
We don't know anything about that, the man on the other end said, we're just a trouble shooting line, you'll probably have better luck if you call Circuit City's customer service line. After another hour and a half spent, I finally understand it without doubt: The system is there to prevent payouts, to prevent service, basically, to frustrate consumers into submission and render them to a state of anxious impotence.
The City Advantage Plan is a scam, and no doubt a great money maker. I would guess that the turn over for Circuit City customer service representatives is great and in proportion to their integrity and intelligence, for who could see through the faade and not be disgusted.
What the Advantage Plan represents is a money making scam. It's speakers out of the back of the truck. It's email letters promising bank transfers. It's swamp land in Florida. But it's in the clothing of big industry, a logo, nationwide retail, and so we fall for it. We get conned. But Circuit City has an address, pays taxes, produces paper trails I'm at the end of my rope. Can somebody do something?
Daniel
keene, New Hampshire
U.S.A.
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This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/19/2005 12:02 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/circuit-city/nationwide/circuit-city-advantage-insurance-plan-scam-ripoff-customer-service-black-hole-cancelled-168508. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content
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#2 Consumer Comment
Dont pay any attention to Omessiho. You have a legit complaint.
AUTHOR: Ben - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, December 21, 2005
You have a legit complaint. Omessiho is just a Circuit City employee that comes on here and consistantly dodges every coplaint about his company. If you do a search on Circuit City and read just a few of the latest you will see that pattern well and clear.
And to counter his comment about "one bad experience doesnt justify a ripoff", or in his words I think was "scam".....Thats just BS. You had a bad experience and you were let down, and then finally ripped off. You did not get what you paid for.
Your complaint is COMMON. I even did a test after trying to counter Omessiho's constant salvos of "the customer is always wrong" and "this does not constitute a ripoff". I pretended I wanted an Ipod at CC and asked many questions about the extended warranty. The employee constantly said "if you buy it...just come to this store for ANYTHING, at ANYTIME....regardless of if the manufacturer's warranty is still in effect". I stressed this issue about the "manufacturer" the most. The answer was always "come to Circuit City". Well, of course I didnt buy one. But I did call CC customer service pretending that something went wrong with the bogus Ipod only days later. Surprise Surprise!! The exact scenario you describe played out. There was no "your covered with us". There was no "go down to the store and they will replace it" (this only days after the pretend purchase). Absolutely nothing but "call the manufacturer".
So as you can see this is just not "uncommon" or even "rare" as Omesshio will try to argue. This is POLICY.
Unfortunately, too much time I think has gone by for you to get any help. They obviously got your $250+ for the bogus extended warranty. And I bet your modem has never worked since almost the beginning of your time with this computer. (Explain to me Omessiho how that RIGHT THERE is not a "ripoff"???). Now the computer is completely hosed and Circuit City obviously gave you the run around again on the phone. Thus, I'm sure its still not functioning at this time, but under this bogus warranty.
If this bogus warranty is still in effect. Meaning it "says" your covered still. I would try small claims court for the full amount of computer and warranty. Use these simple facts to go by when making your case (these are facts Omesshio and his cadre of CC patriots just cant seem to fathom)........
1. You purchased the computer in good faith with an extended warranty.
2. As of this date,the warranty is in effect.
3. As of this date, Circuit City has been unable or unwilling to repair, replace, or refund this computer.
4. You feel that you should be refunded for the full price of the computer and warranty for Circuit City's failure to honor their warranty.
PERIOD
The common sense of the arguement is blatantly clear. I wouldnt even mention the modem from years past (that fell under my "Ipod ruse" situation) until all else is played out. The situation your in now is much much worse and by FAR, a much bigger ripoff. I believe that you will easily get the $250+ for the warranty back. As for the rest of the computer, it would be up to the judge since you have had this computer for years. If he wavers on the computer, then bring up the modem. You never had a fully functioning product for most of the life it had with you.
You paid for a warranty and have no computer at all now!
#1 UPDATE Employee
asdf
AUTHOR: OMeSSiaHo - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, December 20, 2005
I'm sorry you had a bad experience but it is hardly a scam. Before I worked at CC I had an mp3 player and a TV replaced with warrenty with no problems.
You still might be able to get a refund on your CA from a few years ago. You might want to call the customer service line and see if they can go back to when it was canceled. I would imagine they would still have record that a check was sent to you but not cashed (sometimes things get lost in the mail). It might be too late but maybe you can still get your $ from when you canceled your coverage. Maybe in the future when you dont get a big check you should look into it.
Its ignorant to say CA is a ripoff because of one bad experience. You dont speak for my MANY customers that have bought new products with giftcards they recived from CC. Even consumer reports says people should cover laptops. No offense but I'll take their word over yours.
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