IDOT.com...No computer...no refund..no response

About 2 years ago I purchased a complete new computer system from this company because their prices were (at the time) the most reasonable I could find. My system arrived weeks after promised delivery and my repeated phone calls were ignored. This would only be the beginning of a long nightmare.

My system arrived improperly configured and with obvious problems with both the graphics and sound cards. Over the next 4 or 5 months I was on the phone with tech support more than I actually used the system. Their tech support service though was one of those that provides support for many companys and as such they knew little or nothing about my IDOT computer. They did send technicians out to my home several different times but again none of these techs was familiar with my computer and none managed to fix any of the problems with this system. At this point I had no sound, a video card that was clearly defective, CD-Rom and floppy drives that were not functioning and a monitor that was clearly defective.

I was finally promised a replacement system since they couldn't fix the system I had. It took another 3 months and almost daily phone calls before I finally got the replacement system. I hooked up the new system and with the first hour it was making loud noises and shutting itself off every few minutes. I managed to determine that the hard drive was defective. Further, the CD-ROM and floppy drives were also not working on this new system.

Following this was yet another 3 months of phone calls , where finally they agreed to let me return the system so they could 'look at it'. They wouldn't promise a refund but assured me that it would be replaced if it were defective. They promised to send me a 'call tag' from UPS to have the system shipped back at their expense. It would take another 2 months and many more phone calls to finally get my call tag. Once it was in hand I packed the system up in its original carton adding extra styrofoam to secure it (I have work experience with packing and shipping).

It would take another 3 months after I shipped the package before they finally told me that the package had arrived damaged and that I wouldn't be getting a refund or a new system. I know without doubt that all reasonable effort was taken to pack the system properly.

As of this date it has been several months , I have written letters and called repeatedly and they will not respond. UPS will not get involved at all (because IDOT issued a call tag ,technically this means IDOT shipped it, not me). Since I can't file a claim with UPS and IDOT is ignoring me I am stuck, out $2500 I paid for this system. I have filed complaints with the FTC and BBB ,neither of whom can seem to help resolve this. The BBB advised me to seek legal alternatives. Unfortunately I am at present on disability and unable to afford to hire an attorney to file legal action.