Thompson RCA Support Rude and Hard to Understand Support People Internet

Purchased a RCA DVD player/recorder with 6 head VCR tape player from Fingerhut. Hooked the unit up per thier instructions in the manual. The unit would not change from the HELLO which scrolled across the readout.

Called Thompson Support at 1-877-805-0519. Was advised by recording that I would need the model and serial number of the unit. Called back later with the numbers and got a foreigh female that spoke bad English. Very hard to understand. Asked for the model and serial number. Gave her the model number and the number off the back of the unit. Wrong number. Told me the serial number was under the bar code on the back of the unit. There was no bar code to be found on the unit. After a brief argument she went on without the serial number. Followed her instructions (I think?) and got a DVD to play. Turned the DVD off and removed the disc. The DVD door would not close and the word CLOSE was on the readout. She said to unplug the unit for 30 min and then call back and gave a cass number.

45 min later I called back and got a different foreign female that also spoke broken English (a requirement?) Went through the same thing with her on the DVD. Again the door would not close. Remote would not turn the unit off. Was advised to put in new batteries. Did so with no change. She told me I might have to use the front panel button - didn't work either. Told to hold the power button and the stop button at the same time for 10 seconds. I did and nothing happened. Then she told me to unplug the unit for 30 min and call back again.

At that point I blew up and unloaded about not being able to understand her and the long run around I was getting etc.. The line went dead.

We then called Fingerhut and told them the problem and details. They told us to send the unit back for full credit but since it had been over 30 days since the unit was billed out we would have to pay the return shipping. Small price to pay to get a dead unit with no support returned.

2 points to remember: 1: Don't buy RCA equipment 2: If you do, don't expect anything from Thompson Customer Support except the run around and a lot of broken English.

Roger
Corning, Iowa
U.S.A.