Royal Prestige breach of their own contract - won't refund me when I cancelled by the book Lynbrook New York

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Rip-off Report Investigation: shows that Hy Cite / Royal Prestige is fulfilling its commitment to provide excellent customer service. Rip-off Report gives Hy Cite / Royal Prestige a POSITIVE rating in customer support & quality assurance. They pledge to resolve complaints & address any issues - committed to 100% satisfaction - consumers to feel safe & secure.

I got suckered in at the presentation. My fiancee and I bought a set of pots and pans and thought we did well negotiating down to $1600 with a few extras thrown in. I didn't feel good leaving the presentation, but got peace of mind reading that we had a three business day cancellation period. That was the only way I would sign the contract.

Our presentation was on Saturday night (4/29/06), so we had until Wednesday (5/3/06) to have the cancellation notice postmarked (certified).

I was busy at work Monday, so Tuesday I devoted a couple hours scouring the internet for info on Royal Prestige and it's products. It didn't take long to see they had some really shady practices going on, especially with refunds and cancellations. I got the gut feeling we made a mistake, so I sent off the cancellation notice off that day (making copies of everything).

I checked my credit card statement - the $1600 charge appeared the NEXT business day, on Monday, May 3. I checked the postal service website and RP got my cancellation notice on Sat, May 6.

I got a call Tues, May 9 from RP saying the merchandise was already shipped and I couldn't cancel. I told him I cancelled per their policy and maybe they should amend their shipping schedule to allow time for people to cancel in their 3 day window before they shipped it out. We argued a while, and he said he would have the rep that sold me the pots call me directly. I said that was fine but irrelevant; I still expected my refund.

On Wed, May 17, there was still no refund (according to their cancellation policy, they have 10 days - not business days - from the date they receive my cancellation notice to refund my money. That would've been due May 16. So on May 17, I faxed all my documentation to my credit card company as a dispute and I called RP to tell them I did so.

On Fri, May 19, I had a message from RP saying they would credit my account when they received the pots and pans back. Again, this doesn't follow their policy.

They have 10 days to refund me and 20 days from the date they received my cancellation notice to pick up the items from my house (I'm not required to send them back). I called them back the same day to tell them that and reiterated that I expect my refund the next business day.

They have done nothing that their policy says they should do. I honestly think I have the right to keep my product as well as get my refund because they have already breached their contract.

I'm so glad I cancelled by the book, because I can imagine how many people they have taken advantage of.

The RP rep told me they do almost half of their business with spanish speaking people, and almost everyone is young and "not wise to the ways of the world". They may not have the knowledge or attitude yet to deal with these RP people the way they seem to deal with customers.

TAKE HEED! CANCEL WHILE YOU CAN AND HOPE THEY DON'T GIVE YOU THE GRIEF I'VE BEEN THROUGH! As for me - this is now a matter of principle and I won't quit until I'm satisfied.

Alison
Raleigh, North Carolina
U.S.A.