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BlueHippo Funding






BlueHippo Funding
An Investigative Series
by Joseph S. Enoch

BlueHippo: Extreme Layaway
A Short History
The BlueHippo Foundation
Trouble Follows BlueHippo's Founder
What Should You Do?
BlueHippo's Response
BlueHippo Has Many Clones
---
News
Buying A Computer With Poor Credit
Gateway at Risk in BlueHippo Class Action
Blue Hippo Pays $5 Million To Settle FTC Charges
Federal Court Strikes Blue Hippo's Arbitration Clause
BlueHippo Funding Settles $1 Million Maryland Case
West Virginia Sues Blue Hippo
Class Actions Target Blue Hippo
Consumer Complaints

BlueHippo, based in Baltimore, claims to be "the nation's leading direct response merchandise lender," whatever that might be. It advertises heavily through infomercials, always a warning sign.

So what does BlueHippo do? Its Web site says it "helps consumers purchase and finace the products they want and need, inidependent of their credit history." As far as we can tell, it sells plasma TVs, computers and other merchandise through a pay-in-advance credit plan.

To be blunt, it sells stuff to people with bad credit. Its Web site states that customers pay $99 down and make 13 weeks (that's weeks, not months) worth of payments. After that, the merchandise is sent to them and the payments continue until the purchase is finally paid off.

Is this a good deal? Who knows? It's very hard to know what the real cost of the merchandise is, as it's not very clearly disclosed. If it's like most such schemes, the products are priced at full retail and then some, and the fees and interest rates aren't immediately apparent.

On its Web site on March 17, BlueHippo was offering a desktop computer for $99 down and $39.99 per week. It's not immediately apparent how long the payments last but it's quite likely most consumers could find a similar computer for a lot less if they saved their money and paid cash.

But don't take our word for it. Here are some of the BlueHippo customers we've heard from ...

bonnie of Fort Smith, AR November 4, 2009

On 6/3/2009. I ordered a computer thru blue hippo cause i seen this comercial on tv were u dont need a credit check so i called them they got my information from my checking account they started amediately taking my money out.first they took 99.00 dollars to start then every week 47.99 as of today they have took out almost 2000,00 dollars .they lied to me when it would be shipped to me after 13 payments .so far as of today its been 21 payments .i have called them repeatly and they keep telling me it is being shipped from factory .then they told me this last time not to call back.and if i wanted to cancel i would not get my money back.they have lyed and scamed me.i dont no what to do.i need help.i have all the paper work they have sent me and my statements i printed off my account statements from them and bank statements.

Loren of Newark, NJ October 27, 2009

I entered into an account with this company and was told that I would get a refund as long as the computer wasn't not ordered. When I cancelled the account before the computer was ordered I was told that I could only get a store credit, The credit was for approx 400.00. I ordered a cheaper computer in July that was paid in full with the store credit. To day I have not received the computer. When I call I keep getting the run around telling me that I needed to wait and that there was not supervisor there for me to speak with. I am out 400.00. I promised this computer to my niece for school now she doesn't have a computer to do her school work with.

Melzina of Bloomington, IN October 26, 2009

I cancelled my order to Blue Hippo the day after i placed my order. I spoke with a supervisor named Lisa who informed me that they had already taken the money out of my account. They were supposed to send some paperwork the next day, and the debit was not supposed to had been taken until the day after. I was informed that it could get back my 124 in 45 days. Can they do that?

I cannot access my account online neither, to make sure it was cancelled. I am going to wait and see if I get my money back, and if not I going to sue them. They can't just take people's money and get away with it. I wish I would have done my research. They are trying to steal my money. They have done this before and continue to do it even though they broke the law.

LUIS of CHIEFLAND, FL October 22, 2009

I am writing this letter to complain about the company Blue Hippo. They have taken my money from my checking account two years ago without my authorization. Blue Hippo was supposed to send me a computer a year ago. I constantly keep calling them regarding this computer and they always answer the same as usual. Their response is that I have to call back in 4 weeks. Blue Hippo has taken 1,000 dollars from my checking account.

I talked to someone from the Consumers Affairs, in Florida, and they asked me to send this letter directly to Consumers Affairs in Maryland. Thank you for taking your time to read through this letter. I really do appreciate it and hope you have a nice day.

pam of beaumont, CA October 22, 2009

I ordered a tv from them year ago and never got it. i called them and they tell me to to wait. i asked to talk to a manger or someone who can help me and they tell me they dont take phone calls. what can i do. it's been a year and i get no anwser them. i read on the internet 90% of people who order from them never get anything from them. plese help me

Mr. of Bellport, NY October 21, 2009

On May 15,2009, I called for a computer,When they explained they help people with bad credit, I signed up using my checking account number, and 99.oo. When they told me that I was to pay 2000.00 total for a 690.oo Dell computer, I immediately cancelled the order and said I have a Dell account, I can get it from them. So I hung up the phone and then call Dell and ordered the computer. Come the 18 May 2009,99.00is taken out of my account?, So I call back BH and they tell me(a different Cust.Serv person, I have to wait 45Buisness days to get my refund. I explain, they shouldn't have cashed my check since I cancelled within 3 Buisness Days, I still have to wait. I wait the 45 buiesness days, now I have to wait and give them more time , and time till this date, Oct.21,2009, my request for refund is in the managers office for review. How can a company with this record, stay in buisness?I want to take them to court,and sue them for more than they owe me, figuring I pay lawyers fees,etc, and nothing gets accomplished, I lose again.What is this complaint going to do for me anyway?Are you getting my money back? What Gov't allows this kind of practice to rip off the consumer and get away with it?

kenneth of liberty, NC October 21, 2009

I order a computer from blue hippo in 08/2009. They were going to take 99.00 out of my checking account on the 17th of Aug.aswe talked about for that was when I would have the money in my account. On the 12th of that month my job cut my hours back. I then called blue hippo on the 13th to cancel my order. They did so. But after checking my backing account on line on the internet I found out the went and took the money out anyway before the 17th of the month as we talked about.

I called them and they said we took it out early because the weekend fell in between that time. I ask them when will I get my 99.00 back and they said in 45 days. Well 45 days went by and I called them back and they said well it can take up to 60 days which would be on the 19th of oct.

Well now it is the 21st of octerber I called them yesterday and they said the person I talked to first never put in for my refund. so now they are saying they have to wait till the manger puts in for the refun. I ask how long will that be and they said they didn't know for sure could be a few days. Still without my 99.00 and do not know when I will get it if I ever will. Well when they took out the money it put me in the hole on my back account overdraft fees.

Barbara of Enola , PA October 20, 2009

I ordered a computer from blue hippo and did get it even though it was already out dated and at about 1/2 a ram memory pretty useless . I had to pay someone to bring it up to 1 gig which meads I couldn't down load some things. After a year and many calls ,and many put offs "give it a few more weeks " I was still waiting for anything.Finally I got my printer , ta da a whole 40 something item and that was 10 months after I paid it off. the computer cost 2000 you'd think it would be upto date and the printer would be alot better. So now I am still waiting over one year later for my 19" color tv and my 300 rebate. Allof those items I could have purchased for less than 2000 I highly recomend everone spread the word absoultly not to purchase any thing from those rip off artists. Now they are preying on the handicapped people, I didn't get to them in time when they had expressed the thought of owning a computer now they are sucked in to the scam. SO lets let everyone know.

angella of Steele, ND October 19, 2009

I have the same complaints as every one else. I have sent in all the papers and all the money and never recieved computer when I did call I got he run around and so I cancelled and they wont refund me so i had to order something else and send more money so I did that. I still have not receieved anything from them. I did fax a letter to them stating my frustrations and I have not heard back on that either.

Ronald of Northglenn, CO October 17, 2009

I had ordered 2 items from blue hippo, (DVD/VCR combo & a 22" lcd moniter) back in march. I have called repetitively since the deadline of my delivery and am told the same thing every time. "give us a couple more days".

I also have begun to record the past couple of phone calls. Research done upon Blue Hippo indicates they are not going to deliver my product.

I am sure you have dealt with this company before and have a solution to the problem, please advise. I am willing to do anything necessary to assist. All I want are the items purchased.

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