Complain about a product or service

Levitz Furniture

Sameer of Anaheim, CA May 25, 2009

I bought the sofas, dinning table, chairs, living room table from levitz in 2007 - 2008. My sofas have been replaced by them 2 - 3 times because of quality not given to us as promised and now we are stuck with sofas that are not worth the money that we paid for (3000) and since levitz shut down there is no one that can help get what we would have expected after how much money we paid.

Avelino of Brooklyn, NY May 5, 2009

I purchased a sofa from Levitz two years ago. I paid the bill in full the first week in February 2009. After the payment was received I started to get letters from HSBC claiming that I owed 101.00 dollars. I called them and stated that I had paid the bill in full.

In turn, they stated that I own the money because I was enrolled in a payment protection. I never sign any papers for payment protection, it that was the case, then I did not need to pay for the furniture because I was layed-off Sept. 2007. They insisted that I called and cancel the protection, which I did not do because I never enrolled the protection. I am refusing to pay the 101.00 because I never enrolled in debt protection.

Darlene of Mission Hills, CA April 15, 2009

Darlene of Mission Hills CA (04/15/09)
I purchased from Levitz Furniture store in July 2007 with terms that stated no interest no payment until 2010. A few days later I purchased additional furniture with different terms that stated no interest and no payments until 2009. Some months later in 2008, HSBC called to inquire about why I had not made payments and demanded payment with interest. I stated the terms of my contract and they informed me that I had to pay for debt protection (which I never ordered). I informed them of this and could not get any resolve.

I tried to get in contact with Levitz without resolve. Levitz filed for bankruptcy and left customers without any recourse. HSBC began harassing phone calls several times a day. I tried to get them to send me paperwork showing what I ordered and the terms of my agreement; since they were claiming something contrary to the original terms and agreement. They replied in writing that they could not comply with my request. They just continued to apply interest and debt protection to the accounts against my protests to these fraudulent charges.

In Sept. 2008, HSBC sold my account to a collection agency that is now attempting to bring legal action against me. The original debt of 6700 dollars is now nearly 10,000 dollars plus legal fees and more interest. I cannot believe I am being sued for Levitz' and HSBC's fraudulent practices. They have slandered my credit, stressed me financially and emotionally, and sent my health into decline. How do large companies get away with scamming consumers in this manner? Where are consumer advocates in California? The current economic pressures are taxing enough to the average citizen; why do we have to endure corporate scams as well? Can someone stop HSBC's consumer rip-off practices?

Alberto of Bronx, NY April 13, 2009

Alberto of Bronx NY (04/13/09)
On August and September 2007 I made purchases at Levitz Furniture, My purchases came up to 2,756.02. They gave me two years to pay for the merchandise. I was ready to pay for the merchandise last month after receiving my income tax last month. I found out yesterday that I had a balance of 3,185.74. A supervisor from HCBS card services told me that I had been enrolled in some kind of credit protection for 24.80 a month and that the charges during the period was in the 432.00 range.

I was astonished to find out that according to them that I supposedly checked off a box in the application for this service. I never agreed to enroll in this credit protection and I do not recall checking any boxes that I agreed to pay 24.80 a month. That is ludicrous! I do not believe in this kind of service and I decline it whenever I apply for a credit card.

I requested a copy of my application to see if this is accurate. I feel that I have been taken advantage of by Levitz/ HCBS Card Services. In addition to them claiming that I enrolled in this service, HCBS Card Services failed to deliver monthly statements to my address. They sent me my statements sporadically and I would receive statements every 7-8 months from them. I received a statement in July 2008 and I saw a high balance.

I called and was notified by a representative that this extra amount was a finance charge that would be incurred if I pay my balance after the two year grace period. Also I have a sixteen digit account yet I was never given a credit card where I could check my account balance. I was being charged 24.80 monthly without my consent and without me being informed. I feel that my rights as a consumer were violated and I never had a chance to even cancel this service. I was unaware that I had been enrolled and paying for credit protection.

I never opted for this service optionally and I know that Levitz Furniture/ HCBS Card Services enrolled me in this service fraudulently. I am more than willing to pay for the merchandise I purchased which amounts to 2,756.02. I want to make that payment in one lump sum . However; I feel like I have been deceived and taken advantage of by these people and nobody was willing to help me from any department. I tried to mediate a resolution with them but nobody is willing to help me at HCBS. I did manage to put in a complaint through their credit protection department but I need help and counsel with this matter.

Michael of Brooklyn, NY April 10, 2009

Michael of Brooklyn NY (04/10/09)
I too fell into Levitz scam. I bought a bed and a mattress from Levitz in 2007 and was told that I would have no payments and interests for seventeen months. I became unemployed in October 2007 and just returned to work on March 23, 2009. My repayment began in January 2009. I made two payments on my account as that's what I could afford.

I began received calls from HSBC stating that they are now collector for Levitz. I am receiving calls at least five times a day. When I checked my payoff balance I was told my balance is 2600+. However, my original payoff balance was 1800. I asked HSBC about this and they told me Levitz added 600+ of interest to my payoff balance because I did not payoff my original balance within that seventeen months that they told me I would not have to make payments and interest would not have accrued. That's fraud and taking advantage of people. To top that off my monthly payments that am making is also subject to interest.

Levitz should not be getting away with this scam. Am sure there are many people with this issue and something needs to be done about this.

Rudy of Rio Rico, AZ April 3, 2009

We bought furniture at Sam Levitz in Tucson, Arizona at 0% for a year, most store will activate your interest rate after a year if you still owe money to them. Sam Levitz furniture activated the interest rate at 29% and they tacked on the interest for the whole year it was interest free which send us over limit and then charged us for going over the limit 386.09. We had got the balance down to about 3809.00 more or less now we owe 6,386.96. I do not call that a business. I call them crooks and a scam. The fine print is unreadable. I wrote and complained to them and they said "too bad" you should have read the contract. Why didn't the sales person warn us about this?

Shajeda of Jamaica, NY March 17, 2009

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