FYE

In December 2010, I made a purchase at an FYE retail store. The clerk convinced me to sign up for an FYE membership and explained that I could "check it out then call to cancel at anytime". I was under the impression that there would be an annual membership fee. Around March 2011, I decided to cancel the membership. But the FYE website did not provide any phone numbers or mailing addresses for contacting them for cancellation or any other purpose (except for issues of copyright infringement). At that time, I sent an email to FYE telling them to cancel my membership. I received no response but assumed that my membership had, in fact, been cancelled.

In June 2011, FYE began charging my credit card $11.99 per month. Continued attempts to contact FYE and have my membership cancelled have gone unanswered. The $11.99 monthly charges continue to be posted to my credit card. I am in the process of disputing those charges. My most recent email to FYE is pasted below. Despite these warnings, I've received no response from FYE. What can be done to stop the charges to my credit card and to stop FYE from continuing these questionable business practices? Thank you.

On 1/10/10, at 2:15pm, I went to this location to exchange a defective unit for an IPod which charges, plays the IPod and is also a digital clock. I advised that it was bought as a Christmas present and that my son just opened within the last week and it just stop working and I wanted it exchanged. The rep (not Jason at this time) advised that they may not have anymore. He is on his way back and I am on the phone advising my wife that we may have an issue about the exchange.

Somehow this rude and sarcastic rep gets involved. I over hear the original person tell Jason that they do not have any left. Jason tells the person to get the display model. He brings it back to Jason who is behind the counter; he puts it in the box of the defective unit I just brought back. I have to assume that he thought I was not aware of what was transpiring as he comes up to the counter where I was standing and proceeds to tell me, "Ok I have replaced this with a new unit and I should not have any problem."

I advised him he did not think he was going to try and pass off a display model that have been handle and played with by god knows how many people as new and that I wanted my money back and would go elsewhere. He asked for the Visa on which it was purchased on. I advised him that I did not buy this and do not shop at this store due to the issues I have had in the past with F.Y.E. and its employees and I was returning for the person who is at work. He advised me he could not give me a refund without the card. I advised any other store would refund me cash regardless of the manner in which the original purchase was made.

I mention Wal-Mart would do the refund ( I just did a refund there before going to F.Y.E. with no problem) and he became rude and sarcastic in stating Wal-Mart is not one of our stores. He is basically calling me an idiot as I am aware they are not. No matter what I said I was met with rude responses, "Sorry, sir, that's company policy." I would like to note that I happened to look at the side of the register not in plain view of the customers to see the store return policy covered up by DVDs that were being sold.

I moved them and while reading the hidden store policy, I advice if he is not aware that the store return policy is to be fully disclosed and in sight of the customers. Another customer at the other register stated that you know he is right in what he is saying and the store's rep basically ignore her. When I advised that the manners in which refunds are given are not listed anywhere on the policy, he stated, "Sorry, Sir. Store policy and that is how I was trained." Yet again another sarcastic response.

I was forced into having to either take the display model which was falsely advised of being new or now a store gift card. Why would I want a store gift card and do any further business after being treated in the manner I was. So first passing something off as new, covering up the store return policy and lastly I took the gift cards I did not want my wife to lose money. I was not even offered the display at a reduced rate and a gift card for the different just that it is new here you go, but then I get the receipt for the gift card where it is falsely stated that" "Original Transaction Information. No Receipt Provided For Returned Items." Which he had the original receipt and never returned to me.

So three things: I must be strong armed in having to buy there again as I was not able to get a cash refund where it was approved for payment by the credit card company back in December and making me have to drive 25 miles one way back to the store so that I can be poorly handled again. In the past I have seen items marked up to be later listed as markdown sales items when it at the original prices. Their store prices are much higher than any other store in that area. I was insulted and basically treated as if I was a moron by telling something was new when it was a display model/used out of the box and out on the store floor and trying to pawn it off on me as new. The new unit was $43.19 new. Display should not be offered as new or sold at the new price. Forcing me to get a gift card and have to drive 25 miles one way back to a store I do not want to shop in again at $2.93 a gallon for gas where I could have taken the money and went to a different store and got my son another player so he would not be without.

I ordered two games online which had significant rebates available. The rebates have to be mailed in by the end of May. The promotion has ended online and the necessary rebate forms have vanished before I could get them. According to the site such forms should also have been included with delivery. However, they were not. I filled out a questionaire online, per the website directions and was informed I would have to call their 800 number. I called the 800 number and was directed to a third party rebate vendor. The third party vendor informed me they could do nothing and to contact the FYE rebate center.

I filed a request from help on the online center and was told to call the 800 number. The 800 number told me they have no information about rebates and can not help me. I have since located the rebate form, available only on a forum website completely unrelated to FYE wherein it states the form may be mailed up through May 21. The form may not be found by going through the FYE.com website and all attempts to seek assistance were met with a brick wall leading to the belief that the form is being hidden from customers. As of this date, FYE has replied solely with form letters telling me they will take no further action or to contact somewhere else. In addition, the form requires a packing slip that was not included in my shipment.

I ordered two games online which had significant rebates available. The rebates have to be mailed in by the end of May. The promotion has ended online and the necessary rebate forms have vanished before I could get them. According to the site such forms should also have been included with delivery. However, they were not. I filled out a questionaire online, per the website directions and was informed I would have to call their 800 number. I called the 800 number and was directed to a third party rebate vendor.

The third party vendor informed me they could do nothing and to contact the FYE rebate center. I filed a request from help on the online center and was told to call the 800 number. I have been given the runaround and have so far not come even remotely close to finding out where the rebate form is to fill out, despite the fact that the offer said the rebate has to be mailed by the end of May.

Over a ten year period we have accumulated about 25-30 gift cards from a store called Suncoast. When I found out the store was going out of business, they said the cards would be honored by a different store company called FYE. My husband & I took all our gift cards from Suncoast to the FYE store & converted to FYE gift cards. We had enough Suncoast cards to purchase 5 $500 & 1 $125 FYE gift cards.

When we got home that night we verified the balance through their phone service and stored the cards in our safe for later useage. We did not keep the receipts after verifing the card balances because we already had the cards. I recently went into the store to purchase some movies, and discovered all of the $500 cards had been reported lost or stolen. The $125 card could still be used. The funds are still on the cards, but they will not let us use them. We know the date & type of purchase for the cards. Corporate won't call us after 2 weeks of trying. What can be done?

I'm out $2500 dollars it seems.