|
Christine of Winchester VA (02/08/08)
I tried this Silkies trial and joined Netflix. All of a sudden, the three companies are charging me $1.00 a day, each for services. I have no idea of what I am supposed to be getting, except ripped off. I cannot find a place to unsubscribe on any of them. I live on a fixed income and cannot afford this! Help!
Bonnie of Denton TX (11/18/06)
I sent in a form for a free panty girdle about a month ago. Today I received a package with free trouser socks and three pairs of pantyhose that I am billed for. I do not wear panty hose. And I know I did not order any. I do not want be in some sort of buying club. Please delete my name from your list of clients. I did not order any pantyhose. If I need stockings, I wear a girdle and ordinary stockings. I am 71 years old, and can't afford FREE deals that end up with my owing money for something I can't use.
D of Anderson, SC (07/13/06)
I have received numerous bills from Silkies over the past two years. I paid the first bill because I am taking care of my moms bills and affairs and did not know if she ordered anything.
Since then I know what mail goes in and out of this address and no mail orders have gone out to this company. However, I still get bills and now I've gotten a threatening letter from a collection agency for $23.38. They have turned over her account to a professional collection agency.
Patricia of Gaithersburg, MD (05/20/06)
Silkies has been sending me bills for hosiery I did not order ($14.92) for a year and have now referred me to a RMCB collection agency. I never placed an order for anything from Silkies.
I have a perfect credit rating and now this scam may ruin my record.
Patty of Chicago, IL (04/24/06)
I received hosiery in the mail from a company called Silkies. I did not ask for it, assumed it was a free sample and did not even open up the envelope. Now I have received 3 more pairs of hosiery - 2 pantyhose and 1 pair of trouser socks that I have not ordered. I did open this envelope to see what is going on.
Silkies wants me to send back the hosiery or pay $14.97 to keep it. As far as I am concerned, I did not order this nor am I obligated to send it back. This is a scam and I do not want to be billed for these unwanted goods.
I went to the FTC website that says: "Unordered Merchandise Whether or not the Rule is involved, in any approval or other sale you must obtain the customer’s prior express agreement to receive the merchandise. Otherwise the merchandise may be treated as unordered merchandise.....Moreover, customers who receive unordered merchandise are legally entitled to treat the merchandise as a gift.
Renee of Sierra Vista, AZ (03/28/06)
I received a card for a free pair of pantyhose, with "no further obligation". I returned the card to try the "free" hose. I never received the "free" pantyhose and am now being billed for a shipment that I also never received. I am shown as having an account with this company even though I have never received anything other than the "free" postcard.
I have just received my fourth notice from this company. This "account", that I supposedly have, may be turned it over to collections and I cannot find a phone number to "speak" with anyone.
Angela of Warrenton, MO (03/28/06)
It's been such a long time ago, I've forgotten just how many pairs I got, but I received several pairs of knee-high stockings in the mail that I did not order. I am very loyal to the hosiery that I wear and I had no intentions of using this free offer. I put the "gift" in a box going to the Goodwill.
Time passed and along came trouser socks, that I again did not order. Since I did not order them I was under no obligation to pay OR send them back. Silkes continued to bill me for these and I ignored them.
Yesterday I received a letter from RMCB Collection Agency! This company has a lot of nerve.
Jane of Marblehead, MA (03/06/06)
I responded to an offer for a FREE sample pair of Silkies and received the sample (which I never even opened). I did not receive anything else from Silkies except billing statements. I do not understand why I was being billed since I never committed to purchasing anything from the company nor did I see any notice on their sample offer that I would have to pay for anything.
So far, I have received four bills, the last one threatening to affect my credit. There was no phone number listed on their bills, but I finally contested the bills by writing to a certain "Albert Jones, Billing Supervisor" who signed the letter on the bills. That was a week or so ago. To be continued...
Paula of Macon, GA (11/15/05)
I responded to an offer for free hose. Got shipment and put away in drawer.
Two months later I'm getting a past due bill!
Jamie of Ardmore PA (11/1/02):
I was sent mail from "Silkies" hosiery, they asked me if I wanted a pair of FREE pantyhose. I responded YES, after reading all the small print (I am an attorney and know to read the disclaimers, etc.). After receiving one free pair of hosiery, I was asked to fill out a pre-paid post card indicating whether or not I wanted another "Free" pair of trouser socks, which would be sent with a 2-for-1 deal on more pantyhose. I responded CANCEL.
However, the company sent me the products anyway, with a bill for $13.98, an account number, etc. On the bill there was no phone number to reach anyone, only a P.O. Box in Philadelphia. I attempted to look up the company in the white pages and the yellow pages to no avail. It did not exist. I next went to the PA Corporations website, and after much aggravation, found that "Silkies" is a corporation going by the name HCI, INC. or Hosiery Corp. of America, Inc. I was able to get this phone number, and called customer service. They did cancel my "account".
While looking for information on the internet, under a "Google" search, I found many articles complaining about the business practices of this company. Because my problem has been solved, and I no longer have to pay for the unsolicited products, I believe my case is moot. Others should know how to reach this company to cancel accounts they never requested. Please get the word out. I know the amounts charged are not very much, but this type of business practice should not be permitted to continue.
Linda of Shillington PA (4/29/03):
Was sent 4pr of Silkies pantyhose in mail. I never ordered them! I promptly returned them, have a receipt from US Postal Service (on 2/28/03). Notices of payments due keep on coming, I have written them twice with no acknowledgement that they received my letters and the return of their pantyhose. I do not want my good credit rating ruined because of this!
Dr. Angela, New York NY (4/23/03):
I received a bill for socks I never received and continued to receive them despite efforts to erase the false order. After some time to stop the annoying mail, a payment in the amount of $8.88 was made via check. The bills still came this time in the amount of $6.05 and yet again no shipping had been ordered or mailed.
Janice of Dallas TX (4/16/03):
I want to go on record as being another victim of the "Silkies a.k.a. HCI, Inc." I received in the mail an offer to receive a FREE pair of hose, and found myself the later recipient of 3 additional pair. The hose may actually be good quality hose, but the company's method of introduction (shoddy/shaddy business practices) destroys their marketing approach. How can they not understand that people resent anyone's attempt to con/scam them and just on general principle are going to scream "fraud" when they receive this package of deception.
I say "deception" because no company name or phone numbers are listed on the invoice so the duped recipient can call to complain. Also, no prices whatsoever are listed for any of the items listed on the attached order form. If the hosiery they offered was of the best available quality anywhere, this company's unethical marketing practices would prohibit me from buying them.
Gabriela of Los Angeles (4/8/03):
I received the same deal about the panty hose, refused order and now I am getting billed for $13.66 for what I do not know. I returned everything and said cancel. I hope this does not happen again.
Augustina of Bronx NY (4/2/03):
I was given a free sample of silkies hosiery. It was stated that there was no obligation attached so I accepted it. After some few weeks I received another set of three and another free sample and I was given a bill of $15.31 to pay or return the product. I did not order the product in the first place neither did they include a self addressed envelope for the item to be returned. I cannot use my own postage to return it since I did not order the item. I would therefore want them to send me a self-addressed envelope and I will return the item.
Kathy of Reserve LA (2/19/03):
I received "free pantyhose" and then I received a bill saying that my account was delinquent.
I went to the consumeraffairs.com web site and found that others had already reported this same problem. Thank you to all the ladies who took time to report this company. I used their information, called the company, and did not have to pay anything.
Beverly of Corpus Christi TX (2/19/03):
I do not know if this is the correct place or not, but I received an uninvited order of panty hose from a Silkies and I am most unhappy about it. There was no return address and I did not see why I needed to pay for the cost of returning unordered merchandise. So I threw away the merchandise. Now I am receiving a dun from these people. There was no phone number on the delinquent bill. I want to get off their list. I do not feel obligated to pay anything. Please advise me of my obligation to these slick silkie people.
Stephanie of Bellmawr NJ (2/11/03):
Several months ago, I received an invitation in the mail from Silkies for a "free" pair of pantyhose. There was no indication that there would be any further obligations or purchases required once I received the free pair that was offered. I recall getting a package in the mail from the company some weeks later and received not only one but FOUR pairs of pantyhose and a pair of trouser socks. I absolutely did not order this merchandise nor did I expect to be billed for it. In hindsight, I wish I would have simply written "return to sender" on the package and sent it all back to the company. However, I was unaware of the extra contents at the time and simply thought I was getting my free pair of pantyhose.
I put the pantyhose and trouser socks away and didn't think much of it until weeks later when I received a bill in the mail for $13.98. There was no customer service number in which to call and voice my complaints, however there was an address for a P.O. box on the invoice. After two or three more invoices were sent to my home my frustration level increased. There was still no 1-800 customer service number to be found anywhere on the front or back of the invoice and there were rude notes from the company on the bill asking "is there a problem? why haven't you contacted us to explain why you haven't sent your payment?" I tried calling information and I tried the phone book but I hit a dead end.
Today I received yet another invoice regarding my "delinquent account" and out of sheer frustration was ready to just send in the $13.98 and hope my credit rating wasn't in jeopardy. But then I thought why should I pay for this unsolicited merchandise? So I decided I would send it back. After all, I still have all the merchandise in their individual packs which have never been opened or used. But, this now meant I had to pay for shipping and handling out of my own pocket. I decided against that plan as well and as a last ditch effort I got on the internet to see if I could find any information about this company. I was very happy to see that I wasn't the only one with a complaint. Apparently, Silkies is also known as HCI, INC. and I just happened to find similar complaints from other consumers at this site. I felt the need to document my complaint here because I feel like I was being scammed. I almost fell into the trap of 'just paying the bill' so I wouldn't have to deal with the aggravation. I hope something can be done to stop this type of business practice because I am sure many consumers are falling into the same trap and this company will continue to generate its income in this shameful manner.
Julianne or Bridgeport CT writes (12/14/01):
Via the US Mail, I was sent an invitation to try a free pair of silkies. I was under the impression that there was no obligation, and if I filled out my name and address and size, they would send me my free pair of Silkies pantyhose.
I did, but received about five pair, and a bonus pair of what they called, "trouser socks". This was about six weeks ago. Suddenly, today in the mail, I got a bill for $13.77. Telling me that my bill was past due, and that they were disappointed that they still had not received my payment....??? HUH?
I was confused, as I never agreed to pay for anything. I had only responded to their invitation for a free pair. I looked over the entire invoice, and did not find a phone number to call to discuss the matter, so called information to get their number. When I called, I told the woman on the phone that I will not pay this, and that I don't want them to send me any further pantyhose. I also told her that I thought this was a horrible scam. She immediately told me that she would remove my account from their system.
I was happy that she offered that, but I also told her that I would be contacting proper authorities, and she told me that that was my perogative. In my perspective, to someone who is not mentally alert, or cannot read well, etc, they might feel obligated to pay this company for these goods which are sent to them without their asking for, or ordering them. After all, who would pass up a free trial gift?
Looking at the Web site, we find that along with the "free" pair recipients get two extra pairs for $1 each, unless they're returned in 10 days. Further, each time you "buy" (i.e., forget to return) a pair, the company sends you not one but four more. Wouldn't take long to have a houseful of Silkies at that rate.
|
