What's On Your Mind? Best Buy, Dell, Christian Debt Consolidation

We always advise consumers to rely only on a company's written information, not what company personnel tell you. We were reminded of that again when we heard from Debra, of Manitou, Mich., who said she spent $600 for a Sony 40 inch flat screen TV in March at her local Best Buy.

“The TV quit working so I returned it to Best Buy this morning, only to be told that there is only a 30 day warranty period and I should have bought their extended warranty,” Debra told ConsumerAffairs.com. “The TV is only eight weeks old, and is now out of stock.”

Hmmm. Only a 30-day manufacturer's warranty on a brand new TV? That doesn't sound right. According to the LCDTV Buying Guide, it isn't. Under Sony LCD TV Warranty Information, it says:

“The basic warranty covers one year parts and labor. If the TV is 30 inches or larger, you do qualify for in home service. To get the service, call 1-800-222-7669.”

Though you usually have better luck working at the local level, Debra needs to contact Sony, not Best Buy.

Rolling the dice

Is buying an extended warranty ever a good idea? Perhaps, though we can't think of a reason offhand. The manufacturer's warranty will cover the first year, and usually that's enough protection.

“I bought my Dell laptop Inspiron 1545 seven months ago,” Cez, of Las Vegas said. “I now get a message that reads 'consider replacing your battery.'

Cez called Dell and since the computer was still under warranty, the company agreed to replace the battery.

“Then he called me to extend my warranty for another year for $122.00 which does not cover replacement of the battery should it die on me,” Cez said. “I asked him how much for the battery, he said $165.00.”

Cez wants to know if he should buy the extended warranty. Since Cez lives in Vegas, let's look at it from a casino's perspective.

Cez just got a warranty-covered replacement of his battery, worth $165. He's up, the house is down. The house would like to get some of its money back. They've figured the odds and believe that if Cez pays $122 for an extended warranty, chances are good they won't have to pay. It might be a good time for Cez to pocket his winnings and walk away from the roulette table.

What's in a name?

Shirl of Bridgeport, Conn., lost her job and the bills were piling up. She decided she needed help and turned to Christian Debt Consolidation.

“I chose them because of the Christian name and they abused us with so many fees,” Shirl told ConsumerAffairs.com. “For the $9000 loan that was being paid, they collected $394 for the down payment, then $53 each month for maintenance fees, $250 ACH transfer monthly, service fees for each account paid off. At the end of the day, we saved about $200 from the original amount of the loan.”

We've heard from a number of Christians who felt they were played by companies with “Christian” in the title. The fact is, you shouldn't expect miracles from any company promising debt relief, especially one charging upfront fees.

Wrong number

Roberta, of Rutherfordton, N.C., says her elderly parents are getting five or six calls a day from someone that says they are representing GE Money Bank. Her parents, she says, don't have an account with GE Money Bank.

“They never leave a message and when you do answer no one is there,” Roberta said. “I held for a while for a representative and in the meantime was told to go to gemonlineservic.com. Well all that is, is a site for you to get a loan. These people are calling about a debt! My biggest problem is how early they call. 7:30 am!”

First of all, 7:30 a.m. is too early for a telemarketer or debt collector to call. Telemarketers are not allowed to call a home before 8:00 a.m. Roberta might get some help on this issue if she contacts North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper's office.