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BLUE HIPPO
UPDATE: There are some other companies that go by different names but operated
the same way as Blue Hippo. For people with bad or limited credit and don't have the
money to purchase a computer from a store, these type of companies will allow you to
make payments each month. They set up your payments by using your checking
account to automatically withdrawal the amount each month.
You make the regular payments for about 3 months then they will ship you the
computer while you then keep making the payments for a year to pay off the computer.
One problem, they would never ship the computer (over 75% of customers received
nothing) claiming excuses such as distribution problems, waiting for parts to build
your computer, delays do to internal computer problems and other lame excuses.
They would just keep collecting the money from the payments sent in and if you
missed a payment or refused to make your scheduled payments, they would get the
collectors involved to harass you to try and get you to pay. When customers wanted
refunds for the payments they made because they never received their computers,
Blue Hippo ignored them.
Blue Hippo was finally sued by the Maryland Attorney General for unfair and deceptive
trade practices by selling computers, televisions, and other goods to consumers for
two or more times their retail price, and then placing undisclosed conditions on
delivery of the items that prevented many consumers from ever receiving their
purchased items.
Blue Hippo settled with the Maryland Attorney General and agreed to pay restitution to
the customers they had scammed, change their practices and pay $300,000 to the
state of Maryland. More lawsuits are pending in West Virginia and Illinois.
Here are some of Blue Hippo's unfair business practices, according to the Maryland
Attorney General:
What a screwed up company for such a cute Hippo. Unfortunately they only received a
fine. Why they were not put in prison is a mystery to me. It gives other rip off
companies a reason to scam people, make millions, then pay a small fine. What a
justice system we have. Alternative Financing is the same as Blue Hippo.
UPDATE: There are some other companies that go by different names but operated
the same way as Blue Hippo. For people with bad or limited credit and don't have the
money to purchase a computer from a store, these type of companies will allow you to
make payments each month. They set up your payments by using your checking
account to automatically withdrawal the amount each month.
You make the regular payments for about 3 months then they will ship you the
computer while you then keep making the payments for a year to pay off the computer.
One problem, they would never ship the computer (over 75% of customers received
nothing) claiming excuses such as distribution problems, waiting for parts to build
your computer, delays do to internal computer problems and other lame excuses.
They would just keep collecting the money from the payments sent in and if you
missed a payment or refused to make your scheduled payments, they would get the
collectors involved to harass you to try and get you to pay. When customers wanted
refunds for the payments they made because they never received their computers,
Blue Hippo ignored them.
Blue Hippo was finally sued by the Maryland Attorney General for unfair and deceptive
trade practices by selling computers, televisions, and other goods to consumers for
two or more times their retail price, and then placing undisclosed conditions on
delivery of the items that prevented many consumers from ever receiving their
purchased items.
Blue Hippo settled with the Maryland Attorney General and agreed to pay restitution to
the customers they had scammed, change their practices and pay $300,000 to the
state of Maryland. More lawsuits are pending in West Virginia and Illinois.
Here are some of Blue Hippo's unfair business practices, according to the Maryland
Attorney General:
- They promised customers that they would receive their computers right away,
but didn't send them within the specified time frame.
- Many customers didn't receive a computer at all. When customers complained
about not receiving their computers, Blue Hippo refused to refund their payments.
- Blue Hippo illegally debited money from customer's accounts, hid important
contract terms, charged illegal late fees, misled customers about discounts and
rebates, failed to disclose conditions related to gifts and promotional items,
misrepresented the type of credit being offered to consumers, and failed to
disclose important loan terms.
What a screwed up company for such a cute Hippo. Unfortunately they only received a
fine. Why they were not put in prison is a mystery to me. It gives other rip off
companies a reason to scam people, make millions, then pay a small fine. What a
justice system we have. Alternative Financing is the same as Blue Hippo.
