Scam Complaints

Drive@silverstone    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000: 

Gateway Sucks    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000:  From: Nick [Email User]  RE: Gateway Sucks   From the day we received our Gateway computer we have had almost every problem imaginable, from faulty equipment to rude customer service at their Citrus Heights California (Sunrise Blvd.) store.   The worst part is, you are literally stuck and trapped in a contract with this company that you cannot get out of and you have to just be left with a company and it's poor customer service for the whole time you have the contract.  I cannot wait to pay off this piece of crap and be rid of the whole awful mess and hopefully not have to spend more time, effort and money than I already have with them.  In just 3 short months we've had to take this thing in 3 times, we've had to spend wasted time on the phone trying to get to work right and in trying to purchase a scanner (which we paid in cash), it wouldn't arrive when stated it would, cancelled it, you won't get cash back - (they don't carry that kind of money in the store????? so they say), was told check would be 10 days, it's been more than 2 weeks and we are still had to waiting.   They were rude about not giving us our refund and very deceiving on their refund procedures.  They do not let the customers know what their refund policy is!   Yes there are always the good and the bad with every company and unfortunately with Gateway and us, the "People do NOT rule".   

Freeserve - fsmail, an e-mail service run by Freeserve    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000:  From: Ben Bolton [Email User]  RE: Freeserve - fsmail, an e-mail service run by Freeserve   I have been trying for some weeks to access fsmail, an e-mail service run by Freeserve.   The service works intermittently but most crashes on entry.   On logging in, one get a brief flash of the required page before being presented with a message saying that "You have been disconnected due to a prolonged period of inactivity".   The only recourse is to call the premium line help desk since e-mail messages to their contact addresses are met with an automated reply saying nothing.   The status report service claims that all problems are past.   The service has, in fact, been getting worse. In the last two weeks, the intermittent service has failed completely.   A call to the help desk brought an admission of problems which should be resolved shortly (5 weeks ago).   Is anyone else having similar problems?   

Varig Airlines - flight from Sao Paulo to Miami - passengers were not informed about reason for emergency landing, waited four hours on runway, and then took off on same aircraft with no advisory from airline    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000:  From: Anita Timotheo [Email User]  RE: Varig Airlines - flight from Sao Paulo to Miami - passengers were not informed about reason for emergency landing, waited four hours on runway, and then took off on same aircraft with no advisory from airline   My brother and I took a flight from Varig on the 1st at night from Sao Paulo to Miami.   Right after take off, we heard a noise, and 10 mins later the pilot told us that we were going to land in Rio to fix the problem.  It was very stressfull since we saw the plane releasing fuel and gliding to the airport. Once we got to Rio, we were inside the aircraft for 4 1/2 hours without knowing what was happening.   We finally took off to Miami in the same aircraft which caused a bigger stress on all the passengers since we didnt know whether we were going to experience another problem again.  I didnt sleep the whole flight, my brother was very nervous and sweating all the time. We finally get to Miami, we try to compalin to someone in Varig but unfortunately there wasnt anybody around.   As a consequence of this terrible experience, my brother missed his connection flight and a very important day at work. I also missed a meeting at work which complicated some issues at my job.   I hope that Varig does something about their customer service policies since they are not very effective at the moment.   Thanks   -Anita   Email User  

Walmart / Charlotte NC University    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000:  From: Khadijah Free [Email User]  RE: Walmart / Charlotte NC University   To whom it may concern:   On December 9,00 a friend and I went to Walmart to get two new tires for my Honda civic.  We had waited so long at another tire, and decided we would drive the extra distance to WALMART at University Place, which is near UNCC Campus in Charlotte,NC.  We we arrived at the store, we were waited on immediately.I decided to try some expensive tires for a change,since my firestones tires were completely worn due to my numerous trips back and forth from Charlotte to Atlanta.  The sales guy informed my friend and I that the total purchase for my new Michelin Tires were 180.00.  My friend with me decided he would help me pay for half as a birthday gift.I gave Mr. Williams 100.00 cash, and he told my friend that he would debit his visa check card for 80.00.  So we decided to shop until my tires had been installed on my car.My friend did not receive a receipt for his portion of the purchase, but instead of looking at my receipt before I le! ft walmart, i entrusted everything was alright, until my friend phoned me to say that the sales clerk had billed his visa check card for 140.00, instead of 80.00.  Once i retrived my receipt from the glove compartment of my car, i noticed that we actually had been riped off......i was in a state of shock looking at my receipt to see how he pulled the scam off.  The receipt read as follows:  TOTAL PURCHASE 180.73 DEBIT CASH BACK 60.00 TOTAL DEBIT PURCHASE 140.73 CASH TENDERED 100.00 DEBIT TENDERD 80.73 CHANGE DUE 60.00  .......WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY CASH BACK......  WE WERE ONLY HANDED AN ENVELOPE WITH OUR RECEIPT IN IT, AND WALKED OUT THE DOOR.....  AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RECEIPT, THERE ARE MORE ERRORS.  AFTER TALKING WITH THE MANAGER ON THE LAST SAT OF DEC2000, WE WERE IN A STATE OF SHOCK AFTER TALKING WITH THE MANAGER OF THE STORE, BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO LISTEN TO A WORD WE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE INCIDENT......  HE AGREED WITH THE SALESCLERK IN THE TIRE DEPARTMENT........  SO FUTURE CUST! OMERS OF WALMART, BEFORE YOU SIGN THE DOTTED LINE, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK YOUR RECEIPT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STORE,SO THAT WAY BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STATE , YOU CAN CATCH THE ERROR ON THE SPOT........  I WILL NEVER SHOP WALMART AGAIN................  --- Khadijah Free --- Email User   

WhyModels.com \ WhyScouts.com \ Efashion Show.com Inc.    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000:  From: Monica A. [Email User]  RE: WhyModels.com \ WhyScouts.com \ Efashion Show.com Inc.  Company email: Email User    Here's my complaint: This is a follow up complaint with WhyModels.com \ WhyScouts.com \ Efashion Show.com Inc. from Aug 2000 to the Better Business Bureau.   The problem remains unsolved. And I still stand firm to what I stated in a earlier report made:   After careful research into this company, I decided that it would not be a profitable investment nor in my best interest.   There is no written document to legally bind me to any agreement with them, furthermore I am not obligated to pay them. I called the numbers provided to me by the interviewer, Mary Underhill, including the direct numbers to cancel that same day.  I got the answering machine through both numbers and left messages on each trying to speak to a live person to cancel the transaction before it went through. "I even emailed and called WhyModels.com in attempt to tell them that payment had been stopped", and that I was no longer interested in working for them.   This was done because no one in there department cared enough to contact me to cancel before the transfer was to take place. If they really cared about "customer service" they would of had one of their representatives return my phone calls. They never tried to ever contact me.   They just wanted there money anyway they could get it. I never knew it was illegal to change your mind about something when you have a bad feeling about the whole thing afterwards.   There was still no attempt to contact me about the situation. There was nothing stated on the "job application", which is located at www.whyscouts.com, that a $395 deposit must be made. The deposit is only verbally stated during the interview process and also that it's non refundable.  I also noticed that false advertisement was used when this company posted their job on Monster.com, which is no longer posted on the site since my first complaint.   That seems a bit odd to me considering the fact that as soon as the complaint was made they were no longer able to be found on Monster.   A previous letter to me from Whyscouts.com stated that I should of read the job description on their site. I thought that I had enough information from reading about them on Monster.   That is how most professional companies function. In addition, WhyScouts.com's ad on Monster.com states that the income is $30K-50K potential not $0- whatever you're capable of making. All materials are returned, which is suppose to be covered by part of the $395.   No materials no money it's an even trade. I don't own anything of their's and I'm not obligated to pay them $395. Unless I have signed something with this company I am not legally bound to pay them anything unless I've signed something with this company.  I have nothing from them in writing. I

Complaint about doublediscount.com    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000:  From: VEJVODA,SERGE (HP-PaloAlto,ex1) [Email User]  RE: Complaint about doublediscount.com   Hi, I ordered a book from on December 19th after finding them thru .   They immediately proceeded to process my order and charge my VISA account for $56.09 and confirm with an emailed receipt: Order 208499 Receipt.   However, the shipment didn't arrive and then on December 28th I got an email from them () notifying me that the book I had ordered was out of stock and that they would credit my account for the amount they had already charged me for.   I have emailed them twice since then asking them to expedite the reimbursement but have not received any information or reimbursement.  The email address to copy them on this complait is   Thank you for your help in this matter.   Srdjan Vejvoda Email User   

A Real Lemon - leased Audi A6 Quatro from Town Motors in Englewood New Jersey.    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 4, 2000: 

Sears complaint sent to Better Business Bureau, Long Island, NY    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 3, 2000: 

Sprint PCS Cellular    Complaints.com received the following e-message on January 3, 2000:  From: ATT - ptkalt [Email User]  RE: Sprint PCS Cellular   I want to complain about Sprint PCS.  I have been a customer of Sprint for over 1 1/2 years.  My phone broke down and I took it back to Best Buy. The phone was replaced under warranty.  A month later I was billed $29.99 for activation fee. I thought it was an error.   After a telephone chase I was was told that all customers are charged for activing a phone.   It didn't matter if I have had an account for over a year and am just switching phones!   This doesn't sound like good business practice to me.  I feel ripped off.