Complain about a product or service

BlueHippo Funding

So what does BlueHippo do? Its Web site says it "helps consumers purchase and finace the products they want and need, inidependent of their credit history." As far as we can tell, it sells plasma TVs, computers and other merchandise through a pay-in-advance credit plan.

To be blunt, it sells stuff to people with bad credit. Its Web site states that customers pay $99 down and make 13 weeks (that's weeks, not months) worth of payments. After that, the merchandise is sent to them and the payments continue until the purchase is finally paid off.

Is this a good deal? Who knows? It's very hard to know what the real cost of the merchandise is, as it's not very clearly disclosed. If it's like most such schemes, the products are priced at full retail and then some, and the fees and interest rates aren't immediately apparent.

On its Web site on March 17, BlueHippo was offering a desktop computer for $99 down and $39.99 per week. It's not immediately apparent how long the payments last but it's quite likely most consumers could find a similar computer for a lot less if they saved their money and paid cash.

But don't take our word for it. Here are some of the BlueHippo customers we've heard from ...

clarence of Lynchburg, VA June 11, 2009

ordered a computer. didn't sign any paper work. blue hippo started taking money from my account anyway. didn't return any calls. several made. overdraft fees adding up. making my account short for paying my bills.

Beverly of Spring Lake, NC June 29, 2009

On 12/06/2008 I had taken out an contract with Blue Hippo, they were suppose to take out pmts. on the 3rd & 15th of each month and as a result they would take them out when they wanted. This would cause my bank account to go into over draft.I was not to happy with that and as a result in this I wanted to cancel.

It is a no refund, so I had to go on line and pick something offline to match the amount I had already paid in. The amount was 308.94 and the product I choose was only 263.74, it is a View Sonic N1930 W 19" wide screen 720p HDTV Black. I had to send in a money order for shipping and handleing. The cost was 27.92. That was mailed in on March 3, 2009 I have made several calls to them and all they tell me is to wait!

And if the product I ordered is only 263.74 and I had to mail a money order for the shipping and handling where is the last amount of 45.20 as my account has a balance of 0.00 I either want my merchandise or a full refund of the 308.94 as they told me in the beginning it would take 6-8 weeks for delivery once they received shipping and handleing fee. So if they received it on March 15, 2009 I should have had it before May 15 2009.We are now going into 4 months.

RONALD of MUNSTER, IN June 13, 2009

The Blue Hippo solicitor salesman told me that I would have my computer immediately after I sent them the down payment of 99. Now, I know this is impossible for a company to do, but that IS what he had said. Then I tried to get out of it by phone and email after three months had passed and no return communication from them and no computer. They responded by again zapping my checking account almost 70 every two weeks. Then four months passed, then five, then six, and so on. I lived up to my end of the bargain by never missing a payment and never once being late. Well, my computer was supposed to be shipped out over three months ago. I again did what was instructed of me. They sent me new contractual paperwork. I filled it out and returned them....three and a half months ago! Now, every time I call them I get the same old message (after being put on hold for 20 minutes or so). "Your computer was placed on immediate shipment on June 3, Call back in 15 days! Today, I called. Call back in four to six weeks. FOUR TO SIX WEEKS! I asked to speak to a supervisor. I was told that a supervisor would not talk to me on the phone. I said, "Oh really? Blue Hippo has not honored their end of the agreement, my computer is almost completely paid for, I was told that it would be sent out three months ago, you can not give me any idea of when it will be shipped, if ever, and your supervisor will not talk to me. Is that it? She said "Yes, sorry." I have been calling now for three months and I get the same old song and dance every time I call..."Call us back in two to three weeks." ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE SERVICE! What can I do now? How do I contact the BBB and the Attorney General? Any help you could render would be most appreciated. And how do I get my story out on the Internet so that other innocent people won't get scammed? NOW I read about all the atrocities Blue Hippo has reaped on I guess hundreds, if not thousands of patrons. I guess they din not learn their lesson after all the massive lawsuits. They are doing the EXACT SAME THING TO ME AFTER they lost millions for doing it! They have violated FTC standards and laws and I reall need to know how I can go about getting my full refund from them plus interest, because I do not want to pursue receiving my computer anymore. I just want to be through with them...and I want my MONEY BACK! Can you help me? As of today, June 12,2009, I STILL do NOT have my computer, and have no idea of when it will be shipped.

nichole of troy , NY June 24, 2009

i called this company,blue hippo,on september, 17 2008 in trust that i was getting a computer.i gave the company everything they needed,made every payment on time,the payments were coming directly out of my checking account.

I havent recieved my computer,they keep giving me the run around,saying please allow us more time and so on.could never speak to a manger or the manufacture the computer was coming from.it then started getting fishy to me and finally a few weeks ago i saw all the complaints from other people that have orderd from them.

I then called them and demanded my money back.they told me that couldnt be done that i have to get store credit,so then i demanded my order be cancelled they told me they cancelled my order after getting almost 1400.00 from me.and still was taking my money out of my account. i then went to my bank to have them stop payment going out to them,it was a big hassle to have the account changed.after being frozen for a few weeks.still to this day my account is all in wack.all i want out of all this is my hard earned money back. 1400.00 total.

Chris of Boca Raton , FL June 23, 2009

Called this company about financing a computer.I have been making payment of 35.00 a week, after 13 payment were payed computer was to be shipped.Now i have paid blue hippo a total of about 700 and i still have no product. Every attempt i make to call it takes over a hour of being on hold before a rude operater tells me they cannot refund the money. If i try get a different product they want me to send more money for shipping per item even if they have more money in credit then what i am purchasing.Don't want to send anymore money to blue hippo at this point i would like my money back and dont know how to go about it.

Darla of Manteca, CA June 22, 2009

In 2005 I had opened an account with BlueHippo, to make payments and receive a brand new laptop. I had made payments totaling 228.98 to the company. I was no longer able to make the payments so I had to cancel the order. At the time of cancellation I was told that they would not refund my money. I was unaware of consumer complaints at the time so I just left it at that. This last April 2009 I received a letter stating there was a class action lawsuit against BlueHippo, after filling out the information and sending it in I have heard nothing more. Recently I contacted the company to get some information about my account and I was told that I would be able to use this amount for BlueHippo merchandise. After an attempt to place an order on computer equipment, they then said that this amount was only good towards a new computer system. Since I did not sign anything can't I just get my money back?

Barbara of League City, TX June 21, 2009

I ordered a computer in 2007;I never got it. I was given the run around. I became frustrated and cancelled. Until this day, I never recieved my refund. The company still owes me 620. Every time I call, I get put on hold for a long time.

Rosa of El Dorado, AR June 17, 2009

I saw the advertisement for the Blue Hippo Computers. I needed one asap for my son who was in high school and did not have the funds to buy one outright. I called and talked to a salesman, who said I qualified to get a computer if I had a active checking account, which I did. I was initally to pay the first down payment of 99 and after that 69.99 every two weeks following. My computer would be shipped within a few weeks and I would receive a printer as well to go with it and a free gift of a digital camerea or a digital tv.

I gave them my information and was to receive the contract in the mail. I did not receive the contract within the week. Before the seven days was up I decided to cancel the order. I tried to call and cancel the computer, I never got anyone to answer. I then email them as they said you could do also and never heard anything back; I then found they had taken the 99.00 out of my account.

I then tried on several more occasion to call and email again and never could get anyone. By this time they were taking the 69.99 out of my account. I then received the contract which I did not sign returned it to them without a signature. I then tried to call again and this time did get a salesman who said it would take 13 weeks to receive the computer and that I could not get my money back. I told him they never said it would take that long.

I talked to a manager who said the same thing, only thing they would do is cancel my order,but they still had my 168.00. I am highly pissed because they stole my money, I have nothing to show for the money they took out of my account. I never signed a contract. I reported this to the BBB of Baltimore, MD and got no results. I would like to be part of the class action suit if it is still possible. Now they say I can order something from their catalog. What catalog?

victor of san jose,ca., CA June 16, 2009

i order my computer about 18 months ago and still waiting for the items that they promise me (brand new computer,printer,and t.v)

i did all my payments on time every week,and every time i call them they keep saying that they will deliver the items i order shortly.

Shelly of Perry, OK June 11, 2009

I like to give credit where credit is honestly due. Bluehippo has now cancelled my account ordering a cumputer from them. They said that I can have a store credit. I remember them asking me all these questions, and agreeing to them, but what happened to the agreement papers that needed signed? The rep I talked to today told me that they sent out two packages of papers to be signed a while ago. why were they still taking my money without those papers? Also, why couldn't their debits be consistant? if they mess up our bank accounts, we have to start all over in I guess what is thirteen weeks of debits before they send just the computer.... I am really confused. what a mess, and now I guess I lost over 500.00! I am really glad that I chose to cancel this headache!

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