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BlueHippo Funding






BlueHippo Funding
An Investigative Series
by Joseph S. Enoch

BlueHippo: Extreme Layaway
A Short History
The BlueHippo Foundation
Trouble Follows BlueHippo's Founder
What Should You Do?
BlueHippo's Response
BlueHippo Has Many Clones
---
News
BlueHippo Charged with Violating Texas Law
FTC Files Contempt Citation Against Blue Hippo
Buying A Computer With Poor Credit
Gateway at Risk in BlueHippo Class Action
Blue Hippo Pays $5 Million To Settle FTC Charges
Federal Court Strikes Blue Hippo's Arbitration Clause
BlueHippo Funding Settles $1 Million Maryland Case
West Virginia Sues Blue Hippo
Class Actions Target Blue Hippo
Consumer Complaints

BlueHippo, based in Baltimore, claims to be "the nation's leading direct response merchandise lender," whatever that might be. It advertises heavily through infomercials, always a warning sign.

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 ...

Lollie of Bessemer AL (01/06/09)
I cancelled my order with Blue hippo to buy a computer and this was back in August 8, 2008 and they promised to refund me my 99.00 and until this day i have not received a dime. and this is Jan6, 2009. please help me with a way I could retreive my money.

taking money from my family and I am a single mother of three and every cent is needed for necessities.

Jose of Los Angeles, CA January 6, 2009

Jose of Los Angeles CA (01/06/09)
I've been calling Blue Hippo Customer Service for the past 3 months regarding my product and have not receive anything. I change my mind about getting a computer so I told them I no longer wanted the computer They offer me store credit rather than my money back. I said okay. It has been more than 3 months since I did the change paid off my balance and still have not received anything.

Everytime I call customer service is about a 30 to 40 minute hold (running my cellphone minutes) and just to tell me that they still need to clear the money order. I think it is a lame excuse and just don't know what to do. I trade off my computer for a hand held device for school.

The consequences are that I need the hand held device for work and school.

Jose of Los Angeles, CA January 6, 2009

I've been calling Blue Hippo Customer Service for the past 3 months regarding my product and have not receive anything. I change my mind about getting a computer so I told them "I no longer wanted the computer" They offer me credit rather than my money back. I said okay. It has been more than 3 months since I did the change paid off my balance and still have not received anything. Everytime I call customer service is about a 30 to 40 minute hold (running my cellphone minutes) and just to tell me that they still need to clear the money order. I think it is a lame excuse and just don't know what to do. I trade off my computer for a hand held device for school.

Rachel of Bronx, NY January 6, 2009

Rachel of Bronx NY (01/06/09)
I sent several letter plus fax to cancel the order of the computer. I was given a computer for a gift so no longer needed to buy one. But they have refuse to send anything to cancel so I will have to change my bank account because they are still debit my account.

Barb of Marysville, WA January 5, 2009

Barb of Marysville WA (01/05/09)
I have paid Blue Hippo a total of 863.00 (paid in full) for my computer November 20, 2008 and sent my shipping payment and they refuse to mail me my computer. They had told me that it would arrive in May or June of 2008.

I have spent housr on hold and on the phone with Blue Hippo and been hung up on twice. I can not afford to give money away, I work at 7-11 and was hoping that this computer would help me better my life to get a better job one day.

Veronica of Lincoln, NE January 5, 2009

Veronica of Lincoln NE (01/05/09)
I contracted with bluehippo in 2007 to purchase a computer via bi-monthly payments. They have been taking payments from my checking account since that time. Payments were about 90 dollars every 2 weeks. Prior to x-mas 2008, I e-mailed them to get an update on the status of my order. I have yet to receive a response. When I did an internet search I came upon an article discussing the lawsuit filed by the federal government and thought that I should also file a complaint.

I can check my bank account to verify the exact amount I have paid approximately 2500 dollars and have not received a computer, moniter, and large screen tv as contracted.

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