Don't Rent From Blockbuster!!!!!!

[skybytch 273]

DON'T RENT FROM BLOCKBUSTER!!!!!
I started renting videos from our local Blockbuster in 1998. First mistake. Gave them the MC number that is on my ATM card when I filled out the registration paperwork. Second mistake. Rented a couple of videos on 12/9/01. Third mistake. Returned them in their outside slot on 12/14/01. Fourth mistake.
Sunday afternoon, 12/23, out doing my Xmas shopping. Stop by the ATM to get some cash. It won't let me have any. Uh... problem... I'm only asking for $100 and I should have at least $300 in there... So I go home and get online to see WTF. There's a charge on there for $278.83 that had just been posted. Uh.... problem.... I've NEVER charged that much on that card; there's usually not even that much in the checking account. Since it had just posted, the name of the business that ran the charge wasn't up yet. So I called the bank.
Turns out, Blockbuster charged my MC/ATM card $278.83 on the 23rd for two videos that I know were returned on the 14th but they say they weren't. Well, actually, on Sunday one of their employees said they weren't returned; on Monday evening "a member of their management team" said they were returned on the 23rd and that apparently there had been a mistake made in the charge but he couldn't do anything, I'd have to talk to the "general manager" who wouldn't be back in until Wednesday. Then tonight the "general manager" said the charge stands, they don't have the tapes and he wouldn't do anything about it. Of course he can't PROVE they don't have the tapes... and I saw the exact same titles in their "previously viewed" pile for $9.99 each...
Needless to say I let every person in the place know that renting from Blockbuster is not a good idea, you'll get ripped off, as I stormed out of there (I did good... not one cuss word And now I'm telling you. DON'T RENT FROM BLOCKBUSTER!!!!! YOU'LL GET RIPPED OFF!!!!!
Zennie and any other lawyer types out there... question for ya. The videos were returned, although other than the fact that they aren't in my house or car I don't have any proof of that (note to self - video tape both the boxes showing the movie title(s) and yourself putting them in the slot next time...). Their "membership agreement" says that the card will be charged 15 days after the due date. In this case the due date was the 11th... if my addition is correct my card should not have been charged until the 26th, right? And, the MC info that they had had an expiration date of 10/31/01 and I never gave them the new expiration date. Considering all of that, is what they did even legal?
And has anyone else had this problem? I heard from somebody that there was/is a class action suit against Blockbuster for this very thing. Off to do a web search on that right now....
DON'T RENT FROM BLOCKBUSTER!!!!!
pull and flare,
lisa

[Zennie 0]

Ummmm.... doesn't Blockbuster have bar codes on all of their titles? Seems like it would be pretty trivial to go back and see if the serial numbers on the tapes you rented were scanned back in on or after the dates you returned them.
Barring that, I would think for inventory purposes they would have listed the serial numbers of the tapes placed in the "previously viewed" rack. They might even record those numbers on the subsequent sale.
Did anyone go with you when you returned them? Do you have the name of the "management team" member who agreed that you did indeed return the tapes? Do you still have the printout that they give you when you rent the tapes? They usually have the serial numbers on there I think.
My first action would be to notify your credit card issuer that you are challenging the charge.
Second, I'd get the names of everyone involved and then get the "general manager"'s supervisors contact information. Then I would write his supervisor, and maybe even headquarters (wherever that is) and copy our "general manager" on the letter. Let his higher ups know how mad you are, how corrupt you think they are being, how you will never do business with them again, your plans for legal action and also plans for taking this incident to the press (businesses *hate* bad press).
Finally, if they don't back down, contact an attorney and see if he'll write Blockbuster a "friendly reminder" of your rights. Also contact any "consumer watchdog" types in the local press. It's hilarious to watch these types of people turn into quivering jell-o when a TV camera and a microphone are pushed in their face. I've never understood how you could be liable for any more than the value of the tape anyway, or at the very most the cost of rental for the days overdue so you might even be able to challenge the "charge" itself as unconscionable.
Keep us posted & good luck!
"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense."

[mountainman 0]

Fight that bullshit!! There is no reason at all you should have to pay for some 17 year old, pimply little high schooler who stole the damn tapes, took them home, and blamed it on you.
You better be kicking this dead horse til you get your moolah back! Keep writing the company and just write and call and threaten people higher and higher up the ladder. Come on, Lisa. I would expect more from you!! FIGHT IT!!
http://JumpinDuo.com - come see the fun!!

[fred 0]

Quote

I've never understood how you could be liable for any more than the value of the tape anyway,

Realize that video stores pay $90+/tape to have the video on its release day, so the $300 charge isn't so far out of wack for 3-4 videos.
The second mistake was using a debit card. They just don't have the same consumer protections as a credit card, so while "challenging the charge" is a good idea, it won't be as effective if it were an actual credit card.
But *definately* write letters to headquarters. Big companies hate angry consumers, and they'll probably work with you to sort everything out.

[Ducky 0]

My2cents,
Keep in mind my legal expertise is only extended to what i have learned behind bars!!!
I had a good friend who managed a Blockbuster Video for a long time, she used to erase my late charges for me. She was working there when the lawsuit you referenced occurred and a judgement was handed down. The suit was regarding their policy for late fees. They used to charge so much for each day the movie was late, which could add up to ridiculous amounts. The courts ruled this was improper that they could charge more in late fees for say a 4 day period than it would cost to rent the same video for the same time period. As I recall blockbuster agreed to change their policies AND reimburse members for wrongly collected late fees. Their method of refund was to credit accounts of members only after they filed a complaint regarding specific charges. leaving the footwork up to the people who were ripped off!
I have had a similar experience at another big chain video store, in my instance the consequences were worse. I had an unsecured membership and had moved since opening it. My brother rented some movies, which he swears to this day he returned. The store says they were never returned and charged my $265. Because they had no credit card on file for me and no current address, the claim went to collections and eventually on my credit report all without me knowing. I go to apply for an apartment one day and they mentioned I had a very recent collection on my report. So many phone calls later I discovered from who and why. I paid it immediately with much argument, but I was nearly homeless and needed a home (poor me). Anyways to this day that damn thing is still on my credit even though they agreed to remove it if I paid in full.
The moral??? I dunno, but good luck Zennie had the best advice I believe so good luck and in the words of Bono “keep fuckin up the mainstream”.
Chris

[indyz 1]

The only way to completely avoid this is to make the kid scan the videos back into the system while you watch. It's inconvenient and you will get odd looks from the other customers, but it works. I've been wrongly charged by at least 3 different video stores, 2 chains and a local place. I got lucky, and every time it was an older video that they only had one copy of, so they found it on the shelf, and I was cleared.
My problem: Video stores don't really care about the name on the card. My sister swiped my Blockbuster and Hollywood Video cards more times than I can remember, and they never failed to rent her the movie. One time, I went into Hollywood to rent something, and the told me I had Biodome overdue by three weeks, and that I either needed to buy the video or return it and pay the late fees before I could rent anything else. Since Pauly Shore films aren't my idea of great cinema, I asked my sister about it. Turns out, she had rented it with a friend, then left it with her friend to return it. She said she would take care of it, and called her friend right away. A few weeks later, I went to rent something else, and they told me the video was back, but I would have to pay the late fees. My sister's friend had just dropped the video in the overnight box, and left me to pick up the tab!
--
Brian
"The sky is lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I pull"

[skip 0]

I have recently quit renting from Blockbusters myself. I am guilty of having a movie for a few days late (maybe 8), I am also guilty of showing up at 2am when the store was closed to slip my movie in their night time drop box, however I never knew they would charge my Credit card for the outrageous late fee without trying to contact me first. Wait, ok they actually sent me a letter, I threw it away…. Damn I’m digging my own hole here! Hollywood Video has been riding my late charge for years now, it’s kind of like a credit system, every time I show up they tell me I owe a few tens of bucks and I give them a five, I leave with my movies and usually return them a little bit late. Still screwed. So a DVD pre-viewed cost 14.99 and I started buying them. Freaking Fruck, it’s almost a jump however considering the missing late fees I’m doing pretty well. Can’t do without my movies like I can’t do with out my jumps.
Lick!!!!!
.:Skip----->

[skyhawk 2]

sorry to here that in aus we dont give credit card numbers to the video places im sure over there there is prob a law against taking money without informing you also i take it that they didnt call you i think they prob have a responibility to call ands find out/remind you that videos are still out
when u send the letter make it clear that no one called before the money was taken out oh and add the fact that due to having less money, money that was legaly yours you where not able to get the presents that you promised which hurt you emensly :-)
Click Me

[MarkF 0]

Skyhawk,
Yep, we're fortunate in that we have some of the best (for the consumer...;-) ) consumer laws on the planet. From the Oz point of view BB made a few mistakes. They charged against an expired card. They charged extra against your card without telling you. They didn't issue an invoice before payment was taken. And they didn't issue a receipt after the funds were taken. With _our_ laws that's enough for BIG trouble. In Oz your bank would also be somewhat liable in that they processed a transaction against an expired card. The old Prof. Fels[1] and his henchpersons would have something of a field day. Again, in Oz, a quick call to the bank would have seen the transaction reversed pending paperwork etc.
[1] Prof. Fels is the head honcho of the ACCC (Aus. Consumer & Competition Commision). He's a brave man, he goes after the banks with some success. At the moment he's working on pricing collusion between oil companies. Fels is like a terrier with a bone in that he will NOT give up...:-)
Ooroo
Mark F...

[jfields 0]

Lisa,
I have to agree with Zennie on the letter. A polite, yet forceful letter explaining what happened will often do the trick. Some companies don't really care who complains in the stores. 99% of them probably blow off steam, then suck up and pay for whatever it is, never to give it another thought.
The saying "The squeeky wheel gets the grease" has a lot of merit. Be part of the 1% that speaks up. Write the letter and send it to both Blockbuster Headquarters and the store. Express your frustration in getting the run-around, and in getting charged incorrectly. Detail what happened, and how it was so frustrating that you may never be a Blockbuster customer again. Then mention the complaint letters to the Better Business Bureau, the state's Attorney's office, the local TV station's consumer advocacy reporter, the editorial section of the newspaper, etc. Be nice, but allude to the big stick you are preparing to beat them with.
Finally, take a lesson from this and reconsider your using a debit card. The difference between debit cards and credit cards in terms of consumer protection is tremendous. In the last 15 years, I've contested about 6 charges. With a well-written, factual letter to the credit card company, I've won each time. The credit card companies realize that merchants generally won't stop accepting credit cards for the very rare chargeback of a contested charge, but consumer's definitely will switch banks if they get screwed and their bank doesn't stick up for them.
Keep us updated, and let us know if we can help.
Justin
My Homepage

[ramon 0]

Nuff said.

[Strynx 0]

Sorry to hear this. Had a late charge last week for the same reason. rented a movie on the 11th of dec. Drop it in the box the 12th, go back on the 22th and they say that my movie was late for 5 days (phoquers).
If you gonna rent leave it with someone inside, even better don't rent there. I know you'll find somekind of a Bitchy way to get your$ back Sky. Go girl!

[freeflir29 0]

I find that if you calmly walk into the store. Explain your problrm. Get the "Gee I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire" speech from the manager. Grab said manager by throat...drag over counter, drag out back of the store, get chain saw out of your trunk, start chainsaw and rev it up a little, Ask him again if you have late videos or any late charges. They usually say no at this point. Problem solved....."I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

[jfields 0]

The problem with that is that Blockbuster managers are usually like 400 pounds, and hard as hell to drag up and over the counter.....
Justin
My Homepage

[Strynx 0]

LOL! I'll try that next time. Unless he's 400 pounds. The phoquers only offer to credit accounts when they screw up wich i think is like laughing at us! F*&^K BlockPhokers!

[RedBull 0]

In addition to making a nuisance of yourself until you get your money back, this BB location must, IMHO, receive an upperdecker. In fact, at least a dozen of them, preferably after you've primed the pump with some 7-layer burritos.
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Note: For those of you not schooled in the fecal arts, an upperdecker is when you crap into the tank portion of a toilet rather than the usual bowl part. Hilarious! What you do w/ the paper is up to you. Have fun and be careful.
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[freeflir29 0]

"Hilarious!"
Yes....but it'll be some pimply faced high school kid that has to clean it and not the manager. Revenge is no good if you miss your target...."I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"
Clay

[RedBull 0]

Quote

Yes....but it'll be some pimply faced high school kid that has to clean it and not the manager.

Good point. I guess this sort of revenge is best reserved for people's homes.

[Pammi 0]

I don't. Blockbuster's have always been crap to deal with, as far as I've seen!
Sorry that happened Lisa :/ It truly sucks when stuff like this happens and it takes so little for it to happen, but so much to get anything done about it! Complete shit.
Closing pin jewelry

[skybytch 273]

Thanks for all the advice and pity gang! Much appreciated. Disputed the charge with the bank today; it's going to be about two weeks before I'll see the "provisional credit" in my account... which means two weeks of not being able to use almost $300.... Sucks. I know, shouldn't have given them that card, but when I signed up that was the only MC or Visa that I had.
I have the employees full names now and the letter will be written tonight - it's going to the store, the corporate offices and along with my "dispute affidavit" to my bank. I'm going to mention that if I'm not refunded all but 3 days late fees by the middle of January another letter will go out to the Better Business Bureau, the California State Attorneys General office and the California Board of Corporations. I'm also going to send all of it to the local newspaper, the regional newspaper and the consumer activists at TV stations from LA to San Diego.
I learned my lesson. If I ever rent a video from anyplace (not Blockfuckers of course... never again) in the future I'm going to hand carry it in and insist that it be scanned before my eyes when I return it.
And take heed! It can happen to you too! Apparently Blockfuckers is NOT responsible for the data entry errors made by their minimum wage employees.... Blockfuckers CUSTOMERS are responsible for that!
pull and flare,
lisa

[wildblue 7]

Blockbusters sucks. I returned a PS2 game 3 hours late, and they charged me for another 5 day rental!!! what horseshit
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag

[AggieDave 6]

I HATE blockbusters, I have my horror stories with them, though they're not nearly as bad as yours. So any more I stick with Hastings, they're usually real cool, even just removing late charges sometimes. (just ask, you'd be surprised AggieDave '02
Too much of anything is bad, Too much burbon is just right.--MarkTwain

[cameramonkey 0]

The problem with that is that Blockbuster managers are usually like 400 pounds, and hard as hell to drag up and over the counter.....
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In that case, just bring twinkies with you... dangle a couple of those and he'll change his mind.

[jfields 0]

Quote

The problem with that is that Blockbuster managers are usually like 400 pounds, and hard as hell to drag up and over the counter.....
----------------------
In that case, just bring twinkies with you... dangle a couple of those and he'll change his mind.

Brilliant! I should have thought of that....
Justin
My Homepage

[skybytch 273]

So just to make the story more interesting...
Today one of my coworkers went to the same store to rent some videos (yeah, I told her not to rent there.... she didn't listen...). She grabbed three off the shelf and went to the counter. The clerk asked "did you get these off the shelf or from back here?" (meaning the incoming pile that hadn't been scanned) She said "Off the shelf. Why? Did they not get scanned back in?" Not only did he admit to her that those two videos were not scanned back in, but he also told her that they have some employees who aren't doing their jobs! NO SHIT SHERLOCK!
This info is going to my bank to help support my dispute of the charges for sure. I just called them to talk about this and request my money back again and the clerk who helped her answered the phone - he's part of the "management team" but has no authority to do anything. They really AREN'T responsible for their employees stupidity - the CUSTOMER is responsible for their employees stupidity!
Once again - DON'T RENT FROM BLOCKBUSTER!!!
And if you absolutely gotta, walk the videos inside and insist that they be scanned back in before your eyes.
pull and flare,
lisa
--
life's a bitch.. and so am I