Last month, I searched the web for a seller of JVC SuperVHS recorders. One Website, CircuitMicro claimd a SuperVHS recorder for a mere $129.00. But it appeared to even purchase in a cash basis a registration with the company was required. I did no commit to the purchase of item or good from CircuitMicro, and simply filled out the company form if I ever intended to make a purchase from CircuitMirco.
This week, CircuitMicro made an unathorized deduction from the family bank account for $39.96 for what they claim to be a "loan fee", even though no legal contract between CircuitMicro, and I exist. This is a possible violation of California Civil Code regarding Credit disclosure Title 1.3A, Sections 1748.9-1748.12, as well as a possible violatation of provision of FDIC Consumer Credit Protecion Act regarding the open disclosure of all fees, intersts rates, charges, etc. Related to a business extending credit to individual consumers.
Right in the middle of filling out the general information papers to make any possible purchase, CircuitMicro changed the title of the document and began to use the term "loan" in the documents. Yet there is no legal contract to charge a "loan fee" as consumers are not seeking a cash loan, only to purchase goods by cash or credit from CircuitMicro. Other legitimate retailers like Sears, CircuitCity, or others do not operate like this. There is open disclosure on all documents, and no charges to apply for possible credit to make a company purchase.
This unauthorized deductions from a bank account, changing the title of documents, possible failure to comply with both California and Federal Law regarding open disclosure of any fees, costs, interest rates, etc, seem to put this company in a classification as attempting to scam consumers to profit from unauthorized deductions from their bank accounts.
In addition, there are indications from CircuitMicro that reinforce this intent of consumer fraud to create a scam enterprise. CircuitMicro claims to be an "industry leader" on their website, yet the company appears to simply operate from a small second floor office suite and has no ability to be able to warehouse major electronics items such as big screen TVs, computers, stereo items, and other goods it claims to offer for sale on the company Website.
Indeed, many complaints from consumers support the fact that consumers have paid between $400 to $900 for products such as computers and have received absolutely nothing. With the lack of proper warehousing space in a small second floor office suite, it can be considered that CircuitMicro has no ability or possiby even no intent to ship the electronics goods to consumers they claim to offer for sale. CircuitMicro appears to attempt to confuse consumers as a large retailer by combining parts of huge electronic business names, "CirCuit" and "Micro", yet is only the tiny second floor office space #230 with few real business assets and is unable to meet fulfill consumer orders for the electronics items ordered and paid for.
It is always possible that some items may be purchased by CircuitMicro in small one or two item quantities to sell from a local warehouse, such as large warehouses in Compton. However, instead CircuitMicro represents itself as an "industry leader" and even claims to offer "franchises" for sale in their business for a fee. Yet a small second floor office space that misrepresents itself as an "industry leader" is hardly in any position to offer franchises to persons looking for a business investment opportunity. The company often refuses to answer Emails or phone calls from wronged consumers, who simply are ignored. And even the Website address, www.circuitmicro.com is hardly the special domain name of a company that also claims to sell domain name franchises.
And the reason I did not purchase the VCR from CircuitMicro is that while the company claims to offer discounts up to 80% on merchandise, the SuperVHS JVC Model J692U turned out to be not only not discounted at $129.99, but actually far more than full list retail price of $79.99, of which no one charges now because of heavy competition in the electronics business.in fact I found new ones of the same model listed for sale at around $58, and not $129.99 like the one at CircuitMicro. But the main SuperVHS feature of VCR was even misrepresented in the CircuitMicro ad, and was not even a SuperVHS as claimed according to company product information provided by JVC. CircuitMicro misrepresents products in their Website advertising, product features, price and lack of discounting which is far from any promised discount of up to 80% on items. I also found a pattern of equipment on CircuitMicro that sold for far more than list retail price, while CircuitMicro falsely portrays itself as a "discounter" with savings up to 80%.
With nothing but a pattern of falsehoods from CircuitMicro, whether it be false statements, misrepresentations of products in advertising, pricing, discounting, or the claim that their small second floor office space business is some "industry leader" in the electronics business, one has to assume that CircuitMicro is merely a small-time scam operation masquerading as a major electronic retailer to rip-off customers.
I filed an official complaint with the Oregon Attorney General about this business. I also strongly feel that others who paid $400 to $900 and have not received and products should file complaints with the U.S. Justice Department, Internet Fraud Division, The California Attorney General's Office which regulates state credit fraud and open credit reporting violations and the Federal Government's, FDIC which regulates credit violations of businesses that operate across state lines, using the Internet to charge hidden fees, or unauthorized bank account deductions.
The pattern of conduct of CircuitMicro may run from possible California state violations of open credit reporting laws, to possible federal violations, all the way to possible federal felonies which could land the owner of CircuitMicro in a federal prison if the intent was to defraud consumers using a computer scam that crossed state lines in which no equipment was intended to be shipped for a fee. One person who lost $400 to this company suggested that he had no recourse to get his money back. But I think a complaint to any or all of these California and Federal agencies may help anyone who paid CircuitMicro money, and did not receive any merchandise or had money taken from their bank accounts that was not authorized.
I ordered nothing from CircuitMicro, and had no binding contract with CirCuitMicro, yet I was charged an unauthorized $39.96 charge. There appears to be a wide pattern of possible business law violations for consumers to complain to the agencies I suggested above to get their money back from CircuitMicro as well to start a Federal Investigation to put this company and their owners out of business and on a post office wall poster where they belong. It's time to drop the big net on this company that gives Internet purchases a bad name. CircuitMicro is a "house of cards" of falsehods, misrepresentations and conduct that appears to violate many laws with no regard. It's time to close the front door on this tiny second floor office space #230 that scams consumers for good.
Paul
Portland, Oregon
U.S.A.
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