Financing Alternatives
Ripoff - insider info-ex employee

I used to work for the company, Financing Alternatives, based in Chesapeake VA. I was fired for lack of performance, but I really didn't care because I didn't believe in thier program any longer. They sell low end dell systems, the Dell 3000 series models, for 3 times its price to those who supposedly can't get approved through Dell. Thier verbal contract is legal, but for it to continue, they have to have the written contract signed. Refunds given before on the single recording was for everything, minus the first payment. They broke it up into three seperate recordings, so they could hold on to more money, so those on monthly payments got screwed the worst.

They prey on low income house holds, people on disablilty and those on SSI. They mainly focused on low income black and hispanic communities, mainly in Alabama, Mississippi, Bronx NY, Georgia and southern parts of CA. They attempted to run in high society white areas, but found that the marketing there was a waste.

I will say thier system/program is better than that of Blue Hippos (don't get fooled by them either), but it is still such a shame. A 399-499 computer system, being sold for 1871. Most people marketed to, have never owned a computer, and therefore, know no difference, but what the sales reps told them. I, myself, was told by the company that these were top of the line computers valued at over 1500 dollars cash. So they lied to me in the beginning. Had I known this beforehand, I would have walked away. I guess they have to keep a steady flow of people in.

I began doing research on my own, and found out alot of terrible things, but I could not lose my job, because I have my own family to support. I apologize to anyone to whom I have set up in this program. I regret my blindness. Please forgive me.

Financing Alternatives not only continues to debit your account after you cancell (they tell anyone "up to 30 days to stop", when anyone well knows it takes about a week for bank transactions to stop with anything). They tell the customer it will be shipped out within 4 weeks after the 3 months of payments has been met, but it usually takes 6 months from the time of your first payment. They are backed up ordering through Dell. Should you continue into the program and finish your 52 weeks of payments, they will still continue to draft your account until you tell them to stop. If you don't, or don't notice, they will not inform you, and stop after about another month or so, and won't refund it. The camera is not Kodak, nor is the printer Lexsmart. The go with what is cheapest and available. Thier "free" programs can be found at computer stores... in the 5 dollar bin.

They promised all employees of 6 months or longer that they would recieve a free computer. Of course they would tax us for 200 dollars on it, but that is Virginia Law. I was there for 10, and never recieved a computer, even though they even had the newspaper do a story on it.

I believe they lie on purpose, so that they can get people in the seats, and then every 6 months or so, wipe out the "non-believers" in exchange for new hires. I was fired a week after a large job fair they had, where they hired 60 or so people. I had no warning.

The company would use an automated call service that would call people and leave messages on thier machine stating that it is a pentium computer, when we were told to sell the celeron. The recording states also, that "call now. Your computer is ready to be delivered right to your door". No mention of the 3 months. A little decieving, right?

There are a few word of mouth things I have heard, like the owner, George, is a huge coke fan. But, I don't have any solid proof on that, other than he looked the part.

All in all, I advise people to not call in. I am in a low income situation, and now have no job at the current moment. I put myself in the place of all the people who have called in, and felt anguish over what I have done. Again, I apologize to everyone. Financing Alternatives is not a great place to work, and advise anyone to just save up your own money, and purchase a system.

Nathaniel
Chesapeake, Virginia
U.S.A.

Company: Financing Alternatives
Country: USA
State: Virginia
City: Chesapeake
Address: 565 Cedar Road
Phone: 8008180667

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