Broderbund
Div. Of RiverDeep Ripoff Runaround on Refund Internet

I purchased a home design software product online from this "reputable" company in 2004. I'd used their original version, and wanted the upgrade. I was not happy with the new version, finding it more cumbersome than the first.

Per Broderbund's instructions, I returned the product, and it's been confirmed that they received it. I waited a few weeks for the refund, but nothing. I contacted Customer service, and was told a check had been issued, and to give it a few days to get to me. It never did. I made another call a couple of weeks later, and same deal.By this time, it had been three months since I returned the software.

I made another call, and this time discovered the check had been mailed to the wrong address. The rep said they'd have to send a request to a department in another state (CA), have them research to make sure the check hadn't been cashed, and once that was done they could issue a new check.By this time, my patience was wearing thin, but I waited the two weeks I was told this process might take. Still no check. Also, no e-mail update, as I'd been promised.

I called again, this time very angry, as I'd been calling on this $31 refund forever and a day, and each person I spoke to couldn't seem to read (their notes), and had to have the entire story retold to them. I was given this current lady's name, as she also thought it ridiculous that I'd been waiting so long, and gave me the definite impression that she would make sure it got taken care of and would e-mail me that day or the next. Never heard from her again, and the next time I called I was told she wasn't in.

By now it has been nearly four months since I returned the item. I demand a supervisor, who is of no more help than her underlings, and tells me the request for a check trace is still on the person's desk who deals with that, and she is out for the week. I ask for a higher-up, and the supervisior says that would be her. I ask if she's company president, and she says she's not, but doesn't want to give me a number to reach a corporate officer. After I ask (not so nicely) if she is refusing to give me that information, she supplies me with a number that will only allow me to leave a voice mail in a general mailbox. That all, of course, goes unreturned.

Called again just today, giving the mystery check-tracing lady (MCTL) a few days to get on my "urgent" noted request. Get dumb rep number 7 up to speed after much back and forth, he puts me on hold, then comes back to tell me they "have not dropped the ball."???!!! Says the MCTL is still not there, but they're sure she will handle it very soon. How he can make this assurance he can't say. I ask him how he can say ball hasn't been dropped when I've waited over four months for a $31 refund. He has nothing to say. Thanks me for my patience. I resist the urge to say anything more.

Now here is the kicker: These dumb-bums never should have issued a check to me in the first place. I purchased the product via their website, and the refund should have been credited to my card. Their explanation a few weeks back was that this had something to do with a technology transfer of some sort, which I couldn't care less about, nor is it a good excuse for why I STILL don't have my freakin' money back!!!

Company: Broderbund
Country: USA
State: Nationwide
Phone: 8003950277
Site: broderbund.com

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