Best Buy = WORST BUY! Household Bank = SHARKS! In 2003 I bought an HP Pavilion desktop computer from Best Buy on a "no-interest" loan financed through Household Bank (HBSC). The computer was for my retired father to use to keep in touch with me by email while I was aboard an active duty Navy ship stationed in the Persian Gulf, in the combat zone.
One month after purchase the computer crashed for no reason. Household Bank was paid several payments ahead before I went out to the ship, but began recording payments late and charging late fees as soon as I was aboard. Two US postal money order payments I mailed were not credited. After I returned to the states, I restored the computer, (unusable for six weeks), and checked with the post office and found both money orders had been cashed several weeks earlier. When I informed Household about this, they credited the payments as late and refused to remove the late charges and interest. Household also posted payments one day late, charging late fees on payments sent in early, and sent billing statements out that arrived a few days before payment due dates.
I paid the original ~$950 loan balance off several months before it was due to keep the loan "interest free" but refuse to pay the fabricated late charges and interest. Household has now charged me more than the equivalent of 60% interest on the original loan in late fees and interest. They also made harassing phone calls to my voice mail, filling it to capacity with dozens of calls, causing me to miss a contract and a chance to go out to sea again with the Navy. They have also jeopardized my security clearance.
I will never buy anything from Best Buy or HP again or have anything to do with Household Bank. If you want to get ripped off, over charged, lose your job and have your credit ruined while you're out doing your part to help defend the country - just charge something at Best Buy, which is a WORST BUY!!
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