Sweepstakes Clearinghouse sent me offers for years. I waited a whole year for their mailing again to purchase a Desktop Computer from them.
On June 28, I sent them $25 in money order and the $400 voucher enclosed to begin the Lay-A-Way Plan. When I realized it would take 2 years to get the "refurbished" computer by paying $25 a month and later dropping down to $10 a month, I decided to pay it all in full including shipping & handling. I mailed a personal check in the amount of $380.74 on July 20.
Sweepstakes Clearinghouse did receive my payment.
Daily I would check my account summary on their website.
On August 2, they claimed "NSF". I called my bank and yes my full amount was still in my bank account.
I called Sweepstakes Clearinghouse customer service phone number. Upon asking, the operator told me what "NSF" meant and that they would try to put my check through again.
Again, I continued to look at my SCH account summary to see if they had mailed out my computer yet.
Well, at that time, they still had not put my check through.
I had read the reports on the "consumer complaints" website against Sweepstakes Clearinghouse and upon re-reading them again, I changed my mind.
On August 7, I made a healthy decision to "stop payment" on the check. I then called Sweepstakes Clearinghouse to tell them I would like to cancel my order and that I had put a "stop payment" on the check. I asked if I would receive a refund check back in the amount of $25.
The operator of SCH told me "No" and because I was on the Lay-A-Way Plan I would receive a catalog in 3 to 4 weeks and would have to order something from that.
Right then and there I knew I had been had. $25 down the drain.
I chose to buy a brand new computer August 10 online at Walmart.com for the unit price of $478 using a Walmart gift card for the full amount.
I did receive the SCH Store catalog, browsed through it quickly, and promptly threw it away.
I did receive a letter from SCH that they tried to cash by check, however, this was after I had told their customer service operator that I had "stopped" payment" on the check.
I will never again order from Sweepstakes Clearinghouse. I never did receive a refund check of $25.
I realize I was probably being impatient about my order and all the while I was hoping to get in on this Internet service discount thru my cable company on time, but since my computer had not arrived by a certain date in August, I could not receive the discount. Plus, I then thought why not buy a brand new computer at a good price instead of a "refurbished" computer.
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