I obtained a pre-owned / repossessed laptop computer from this company Nov. 2008 and signed a Rent/Purchase contract. From Nov. 2008 through Feb. 2009 I made all payments as agreed, either per the contract or by written agreement from the owner. I was late on one payment by 2 days and paid the late fees as defined by the contract. During this time the owner continually stated how much his company liked doing business with me and I was a valued customer.
Feb 7 I moved and during the move, the laptop stopped working completely. I immediately called the owner as stated in the contract, 1) to inform him of the laptop problem and 2) to tell him the change of address. The contract states I had 2 days to provide this information and it took him 3 days to return the many calls I placed. On Feb 10th he came to my residence to check the laptop. I told him the laptop came on and immediately the screen went white then black.
My daughter was with me when it happened and stated it acted the same way hers did when the kids spilled milk all over it, so I immediately unplugged everything, pulled the battery and turned it upside down. Nothing came out, but I left it that way incase. The owner told me I did exactly the right thing. He took the laptop partially apart and stated he saw no evidence there was anything spilled inside. He decided to take the laptop and sent it to Dell for warranty repair, stating "all the business he provided dell they had better fix it under warranty". He informed me I was not liable for any payments while the laptop was being repaired.
Mar 1 I received a call from the owner that the laptop was repaired and ready to return. I informed him per the contract that 2 days prior I learned of an income decrease and asked if he would call and return the laptop on the 16th to allow me a week to earn the payment due. He agreed. On Mar 11 I called him as my home computer had broken down and I depend on the internet for my income. I called every day, several times a day for 2 days with no response.
The 3rd day I was in desperate mode, already losing 1/2 my income, now in jeopardy of losing the rest with no working computer. I left a message on the company's VM questioning his work ethics as I was not getting a response from him. He returned my call with excuses of non-working phone lines and stated he would drop off the laptop that evening. Several minutes later he called again stating he had decided to end business with me as he had just heard my last message and I had hurt his feelings.
On Mar 12 I called, got the VM as usual and left a message apologizing for speaking from a desperate place and informed him that I did not find any place in the contract that "hurt feelings were grounds to terminate the agreement. I mentioned my boss had suggested contact with the Attorney General if the contract continued to be violated. I received a several messages via VM from the owner rambling about late payments and other contract violations on my part that were totally false, and he stated it wasn't about the money for him, he would not return the computer per the contract, he would email the pay off balance and we could discuss it.
I returned the call again stating I was not in violation and would complete payments or he needed to return the money I had paid to date on the contract. There was another VM on my phone from him with derogatory comments and I was not getting the computer back. I responded to his VM I could not get on the internet for the payoff information and his refusal to return the laptop forced me in the position of calling the Attorney Generals Office. Then I received a threatening VM from the female owner accusing me of harassment and informing me that I was not getting the laptop. At this point, the whole communication to me had gone beyond ridiculous. I intend to voice this experience in any report I am entitled to do so.
Keep in mind, "it is not about the money" to this man, however his my space advertises his income at $250,000. I was the 2nd person he sold this laptop to and he will sell it to a 3rd. Has he made his $250,000 by selling his same merchandise 2,3 or more times and violating his own contracts? Is this not fraudulent schemes?
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