On november 9 i went to studio jewelers to get a chain repaired and was talked into opening a credit card with the store. On december 7, after weeks of trying to return the jewelry, they finally took it back and received a store credit for the jewelry for $3995 and then was expected to pay ge capital aka gemb for the same amount i had returned jewelry to a local store and the receipt stated with prior written consent for refund/cancellation of credit within 60 days of purchase. The store salesman told me that don't worry, i wouldn't be billed and i would have to speak with the store manager/owner.
I kept going back and forth with this store and also i called the customer service department at the credit card company called ge capital aka gemb about the transaction and filed a dispute with these people twice about the return policy. Ge capital aka gemb responded saying i had to deal with the store on my own to get the manager/owner to credit the credit card account.
It took a lawsuit and the nys attorney elliot spitzer's office and one of his wonderful clerks to get the case against me dismissed when all the store had to do was just reverse the credit charges. Then the harassment started on the phone 14 hours a day 7 days a week by ge capital and gemb. I then contacted the dept of consumer, dept of banking, ftc, and public advocate of nyc betsy gotbaum's office. Not one of these offices was able to get rubin & rothman to drop the case against me for jewelry that i couldn't afford to keep nor wanted to keep. The jewelry was just out of the display case and not, i repeat not special order. The harassing phone calls stopped from ge capital aka gemb because i changed my contact numbers. Then october 19, i received a letter of collection from rubin & rothman, llc requesting payment in full plus late fees and over the limit fees that accumulated over the 11 months.
I called and spoke to ms. Jackie collins and at first she said that i had a great credit rating and wanted for me to pay for the jewelry charge for which i received a store credit. I replied and told her i was not paying for something that the store received back. I also informed her that i was contacting the state attorney generals office for the state of new york to file a complaint about the studio jewelers and ge capital aka gemb and the harassment by them.
I had called from a pay phone so i wouldn't be harassed again. I didn't hear from them nys sag office and i received a threatening call from ms collins from rubin & rothman that i didn't respond fast enough with elliot spitzer's office and she said she was going to ruin my credit. I asked her where she got my private house number and she said the jewelry store gave it to her. That was a lie and i told her so. She called back 2 more times to threaten me and then someone by the name of david called and i explained to him the problems i had with the store, ge capital aka gemb, and ms collins. He asked me to fax all the papers including the store credit. He called me back to let me know he received it. Then later on i started receiving calls from rubin & rothman and when i would say hello, they would hang up without saying anything. I know this because i have caller id with name and number.
This went on for another month all hours of the day and night.in january i received a summons to go to court. I went on january 23 and the judge asked rubin & rothman to drop the case and the lawyer that showed up from their lawfirm refused. I was then advised to sue studio jewelers as a third party plaintiff and the hearing was adjourned to april 24. Elliot spitzer's office intervined on my behalf and the case was dropped. The lawyer that showed up told me rubin & rothman and gemb have many lawsuits against consumers dealing with these small stores. The thing with gemb is they have changed names one too many times dating back at least 40 years and still are willing to continue with they're poor business practices. As of this date 6/10/06, my credit rating has not been repaired. I believed i should've received some kind of compansation for all i went through but as usual, it's like they say, consumer beware.
Edith
BRONX, New York
U.S.A.
0 comments