I had gone to the Direct Buy showroom with my dad, and was given a 45 minute presentation. Since we both have limited incomes, we hesitated on a commitment to pay a monthly fee for the program. We gave 100.00 and told them we'd see what transpires in 90 days, and at that point we'd either commit, or lose $100.00. What I didn't know, was that, while I was in the bathroom, they had my father sign a contract stating that in a month $5oo.oo dollars can be extracted from his credit card to initiate membership. This wasn't told to me, but when I received materials stating that we were now members, I wrote and asked how they were able to start a membership on $100 and then I was notified that they had my dad's signature on file, authorizing payment. My father didn't realize that he'd agreed to this, and now we've got harassing calls from the company who financed this. Not once had we ever used Direct Buy, and would like our money refunded--all but the 100 we paid. We want our money back, and would like the finance company to stop harassing us. It was a horribly opportunistic move on the elderly (my father) and the disabled (myself).

Direct Buy lied to get me to sign up.Took salesman aside to make sure they had contractors that worked in my vacation ski resort condo area that I was planning to remodel. I even showed him on a map. He assured me that there was no place they didn't cover. They work with contractors in any town on the map. I also asked him if they carried Natuzzi furniture. He told They carried all manufacturers. I told him I had to be sure they had people in my area as that is the only reason I would sign up. He assured me it wouldn't be a problem. Would not refund when I found out there was no contractor that services my area. Complained to a worker there and she stated she heard the salesman make false statements all the time. When I questioned direct buy at showroom they said the salesman was probably a little confused because it was a fairly new store he might have made some mistakes, but didn't mean to. I tried working with them for awhile on kitchen design, but it was so frustrating and a long drive to showroom I went to Home Depot and got an estimate from them. I gave a copy of estimate to DB designer, and she gave me an estimate that was more than HD. When I called to question their 40% off retail ads they accused me of taking their estimate and showing it to HD so they would beat the price. They did eventually come up with a contractor they said would work in my area and they have clients that live there. I called a few times to ask contractor about my ski condo remodel with no response. I asked kitchen designer and she didn't know if he worked that far away.

Two weeks I went to an open house. When you first arrive everybody is so nice and personable. You are assigned to an individual who will sit with you in a room to watch a video, which I'm sure nobody paid attention to because the only thing you interested in is the cost for joining. Also, after viewing this video you are told that you can't tell anybody and if you decide not to join at that time, you will not be allowed back into the facility.

I sat down with this individual and I explained to him what my goals were and the reason why I was interested in this company. I was told about the shipping, handling and taxes. I was also told the items would be shipped to the facility and I should come there to check out the merchandise.

I was told the membership fee would be 4750.00 if I paid in full, but if I could not do this, there were other options. I opted to take the installation payment. I must also mentioned once I signed the contract, these people would not have spit on me if I was on fire. I was no longer important to them. However, two days later I found out that I was not told the truth about the freight charges, which means I would be responsible for freight, shipping and delivery to my home.

If the correct information was given to me, I would have never joined this bogus company. When I called on the second day after signing the contract, I was told somebody would contact me, which never happened. I called the next day and the person I dealt with during the open house answered the phone and his attitude was quite nasty and rude. He told me I should have been watching the video.

I called the corporate office to make a complaint and I was told it was out of their hands. However, I did explain to this individual that I was not going to roll over and die or disappear.

I've currently contacted the BBB, local television stations. I will be forwarding all information I have to New York State Attorney General. I was also advised to contact the FBI because this appears to be an across state federal crime, due to the large amounts of money which is being scammed from each member.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY. EVERYBODY IS SO NICE TO YOU DURING THE PRESENTATION AND UP UNTIL THE TIME YOU SIGN THE CONTRACT. BY THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS 5000, I REPEAT 5000. WHEN YOU SIT WITH SALES PERSON THEY SEEM TO FORGET TO TELL CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP, BUT YOU CAN OVERHEAR ANOTHER SALES REP TELLING SOMEBODY ELSE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FREIGHT, SHIPPING, AND SALES TAX, WHICH I WAS NOT TOLD. ALSO, YOU WILL BE TOLD IF YOU DONT JOIN NOW, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO JOIN LATER. TAKE MY ADVICE AND DON'T BOTHER TO EVEN APPEAR FOR THE PRESENTATION. ALSO, AFTER YOU SIGN UP THE STAFF IS VERY NASTY. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND CURRENTLY WILL BE SUBMITTING A COPY OF THE RECORDINGS I TAPED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE.

My parents were recently held hostage at Direct Buy for over 8 hours, not allowed to go to the bathroom, and then separated into different rooms before they relented to give their captors the 5, 000.00 membership fee. They are in their 70s, and were looking for options and alternatives to an upcoming house renovation.

Facts - Direct Buy staff kept them separated against their will, and would not let them speak to one another to discuss their decision.

They were kept at the 'showroom' for 8 hours, and not told until sales pressure time the cost of the membership. They were not given the opportunity to make an informed decision. Instead, they were separated into two sales rooms, and were told that they could not speak to one another.

They signed the contract to membership under duress, with the intention of exercising their 72 hour right of recision allowed to them in Florida Statutes Title XXXIII Chapter 559.3903 which governs the specific rights of persons entering into a contract of membership.

They exercised their right of recision within 48 hours by certified mail, well within their right of cancellation. They have not received a refund. This was before thanksgiving 2008. Florida law gives the member full right to that refund within 10 days of notification. It has been 2 months.

Florida Title XLVI Chapter 825.103 section 1 pertains to the criminal act of exploiting an elderly or disabled adult. This statute says exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult means:

'Knowingly, by deception or intimidation, obtaining or endeavoring to obtain or use, an elderly person's or disabled person's funds, assets, or property with the intent to deprive such individual the use, benefit or possession of the funds by a person who reasonably should know that the elderly person lacks the capacity to consent.'

Florida state law defines this as a criminal felony in the third degree punishable by up to 5 years in prison. under chapter 775.082.

Govern yourself accordingly, DirectBuy.