I bought furniture from Rhodes in May 2000, using their promotional offer of 18 months no interest. The problems first started at that time because they put the account under my ex boyfriends name and began sending him the monthly statements. No, he did not sign for the authority or permission to sell me the furniture, nor was the merchandise delivered to his home, they just for some reason let me buy it and began billing him for it. He had bought some things from them when we were together (about eight years ago).

He and I both tried more than once to correct the mistake, but was told that the account could not be changed to the correct name. They (both Rhodes & HRS) told me that they could not even discuss the account with ME because I was not listed on the account. Three weeks ago, they finally added me to list so that I could talk to them. My promo deadline was 01-01-02 and I contacted HRS to have the balance transferred to one of my regular visa accounts on 12-26-01.

I was told that they could not handle the transaction and that I needed to pay the local Rhodes Furniture store where I had made the original purchase. This is where it became really a bad situation. I was informed by Rhodes that ONLY HRS could make this transfer for me. I have spent the last 3 weeks going back and forth from one company to the other, each time talking with a different employee, one not knowing what the other was doing.Each company telling me that the "other" one had to handle it. They (HRS), finally just started making up things and pretty much denied that they ever told me that I couldn't make this transaction.

In the meantime, I've been charged a finance fee of $1,967.46, in addition to the original furniture purchase. I took it upon myself today to make a simple account transfer, over the phone with my visa account, in the amount of the original furniture amount. I did contact HRS right after, to make one last plee to be credited for the finance fee, but as always, they were VERY rude to me and treated me as if I were a liar, trying to make me the bad guy.

I was even told that if I would have called "last week" (which was still past the deadline), that they would have issued me the credit! This is insane and is truly a consumer rip-off!

Sandra Ft.
Myers, Florida