Complaint Review: Starlight Camera

I ordered two Canon Digital Rebel camera kits, advertised on Starlight Camera's website at USD689.99 each, in March 2004. I was advised they do not accept foreign credit cards (I live in the UK) so paid a total of USD1489.99 (including shipping)by bank transfer.

After regular phone calls and emails (all ignored)chasing the order, causing me a large amount of stress, I was eventually advised the order had been shipped and was given a tracking number which checked out. I had to pay Import Duty to UPS before I could received the item, and Starlight Camera recorded the value of the cameras at USD2200, meaning I had to pay excessive duty.

Worse was to come. On receiving the goods the next day, instead of 2 Canon cameras, I received one Tamron 28-105mm lens. To add insult to injury, the invoice inside the box had clearly written on it (below the order for the 2 cameras) - 'SEND HIM TAMRON 28-105 LENS'. So any chance of this being an honest error was gone.

I returned the lens, received my duty back, but despite countless letters have not received a refund from Starlight Camera. I have given up trying to call - at first I was told that Peter Solomon who processed the order was 'out', and that nobody else could help. Eventually the staff there just hung up on me. As at November 2004, still no refund.

Starlight Camera have ripped me off to the sum of USD1489.99 and it seems have no intention of rectifying this. DO NOT deal with this company.

Christopher
London
United Kingdom