Complaint Review: Steve Barbarich ChooseDirect - Internet California

I worked there until February of this year. I know of myself and two other individuals who worked there and decided not work there any longer. The "STOLEN DATABASE" story is an outright lie! I can personally tell you that I wrote Steve Barbarich an email and a physical letter stating that I would not be working for him any longer and I didn't touch a computer or log into any system pertaining to Choosdirect.com at all!! The other two individuals that don't work there anymore are morally good people and I know for a fact that one of them has suffered great financial loss for leaving choosedirect.com because he could not be part of technically supporting people with their dangerous hot tubs. Before the other individual quit he was let go because Choosedirect "suspected" he was being a traitor. C'mon! For the record, I want you to know that no one stole any data base and if you received an email its real. Can all these customers be lying 

This is an attempt to contact you concerning the hot tub you may have purchased from ChooseHotTubsDirect.com. THIS IS NOT SPAM!

Please take the time to read this email in its entirety as your personal safety and the safety of your home or property is at risk!

We have been investigating these spas for the last year and devoted many hours with phone calls and correspondence with spa industry professionals and with people inside the company responsible for the sale of the product.

ChooseHotTubsDirect.com is a marketing website owned by Mr. Steven S. Babrbarich, who operates his business currently at:

767 Bryant Street, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94107

He is conducting business as Choosedirect.com LLC  which is listed with the California Secretary of
State Business Entities website as :

Entity Name:CHOOSEDIRECT.COM LLC Entity Number:200803510047
Date Filed:02/04/2008
Status:ACTIVE Jurisdiction:CALIFORNIA
Entity Address:965 SUTTER ST #319
Entity City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94109
Agent for Service of Process:STEVEN S BARBARICH Agent Address:965 SUTTER ST #319
Agent City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94109

He is  also conducting business as Direct to Home Appliances LLC  which is listed with the California
Secretary of State Business Entities website as :

Entity Name:DIRECT TO HOME APPLIANCES LLC Entity Number:201003610067
Date Filed:02/05/2010
Status:ACTIVE Jurisdiction:CALIFORNIA
Entity Address:555 4TH ST #919
Entity City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94107
Agent for Service of Process:STEVE BARBARICH Agent Address:555 4TH ST #919
Agent City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94107
 
He is operating his business solely online through the following websites:

www.choosedirect.com www.choosehottubsdirect.com www.chooseswimspasdirect.com www.chooseoutdoorkitchens.com www.choosefireplacesandstoves.com www.islandescapespas.com www.directtohomeappliances.com
 
The spas in question are the ones advertised under the Island Escape brand or the Revolution Swim Spas Brand.


ALL of these spas are manufactured in China and do not comply with ANY of the following State and Federal Laws for Sale or Distribution in the US.

1. California Energy Commission (CEC) Title 20 - This law mandates that all importers and manufacturers, within California, must have their product tested and certified by an approved testing facility for compliance with the regulation set forth in the Title 20 documents shown here: http://www.energy.ca.gov/siting/title20/index.html. California Energy Commission (CEC) Testing - In accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1601-
1608, appliances that are sold or offered for sale in California shall comply with CEC 2007
Appliance Efficiency Regulations. (The exceptions are appliances sold  wholesale in California for final retail sale outside the state and those designed and sold exclusively for use in recreational vehicles or other mobile equipment.)
2. US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Spas manufactured for sale in the United States and Canada must be tested by Underwriters laboratories and /or ETL (Entertek Labs) and certified safe for consumer use under the following standards in both the US and Canada
UL - Underwriters Laboratories -(((Redacted)))
CSA - Canadian Standards Association -  http://www.csa.ca
ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials - Now ASTM International NFPA - National Fire Protection Association - (((Redacted)))
VGBPS Act - Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act - http://www.poolsafety.gov/vgb.html


This company is making fraudulent claims on their spa website that the 2010 spas are ETL approved. The company has made NO efforts to get ANY certification done on their spas since 2008. The only thing they have done is started using ACC controls which are the only ETL approved component. This companys entire spa line is NOT approved by any US or Canada product safety testing and therefore is illegal for us in the US or Canada. In order for these spas to be approved they must be tested and approved by each recognized testing facility as required by law. These spas have not been tested or certified as a complete system.


What does all of this mean to you as the owner of the spa?


a.  Many of the reported equipment failures involved water temperature exceeding 115 degrees Fahrenheit and even reaching as high as 130 or more. The length of time that one is exposed to hot water, as well as your skin's thickness determines how quickly you reach the point of being scalded. A safe immersion water temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Children and the elderly can experience scalding at temperatures higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

b. Inability to shut the spa off due to control panel malfunctions or programming that prevents manual shutdown of pumps, heater and stereo functions, resulting in excessive electrical usage and premature component failure

c. System component failure including but not limited to non-UL or ETL approved pumps, heater, control box components and control panel due to substandard materials and no approved testing as mentioned above.

d. No suitable protection from electrical failure resulting in possible fires and damage from improperly sized wiring and circuit overloads in certain models using 2 heaters and 3 jet pumps. e. Pump Motors are not thermally protected and will burn if stalled or stuck unless they short and trip the GFI Circuit

f. Spas equipped with Televisions, No grounding exists within the metal covering or framework supporting the TV or elevating mechanism for protection from electrical shock, especially if the spa is not properly wired to an approved GFI protected circuit. The TV elevating mechanism is using 24VAC, They are NOT UL or ETL approved.

g. Substandard plumbing connections leading to sudden loss of water into the spa cabinet resulting in pumps and heater being submerged in 4-5 inches of water with no drainage to allow water to escape cabinet.

h. 110 Volt spas are highly unsafe and subject to causing fires in household electrical wiring from prolonged circuit overload on 15-20 amps circuits. Heater and circulation pump draws close to 17 amps, jet pump draws 10 amps. No way to prevent heater and jet pump from being able to run at the same time. Most household 15-20 amps circuits are using 14-12AWG wiring which will overheat and start burning, potentially starting a structure fire. NON Compliant with National Electric Code.

i. Pumps and heater are improperly mounted in the base of the spa, subjecting them to submersion and potentially creating a shock hazard if GFI circuit fails. All electrical components must be mounted 4 inches off the base in compliance with UL standards to prevent immersion in the event of a water leak.

j. Non-UL approved GFCI protection included on some spas that was subject to failure, not tripping at the maximum 5 ma threshold. Circuit breaker amp ratings improperly matched to equipment leading to overloads and fires. Non-compliant with UL, ETL or NEC codes

k. No reliable or practical freeze protection - If power loss occurs and the system is not properly programmed, freezing will occur, causing damage to both the spa and property.

l. Inadequate insulation for ANY freezing weather climate, resulting in excessive electrical use and potential equipment failure from long run-on to recover heat loss.
 
m. Spa control programming is subject to repeated failure and very confusing. Original Documentation is in very poorly translated English and provides little guidance on proper use. Programming, Status Codes and Error Messages are extremely complicated and in some cases easily mistaken for unrelated conditions or function. Programming is unreliable and easily disabled causing system malfunctions and failure to perform as expected.

n. Topside Control is subject to complete failure causing the spa to malfunction when any button sticks down after pressing. If any button sticks, that button's primary function will prevent any
other spa function from working until the button is freed.

o. Non-ASME Certified Suction Fitttings and Covers, SERIOUS ENTRAPMENT HAZARD MAY EXIST ON ALL MODELS!!

p. Spa Cover is not UL approved and lacking any ASME ratings as required by US consumer product safety standards.

2. You are advised to immediately shutdown the spa, drain it and disconnect it from any power source. Do not attempt to use the spa in any fashion. If property damage or personal injury results from using the spa, your insurance carrier can and likely would deny you coverage as the spa is NOT certified by any US/Canada approved agency as mentioned above.   

3. You need to contact the following agencies and states the facts mentioned above. If you have already experienced problems with your spa resulting in personal injury or property damage, We strongly encourage you to provide all details concerning this matter as well. If you have problems of ANY kind related to your spa or problems related to your warranty with Choosedirect, be sure to provide that information as well.

a. Your local or District Attorney's Office - Consumer Affairs/Fraud branch

b. The Better Business Bureau in Oakland California - http://goldengate.bbb.org/ They already know about this company, so tell them!

c. The Federal Trade Commission -  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

d. US Consumer Product Safety Commission - https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx e. Internet Crime Complaint Center - http://www.ic3.gov/faq/default.aspx

f. Your own personal legal counsel

For Canada - Please contact the agencies above and the following:
Canada Office of the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org/canada/

Report Economic Crime Online https://recol.ca/intro.aspx?lang=en or call 1.888.495.8501

Also consider contacting other Canadian Consumer Advocacy Agencies as appropriate for reporting product safety issues in your Province. Canada's product safety laws are pretty much in line with the US laws regarding certifications and testing and you may have additional recourse to pursue concerning Cross Border Fraud.

For Other Countries, European Union - Please seek guidance in your prospective countries as to the best means of pursuing a resolution concerning product safety . Some of the certifications above will not be applicable outside the US or Canada, but the product as you may have received it was manufactured in the same manner with exactly the same problems and unsafe conditions.

4. Continue attempting to contact Choosedirect LLC also known as Direct to Home Appliances LLC to arrange a return and refund.
767 Bryant # 201, San Francisco, CA 94107 at 415-618-0681 or 888-611-8827 and Fax 415-618-0682

Known Principal Officers:
Stephen S. Barbarich - CEO - Cell Phone 415-314-7474 -  [email protected] Lisa Roundtree FitzPatrick - Customer Service Director - Cell Phone - 415-983-3967 - [email protected] or [email protected]
Joshua Soros - Director of Business Development & Marketing - Cell Phone - 215-917-5674 - [email protected]
Robert Valencia Customer Service [email protected] or [email protected]
Customer Service: [email protected] or  [email protected] or [email protected]

Sales: [email protected] or [email protected]

5. Access the Internet and google search for "choosedirect complaints". You will see plenty of information posted on a variety of consumer advocacy websites including www.ripoffreport.com, (((Redacted))). You will likely find additional listings showing up on social networking sites like Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace, Plaxo as efforts are being made to expose the company's true form to the public.

6. Please understand that this company will likely be forced out of business, but not until more victims come forward and share their experiences and complaints. While it would be wonderful if everyone received a refund, the reality is that few people will see any resolution whatsoever from this company.

7. As a final note... It is possible in many of these spas for the home owner to have it inspected and possibly retrofitted with safe, reliable certified equipment as long as it is permitted by your local authorities responsible for safety inspections. Please seek PROFESSIONAL guidance from a certified Spa Service Professional before attempting ANY modifications or changes to insure that the work performed brings all safety related matters into conformance with your local, state and federal laws. DO not ever attempt to make changes on your own without adequate professional guidance or instruction. If you wish more information on this, let me know. I may be able to help in this.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

-->

Choosedirect.com aka directtohoomeappliances.com replied with the email when all of their customers were sent an email containing the Letter that follows. The source of this letter remains anonymous, but the main message of the letter was to point out the severe safety issues surrounding the spas that Choosedirect.com sells. Even their 2010 Spas remain uncertified and highly unsafe. They remain non-compliant and in violation of ALL required California State, and US Federal Safety Laws concerning consumer product safety as noted in the letter that follows. ALL spas sold from 2008 to present are a safety risk for ALL consumers due to their non-compliance and inferior design and construction. As to the "email" Choosedirect sent out... Some comments... When we called and asked to speak to "Bob Trueman" Nobody knew who that was... hmm, well almost nobody. Lisa knows, but Bob doesn't talk to customers, EVER! I think Bob doesn't exist.

As to Charles East not working for them anymore. That part is true. We confirmed by phone with Mr. East that he terminated his support services with Choosedirect due to the high volume of product complaints, personal injuries and property damage being reported.

As to data stolen... Really, thats excuse that Choosedirect wants to use to try and coverup their crappy product and terrible customer support?

So here is the letter that prompted their scam email...

__________________________________________



This is an attempt to contact you concerning the hot tub you may have purchased from ChooseHotTubsDirect.com. THIS IS NOT SPAM!

Please take the time to read this email in its entirety as your personal safety and the safety of your home or property is at risk!

We have been investigating these spas for the last year and devoted many hours with phone calls and correspondence with spa industry professionals and with people inside the company responsible for the sale of the product.

ChooseHotTubsDirect.com is a marketing website owned by Mr. Steven S. Babrbarich, who operates his business currently at:

767 Bryant Street, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94107

He is conducting business as Choosedirect.com LLC  which is listed with the California Secretary of
State Business Entities website as :

Entity Name:CHOOSEDIRECT.COM LLC Entity Number:200803510047
Date Filed:02/04/2008
Status:ACTIVE Jurisdiction:CALIFORNIA
Entity Address:965 SUTTER ST #319
Entity City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94109
Agent for Service of Process:STEVEN S BARBARICH Agent Address:965 SUTTER ST #319
Agent City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94109

He is  also conducting business as Direct to Home Appliances LLC  which is listed with the California
Secretary of State Business Entities website as :

Entity Name:DIRECT TO HOME APPLIANCES LLC Entity Number:201003610067
Date Filed:02/05/2010
Status:ACTIVE Jurisdiction:CALIFORNIA
Entity Address:555 4TH ST #919
Entity City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94107
Agent for Service of Process:STEVE BARBARICH Agent Address:555 4TH ST #919
Agent City, State, Zip:SAN FRANCISCO CA 94107
 
He is operating his business solely online through the following websites:

www.choosedirect.com www.choosehottubsdirect.com www.chooseswimspasdirect.com www.chooseoutdoorkitchens.com www.choosefireplacesandstoves.com www.islandescapespas.com www.directtohomeappliances.com
 
The spas in question are the ones advertised under the Island Escape brand or the Revolution Swim Spas Brand.


ALL of these spas are manufactured in China and do not comply with ANY of the following State and Federal Laws for Sale or Distribution in the US.

1. California Energy Commission (CEC) Title 20 - This law mandates that all importers and manufacturers, within California, must have their product tested and certified by an approved testing facility for compliance with the regulation set forth in the Title 20 documents shown here: http://www.energy.ca.gov/siting/title20/index.html. California Energy Commission (CEC) Testing - In accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Sections 1601-
1608, appliances that are sold or offered for sale in California shall comply with CEC 2007
Appliance Efficiency Regulations. (The exceptions are appliances sold  wholesale in California for final retail sale outside the state and those designed and sold exclusively for use in recreational vehicles or other mobile equipment.)
2. US Consumer Product Safety Commission - Spas manufactured for sale in the United States and Canada must be tested by Underwriters laboratories and /or ETL (Entertek Labs) and certified safe for consumer use under the following standards in both the US and Canada
UL - Underwriters Laboratories -(((Redacted)))
CSA - Canadian Standards Association -  http://www.csa.ca
ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials - Now ASTM International NFPA - National Fire Protection Association - (((Redacted)))
VGBPS Act - Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act - http://www.poolsafety.gov/vgb.html


This company is making fraudulent claims on their spa website that the 2010 spas are ETL approved. The company has made NO efforts to get ANY certification done on their spas since 2008. The only thing they have done is started using ACC controls which are the only ETL approved component. This companys entire spa line is NOT approved by any US or Canada product safety testing and therefore is illegal for us in the US or Canada. In order for these spas to be approved they must be tested and approved by each recognized testing facility as required by law. These spas have not been tested or certified as a complete system.


What does all of this mean to you as the owner of the spa?


a.  Many of the reported equipment failures involved water temperature exceeding 115 degrees Fahrenheit and even reaching as high as 130 or more. The length of time that one is exposed to hot water, as well as your skin's thickness determines how quickly you reach the point of being scalded. A safe immersion water temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Children and the elderly can experience scalding at temperatures higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

b. Inability to shut the spa off due to control panel malfunctions or programming that prevents manual shutdown of pumps, heater and stereo functions, resulting in excessive electrical usage and premature component failure

c. System component failure including but not limited to non-UL or ETL approved pumps, heater, control box components and control panel due to substandard materials and no approved testing as mentioned above.

d. No suitable protection from electrical failure resulting in possible fires and damage from improperly sized wiring and circuit overloads in certain models using 2 heaters and 3 jet pumps. e. Pump Motors are not thermally protected and will burn if stalled or stuck unless they short and trip the GFI Circuit

f. Spas equipped with Televisions, No grounding exists within the metal covering or framework supporting the TV or elevating mechanism for protection from electrical shock, especially if the spa is not properly wired to an approved GFI protected circuit. The TV elevating mechanism is using 24VAC, They are NOT UL or ETL approved.

g. Substandard plumbing connections leading to sudden loss of water into the spa cabinet resulting in pumps and heater being submerged in 4-5 inches of water with no drainage to allow water to escape cabinet.

h. 110 Volt spas are highly unsafe and subject to causing fires in household electrical wiring from prolonged circuit overload on 15-20 amps circuits. Heater and circulation pump draws close to 17 amps, jet pump draws 10 amps. No way to prevent heater and jet pump from being able to run at the same time. Most household 15-20 amps circuits are using 14-12AWG wiring which will overheat and start burning, potentially starting a structure fire. NON Compliant with National Electric Code.

i. Pumps and heater are improperly mounted in the base of the spa, subjecting them to submersion and potentially creating a shock hazard if GFI circuit fails. All electrical components must be mounted 4 inches off the base in compliance with UL standards to prevent immersion in the event of a water leak.

j. Non-UL approved GFCI protection included on some spas that was subject to failure, not tripping at the maximum 5 ma threshold. Circuit breaker amp ratings improperly matched to equipment leading to overloads and fires. Non-compliant with UL, ETL or NEC codes

k. No reliable or practical freeze protection - If power loss occurs and the system is not properly programmed, freezing will occur, causing damage to both the spa and property.

l. Inadequate insulation for ANY freezing weather climate, resulting in excessive electrical use and potential equipment failure from long run-on to recover heat loss.
 
m. Spa control programming is subject to repeated failure and very confusing. Original Documentation is in very poorly translated English and provides little guidance on proper use. Programming, Status Codes and Error Messages are extremely complicated and in some cases easily mistaken for unrelated conditions or function. Programming is unreliable and easily disabled causing system malfunctions and failure to perform as expected.

n. Topside Control is subject to complete failure causing the spa to malfunction when any button sticks down after pressing. If any button sticks, that button's primary function will prevent any
other spa function from working until the button is freed.

o. Non-ASME Certified Suction Fitttings and Covers, SERIOUS ENTRAPMENT HAZARD MAY EXIST ON ALL MODELS!!

p. Spa Cover is not UL approved and lacking any ASME ratings as required by US consumer product safety standards.

2. You are advised to immediately shutdown the spa, drain it and disconnect it from any power source. Do not attempt to use the spa in any fashion. If property damage or personal injury results from using the spa, your insurance carrier can and likely would deny you coverage as the spa is NOT certified by any US/Canada approved agency as mentioned above.   

3. You need to contact the following agencies and states the facts mentioned above. If you have already experienced problems with your spa resulting in personal injury or property damage, We strongly encourage you to provide all details concerning this matter as well. If you have problems of ANY kind related to your spa or problems related to your warranty with Choosedirect, be sure to provide that information as well.

a. Your local or District Attorney's Office - Consumer Affairs/Fraud branch

b. The Better Business Bureau in Oakland California - http://goldengate.bbb.org/ They already know about this company, so tell them!

c. The Federal Trade Commission -  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

d. US Consumer Product Safety Commission - https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx e. Internet Crime Complaint Center - http://www.ic3.gov/faq/default.aspx

f. Your own personal legal counsel

For Canada - Please contact the agencies above and the following:
Canada Office of the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org/canada/

Report Economic Crime Online https://recol.ca/intro.aspx?lang=en or call 1.888.495.8501

Also consider contacting other Canadian Consumer Advocacy Agencies as appropriate for reporting product safety issues in your Province. Canada's product safety laws are pretty much in line with the US laws regarding certifications and testing and you may have additional recourse to pursue concerning Cross Border Fraud.

For Other Countries, European Union - Please seek guidance in your prospective countries as to the best means of pursuing a resolution concerning product safety . Some of the certifications above will not be applicable outside the US or Canada, but the product as you may have received it was manufactured in the same manner with exactly the same problems and unsafe conditions.

4. Continue attempting to contact Choosedirect LLC also known as Direct to Home Appliances LLC to arrange a return and refund.
767 Bryant # 201, San Francisco, CA 94107 at 415-618-0681 or 888-611-8827 and Fax 415-618-0682

Known Principal Officers:
Stephen S. Barbarich - CEO - Cell Phone 415-314-7474 -  [email protected] Lisa Roundtree FitzPatrick - Customer Service Director - Cell Phone - 415-983-3967 - [email protected] or [email protected]
Joshua Soros - Director of Business Development & Marketing - Cell Phone - 215-917-5674 - [email protected]
Robert Valencia Customer Service [email protected] or [email protected]
Customer Service: [email protected] or  [email protected] or [email protected]

Sales: [email protected] or [email protected]

5. Access the Internet and google search for "choosedirect complaints". You will see plenty of information posted on a variety of consumer advocacy websites including www.ripoffreport.com, (((Redacted))). You will likely find additional listings showing up on social networking sites like Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace, Plaxo as efforts are being made to expose the company's true form to the public.

6. Please understand that this company will likely be forced out of business, but not until more victims come forward and share their experiences and complaints. While it would be wonderful if everyone received a refund, the reality is that few people will see any resolution whatsoever from this company.

7. As a final note... It is possible in many of these spas for the home owner to have it inspected and possibly retrofitted with safe, reliable certified equipment as long as it is permitted by your local authorities responsible for safety inspections. Please seek PROFESSIONAL guidance from a certified Spa Service Professional before attempting ANY modifications or changes to insure that the work performed brings all safety related matters into conformance with your local, state and federal laws. DO not ever attempt to make changes on your own without adequate professional guidance or instruction. If you wish more information on this, let me know. I may be able to help in this.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.