Home Improvement: Plumbing and Lighting Products from Homecenter.com

I recently fell victim to the Homecenter.com scam. I've detailed my experience on my web page at http://www.mixsoftware.com/HomeCenterFool.htm. I advise anyone contemplating ordering from http://www.homecenter.com to read my story or any of the other horror stories posted at http://www.resellerratings.com/store/HomeCenter before ordering.

I encourage everyone who has been victimized by this company to file a complaint. The appropriate authorities for filing your complaint are well documented at resellerratings.com and I provide links to them from my web page.

This company has been stealing money from customers for the past 10 years. It's time that something was done about it. If enough complaints are filed, maybe we can put a stop to it.

Homecenter.com: Plumbing and lighting products for the kitchen or bathroom, and irrigation supplies.

Homecenter.com is a cleverly disguised drop ship business. They attract as many customers as possible with low prices, then attempt to collect large drop ship fees or order cancellation fees.

The Danze bathroom faucets that I ordered were advertised to be in stock but turned out to be discontinued and no longer available from Danze. After 3 weeks, Homecenter canceled the order with Danze without fee to them, but charged me a 40% cancellation fee (25% for restocking + 15% for return authorization). This was despite the fact that the product was never stocked, never shipped, and never returned by anyone.

FILE YOUR COMPLAINT

If you've been victimized by Homecenter.com, do something about it. You can help prevent others from falling victim to this scam, and hopefully get the New York Attorney General to take notice if you file your complaint.

I was so disgusted by Homecenter.com that I created my own web page (From: HomeCenterFool) to document my experience and warn others about this fraudulent drop ship scam.

I have noticed a recent increase in the number of complaints being filed against Homecenter.com at the New York Better Business Bureau. Homecenter.com is rated F (lowest rating) by the New York BBB.
HomeCenter.com Review - HOME CENTERS in New York, NY - BBB Reliability Report - BBB serving Metropolitan New York, Long Island, and the Mid-Hudson Region

You can help by adding your complaint to the list. You can file a complaint at each of the following offices. All of these are easy to fill out online forms, with the exception of the New York Office of the Attorney General. The NYOAG form must be printed and mailed.

New York Better Business Bureau:
Check Out a Business or Charity - New York BBB
type Homecenter.com for the business name, then click File Complaint to file your complaint.

New York Department of Consumer Affairs:
DCA - On-Line Complaint Form

FBI Internet Crimes Form:
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | File a Complaint

New York Office of the Attorney General:
http://www.ag.ny.gov/resource_center..._complaint.pdf

Last year (2009), the New York Attorney General’s office clamped down on seven New York internet businesses that utilized fraudulent business practices to steal money from consumers. Two were shut down and five were forced to pay fines and modify their business practices. Both the New York BBB and NYOAG have formed relationships with resellerratings.com with the purpose of identifying fraudulent businesses:
ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO SECURES AGREEMENTS WITH SEVEN ELECTRONICS COMPANIES IN NEW YORK FOR USING ILLEGAL ONLINE BUSINESS PRACTICES TO SCAM CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE.

While the Homecenter.com scam differs from the ones previously prosecuted, it is equally fraudulent. Although the individual losses may be small ($120 in my case), the collective loss to customers over the past 10 years must be in the millions. The only way to stop this fraud is to make the authorities aware, and the only way to do that is to file your complaint.

I too have been scammed by Homecenter.com

Today I filed a complaint at the FBI website. I also disputed the charges with my bank and they say that they are going to reimburse me the money within 10 business days.

Once I figured out I was being scammed, I stopped all communication with Home Center.

It went a little different with me. I ordered a new toilet seat through them. They said it would ship immediately. 10 days later, I had not received it. I called to complain and they said the item was discontinued. So I asked them to cancel my order and refund me my money. They said ok. But then about 30 minutes later, I received an email saying there was a replacement item that was available for shipping immediately and asking if I would like it. It was for less money and I would be reimbursed for the difference. I said yes and waited another 10 days. I did not receive the item, nor did I receive my reimbursement.

This time I was ticked off and called to cancel my order altogether. The person who answered the phone said that I had "some nerve" for demanding to talk to a human being when I had placed my order on-line. Huh? What difference does THAT make?

I finally got through to customer service and canceled my order and was told I would receive my refund within 2-3 business days. 30 minutes later I received an email informing me that my item had shipped. I wrote back and said, Too Late, I already cancelled this order and I'm not messing with you any more. Please refund me my money. I followed up the email with another phone call to confirm that I was cancelling my order.

I was then informed that the item was shipped to THEM instead of to me. I said that I didn't care as I had already cancelled my order and was calling about my refund. They said again that I would receive my refund within 2-3 business days. As you can imagine, I did NOT receive my refund.

I have subsequently filed a complaint with my bank who will be issuing me a refund withing 10 business days. And they have issued me another debit card since Home Center now has my card info and personal contact information. I have also submitted a complaint with the FBI at Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | Home

I will also be checking out the other websites that you have posted here. Thank you for this information.

Interesting that Brian Okin claims that only complainers write on that resellerratings.com

If you go to the upper left corner, you'll see where you can click on Best & Worst Stores. It takes you to a page where you can see companies with 8's, 9's and 10's and amazingly they are FAR more reviews that Home Center. So that kind of takes that theory of his and throws it into the dumpster.

Hmmmm, sounds like the dumpster is exactly where Brian Okin belongs.

Homecenter.com Scam Alert!

If you've been victimized by Homecenter.com, do something about it. You can help prevent others from falling victim to this scam, and hopefully get the New York Attorney General to take notice if you file your complaint.