bill@crys.WISC.EDU (Bill Cox) (11/07/86)
> Programs Plus and Northeastern Software are both advertising this > as one of the products they carry! There is an article entitled "Software by Mail Frustrates Firm And Its Clients", page 35, Wall Street Journal, November 4, 1986 (Midwest edition, start of the second section). It's not clear whether Northeastern is reorganizing or not; it appears that they are doing a Chapter 11, leaving anyone who's paid them money for software that they haven't received as a junior unsecured creditor ( == 'good luck' ). There are several horror stories, including one school that ordered $199 worth of merchandise in November 1985, finally (after the better business bureau intervened) got a refund check in August 1986. The refund check bounced. Northeastern is in Shelton, Connecticut. From the article: "We get two or three [complaints] at most" about other firms' ads, says Jim Martin, publisher of PC World and Macworld computer magazines, which will no longer carry Northeastern's ads. "We're getting 20 to 30 from Northeastern. I would say five a month would be alarming." [comments about FTC mail-order rules, and Northeastern's violations thereof] Northeastern hasn't been formally charged with any wrongdoing. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection says it is investigating the company but won't comment further. And a Postal Service investigator says, "At this point, [the complaints are] insufficient to indicate there is a fraud."... For some customers [the decisions to drop Northeastern's advertizing] have come too late. [customer who gave them a $1018 order in May, and has gotten nothing] ... "I think [Northeastern's] address, 7 Trap Falls Road, is quite appropriate," she says. "We fell into it." from me: I know that using a credit card gives some protection on undelivered merchandise. The only protection would seem to be to vigorously follow up on the Fair Credit Act protections for any company that doesn't follow the FTC rules which require shipping within 30 days after the mailorder company "either receives a check from a customer OR DEBITS THE CUSTOMER'S CHARGE-CARD ACCOUNT. [emphasis added] If the merchandise isn't available, customers must be notified within 30 days and offered a refund." You can find about recent postings by calling your credit card issuer. After the Fair Credit Act limits (I think they are 60 days or so after a charge) the situation is less clear. Watch for charges for unshipped merchandise. Complain to the Postal Inspectors, Federal Trade Commission, and Connecticut Dept. of Consumer Protection, where appropriate. If you're screwed by a mail/ phone order company, COMPLAIN. That's the only protection for the rest of us. bill -- William Cox Computer Sciences Department University of Wisconsin, Madison WI bill@crys.wisc.edu {ihnp4,seismo,allegra}!uwvax!bill