So I just spent that last hour and a half writing my story and then posting it on RipOff Report and LA.BBB.org. I'm also preparing a letter to send to Lane Bryant.... and I will also be contacting the credit agencies on Monday.
I went into the Shops of Mission Viejo Mall today for my first time to visit Layne Bryant. My friend, Casey, had been talking up the store saying what a great place it was to get business clothing. We had been planning to go for a week because she received a coupon in the mail for a discount off of a purchase.
When we arrived, we were met with some great service representatives who measured me and helped me find the right clothing. The shopping experience in the store was a lot of fun. One service representative came up to us about three times asking if we wanted to sign up for a Layne Bryant card. My friend already had one, and I said I might be interested. She kept asking if she could have my credit card so she could start the process. I told her twice that if I found something I liked, I would consider it. Within an hour, I found several items and was ready to check out.
The same rep who had asked me several time about the card, was at the register and I asked her to see if she had a specific pant size available. She said she would look online. When I approached the register she had already rung up my other items and was waiting for me. My friend also had a dress that she was going to buy. My friend asked if we could use the coupon on both of our purchases. The sales rep then said—“I’ll tell you what, if you try to see if you are approved for a Layne Bryant card, I’ll give you 20% off, and I’ll let both of you guys use the coupon for your purchases.” I then proceeded to tell her that I would have to talk to my husband about registering for a new line of credit before doing anything.
She then said, “Well you don’t have to accept the card. All I’ll do is see if you could have an open line of credit, and you’ll get 20% off of the purchase and both of you can use the coupon if you just give me your information.” I asked her again if it would be an open line of credit and she said “No, all I need to do it put in your application, nothing will open if you don’t want it to.” I didn’t see anything wrong with that—she made it sound like all she needed was an application, and nothing would happen—so I gave her my credit card, my social security number, and my address.
All of a sudden she hands me these terms and conditions along with a receipt saying, “you were approved, your line of credit is $300.00. Congratulations! Do you want to put this on your new card?”
I was so taken aback that I said, “What do you mean I have a line of credit? I thought I was just giving you an application, you said I could decline the card if I didn’t want it, all you were going to do was see if I was able to open a card or not.”
She said, “I’m sorry, but you were approved, so it just put you through and gave you a card, look at the receipt, here are your terms and conditions.” I didn’t know what to say, I was flabbergasted.
I then said “you just totally tricked me so you could sign up someone on a new card. You totally lied to me.”
She just smiled and said, “I told you, you would be getting a card.” I couldn’t believe that she totally lied to me!
I couldn’t believe how I was taken advantage of. My pleasurable shopping experience turned completely negative and I felt so helpless that someone would take advantage of me my credit like that. My friend started to argue with her as well and was trying to ask her why she totally just lied to us and then did exactly what I told her I didn’t want her to do. I looked to the other sales reps for help, but they just looked at me with pity… I couldn’t believe it!
I started to argue with her again and said, “I don’t want a line of credit, can you please undo what you just did?”
The representative said, “Sorry, I can’t do anything anymore, you’ll have to do what ever it says on the terms and conditions.”
I said, “What do you mean? You didn’t even explain to me how the card or the whole program worked.” She then said “sorry, but you’ll have to contact your credit agency or the company, but there is nothing I can do”.
My friend was so disgusted by the whole thing that she handed the dress back and said “I won’t shop at a company that takes advantage and tricks people. You’ve lost my business.” We walked off fuming.
I NEVER SIGNED anything stating that I wanted her to run my credit, nor did I sign anything stating that I wanted a card or a line of credit open at this company. I was scammed by the sales representative into applying for a card by falsely representing the terms and conditions.
I couldn’t believe how horrible the situation was! I hope they don’t scam other shoppers like me.
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So what do you think? Was I scammed? Or taken advantage of? Man!!! I'm still so upset about it!
It's almost finished! I still have to add three more flowers and I'll have accomplished my first silk floral arrangement! My mom and I have been looking for something to fill this spot in the great room/smoothie bar area and we were baffled at the $300-$400 price tags for silk floral arrangements.... So I said--hey I can do the same thing for a fraction of the cost. So my mom and I went to Michaels where she picked out the types of silk flowers she liked. We figured out a scheme, and tonight I designed the arrangement. All for around $100. It's a pretty big arrangement around 3 feet tall and about a foot wide. Not too shabby huh? I'm excited that I've had some fun projects lately to do to spark up my creative juices--not to mention the fun I've had with my mom shopping and deciding what flowers to use!
