CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Customers of a computer repair shop have been calling Ruth to the Rescue after they didn't get their electronic devices back. They dropped them off for repairs in the last few weeks, but now the PC DR. stands empty, and they say they can't get anyone on the phone to tell them what's going on.
One of the customers is 6th grader Alex Kocher.
Alex learned a tough lesson in bad customer service when the Clinton Township business seemed to unexpectedly closed its doors.
"I feel kind of disrespected, like my right was taken away, because I paid them money, and I haven't heard back from them," she told Ruth to the Rescue.
Alex brought her 300 dollar iPod Touch to the PC DR. a few weeks ago and never got it back.
Now the shop stands empty, with no one answering the phone and no sign of Alex's iPod.
She isn't only out an iPod, she gave the store a 60 dollar deposit for a new screen, and that was money she worked hard for.
"Each weekend I'd earn 10 dollars for doing two hours of tutoring," she said.
Other customers also affected
John Jones of Macomb Township promised his brother he'd get his computer repaired. Now, that computer is also missing.
John told Ruth to the Rescue he's been calling and visiting the store for days and then, "I went back this past Monday and it was still closed, I looked in the store and it was empty!"
Ruth to the Rescue gets involved
After the complaints came into the Consumer Unit, Ruth to the Rescue started looking for the owner of PC DR. Reporter Ruth Spencer went knocking on doors at the last addresses we could find allegedly linked to the store's owner. One seemed outdated, and there was no answer at another home.
Ruth to the Rescue contacted the Clinton Township Police Department. A spokesman said now that the store appeared abandoned, the department would start an investigation, after the victims filed official complaints. The department is hoping to reunite the owners with their belongings.
The Better Business Bureau Serving Detroit and Eastern Michigan provided some tips for any other customers of PC DR., or anyone ever caught in a similar situation.
The Bureau listed these steps for consumers:
*Try to contact the company directly first with a certified letter.
*If the certified letter goes unanswered and there is no way to contact the company, you can file a dispute with your credit card company if that was your method of payment. To be eligible under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you must file the dispute within 60 days of the transaction.
*If the company goes bankrupt, you may be paid after the business liquidates its assets. To protect your rights in the bankruptcy proceeding, complete a Proof of Claim form and file it with the bankruptcy court.
*There is no guarantee that a customer will get money or merchandise owed in any situation. If you are owed a large amount of money, consider contacting a private attorney.
*You may also file a formal complaint against the company with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Though the Office of the Attorney General cannot take legal action on behalf of individuals, action may be taken to enforce state law and in some actions can produce restitution for consumers.
For more information here's a link to the Better Business Bureau website: www.bbb.org