Hollywood Video Scams

On Dec 9, 2008 I went to rent a movie to the Hollywood videostore. The store employee told me that I had not returned the two movies I had rented the week before (Dec 2, 2008). I told the employee I had returned the movies myself the same night I rented them. She told me to contact the manager later because she wasn't in the store. I placed several calls and finally got to speak to the manager late at night. She told me they had found one of the movies (the chronicles of narnia) but not the "Wanted" movie. She told me she would call me later to let me know but she never did. I e-mailed Hollywood video and Bill (the person who responded to my email) nicely indicated there was nothing they could do and that I should try to contact the manager again. He also told me that he had checked with the store and both movies were missing again, not just one. After multiple calls to the store I spoke to Carol(a manager of the multiple managers I spoke to) and she told me she had been looking for the movies at other rental stores. I told her I had returned the movies myself and had placed them in the parking lot's return box. I offered to pay for the movies if she would sign an affidavit for me because I don't think it is fair I would have to pay for movies they lost. She told me she would call me back the next day but she never did. I sent an email to Bill again and he just told me to call their Customer Service Department. After researching online about the company I found out they have been excluded from all the Better Business Bureaus and organizations as such because of their really bad business practices regarding consumer complaints. Friends have also related similar experiences with them - they try to make them pay for movies they already returned or are charged late fees when the movies were already returned. Consumers need to be informed. I had been their customer for many years but after this situation my advice to the public is to get their receipt signed and dated by the store clerk when they return a movie. I've found recent reports about their business practices online (i.e. http://consumerist.com/5009248/is-hollywood-video-bringing-back-silence-is-acceptance-magazine-subscriptions). To this date my case is still "pending".

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This has happened to me, also.

I received a collection notice from a collection agency - and never received a bill from Hollywood Video. They are billing me for 2 videos that were rented out over 6 months ago, THAT I DID RETURN; however, they are showing that they were never logged back in. They are claiming after 2 inventories I owe this. I spoke to the store manager and he called the collection agency and said they would take $70.00 instead of $100. I told them I would not pay for something I do not have and of which I returned. I am a 47 year old female with no children in the home, why would I keep a video? You can buy them eventually anywhere from $10-$20 for previewed copies. I then contacted Corporate and the credit manager said he would agree to take $50.00. I told him that I would not pay for something I don't have and that if I did agree to that I would be admitted guilt. He claims that isn't so. WE KNOW BETTER, don't we. I told them under no certain terms would I pay for videos I returned. It's my word against theirs; however, no one can prove either way, but I am guessing that these movies were never checked back in under my name, and someone else took them. That leaves doubt. I have told corporate I would take this to the media. Now with your posting I am validated.