HCI Direct, Inc. / Silkies - replied to offer and sent for and received free Silkies - then sent letter to cancel - received unwanted, additional Silkies and collection letter

Complaints.com received the following business reply on April 1, 2003:

From: CS - Comments [Email User]

RE: HCI Direct Inc./ Silkies

Good afternoon, We are in receipt of your communication and are currently investigating the matter. You will be hearing from us via US mail within the next two weeks. Meanwhile, we have closed the account and you may disregard the billing. Lorraine,

Silkies Customer Service

Complaints.com received the following on March 27, 2003:

From: Brigitte Smith [Email User]

RE: HCI Direct, Inc. / Silkies - replied to offer and sent for and received free Silkies - then sent letter to cancel - received unwanted, additional Silkies and collection letter

I write to address the many complaints about HCI Direct and their unethical business practices. Hopefully if the powers that be read this I will not have to go as far as stated below but I will not appreciate receiving products I have not requested nor will I be grateful for the inconvenience of returning the product. Please remove my name/account. I responded to their "Free" hosiery offer as well. I received a free pair and a letter from Eve Stonebury stating that future shipments will follow 'on approval'. I immediately sent them a letter requesting that they do not continue sending any more products as I was not happy with the first and I find it annoying that they would send unrequested products. Upon delivery of the unwanted items I recommend that you write Refused on the front of the unopened package and put it in the outgoing mail. By writing this on the package and not opening it you are not in receipt of the package and also not liable for return postage. Moreover, HCI Direct has no recourse for collection as their initial letter says 'on approval' or 'upon approval'. Unless you approved or requested the shipment there is nothing that they can do to oblige you to pay. They are just blowing a lot of hot air. If they harass you, start sending your hose

to: John F. Biagini, CEO

HCI Direct, Inc.

3050 Tillman Dr.

Bensalem, PA 19020

Phone: 215-244-1777

Fax: 215-244-0328 If they so much as speak of collections you should contact a consumer law attorney; they will likely represent you on contingency. Also, whenever you write a letter be sure to copy the Federal Trade Commission. The best advice though is to ask the Pennsylvania Department of Consumer Affairs to intercede on your behalf, that way you don't have to do anything except tell them the story and they will take it from there. It may also make them think twice about using their tactics on future consumers, if you advise the Dept. of Consumer Affairs for S. Carolina (where HCI ships from) as well as your home state's Dept. of Consumer Affairs as well.

This marketing tactic is a good way to destroy a brand. Brigitte Smith/acct. # 102049730-1