HCI Direct, Inc. - Silkies - unethical business practices - free silkies arrived with obligation to cancel hosiery program

# 18 for October 10, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on October 9, 2003:

From:

RE: HCI Direct, Inc. - Silkies - unethical business practices - free silkies arrived with obligation to cancel hosiery program I went on line and "Googled" HCI Direct and quickly found complaints registered against HCI Direct detailing consumer's frustration and dissatisfaction with HCI business & marketing practices and the lack of

response to customer complaints. These consumer complaints led me to your site. A few weeks ago I replied to an offer and sent for a pair of free Silkies. Today the pair of free Silkies arrived along with a letter indicating that the free pair of Silkies was a "thank you" for trying their popular "No-Obligation-To-Buy" hosiery program. In addition, the letter stated that "In about four or five weeks, you'll receive -- strictly on approval" -- etc., etc., etc . I DID NOT SIGN UP for a hosiery program. In fact, I read the card offer very carefully, before sending it back, to ascertain that there was no hidden catch. Now it appears that it becomes my obligation to return unwanted merchandise when it arrives or "..cancel simply by sending ... a note or returning the hose." to the HCI, Inc. P.O. Box. I sent a Cc: of this email t o Email User since the HCI "welcome letter" contains no contact telephone number, and only a P.O. BOX number to send them a note. Tomorrow morning, I will mail a

certified or registered letter to HCI demanding that: 1) they close my non-existant "account"; 2) NOT send "..three-pair shipment of Silkies...in..four to five weeks"; 3) remove my name from their customer list; and 4) NOT sell, exchange, trade my name to any other company or vendor or merchandiser. I will go down to the Post Office with the "free Silkies", the welcome letter, and packaging material and, if appropriate, file a complaint with the U.S. Postmaster. I will also call our County consumer advocate to see what measures I can take to prevent any further intrusion of HCI in my life. I find Complaints.com a valuable resource. Thank you for providing a forum for the consumer. Thank you,

J. M. Berman