BlueHippo Funding
Encyclopedia
BlueHippo Funding, LLC was an installment credit
company operating in the USA founded by Joseph Rensin that claimed to offer personal computer
s, flat-screen
television
s and other high-tech items for sale to customers with poor credit. In an article published November 25, 2009 titled
BlueHippo files for bankruptcy: Company blames its bank; was accused of violating settlement with FTC, Eileen Ambrose reported that the company "was forced to file for protection under Chapter 11."
On Wednesday December 9, 2009, the company filed for Chapter 7
bankruptcy after having its funds frozen by their payment processor. A petition to a Delaware bankruptcy judge to release the funds was denied. The company's advertised toll-free phone number and website are no longer functioning.
The company encountered several complaints with the Better Business Bureau
; the Greater Maryland Better Business Bureau issued a consumer alert against the company within eight months of its founding. Cofounder Bruce E. Mattare left the company in 2004 to start TronixCountry, which has offered merchandise with installment terms similar in scope to BlueHippo's.
BlueHippo's main product was a personal computer
system. Its radio commercials stated that a customer must build a "short credit history" to qualify. The payment was made through an installment plan.
The company had been investigated several times for consumer fraud. In April 2008, BlueHippo settled with the Federal Trade Commission
to reimburse defrauded customers up to $5 million. However, on November 12, 2009, the FTC filed a memorandum in federal court reporting that despite collecting more than $15 million from customers since the April 2008 settlement, BlueHippo shipped "at most a single computer" before the FTC resumed legal action in April 2009. Blue Hippo was repeatedly fined by the court for failure to file the FTC reports it had agreed to file as part of the agency's oversight. On November 13, 2009, Ars Technica reported, "The FTC has had it, and today went back to court asking a federal judge for a contempt order against BlueHippo."
(FTC) received 8,000 pages of complaints and launched an investigation of the company. In February 2008 the FTC settled its grievances with BlueHippo and required the company to pay up to $5,000,000 to settle the FTC's charges. In April 2009, a federal court found BlueHippo in contempt for not issuing reports to the FTC as required by the settlement.
The Maryland Attorney General reached a settlement with Blue Hippo in 2007. Under the terms of the settlement, the company agreed to pay restitution to consumers who overpaid or did not receive their goods.
Bill McCollum, Florida Attorney General
said, "We think that overall, this is a very deceptive trade practice."
The Tennessee Attorney General
filed a civil lawsuit for alleged deceptive practices against BlueHippo companies, as well as proposing an injunction requiring greater disclosures in advertising and prior to obtaining further payments, as well as the freezing of $2.5 million in cash. West Virginia also sued BlueHippo.
A class action lawsuit was filed against BlueHippo in the District Court of Ottawa County State of Oklahoma on January 23, 2007. This case was transferred to the United States District Court Northern District of Oklahoma on March 7, 2007.
As of August 25, 2009 the Better Business Bureau
has received over 3950 grievances from all over the United States. "Due to this pattern of complaints and BlueHippo’s failure to correct the underlying causes for the complaints, the company is rated 'unsatisfactory'."
BlueHippo changed its business practices to include a refund policy in mid-2006. However, the BBB reports: "In November and December 2006, however, the volume of complaints rose again and the BBB has renewed concerns about the effectiveness of the company's efforts to reduce the volume and pattern of complaints. Current complaints allege the company is slow to provide promised refunds and there continue to be delays in delivery of the merchandise." As of January 1, 2007, BlueHippo offers a full refund if customers cancel during the first 7 days. However, any order canceled after the grace period
will receive "store credit" only. This store credit will only allow customers to buy items on the company website.
Installment credit
Installment credit is a type of credit that has a fixed number of payments, in contrast to revolving credit.-Examples:* Land loan* Home construction loan* Home mortgage* Some equity loans* Home improvement loan* Automobile loan...
company operating in the USA founded by Joseph Rensin that claimed to offer personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s, flat-screen
Flat panel display
Flat panel displays encompass a growing number of electronic visual display technologies. They are far lighter and thinner than traditional television sets and video displays that use cathode ray tubes , and are usually less than thick...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
s and other high-tech items for sale to customers with poor credit. In an article published November 25, 2009 titled
BlueHippo files for bankruptcy: Company blames its bank; was accused of violating settlement with FTC, Eileen Ambrose reported that the company "was forced to file for protection under Chapter 11."
On Wednesday December 9, 2009, the company filed for Chapter 7
Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 7 of the Title 11 of the United States Code governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States...
bankruptcy after having its funds frozen by their payment processor. A petition to a Delaware bankruptcy judge to release the funds was denied. The company's advertised toll-free phone number and website are no longer functioning.
The company encountered several complaints with the Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
; the Greater Maryland Better Business Bureau issued a consumer alert against the company within eight months of its founding. Cofounder Bruce E. Mattare left the company in 2004 to start TronixCountry, which has offered merchandise with installment terms similar in scope to BlueHippo's.
BlueHippo's main product was a personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
system. Its radio commercials stated that a customer must build a "short credit history" to qualify. The payment was made through an installment plan.
The company had been investigated several times for consumer fraud. In April 2008, BlueHippo settled with the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
to reimburse defrauded customers up to $5 million. However, on November 12, 2009, the FTC filed a memorandum in federal court reporting that despite collecting more than $15 million from customers since the April 2008 settlement, BlueHippo shipped "at most a single computer" before the FTC resumed legal action in April 2009. Blue Hippo was repeatedly fined by the court for failure to file the FTC reports it had agreed to file as part of the agency's oversight. On November 13, 2009, Ars Technica reported, "The FTC has had it, and today went back to court asking a federal judge for a contempt order against BlueHippo."
Criticisms and investigations
The Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
(FTC) received 8,000 pages of complaints and launched an investigation of the company. In February 2008 the FTC settled its grievances with BlueHippo and required the company to pay up to $5,000,000 to settle the FTC's charges. In April 2009, a federal court found BlueHippo in contempt for not issuing reports to the FTC as required by the settlement.
The Maryland Attorney General reached a settlement with Blue Hippo in 2007. Under the terms of the settlement, the company agreed to pay restitution to consumers who overpaid or did not receive their goods.
Bill McCollum, Florida Attorney General
Florida Attorney General
The Florida Attorney General is an elected cabinet official in the U.S. state of Florida. The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer of the state....
said, "We think that overall, this is a very deceptive trade practice."
The Tennessee Attorney General
Tennessee Attorney General
The Tennessee Attorney General is a position within the Tennessee state government. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer and lawyer for Tennessee. Unlike most states, the Tennessee Attorney General is an officer of the judicial branch, being appointed by the justices of the...
filed a civil lawsuit for alleged deceptive practices against BlueHippo companies, as well as proposing an injunction requiring greater disclosures in advertising and prior to obtaining further payments, as well as the freezing of $2.5 million in cash. West Virginia also sued BlueHippo.
A class action lawsuit was filed against BlueHippo in the District Court of Ottawa County State of Oklahoma on January 23, 2007. This case was transferred to the United States District Court Northern District of Oklahoma on March 7, 2007.
As of August 25, 2009 the Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
has received over 3950 grievances from all over the United States. "Due to this pattern of complaints and BlueHippo’s failure to correct the underlying causes for the complaints, the company is rated 'unsatisfactory'."
BlueHippo changed its business practices to include a refund policy in mid-2006. However, the BBB reports: "In November and December 2006, however, the volume of complaints rose again and the BBB has renewed concerns about the effectiveness of the company's efforts to reduce the volume and pattern of complaints. Current complaints allege the company is slow to provide promised refunds and there continue to be delays in delivery of the merchandise." As of January 1, 2007, BlueHippo offers a full refund if customers cancel during the first 7 days. However, any order canceled after the grace period
Grace period
A grace period is a time past the deadline for an obligation during which a late penalty that would have been imposed is waived. Grace periods, which can range from a number of minutes to a number of days or longer, depending on the context, can apply in various situations, including arrival at a...
will receive "store credit" only. This store credit will only allow customers to buy items on the company website.
Website Security problems
For at least 6 months, their website claimed to implement SSL security while no such security was actually in place. Until October, 2007, it was still optional, and not the default. Customers ordering online must submit complete bank checking account information, employment information, income, their home phone number, and Social Security number.External links
- BlueHippo Funding (offline as of December 11, 2009)
- Company Allegedly Preys On Consumers With Bad Credit at TheBostonChannel.com
- Video of BlueHippo CEO/President Joseph Rensin
- "The Poverty Business" at Business Week
- Baltimore Better Business Report on BlueHippo
- BlueHippo agrees to settle with Maryland for ~1 Million Dollars, Baltimore Sun
- ConsumerAffairs.com Report
- NY Times article: Enticing Ad, Little Cash and Then a Lot of Regret, The New York Times
- BlueHippo Under Fire With Better Business Bureau, KLTV-TV, Tyler, Texas