Ron Schenone

BlueHippo Paid $5 Million Fine To FTC – But Was It Enough?

Posted by on Jun 5, 2009 | 14 Comments

Back on July 17, 2007 I wrote an article [here] about allegations being made by the Better Business Bureau, in which it was alleged that the people at BlueHippo were scamming the public. Last year BlueHippo paid a $5 Million fine to the FTC. What I find incredible is that BlueHippo is still in business.

So how does BlueHippo sucker in consumers to their web of deceit?  Over at the Detroit Free Press they share this story:

Andrea Hackett, 48, thought she found a great deal on a Dell laptop — a deal that included a $200 gas card, a free color printer and a Powershot digital camera.

All she had to do first was pay $69 a month for six months through an automatic electronic debit from her bank account and the laptop would be on the way.

So far, she said she’s paid about $1,900 and still hasn’t seen a computer or any of the free gifts.

“They have my money, and I have nothing,” said Hackett, who lives in Detroit and had hoped to use the computer for online college classes toward a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

The tales of horror continue from around the U.S. as more and more folks fall victim to this scam. One would think that the Feds could shut these people down permanently. Obviously a $5 Million dollar fine didn’t do anything. Which leads one to believe that BlueHippo is making enough money to pay the fines and still operate a financially lucrative scam.

What do you think? Isn’t it time for BlueHippo to be shut down?

Comments welcome.

Source.

  • Ryan Farmer

    Those BGlue Hippo scam artists regularly put flyers in those “junk mail bombs” that go out from a third party company with things like Walmart ads and grocery store coupons.

    It’s obvious fraud and it’s nice to see the FTC stepping up and doing something, I hope there will be further consequences if the Blue Hippo scams continue though.

    If you read their fine print, you find out that you have to pay them their monthly fee for several months before they send you the computer, WHEN they send it you’ve already paid more than it’s worth and you’ve still got half your payments left.

    Another one born every minute.

  • John Lewis

    i researched about hippo after placing an order with them over the phone and I saw a lot of complaints about them so I thought so cancel my order but I got much busy in work and couldn’t find time to call and cancel which I think was good for me as I got my computer from the company and it was difficult for me to pay upfront so I am paying bluehippo in installemtns and I have my computer. I think for people like me bluehippo is excellent no matter i pay more but i get a quality PC in installments

  • John Lewis

    The total cost of my computer is nineteen hundred and something and Dell is giving the same computer in $1799 but there you have to pay upfront and with bluehippo i am paying $100 in an year but still its good as i am paying only small payments every week. i dont have 1799 upfront

  • John Lewis

    little mistake in my last message……. by $100 i mean 100 more then that of dell

  • Lana Pridemore

    I think “John Lewis” looks a bit like a BLUE HIPPO!

  • TANYA

    YESSS, INDEED THEY ARE RIP OFFS THEY NEVER SENT ME NUN IN , I STOPPED IT BECAUSE ONE DAY I WAS ON THE PHONE TALKING TO ONE OF THE SO CALLED REP AND IT WAS NOISE IN THE BACK GROUND LIKE THEY WERE TAKING CALLS FROM HOME. I NEVER GOT MY MONEY BACK AND THEY STATED THAT I HAVE TO ORDER SUMTHING AND WEN I I TRIED ORDERING SUM N DONT U KNOW THAT THEY NEVER SENT IT OUT AND THE ORDER STATED THAT I HAVE TO PAY THE SHIPPING FEE AND NOT TO MENTION I HAD MONEY LEFT FROM THAT 178 DOLLARS. I STILL HAVE MY INFORMATION AND , WHAT I CANT BELEIVE IS PEOPLES ARE ADVERTISING THEM ON T,V LIKE THEY ARE DOING PEOPLES RIGHT… THIS IS WRONG AND THEY DO NEED TO DO SUM N ABOUNT IT. AS U CAN C I DO TEXT A LOT.

  • Stacey Wilson

    Yes I’m one of those people that were scammed I did the 99.99 down with monthly payments of 69.99 a month until paid stop payment. And only can’t get credit with them. Okay I excepted that sent them a money order for a laptop for shipping & del my daughter to go to college in Aug of 09 and now it Oct of 09 and still no laptop. And fall semster is all most over. They kept saying there waiting for HP to send. Someone please help

  • Irish Little

    I’m currently a Blue hippo customer , and I have one more installment to go ,I thank GOD I,ve have finally received my home computer (Desktop) I waited over a year ,It may have took long but I received it,(Patience is a virtual) now I just waiting for my gifts,The computer cost alot .But I’m satisfied,and very happy to finally get it. Now I qualify for my free gifts which I believe are included in this large amount for the dell computer.Im happy when I receive what Blue Hippo has promised me for after a complete my final payment. Thank God & Thanks to Blue Hippo

  • Vivian Jefferson

    I made payments to BlueHippo towards a laptop and it was drafted from my checking account every other week in the amount of $69.98. My first payment was on August 4, 2008 for $124.00 and thereafter, it was $69.98 (every two weeks) that I paid until it was paid in full. I did want the laptop after 13 weeks because I wanted to pay it off in full, which I did on July 29, 2009. I have not received a laptop or a phone call nor a letter from BlueHippo. I thought this was a good thing, but now I know that I have joined the many people that they (BlueHippo) have ripped off. I have paid $1943.00 starting balance total off. When you try to do right to better your situation, you get nothing out of it, but a bunch of none sense from customer service, for example: They told me that mine was top priority, and also that the supervisors does not receive phone calls, and they are aware of it and as soon as it comes in, they will ship it out to me, and it will be coming any day. The customer service person is quiet, it is like you have to keep saying, “Are you here?” I will never, ever do this again, I know that we learn by our mistakes, but this mistake, I did not know that this was a scam. I heard it avertised on the radio and television. My son has been asking me everytime he think about it. We teach our kids to be honest, but he is also learning from this, what happened to me. I am trying to make it in life, and it is hard to concentrate when something like this happens.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hello Vivian,
    I understand how you feel. It is terrible for you to have gone through this experience and also the affect it may have on your son. I wish you the very best in life and pray that God shines down on you and your family.

  • bill

    Blue Hippo, Your a peice of shit and you deserve to get murders for al lthe money you steal from people daily. How is this legal How is there commersials on TV i just saw one and was like wow that piace of shit company is still around,
    BlueHippo is the biggest Scam dont wasit your time and money.

  • http://yahoo don burns

    I perchased a pc from bluehippo and never recieved it they keep telling me they are sending it along with the two free gifts, I have paid in full $2500.00 and nothing I have contacted my local sherrifs dept. and I going to do what ever it takes to get my money back can any one tell me what I can do or get my money back ? I told bluehippo to keep the pc.

  • http://yahoo Tammy

    I ordered a desk top computer from Blue Hippo back last Feb I had to call everday after I paid my 7 installment payments. I paid it 3 payments ahead.I stayed on them, I finally recived my computer in July. They take it out of my account every two weeks. But the past 3 payments they haven:t took it out.I can:t get a hold of them now.There phone just has a busy signal.I can:t get them on their web site. Now I don:t know what is going on .They are rip offs Good Bye Free Girfts

  • Will

    Blue Hippo is Filing chapter 7 bankruptcy. You will not be able to reach anyone at the company to get your money back. I, too, had fallen victim to the scam, and paid them over $1,000.00 and never received anything they promised. I encourage anyone still owed a computer or television, or anything else from Blue Hippo, to file a proof of claim with the United States Bankruptcy Court. You can print off a copy of the claim form at http://www.deb.uscourts.gov/ The Blue Hippo Case # is 09-14154.
    Mail in your claim plus one copy and a postage paid envelope and they will send you a confirmation that your claim was recieved. Now this is not a guarantee that you will receive all or even ANY money back, but it is the proper way to collect a debt from them, Also this could take several months or even years depending on the length of the litigation.
    Another way to recoup money from them is to join the FTC’s suit. Sorry for everyone that was taken advantage of. I know how you feel and like you, I only want my money returned.