Consumer reports to Better Business Bureau have landed the computer finance company, BlueHippo Funding, LLC, in the top 20 for companies with the most complaints over the last three years. Last week, the Federal Trade Commission filed a request with a federal court to issue a contempt order against the Baltimore firms BlueHippo Funding, LLC, BlueHippo Capital, LLC, and their owner, Joseph Resin.
“The FTC’s decision to harpoon BlueHippo for the injustices it has inflicted and the distress it has caused is great news for thousands of individuals and families struggling to make ends meet across the country,” said Angie Barnett, president/CEO, Better Business Bureau | Greater Maryland. “BBB continues to answer calls and written complaints that allege BlueHippo never delivered on promises of a new computer or other purchases. Many consumers report evidence of having sent installments that when totaled would exceed the value of the pending merchandise.”
BBB has received 4,154 complaints in the last three years. Of those, 1,731 were received in the last 12 months - the same period in which the FTC claims that BlueHippo made over $15 million from consumers. According to the FTC and complaints on file with BBB, very few consumers ever received their merchandise. Many of those snubbed by the company with the cute hippo mascot were from disadvantaged populations specifically targeted because they had no credit or poor credit.
The FTC’s most recent actions allege BlueHippo has acted in violation of an April 2008 settlement by continuing to deceive consumers with their marketing tactics and by failing to provide both the promised financing and financed computers. The FTC has asked the federal court to order BlueHippo to compensate consumers and bar it from its documented pattern of deception.
Victims of BlueHippo have clamored for justice across the country. Attorney Generals in many states have taken action on behalf of their citizens including Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Washington and West Virginia. Better Business Bureau has cooperated with government officials over time regarding independent investigations into consumer accusations about BlueHippo.
To view a copy of BlueHippo’s BBB Reliability Report including their complaint history and government action against the business, go to www.bbb.org .
About Your BBB
Headquartered in Baltimore, BBB | Greater Maryland is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1922. It serves 18 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. BBB | Greater Maryland is supported by Accredited Businesses that have passed a comprehensive review, met standards of trust, and that agree to uphold those standards. BBB provides Reliability Reports on nearly four million businesses across North America. BBB Reliabilty Reports offer BBB's unbiased evaluation and include a rating and customer complaint history. For more information, please contact your BBB at 410-347-3990 or visit www.bbb.org.