By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Consumer Investigator
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - A company has designed a device that answers your phone and leaves a terse message for telemarketers. But a Knoxville man says the company doesn't live up to its promises if you're not satisfied with the gadget.
A device called EZ Hangup claims it allows you to fight back against telemarketers. Ironically, it was a telemarketer who contacted a senior citizen and convinced her to buy the product.
Charles Elam owns two cordless phones. He even has caller ID to screen the calls.
His mother, Evelyn, lives with him and his family. She was home alone when a telemarketer called.
"He (the caller) said he's with a company that I get my diabetic supplies from," Evelyn said. She immediately trusted the caller, who told her about the wonders of the EZ Hangup device.
She was told that the push of a button would permit her to hang up on unwanted calls without waiting through the sales presentation.
"He wanted some money," Evelyn said. "I guess I gave him my debit card number."
She was told the product was free, but she would be responsible for a $289 activation fee.
When Charles learned how his mother was talked into buying the device and how outrageously expensive the so-called free product cost, he called to cancel.
"I was told that I was not understanding why their product was good, that I was putting my mother at risk," Charles said.
The company tried to convince him to keep the device, but Charles says, "I don't understand why you have to have a little device to push a button. You can hang a phone up, very simple. You can't stop unwanted phone calls getting to you, but you can also hang up on them."
EZ Hangup's return policy claims there's a 30-day money back guarantee.
To get his refund, Charles says he did exactly what a company representative told him to do. He sent a letter explaining why he wasn't satisfied with the product.
A postal receipt shows he paid $11 to return the device. There's even a notification that the letter and product were received by the company in Phoenix, Arizona.
But to date, his money hasn't been refunded. "I've called, called and called. I don't know how many numerous times I've called," Charles said. "You get an answering machine. I have emailed."
The Better Business Bureau in Phoenix gives the company an "F" rating.
Greater East Tennessee Better Bureau President Jerry Tipton said, "A company like this, that warranty is probably meaningless anyway."
The customer support number for EZ Hangup matches the number given to the Better Business Bureau, but when you call the number is out of service.
What should Charles do now? "There's not much he can do unless the person who owns the company can be located," Tipton said. "The best thing is for him to notify the state attorney general's office. Get them on notice."
"I want everybody in this area to understand, this company is not what they say they are. I want my mother's money returned to her," Charles said.
If you have a consumer issue, call the 6 On Your Side Hotline at 865-633-5974 or email ddare@wate.com.
"I want everybody in this area to understand, this company is not what they say they are. I want my mother's money returned to her," Charles Elam said.
