Topic: How to file a FTC complaint against BFL's illegal business practices (Read 3552 times)
February 08, 2014, 07:41:31 AM
Le Bumpage for those that missed this.
January 29, 2014, 11:02:15 PM
I received my bfl in promised time and have no hate for them.
January 15, 2014, 04:20:19 PM
Filed yesterday, mainly based on their complete failure to respond to any of my many attempts to to get a warranty replacement for a miner they sent dead on arrival. It's been a week and a half and I haven't gotten as much as an acknowledgement of my emails, calls etc. Complete silence. Thanks for the link!
Will file small claims court case this week. Done my research already, seems easy enough.
Will file small claims court case this week. Done my research already, seems easy enough.
Ok the dude bumped this but now I need to know - did you feel a small claims case and what happened? Would be awesome to find out.
January 15, 2014, 02:51:37 PM
Bump. why? Cuz fuck BFL.
December 25, 2013, 01:27:03 AM
Le Bumpage for those that missed this.
November 19, 2013, 02:23:47 PM
Filed yesterday, mainly based on their complete failure to respond to any of my many attempts to to get a warranty replacement for a miner they sent dead on arrival. It's been a week and a half and I haven't gotten as much as an acknowledgement of my emails, calls etc. Complete silence. Thanks for the link!
Will file small claims court case this week. Done my research already, seems easy enough.
Will file small claims court case this week. Done my research already, seems easy enough.
November 08, 2013, 12:13:03 AM
Just filed my complaint with the FTC! Keep those complaints rolling in folks.
November 06, 2013, 10:11:34 AM
If we can't get it stickied, Then lets keep bumping it!
FCC certification? NOPE!, Lied about that <-Illegal
PSU bricks exploding <-Can burn a house down
Quality Control is a joke <-Should be a top priority, but is practically Skipped
Refusal of Refunds <-Illegal
Forcing refunds upon outwardly disrespectful purchasers who have waited half a year for more delays <-Just wow
Failure to offer refunds <-Should cause a forced refund
Failure to issue refunds if the user fails to respond <-Should cause a forced refund
Constant false advertising <-Illegal, and they did this for eight months
False comparison stats on their site <-Horrible sportsmanship and potentially "not allowed"
Worst PR i've ever seen <-Get josh off PR
Communication with customer takes 2-3 weeks <-Should take 1-2 hours considering Bitcoins volatility
"All sales final no refunds" on a preorder for a product that has never been constructed <- Not legal
"All sales final" on pre-orders <- Not legal!
Paying the BBB to remove their F rating <-The BBB itself is a scam (Seriously), so not SO big of a deal
And yet the bitcoin forums are still allowing BFL to advertise here?!
Is it not that knowingly being an accessory to a crime and not doing something to prevent it makes you just as guilty?
Bitcointalk.org is practically in abidance and aiding BFL and thier illicit actions!
FCC certification? NOPE!, Lied about that <-Illegal
PSU bricks exploding <-Can burn a house down
Quality Control is a joke <-Should be a top priority, but is practically Skipped
Refusal of Refunds <-Illegal
Forcing refunds upon outwardly disrespectful purchasers who have waited half a year for more delays <-Just wow
Failure to offer refunds <-Should cause a forced refund
Failure to issue refunds if the user fails to respond <-Should cause a forced refund
Constant false advertising <-Illegal, and they did this for eight months
False comparison stats on their site <-Horrible sportsmanship and potentially "not allowed"
Worst PR i've ever seen <-Get josh off PR
Communication with customer takes 2-3 weeks <-Should take 1-2 hours considering Bitcoins volatility
"All sales final no refunds" on a preorder for a product that has never been constructed <- Not legal
"All sales final" on pre-orders <- Not legal!
Paying the BBB to remove their F rating <-The BBB itself is a scam (Seriously), so not SO big of a deal
And yet the bitcoin forums are still allowing BFL to advertise here?!
Is it not that knowingly being an accessory to a crime and not doing something to prevent it makes you just as guilty?
Bitcointalk.org is practically in abidance and aiding BFL and thier illicit actions!
October 30, 2013, 11:05:48 AM
They owe me 30K. My complaints are in. $ value in complaints should be getting high enough to spark attention.
October 28, 2013, 05:37:14 PM
Maybe one of your complaints will finally be the one that breaks the camels proverbial back, and finally gets Federal wheels turning at opening BFL's books and prosecuting them to the furthest extent the law allows.
This is the key part. One or two people here and there making a complaint isn't going to make a difference. If hundreds of people make complaints then that will get their attention. That's why it's important that *everybody* who has been wronged by this company needs to make a complaint. The FTC has limited resources and are only going to go after a company that they have received a substantial number of complaints about.
If the feds open an investigation of how this company is doing business it's over for them. The FTC will open a case against them and the likely outcome is that the company would be fined and forced to change their policies. I don't know how much money BFL has extracted from people, but if the fine was big enough it could actually shut them down.
October 28, 2013, 02:27:50 PM
The heat is on, Josh baby 
It certainly makes you lose faith in our legal system, the AG's office, the FTC, and the owners and moderators of these very forums that they continue to allow a business with such morally and ethically-reprehensible business tactics; allow polarizing, smug, and antagonistic figure heads to be allowed to profit in the way they do at our collective expense.
The heat has been on Butterfly Labs for some time, and all their monetary contributions have bought them asbestos suits and immunity from sanction.
While it's unlikely that anything will come from your FTC or Attorney General complaints, it does help to establish a pattern of malfeasance on the part of Butterfly Labs, on the odd chance consumer protection agencies actually make an effort to do their jobs and hold them to account. Maybe one of your complaints will finally be the one that breaks the camels proverbial back, and finally gets Federal wheels turning at opening BFL's books and prosecuting them to the furthest extent the law allows.
Theymos deserves just as much contempt lobbed at him for effectively sticking his head in the sand, while holding out his hands and taking advertising dollars while the world burns around him and laughing all the way to the bank.
October 28, 2013, 10:13:46 AM
Yes, this should be done long ago. Please close them down and jail the one in-charge of this scam business..
October 28, 2013, 07:56:48 AM
The heat is on, Josh baby
October 28, 2013, 05:18:30 AM
Only for US I assume?
No not at all, see my post up there ^^^^^^^^Once you can access it, it even asks your country.. I have sent them comments regarding the difficulty of access.
October 28, 2013, 01:41:04 AM
This post was made on Reddit at the same time and took off. There have been at least dozens (if not more) confirmed federal trade violation complaints filed against BFL this weekend.
View reddit post here:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1pat5e/how_to_file_a_ftc_complaint_against_bfls_illegal/
Keep up the pressure guys, let's put a stop to this kind of behavior once and for all.
View reddit post here:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1pat5e/how_to_file_a_ftc_complaint_against_bfls_illegal/
Keep up the pressure guys, let's put a stop to this kind of behavior once and for all.
October 27, 2013, 08:52:35 PM
I had no luck with hidemyass and tried various other web based proxies with no luck.
Java was an issue and needed to be upgraded also.
I added one click proxy to firefox - and it looks good but I got disturbed by a call and have not completed. Its already late so I will try again tomorrow.
Is any other non US residents having issues with this. ?
Maybe this is why BFL has had such an easy ride ?
I can confirm that I was able to lodge my complaint with the above. Please persevere with this and get your complaint filed.
October 27, 2013, 01:52:12 PM
More info: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0221-billed-merchandise-you-never-received-heres-what-do
The example on the site is hilarious:
The example on the site is hilarious:
Quote
You found the perfect set of linens in a mail order catalog. You call to place your order and charge it to your credit card. You're told that your linens should arrive in two weeks. Two weeks go by, then three and four, and still no linens. What you do get is your credit card bill with a charge from the catalog company.
October 27, 2013, 08:09:41 AM
I would like to add to this.
I have been trying to do this for sometime without success.
At a guess, this page of the website is not available in some countries outside the US.
I have tried with HideMyAss proxy and can now access the page.
I will try to file shortly and report back soon.
I had no luck with hidemyass and tried various other web based proxies with no luck.I have been trying to do this for sometime without success.
At a guess, this page of the website is not available in some countries outside the US.
I have tried with HideMyAss proxy and can now access the page.
I will try to file shortly and report back soon.
Java was an issue and needed to be upgraded also.
I added one click proxy to firefox - and it looks good but I got disturbed by a call and have not completed. Its already late so I will try again tomorrow.
Is any other non US residents having issues with this. ?
Maybe this is why BFL has had such an easy ride ?
October 27, 2013, 08:02:19 AM
this should be stickied.
Agreed. At this point there is little doubt that people will need to go this route to get some sort of redress for the feigned "ineptitude" of BFL.
October 27, 2013, 03:58:01 AM
this should be stickied.
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