Blockbuster No Late Fees May Be Violation
According
to a lawsuit filed Friday, the state of New Jersey is sueing
Blockbuster Inc for violating state consumer protection laws regarding
the video chain’s new policy on late fees.
No doubt you’ve heard the commercials and seen the gi-normous signs at Blockbuster video touting No Late Fees. As Media Geeks reported
back in December, the new policy actually gives renters a week grace
period in returning your rental before you are fined the FULL price of
the title, minus the rental fee. Should you happen to bring it back
before a 30 day mark, you’ll be refunded the amount minus a compounding
restocking fee. Someone should let Blockbuster know, THESE ARE STILL
LATE FEES!
Well, New Jersey is, claiming that Blockbuster
failed to disclose these rules fully, not to mention over half the US
stores are individually run and don’t participate in the new policy,
even though they clearly display the signs. Many have come forward
saying that employees gave misleading or erroneous information
regarding the charges. A statement from the Dallas based company spoke
of taking “a number of very thorough steps to let customers know how
our program works.”
Personally, I’ve been into Blockbuster a
number of times since this policy was initiated and not once have I
been offered explanation of the new policy, nor have I seen the
brochures that apparently explain the policy.
Should
Blockbuster be found guilty, this could be a major case to sign on with
a membership to Netflix or GameFly who truly have no late fees and no
return dates.
