Sacramento – June 22, 2012 – Two California websites are drumming up complaints with Sacramento consumers after the sites allegedly failed to deliver ordered photo albums and accessories.
Century Photo and
Light Impressions, both owned by Delaware-based NCD Acquisitions, Inc., have generated over 1,800 complaints with
Better Business Bureau in the past three years. Complainants from across the country, including at least 14 Sacramento-area consumers allege that after paying for items advertised on the website, they never received the items or a refund.
“I ordered from Light Impressions in 2010,” said a Sacramento woman. “They told me it was on back order and three months later I cancelled the order. I requested a refund seven times, was promised a refund, but I’ve never received it.”
A Folsom man alleged Light Impressions charged his credit card and then claimed the item was no longer in production. “I found the item at other vendors later and they won’t refund my card,” he said. “I asked for a store credit and they claimed that every item I wanted was out of stock. Then they sent me a letter earlier this year, but I still don’t have a refund or any products.”
In some cases, consumers claim they were regular customers of the company and suddenly began having problems.
“I ordered from them for many years with no problems,” said a Folsom consumer who ordered from Century Photo. “Then suddenly they became very unresponsive.”
Both companies have an ‘F’ rating with BBB for failing to respond to complaints. When BBB contacted NCD Acquisitions, Inc. in June 2011, the corporation stated they were aware of the complaints and intended to resolve them. In early 2012, NCD Acquisitions again contacted Better Business Bureau to obtain their unanswered complaints. Some consumers contend, however, that their disputes are still unresolved.
“Internet shopping is a big complaint generator,” said Gary Almond, president of BBB serving northeast California. “An internet search returns reports of complaints on both of these companies. A little research goes a long way.”
The websites’ mailing addresses are the same P.O. Box in Santa Fe Springs and both are registered fictitious business names in Los Angeles County.
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Start your search with trust. Look the company up on
bbb.org to view complaint history, advertising issues and other company information.
- Call the customer service lines before purchasing. Ensure the company answers its phones and is responsive.
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Be aware of your rights.
FTC’s Mail Order Rule applies to most internet shopping. A company is required to ship items within the stated time period. If there is no time period stated, a 30-day shipping time is implied. Should the company find they cannot ship within the stated time period, they must notify you and allow you to cancel your order.
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Media: Several consumers available for interview. For contact information or to schedule an interview with a BBB representative, contact Cailin Peterson at 916-443-6843.
About BBB - As a business-supported nonprofit organization, Better Business Bureau's mission is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBB sets standards for ethical business behavior, helps consumer identify reliable businesses through BBB Business Reviews, sets standards for truthful advertising, evaluates and provides reviews of charities, educates consumers, and offers dispute resolution services. More than 87 million consumers rely on BBB for Business Reviews, consumer tips and scam alerts. To learn more, please visit www.necal.bbb.org.
