No shed and no easy refund
Left without a shed, Kale tried to get a refund for his purchase. Since Home Depot didn't have his money, he headed to his bank. But after 52 days, Kale still didn't have his shed — or his refund.
Frustrated, he finally turned to Liss for support.
“When I talked to you, things started happening,” Kale told Liss. As a last effort, 11Alive reached out to Home Depot's corporate offices and Ameris Bank, the issuer of his debit card.
Within a few days, the bank finally issued a refund of $9,058.03 to Kale’s account.
The U.S. Sun also covered the mishap and asked Home Depot to comment on the situation. A spokesperson for the retailer said, "This is not the experience we want for our customers, and we're glad the situation has been resolved."
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Learn MoreHow to protect yourself when purchasing big ticket items
This unusual situation highlights how important it is for consumers to protect themselves — especially when making large purchases. Before finalizing a purchase, make sure you understand the store's policy around returns, exchanges and shipments and save all receipts and contracts as proof of purchase.
Consider using a credit card for large purchases. Credit cards typically offer more consumer protections than debit cards. For example, you may be able to file a chargeback if your order is never delivered.
Using your credit card for purchases that you can promptly pay off is also just a good idea in general, so you can earn rewards, points or cashback as you spend.
If an issue arises, act quickly. Talk to both your bank and the store to let them know what happened. Acting quickly may make it easier to recover funds.
If you still can't resolve your dispute, you can contact consumer protection groups like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). They may be able to assist with unresolved disputes with financial institutions or companies. You can submit a complaint online and expect a response in 15 days or so.
Lucky for Kale, he found the resolution he was looking for. And the perfect shed he'd picked out? It's now fully assembled in his backyard, where it belongs.
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