Frontpage Story #19

Beware new Compaq and Future Shop customers.

Both business failed to honor the manufacturer's warranty/extended warranty for which I was
charged $450.00 well in advance. Neither serviced or replaced my lemon Compaq Presario for
well over 6 months straight. Technically speaking, that is over a year since its purchase. Nothing
has been resolved to date. See details below.

This matter is now in Small Claims Court. I have asked for $7945.00, maximum allowed in
Alberta. After 14 long and agonizing months, Future Shop only offered a full refund on purchase price
plus all applicable taxes. I declined its offer and Compaq Canada came with an insincere and
ridiculous offer, if not outright offensive.

Compaq Canada has re-offered the same plus an apology and $300.00 for my inconvenience.
I have declined that offer as well.

Any suggestions or legal help will be welcome.

Ali
=========

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

RE: Compaq Presario 4180 --
Date of Purchase - June 07, 1997
From: Future Shop Horizon 21 Store, NE, Calgary, Alta.

Please be advised that in view of the following ongoing problems since
August 19, 1997, of which, the said companies have been fully aware -- I am
demanding a full refund of Can $3300.00 + interest payable from June 9, 1997
+ damages.

i. ONGOING computer related problems;

ii. LACK OF CUSTOMER/REPAIR SERVICE SINCE August 19, 1997;

iii. VIOLATION of the sale/service contracts;

iv. VIOLATION of manufacturer's warranty/dealer's extended warranty;

v. VIOLATION of Customer Satisfaction Plan;

vi. THE *SILENT TREATMENT & RUNAROUND* that I have been getting from the
administrative and management branches of both Compaq Canada & Future Shop;

vii TERRIBLE HUMILIATION, MENTAL AGONY AND SUFFERING that have I
been put through on an ongoing basis by both parties concerned.

OUTRIGHT FRAUD OF A NOTABLE MAGNITUDE

In addition, I was let down, prejudiced against and humiliated very badly by
the Calgary Field Office of Alberta Municipal Affairs' Housing and Consumer
Affairs Division, when my complaint was formally submitted by the MLA's
office in hope of resolving this issue amicably through the said govt. body
after all else failed. But that, too, never happened, probably due to,
COLLUSION between the parties and govt. officials concerned.

a. I will further prove in the court or elsewhere that not only did the
Investigation Manager viz., one Stephen Louie CONTRADICT his own
investigator and vice versa, as their own internal official records will
show.

b. But that the investigator viz., one Gabrielle Christopherson had also
CONTRADICTED herself on some of the MAIN ISSUES.
c. Moreover, both had CONTRADICTED the companies in question, as
I will PROVE.

d. Both also REFUSED to grant me a meeting in order to present additional
evidence, etc., to substantiate my claim.

e. As if that was not enough, the said companies in turn, did not only
DELIBERATELY MISLEAD Alberta Municipal Affairs' Housing and Consumer
Affairs Division, during the latter's very brief, superficial, deceitful and slanted
investigation but both had ALSO FALSIFIED/REINTERPRETED their respective
policies/ sales/service contracts, etc., in order to perpetuate this OUTRIGHT
FRAUD, double standard, cover-up and CONSPIRACY OF SOME NOTABLE
MAGNITUDE.

f. As far as I can tell, there may be more to it than what is apparent on
the surface. This is not about a single case gone bad at every stage of the
game. Rather, it may be a nationwide FRAUDULENT ring operation, as I will
show in COURT, etc.

Regardless, all of the above, in my view clearly tantamounts to: *BREACH of
the Unfair Trade Practices Act under Section 4(1)(d)(xiv)* and MORE!

Please note that if this SERIOUS matter is not settled WITHIN 3 WEEKS from
today's date then August 4, 1998 I will proceed with the FIRST PHASE of my
legal actions against the said parties.

And then, before proceeding with the NEXT MORE CRUCIAL PHASE, I will let the
Minister of Municipal Affairs, Office of the Ombudsman of Alberta, Courts,
Canadians tax-payers and USA & Canadians consumers, decide whether or not there
was any COLLUSION between the above parties -- as a result of which I was
ill-treated, humiliated and prejudiced against in such a ruthless manner.

More importantly, I will let them decide also whether or not this, OUTRIGHT
FRAUD AND COLLUSION BETWEEN THESE COMPANIES AND THE
MINISTRY CONCERNED, IS JUST A TYPICAL CASE IN CALGARY, ALBERTA
OR ONE THAT IS NATIONWIDE, as a result of which, the poor tax-payer and
consumer like myself is not only RIPPED-OFF, but is also silenced and/or worn out
deliberately.

Look forward to hearing from you ASAP.

Yours truly,