Dayton, OH – July 26, 2008 - Your Better Business Bureau warns you of a misleading advertising campaign by Ohio-based company Universal TechTronics. Ads running across the U.S. promise free television channels, services and digital TV converter boxes, but are really a bait and switch tactic preying on peoples’ lack of knowledge about digital TV conversion requirements.
An investigation found Universal TechTronics selling “five-year warranties” for $59 that must be purchased with their “free” digital TV converter boxes. Including shipping and handling fees, the total cost per box is nearly $100. These are the same boxes people can buy in electronics retail stores using $40 U.S. government coupons, making the total cost about $20 per box.
“The bottom line is that these ads confuse and mislead consumers,” said John North, BBB President & CEO. “Unfortunately consumers who do respond may find that not only will they not receive free products and services as implied by the ads, but they will end up paying more than they would have by taking advantage of the really good deal being offered through the DTV coupon program.”
Universal TechTronics’ ads imply their converter boxes are free and will provide free channel reception, similar to the type of services provided by cable or satellite providers. Ads state, “No Bills: New ClearView TV receives free channels, no need to pay for cable to get the new digital picture quality and sound,” and “Public to Get Free TV Without Gov't Coupon!” In addition, the ads use the term “Miracle ClearView TV” to disguise the product and further deceive people.
Universal TechTronics has several product lines and does business under the name Heat Surge LLC. In the past nine months, your BBB has received nearly 200 complaints about the company’s business practices.
The company received an unsatisfactory rating from your BBB due to its pattern of complaints. To date, complaints against the company concern slow delivery or non-receipt of product, difficulty reaching customer service representatives, delays in obtaining refunds after returning merchandise, product quality issues and advertising claims. This company’s reliability report is available online at www.bbb.org.
Nationwide, 70 million TVs rely on antennas to receive over-the-air signals, making about 34 percent of all U.S. households at risk of losing broadcast reception to at least one TV set as a result of the digital transition, according to the Leichtman Research Group. In addition, nearly half of the households that could lose television service after the transition in 2009 aren’t prepared for the switch, says a recent report from the federal government.
“Digital TV conversion may seem like a complicated, confusing issue,” added North. “But there are a number of easy-to-use resources that consumers can turn to for reliable, trustworthy information to make digital TV conversion a painless and inexpensive process.”
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has a DTV Speakers Bureau composed of broadcast experts from over 650 local television stations nationwide. The NAB is working with your BBB to ensure people get the facts about the upcoming transition to digital television. To request a local broadcaster to address groups or organizations, contact the Speakers Bureau at 877-693-8809 (toll-free) or request a speaker online at www.DTVAnswers.com.
For more information about digital TV conversion, call the DTV hotline at, 888-DTV-2009, or visit www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx.
On February 17, 2009, television stations will stop analog broadcasts, and exclusively broadcast in digital. People who get reception with rabbit ears or an antenna, or who don't have a digital TV, will need a digital converter box to receive television programming. Television sets made after March 2007 already have digital tuners built into them, as required by federal law. Analog sets hooked up to cable or satellite systems won’t be affected by the switch to digital TV and won't need a converter box.
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Your Better Business Bureau is a private, nonprofit association that has been promoting integrity in the marketplace for more than 80 years. It services the Miami Valley, including Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Darke, Miami, Preble, Shelby and northern Warren counties.
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