Consumer complaint received 2019-01-16
Company: CNG HOLDINGS INC
State: PA
Product: Payday loan, title loan, or personal loan
Sub-product: Installment loan
Issue: Charged fees or interest you didn't expect

Complaint:
I would like to bring to your attention something that has just happened to myself and I am sure has happened to others that feel just as exasperated. This complaint is against XXXX and the XXXX/ Why not Lease it. 
My family and I found ourselves on hard times this past XX/XX/XXXX.  Due to our situation - we needed a refridgerator. 
Looking at prices on various sites - and again due to circumstance- I decided to purchase from XXXX . They were offering a program with low payments and I knew I could pay it off within months when life started to work out. 
I purchased an 18cf refridgerator. Nothing fancy. Just a plain usable refridgerator. 
Purchase price XXXX delivery XXXX purchased on XX/XX/2018 I called today to ask how much it would be to pay it in full next week. 
I was told by the representative that I would need to continue XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX payment of XXXX. Total of payments = 5 * {$91.00}. 
I then could purchase it for an addititonal {$270.00}. 
The total of purchase of a {$390.00} refridgerator from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX will be {$730.00}. 

My complaint towards XXXX/ Why not lease it, lies in the total cost of what I had intially believed was a short term ownership agreement. What kind of interest is that? 

As stated, I am sure I am not the only customer this has happened to. 
I have tried to speak to XXXX on the matter but their customer service will not speak on the lease purchases. I have made 3 attempts and each time told that they are not trained on the lease option and would have to transfer me to the leasing company they use. One of these calls was to corporate XXXX. I retained their email and phone from the most helpful gentleman on XXXX chat on their appliance website- who also has no knowledge of what leasing terms entail and could not help on that. 
I continue to contact XXXX due to the web site for sales of their appliances and misconceiving information telling customers to use this option. 
I have received a reply from coporate that states basically - not their problem. 
I had then wrote to the Attorney General on the complaint and received a response from the Manager of Regulartory Complaints /Sears Holdings making slanderous remarks on my character. 
I have spoken to the leasing company who basically doesnt care about any sort of integrity. States that the 2 final leasing payments must be made regardless if I want to end it now. If I want to buy it afterwards then I would need to pay the {$270.00} add on. 
XXXX placing this leasing option on their site and hiding the specifics of the REAL cost - shows no integrity also. 
Placing the leasing company on their site portrays that XXXX agrees with this company and stands by them. It inhibits customers to believe it is part of XXXX and should trust the company. 
XXXX/ Why not lease it -- is a " finance company '' that hides information from the buyer until sale is done. Although afterwards you are given multiple receipts on the " deal '' it is not with full understanding of what you have just signed. 
The " lease '' in which is " available '' is not completely available until after you make the purchase - and not even the employees you are purchasing from in the stores ( or online ) can explain the terms to you before the sale ( or after ). Before I had even made the purchase I had contacted XXXX/  Why not lease it several times and it was not revealed to me with any of the calls. 
The hidden cost at the end of your " payments '' becomes a shock. You are not able to pay- as I requested - without finishing the 5 payments first. 
I would also add that just in the past week ( my 5 payments have been made ) I had then received an email stating that still another payment to make it to 5 to be made. This email / bill was sent by XXXX/ why not lease it. When I contacted them, I, of course was told this must be a mistake and sent inadvertantly. 
I also am including the lease that shows under my account which states entirely different payment than my receipts. 
This company is no better than the pay day loans some offer and the repayment for products are hidden in an agreement that is not specified upfront at any time.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation