Consumer complaint received 2016-09-11
Company: TD BANK US HOLDING COMPANY
State: MI
Product: Credit card
Issue: Identity theft / Fraud / Embezzlement

Complaint:
Correspondence with Diamonds International ( DI ) began XXXX XXXX, 2016, it is now XXXX XXXX, 2016, with still NO resolution. It has been a runaround of emails with DI, having me jump through their hoops to basically 'stall ' me or 'wear me out ' I believe. I purchased an item in good faith and was 'taken ' for {$6200.00}! TD is the issuing bank for my Diamonds International credit card. 

On XXXX XXXX, 2016, I purchased, in good faith, a single Crown of Light diamond, XXXX ctw, which was originally part of a set of earrings ( Referral XXXX, XXXX XXXX, sold by # XXXX ). Your store in XXXX ( # XXXX ) put this into my wedding ring. I have your appraisal and paperwork listing the USD value of this XXXX earring 'stud ' alone, at {$9200.00}. I opened a DI credit account and have been paying on it since. 

My local jeweler is a certified in diamond grading, XXXX and a member of the XXXX XXXX XXXX. She was shocked at the price I paid for the Crown of Light diamond I now have in my wedding band. Her original appraisal of my ring ( complete set ) was {$5200.00}. ( My original setting is valued at {$2500.00}. ) The DI Crown of Light diamond I purchased ( originally part of an earring set ) alone was 'valued ' at {$9200.00} according to the DI " appraisal '' I received when I purchased it. ( The reason I had it appraised when I did was because my home insurance carrier required an appraisal which included ring and new stone. Initially I 'trusted ' the DI store, XXXX XXXX and " XXXX XXXX '' XXXX shopping consultant who 'approved ' this purchase as being legitimate. ) DI response : " Our Terms and Conditions ( located on the back of your purchase receipt ) state that the diamond would need to be appraised by an independent gemologist or appraiser, whose sole business is appraisals only and does not buy or sell jewelry, and a copy of the appraisal must be submitted for review within 30-60 days after the date of the purchase. Since your purchase was made on XXXX XXXX 2016, you are unfortunately out of the warranty time for 3-4 months. However, I would like to know if you completed a formal written appraisal with your jeweler. " XXXX XXXX, DI Customer Service Representative. 

To say I was shocked and angered is a complete understatement. I was emailed an 'approved ' list of DI 'appraisers ' which INCLUDED JEWELERS! This makes absolute no sense to me! I contacted a jeweler from the DI website who was near ( yet XXXX hours ' drive away ), who appraised the DI Crown of Light diamond alone at {$3000.00}. This appraisal was rejected by DI ( because it does not mention the XXXX of XXXX cut XXXX even though the jeweler is listed on their website as a contact. I was told to obtain yet ANOTHER appraisal by someone they recommended ( a jeweler! ). I contacted one of the once again 'approved ' DI appraisers/jewelers who indicated that the XXXX XXXX cut is very similar, and was sent copies of similar diamonds with prices for comparison sake. The Crown of Light diamond I purchased in XXXX was coming in about {$3000.00}. The 'appraisal ' I received when I purchased the diamond is, therefore, {$6200.00} INFLATED! Of course, this all takes time since the customer representative must 'check ' with her manager first. I recently learned that my claim was actually closed on XXXX/XXXX/2016 and we were still corresponding!! 

I have so far contacted DI, XXXX XXXX XXXX, the DI credit card and its issuer ( TD Bank ). No one has been able ( or willing ) to resolve this issue. XXXX insists they can not do anything as the purchase was not made on their ship, yet their 'shopping consultant ' " XXXX XXXX '' held a formal presentation with fellow cruisers on board in a lounge at an appointed/scheduled time, of what shops to do business with, AND was present during this purchase ( and approved it ).

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief