Hidden loan terms prove costly for families looking for pandemic puppies – WFTV

Action 9 investigates pet shop contracts which can be costly mistakes.

Consumer investigator Todd Ulrich exposes high-risk pet store sales at a time when many families are buying dogs for convenience during the pandemic.

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Like so many others, Jordan Mingorance wanted a dog in these tense times. She found Ellie at a local pet store.

“I thought of a puppy just so we could have a mate,” Mingorance said.

She loves her Pekingese, but had serious regrets the first week. She claims the loan terms were never discussed when she purchased the puppy from Chews A Puppy in Ocoee.

“I said ‘OK’ and took them at their word and that was my stupid mistake,” Mingorance said.

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She thought her Pekingese cost $ 4,500 and she agreed to fund the store.

She says the loan document only appeared on a computer screen that a manager quickly scrolled through.

Mingorance said he heard the director say, “You don’t have to read this now, you can read it later. Just know that your payments are $ 189 per month.

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When she got home, she noticed that the interest rate was 95% and that after making all the loan payments, her puppy would cost $ 9,000.

“Do you think they hid the interest rate from you?” Ulrich asked.

– Yes, replied Mingorance.

Action 9 has previously investigated Chews A Puppy, after two consumers told Ulrich that they had been sold sick puppies and the store was not covering their vet bills.

Mayra Camacho said she lost hundreds of dollars.

“Then I get the letter denying every invoice I submitted,” Camacho said.

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Ulrich helped the two clients recover the expenses of the vet bill.

Chews A Puppy is ranked F by the Better Business Bureau for six unanswered complaints about sick puppies and contract disputes.

Action 9 showed the terms of Mongorance’s loan to consumer lawyer Jared Lee.

“This is an extremely expensive and abusive loan,” said Lee.

He said the store used a foreign bank to provide financing so it could exceed the loan

interest limits in Florida. It is as unfair a loan as a payday loan.

“If you borrow money to finance a pet, don’t go through the pet store in most cases,” Lee said.

Mingorance said if she returned the dog, the store would still keep $ 2,000 in fees.

Store managers did not respond to Ulrich’s call.

“I just think they shouldn’t take advantage of people,” Mingorance said.

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Buying a puppy can be emotional and now is not a good time to sign a pet store loan agreement, especially now.

You’ll pay less by using a credit card or going to a credit union instead of their super high rate loan.

Cox Media Group