A copy of email correspondence between myself and Nitroplanes:
Now I'm ticked. After all this garbage I had to go through with the credit
card billing address versus mailing address issue, somehow someway you
shipped my order to California. Further, no one ever followed up to see if
I actually got it. I also can't reach anyone on your phone number provided
in the email below.
You have until Monday morning to contact me and resolve this problem. After
that, not only will I contact my credit card company and do a chargeback, I
will address the whole scenario on my blog (www.bulldogpi.net) which has an
average of 60 hits per day, as well as discussing the matter on
DIYdrones.com, rcgroups.com, and where-ever else I can think of.
James Pollock
Bulldog Investigations
540-922-3896
--------------------------------------------------
From: a>verification@nitroplanes.com>
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 7:22 PM
To: a>james@bulldogpi.net>
Subject: NitroPlanes Order Address Confirmation Request
> Dear Customer,
>
> This email is concerning your NitroPlanes order number
> yhst-17210252890263-265258. The order is currently on hold
> because the billing address you have provided does not match
> the one from your credit card. Please provide us with the valid
> billing address. In addition, we need the 800 customer service
> number from the back of the credit card to verify the address.
>
> Once we receive your information we will email you within
> 2 business days with our decision. Be assured that all
> information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential
> and used only in relation to verifying this order. If we
> do not receive this information, your order will be placed
> on hold, and will subsequently be cancelled after 10 business days.
>
> It is our goal to avoid any problems, and to continue to conduct
> business with you. Therefore it is important that we receive
> this information. Should you have any questions or concerns,
> please call us at (626)968-9860 Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm PST,
> or email us at verification@nitroplanes.com.
>
>
> Best Regards,
> NitroPlanes
>
Replies
James,
This is my first post on DIY Drones, I have read many articles here and always wanted to reply to them. I just purchased $100 worth of helicopter parts from Nitroplanes (apparently the same company as Xheli and Hobbypartz). I paid using Paypal, entered my postage address and the other information required. The next day I got an email from verification@nitroplanes.com saying that my order had been retained, and they wanted me to email them photos or scans of my drivers license and credit card. My immediate reaction was 'this is a joke... right?'. I 'googled' the email and found a few results, and even similar information on the Nitroplanes site, so it is actually nitroplanes sending the email. to me it looks like straight up identity theft, and I hope that nobody has actually sent them that information. All they need is a license printing machine and they can roll out hundreds of drivers licenses with peoples private information on them, and those ID's can sell for millions.
I paid using Paypal, so I do not understand why they are having 'verification issues'. Paypal offer a guaranteed security and verified service. Paypal have already verified the identity of their customers, that is why company's trade with paypal. the whole thing is outrageous, I sent them a reply saying that they have three options:
send my order, and accept that when paypal say a buyer is good, the buyer is good!
or, refund the full amount that I have paid for my helicopter parts and cancel the order
or, see you in court =]
forgive me ranting, but treating customers like this is not on. spread the word to avoid nitroplanes.com, Xheli and Hobbypartz.