This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

BBB Tips On The Right Way To Use Layaway For The Holidays

Already doing your Christmas shopping?  You’re not alone.  But many of us don’t have the money to pay for all of our gifts now.  The alternative – layaway.  With many stores offering layaway services, BBB is offering advice on how to use this payment plan in lieu of credit cards.

Once considered a dated, old-fashioned method of payment, layaway services are back in a big way, with many businesses now shaking the dust off their layaway programs for today’s beleaguered consumers. Buying items on layaway is different from putting them on a credit card because the buyer isn’t charged interest on the purchase and can’t take the item home until it is paid off.

When purchasing items on layaway, the buyer must typically make a down payment of 10 to 20 percent and pay any service or plan fees for the store to hold the item for them. The customer then has typically 30 to 90 days to make periodic payments to pay off the balance. Once it is paid off, the customer can take the items home.

“Layaway services can be a great alternative to the using a credit card,” said Fred T. Elsberry, Jr., president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia. “However, it’s extremely important that customers take note of the fine print and know what to expect.”

As a complement to in-store layaway, some stores provide online layaway services for purchasing items through the retailer’s website. Additionally, third-party businesses have sprung up for the purpose of setting up layaway plans online between customers and retailers that don’t already have a layaway program.

Customers make periodic payments to the third-party layaway service provider. Once the item is fully paid for, the business then buys the item from the retailer and ships it to the customer.

When buying items on layaway, BBB advises consumers to get everything in writing and offers the following checklist of questions to ask:
• How much time do I have to pay off the item?
• When are the payments due?
• How much do I have to put down?
• Are there any storage or service plan fees?
• What happens if I miss a payment? Are there penalties? Does the item return to inventory?
• Can I get a refund or store credit if I no longer want the item after making a few payments?
• What happens if the item goes on sale after I’ve put it on layaway?
• Does the retailer or third-party layaway service have a good BBB rating?
 
Clearly understand the risks of layaway.  Remember companies are holding merchandise for you that could be sold to other consumers.  If you miss payments or do not fulfill the obligations agreed upon when the items were put into layaway, then you risk losing your money, the items and your holiday spirit! 

Check out any company’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Smyrna-Vinings