Houston furniture store fails to deliver

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Eyewitness News has received several complaints from customers saying that a Houston furniture store is not delivering on its promises, or furniture.

Delays on delivery, poor customer service, and hassles with finance companies are just some of the complaints about Orbmik Furniture. If you look up Orbmik Furniture on the Better Business Bureau's website, there's an F rating, plus many red flags.

"Currently we have a total of 56 complaints against the business," said Monica Russo with the BBB.

While a handful of those complaints have been resolved with the BBBs assistance, most of those complaints remain.

David O'Connell is one customer who had a bad experience after an Orbmik purchase.

"I did 90 days same as cash," O'Connell said.

O'Connell said he was promised delivery of his dining room set within two weeks. After that time passed, he says he called the store numerous times to inquire about it, and was told it was on backorder. He then discovered other furniture stores had the same set in stock.

"I went to three other furniture stores and they can get it to me immediately," O'Connell said.

O'Connell said he purchased the identical dining room set from another store and got it that day. He says he canceled his order with Orbmik, but was frustrated with the store's non-communication with him on a refund. He eventually got that refund after putting in numerous calls to the finance company.

Jasmine Clinkscales was another consumer looking to make a purchase at Orbmik. She was hoping to finance 90 days same as cash, but she didn't do so after reading the fine print of the lease agreement in the store.

"A living room set and master bedroom set for $2,750. If you do not pay for the furniture within 90 days, it goes up to like $4,800 or $5,000 - which, is double," Clinkscales said. "I refused to sign the lease agreement."

Clinkscales said she decided not to make the purchase. Still, she started receiving phone calls from a finance company saying she owed them money.

"I don't have any furniture. I don't owe you any money. Well you're late on your payment. I don't have a payment because I never signed an agreement," Clinkscales said.

She asked to see the document.

"She emailed me the lease agreement. I called her back I said ma'am, this is just somebody typing my name," Clinkscales said.

Clinkscales said the assumed signature on the document is not her actual signature, but appears to be an electronic font that looks like handwriting. She said she's still fighting with the finance company to have them reverse the charges.

Damon Milton is another customer waiting on furniture.

"Picked out my couch, my love seat, my bar stools, and my bar," Milton said.

He received the couches, but the bar set was missing. A month later, he says the store gave him the run around.

"Well we don't know when it's going to show up," Milton said he was told.

Nearly seven weeks later, he is still waiting on the bar set.

Moving forward, Russo with the BBB has advice for consumers.

"Consumers need to do their research. Anytime they're looking to make a big ticket purchase like furniture, go online, see what other shoppers are saying. Go onto the BBB's website and see what the company's business report looks like," Russo said.

When Eyewitness News reached out to Orbmik Furniture regarding these consumer issues, they acknowledged that mistakes have been made, particularly in consumer lending. They said they have ceased that part of their business and have closed their doors at the I-45 location. They also said they are working on canceling outstanding contracts, and plan on refunding any clients who had undelivered furniture.