The very definition of a deposit means it's money you are supposed to get back. One woman spent years trying to get one deposit back.
Lysandra Greyson never imagined a purchase made a decade ago would still cause her trouble today.
"We are talking 1999 when I originally opened up the account," said Greyson.
The heart of Lysandra's problem: a $250 refundable deposit she put down on a cell phone.
"You had to remain with the service for a year and they would refund the money back to you," she said.
Lysandra still has her receipt.
"You guys owe me some money and I want it back."
Consumer experts here at the B.B.B. say they have heard several similar stories from consumers who have paid various companies deposits, and when it's time to return the money, no one wants to write a check. While they have plenty of complaints they also have some advice.
"Understand the process it takes that you go through in order to receive your refund back," said Karen Nalven, the President of the B.B.B. She also advises putting every request in writing.
"You always want to follow up any verbal communication. It is simply not enough, so you want to follow up always in writing," she said.
Lysandra discovered repeated calls did not work.
"They said they would investigate it and call back," she said.
Nalven suggests being polite but persistent.
"Talk to management if you are having issues getting through to the right people," she said.
In Lysandra's case, Jackie Callaway contacted Sprint's Corporate Communications Department.
In an email to this customer the company explained "I was able to successfully locate your payment. It was applied to your account on 5/22/2003 for $250."
Sprint says Lysandra had an outstanding bill of about $50 back then. They credited her account but never sent a check for the remainder of her deposit.
Last week they credited her new Sprint account $192.01.
