Media Contact: Janet C. Hart, CFEE (704) 927-8617 office
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – January 22, 2009 – In
2008, consumers filed 14,972 complaints against businesses in the Southern
Piedmont area of N.C. and S.C. with The Better Business Bureau. “Although 85%
of these complaints were resolved satisfactorily, there are businesses in our
area that do not respond to consumer complaints in a timely manner, if at all,”
said Tom Bartholomy, president and CEO of The Better Business Bureau of
Southern Piedmont. “The businesses that have made the BBB’s Dirty Dozen list
have the most unanswered complaints in 2008 which earns them the BBB’s worst
possible rating,” Bartholomy added.
The
BBB’s 2008 Dirty Dozen list includes businesses with the most unanswered
complaints from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2008.
1. L.A. Weight Loss Centers –10 locations in the Southern Piedmont area
– Owner, Mr. Rick Rex –Instead of losing weight, customers lost money when L.A.
Weight Loss abruptly closed all 10 Charlotte area locations on Dec. 11, 2008,
terminating employees and leaving customers out thousands of dollars. According
to published reports, all L.A. Weight Loss Centers nationwide were expected to
close by Jan. 4, 2009. L.A. Weight Loss has 133 unanswered complaints in 2008
and 144 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB status: out of business.
2. Place Settings - Matthews, N.C. – Owner, Mr. Robert J. Marossy
- Place Settings is an internet-based business that sells china, crystal and
silver and other gifts via www.placesettings.com. Place Settings has 75 unanswered complaints in
2008 and 286 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB grade: F
3. Netwinner LLC – Charlotte, N.C. – Vice president, Mr. Matt
Coapman – Netwinner LLC operates an internet gaming site at www.netwinner.com where online gamers play
Banko and Moneywheel to accumulate points to be redeemed for prizes. In May,
2008, citing financial hardship, the company changed the prize structure to
eliminate guaranteed cash awards. The gamers cried foul and Netwinner accused
the gamers of fraud. Netwinner has 45 unanswered complaints in 2008 and 237 total
complaints in the last 36 months. BBB grade: F
4.
La Bella Sposa - Charlotte, N.C. –
Owners, Brian and Shannon Starcher – A high-end, couture, bridal shop located
in Southeast Charlotte, La Bella Sposa abruptly closed in June, 2008 leaving
dozens of brides without wedding dresses for which they had paid thousands of
dollars. La Bella Sposa has 43 unanswered complaints in 2008 and 46 total
complaints in the last 36 months. BBB status: out of business.
5. Guardian Financial Group –Using a fake Charlotte address with
telephone numbers in Canada - Owner, Mr. Lawrence J. Wilkerson (probably a fake
name) - An advance fee loan scam, Guardian Financial Group guaranteed consumers
loans in exchange for a fee for “insurance” or “collateral” on the loan.
Consumers paid the fee via wire transfer to Canada, but did not receive the
loan as promised. Guardian Financial Group has 33 unanswered complaints in 2008
and 33 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB grade: F
6. Young’s F-Body – Charlotte, N.C. – Owner, Mr. Tony R. Young, Sr. – Young’s
F-Body specializes in performance and restoration, parts and service for
1982-2002 models of Chevrolet Camaros and Pontiac Firebirds. Young’s has 26
unanswered complaints in 2008 and 76 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB grade: F
7. Computer City also dba Deals Direct – Using a rented
mailbox in Matthews, N.C. as an address – Owner, Ms. Lissa Yan - Computer
City/Deals Direct sells electronics and computers over the internet. Consumers nationwide have filed complaints
stating that the merchandise received was not the name brand merchandise
purchased. Further, consumers have been unable to reach the company, exchange
the merchandise or get a refund. Computer City/Deals Direct has 20 unanswered
complaints in 2008 and 40 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB grade: F
8. Beacon Financial Group - Using a fake Charlotte address with
telephone numbers in Canada – Owner unknown - An advance fee loan scam, Beacon
Financial Group guaranteed consumers loans in exchange for a fee for
“insurance” or “collateral” on the loan.
Consumers paid the fee via wire transfer to Canada, but then did not
receive the loan as promised. Beacon Financial Group has 18 unanswered
complaints in 2008 and 26 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB grade: F
9. Rolland Elliott Studios - Charlotte, N.C. – Owner, Mr. Rolland
Elliott – Rolland Elliott Studios provides photography services. Complainants
allege Mr. Elliott did not fulfill the photography services under the terms of
their contracts. Rolland Elliott Studios has 16 unanswered complaints in 2008
and 48 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB grade: F
10. KiS Golf – Locations in Pineville, N.C. and Concord, N.C. – Manager,
Mr. David Kinard – KiS Golf filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Dec. 15, 2008
leaving customers out thousands of dollars. KiS Golf sold membership packages
which included travel opportunities, custom-made golf clubs and reciprocal play
at golf clubs. The average price paid or financed by customers ranged from
$4,800 - $19,000. KiS Golf has 15
unanswered complaints in 2008 and 23 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB
status: out of business
11. Traffic Talk – Mount Gilead, N.C. – Owner unknown – Traffic
Talk sells customized accessories and parts for vehicles. This business has 13
unanswered complaints in 2008 and 48 total complaints in the last 36 months. -
BBB grade: F
12. Bargain Shoppers Express - Using an elderly woman’s address in
Hickory, N.C. without her knowledge or consent with telephone numbers in Canada.
– Owner unknown - Bargain Shoppers Express sent fake checks for approximately $5,000 to prospective mystery shoppers as part of a work at home scam. Victims were told to deposit the checks and then test the services of Burger King, Wal-Mart and Moneygram. After the victims each wired as much as $3,000 via Moneygram to Canada, they were notified by their banks that the checks were returned as fraudulent, leaving the victims out thousands of dollars. Bargain Shoppers Express has 11 unanswered complaints in 2008
and 11 total complaints in the last 36 months. BBB status: out of business under this name.
Dishonorable Mention:
Weir Builders – Uses addresses in both Shelby, N.C. and Kings
Mountain, N.C. – Owner, Lawrence Sam Weir, Jr. – Mr. Weir is a home improvement
contractor who also does business under the names Crete Magic, Sun Masters and
Weir Grafix. Mr. Weir has had warrants issued for his arrest in Lincoln County
and Mecklenburg County for failure to perform work after being paid and was
arrested in Lincoln County on June 15, 2008. He has defrauded 25 homeowners in
eight counties in N.C. and S.C. out of more than $100,000. Weir Builders has 11
unanswered complaints in 2008 and 17 total complaints in the last 36 months.
Status: Out on bail from Lincoln County. Investigations are in progress in
Gaston and Cleveland Counties. BBB grade: F
The
Better Business Bureau has information you can trust. Consumers can check out a business and get a
free Reliability Report online by visiting the BBB website at www.bbb.org or by calling the BBB (toll-free in NC
and SC) at 1-877-317-7236.
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