HELP! I got ripped off by a small store- who can i report it to? 10pts to who ever can help?

Question

I ordered some wedding favors from a woman who owns a small business in my city. I found her at a bridal show and paid for my order by check. That was in May , she told me it would take some time to make them and she would contact me when they were ready. I heard nothing so in September I contacted her via email and she told me they were done and she would ship them no problem- Here we are November and i still don't have them. I've been emailing since September and have gotten no further responce. I've also called all the contact numbers I can find and they are all disconnected. Being that i have proof of payment and an email from her can I go to the police? What is the name of the crime I am turning her in for? Please help me it would be very appreciated.

Answer 1

If you cannot resolve the problem by working directly with the business owner, you may make one more attempt by informing her that you will be contacting your local Better Business Bureau and your states Attorney Generals office. If she doesn't come around, then make the calls. You can find the phone numbers in your local phone book.

Also, give her a firm number of days (3) in which to respond.

You may also consider filing a small claims legal suit with your local court system. You can do that at your local city or county prosecutors office. Any of these solutions should cost you nothing but time to do.

Oh, also go to www.whitepages.com and use the reverse phone number feature to see if you can get an address that goes with the phone number.
Good Luck,
~dama

Answer 2

Depending on where you live this can be:
Theft by deception, fruad, failure to deliver promised goods, etc.

There are many avenues you can persue.
1. BBB - they will file a compliant but most likely not be able to assist you with getting your money back.
2. Contact the police - they will file a report, but once again probably not do anything more.
3. Contact the local media - this will once again probably not get you your money, but will discredit her and make it less likely that she can do the same thing to another.
4. Contact the organizers of the trade show - these events typically do not want crooks at their function.....it gives them a bad name.
5. Sue her in small claims court - this is really the only way you can expect her ot pay you.
6. Contact Judge Judy - I know this may sound crazy but you may find that she will be willing to go on if she will get a free trip to Hollywood and the show will pay for the damages you are awarded.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

You can contact the police, but if you can't find the shop owner anymore that won't do much good. The crime committed (if it is a crime) would be fraud, theft or conversion.

If you can find the shopowner's current whereabouts you can file a small claims action against her and have the complaint served on her. Then you appear in small claims court and prove what happened (just like in the Judge Judy show).

If she's gone bankrupt you can file as a creditor in her bankruptcy action, but in this case you would probably get little or nothing back of your money.

You could also report the incident to your local chamber of commerce or your local state attorney general. Also, if your community has an action/complaint line at a local newspaper or TV station you might send them a letter to see if they would take up your case.

I hope this helps. Good luck. And best wishes in the wedding!

Answer 4

Rather than go to the police, who may only consider it a petty theft, why not take her to Small Claims court? Do you know where she lives or can you find out? The police may not take a lot of time searching for her if the amount of loss was small. They have bigger fish to fry.

If you can get an address for her you can take her to Small Claims court. If she doesn't show up in court you will most likely win the case. There are ways you can collect from her after you win. The court can tell you what those are.

FYI, and you probably know this now, never pay from services in full before they are performed. Give them a deposit only with the balance to be collected upon completion of job.

It could be worse. I have heard terrible stories of people paying contractors thousands of dollars, in full, up front, to do remodeling and then the guy skips town and is never heard from again. At least you learned this hard lesson relatively cheaply.

Answer 5

if you found her at a bridal show you can call them and let them know of the situation, this way they won't invite her back so this doesn't happen to anyone else. Also I would call the Better Business Bureau and report her. Not sure about the whole police thing but if you were going to go to them you would be filing for a charge of fraud. But if you want your money back then get a lawyer and take her to small claims court. If she doesn't show then she gets a bench warrant for her arrest.
Good Luck, I know planning a wedding is super stressful and this is the last thing you need!

Answer 6

You can go to the police. Let them determine what the crime is. You can also file in small claims court. Also report the business to the Better Business Brueau.

Now you may be shafted if the store is no longer in business and has filed for bankrupcy. But it that is not the case to at least get your money back go with small claims court. The cost is minimal and who knows you might even get a judgement for the delay.

Answer 7

Sounds like she went out of business leaving you out of luck. You can report her to the police for fraud but they will probably not be too interested in pursuing an arrest, you can call the Better Business Bureau so at least your complaint is on record for others to be warned and you could also try to sue her in small claims court (if you can find her to serve her and find a way to collect if you win) but the chances of you getting your money back are slim to none. At this point, you need to find another option for your wedding favors.

Answer 8

You need to contact the Better Business Bureau and tell them exactly what happened. You will need all the information about the store... the location, the phone number, etc. You might also want to speak with the people who hosted the Bridal Show and let them know. Finally, you might even want to contact the FTC... Federal Trade Commission and tell them your story. The BBB and the FTC are both here to help people like you when business don't do what they're supposed to do or if they rip you off.

Answer 9

Everyone is quick to say fraud, but that is shallow thinking.

Who is to say the business didn't shut down properly and the asker is just an unsecured creditor?

Or maybe the woman simply died and the estate is in probate?

I think small claims court is the answer, but first you have to find her to serve papers, then collect if you win. Good luck on all that. I think you will find that all very unsatisfying inthe end.

And you will probably find the police will take no interest in a civil dispute either.

Answer 10

Yes, this a very common problem ..............many people r cheated like that but u can solve this problem in these steps.......
1. U just write an another E-mail or may be a letter in Notice format and send it her Address.
2. after 15 days if u don't get any answer u can suit a case in court through a lawyer or self.
3. When she get an another notice through court or ur lawyer then i think 50% problem solve out and rest in few days if she not paid u retur ur money or goods as u demanded.