Signtronix resorts to Harassment!!!!
If you are reading this, I'm sure you have read at least 14 other stories like mine. Be that as it may, I'll sweeten and condense this issue so you aren't bored by particulars. In or around March of 2006, A man named Bill Runyan came into my business to represent himself as a Signtronix salesman and met with me at the counter of my restaurant. He said he had a deal for me. I told him I had ordered a sign from the company 5 years ago and put a $500 deposit down on a sign that wasnt' delivered. He convinced me (it took over 4 hours) to put $150 more down and buy a sign. I agreed as the "owner of the company" talked to me on the phone and told me he would take care of me. We did a rough outline of the sign I had in mind and he went away. Colors needed to be changed, there was a donut I wanted made into a waffle and the donut was a guy with sneakers. I didn't like his sneakers and wanted different ones. I had an existing sign out front and Bill reassured me that the new sign would mount nicely on top of the sign I already had. (We are a Pizza shop who has added breakfast and wanted to show that on our signage)
Bill and I exchanged exactly 3 emails where he sent me proofs and I didn't like them. I didn't hear from him for a couple of months, then I get a phone call from Yellow Freight saying my sign was in. I said "What sign?". I called Signtronix as I could no longer get hold of Bill Runyan. Signtronix said "go ahead and accept delivery and we'll send you the panels you want after delivery" I accepted delivery and wrote out a check. I had a sign company come the next day to install it on top of the old sign. The "sign guy" said I couldn't put the new sign on top of the old sign, it wouldn't work. The frame was all wrong, the old sign couldn't support the new one, etc.......
I called Signtronix immediately and told them the frame was wrong. They told me all I had to do was modify it. I said I didn't pay for a sign to have to modify it, I had paid enough for this sign already, and besides that, the faces weren't ordered to begin with, so I told him to just pick up the whole sign and send me the right thing. I was told that the frame wouldn't be replaced, just the panels.
They were very rude to me. I called my bank immediately and asked them to stop payment on the check I had given the shipping company as I felt I was being ripped off. I had to pay $25 to do that, but $25.00 is better than $3500.00
We had a guy come with a laptop somewhere around february of 2007 and finally got the design and colors of the sign face right, but didn't address the frame. A couple of weeks later Yellow Freight called to schedule delivery of my sign faces. I asked if the sign was in a frame and crated and I was told, no, it was just a large cardboard box and wasn't heavy enough to be a sign with a frame and lighting, etc.
I refused delivery and called Signtronix again. It takes them a couple of weeks to get back to you, but when they called me back they basically told me they were tired of dealing with me and that they couldn't make me happy. They said they were just turning this all over to a collection agency.
THey refuse to send me the sign I was promised, they just keep reminding me that I signed a contract and I owe them money.
Periodically I get calls from "Mr. Weaver" (no one at the company seems to know his first name) threatening a law suit because I signed a contract. When I try to explain to Mr. Weaver -he says it really fast and won't repeat himself, but I think he's saying he's from "Cedar Financial" when I asked him to spell it he told me to get a dictionary!- he doesn't want an explanation, he just wants me to say I'm sending money. I told him Signtronix did not and will not deliver the sign I ordered, he tells me I'm a low life, to get a real job and that I am just blowing smoke because I don't pay my bills. Like he KNOWS me or something!!!! How can he say such things when he doesn't even know me. Mr. Weaver tired of me and he put some woman with a spanish accent on the phone. I guess since my name is Lopez, he thought I would like her better. She wouldn't even let me explain what happened with Signtronix, she just wanted me to say I'd pay the bill. Again, she resorted to calling me names and accusing me of being a lowlife.
What kind of company is this? They say they're a legal company, probably just a collection agency, but they try to make you think they are a law firm!!!!!!
I'm sure there is a law against this harassment, but I don't want to waste the money consulting a lawyer if there is no recourse. My only problem now is that if they report this to the credit bureau, how do I rectify it? Can anyone just take your money, not deliver what you ordered, then ruin your credit??? They won't pick up this garbage they sent me, the faces are crap, UGLY, no one I have shown it to thinks it looks nice, and the frame won't hold it where I want to put it. Signtronix had someone out here taking pictures of my existing sign, I guess to prove I was using the sign they sent me, but they are still persuing this matter even though the junk they sent me is still crated and siting by my back door. I'm thinking about locking it up, they may come get it and I already have $650.00 tied up in it.
Is there a law against this type of harrassment? Can I make them return my money and take this ugly thing back? Does anyone know?
All I can say is DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH SIGNTRONIX. I was told the $650 would have bought me a nice sign from a local guy that would have been installed properly and right where I want it!!!!!
Susan
Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.