Rip-off Report Investigation:The George S. May International Company is fulfilling its commitment to provide excellent customer service and gets a positive rating for its customer support from Rip-off Report. The George S. May International Company pledges to resolve complaints and address inquiries from the past, present and in the future.
This company has been in business since 1925, and serves more than 6,000 clients every year and employs more than 800 people throughout North America. However, with these numbers of relationships, mistakes and misunderstandings do occur. We are all human and people are not perfect. The George S. May International Company has a small number of complaints against it when compared to the large number of transactions it makes every year.
There are many other companies that would disregard this comparatively small number of complaints. May International, however, believes in doing what is right for its clients. An important aspect to any kind of business relationship is how problems, when they arise, are resolved. Responsible companies, like the George S. May International Company not only want to know about problems, but also want the opportunity to correct the problem and make it right.
May International is committed to resolving these issues and providing satisfaction to the best of its ability for its clients and employees.
George S. May International Company's commitment to client and employee satisfaction is shown by its participation in the Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program.
After interviewing the president of the company, it is clear that he and May International are dedicated to helping employees and clients achieve complete satisfaction and will not allow any legitimate complaint to go unresolved.
Consumers doing business with members of the Corporate Advocacy Program can feel safe, confident and secure when doing business with a member of the Corporate Advocacy Program
Read about Rip-off Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program,..A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business. this program works.Read more about George S. May and their commitment to total customer satisfaction.=====================
NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED… =====================
George S. May International Company Is full of lies and deceit DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY Park Ridge Illinois
We were also taken for a ride by George S. May International Company. On or about September 10, 2001, a solicitor representing George S. May International Company came into our office. he indicated that he was selling expert business management services on behalf of GSMIC. I told him that our company was in considerable financial trouble, had been losing money, and could not afford the type of services that he was selling. At this time, he explained that his compnay was in the business of providing expert management services to companies like ours and that they would put into place a system of businss and financial controls that would assist us in organizing and managing our company and employees that would make our company profitable. During this meeting, he offered to have GSMIC perform an expert management evaluation and analysis of our company for the sum of $500.00 to which I told him we could not afford. He then lowered the price to $350.00. I agreed to this offer.
On or about September 13, 2001, an individual identified as Bret Harwood came into the office. He stated that he was an expert executive analyst employed by GSMIC and was here to perform the evaluation and analysis that we had purchased. His examination consisted simply of speaking with me for three or four hours. During this time, I had explained to him that our business had been growing and was difficult to manage and that we were having financial problems due to some bad employees. He proceeded to sell us management services from GSMIC and told us that his company would put systems and controls in place that would stop the financial bleeding at our company. He stated that 185 hours at $165.00 per hour along with other minor expenses would be required to return our business to profitability.
I explained to Mr. Harwood that our company clearly could not afford these costs, as the bank balance about this time was little more than $5,000.00 and was not sufficient even to cover our upcoming payroll. At this time, Mr. Harwood stated that he would "guarantee" that his program would work for our business and that we would immediately see a profit of not less than 15% of gross sales. he further stated that in two to three weeks with his program, we would "double our (sales) dollars," and that without his program our company would be bankrupt. These statements were very frightening to me as they were coming from someone who had represented that he was an acclaimed expert on business operations, a Harvard graduate, and a millionaire eight times over. Also, he stated that all of GSMIC employees were experts in business management with graduate degrees and were lawyers or certified public accountants. I became very emotional and started to cry and told him that we could not pay these costs and fees, but possibly I could get a loan to pay for such services. He said that if we waited to get a loan, it would be too late and that we would be out of business. Coming from an expert financial consultant, my husband and I were very scared for the future of our business. Mr. Harwood then stated "Don't worry about getting a loan. We can help you get a loan. That is what we do." I explained that I did not think that the business would qualify for a loan and told him that we should wait and see if we could get a loan before starting with his services, but he again told us that we would be out of business and bankrupt if we waited.
The following day, September 14, 2001, two persons, Loren Simnet and Miguel Rojas, staff executives and another individual, Dan Sundaul, project director, came into our office to start the reorganization of our company. They immediately indicated to us that their cost would increase by an additional 10% or more because of "additional services" that were required. Mr. Sundaul, the project director, stated that we would be billed once a week and that I would be allowed sufficient time to make the payments. On September 18, 2001, he gave me a bill for $8,250.00 which I paid even though they had not performed any service of value to our company.
On September 21, 2001, they charged $544.40 on our MasterCard at the Best Western Inn.
On September 20, 2001, GSMIC employees gave me another bill for $7,619.00 which was paid that day. In order to pay these billings, these employees were taking al of our company accounts receivables as they came into the office but did not leave any funds to pay for our current expenses.
On September 21, 2001, we were given another bill for $10,667.00. I told them that we could nto pay this bill as they had already drained our company's bank account and that our suppliers were calling us for payments and threatening to put us on COD. Because they had taken all our money, I had to take $12,000.00 from our personal MasterCard in order to pay our payroll and some of the suppliers.
On September 25, 2001, my husband, myself, and Dan Sundaul their project director, went to our bank to apply for a loan. As we left the bank, Mr. Sundaul stated "Don't worry, if you don't get this loan, I have a friend up in Logan that will give you one." A week later, our bank denied the loan.
On September 26, 2001, they handed me what they called their final bill for $13,546.35 which we could not pay.
September 26, 2001, was their last day and the project was over. They stated that they had strict orders from corporate headquarters to not leave our business premises without the balance of the money owed, a signed contract for a retainer program at $800.00 per month, and most importantly THE LETTER OF SATISFACTION. During this meeting, Loren Simnet, GSMIC staff executive, said that he was embarassed to be requesting any more money from us as he knew all along that our company could not afford such costs and that GSMIC knew of our inability to pay such costs when they first met with us. He also stated that we would receive the computer disks that contained the templates for the accounting program in approximately three to four weeks.
On September 29, 2001, my husband and I met with the project director, Dan Sundaul, at our office. Upon arriving he called corporate headquarters and was in a heated argument with a man he called Keo. Keo was demanding that he get more money. Mr. Sundaul, walked outside and stated to Keo that we had no more but he had two service trucks that he could TAKE for collateral. We told Mr. Sundaul, that if they took our trucks we would be out of business. Just about this time the mail came, there was a $2,000.00 check in it, which we signed over to Mr. Sundaul. At this time, they realized that they were not going to get any more money, because we had no more. Mr. Sundaul asked us to sign a number of promissory notes that he said were only necessary to "make corporate happy." I told Mr. Sundaul that I should not sign them since there was no way I could pay them. He told me that we would never have to pay them and that I should just sign them to make corporate happy and that he would get me out of paying for the notes. I asked him how he could do this and he stated that he would only fax copies of the notes to the corporate headquarters, but would not deliver the originals of the notes to GSMIC. That way, he explained, if GSMIC ever tried to collect on the notes, I should simply demand to see the originals and as GSMIC would not be able to product the original notes, we somehow would not be legally obligated to pay them. In reliance on his statements, I signed and delivered the notes to Mr. Sundaul.
On or about October 15, 2001, a representative from our bank called to inquire about three promissory notes that GSMIC was trying to use to debit our account without our permission. She stated that they were not legal document that they accept as a bank draft.
Around the end of October 2001, we received the accounting program disks. After reviewing the program, using our figures, we found that it was based on projections, forecasts and the use of working capital. Their program is not meant for a small business that is already having financial trouble, on the verge of failing, or having management problems. Their program projects current payable and receivable accounts, profit sharing, company polices, flash reports, fiscal budget preparation, charts of accounts, cash flow projections, etc. Most small businesses have a limited amount of working capital, which makes this program impossible to utilize. From the minute GSMIC walks into your business they have you so focused on where your going to get money and where they are taking money from that you really never pay attention to the bogus program that you are paying an outrageous amount for. When we realized that this program did not work for us we contacted Mr. Sundaul, he stated that he could come and modify the program so that it would work. This program could not be modified in anyway to make it work. If GSMIC was so sure when the project was over and they walked out our door that what they had guaranteed us was really going to work for our business why would they have to come in and modify anything?
To this date, we have paid GSMIC a total of $19,991.59. In return for these payments, GSMIC has delivered to us a loose leaf binder containing business forms downloaded from GSMIC employees computers, which is of no value to our company. Also, GSMIC delivered to us computer disks containing the templates for an accounting program, which is useless to us.
Despite the assurances, representations, and guarantees of GSMIC, we have not doubled our gross sales, and have not been able to achieve a profit fo 15% of our gross sales. The employees never engaged in any activites or promotions that could reasonably have increased the sales or profits of our company.
It does not appear to us that GSMIC empoloyees had or possessed the skill, training, education, graduate degrees, expertise, or experience that they were represented to possess, and which I was informed we would be provided. Anyone with any real academic training or business experience could see that none of the work actually produced by GSMIC's so-called consultants had any applicability to our business operations.
On or about November 16, 2001, Mr. Jim Halas from GSMIC telphoned and threatened me with legal action if I did not make satisfactory arrangements to pay off the notes that Dan Sundaul asked me to sign. I told Mr. Halas that this program did not work for our company. To which he did not comment at all. He proceeded to try to get me to sign a set payment plan for the balance of $19,563.00. I told him I could not do that because it was difficult for me to predict when our customers will pay. I did however tell him that I could pay $100.00 per week, he said that was unacceptable. I told him that because business was slow due to winter that was the best we could do for now, but as soon as business picked up I could send him more. At this point, he became very angry and combative on the telephone, and began threatening me so I hung up the phone.
On or about November 26, 2001, Mr. Halas telephoned again. He again tried to get me to sign a set payment plan. I told him I could not because I did not want to promise anything because I knew we were going to have a hard enough time paying the $100.00 per week. We started immediately paying the $100.00 per week.
On January 3, 2002, GSMIC's attorney contacted me. He told me that GSMIC wanted more money per month. I told him that this program did not work for our company and we felt that the $20,000.00 we had already paid was more than sufficient for the service that GSMIC provided. He stated that he would talk to GSMIC and get back with me. But we continued to send the $100.00 per week. That they gladly accepted.
On April 23, 2002, we were served a court summons. We appeared in court for a non-jury trial. Rather than our attorney focusing on the facts and important details of the case, his defense was, was it necessary, needed, important, or even helpful for our type of business. The judge had no other evidence to go by but the letter of satisfaction and the fact that I signed the promissary notes. However, we feel that if the judge had the chance to review all of the facts and details perhaps his decision would have been different. We did not even get to explain why this program did not work for our company. The owner and preisdent did not even get a chance to speak, the judge was not aware of the effort we were makin to make payments, or the fact that we didn't receive the program we purchased until three to four weeks AFTER we signed the promissary notes and wrote the letter of satisfaction. The project director, Dan Sundaul, went to court with us to testify on our behalf. You will find his letter in response to this case following this letter. We are in the process of writing the judge a letter pointing out all of the facts and important details that we feel our attorney should have brought up during the trial. This also includes all of the complaints against GSMIC we found on the internet after the trial.
During the time that GSMIC was at our business we paid them approximately $20,000.00 leaving a balance of approximately $20,000.00. Now with iterest and their attorney's fee's our balance is $29,397.00. Our attorney's fees up to this point were approximately $7,700.00. We discussed an appeal with our attorney but due to the fact that he was going to charge us an additional $6,500.00 which we had no more money left we had to forfeit our chance to appeal.
We are a family run HVAC-R company with a whopping three employees based in Ogden, Utah, since the age of twenty my husbnad and I have dreamed about starting our own business. W have kept our credit flawless, we have went to Weber State University to work out our business plan, we have me with the Small Business Adminisration numerour times, finally in 1998 we started Ogden Subzero Refrigeration. After two years our gross sales were over one million dollars. My husband and I are in our forties and have put everything we have ever worked for on the line to open this business. It only took GSMIC twelve days to ruin what me and my husband has worked twenty years to achieve. GSMIC has devastated our business and our lives.
We feel that we are professional business people and know our business very well. Our business was a daily struggle trying to pay the bills, make payroll, and just stay on top. Our lives were consumed by the stress. GSMIC seemed like our company's gaurdian angel sent from heaven. They GUARANTEED that they could fix all of our problems with their program. Instead they lie, deceive, and bleedthe life out of your company and take all the money they can find, whether it be cash on hand, lines of credit, creditcards or loans. They don't care their bottom line is "GET THE MONEY ANY WAY YOU CAN."
If we can get enough evidence and response from this letter we are going to go to an attorney to see about a class action lawsuit. THIS RIP-OFF COMPANY HAS GOT TO BE STOPPED!
Please contact us if you have been a victim, ex-employee or know any helpful information.
Letter By Project Director Dan Sundaul
On or about the 10th of September, 2001, I was assigned to be the George S. May Project Director assigned to Ogden Subzero, a small business located in Ogden, Utah. The analyst on this project was Bret Harwood and the staff assigned to the project was Loren Simnet and Miguel Rojas. I met with the principles of the business Rick and Jodi and their daughter. When we began the project Bret told me money would be tight and that we would have to deal with that. In our opeining meeting we addressed the issue of money and at the time they informed us that they didn't know where they were going to get the money for this project. Loren, Miguel and I met concerning their cash position and it was clear to me at the time that I would have to help them get some kind of loan to fund this consulting project. I called my office and told them that Rick and Jodi wanted to do the project but money would be an issue. It was clear to me that my office didn't care about the client's ability to pay. When I talked to my boss I said we'd get what we could without shutting down the business.
As it was Loren and Miguel worked very hard at Ogden Subzero and the total assignment was completed and Ogden Subzero paid for this assignment, which had been represented to be in the neighborhood of $30,000.00. They had trouble paying any of it and their bank was unwilling to advance them money against their home. They paid as much of these fees as possible.
As the project director for the George S. May Company I found out information about the jobs after the fact. While I was in Phoenix, Loren called me to tell me that the office had pushed another assignment on Ogden Subzero - both Loren and I had informed the office that the clients had no way to pay for this consulting expansion. I called my office and told them that we shouldn't do the expansion if I wasn't able to get some kind of loan for the clients. I had yet to get one. When I told my boss, Tom Hartnett this information he basically said he didn't care.
He often told me to promise more work on my own time to insure that people paid their bill. It was sort of "take one for the team" kink of thing. I informed him that there was no way to work this out and that we would be putting this company into bankruptcy. Mr. Hartnett told me that he would work with the company any way he had to in order to insure that the company could continue to operate. I told him that if he pushed this company anymore they would be filling for the protection of the bankruptcy court. He told me in so many words he would work with them even if it meant taking small payments on the notes that they had signed.
It was at this jobs closing, which was on a Saturday that I quit the company and within the next few weeks I realized that what the consultants tried to do for their clients wasn't important to the company. They were a collection company. When I first started with the company. The head of consulting Mr. Rick Del Amo wanted me to bill for hours that had not been worked. I got in trouble for not billing for hours when I was not on the job site. In fact on this job the headquarters and I had another screaming match where I said if they wanted me to bill for hours I had not worked I was going to quit.
While it is clear that I believe that Loren and Miguel did good work I have a great deal of trouble with the way in which my company conducted itself in this context.
I will testify as to the particulars in this case regardless of the consequences to me personally. Rick and Jodi are good people and i is my belief that I, Loren, Miguel and they were mislead by the company as to their willingness to work with them on their outstanding balance. They told me that they were not going to pester them as long as they showed good faith. I believe that they have and that my former company misrepresented their intentions with regard to the relationship between them.
Jolene
Ogden, Utah
U.S.A.
Why file a report here? Ripoff Report is a permanent record! Other complaint sites copy our content then remove reports for money.
