This past summer I was contracted by Estefan Enterprises to do storyboards for a proposed MET Jeans commercial. Although I delivered the boards requested I've not been able to receive payment. Instead I've been repeatedly told to expect payment by an ever moving target date.
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In early July, 2009, I was contacted by Venessa Garcia of Estefan Enterprises, Inc. to do storyboards for a proposed concept for a series of Met Jeans commercials using Latin celebrities. I sent completed boards shortly after the first draft was approved. A little later, Venessa left on maternity leave.
Estefan Enterprises' owner Frank Amadeo was preoccupied while on tour with Gloria Estefan in Europe and so cycles of communication were sometimes halting until his return. I was able to continue in communication however with Mr. Amadeo's assistant Rosa Rodriguez-Peralta, and after his return, with Frank Amadeo as well.
I revised and added frames as requested. By the end of August, I had issued 2 separate invoices and both Frank and Rosa indicated there would be no problems in receiving payment; owner Frank Amadeo seemed pleased and said he would take care of the invoices.
All communications were friendly, even if it was a little disconcerting to leave messages on answering machines with generic greetings which did not identify the individual or company.
September 9th, Jessie Abad called in reply to my question regarding payment, to tell me that because payments go through a NY office (GK304 Group of Companies, LLC) that sends checks monthly and September's cycle was missed for some reason, payment should be going out after October 2nd. I would receive my check/s in early October.
On October 22nd, Jessie kindly followed up for me again. She called back and told me that the GK304 main office was going to take care of the bill right away.
Two weeks later, Jessie had to call for me again and told me Steven Boughner (of "GK304" and also president of GCC Group) said that they were taking care of it, and would be mailing the check no later than the middle of next week (Oct. 28) and gave me Steven Boughner's contact info.
When I tried to reach Steven Boughner of GK304 directly, I was not able to reach him and he did not return my phone messages. I sent a summary of the situation including the need to receive immediate payment to avoid legal steps and cc'd Frank Amadeo. Mr. Boughner's only communication to me was a brief email (after Frank Amadeo replied to my email with an urging to Mr. Boughner to pay me already) thanking me for my patience and telling me it would be taken care of shortly already.
It is now November 16th and I have not heard anything further.
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