FastPencil Inc. Fastpencil preys off of budding writers, steals royalties, refuses refunds Campbell California

Here is what I can tell you about my encounter with FastPencil Inc. In November of 2014, I wrote a fantasy novel, titled "Fairy Blood: The Meeting of Five." As I was a new writer at the time, hence having doubts as to whether or not I could be picked up by a publisher, I decided to self-publish my new story through a company known as Fastpencil. I initially paid $7,499.00 for something they called a Wavecrest Master Bundle. The bulk of that money was to include several advertising oppertunities, and a sales team was promised to try and pursade big name book stores into having my novel on their shelves. I desperatly needed these, as I was a new writer who was trying to get my name out there. Fastpencil, never provided these services. After six months, and several e-mails and phone calls later, I was finally able to get ahold of one of their supposed agents--one Marina Foley. She informed me over the phone, that the company could no longer provide these services to me. I then sadly opted for a refund, which she informed me would be around $4,000.00. In her own words, "we cannot provide you with over four-thousand dollars worth of services!" Later, I was informed by e-mail that my refund amount would be only around $1,000.00--they had completly changed the amount! They also told me that I could expect this check by the end of 2015. I later recieved a check with perferated edges (which I'm pretty sure means it's a fake), for only $33.00. I have kept this check amidst my records, in case a lawyer or bank wishes to take a look at it for further verifacation of my ordeal with this company. When asked about this, they told me that the check was for my royalty earnings (which the company also handles), although the last time I checked the revenue report, I was closer to fifty dollers in earnings by that point. Also, several books which were confirmed as purchased by friends and family, were never accounted for in said report.

Fastpencil also seems to be having a great deal of trouble keeping their story straight--as they once told me that a press release had been launched for my novel,  but then later during the phone conversation with Ms. Foley I mentioned, she offered to do a press release. I still have yet to recieve a refund of any sort, or my missing royalties. My greatest fear is that Fastpencil is pocketing my earnings, whilst posing as a good and honest company in the eyes of the populace.