Telecom Service Bureau AKA Wireless for Hope SCAM - Afraid for my personal saftey. Intimidated by mobster like family business. Wireless for Hope Foundation, I'm looking over my shoulders. I will not give up without a fight. Telecom Service Bureau AKA Wireless for Hope SCAMMED me out of $40,000. Ocala, Florida

Help! I fear for my safety.  

From my direct dealings with Telecom Service Bureau they come off as a mob-like family business. In my communication with government agencies I have also been advised to "be careful" as they sort of companies often become aggressive and "dangerous" when they refuse to pay their vendors. I am opting to be public with my complaint in hopes that the more people that know it will expose these scam artists. If anything were to happen to me or my immediate family I ask that Telecom Service Bureau and their affiliates be closely investigated. I do believe that when push comes to shove and they are court ordered to pay the $40,000 they owe me harm may come my way. I'm extremely determined and have expressed this to their attorney as recently as today. I've offered to accept $20,000; HALF of what is rightfully mine and still they refuse to compromise. I refuse to back down because I worked extremely hard for that money. If I let this go then, it will just likely happen to someone else.

Don't let the name fool you! "Wireless for Hope" is NOT a charitable foundation. They couldn't seem to care less as thousands of consumer applications are held until Telecom Service Bureau, (Ocala, FL) AKA "Wireless for Hope" heads to court or pays up on $40,000 debt. The slow crawling legal battle is nearing a year and no progress has been made. "Wireless for Hope" refuses to pay forcing local contractor to withold applications.

I'm a small, woman owned and operated business located in Orlando, FL and in dispute with Telecom Service Bureau AKA "Wireless for Hope" and needs the community's help. There are some days when I truly fear for my safety. On other days, I'm just fuming mad because I know I got scammed by "Wireless for Hope". My home is under foreclosure, my bank account is drained and legal battles ahead.

Telecom Service Bureau operates programs called "Wireless for Hope" and "Affordable Home Telephone Service" (along with several others nationwide) with funds provided by USAC. Long story short, they position themselves to seem like a 'charitable organization' but are not! They get paid $10 a month by USAC ($120 a year) for their service for each phone they distribute to a qualified needy person.

We were hired to market and distribute re-furbished phones on Telecom Service Bureau's behalf. We were offered a ONE-TIME payment of $3 per phone with 10,000 phones to be distributed in each market; New Orleans and Baton Rogue for a total of 20,000 phones, which we accepted. Keep in mind Telecom Service Bureau would be getting $120 per phone and with 20,000 phones distributed they would rake in $2,400,000 while paying us out $60,000 for services. Even at a measly $3 per phone Telecom Service Bureau owes us $40,000. I have discussed settling this matter for $20,000 DIRECTLY with owner of Telecom Service Bureau and their attorney but, after several promises of payments we have yet to see a penny.

Since Telecom Service Bureau is a local business I need your help. This debt has caused me many sleepless nights. I paid my contractors/workers despite Telecom's failure to pay me. I HONORED MY OBLIGATIONS TO MY STAFF. This debt has caused me to lose my whole life savings. I would appreciate any government agency or legal help. I FEEL COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF BY TELECOM SERVICE BUREAU! Right now, USAC and the FCC Inspector General are investigating. With the exception of noting their attorney, at this point, I am refraining from calling out individuals by name in order to protect their privacy. This is NOT a personal attack. It is a true effort for me to get paid what is rightfully owed. At the very least, I want to recover the $20,000 I paid out to do the work I was contracted to do by Telecom Service Bureau.

Telecom Service Bureau, "Wireless for Hope", Affordable Wireless and Easy Phone Service are represented by:

BLANCHARD, MERRIAM, ADEL & KIRKLAND, P.A.
4 Southeast Broadway Street Ocala, Florida  34471
(352) 732-7218

Telecom Service Bureau along with their attorney are even denying a contract exists between us and their client. REALLY?! We received two payments issued by their client of $20,000 each of the total $60,000 owed accordingly to our payment timetable. NOW, THERE IS A $40,000 BALANCE. Based on what I observed and later learned their operation is questionable all together. There are a lot more details I will not discuss unless compelled to do so in court. I just want the money that is owed to me and forget this whole experience. I am confident the government will catch up to them eventually with or without my assistance.

At this point, I feel like Telecom Service Bureau (Wireless for Hope) stole my money and Blanchard, Merriam, Adel and Kirkland, P.A. supplied the get-a-away car.

Get them out your state! Telecom Service Bureau operates under different alias in the following states:

Arkansas
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Missouri
Nevada
Oklahoma
West Virginia
Puerto Rico

Florida Get your service from reputable nationwide vendors offering the same type of USAC funded phones. Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and Virgin Mobile all offer quality programs for needy families.