Rolladen, Inc Deceptive, Dishonest Practices Hallandale, Florida

We signed the contract for hurricane shutters 8/23/2010. Gave the required down payment of $3688. We then rescinded in accordance with Florida statutes 5 days later, because the salesman did not get us the information he promised, and because he applied a lot of pressure.

We were told by the office that they had become aware of how bad the salesman was and that they had fired him. They offered to send the company engineer out to discuss the details with my husband, the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. He answered all our questions to your satisfaction, and although they did not ask me to sign another contract, we decided to go ahead. At that time, the engineer clearly stated that from that point to installation would take 8 weeks.

In late October, not having heard anything, I called and spoke to the second in charge, Diane Sosa. She stated that the permit had been secured, so the second installment payment, of the same amount as the first, was due. I gave her our credit card number to apply the charge. It was charged to us that day. She told me the shutters would be ready for installation "the second or third week of November."

When I had heard nothing by the first week in December, I called, and talked to what seemed a flustered Diane. She told me that the permit "wasn't even in yet." I asked what she was talking about - that she had told me it was in-hand in October, and for that reason, we had to pay the second installment. She couldn't answer me why, nor could tell me what was going on, but blew me off by saying that she would have the engineer call me the next day. That was on a Monday.

No one ever called. I called on Thursday, and I was told I would be put through to Diane, but after a prolonged wait, it rolled over to voicemail. I left a very clear message that if I failed to get a call back by the close of business the next day, that I was going to call MasterCard and refuse the charges.

I waited the whole next day. At 3:30, I called the office again, and was told that neither Diane nor the engineer were in (I was told they don't work on Fridays.) I spoke to "Linda" who tried to pour oil on troubled waters, told me they had had problems with their liaison who secured permits, but she swore up and down they had applied for the permit on 13 October, 2010. I asked why 1) it took that long for them to apply after having our money almost 2 months before then, and 2) I was told the permit was in-hand and the second installment was taken from us.

She had no answers. I asked to speak to the owner. She said there was no way I could do that, that I could only deal with Diane, and she, being a neighbor of Diane, would surely talk to her and make absolutely certain that Diane would call me first thing Monday morning. She also said that she would call on Tuesday morning to make certain my concerns had been addressed by Diane.

At this point, things didn't sound right to me, so I immediately called MasterCard and disputed the $7376 charges made to our account by Rolladen.

Long story short, no call from Diane. No check-up call by Linda. No call from the owner. No call from anyone.

On December 30th, I called City Hall and spoke to the woman who takes permit applications. No permit was ever even applied for!

This company 1) sent a disheveled, unprofessional, high-pressure salesperson to my home twice, 2) took our money without a valid contract, 3) lied to us multiple times and 4) will not respond.

According to MasterCard yesterday, Rolladen has failed to respond to their demands for information regarding this matter. They wait 45 days for a response, and that time has passed, so the matter will be decided in our favor within the next 2 weeks.

I would like to warn others so that they don't have to go through the headaches I have been through.