Uncle's Stereo, New York Wholesale Audio Video, All Home Theater, Reliable Audio Video Previous conviction for "trademark infringement and unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business acts and practices" in violation of "common law rights" Rahway New Jersey

1. Nature of complaint:
Internet/Cyberspace Fraud
Bank Fraud

3. Name of company with which I dealt:
Uncle's Stereo
The company is using several web sites which are listed below.
Name URL Hosted by
Uncle's Stereo www.unclestereo.com
Red Anvil
New York Wholesale Audio Video www.newyorkwholesaleaudiovideo.com
Red Anvil
All Home Theater www.allhometheater.net
Red Anvil
Reliable Audio Video www.reliableaudiovideo.com
Brinkster Communications Corporation
There may be others.

4. Name and title of company agents or employees involved:
Owner: Vivek Prabhakar
Dispatch: Cindy
Sales: Tony

5. Description of the facts of the complaint:

In February 2008 I ordered some electronic equipment from Uncle's Stereo. Uncle's Stereo maintains several websites through which it sells consumer electronic goods and I saw the goods at www.newyorkwholesaleaudiovideo.com. The order was to the value of $6,422.00 and when I placed the order, I spoke to Tony and he confirmed that the goods are in stock.

The order was confirmed via email and the bank account details of Uncle's Stereo were provided.

I subsequently transferred the funds on February 6, 2008 via International Wire Transfer to the Bank Account of Uncle's Stereo. The receipt of the funds was confirmed via email on February 8, 2008.

From February 8 to March 7, I was in contact with the company, asking them to confirm the delivery of the goods and a tracking number for the shipment. Neither was provided and every time I called I was told an excuse why the goods had not been sent.

On March 7, 2008, I cancelled my order in writing, after speaking to the owner of the business, Vivek Prabhakar, and he confirmed that the order would be cancelled and the money refunded via International Wire Transfer. Subsequently, I received confirmation of the cancellation via email.

I provided my bank details via email so the money could be refunded to my bank account.

The receipt of my bank details was confirmed via email and the email said that the money would be refunded soon.

Since then I have called Uncle's Stereo several times to get the money refunded, but so far I have had nothing but excuses.

On March 19, 2008 I reported Uncle's Stereo to the Attorney General of NJ, contact details below:
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General
Division of Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 45025
Newark, New Jersey 07101
(973) 504-6200
(800)-242-5846
E-Mail:AskConsumerAffairs@lps.state.nj.us

I can provide evidence of the wire transfer and it can be traced through the banking system.

Following my report to the Attorney General, I received a refund on March 26, 2008, however, due to currency exchange differences, I am still $440.00 out of pocket.

The conclusion is that Uncle's Stereo is an extremely dubious company to do business with and they cannot be trusted in any way. Their communication is none existent, their customer service is designed to delay and mislead the clients, i.e. they are using only AOL and YAHOO email addresses.

You have to constantly chase them to get any update on the progress of your order or any other matter and then every employee at Uncle's Stereo is using the same tactics: They agree with everything you say and give lame excuses why nothing has happened.
Business practices like these are unethical and borderline unlawful.
The ultimate aim of the consumers and the industry should be to eliminate companies like Uncle's Stereo from the Internet.

Also to note:
Uncle's Stereo has a previous conviction for "trademark infringement and unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business acts and practices" in violation of "common law rights".

6. The amount of loss involved in this complaint: $440.00.

I certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to punishment. I authorize the business/authority/organization mentioned above to send this complaint form to the company or to interested parties and to use the information in any way that is necessary.

Vielgrader
London
United Kingdom