Company closes; deposits missing

By NANCY PARADIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2000

We signed a contract with ProCraft Cabinet Systems for installing wood cabinets in our kitchen for $9,638. Our kitchen was measured first by Tom Wilson, the ProCraft Cabinet sales manager, and then the installer. An appointment was made to begin installing the cabinets on Jan. 13.

As the installation date approached, we did not receive any calls from either Tom Wilson or the installer. After the installation date passed, we tried several times to contact the company and left messages on its voicemail. We still heard nothing.

Finally, on Jan. 31 we were able to contact the installer on his car phone. He said he no longer worked for ProCraft and suggested that we contact the company's attorney to be included as a creditor since ProCraft Cabinets was filing for bankruptcy.

On Feb. 4, we contacted the bankruptcy court to verify that ProCraft had filed for bankruptcy. There was no record on file. Harold and Athena Grooms

Response: You are not the only person to have paid a deposit only to find that the company has closed its doors. Robert Witsett put down $2,341.52 in December and, like you, has been unsuccessful in contacting anyone from the company.

A story in the St. Petersburg Times on March 20 reported that thousands of dollars in deposits are missing since the company abruptly closed. More than a dozen people have made complaints similar to yours to consumer protection agencies in Pinellas and Hillsborough since January. According to the story, criminal charges may be pursued.

We urge you to file a complaint with Pinellas County Consumer Protection at (727) 464-6200 or Hillsborough County Consumer Protection at (813) 272-6750.

Cupboardmaker vanishes

On Nov. 5, I ordered a cupboard from Brian Alfred to be made and placed above my closet. I had seen an ad for Brian Alfred Cabinetry in The Flyer.

He came to my house and took measurements, and I paid him a deposit of $500. Two months passed, and, since I hadn't heard a thing from him, I went to my bank and requested a copy of my check. He had cashed it the day I gave it to him. I tried calling him, but both the numbers that I had were disconnected.

In February, he called and said he had been ill and would call back regarding the cupboard. It is now April, and I had no call and no cupboard. Two weeks ago I had another cupboard put in.

I would appreciate your help in finding him and getting my money back. Bart Sudol

Response: We have had no luck contacting him either. Three letters we sent to him were returned marked either "forwarding time expired" or "attempted -- not known.

We suggest that you contact Pinellas County Consumer Protection at (727) 464-6200. It was successful recently in getting a refund for another customer.

Refund checks are coming

On Dec. 13, we ordered six magnetic therapy supports from J.D. Marvel Products after seeing an ad in the paper. We could not reach the company with the 1-888 number given in its ad.

We have written to the company twice, the first time trying to see why we had not received our order and the second asking for a full refund as offered in the ad. We received a card stating "our records show your order has been shipped." No information was included on when or how it was shipped.

We have received none of the items we ordered and paid for and at this point want only a full refund. Gail Thomsen

Response: A handwritten note on Action's cover letter to J.D. Marvel customer service in Beaconsfield, Quebec, states that a request for a refund has been made and that you should receive a check in June.

J.D. Marvel has been busy. We also received notes that Marilyn Gillette and Elga Matis were being issued refund checks at the end of this month or the beginning of the next, and Bette Thurber has let us know that she finally received the knee supports she ordered months ago.

Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, (800) 333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.