Image Alliance, Inc., Image Alliance Media, Inc., Robert Albolino, Tom Weissbach, Connie Weissbach Talk show episode with Super Model Niki Taylor? Nope - just a lure to divert funds then declare bankruptcy Sunrise Florida
Our parent company is based in Europe and I run U.S. operations. I was approached by phone in late 2012 by Image Alliance, Inc., which was owned and operated by Robert Albolino and Tom Weissbach of the cities Sunrise and Melbourne, Florida. Image Alliance was a media firm that produced a televised talk show as a marketing format for companies to promote their products.
The lure was offering super model celebrity, Niki Taylor, as the show host. This company actually did produce some legit shows starring Taylor. Knowing our customer base is strictly female, it seemed like a good choice.
Image Alliance required the fee of $29,500 up front to "fund the production crew." This should've been a red flag but never having worked with a media company, it seemed plausible. My company paid half by check via U.S. mail, the remaining funds were wired in from the parent company in Europe.
After payment was complete, Tom Weissbach and his associates gave multiple shoot dates, but each were canceled for various reasons. We received emails stating they were still in process of coordinating new taping dates with Niki, crew and the studio.
On May 7th, Image Alliance declared bankruptcy without giving us any forewarning - we did not even find out until our attorney investigated a few weeks later. Only two weeks prior to bankruptcy, we were reassured by a producer (who copied Tom Weissbach) that the production department was still in process of coordinating new taping dates with Niki, crew and studios.
After that, our emails and phone calls to Albolino and Weissbach went unanswered.
I believe Robert Albolino and Tom Weissbach, intended to defraud us of $29,500 by operating under the guise of “Image Alliance, Inc.,” which was a front for “Image Alliance Media, Inc.” They acted as one entity. Image Alliance Media is still an active company. These two companies are intertwined. When business went bad, Image Alliance went belly up, yet Image Alliance Media survives.
Both Albolino and Weissbach have historically run multiple businesses doing the same thing, with the same people, out of the same addresses. Most companies have similar names:
In addition to Image Alliance and Image Alliance Media, they run or have run: Image Media, Image Alliance Communications, Image Alliance Creative Group (formed 2 weeks before filing for IA bankruptcy by Albolino), Creative Alliance (formed 2 weeks after bankruptcy by Abolino).
Image Alliance Media and Working Title are two companies owned by Tom Weissbach's wife, Connie. Like the others, they operate out of the same office with the same people.
Albolino and Weissbach have been good at dodging communication on this matter and show no signs of wanting to play by the rules. I'm using multiple channels to pursue justice. I need to find other companies that were victimized by these people.
The suspicion is they likely have renigged on multiple contracts of $30,000 or less. This adds up to a lot of money but kept the individual contracts low dollar amounts to not raise suspicion.
9 Updates & Rebuttals
yhomAg
Salt Lake City,Utah,
United States
Retraction of Claims Against Robert Albolino
#10Author of original report
Thu, June 14, 2018
On September 25, 2013, I posted certain claims about Robert Albolino which suggested he had engaged in a pattern of fraudulent activity. These claims were based upon a limited amount of information and point of view at that time.
Since then, I have learned of details from Mr. Albolino’s side that cast an entirely different light on the situation, and I can now say I believe the matter was a misunderstanding. As a result, I have since resolved the situation with Mr. Albolino to our mutual satisfaction, and I hereby retract my report.
While the goal of RipOffReport.com is to provide an avenue for injustice to be exposed, it actually perpetuates injustice for all sides by not allowing authors to physically remove posts when resolutions happen.
Former business associate
Pembroke Pines ,Florida,
A Fair Assessment
#10General Comment
Tue, October 07, 2014
I have worked with Image Alliance, Image Alliance Media...they are both one and the same.Tom and Robert were both involved in the day to daybusiness of Image Alliance Media. Together they have had hundreds of clients, from the top Fortune 500 companies to small and mid sized regional companies. Primarily their clients are usually very well known large multinatinal companies (Microsoft, Chuquita, Conair,Kodak). How do i know ? i've worked and done business with both Robert and Tom for several years....out of HUNDREDS OF CLIENTS ONE COMPLAINT, that is dragging Both Roberts and Toms (image allinace)names through the mud unfairly. Robert Albolino is honest, hardworking and has an impeccable character both in business and in his personal life. He's an outsanding person who served his country in the US Coast Guard and as a New York City Police Officer,as well as being a devout father of three.
I have personally seen the completion and airing of dozens of televized segments, so this portrayal of Robert as a"scam artist" is both innacurate and unfair as well as very distant from the truth in regards to his person. As for to the ex-employee that descbribes Robert in such a terrible way, it's obviously someone who's angry with a personal agenda (the unhappy ex-employee). But i have never seen Robert treat anyone disrespectfully or agressively in business or outside of it for that matter, and i've known him professionally for over 15 years.
The reason for this rebuttal is simple... a fair assesment of this matter is whats requiered. Both parties should come together and work somthing out, this should include Tom as well. Robert taking sole responsibility for these allegations is rediculous and unfair.
A.M.
Alfred
Aventura,Florida,
Please read and consider
#10Consumer Comment
Mon, October 06, 2014
In reading the initial report, I feel the primary complainant may be mis-informed or perhaps is acting solely on emotion to somewhat alleviate the feeling of loss, specific to this incident. Please note that I do not have any affiliation with the organization in question, however, I have had the privilege of knowing Robert Albolino for several years. Not only is Robert a stand-up individual, but I know through personal experience that he would bend-over backwards to accommodate anyone, even if this meant facing loss on his end. Robert is a loyal friend, a good family man and a devout Catholic. He truly cares about people and his community.
I cannot speak for the other partner who was/is affiliated with this company, but I truly believe if Robert Albolino was aware of the situation, he would have immediately taken action. Everything I have read in this complaint completely contradicts Robert's ethics, personality and way of conducting business. Seeing the negative remarks (within the complaint) against Robert gives me reason to contribute, as I know a personal attack on him is unfounded. I would urge you (the primary complainant) to try and work this out with Robert in another way. I am certain he would be more than willing to do so.
I would also like you to understand that while these complaint forums are useful, they can cause devastating circumstances. It is very enticing to “bury” someone in this forum and I agree that vindication is needed on the end of the complainant. However, I would urge you to check your facts prior to posting as I am sure these remarks and allegations have had a substantial impact on Robert and his family.
Former Employee
Tamarac,Florida,
Dishonest and False Report
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, October 04, 2014
I have worked at Image Alliance for a long time and during that time I've had the opportunity to work closely with Robert Albolino. He is a very respectable and fair man. Robert Albolino was a mentor for his entire staff. He had an open door policy, constantly providing feedback and advice to his staff for us to be better at our jobs and better individuals. Based on what I've experienced, he was always willing to go above and beyond to help his employees in whatever sitaution, be it personal or professional.
To say that he treated his employees bad is LUDICROUS, MALICIOUS and WRONG. Just like myself I'm a 100% confident that other employees can testify to the integrity of Robert Albolino. During my time working at Image Alliance they have successfully produced many segments that was aired on National networks.
What happened to the company is unfortunate but it should be no basis to bring forth false allegations to malign an individual's character.
torin1234
Boca Raton,Florida,
Nothing but false,
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, October 04, 2014
I have worked for Robert Albolino. Dodging communication, not likely? We spoke daily about the companies agenda. He was always fair. to this day we still keep in touch. The above statement and any other accusations about Robert are absurd.
Former employee
Florida,Former Employee of Image Alliance
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, February 02, 2014
I am sorry, but when I worked at Image Alliance, Tom and Connie worked hand in hand with Albolino. They spoke daily. They were at shoots and had regular conference calls. I question that they were totally uninvolved, but leave that to the authorities. I will say no one was slicker or slimier than Albolino. He treated his employees like dirt. It is a shame he was not stopped earlier. I urge Tom to have the website shut down immediately. His name is still all over it, as is Connie's. If you are still trying to produce the Niki Taylor show, develop a new company/ website. I know Robert and he is likely still directing investors to that site and saying there are IT problems. You need to totally disassociate yourself from that site and from Robert Albolino.
Robert
Florida,False Allegations
#10REBUTTAL Individual responds
Fri, November 29, 2013
The allegations listed in the report above are false. I cannot comment further at this time.
Signed: Robert Albolino
UPDATE: Tom & Connie Weissbach are legitimate and operate separately from Rob Albolino
#10Author of original report
Sun, November 24, 2013
Tom & Connie Weissbach are legit and among those deceived by Rob Albolino
In our original report on Image Alliance, we believed that Image Alliance and Image Alliance Media were one and the same company. The confusion stemmed from the similarity of names combined with the business relationship formed by Albolino and Weissbach. However, we've now learned that while the Weissbachs indeed worked with Albolino, in the end he victimized them as well.
Tom Weissbach started Image Alliance Media years ago and developed a solid reputation. Albolino later approached Weissbach to create a new media company together and chose the name to capitalize on Weissbach's pre-established good reputation.
We believe Rob Albolino handled the financial aspects of Image Alliance while Tom and Connie Weissbach handled the creative aspect. It appears that Albolino made an independent decision to dissolve the company without consulting the Weissbachs or advising those companies that had outstanding projects with Image Alliance.
Tom and Connie Weissbach voluntarily reached out to our company to find a resolution. Simoultaneously, Robert Albolino evaded our attempts to contact him.
CONCLUSION: Tom Weissbach's Image Alliance Media, and Connie Weissbach's Working Title are legitimate, honorable businesses that operate separately from Robert Albolino.
However, Creative Alliance Inc. and Image Alliance Creative Group Inc. are businesses that Rob Albolino created while covertly dissolving Image Alliance.
Correction - Not bankruptcy, but voluntary dissolution
#10Author of original report
Mon, October 28, 2013
A correction to my original report. Image Alliance never declared bankruptcy. Instead, they quietly dissolved the company without informing us beforehand.