Complaint Review: Makeup Artists Who's Who Linda Randall Tom Randall

My story is almost identical to the other Rip Off Report (Report: #513976).

Early June 2009, I received a call from Linda Randall with TJRandallGroup (one of her many business aliases) who stated she was a former celebrity make up artist publishing a book end of this year for the beauty industry, one of a kind she claimed. Linda Randall dropped a host of celebrity names and charities associated with the book, which was further substantiated on her website and blog (which I later found out was not authorized) and sold me on being a part of the salon section of the book.

I paid $2000 via Paypal to include a 1 page ad, company profile, and website listing in her book. I also received a complimentary invitation to the pre release gala in Vegas (flight and hotel covered). Everything seemed fine until deadline after deadline passed without a word from Linda. Every time I would follow up I was told that "oh, you are next on the list, we will be contacting you soon." At first I thought that this company was just extremely unorganized...but to my dismay I found out that organization was not an issue, I was a part of a well planned scam. Linda Randall and associates only accepted payments via Paypal. Paypal only gives refunds of any type within 60 days, since this was a book that was set to be "published in late 2009" and payment was received in July, I was out of luck...Paypal has no authority to release the funds after 60 days. If this payment was made via a traditional credit card, my money would have been guaranteed through the credit card company. I believe that Linda and Tom Randall were 100% aware of this and used this as a part of their scam to ensure that they would keep all money scammed in hopes that most would not take the issue further. I am not one of those people.

I informed the company by email on Oct 23rd that I expected a full refund, Tom Randall of Bentley Global LLC, sent me an email requiring a signed copy of a rescission to be faxed or emailed in order to receive my refund. I signed the form and faxed it back that same day. Here is where all of the lies and deceit began to compound. Tom Randall, via email, promised my refund would be in my hands by 10/30/09. Linda Randall told me that same day, via phone, that I would have the refunded in 7-10 days. 11/6/09 marked the 10th day. When I emailed on 11/4 to follow up to see if the refund check was mailed, Linda Randall replied and stated that my check went out Saturday 11/7. Today is 11/16...no check. My attorney contacted both Linda and Tom, both promised to send the refund, overnight Thursday 11/12, to arrive Friday 11/13. Again, today is 11/16no check. The lies continue...both Linda and Tom now insist that their "attorney" will be sending my attorney the tracking number of the check....the one that was sent overnight 11/12.

I am in agreement with the other reports here that state, Linda Randall and all of her alias names and company entities are a fraud set out to scam and take money from companies creating wealth the right way...through hard work and morals.