Complaint Review: Melissa Galea

And here we go again with another post from a family member that claims to know all the facts and events from a wedding almost 3 years ago. Even if this family member is making claims - it will not hold up in court against the person I sent to provide services at this wedding and they know I would get him to court to testify as to what really happened. They are liars and never filed any civil or small claims case in court in my jurisdiction. They had no right to a refund and refused other services 3 years ago. By all means sue me and bring your entire family to court - its not going to make a difference. The business was closed 2 years ago and you never get a cent from me either.

First of all I would like to state that I am only responding to this because I was at Melissa's reception and I witnessed first hand exactly what she is claiming happened. My story and details are completely unbiased and are factual.
I was a guest at Melissa's wedding/reception. I was seated at the table near the dance floor with my brother, his girlfriend, my cousin, and his wife. We were a little early so there wasn't many people there yet. All of a sudden along came the photographer standing next to our table. He said a few words to us and we acknowledged him politely. He continued lingering around our table and kept interjecting his opinion in our conversations. Then without asking or invitation, he pulled up a chair at our table and sat down between me and my cousin's wife. He then began to sip the water that was on the table set for an "invited" guest at the table. I was just speechless. He kept on talking to my cousin's wife, asking her personal questions, and it was quite obvious she was getting very annoyed. This went on for a little over 5 minutes. My cousin who was married to the woman the photographer was clearly flirting with was getting very angry and even started to turn red. He said he was about to bop this guy if he doesn't leave. That was my cue to bring his rudeness to attention. I had to literally tell him to leave our table. Even after I told him once, he acted like he didn't hear me. Then I had to yell at him to get the eff outta here before my cousin shows him the door. I also told him he was rude and unprofessional for sitting at our table and drinking someone else's water. He also left the water at the place setting for the unsuspecting guest to drink. Thank goodness we were there and was able to remove the glass before someone else drank it.

I don't know if the photographer was drunk or just plain stupid. If we experienced only a smidge of how this day went for Melissa, I can only imagine she had issues with the pictures and service.

It is highly unprofessional for this company to respond so aggressively to this complaint. It is very blatant that this company hires inexperienced, unprofessional people at low cost so they can pocket more profit. In sales, it is expected to run across nasty customers who are just never satisfied, but when there is truth to the situation, the company should have backed down, apologized, and gave back the money. Even if they believe they were right, this is super bad for their business, and furthermore, the company is liable for everything they accused Mary & Melissa for due to the fact they have slandered their names across the internet for no other reason than revenge. Mary & Melissa were the consumers. They have every right to demand their money back without being labeled as liars, extortionists, etc. I hope they sue this company as I will gladly be a witness as well as the 4 other people that were present.

Word of advice, don't mess with a Maltese family. You will get your a$$ handed to you.

Its been 29 months and they never filed a small claims or civil suit against my company but they had no problem posting defamatory reports on the internet with embellished statements and bogus claims. I have an idea - why not list all your demands on this page so everybody can see what your after and maybe you will get closer to a resolution. Stop playing games and get to the point.

Of course the photographer deleted a few images that did not turn out and what I gave in October 2007 is all that he gave me so if you expect more images - that is not possible. The photographer will testify in court as to what events took place at the wedding while he was working. You had more than one opportunity to resolve this dispute with me from October 2007 to January 2008 but you refused to let me provide other services and you refused items listed on the contract. Then you expect me to give you all the money back as if no services were given at all. Your the ones trying to steal and I have all the proof I need. Your not going to get away with not paying for service he gave your family that day. We don't work for free. And you can say those photos were terrible but I showed them to several well-known photographers in Michigan and they said the images were framed and exposed properly and every photo was saved in RAW format which is standard practice among photographers.

List your demands or file a small claims so this gets resolved asap.

In October 2007 I tried to resolve this dispute and went to a place called Grind in Wyandotte, Michigan to discuss re-shooting the formals and taking care of the additional cost if tux rentals, limo, location fee, ect. They refused to accept any other services from me and wanted all the wedding photos by Al Miller of which I gave them every image he saved to a double layer DVD. Of course he deleted some images that did not turn out but he gave me the best photos and that is what the clients recv'd by October 2007

They never filed a small claims case or civil suit against my company even though a police officer instructed them to do so more than 2 years ago. Instead they spent several months posting malicious reports and bogus reviews with false acusations and embellished statements about the events that took place at the wedding and the weeks after. The photographer will testify in court if they file the small claims. Here's an idea - why not post everything you want from me on this page and let everybody see your demands and maybe this dispute will get resolved.

Stop playing games and just list your demands.

Steve - Garner your correct its not the best way to do business, we had a similar problem with Roy Parks summer 2007 he sent another person to our wedding and I hired him to be the photographer in late 2006 when I was a bridesmaid at another wedding because I liked his creative style and those pictures. I took him to small claims court for a full refund but he never paid. My husband and I did a search last week and found reports under his business name Sapphire Photography and thought maybe that would work. And Roy finally paid our court judgment. I read that report posted by Mary or Melissa Galea and asked Roy about it this weekend and he showed me all those emails and these people edited out half the responses and most of the messages from themselves to Roy Parks that were sent between September 2007 and January 15 2008 including the BBB report. Roy gave every photo on disc and went to a place called Grind in Wyandotte, MI to deliver the photos and discuss ways to resolve this dispute including re-shooting formals and paying the additonal cost for a location, limo, tux rentals, ect. But Melissa wrote him back in January 15 2008 refused any more services, wanted al her money back and all the photos taken by Al Miller of which she already got from Roy in October. That all 200+ wedding photos taken by Al Miller were crap and only some pictures that were actually nice were taken by her friend's mother. In her Ripoff Report against Mr Parks she claims he gets money for zero services and customers will never see your photos or your money. This is not making a bit of sense to me as a former customer of Sapphire Photography. Why has she never filed a small claims case at 52-1 district court? Could it be they don't have a strong enough case to win in front of judge. It sounds like Al Miller was willing to testify against these people about what really happened at the wedding. Roy knows where that photographer lives and called him Friday to verify. Roy told me he is not afraid to have this heard in court and if it is proven they deserve a refund, he will comply with that order. He just paid our court judgment.

 You know the good thing about the internet is that many millions of people use it. Do you think for one instant that you are the only on that reads new posts on this forum? The individual you are bashing has replied with e-mail traffic showing he they were on the receiving end of a poor business transaction. You talked about attorneys, PIs, and tracing IPs, but you can't defend their reply by posting the "accurate" e-mails. If you lost them they can be recovered by contacting your e-mail provider. Of course you have a PI that has already told you that, right?..lol It just makes me think you are not telling the full story. Also, you posted on an open forum so you should expect to get replies from random people. Welcome to the internet.

I wouldn't do business with you either.  I find it hilarious that you can't give a refund until after thirty days, but you have enough resources to pay a PI to TRY to track down the IP address of every person that files a report against you.

You say the emails have been edited.  Maybe they have, I don't know.  Shouldn't YOU have all of these emails as well??  Why not post them, unless your hiding something.

Why should anybody listen to your opinion? Your clearly not a lawyer and you don't know all the facts of this dispute - how did you find this report? I bet if I asked my private investigator to trace your IP Address it would be proven that you are Brian Mallia or a relative of the persons involved with this dispute.

Don't think for one second I don't have the resources to investigate every posting on the internet to identify those persons. We've already begun the procedures and have more than enough evidence to charge you with defamation, libel, and tortious interference with business expectancy. Stop wasting my time and go to court. Its been 29 months since that photographer gave you service. You did not listen to the police officer when you he suggested you take this dispute to court.

And the damage was done a long time ago so it makes no difference now if you drive any customers away from my old company with your malicious reports and defamatory remarks. I've moved on with my life and found other ways to earn money. Take your best shot at me in court and stop spreading lies about what really happened that day and the weeks after.

Sounds like you are the one who is in the wrong here. From reading what you have posted I wouldn't do business with you either. I hope they drive all your customers away.

And that was quite a story from your POV, only problem is for a story to be REALit must have every email (unedited) from both sides and not be edited to appear as if one side is at fault while the other is innocent. Not be trimmed of all the defamatory remarks, embellished statements, bogus claims, and false accusations against me.

The photographer worked all day but was harrassed and threatened by key members of the bridal party and reported that to me after Mary and Melissa Galea called me cursing the photographer up and down because he was not creative enough. Well excuse me but not every photographer is going to produce exactly the same creative shots unless they share the same brain. He was there doing his work even though at every turn he was confronted with resistance from the bridal party. He kept working to satisfy the contract my company had but they wanted al the money back.

My company had legal and contractual rights to send another person to render services at this wedding. He was more than qualified and used more than enough equipment to capture all images in the best way possible. But you wanted all your money back because he was not creative enough.

I never canceled or changed the contract, she would not accept the terms of the contract she signed and refused the prints listed on that agreement. After they got back from the honeymoon, the nasty phone calls and threats began and did not stop until the police told them to go to court. Over 2 years and they never went to small claims court or filed a civil suit in the proper venue to resolve this dispute. Instead they put al their time and energy into posting bogus claims and ficticious reports on the internet with intent to extort $725 refund from my company which already closed because of all the damages it suffered from these dead beat customers looking to take advantage of a small business and get services for free.

These email fragments posted above were edited and do not include reponses from the persons involved in this dispute Melissa Galea, Mary Galea, Brian Mallia. They want you to think not one thing they did was wrong but everything my company did on the service date and later was evil and meant to cover up the truth about what happened to Al Miller and my reasons for not refunding their money after they received his pictures.

I will not refund their purchase amount $725 and the wedding photographer has no other photos from that date. They refused prints listed on the contract and would not allow my company to provide additional services. We don't have a time machine to go back and re-photograph that entire day. If they want to resolve this dispute, it has to be heard in court so both sides can present evidence and testimony on what events took place that day and whats steps were taken by either party. Then we might have a resolution that works for both parties.

As you can see - they distort the truth and do not accept responsibility for their own actions. They edited those emails to not include every response from their side but I have copies of all those (unedited) emails. And police report # 07-57814 from year 2007 and police report 10-10562 from last night. This will be heard in court in the near future - the photographer will be subpoenaed on behalf of my company so his testimony will be given. And you will be sued for defamation, libel, tortious interference with business expactancy.

Above is Roy Parks photographer story. Now here is the real storyBelow are a small sampling of actual REAL emails to and from Roy Parks regarding my personal ordeal. There are MANY more emails that I have that I can share as well - however we will just start with these.

From: Mary Galea - To: Sapphire PhotographySent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 3:35 PM I still have not heard from you and I will be speaking to Melissa tonight and I need to let her know what she needs to do in order to get her pictures. From: Mary Galea -

To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 3:39 PMI just had a chance to look over the below contract, however, I do not see it stated anywhere what the additional $350.00 charge is for. I will be speaking to Melissa tonight and would like to let her know.

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Mary Galea Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 4:08 PM My additional fee to Al Miller (photographer) for release of his wedding pictures to Melissa.

From: Melissa Galea - To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:24 PM Roy, You asked my mother on September 10th, 2007 to have myself and all our witnesses to write a statement about our dissatisfaction with Al Smith both in his photography services and all around attitude and demeanor. After my mother had emailed you with her statement you called her screaming at her demanding more money or we will never see our pictures. This is also after you promised my mother over the phone on September 8th, 2007 at approximately 3:00pm that we would have a refund coming to us due to the horrible job and attitude of Al Smith.

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Melissa Galea Sent: Thu 9/13/07 1:47 PM Until you remit payment and agree to my terms as listed on the contract I emailed to your Mary, you will received Al Miller's photographs. I will not negotiate this amount. If you want these wedding pictures, you need to remit payment and sign the contract.

From: Mary Galea - To: Sapphire PhotographySent: Monday, September 17, 2007 10:53 AM You can't change terms of a contract after the fact!!!

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Mary Galea Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 11:05 AM I can do what I want because these pictures are property of my studio and that old contract became null and void when Al Miller was threatened while performing his job. They will not get pictures until I am paid $350

From: Melissa Galea - To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Mon 9/17/07 11:06 AM That's funny because you told me last week that Al would not give you the pictures.

1 AND MONTHS LATER

From: Melissa Galea - To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007 9:55 PM My husband called you this afternoon regarding the rest of our photos. We have not heard back from you regarding these. We met with you three weeks ago and assumed you would have the photos then. This has been the third time that you had told us we would have them with no outcome. I feel we have been more than patient trying to work with you. If the problem is that you do not have the time to put them online, that is fine. I can do that myself. However, I would like to come pick up the proof CD as soon as possible

From: Melissa Galea - To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 7:31 PM I have been in contact with the guy on that website about taking down the post. However, I decided that I want proof that you have the rest of the pictures before I have him take it down. Because, honestly, I don't believe you have them. I don't believe Al has given them to you and you are just trying to hold us off. I have talked to the webmaster about taking the post down, but I told him to hold off for a little bit until I have proof you have the rest of the pictures. I would like you to email me 2 or 3 photos (I don't care which ones as long as they are not any that I already have). As soon as I receive those, I will contact the webmaster to tell him it is ok to take down the posting. I am sorry it has to be like this but you you have blew us off for a month since we have had our meeting and coincidentally the same day we are to get our pictures, you find this posting. This was written well before we had our meeting. We have complied graciously, however you have done nothing to follow through on your end yet. Thank you for your quick response.

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Melissa Galea Sent: Sun 11/04/07 8:42 PM Roy is out of town until Wednesday afternoon but I will let him know you want to see a few pics from Sep 8 that you did not see previously. Do you want highest resolution or compressed versions? Your request is reasonable and I know Roy will not have a problem with that. His attorney is requesting that you remove the post before Roy gives you the hard copy and begins uploading to the gallery. That posting is very harmful to this business.

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Melissa Galea Sent: Mon 11/05/07 9:21 PM Ok! Thanks for understanding his concerns. He will send you proof this week. I hope you will forgive him for not doing your wedding. His camera was not working and that Al guy was the only photographer available. Roy felt sick after hearing about your experience but he could not find anybody else to replace Al on September 8. Roy cares very much about customer service and will do as much as he can to make that up to you next year. Mandi

*****NOTE***** SAID THAT CAMERA WAS NOT WORKING HOWEVER IN HIS STORY ABOVE SAYS THAT HE HAD ANOTHER WEDDING.

From: Melissa Galea - To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 7:17 PM Thank you for your cooperation. It does not really matter what version the pictures are in. I am just looking for some proof that he has the pictures because I know Al was animate about not giving them up. I talked to the webmaster last night again and he is willing to take the post off this week. He told me to just let him know when. Thanks again.

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Melissa Galea Sent: Thu 11/08/07 2:22 PM Ok that is great and I gave Roy your messages and he will be calling you or Brian very soon to make arrangements. He is not available today but can meet with you anytime Friday. Just call him to choose time and place. Mandi

From: Melissa Galea - To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 12:42 PM The post is now off the website. Not only did I get him to take my post off, I got him to take all posts regarding Roy off. This should stand for something. Please email me to arrange a time my mother can pick up the photos. We would like them by this weekend so we can finally send out our thank you cards.

From: Mary Galea - To: Sapphire Photography Sent: Fri 11/09/07 12:14 PM Yesterday when you gave me the CD of Melissa and Brian's wedding pictures you knew full well that those were not all of the pictures. You basically kissed my rear telling me that you would set up sessions with Melissa and her family to retake pictures. You then call my daughter yelling and screaming at her like some crazy person . Not only are you an unethical business person you are crazy and need to seek some professional help. In the message that you left on Brian's cell phone yesterday afternoon asking us not to contact the detective you were more or less pleading with us, you sounded like a whiney 10 year old. We are finished tolerating your hot and cold mood swings, you are obviously not a person that can be reasoned with. When you call your "customers" a "word that can not be repeated on here" that shows me just how non-professional you are. You told Melissa and Brian that they would need to take Al to court to get the rest of the pictures, Melissa and Brian did not have a contract with Al, they had a contract with you, thereofre you are the one we will be taking to court. Any further correspondence from you should be through email to Melissa or myself. No longer call Brian on his cell when he is working.

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Mary Galea Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 21:30:05 -0500 Don't think for one second my family and partners will not pay that expense to protect my interests. I have plenty of debt and monthly expenses like every small business owner. I don't have $725 in my savings account to give Melissa this month. Seven days is not a reasonable amount of time to expedite that request. Not to mention, the holidays are weeks away and I have several contractors to pay this year. Its family and friends that would step up for me. I give thousands in business to many people in lower Michigan and they would help me at the drop of a hat. If she is not willing to wait a month for a 100% refund, that is not a reasonable time frame. Roy

From: Sapphire Photography - To: Melissa Galea Sent: Tue 1/15/08 7:07 PM I do not have other pictures from the photographer that worked your wedding You refused to order prints from Sapphire Films and you rejected additonal services by Sapphire Films. I will not refund 100% of the amount you paid to Sapphire Films. You can open a small claims at 52-1 District Court, 48150 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI 48374 Phone (248) 305 - 6080 I will not discuss this dispute further outside of court or mediation.

As you can all see he tells so many lies that he doesnt know what the truth is. Just compare the emails to the story he now claims. There are several rip off reports made on Roy Parks as well as BBB complaints. He likes to try and intimidate people by threatening to sue them so they will drop their disputes. There is only one liar here.and the evidence above proves it. Once again, Mr. Parks.you never have or ever will intimidate us with your ridiculous slander and threats. We as so many others- have told the truth about your photography services on this website and that is all that matters. We are not concerned about the lies you want to say in retaliation WE- unlike you have a clean conscience and can sleep at night. Next time we speak about this matter to you - it will be in court.