Complaint Review: Pantheon EZ Link

The following of the complaint information I forwarded to The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
My complain is regarding the fradulent information regarding a product called EZ Link by Pantheon Corporation. After watching their TV commercial about how this "turn-key business could create a marvelous long term business income by buying into and owning the beautiful, easy to use equipment featured here (Actor Adam West represented the company & Ernest Borgnine)just made a phone call and order your information packet now. So I did, I paid for the packet of information ($25.00) then days later received a call regarding buying in. Considering the price of $20,000, the original quote, I declined the offer. A week or so later I received a call from a man who identified himself as the company "VP of Marketing", Mr. Charles Provinzeno, telling me they had a very good offer for me. Ten units were available in my area because the original buyer, a man who had bought "10" units had had a heart attach and could no longer go forward with the business and they must liquidate the stock as it was to costly for the company to restock the units. Mr. Provinzeno told me I could get as many of of the 10 as I wanted for a steal of a price, $12,980.00, the best part, the company would do all set up work: find a satisfactor location for my unit, direct the internet hook-ups, monitor the machine through their online service; all I'd have to do is visit the location once or twice a week, take out the cash, add more photo film, polish it up, change out the receipt dispenser... the best part is I'd be up running and making great money within 30 days.

I asked him about location changes, he assured me if I was not satisfied with the company would relocate the equipment at no charge, if I moved to a new area the same thing, moving at no charge. Before sending my check I asked for references and Mr. Provinzeno gave me the names of two individuals whom I contacted, N. Carolina & Miami Lakes, both gave me the same story; they were doing about $2500 per month and one was buying a 2nd machine the other was buying a 3rd machine. With that I verbally agreed over the phone & the next day I received an a DHL packet with contract and return envelope for DHL to pick. From that point became a slippery slope. As marketed, this was not a turn key deal, they gave me names of potential locations for me to go and sell the owners on having the machine in their place of business, I was to negotiate how much of a return the store owner was to get (my locations specialist, Pablo Rodriguez, directed me to what he said was the best type of location a strip grocery store.

The result was Magic Food on 6321 International Drive,Orlando FL) Ariel Daniels from Pantheon was my contact to internet hook up however I soon found out I was to do the leg work with the cable provider, Mega Path broadband service, and independently interface and pay the 459.85 direct which was inaddition to my original purchase price. The delays and complications were huge, the wiring could not be done and I was told to get a contractor to finish running the cable lines, again at my expense. By this time I was into November, Mega Path disclosed to me during one of our many, many conversation that I should be very wary of Pantheon because they had them flaged and beleived that EZ Link was a scam company. They were receiving many calls from, what sounded like, seniors who had obviously bought into the commercial of "EZ money" and once hooked by signing the contract and sending money them had no clue as to what they were going to have to do to get this equipment upset, running and hopefully producing an income. That EZ-Link (Pantheon) was not helping them and now with lots of money out of pocket they were frightened. Now with November's end fast approcahing I realized the contract did state that if the equipment was not shipped with in 45 days I could cancel my contract; I spoke with Ariel Daniels and Yan Kel regarding my total frustration and dissatisfaction.
Ariel told me to put everything in writing, attn; VP, Mr. Jeff Kuba, and fax it to him, he would walk it into Mr. Kuba's office. I did exactlly that and to my surprise Mr Kuba called me back. That is were what was left hope was dashed. Mr. Kuba told me there was no way I could get out of the contract without it costing me thousands of dollars in attorneys fees, that others had tried it and ended up spending thousands of dollars to no avail then calling him back and begging him to get their business up and running so that they could recoup their losses. He told me Charles Provinzeno was no longer with the company, that I had none of that conversation about 30 day deliver in writing so it means nothing. That because of the Typhoons in China shipments of equimpment had been delayed, I asked him about the 10 machines I was told were in Orlando back in September and it was now the December 7th, he ignored me and said the contract says if it is natural disasters they don't have to honor the 45 day clause... by this time I knew this was a waste of time. Mr Kuba then promised me my equipment within 5 days. I called the frustrated store owner, told him the equipment should be there within 5 days, two days later I called Ariel and he said there was no shipment of my equipment scheduled. I call Mr. Kuba back, his reply was "stop whining, 5 days 10 days what's the big deal, when it gets there hook it up and we'll all start making money". I revised my fax into a letter and mailed it certified/return receipt requested on the 9th of December, stating again the contract was void due to non delivery of equipment within 45 days, I enclosed a copy of my signed contract.

December 13th my registered letter was signed for at their corporate office, obviously Mr. Kuba paid no attention to this, the equipment was shipped on the 24th of December to Magic Food. I then send a certified letter to the company President, Mr. Alan Glaubaman,on January 13, 2005, that letter was received and signed for on the 18th of January. I made several calls to him to no avail. Was told Mr. Kuba takes all calls for the President and he was out of town. I called Ariel and requested that they pick the unit up several times, he kept asking if I was sure, could I choose another location, I told him I had lost all trust in the company and all I expected was an equipment pick up and my original investment mailed back to me. The equipment sat in the stores storage room until Feb 20, 2005 when the store owner complained to me to get it out. I drove to Orland, had a a receipt signed to verify I was taking position of the 3 boxes.

Todate they are still boxed and in my garage. I paid my attorney to write a certified letter requesting an immediate refund. The letter was received and signed in May, no surprise we never heard a word. I had planed to go forward by filing a lawsuit when I received an e-mail regarding Channel 10's website showing a story about a recent bust of six scam companies, one of them being Pantheon Holdings, Inc. aka: Internet Machine Company, and several key people by the US Attorney Marcos Daniel Jimenez.

My attorney suggested I contact Mr. Jimenez's office and see if there had been a plea along with a restitution program. I spoke with the special assistant handeling the case, Mr. Steve Gurwitz, he suggested that I, since the State of Florida was going after this company, I would be best served in contacting the Florida Agricultural & Consumers Division, and I should also contact the Postal Inspector.(I did contact him and he asked for a letter and documentation.)

I asked for information to know exactly how I should move forward in an attempt to aquire some sort of restitution for my sizeable losses.

I was sent an affidavite to fill out and sign, which I did, by Ms. s****.> Ms. Louis E. s****.> Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL. 32399-0800

I have talked to the Better Business Bureau, along with a number of people at the States Attorney's Office in Tallhassee.
In February 2006 I was told that they were unable to find these men and at this time everything was "dead in the water" but to keep calling back just in case something changes.

Gailynn
Boynton Beach, Florida
U.S.A.