Complaint Review: Texas Medical Directories

Lona Helm AKA Lona Millican Helm approached my company in October of 2014 by stating that Baylor Hospital of Irving works with her company's publication and that Baylor gave her a list of companies that they already work with, and that we were on this list of companies.

She showed me an actual copy of the 2013-2014 publication. I actually recognized one of the companies in there, and I told her I knew that company, and she stated the name of the individual that she worked with over there, and I happen to know that person -- so this kinda made this woman seem more legit to me in my eyes cause she actually know the full name of the person I know at this specific company and they had actually placed an advertisement in the publication.

After thinking it over, I wrote her a check for $900 for an inside cover advertisement.

Couple weeks following, I never heard back from the company so I would call Lona, and she would tell me she's just the salesperson so I would have to call the main number 817-715-2158 and speak to Kevin Mitchell, who is her boss and at this point I'm assuming is the owner/lead fraudster. I spoke to Kevin Mitchell on 2 or 3 occassions requesting updates, artwork, etc. He requested I e-mail him any media or text that I wanted to be included in the advertisement and that I was next on the list and it would get done right away, which I did send on December 4, 2014.

I would ask him what was taking so long on bringing this to publication, and he would say that "Oh we're waiting on closing out the ads on the Irving area" or "my designers are backed up and you're actually next on the list."

Fast forward to the most recent weeks (Feb/Mar 2015). Becoming suspicious and weary of this whole situation, two weeks ago I called Kevin requesting information on where I could actually see the piblications in a local hospital such as Baylor (should've done this before I paid). He said he would call me back with the information after he got back to his office. Never heard from him. Prior to this, he would call back occassionally and give me some run around. Lona recently only picked up when I called her from a random number. She said that she told Kevin to give me a call and that she would call Kevin and have him call me. Now neither of them are picking up the phone or returning phone calls, regardless of what number I call them from.

Huge lessons learned from this ordeal: I did think it was weird that their "brochure" representing their company was so unprofessional - I mean it was printed on copy paper and was created on a Microsoft Word. If you're in the advertising and media space, your own brochure should not look like that. Another sign should've been the e-mail address: texasmedicaldirectories@yahoo.com - clearly doesn't have it's own domain handle. These were all things I should've noticed, but I was naive. I have a feeling I won't see my money back, but I know I won't ever get swindled again ($900 lesson).

It's amazing that people have no problem in cheating people out of their hard earned money, and not even feel bad at all about it. I was actually able to track down Lona's Facebook page, and you wouldn't believe the review she posted about another restaurant via Facebook:

"Total rip-off. My son bought a $50.00 gift card for me. The owner acted like it wasn't good and would NOT honor the card. I have heard from 2 other people that the same thing happened to them. If you like eating here PLEASE don't buy the gift cards and get swindled like we did. We will never go back and encourage others to NOT spend your hard earned dollars where the owners RIP YOU OFF !!" -She wrote this on the Salsa Fuego Facebook page. I mean, can you believe it?! She has no problem ripping others off, but she sure is vocal about her $50 gift card not being honored.

And of course, as I scroll through her Facebook page, she is talking about going to Church and what not -- these are the people that give Chrisianity and religion a bad name. 

I wish I would have done a more thorough search on her instead of the company because it seems she has a track record of doing these things, and just changes company names. I was able to find others who posted similar complaints on ripoffreport.com when she was running the company "Christian Media Associates":
ripoffreport.com/r/Christian-Media-Associates/Fort-Worth-Texas-76126/Christian-Media-Associates-Lona-Helm-Don-Helm-Failure-to-deliver-advertising-that-has-be-1066351

If I had just searched her, I would not be in the mess I am now. 

Anyhow, at this point, I will pray for her with hopes of her finding a better way of living without hurting/duping others.

This post's purpose is hoping no one else gets swindled by this woman.