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White Crane Technologies - White Crane Productions - White Crane CMS - White Crane Systems Deceptive Fraudlent Practices - Took My $$ and Did Not Deliver on Contract Snohomish - Redmond Washington
I have owned an e-commerce website since August 2003. This website started off slowly, but each year it made increasing revenue until last summer (2006) when the revenue inexplicably dropped off.
At that time I started looking around for a company who could do a makeover of my site. My hope was that by making my site more user-friendly and giving it updated features the search engines would give it a better ranking resulting in more exposure and increased revenue.
On September 19, 2006, I received a phone call from a guy by the name of Brett who said he was responding to an ad I had placed in a webmasters forum. He said he worked for a company called White Crane Productions (www.whitecraneproductions.com). And we talked for about 2 hours about what I was looking for and what White Crane could do for me.
He said that White Crane had been in operation for 3 years and had many clients and one of their specialties was redoing sites for people. He also told me that they had servers which could host my website and would work with me to make sure that my site got excellent placement in the search engines.
We decided on the Silver Plan which was almost $3,000. I told him I didn't have that much to put into this project all at once. I could perhaps pay $1,000 payments for 3 months, but could not pay $3,000 all at once. He then put me on hold and after a couple of minutes came back to the phone and quoted a price of $2,500 to redo my site and then I would pay a monthly charge of $39.99 for hosting and search engine optimization.
He said that I would need to pay $1,500 immediately and the other $1,000 in a month. He told me that he would e-mail me a contract which I needed to sign and fax back and I would need to pay $1,500 up front to get the process started. He also said (as did the contract) that the additional $1, 000 would automatically be withdrawn from my credit card approximately a month later.
I received the contract, read it and noted that it said exactly what we had agreed to. I then faxed it back to him. He then called me back at which time I gave him my credit card number. He then emailed me again with an attached Credit Card Authorization Form. After reading this form I signed it and faxed it back to him.
On the following Monday (September 25, 2006) I received an e-mail from a person named Jim (jim@whitecranecms.com) asking me very pointed questions about design layout, whether I was going to use the same products on the new site, what type of e-commerce solution I wanted to use and said to reply with my answers. He also said that someone from White Crane would be contacting me in about 3 weeks to give me a link to get in to see the progress which had been made.
Then on October 5, 2006, I received an e-mail from a guy named Ryan with several names of companies I could talk with about additional products to carry on my new site. He made a comment in the e-mail which I found a little troubling. He said, I've forwarded your account to the web development department, so they should get started soon.
The next contact I had was on Monday, November 6, 2006, when I sent an e-mail to both Ryan and Jim asking them how the new site was coming along since I hadn't heard anything from them in a while. I then received a phone call from a guy named Derrek. I asked about both Ryan and Jim and was told that one of them was on leave of absence due to an illness and the other one was on the phone with another customer. Derrek said that the programmers had just started on the site and that he would get back to me in about a week and give me some instruction about how to get in and start adding my products.
I monitor my checking account and credit card account very regularly. I noticed on the credit card account that the remaining $1,000 of the amount we had agreed upon was finally deducted on Friday, November 10.
I received another call from Derrek on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at which time he gave me the link to get into the site they were working on for me. It was www.xxx.net/admin (name changed for privacy purposes.) He also set up the UserID and password for me. We talked for quite a while and he showed me how to get in the back office of my site and put in products and change several settings.
Derrek called me back the next Tuesday (November 21, 2006) and asked about colors for the homepage and generally what I want it to look like. He said he would call or e-mail me after Thanksgiving with a link for me to look at what the programmers had done. This was the last time I heard from or talked with anyone from White Crane.
I was busy over the Christmas and New Year's holidays and didn't really give White Crane a thought until the weekend of the SuperBowl. I again e-mailed support@whitecranecms.com saying that it had been a couple of months and I had not heard anything from them. I wondered how my site was coming along. The email came back with a Delivery Status Notification (Failure). I then looked back in my email history and found every address I had ever used to get in touch with them and sent the same email to each (5 in all). Each one came back with the same Delivery Status Notification (Failure).
I then looked at every paper I had kept with phone numbers on them and called each one. Each one gave me a disconnected message. I tried to go to www.whitecraneproductions.com and got a message which said Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage. I tried going to the link Derrek had given me for my new website (www.xxx.net/admin). It gave me the same Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage.
I did many Google searches and discovered that a person by the name of Brent A. Stanphill has a business license as a sole proprietor for White Crane Technologies (an AKA of White Crane Productions). I also went to US Search and got more information on Mr. Stanphill and a phone number. I called that number (425) 827-2703 and asked for Brent. A lady answered and said he didn't live there. I asked if there were another number where he could be reached and she said,
I am disputing the payment of the $2,500 because while White Crane Productions apparently did exist once and did begin work on my new website, they are now unavailable despite many tries through many types of means (including e-mail, searching the Internet, and telephone). The contract I signed in good faith promised a new website and 1 year's hosting service. I have been delivered neither. I do not even have the capability of getting into the partially finished website to be able to transfer it to another company.
I continue to investigate this company and have uncovered where a person by the name of Jeremy Avey filed for an LLC for White Crane. I have also found the name of a former employee of White Crane and have contacted him and he has verified that White Crane used in his words "mysterious business practices" and that because of that he left their employ. He also verified that both Brent Stanphill and Jeremy Avey were the owners.
He would not elaborate to me exactly what these "mysterious business practices" were, but at least knowing that there was someone out there who indeed worked at White Crane and could verify that this company was not entirely "above board" was a reassurance that I am on the right track in reporting them.
Della
Trussville, AL
USA
Della
Trussville, Alabama
U.S.A.
9 Updates & Rebuttals
Della
Trussville,Alabama,
U.S.A.
I'm Listening, Jeremy
#10Author of original report
Thu, February 14, 2008
Jeremy,
I sent you an e-mail to the address on gmail which you gave and I have yet to hear from you. I'm interested to know how you propose to resolve my situation. I know that I am only 1 of 7 who reported problems with White Crane. But I am willing to listen to what you have to say. Please reply to either the e-mail I sent you or to this posting.
Della
Whitecranetechnologies
Redmond,Washington,
U.S.A.
Please contact me to resolve these issues! "WhiteCraneTechnologies"
#10REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, February 12, 2008
Due to a series of unfortunate situations White Crane Technologies had to shut it's doors in late 2006. As when any company goes out of business a lot of people are left with the question what now? It was never our intention to shut our doors and leave our client base unassisted. Over the last year and a half we have had to fully re-develop a stable E-commerce platform that we have recently launched. If you are seeking a resolve to any outstanding issues with White Crane Technologies PLEASE e mail me directly at,
whitecranetechnologies@gmail.com
Sincerely, Jeremy Avey
Whitecranetechnologies
Redmond,Washington,
U.S.A.
Please contact me to resolve these issues! "WhiteCraneTechnologies"
#10REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, February 12, 2008
Due to a series of unfortunate situations White Crane Technologies had to shut it's doors in late 2006. As when any company goes out of business a lot of people are left with the question what now? It was never our intention to shut our doors and leave our client base unassisted. Over the last year and a half we have had to fully re-develop a stable E-commerce platform that we have recently launched. If you are seeking a resolve to any outstanding issues with White Crane Technologies PLEASE e mail me directly at,
whitecranetechnologies@gmail.com
Sincerely, Jeremy Avey
Whitecranetechnologies
Redmond,Washington,
U.S.A.
Please contact me to resolve these issues! "WhiteCraneTechnologies"
#10REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, February 12, 2008
Due to a series of unfortunate situations White Crane Technologies had to shut it's doors in late 2006. As when any company goes out of business a lot of people are left with the question what now? It was never our intention to shut our doors and leave our client base unassisted. Over the last year and a half we have had to fully re-develop a stable E-commerce platform that we have recently launched. If you are seeking a resolve to any outstanding issues with White Crane Technologies PLEASE e mail me directly at,
whitecranetechnologies@gmail.com
Sincerely, Jeremy Avey
Della
Trussville,Alabama,
U.S.A.
My E-mails to You Bounced
#10Author of original report
Sat, November 17, 2007
Tyler,
I received both of your e-mails and tried to respond to each of them. I have some serious issues with what was said in the first e-mail. I don't understand how you can help me resolve this situation if you don't work for White Crane any more. Unless you are possibly one of the principals or an attorney for one or both of them. How do you know that "White Crane is working hard to rectify this mishap and ordeal"?
I tried to respond to each of the e-mails and they bounced. Have you deleted that e-mail account?
Thanks
Della
Tylerpropel1981
Mukilteo,Washington,
U.S.A.
I am also an ex-employee of White Crane Systems
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, November 16, 2007
Della,
I am also an ex-employee of White Crane Productions and experienced working with a number of their clients while I was with them. I recently found these new responses on rip off report from other ex employees of WCP and would like to help by assisting you resolve these issue's. Please email me if you would like my help. My email is propel1981@hotmail.com I hope to hear from any one who would like to persue resolution to the issues related to White Crane Productions and it's owners Brent Stanphill and Jeremy Avey. Please email me and together we can over come this companies unsettled and un proffesional actions.
Anonymous
Beaverton,Oregon,
U.S.A.
WCT
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 15, 2007
Hi Della,
The ex employee that you spoke with via email is me. I believe that means that you know how to contact me. Feel free to shoot me an email. or post your email here. Myself and a fellow ex employee who shall remain unnamed have also been researching Jeremy Avey and his business practices. When you first emailed me, I was not sure what this was in relation to and did not want to say too much. I am more than happy to help you as much as I can, but my identity must be kept out of it.
Talk to you soon.
Della
Trussville,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Thank You Anonymous
#10Author of original report
Thu, November 15, 2007
Thank You Anonymous for your insight. I have gathered a lot of information on both Jeremy Avey and Brent Stanphill, but the trail has gone somewhat cold. I am interested in getting together with as many victims as possible and trying to file a class action law suit or some other legal action against one or both of these guys. I would very much like to talk with you some more.
I was able to track down another former employee who gave me a little information and whom I exchanged e-mails with. Although he was hesitant to say very much. I'm sure that was because he really didn't know who I was and what my intentions really were.
He did make enough comments in the e-mails I did receive from him to let me know that White Crane and messers Avey and Stanphill were not on the up and up.
Please contact me when you have some time because I am still continuing to accumulate as much data as I can get. I have a file which is at least an inch thick now with information I have accumulated. I also have all the e-mails I ever received from anyone I talked with at White Crane. I'm in hopes that at some point all of this can be used to help me get my money back and even perhaps some of the other people who were wronged by this fraudulant company.
Thanks
Della
Trussville, AL
Anonymous
Beaverton,Oregon,
U.S.A.
I worked at White Crane Technologies.
#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, November 13, 2007
Della and others,
I used to work for Jeremy Avey at White Crane Technologies in Washington. I wanted to help you a little in your pursuit of this man.
He previously had a company by the name of Net Systems International which was registered in the state of Washington but has since closed down. There is another company by the name of OutReach Web Design, also registered and also shut down. The latest business is called Strada Technologies, registered in August of this year and current active in the State of Washington.
Ref: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/search_detail.aspx?ubi=602753623
He has a website that you can visit: stradatechnoligies
I think you will find it to look very similar to what you saw at White Crane. His contact information is listed on his "new companies" web site.
218 Main St. #656,
Kirkland, WA 98033
Tel.: 1-877-824-9813
I hope this has helped you and others that had dealings with White Crane Technologies. I am glad I was not there long enough to be as involved as Jeremy and Brent. I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit. If I can be of any further assistance to you, please respond to this report with your email address. I would rather not reveal my identity.
Good luck.