Chet
Los Angeles,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, May 21, 2004
I wish there was a way to tie the reports about this company into one place so a reply can be posted to all. But here is the issue folks, ONCE you SIGN the 56 form (contract) your on the hook for the fees and a letter of satisfaction to end the job. Once they have that letter you loose all hope of ever getting your money back or anything for your hard earned funds. The whole job revolves around running the bill up before you see there are no results. Then making you give them a letter that your happy with the work so far and that your stopping the job only because your out of money.
Here is a PRIME example of how George S. May International uses the letter they demand to fend off clients that they harm.
As reported in the The Topeka Capital-Journal on web page
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/122000/bus_sirezras.shtml
"Last modified at 1:28 a.m. on Wednesday, December 20, 2000
Restaurant's closing offers harsh lesson
By MICHAEL HOOPER
The Capital-Journal
If you are thinking about opening a restaurant, you may want to consider the experience of Bernard Ezra Williams.
On May 23, Williams and his wife, Lori Green, opened Sir Ezra's Steak House at 2833 S.W. Fairlawn Road. They closed it Nov. 30, after being charged $26,000 in fees from an Illinois consulting firm.
The restaurant started off with a bang. Its best month was June, hitting $71,000 in revenue. But the new restaurant owners battled high overhead, maintenance bills and a lack of operating capital.
"There was nothing wrong with the food; there was nothing wrong with the service -- I just didn't have enough operating capital," Williams said. "If I were to do it over again, I would get an SBA (Small Business Administration) loan right away."
Williams, 43, is an accomplished chef who has worked in the restaurant business most of his life. He had been a chef at the Shawnee Country Club, Topeka Steak House, The Vintage and Laribee's Steak House.
When Williams heard about the availability of the Fairlawn building last spring, he got excited. He always wanted to own his own business. When he stepped inside the site of the former Fairlawn Cafe, he said he recognized that it needed a lot of cleaning and repair.
Williams worked more than 300 hours cleaning the building and fixing equipment to meet city code. A new sign was installed. He hired about 20 employees.
The average meal in the former Denny's restaurant building was about $15. The steak house lacked a bar.
In June, two consultants from George S. May International Co., of Park Ridge, Ill., came to the restaurant and told Williams they could help him increase sales.
"I thought it was going to be a good thing in the beginning," Williams said. "But I didn't learn anymore from them than I already knew."
The consultants spent 11 days with him, according to Israel Kushnir, managing director of the company.
Williams said he became uncomfortable with the consultants and decided to end the relationship. Two more consultants returned and talked to his wife.
"I asked them to leave my property," Williams said.
For its consulting services, George S. May International billed Williams more than $26,000.
Williams said he paid more than $10,000 to the consulting firm, but the company's collector continues to call him.
Kushnir said Williams still owes the company $16,000 because Williams signed notes saying he would pay the money.
"Being a cook doesn't make you a manager," Kushnir said. "The reason he hired us is because he needed help being a manager."
Kushnir said the company received a letter from Williams that stated he was satisfied with the consultant's services. The same letter also said Williams had to stop using the services because of a lack of funds.
Les Streit, director of the Small Business Development Center at Washburn University, said the fees George S. May International charged Williams seemed "astronomical."
The small business center provides business counseling for free. The center helps clients write business plans. To reach the Small Business Development Center, call 231-1010, Ext. 1305, and set up an appointment.
By nature, Williams said, he has had trouble saying no to people. He wears his heart on his sleeve and trusts people. In business, he said, you have to learn to say no.
"You put your heart out there," Williams said, "and you get taken advantage of."
Williams said he doesn't regret trying to open his own business. He said he is wiser today from the experience.
"I would never feel satisfied if I never gave it a try," he said. "It's a like a ball player in the minor leagues who wants to experience the big league. You never know if you can make it unless you try."
He said he is young enough to be able to re-enter the workforce and start over.
"I will be back," he said.
The building's owner, Kent Lindemuth, of Topeka, couldn't be reached Tuesday.
Michael Hooper can be reached at
(785) 295-1293 or [email protected]. "
Chet - Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.
Sally
Twin Falls,#3Consumer Comment
Thu, May 13, 2004
So did you give them the letter they demanded?
Did you pay them?
DID THEY DO ANY GOOD FOR YOUR COMPANY?
I bet I know the answers, Yes, yes and NO!
This is how the scam works once they are there you have to pay them, you have to give them a letter of satisfaction that shoots you down if you want your money back.
It happend to us it will happen to others unless the word gets out to stop this company.
Sad we let them in
Sally
Twin Falls,#4Consumer Comment
Thu, May 13, 2004
So did you give them the letter they demanded?
Did you pay them?
DID THEY DO ANY GOOD FOR YOUR COMPANY?
I bet I know the answers, Yes, yes and NO!
This is how the scam works once they are there you have to pay them, you have to give them a letter of satisfaction that shoots you down if you want your money back.
It happend to us it will happen to others unless the word gets out to stop this company.
Sad we let them in
Sally
Twin Falls,#5Consumer Comment
Thu, May 13, 2004
So did you give them the letter they demanded?
Did you pay them?
DID THEY DO ANY GOOD FOR YOUR COMPANY?
I bet I know the answers, Yes, yes and NO!
This is how the scam works once they are there you have to pay them, you have to give them a letter of satisfaction that shoots you down if you want your money back.
It happend to us it will happen to others unless the word gets out to stop this company.
Sad we let them in
Sally
Twin Falls,#6Consumer Comment
Thu, May 13, 2004
So did you give them the letter they demanded?
Did you pay them?
DID THEY DO ANY GOOD FOR YOUR COMPANY?
I bet I know the answers, Yes, yes and NO!
This is how the scam works once they are there you have to pay them, you have to give them a letter of satisfaction that shoots you down if you want your money back.
It happend to us it will happen to others unless the word gets out to stop this company.
Sad we let them in
Shawn
Atlanta,#7UPDATE Employee
Fri, May 07, 2004
George S. May rips off another client!!! They lie to clients to get them to sign the agreement, then when the Consultants get there the client is told the things the Analyst said was not true. The client then wants to close the job, but George S. May wants the client to write a letter saying they are happy when they are not.
The client refuses and George S May tells the consultants they will stay at this clients business and not get paid until they get the letter the company wants.
These people are the worst kind of ling scum I have ever dealt with.
Chet
Los Angeles,#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, May 05, 2004
I found a Yahoo group about them ONLY ONE person in the group! WHAT A JOKE!
Now here is a sad fact to chew on folks. This poor s****.>
VIVA LA RIP OFF REPORT!