Complaint Review: Global Resources - Miami Florida

Department Press Release 05-24-2005 Terence McElroy (850) 488-3022 Bronson Takes Legal Action Against Two Companies For Deceiving Consumers In Internet Machine Sales TALLAHASSEE -- Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against two South Florida companies for engaging in "unfair and deceptive trade practices" in the sale of more than $4 million in public access internet machines. The businesses - Internet Machine Company Inc. and Global Resources Inc., both located in Miami-Dade County - are accused of selling consumers public access internet machines and promising desirable locations for the units, but then failing to deliver many of the machines, providing little, if any, assistance in locating the machines and failing to provide refunds to customers who asked to cancel their deals. "Consumers were stiffed by these companies, pure and simple," Bronson said. Internet Machine Company Inc., which goes by the name of Pantheon, triggered 81 consumer complaints totaling just over $3 million in the past six months. According to the complaints, consumers invested amounts ranging from $10,000 to more than $139,000 in an effort to purchase internet machines to go into business for themselves. Global Resources Inc. generated complaints totaling nearly $994,000 since the beginning of the year from 48 consumers who invested amounts ranging from $5,000 to more than $73,000. The lawsuits seek fines against the companies of $10,000 for each violation of Florida's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, restitution to every consumer impacted by the companies' business practices and an injunction prohibiting the firms from any future violation of the state's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The companies are what are known as "Business Opportunity" companies - firms that provide a product or service to consumers that enable consumers to go into business for themselves. Business opportunities that cost $500 or more are required to be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Internet Machine Company was registered in the past but its application for renewal was denied two months ago. Global Resources is registered and its renewal application is currently pending. Bronson encourages consumers who are contemplating dealing with any business opportunity company to call his department's toll-free hotline - 1 800 HELP FLA (435-7352) - to verify the registration status of a company and to check its complaint history.

Lamont, your report sounds like a play by play of my brief and bank account emptying experience with our lovely friends at Global Resources. Some of the names are the same, if we know their names. I know my name is no-money Vickie. I had to get a part time job to pay off the loan(ouch) for the money I borrowed to give to the rats at GRI, I guess so they could dine on the finest cheese. I have reported this also to the Florida Depart. of Ag and Consumer whatever, I got the feeling this was just another day for them, while I am crying each morning and nite. God, how could I be so dumb? But my husband checked with the BBB, what are they doing over there, oh GRI had a satisfactory rating, how can that be? Oh, I get it, they are very good at conning everyone, I guess they conned the BBB too!

Global Resources still have not returned our money. They are still scamming people--and the state of Florida still allows it?! What is wrong with this picture?! Update: They have sent a couple meaningless letters (delays, lies, blah-blah, etc.). They even tried to deliver some boxes (As if what we ordered could be delivered to our doorstep in boxes). We ordered a turn-key business opportunity: locations, delivery of machine to OUR selected location, installation of the machine (commissioning), monitoring of the machine, ad revenue from fifteen companies, etc. We did not accept their delivery. They probably think that deliverying whatever was in the boxes is their "get out of jail free card." Sadly, these guys are ruthless thieves that pray on honest people trying to make ends meet. It scares me to think what the boxes contained. I have been contacted by Charles Bronson's office. According to their investigator--they are legally in the discovery phase. He said they don't expect anything of significants to happen anytime soon. I contact Governor Bush's office: they told me that this situation is not in their jurisdiction. If you have been scammed by Global Resources--be sure to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. They may be our only hope legally. I have formally canceled my order and requested my money back (via certified mail as they requested) several times. To date they have my money and we have no turn-key business. These guys are definitely a scam operation. Stewart Pope, Rick September, Jay Alexander, Frank, ... These people are all liars and thieves. They lied up front about having machines available for shipment to the location of our choice, the provided false references, they stole our money, they pretended to work on locations (for a short period of time as a "delay tactic"--refer to their document of scam or purchase agreement), they tried to deliver something in a box to our home (scary thought)--and here we are today: no money, no commissioned machine, no location, no business and, sadly, no one in Florida willing, or able, to do anything about it. It appears, for now anyway, that these thieves have license from the state of Florida to scam people all day long (every day). DO NOT SEND THEM MONEY. DO NOT TRUST THEM. If you are a member of the media, please help us get the work out!

BELOEVE ME THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU. YOU WILL NEVER GET YOUR MONEY BACK. THEY ARE LIVING IN NICE HOME AND DRIVING THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARS FROM OUR MONEY! YOU CAN KISS YOU MONEY GOODBYE WHILE THEY ARE LAUGHING IN YOUR FACE! i DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A POPE OR HE IS TOO DUMB TO BE LET SPEAK ON THE PHONE. THEY GET TRUE DUMMIES TO LET THEM USE THEIR NAMES AS PRESIDENT AND SIGN THE CHECKS! THEY HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT AND HAVE THEIR ATTORNEY TO HELP WITH EVERYTHING!