Complaint Review: International Candle Corporation Nathan Hillman & Brian Theissen - Cambridge Massachusetts

When I bought my "territory", I did not have the information I have now. Finally, I can prove that International Candle is certainly affiliated with The Candle Brokers of Boston, Massachusetts. After reading reports of what some suspected, I can prove my case with certainty. The Better Business Bureau has had several complaints against The Candle Brokers. However, International Candle had the opportunity to create it's own report and submit it to the Better Business Bureau. Unfortunately, consumers were duped by this inaccurate report. Below is my story. I desire to post it for those who may have doubts and have encountered some of the same issues. I do not wish to speak in circles. I can prove what I have listed. My research has uncovered additional disturbing information. However, at this point, I will stop at nothing until I receive my money back, in full and paid in a lump sum (just as I submitted to International Candle Corporation).





Protected Territory Contract

It is not unusual for this company to give excuses for their irresponsibility. They seek to blame everyone but themselves. My story is as follows:

International Candle Corporation claims that I contracted with them for the purchase of candles and displays only. This is blatant contradiction to our signed contract and the literature they sent me which states, "you will be assigned an area of distribution" and "displays must be placed within the defined area". My purchase was specifically for the Northern Wake Territory (see signed contract) and they gave me a map (see file for email attachment from Brian Conners) defining the specific area I purchased. According to the materials they sent me, I also purchased "a detailed newsletter", "new product line additions", "monthly bestseller list", in addition International Candle Corporation's company literature sent to me that read I will "receive promotional headers for every display" monthly.

The company misrepresented the candles I would get in the training manual. They said the products are "of good quality" and come "individually wrapped, with their own UPC (Scan codes)." I did not get ANY of the items mentioned above, as they stated in their specifications to me. These are fraudulent misrepresentations. In addition to all this, International Candle Corporation said in their literature, "there are no minimum orders". This is contracted in materials that state a case must be purchased. The revelation about the minimum orders was not revealed until I had sent my cashier's check for $17,500. According to the literature they gave me about my "protected territory", it says "effective site selection. These candle displays are very easy to locate since there are literally hundreds of available sites in each designated area".

My complaint is that this statement is unfounded because it has not been possible for the locator(s) assigned to me to get 45 sites in my protected territory. My products by International Candle Corporation are not seasonal product like they stated in the literature they gave me. They continue to sell "summer" candles, which are not wrapped individually like they said. With all of the fraudulent claims mentioned above, in addition to the inability to locate 45 sites in my "protected territory" that I purchased, I want a full refund of $17,500.00. This company has not fulfilled their end of the obligation.

Based on what they have NOT done and the fraudulent claims used to mislead and sell me on in their literature, I want my money back in full. I tried to check out this company using the references they gave me. I asked Brian Conners to give me references that were at least 3 to 4 years old and he made a fraudulent claim that the names were RANDOMLY pulled and they could only search their database for the three references one time per distributor. If necessary, I can put you in touch with others were given the same references. This is an obvious fraudulent claim. I want a refund because the company obviously lied to me in order to mislead me and persuade me to purchase my protected territory and their products, which to date haven't been placed in my protected territory.

After speaking to the FTC, they agreed this is a franchise opportunity due to the protected territory I signed in my contract. I was informed it doesn't matter how International Candle tries to word it because it is in the contract on the first page, signed by Jay Campbell.

Does your contract look like mine or is it different. Let me know. If you have comments or questions, email [email protected].

Latisha

Wake Forest, North Carolina
U.S.A.