Robert
Buffalo,#2Consumer Comment
Thu, February 07, 2008
After reading both articles in the Vancouver newspaper, it would seem that the merchant agreements with VISA in Canada are not much different, if at all, than the merchant agreements in the U.S. The articles confirm that VISA does NOT ALLOW this $500 "penalty" fee for charge backs. I wonder if someone from iphonenow.ca will please explain the justification of this fee, that according to the newspaper, VISA will not allow.
Wim
Kelowna,#3Author of original report
Sat, February 02, 2008
First of all, let me clear the air here. I AM NOT, AND I AM IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH KELSEY HOUGEN. I WILL NOT STAND FOR VERBAL ABUSE, NEITHER WILL I STAND FOR ATTEMPTS TO ASSAULT MY CREDIBILITY, NOR WILL I BACK DOWN FROM INTIMIDATION. I PAID IPHONENOW.CA WITH INTENTIONS OF THEM HOLDING UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN. I ALSO CANNOT COMPREHEND HOW A BUSINESS CAN DISCREDIT THEIR CUSTOMERS BY SAYING THAT THEIR ORDER IS NON-EXISTENT. THE ARTICLE IN TODAY'S VANCOUVER SUN CONFIRMS MY SUSPICIOUS - IPHONENOW.CA IS A FRAUD SCHEME. CONSEQUENTLY, I WILL LET THE POLICE, AND THE BC CONSUMER PROTECTION AUTHORITY SORT THE MATTER OUT ON MY BEHALF.
Randyclockwork
Vancouver,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, February 01, 2008
I just wanted to inform people about what is happening with this company, my friends have been scammed and I'm making it my job to inform you as well. Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun Published: Friday, February 01, 2008 Police and consumer protection authorities are investigating Vancouver-based iPhoneNow.ca and are asking people who have paid hundreds of dollars for iPhones that were never delivered to step forward. The company is associated with Joshua Tristan Trousdale, a Port Coquitlam man who has been convicted of fraud relating to the sale of PlayStations over the Internet, and has successfully quelled complaints in the past with threats of costly lawsuits. But now, British Columbia's consumer watchdog is warning consumers to report such threats to the police. "We have opened a file and we are investigating it now," said Tatiana Chabeaux-Smith, spokeswoman for the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority of BC. "If anyone has been involved in this situation we definitely encourage them to call us." Consumers can report their dealings with iPhoneNow.ca at 1-888-564-9963 or by e-mail at [email protected]. She said if consumers are threatened with legal action for complaining about the company, they should go to the police. Coquitlam RCMP Const. Linda Barrett said the RCMP is investigating and consumers with complaints about the company should call 604-945-1488. Visa Canada said it is also investigating. Gord Jamieson, director of payment-system risk, said consumers should know that if they did not receive goods they have paid for, they have the right to ask Visa to have their money refunded. Jamieson said iPhoneNow.ca's practice of charging customers $500 plus tax for requesting a charge back from Visa is not allowed by Visa. "There is no merit in that at all," said Jamieson. "If that charge showed up it would be an unauthorized charge." http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=39bd6190-0ce8-49b7-ad04-cf2e5f0313ba http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=7dd7c892-74dd-46b3-9e79-165ecc72c90d&k=5149
Randyclockwork
Vancouver,#5Consumer Comment
Thu, January 31, 2008
A B.C.-based website offering iPhones for sale in Canada is angering customers who say they are paying hundreds of dollars for phones that never arrive. The site, www.iPhoneNow.ca is linked to a Joshua T. Trousdale who lists two residences in the Lower Mainland and identifies himself as chief software architect with CIPC Worldwide Holdings Corp. In 2006, a Joshua Tristan Trousdale legally changed his name from Scott Frederick Byers. In 2001, Scott Frederick Byers was convicted in New Brunswick of fraud relating to the sale of Sony PlayStation 2 games consoles on the Internet. In that case, RCMP were tipped by Visa and American Express cardholders who said they paid for game machines they never received. The website has unleashed a firestorm of criticism on Internet blogs. The company has responded with threats of legal action against customers who complain, and $500 penalties for those who seek refunds from their credit card companies. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cf51ae03-de31-46fb-a632-725dc8809508&k=53201
Jennifer M. Wilson
Wilmington,#6UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 30, 2008
Responding also to your completely false statements, we thought we'd add our trademark link so the public can "cross-reference" for themselves. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/app/cipo/trademarks/search/viewTrademark.do;jsessionid=0000IzKQEMWbPc3Wpzqhw1kbX3u:1247nfca5?language=eng&fileNumber=1380077&extension=0&startingDocumentIndexOnPage=1 You may search for iPhoneNow or iPhoneNow.ca to display the relative filing and the application thereof, which as you can see, has been formalized. This threated is a complete fabrication, it's sole purpose is to attempt to smear the name of iPhoneNow.ca, and is not a legitimate complaint. There is no "Wim," there is no order for someone in Kelowna on that day, in fact, not a single one of the claims here by these people is a legitimate concern. With that, we'll close our file on this complaint as completely fake.
Not Available
Port Coquitlam,#7UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, January 30, 2008
Dear public and other entities, I retract all previous comments, statements, and views on iPhoneNow.ca; Josh Trousdale; CIPC Worldwide Holdings Ltd; and employees alike. I do not support or promote any opinions stated by others, and therefore should be taken up with them. Anything I said against the company or person(s) running it should be disregarded and therefore, not be held against them or change your opinion in any way on them. Sincerely, Kelsey Hougen I apologize for any damages or losses caused by my actions.
Jennifer M. Wilson
Wilmington,#8UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 29, 2008
Dear Wim, We consider your post here to be fake. Not customer, who is offered help and assistance, would go on saying that its "in the hand of the the police." If it is, great, they'll see our post attempting to assist you, and you going on and on about something that isn't factual. For now, we'll be contacting this website to remove this as a not legitimate post. Regards, JMW
Not Available
Port Coquitlam,#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, January 29, 2008
Dear public and other entities, I retract all previous comments, statements, and views on iPhoneNow.ca; Josh Trousdale; CIPC Worldwide Holdings Ltd; and employees alike. I do not support or promote any opinions stated by others, and therefore should be taken up with them. Anything I said against the company or person(s) running it should be disregarded and therefore, not be held against them or change your opinion in any way on them. Sincerely, Kelsey Hougen I apologize for any damages or losses caused by my actions.
Wim
Kelowna,#10Author of original report
Mon, January 28, 2008
It's not worth hassling with you guys anymore. It's in the hands of the RCMP as of last night. You can't find my order number, I get an invalid tracking number... Something is up here, and your excuses just won't cut it anymore.
Not Available
Port Coquitlam,#11UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, January 28, 2008
The owner of iPhoneNow.ca, Inc. is all one person. He has run past scams. On their website they claim their trademark is registered, but after cross checking with the trademark database, it doesn't exist. They also send threats to sue anyone who are of any threat in bringing out the truth. There is no iPhones and never will be. The owner is indeed male, and indeed lives in British Columbia, Canada. There is no lawyer by the name of Jennifer M. Wilson, and if there was, she wouldn't be wasting her time with an online store and searching every bad response to their service on google. Also, they send out legal threats to keep people hush hush, which is an obstruction of justice. They also produce fake letter heads that contain fake contacts. The address provided on the bottom of their letter head is that for Wardrop Engineering. The website administration contact is that of: CanWest Global Place, 201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg AB R3B 3K6 Canada By doing a whois search, you can find this information. If you look closely at the address, it is for the news station who also exploited Josh Trousdale's crimes in the past. Looking even closer, you notice it says AB. Winnipeg is not located in Alberta, but Manitoba.
Robert
Buffalo,#12Consumer Comment
Mon, January 28, 2008
Your website claims there will be a $500 fee for any credit card charge back. I don't believe VISA allows that. Perhaps the VISA merchant aggreement is different in Canada? ""Term; Termination; Chargebacks ""These terms and conditions are applicable to you upon your accessing the site and/or completing the registration or shopping process. These terms and conditions, or any part of them, may be terminated by store.iphonenow.ca without notice at any time, for any reason. The provisions relating to Copyrights, Trademark, Disclaimer, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification and Miscellaneous, shall survive any termination. All terminated orders are subject to our standard restocking fee of 20%."" If I understand this correctly, if someone waits 2 months and hasn't received a phone and then request to cancel the order, you're gonna charge a "restocking fee" of 20%, even though NOTHING was returned to be restocked? Nice gig! ""iPhoneNow.ca has amazing customer service that is available to you 24 hours a day. We love to assist you with your questions about your order and resolve your legitimate disputes. However, if for any reason you or the authorized cardholder contacts their bank and requests a chargeback of the amount charged to your account, we will immediately cancel your account and void any remaining warranty. You acknowledge that a credit card chargeback is exceptionally expensive for a merchant to process and that fees are associated with same. You will be held liable for all incurred fees, as well as a $500 penalty for each chargeback you initiate or are a party to. You agree to pay this amount to iPhoneNow.ca via the payment method on file automatically or within 15 days. "" This is even better! If a customer waits 2 months and requests the order be cancelled without a "restocking fee" and you tell him/her no and he/she calls his/her credit card company to dispute the charge - you're going to assess a $500 "penalty" on to the customer when the credit card company correctly processes a charge back! Your Terms of Service is enough to make me stay away from you folks. What business operates that way? I also note on your website where it indicates that it could take upwards of 8 or more weeks to receive the phone. How convenient. Most credit card companies have a TIME LIMIT as to when the customer can dispute the charge. This seems to eat up a good chunk of that time period. I own 2 small companies and I'll grant you that charge backs are an slight administrative expense, but not $500, and surely not for something that was not delivered! Shees!
Jennifer M. Wilson
Wilmington,#13UPDATE Employee
Sun, January 27, 2008
Wim, Perhaps you'd like to provide us with your order number so we can address your concern. I am not the person referenced in the aforementioned posts. Nor do we have a "criminal past," nor are any of your statements true. Furthermore, I searched through our database and found that not a single phone was sold to ANYONE in Kelowna on December 15th, 2007. If you have a legitimate order number, I would request that you immediately inform us so we can assist you. From our perspective, this looks like a fake, and the fact that Mr. Kelsey Hougen is responding to this forum seems to lend more credibility to this theory. We're happy to assist any legitimate complaint. Please respond with your associated order number within 48 hours.
Not Available
Port Coquitlam,#14UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, January 27, 2008
During employment, not one single person reported to receive the service they requested. Be it the webex unlocking assistance or receiving their iphone. There just is no proof or any indication they are legit. From fake trademarks, to threatening legal action because they feel threatened. This company definitely is a fake and should be put to a stop.
Not Available
Port Coquitlam,#15UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, January 27, 2008
During employment, not one single person reported to receive the service they requested. Be it the webex unlocking assistance or receiving their iphone. There just is no proof or any indication they are legit. From fake trademarks, to threatening legal action because they feel threatened. This company definitely is a fake and should be put to a stop.
Wim
Kelowna,#16Author of original report
Sun, January 27, 2008
On my credit card statement, CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS. No Phone January 15th, promised in time for Christmas, Purolator said tracking number did not exist. So I got suspicious and googled CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS, and I get this page: http://www.internetphonecompany.ca/About_Us/index.html So I look for someone higher up in the company to talk to, so I click on management team. I get "A wholly owned subsidiary of OPTIXX TRUST" So I google OPTIXX british columbia, and this is what I get: http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=15470&query=search http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=16110&query=search So I look at the bottom of the page: Byers Busted in NB over Playstation scam, and this is what I get: http://www.news.com/2100-1017-249277.html And then the Legal name change to Josh Tristan Trousdale under the Nova Scotia Change of Name act: http://www.gov.ns.ca/Just/regulations/rg1/2006/oc0406.pdf So then I google Scott Frederick Byers, and this is what I get from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Website: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/nb/news/Sep2501_101530.html So explain this - when I look at your criminal past, the Government of Nova Scotia and RCMP press releases - which don't lie, how can anyone believe what you say is true??? Please step forward Mr. Trousdale, and explain each one of these facts, as you cannot run away from your criminal past.
Wim
Kelowna,#17Author of original report
Sun, January 27, 2008
On my credit card statement, CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS. No Phone January 15th, promised in time for Christmas, Purolator said tracking number did not exist. So I got suspicious and googled CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS, and I get this page: http://www.internetphonecompany.ca/About_Us/index.html So I look for someone higher up in the company to talk to, so I click on management team. I get "A wholly owned subsidiary of OPTIXX TRUST" So I google OPTIXX british columbia, and this is what I get: http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=15470&query=search http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=16110&query=search So I look at the bottom of the page: Byers Busted in NB over Playstation scam, and this is what I get: http://www.news.com/2100-1017-249277.html And then the Legal name change to Josh Tristan Trousdale under the Nova Scotia Change of Name act: http://www.gov.ns.ca/Just/regulations/rg1/2006/oc0406.pdf So then I google Scott Frederick Byers, and this is what I get from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Website: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/nb/news/Sep2501_101530.html So explain this - when I look at your criminal past, the Government of Nova Scotia and RCMP press releases - which don't lie, how can anyone believe what you say is true??? Please step forward Mr. Trousdale, and explain each one of these facts, as you cannot run away from your criminal past.
Wim
Kelowna,#18Author of original report
Sun, January 27, 2008
On my credit card statement, CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS. No Phone January 15th, promised in time for Christmas, Purolator said tracking number did not exist. So I got suspicious and googled CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS, and I get this page: http://www.internetphonecompany.ca/About_Us/index.html So I look for someone higher up in the company to talk to, so I click on management team. I get "A wholly owned subsidiary of OPTIXX TRUST" So I google OPTIXX british columbia, and this is what I get: http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=15470&query=search http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=16110&query=search So I look at the bottom of the page: Byers Busted in NB over Playstation scam, and this is what I get: http://www.news.com/2100-1017-249277.html And then the Legal name change to Josh Tristan Trousdale under the Nova Scotia Change of Name act: http://www.gov.ns.ca/Just/regulations/rg1/2006/oc0406.pdf So then I google Scott Frederick Byers, and this is what I get from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Website: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/nb/news/Sep2501_101530.html So explain this - when I look at your criminal past, the Government of Nova Scotia and RCMP press releases - which don't lie, how can anyone believe what you say is true??? Please step forward Mr. Trousdale, and explain each one of these facts, as you cannot run away from your criminal past.
Wim
Kelowna,#19Author of original report
Sun, January 27, 2008
On my credit card statement, CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS. No Phone January 15th, promised in time for Christmas, Purolator said tracking number did not exist. So I got suspicious and googled CIPC WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS, and I get this page: http://www.internetphonecompany.ca/About_Us/index.html So I look for someone higher up in the company to talk to, so I click on management team. I get "A wholly owned subsidiary of OPTIXX TRUST" So I google OPTIXX british columbia, and this is what I get: http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=15470&query=search http://www.castanet.net/cgi-bin2/newNews/news_list.cgi?method=show_story&id=16110&query=search So I look at the bottom of the page: Byers Busted in NB over Playstation scam, and this is what I get: http://www.news.com/2100-1017-249277.html And then the Legal name change to Josh Tristan Trousdale under the Nova Scotia Change of Name act: http://www.gov.ns.ca/Just/regulations/rg1/2006/oc0406.pdf So then I google Scott Frederick Byers, and this is what I get from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Website: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/nb/news/Sep2501_101530.html So explain this - when I look at your criminal past, the Government of Nova Scotia and RCMP press releases - which don't lie, how can anyone believe what you say is true??? Please step forward Mr. Trousdale, and explain each one of these facts, as you cannot run away from your criminal past.
Jennifer M. Wilson
Wilmington,#20UPDATE Employee
Sat, January 26, 2008
Hi Wim, I searched for your order but didn't find one with your contact details or to Kelowna with that date. You certainly haven't been scammed or ripped off. The information for our business your displaying here isn't correct either. If you're legitimate, please post your order number or full name, or certainly reply to us via email and we'll be happy to help you right away. I can be contacted directly at [email protected]. Best regards, Jennifer M. Wilson