Complaint Review: Student Relations Louis Victor Mike Martoe Aramis Tejada - Delray Beach Florida

Wednesday July 30, 2008 After being harassed by Louis Victor upon turning down an job offer from Student Relations I have felt that I deserved an apology from either Louis Victor or whoever was in charge of things at Student Relations. I have posted here about my experiences with Louis, and my intentions of exposing the issue if I did not receive an apology. Earlier today, Mr. Martoe contacted me and sincerely extended an apology on behalf of SRI to me for the way I was treated and harassed by Louis at the beginning of the year. I may not agree with the way SRI handles its business or its recruiting process, however, as a professional I accept Mr. Martoe's apology he has extended on behalf of SRI. Accordingly, I sincerely apologize for any comments I have made to/about Mr. Martoe, his character, and/or SRI on this website; as I have also accepted his apology for any comments he has made to me about my character, family, or professional career. I also thank him for the high level of professionalism he was able to exhibit during our phone conversation this morning. I will make no further posts, positive or negative, regarding Student Relations in any way on this or any other website. In addition to this, now that I have my apology, will cease any motion for this issue to be featured in any type of media publication. Also, as long as I am no longer being harassed I will make no further complaints to any law enforcement agency regarding this issue. Finally, for effective clarity, I repeat, that I have accepted Mr. Martoe's apology he has given me and agree to cease communication and part ways neutrally too encourage no further loss of time or prosperity. I wish Mr. Martoe and SRI the best of luck in their future ventures. I will be giving this statement and only this statement to anyone who has already or will be contacting me in regards to this issue.

1. I was never an employee of student relations. There was no other box to check but ex employee was the closes pick. Student Relations also apparently does not have employees anyways they instead have "independent contractors", which from my opinion allows for making it easier to distance themselves after they scam. I was not an independent contractor I decided to politely turn down the position offered by the company after deciding that no legitimate company would hire someone they had not spent more than 10 minutes on the phone with let alone an actual interview. 2. I was entirely ready to forget about the whole terrible experience with Louis and Mike until Mike Martoe refused to give me an apology in January for the way I was treated by Louis after turning down the position. Mike told me to get on with my life, which I did, until hearing that there was more people that were similarly effected by SRI and decided that I am LEGALLY able to call as much attention to this unprofessionalism and the following harassment I have received from Louis and Mike. 3. I am entirely serious about exposing SRI. Despite Mike Martoe's doubts, I have in fact drafted a press release regarding their childish unprofessionalism and am using the contacts I have made in the media to try to get some exposure. MSNBC has not been in touch with me recently, so I am moving to CNN. I would prefer national exposure, however will definitely resort to the always willing local (Florida) news. 4. I have received NUMEROUS THREATS TO MY LIFE, CAREER, AND PHYSICAL WELL BEING from Mike Martoe and Louis Victor. I have saved all of the voice mails on my computer from January and have had Verizon send me my phone records for the last 7 months. The latest was at 4:35 pm eastern time today (July 29, 2008), when Mike called me to tell me that he had my address from my resume when Louis was recruiting me and that he knew where I lived, and proceeded to threaten me with a variety of childlike insults you would likely hear out of a drunk sailor or homeless man's mouth. He mentioned that if I write another post on this website that he will be paying me a visit to do various things to my anus including but not limited to having intercourse with his fist when he comes and visits me in Portland. Again, the kind of low mentality insults that would only give the lowest life form satisfaction. I informed him that I was not scared of him and that I could save him a few extra hours off his flight because I'm currently living in East Rutherford, New Jersey and working in Manhattan and he wouldn't need to spend the money flying all the way up to Maine. I immediately regretted telling him this, because it seemed only to infuriate him even more, which only made me want to secretly have him come see me and get to see him face to face which would allow me to feed him a nice tasty knuckle sandwich. However, once he swore and harassed me for a few more minutes I decided that I will remain professional and will be contacting the authorities in Portland, Maine; East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Delray Beach, FL. I will be contacting authorities in Portland so they can warn the current tennants of my former residence, and the authorities in NJ and FL for obvious reasons. 5. All of this can end with an apology from Mike Martoe or Louis Victor. I would of course prefer a formal apology however, after my recent and previous conversations with Mike, I feel that no one at SRI is intelligent enough to do anything formally, so I will accept a simple "I'm sorry." If a 4 year old can do it, an adult male can as well. Once I receive my apology I will cease posting and cease anything in motion for exposure with the media.

This person contacted our company yesterday and I answered the phone. Based on the recording I have of this conversation, he said, "So, what did they do, demote you? Your a loser and your life sucks!" Then he hung up. Using caller I.D., I was able to contact him and I first tried to ask who he was and he would not reveal his identity. I asked why he would call me and say something like that. He went on to say that he turned down a position early in the year. He also eluded to me that he contacted me for an apology in January after being contacted by one of our company's consultants. Apparently, this gentleman did not appreciate the call - or the offer for an opportunity with us. He was extremely rude to me and said that I told him to "move on" with his life. I kindly explained to him that, a.) I simply did not recall the conversation (it was 7 months ago), b.) I would never speak to someone like that, and c.) after investigating the allegations he made yesterday, I got the same result - no one recalled speaking to this person. He then began to make some rather serious threats - like, "I have a vendetta against your company and I will use all of my resources to take it down." "You will be appearing on TV as a negative role model of a company who works with independent contractors." I was aghast! We have close to 150 Independent Contractors/Distributors with us across the country. Some with us for 1 -5 -10 -15 and even 20 to 30 years! I could post letters from most all of these people, as well as thousands and thousands of testimonials from customers and schools throughout the country. He even admitted to, "get on a plane and fly down there and do some damage." - again, the whole conversation was recorded. As a result of this blog, we have invested in a very expensive system that records all incoming and outbound calls. This person lied and threatened and was thoroughly rude to me when all I wanted to know was his name. I gave him mine. Not to mention - he never even worked for the company! He never even admitted to viewing our stellar reputation with the South Florida BBB. I have that recorded, too. As for his TV threats, the networking he has claimed to have made through this site and other lies and stories - I have only one question, what about your fabulous new job? You seem really proud to have it. And good for you. I would never wish harm onto anyone's person or family. I believe in Karma. Ask yourself this question, Mr AndrewG from Maine, how would your new employers, family and your self-promoted TV show producers like to hear the full dialog of the conversation we had yesterday and the way you treated me. This is nonsense! Be mindful of whose livelihood you choose to threaten. Ask your Dad and speak to your lawyers as we have about the conversation we had yesterday. Remind them that it is legal to record conversations in Florida, so long as one party on the line agrees to it. In this case it was us. We found you're original application data and contact information in our archives. I am choosing not to make your information public. I am also choosing not to pursue legal action for your harassment against me, personally and my company. I recommend you cease all further contact with this company in any way. Sincerely, Michael J. Martoe, Director Student Relations, Inc.

spent a good half hour on the phone with mike martoe who refuses to admit that louis victor is an "ambassador of his company" even though he is making the contact and directly communicating with potential employees. mike says that louis is a freelance consultant assisting his hr department. i politely ended the phone call when mike began slurring his words like a drunk and talking in circles asking why i have a problem with him. mike answered the main company line and i asked him why as the owner he was answering the phone and he said that he liked to be very involved in the company doing things such as answering the phone and keeping close tabs on things YET when i asked him why he had no idea why louis victor was treating people this unprofessionally he said that he had no information about that and that louis didn't work for him he was a consultant and that he didn't have any idea what louis did other than he assisted the hr department because he's just a consultant and not an employee and blah blah blah...he needs to learn how to hold his liquor while at work

spent a good half hour on the phone with mike martoe who refuses to admit that louis victor is an "ambassador of his company" even though he is making the contact and directly communicating with potential employees. mike says that louis is a freelance consultant assisting his hr department. i politely ended the phone call when mike began slurring his words like a drunk and talking in circles asking why i have a problem with him. mike answered the main company line and i asked him why as the owner he was answering the phone and he said that he liked to be very involved in the company doing things such as answering the phone and keeping close tabs on things YET when i asked him why he had no idea why louis victor was treating people this unprofessionally he said that he had no information about that and that louis didn't work for him he was a consultant and that he didn't have any idea what louis did other than he assisted the hr department because he's just a consultant and not an employee and blah blah blah...he needs to learn how to hold his liquor while at work

spent a good half hour on the phone with mike martoe who refuses to admit that louis victor is an "ambassador of his company" even though he is making the contact and directly communicating with potential employees. mike says that louis is a freelance consultant assisting his hr department. i politely ended the phone call when mike began slurring his words like a drunk and talking in circles asking why i have a problem with him. mike answered the main company line and i asked him why as the owner he was answering the phone and he said that he liked to be very involved in the company doing things such as answering the phone and keeping close tabs on things YET when i asked him why he had no idea why louis victor was treating people this unprofessionally he said that he had no information about that and that louis didn't work for him he was a consultant and that he didn't have any idea what louis did other than he assisted the hr department because he's just a consultant and not an employee and blah blah blah...he needs to learn how to hold his liquor while at work

I was approached by Louis Victor after responding to a job posting on craig'slist. Even as a recent college graduate, with limited experience in the job search market, I was incredibly weary of the offer after spending literally just a few minutes on the phone with Louis. (Obviously, they are DESPERATE for employees.) I told him I would have to think it over during the holiday as it was a few days before Christmas 2007 and would get back to him the first business day following the holiday. Louis called me TWICE on the afternoon of CHRISTMAS EVE, once to apparently tell my parents merry christmas, and the second time to inquire about me taking the position. I informed him that I had not made a decision and reminded him (like an adult has to remind a child) that I would be in touch with him immediately following the holiday. Louis was extremely frustrated by this, (hopefully he doesn't get all his commission from recruiting and would have enough money to buy Christmas presents with or without my acceptance of the job offer), but agreed to wait until the holiday was over. As promised, I contacted Louis immediately after the holiday to inform him that I had decided to take a position with another company that was interested in me, and even despite his unprofessionalism that I appreciated his interest, and thanked him for his time. This made him FURIOUS and he spent the next two minutes swearing and telling me that I would never amount to anything but a burger flipper and that the world needs cabdrivers too. I immediately hung up on Louis after these childlike antics and immediately received 7 missed calls and 2 voice mails containing similar insults. (I was impressed that at 23 years of age and fresh out of college I had more professionalism and common sense in my index finger than this man had in his whole body.) I filed a complaint immediately with the BBB of Florida and tried numerous times to get in contact with a 'Mike Martoe' who is supposed to be in charge. Mike was no help and proceeded to tell me that I should just get on with my life. Which I did. Until... 6 months later I was cleaning out my car so I could trade it in for the new car I was buying myself as a celebration of the raise and promotion I had just gotten at my marketing/pr company I found a note I had written with Louis's contact information after I had responded to the ad. I was curious so I googled this... "LOUIS VICTOR FLORIDA"... and what do you know? SEVERAL HITS ON RIP OFF REPORT ABOUT LOUIS VICTOR'S HARASSMENT AND UNPROFESSIONALISM followed by pretty lousy defense and dismissal notes by an anonymous employee of student relations. Here is what I propose. Anyone who has had similar run in with Louis or any other rude member of Student Relations feel free to contact me at [email protected]. I have already drafted a press release for the media, and have been in contact through a friend of my bosses who works at MSNBC who is trying to put me in touch with some people who can bring light on these unprofessional men calling themselves a company. There is a story being put together on companies using independent contractors instead of employees and they are interested in using SR as an example of negative uses.

Of course they remeber me, they keep calling me, "Where's my folders" This is ridiculous. The reason I keep posting is to warn people to not deal with a compnay who cannot give straight answers to anything, always the runaround. I had to file endless reports just to get paid part of what SRI owed me. If the phone calls from merchants wondering where there adv. is never happened , these posts would never happen. From the crank calls to the " your mother" BS from Lewis Victor on the phone I don't think any honest person should have to deal with this anymore. BEWARE

After filing this report and reports to state governments in Florida and New Jersey, Louis Victor came through and paid me the commission I was due. For the most part, he was professional and called every day until the matter was concluded. We have terminated our relationship and I was paid the money that was due to me. I have no further beef with Student Relations Inc, and I wish them the best of luck in the future.

The above post by Brian is false. All the projects he worked on were printed and shipped last year. We have since contacted our local clients and most do not even remember who he is. They do, however, remember receiving the product and distributing them. I highly doubt anyone has called him regarding the non-receipt of their product. To Brian (whom we know will see this): When will this stop? All of this is nonsense and lies. You know this to be true. You worked with us, made decent money and were paid every dime due you according to your IDA. This reads like a tabloid. No one here has ever done anything to harm you, your name or reputation. I suggest you just stop with these stories and move on. Student Relations, Inc.

I personally do not any of the other people complaing about Student Relations (formally Students of America). It is amazing that more people can actually have the same problems with the same company while that company denies everything. The reason I am still posting is I am still getting calls from merchants who are also victims of this SCAM. Of course they have to post that I have their e-mail database. What database. I wasn't an employee remember I know of nobody except Mike Martoe and Lewis Victor. BEWARE of this company.

Student Relations, Inc. is a publishing company. Our main facility is located in South Florida. We do not have employees (none), only Independent Contractors/Distributors. We publish for over 8,000 schools and institutions Nationally. Over the past year, we looked into other venues for recruitment due to the rising cost of newspaper print. That lead us to Craigslist.com, etc. We are an old fashioned, family type company and have come to learn a great deal about some of the people we attempt to recruit via internet. First of all, this website - and others like it - read like a tabloid newspaper. Do you, the reader, believe everything you'd read in a tabloid newspaper? Of course not. Most of the folks who work with us out in the field (over 130 in over 41 states) are good, honest, hard working people with a dedicated work ethic. They make a good living and are happy. They are also aware of our policies and procedures and follow them. What is sad about websites like this is that I have to wast my time responding. Most business people don't have the time for this nonsense. Furthermore, it has come to my attention that some of these folks are actually friends who post lies at the direction of others having never worked with our company. It's a sad state of affairs for a company that has been doing this as long as we have. Even more alarming is the fact that a person who once worked with our company in Hillsborough, NJ got a hold of all of our email addresses including those in the field when we sent out our company newsletter. That person used that information to spread the lies posted here - and on other sites. Since these sites do not offer any professional way for a company to vindicate itself, let us warn you not to believe everything you read. The internet is dangerous and easy for people to hide behind false allegations. I mean, some of the things I've read about Student Relations, Inc. are such outrageous lies and the comments are so vicious, it makes me more sad than mad. Lastly, anyone who reads these lies and ridiculous comments about Student Relations, Inc. and believes them are not the type of people we want to work with. Please seek work elsewhere. Others who can get past these tabloid comments (is it coincidence that all of these comments sound alike?), please call us and ask us about it. We are aware of what the few people (5) are saying about us. We will be happy to address it in an honest and forthright manner. Look us up on the South Florida BBB. Call us. Call 800-424-8900, ext. 204. Thank you. Student Relations, Inc.

Thank you for the warning. For those of you who have been around in the advertising sales world for a while, you know that your reputation is everything! I was just offered a job by these guys and told them I wanted to think about it. I did the homework on them & ran into this website. So very glad I did. If I had sold ads & taken money from people & they never put a product out...then it's my name & reputation on the line. BUYER & SALESPEOPLE BEWARE!!! FYI...since they advertise for reps on craigslist, another site that you could report them to would be craigscrimelist.org.

I hope that all of our reports can steer future victims away from these SCAM artists.