Don't let the name fool you! "
Wireless for Hope" is NOT a charitable foundation. They couldn't seem to care less as thousands of consumer applications are held until
Telecom Service Bureau, (Ocala, FL) AKA "
Wireless for Hope" heads to court or pays up on $40,000 debt. The slow crawling legal battle is nearing a year and no progress has been made. "
Wireless for Hope"
refuses to pay forcing local contractor to withold applications.
A small, woman owned and operated business located in Orlando, FL is in dispute with
Telecom Service Bureau AKA "
Wireless for Hope" and needs the community's help.
There are some days when I truly fear for my safety. On other days, I'm just fuming mad because I know I got scammed by "Wireless for Hope". My home is under foreclosure, my bank account is drained and legal battles ahead.
Telecom Service Bureau operates programs called "
Wireless for Hope" and "
Affordable Home Telephone Service" (along with several others nationwide) with funds provided by
USAC. Long story short, they position themselves to seem like a 'charitable organization' but are not! They get paid $10 a month by USAC ($120 a year) for their service for each phone they distribute to a qualified needy person.
We were hired to market and distribute re-furbished phones on
Telecom Service Bureau's behalf. We were offered a ONE-TIME payment of $3 per phone with 10,000 phones to be distributed in each market; New Orleans and Baton Rogue for a total of 20,000 phones, which we accepted. Keep in mind
Telecom Service Bureau would be getting $120 per phone and with 20,000 phones distributed they would rake in $2,400,000 while paying us out $60,000 for services. Even at a measly $3 per phone Telecom Service Bureau owes us $40,000. I have discussed settling this matter for $20,000 DIRECTLY with owner of Telecom Service Bureau and their attorney but, after several promises of payments we have yet to see a penny.
Since
Telecom Service Bureau is a local business
I need your help. This debt has caused me many sleepless nights. I paid my contractors/workers despite Telecom's failure to pay me.
I HONORED MY OBLIGATIONS TO MY STAFF. This debt has caused me to lose my whole life savings. I would appreciate any government agency or legal help.
I FEEL COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF BY TELECOM SERVICE BUREAU! Right now, USAC and the FCC Inspector General are investigating. With the exception of noting their attorney, at this point, I am refraining from calling out individuals by name in order to protect their privacy. This is NOT a personal attack. It is a true effort for me to get paid what is rightfully owed. At the very least, I want to recover the $20,000 I paid out to do the work I was contracted to do by Telecom Service Bureau.
Telecom Service Bureau, "
Wireless for Hope",
Affordable Wireless and
Easy Phone Service are represented by:
BLANCHARD, MERRIAM, ADEL & KIRKLAND, P.A.
4 Southeast Broadway Street
Ocala, Florida 34471
(352) 732-7218
Telecom Service Bureau along with their attorney are even denying a contract exists between us and their client. REALLY?! We received two payments issued by their client of $20,000 each of the total $60,000 owed accordingly to our payment timetable. NOW, THERE IS A $40,000 BALANCE. Based on what I observed and later learned their operation is questionable all together. There are a lot more details I will not discuss unless compelled to do so in court. I just want the money that is owed to me and forget this whole experience. I am confident the government will catch up to them eventually with or without my assistance.
At this point, I feel like Telecom Service Bureau (Wireless for Hope) stole my money and
Blanchard, Merriam, Adel and Kirkland, P.A. supplied the get-a-away car.
Get them out your state! Telecom Service Bureau operates under different alias in the following states:
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Nevada
- Oklahoma
- West Virginia
- Puerto Rico
- Florida
Get your service from reputable nationwide vendors offering the same type of USAC funded phones. Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and Virgin Mobile all offer quality programs for needy families.