I almost fell for this company's pitch, but fortunately did a web search Sunday night and found the story at (link deleted - see below). The story sounded just like what I was in the middle of going through - sales rep walks in with polished, forceful presentation, calls in an analyst on the spot who is diverted (in my case "available" only because the hurricanes in the South had given him down time), and "super-friend" arrives - not for an hour, but for two days, and tells me that I am headed for all kinds of egregious trouble with the business, taxes, finances, and they can help. He did prepare a report, but would not let me read it or keep a copy. He convinced me to enter into contracts and said ONE consultant would be in on Monday AM, and left with a check.
Over the weekend, I thought about it and more and more I began to think he hadn't said anything I hadn't thought about, or that my accountant hadn't said that we pursue, or that my employees hadn't made in the suggestion box. We just hadn't implemented those common-sense ideas yet. So I started searching.
Fortunately, I found this site and (link deleted - see below) and was ready. Sure enough, instead of one consultant, a caravan of cars pulled into me parking lot and three very sleazy looking people walked into the shop. When I asked for identification, I was given business cards, and when I demanded driver's license so that we could do a quick background check, they refused. I demanded that they present a corporate credit card, or verification of however they covered their expense account, because I was not satisfied since the previous consultant had taken away my report, and I intended to charge their corporate expense account until they produced the report.
Well, only one person would show me a driver's license - the others declined - and he would not present it to me so that we could verify and copy all the relevant information to confirm his identity.
With no verifiable identification, no credentials, and no report as promised, I dismissed them out of hand and told them that if there were any questions concerning my willingness to retain their services, any billing, any invoices outstanding, that they should all be processed through the Maryland Attorney Generals Public Fraud and Corruption office, and we could proceed from there.
They left without comment. I hope to escape without much more harrassment, but do intend to document this incident and any future contact with this company with the AG Fraud office.
I would like to thank (link deleted - see below) and this site for alerting me to the potential disaster posed by this company.
I hope this helps, but I am afraid that with the high-speed low-drag process this outfit employs that many people will be reading this after the fact.
Jim
Baltimore, Maryland
U.S.A.
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