I was in pretty serious business trouble. We were incorrectly assessed several; million dollars in taxes that we did not owe., we filed the paperwork for an abatement but before the hearing date the department of revenue seized over 300,000 in cash. We were unable to stay in business unless our bank worked with us until we either got the money back from the DOr or secured new debt. Our bank suggested we hire a business consultant that specialized in restructuring troubled business and gave us three names of area firms.
I met with an employee of Hollis Meddings group in Boston and subsequently gave them a $25,000 retainer. Now it is important to note that time is of the essence here. We need to get to work right away and they agreed to negotiate with the bank for me. I spoke to their representative a few times in the first week then they disappeared.
I have to point out that my check was never cashed which was troubling to me but not as troubling as was the fact that the other two companies were not available and I was up against a deadline. I received a call from the banker who referred me to them, he was calling at the urging of the consultant from Hollis Meddings Group, they guy was apparently let go when he questioned why he was being underpaid, and received a letter the next day from a lawyer telling him not to contact any clients.
I called the owner of Hollis Meddings Group leaving an emergency message and received no call back from that call or any f the 15 I placed over the next two days. I even drove to their office and was told that neither Mr. Meddings nor Mr. Hollis were there so I told then I would wait and I did for an hour which is when I left to use the mens room. While in the mens room I was joined by another guy. A guy who received a phone call while standing at the urinal. When he answered it by saying "tom Hollis speaking". I was pissed, I went back to the front and was standing in Mr. Hollis was when he came back. When I said 'excuse me Mr. Hollis" he said sorry wrong guy" I told him I knew who he was and that I thought that he and his partner were disreputable cowards.
I forgot to mention tat I called mar Meddings about 20 times, and am positive that he answered the phone once when I called but denied that he was himself.
I heeded back to my office and called my banker on the way to tell him where I stood. About ten minutes later I got a call from the employee who Hollis Meddings group had fired. HE agreed to meet me at my office that day. I found out my banker called him and told him what was going on and he felt badly. He spent almost the next 24 hours straight at our office putting together spread sheets and such which we need to get to the bank and to the Department of revenue as part of our appeal. He also convinced the bank to extend us the credit we needed and helped to keep us afloat.
He also appeared at the department of revenue hearing for no reason except he thought he should be there. When I discussed fees with him he told me that he did the work because he felt that he should and wound take any payment. When I found out how much he was owed by the firm I was shocked and upset that my bank even referred me to them. These guys are disreputable and should be avoided
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