My name is Andre and I am the President of Megatronics, a Chicago IL based sign company specializing in the sale, installation, and service of outdoor Electronic LED message centers (L.E.D. Signs) for commercial advertising applications. We are not a retail sales company. We only do business-to business sales, installation, and service of LED Signs, also called L.E.D. (Light Emmiting Diode) Signs, or Electronic Message Centers, LED Displays, Moving Message Signs, Scrolling Signs.
Twelve months ago, when searching for LED Sign manufacturers in the United States, we happened apon Proton LED Displays located in Lyons Georgia.
After many telephone conversations with the president of Proton LED Displays Mr. Paul Catignani, we were impressed with what Proton LED Displays had to say about their product and decided to give them our business.
We had secured contracts with our clients, two of whom were State Municipalities, in the amount of $140,000 and placed our orders with Proton LED Displays. Having collected deposits from our clients, and signing contracts between Megatronics and our cients, we forwarded deposits to Proton LED Displays in excess of $35,000. Proton LED Displays insisted that we wire funds directly to their business account in Lyons Georgia, and we complied. I then personally visited the Proton LED Displays factory in Lyons Georgia, and was impressed by the quality of the LED Displays wich were showed to me.
Shortly after leaving Proton LED Displays, the nightmare began.
Initially, Megatronics (my company) was promised delivery of the LED Displays we ordered in 6-10 weeks. This was promised to Megatronics in writing by the president of Proton LED Displays, Mr. Paul Catignani and his business partner, Mr. Mark Brazell. Megatronics' contracts for dilevery and installation of the LED Displays with our clients reflected the delivery dates promised by Proton LED Dislays.
The delivery dates had come and gone, and we still didnt have our LED Displays. We sent out e-mails, made telephone calls, sent letters via-registered mail, all to no avail. E-mails were seldom returned, phone calls were ignored, and registered letters were returned back to Megatronics " Un-Deliverable-Recipient Refused" by the United States Postal Service.
The few times that we were able to actually get a hold of Proton Led Displays, we were given outrageous exuses and empty promises.
At this point we were getting very nervous because now, Megatronics was in breach of contract between us and our clients. Two of our clients were the City of Country Club Hills, IL and The Chicago Board Of Education. We were dealing with "public funds". These were deposits we received from these municial entities. I finally instructed my VP of Sales to fly to georgia and find out what exactly was going on. The VP of Megatronics flew to georgia and went straight to the city of Lyons Georgia City Hall. There he met with the Mayor of Lyons Georgia, who agreed to accompany him personally to Proton LED Displays and investigate our claims that we are being lied to and feel as having been defrauded.
Also accompanying us was the City Of Lyons Georgia City Commisioner.
While at Proton LED Displays, The VP of Megatronics along with the Mayor, and the City Comissioner proceeded to talk with Paul Catignani, President of Proton LED Displays. He gave ivaisive answers, and thats when the VP (Vice-President) of megatronics demanded that Paul Catignani (President of Proton LED Dislays) sign a promisory letter to all of Megatronics' clients. The mayor of the City Of Lyons Georgia also signed these letters as a witness, and so did the VP of Megatronics.
Promised delivery dates came and we still had no delivery.
Finally, six months later, we finally received delivery of two of the LED displays ordered by one of our clients, a real estate company in Chicago. This delivery was seven months late.
We installed the LED displays, and were shocked to find that they did not perform as promised, and were constantly in dis-repair. This was totally opposite of everything we were told by Proton about the LED Displays manufactured by Proton LED Displays. Our client, the real estate company was very upset, and so were we. We even took steps to hire a profesional Graphics Design Company in order to please our client, but this was to no avail. The LED Displays showed very poor resolution, and the Messaging software was full of bugs.in the mean-time communicating with the LED Dislays also proved to be nothing but a nightmare. The LED displays had to be constantly re-booted, wich envolved shutting down power to the LED Displays, and powering them back up. Contacting Proton LED Displays for technical support was next to impossible. The few times we got through, Proton LED Displays was not able to solve anything.
To this day, we have two dis-functional LED Displays manufactured by Proton LED Displays, six LED displays ordered 12 months ago which we still havent received, and no communication from Proton LED Displays whatsoever.
I have exluded many details, but have sumarized the major issues.
We honestly know that we have been defrauded by Proton LED Displays.
They have mis-represented their product, breached every contract, lied to Megatronics and the Mayor of Lyons Georgia, and have continuously ignored our phone calls, e-mails, and registered letters.
We have contacted the F.B.I.in Atlanta Georgia, and they are currently conducting a criminal investigation.
WE are also seeking legal cousel in this matter.
I implore any business person, or Company to be very aware of Proton LED Displays and their Fraudulent and deceptive practices, before you send your customer's money to Proton Led Displays.
If any of you have had a similar experience, post your own report.
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