Usacomplaints.com » Miscellaneous » Complaint / Review: Brighten Farms, A.k.a. Melonie Buchanan - Paid for animal that I never received. Would not refund money when asked. Did not send us animal. #335716

Complaint / Review
Brighten Farms, A.k.a. Melonie Buchanan
Paid for animal that I never received. Would not refund money when asked. Did not send us animal

Our pet squirrel died. We searched for a "legitimate" breeder and found Brighten Farms in Indiana and Melonie Buchanan on the internet.

Our children worked, sold and saved to earn the $500 for the squirrel, shipping and vet check required by WA state.

We began working on this and speaking with Melonie in March. April 18, she received our funds, deposit via Paypal and the remainder via a money order sent by USPS. Melonie was very communicative—UNTIL she received our money; then, she clammed up and getting her to respond was nearly impossible.

Our squirrel was to be shipped in April. After several attempts to contact Melonie, this is what we got: "the ones I pulled are too old. I'll have some ready in June. Melonie (babies)".

When I told Melonie that was a bad time for us, could we do something else or receive a refund she blew me off, saying, "June/July. I think it's best for you. They are very cute and sweet but I don't think they will bond. You'll hate me for not making you wait.:-)".

No, it wasn't best for us and we totally regret working with this woman.

April 30 and May 1, I inquired about a fox squirrel, to which she responded that she was "sold out until next year." Shortly after that, she put one up for sale on her website. When we phoned and asked her about it (and actually got through to her!) she said it was already sold and she meant to take that off her site. Why she didn't think of us in the first place, I'll never know, because I told her we'd be interested in one if that was our only choice.

Due to summer travel, etc., I emailed Melonie saying, "I don't know if we can tend a baby end June/beginning July.: ("
to which she responded, "it'll be ok. I will have them eating well and ready to go. These are just a little old. You can hold them etc. But they are weaned. Melnoie". This was on May 1. So, we waited and hoped and got the cage ready, ordered the formula, etc.

May 19, I received my "confirmation packet", which had wrong information on that, which she said she'd correct and make right.

She sent me pictures of our baby squirrel. The one we never received.

I didn't hear from her again.

June 14, I asked Melonie when she planned to pull the babies from the nest and get them on the bottle. They would be ready to send within a few days of July 4.

I didn't hear from her between June 14 and July 11.
I emailed her July 1,3, 4,5, 6,7, 11. She gave me some story about the flooding wiping out the phones, but come to find out, she had broken up with her boyfriend/partner and didn't have that land line or live there any longer. This is what the machine message said when we phoned the land line number.

She said on July 11, "they are almost ready". How could an animal breeder be that off? I used to breed show rabbits-the answer is, they can't be.

I emailed and phoned July 12,13, 14,16, 19,22, 23,24, 25 and 28 and August 3 (her voicemail box was "full", but I always paged).

July 21, Melonie sent this email: "are you the one whoes husband called me and asked about a fox squirrel? I have an extra fox squirrel if you'd like him. Melonie"
We said, yes, that would be acceptable, as long he was healthy and of a suitable age and that, at this point, we would not pay the additional fee for that squirrel. Melonie agreed to this.

I told Melonie via email on 8/3/08 that, if we did not receive our animal or a refund by 08/06/08, we would be forced to file a complaint against her.
I also contacted Brazil, Indiana's local paper. The reporter I'm working with has told me "I wanted to let you know that I have done some research. I found no record of a Brighton Farms or Melonie Buchanan in court documents in Clay County. The only information I was able to find was that she is in Rockville IN, ParkE County. Her number is (765) 569-3512 location 1962 N. 400E..." This is no longer the mailing address or business address of Melonie Buchanan or Brighten Farms.

August 4, I sent her this email:
"SO, MELONIE&
You've had our money since April. You are not responding to emails. Where is our refund since you have NOT made arrangements to send the squirrel as promised?"

This was her reply:
"real quick send me your address; I am at work and making flight arrangements. Continental will send you a confirmation email Mel"

Within 2 hours, I had her my information (for probably the 10th time). At this point, I didn't even know which animal she was sending me! I never received confirmation from Continental. No refund. No animal.

I have contacted an attny.in Terre Haute, IN. He referred me to the State Attny. General's Office where I have filed a complaint against Melonie Buchanan and Brighten Farms. The attny. Asked me to keep in touch with him on this and may help me out, since we're so far away. I have contacted a local paper and am working with them. I am having no success in either obtaining a refund (of my children's hard-earned money) or an animal. We are heartbroken and lost money out of our pocket. Melonie Buchanan has broken promises and strung us along for nearly 5 months now, 4 of that with our money in her hands. I would like to see this story have a happy ending, but at this point, I don't see that happening.

At the very least, Ms. Buchanan is a sloppy business person who does not respond well and isn't communicative. She answers questions poorly, if at all. At the other end of the spectrum, one might conclude from our experience that Melonie Buchanan/Brighten Farms is a flat-out fraud.

I will be thrilled to ammend this report if Melonie Buchanan honors her obligations. If she so much as suggests that this report is false or misrepresentative of the situation, I will make every single email and scrap of paper public for all to see, for I have kept every darned one!


Offender: Brighten Farms, A.k.a. Melonie Buchanan

Country: USA   State: Indiana   City: Brazil
Address: 5639 S 1000 E Brazil, IN 47834
Phone: 7655920339

Category: Miscellaneous

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