Beware of this so called "Import-Export" company! Atkins International, LTD is a sole proprietorship whose website exploits and public profile are far overstated, obfuscated, and outright untrue. A public records check will show that Atkins International, LTD and its proprietor have been on the run since fleeing lawsuits and IRS action from New York to Los Angeles to Dallas, and now to New Orleans.
I agreed to work with Atkins International in July via contract. It became apparent that this company was a sham when the "CEO" failed to reimburse me for simple expenses (less than $500) within 30 days. As fees and expenses grew (to upwards of $4,000), the CEO's lies and obfuscation also increased. For example: "I'll pay you at the end of the month"; "My 'accounting firm' handles all the expenses, I just set up a 'payable'".; "Call Karen from Advantage Accounting"; and "those expenses seem a little high".
In August I got fed up and contacted previous associates and employees, all of whom had worked for Atkins International and its shady CEO. One previous employee quit his job in Dallas to work for Atkins and was never paid; one small check for expenses had bounced. Another associate of the Atkins CEO, from Los Angeles, worked months on some of Atkins International's "pie in the sky" projects and was stiffed, like everyone else.
The Atkins CEO stated (verbally and in email signatures), on numerous occasions, that he was a former Army Captain and Combat Veteran in the VietNam War. As a 19 year veteran of the Marine Corps and having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, I decided to use the FOIA to check the veracity of the Atkins International CEO's statements. While the CEO did indeed serve in VietNam, he was a clerk typist in a supply company—in the rear with the gear, which sheds doubt on whether or not he actually saw combat. Moreover, he never made it out of OCS, and left the Army as a Specialist 5. I don't want to diminish the service of this individual, but given his track record of lies and deceit, he has embellished his resume.in addition, his public profile on LinkedIn states that he is a member of the Army-Navy Club in DC—hopefully he has not stretched the truth to obtain membership there. Potentially, these exaggerations could lead to liability under the Stolen Valor Act.
In addition, the Atkins CEO, on his LinkedIn profile states he is a board member of the New Orleans Transportation Club. Another lie.
The Atkins International website, on a close read, should be all the proof necessary that this company is a sham. There is no concrete client base, the pages are filled with grammatical errors, and much of the information is dated from 2002 before the CEO went on the run.
His "seminars"—the latest being in Lima during November—have consistently failed to materialize.
Beware of this devious company. The MO is to lure young, veteran males/airline pilots with promises of lucrative salaries/fees. Like the clients, this company will stiff you on the services you provide. Atkins International has no credit worthiness, and it has a trail of BBB complaints. The number provided on the website is a cell phone, and the CEO will screen all calls (because most of his incoming are from angry creditors). The CEO was confronted, in person, in the lobby of a club in New York last August by a gentleman to whom money was owed.
Run like hell from this company.
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