I was contacted via telephone initially by Portland System's Steel Buildings Mike Schultz approximately August. He said that my company CRC Konstruction & Koncrete Inc was chosen as one of a few to be selected to be "Preferred Contractors" to sell their steel Buildings. He said that currently Portland does not ship to California but that they were opening up now to start shipping here.
Mike told me that he found my company through the internet "Yellowbook" pages. He said that they had gotten some very favorable comments regarding my company. He said that if I were interested & accepted by Portland then I would have to act quickly because there were only 10 companies in his list and they were only choosing a few. I was advised to send a profile of my company via Fed Ex/Priority Mail and RUSH RUSH it. They requested a blank piece of my company's letterhead, envelope, business cards broshures etc. I sent in the information as requested. I was re-contacted after this submission and was advised that my company had been "chosen" but that I needed to send in info of local newspapers from all communities where I live. I was told to submit more business cards and a check for $5850. And that I MUST send it fast OVERNIGHT. I asked what the $5,850. Was for and was told that it would cover my training, advertising and education of Portland. I sent in the required amount and was told that my company and Portland would be working together as a team. My acceptance letter consisted of a short note acknowledging the receipt of my $5850. Check which they now called "an investment". It was NEVER referred to as such during the sales pitch. If it was an investment doesn't that mean that I am now a small part of the Portland Systems Company? I thought that it might be a good thing (given the state of our economy) at the time and how business was very slow. Mike seemed sincere at the time. It appears Portland Systems Steel Buildings was just looking for a sucker. I even added them to my advertising and my internet web page and advertising materials. Beware because this Company wants to sell & ship their product to more WESTERN states and they will be CALLING. The Better Business Bureau will do NOTHING! All they do is take your money to JOIN the Better Business Bureau and give you a rating. The Better Business Bureau rated Portland Systems with an A. What a JOKE.
Portland Systems intended the entire time to rip me off and the Better Business Bureau finds NO FAULT in their actions. Its amazing how this Steel company used the phone, internet and postal system to scam me like a Ponzi Scam. Whatever they said on the phone no longer was true after they got my money. Mike disappeared after that and Doug was introduced by phone. I spoke to Doug on few occasions and then was introduced to Brock. Brock was working in the capacity of "Training me" and he would be my OFFICIAL Sales Rep thereafter.
After giving them my money, my training consisted of approximately 7 fifteen minute morning phone calls. Again nothing in writing but Portland Forms and phone calls. I was instructed by Brock Miera that I was not to ask any questions during the so called "TRAINING"... Just sit and listen by phone. I took notes but it was over the phone so not much was retained. I was advised that Portland would place ads in our local papers with my name & contact info for the steel buildings. The ads were placed in local, cheap want ad papers not the daily newspapers of my area that I provided him with.in a short time I located an individual interested in buying a steel building for his new business. I contacted Brock who sent me some Portland Systems forms via the internet. He told me that he was now going to train me on how to use the order forms. We went through the form box by box filling it out.
I told Brock on 3 occassions that we had not yet applied for permits required by San Bernardino County and I later provided him with a copy of the Inspector's report that indicated PLANNING APPROVAL REQUIRED. Brock nevertheless instructed me that the appropiate box to check was the "PRODUCTION" box when ordering a building. I now know that the proper box to check is the PERMIT HOLD box. He said we were checking "PRODUCTION" so that we could secure the price of the building. I did not know then that there would soon be a problem between myself & Portland by checking that box. I thought we were "working together". I was instructed to fax or email the forms back to Brock. The rest of the form was filled out pretty easily as it pertained to color, size, windows, doors etc.
The forms were sent in to Brock and before I knew it I was asked for a deposit. I got $5000. From the individual ordering the building Jerry Crain and I had to submit another $2700. Brock then ordered the building. He said we had to "lock in" the price. Again at that time our relationship was friendly and I was sure that is how it would stay. After that things changed and so did Portland's attitude and relationship with me. I did not tell him to order the building. I told him again and again and again that we had to get the permits. I was in training to do this ordering and was tricked/trapped in to ordering a building because I trusted Brock to be honest. He even encouraged delivering the building to the sight location like Portland had no negative issues with that delivery or more MONEY.
Even after ordering the building I thought that we were working together until I started receiving DEMAND letters. I believe This company preyed upon me and I also believe that I am not the only one that they've done this to. They lied about the initial amount to send and kept on changing what the new amount was needed for. They called me initially in a solicitaion call via telephone. They knew exactly what they were doing. They were just phishing for somebody to fool. I feel embarassed that I allowed this company to do this to me but I feel strongly that others should be alerted of this company.
After trying to straighten this all out with Brock he became abrupt and uncaring and before I knew it, Brock was no longer the guy to talk to me. Now the only contact is with the owner of Portland Systems Don Canale & Doug Sedivec. They don't talk by phone. They don't TALK at all. All Don does is email or sends me demand letters through the US Postal Service. I have tried to fix this mistake but they are unwilling to work with me even after I told them my customer still wants the building but we had to get the planning department's approval first. I even put Portland in direct contact with the Planning Department but to no avail. Now I am receiving "DEMAND" letters from Don who is asking for even MORE money. They told me that I could store the building until the Planning Department approved the plans (approximately 90 days) for another $9,000. Well I am a single Father and I have NO MORE MONEY.
Please assist me as I have no dollars for an attorney to fight this. This company scammed me & my company just like the Ponzi Scams. I do not trust them any more and therefore cannot see myself working with a company that has no decent business practices. I don't even know if they registered with the State of California Department of Corporations to Solicit here. All I know is that everything that was supposed to happen, didn't. I have tried to remedy this through the Better Business Bureau but still Don will not relent. They sure aren't the people they pretended to be when they originally called me on the phone. All he keeps saying is that he has a contract to order the building but as I stated it was Brock who told me to check Production as he taught me how to fill out the forms and it was Brock also who prompted me to send in additional forms like color change etc.
I do not have any more money to give him. They have $13,550. Of my and my client's money. The only thing they put in writing is when I sold the first building. They offered me nothing in writing about our 2 companies working together other than the receipt of my $5850. Now called an investment (by Portland) letter. I paid them by checks. Portland says that they are not responsible for any statements made by any of their employees oral or otherwise. If a contract is arrived at through deceit then how can that be valid? In addition there is a Force Majeur clause in the fine print of the contract. It states that if I am prevented by a government agency from carrying out the contract by the date stipulated, that I cannot be held accountable to that date. The County Planning Department says that I cannot continue without planning approval. Please BEWARE!!! They will take your money & RIP YOU OFF!!!
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