I was Mead Floats representative for Australia and New Zealand several years ago, and during my one year history I sold (on paper anyway) 2 sets of his so called composite floats. One customer even though he paid in full never received the product that Mead claimed were being shipped. Eventually I actually contacted the shipping company involved and explained they never heard of Mead Floats or Phil Mead! At the same time my set were being made, he also gave excuses after excuses till after 6 months delay I had no choice but buy from another manufacture after Meads sales contract expired and he even admitted himself (have written prove) and only offered to refund my deposit of 10k after I threaten to seek legal action. After threatening to expose Phil Mead he did hand over $2500 in Jan. Even though he promised more, it never eventuated.
Since then I have had the CA and FL Police Departments and several Attorney's and Debt Collecting Agencies involved plus a Private Investigative Group who un-covered a fair bit on Phil Mead which I shall only give a slice on today.
The letter below pretty much explains Phil Mead's latest fiasco, again he promised and agreed to deliver and once again has given excuses claiming buisness is poor, his father was dying etc etc. I suspect he only agreed so I wouldn't expose him before the Sebring Airshow last month and the upcoming Sun-N-Fun Airshow in a few weeks time. I guess he wanted to con more customers like he did myself and my customer, between us Phil Mead misappropriated over $30,000!
Philip Mead
7232 Honeysuckle Drive
Sebring Fl. 33876
E-Mail: [email protected] 01-11
Phil,
I have given much thought to the issues regarding the remaining $ 7,500.00 you still owe to me, especially with your 12-26 letter regarding plans to make another payment toward the money owed to me.
I have tried to resolve this mater in discussions with youI have utilized several Collection Agencies to contact you and resolve this matter. You have repeatedly stated that you would pay the remaining $7,500.00 in various payment amounts since Jan but there always seems to be an excuse for delays in this matter.
The Investigation Group found a Nov Sebring Newspaper article (one of several), which is listed at the bottom of this letter, which indicates they have expanded your business dealings.
On 11-12, you sent me an e-mail, again admitting the Debt, also indicating you want to pay off this debt. Then you suggest an ARBITRATION COURT, apparently thinking that may be able to solve this matter.
Phil, since your last E-mail, I have consulted with a xxxxxx Investigative Group and a Civil Attorney there, who I was referred to. The facts in this matter were fully explained and discussed in detail. Several areas of interest were discussed and are listed for you to review. The Attorney stated that a Civil Suit can be filed thru the Circuit Court in Highlands County and that the case and issues have strong merit and could result in a successful Court Judgment against yourself and your business interests. The Attorney also was very forth coming in stating that your suggestion for an Arbitration Hearing is only used to attempt to resolve fault in a disputed Civil Issue.
It was pointed out this is not the issue in this matter. There is no dispute as to who owes the debt, the amount of the debt or the material facts of that debt. You have admitted such debt in numerous e-mails, etc.
In his words, this is a Mute Issue and would actually result in you and I spending good money for no real benefit. The Attorney also pointed out that an Arbitration Hearing is not as inexpensive as you have indicated. Such a Hearing itself can require expenditures from several hundred dollars to actually much larger amounts, depending on representation, payments to a Court Appointed Arbitrator & other fees. The Attorney suggests that you not waste additional funds on such a Hearing, but instead, you use such funds to helping in the reducing and elimination of this debt.
The Attorney was very much fair in his advice and stated rather than me expending additional Attorney & Legal fees, which would only result in additional fees added to any Court Judgment against youand that you should want to avoid such a Civil Judgment which not only hurts your Credit Rating, but also your future business ventures and potential future customers.
The Attorney re-interated that a Civil Judgment becomes a permanent Public Record that cannot be erased. He stated years from now, a person continues to feel the effects of such Civil Judgments whether personally or in lost customers. Also that such a judgment can be utilized in Personal Property or Business Liens on current or future assets.
I also updated the Attorney as to the RIP-OFF Site and my complaint regarding your overdue debt. The Attorney suggested I advise you that I will agree that once you pay off the $7,500.00 debt that I would agree to make an update to that Complaint Site, that I would point out that You and your company had satisfactorily settled that issue and that I have no issues or problems with your company.
Phil, it was only after obtaining this legal advice that I decided to take this last effort to resolve this matter once and for all. You can avoid legal feesyou can avoid a Civil Judgment against you and your businessand avoid future liens against current or future properties.
As you stated in your 12-26 e-mail, that you expect to pay a significant amount of this debt this month, I will then suggest a monthly payment plan that would result in any remaining balance being paid in a matter of months. If you are agreeable, then advise me via e-mail and I will then work out where you are to send the January payment and also any future payments. The sooner you can pay that balance, the quicker this entire issue can be resolved.
Please let me know your decision, and his response following day = I am totally agreeable to the terms outlined in your letter
NB. Phil Mead has not attempted to repay his debt as agreed in writing to this day
Newspaper article listed on next page
11-12highland todaynew article
REF MEAD FLOATS & PHIL MEAD
Saturday, November 12 Highlands Today News EDC honors Mead Floats, Positive Medical Transport Highlands Today photo by xxxxxxxxx
Phil Mead, left, co-owner of Mead Floats, inspects a seaplane float being worked on by workers Kris Patrick, center, and Curtis Boyce, right, at the company's plant near the Sebring Regional Airport on Thursday morning. Mead Floats started a year ago in one hangar and has now expanded into three hangars.
Ron Layne, owner of Positive Medical Transport, accepts the award for Small Business of the Year from Dr. Norm Stephens during the Business Development Day Breakfast on Thursday morning.
By Bill Rogers | Highlands
Today Published: May 7
SEBRING - Two Sebring businesses that have enjoyed rapid growth in a relatively short period of time were recognized by the Highlands County Economic Development Commission on Thursday during the
Business Development Day Breakfast. The EDC honored the Small Business of the Year and the Start-up Business of the Year during its annual event at the Quality Inn Conference Center in Sebring.
Mead Floats was named the Start-up Business of the Year. The company manufactures carbon fiber floats for Light Sport Aircraft.in February the company located to Sebring Regional Airport and began making the floats and 39-foot boats.
Bill Sturtz, the CFO/managing partner, said Mead started in one hangar with one employee. The company now has nine employees and uses three hangars. Phil Mead, the owner of the company, has been in the marine composites industry for 24 years and is a professional boat builder. Educated and raised in New Zealand. The company applied the technology to floats for airplanes. The floats are built using high grade aerospace tooling, epoxy resins, certified carbon fibers and both linear and ridged PVC cores.
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