Alumni Research files for bankruptcy after Call Christina investigation

Florida Attorney General fights for consumer reimbursements despite bankruptcy filing

HOLIDAY, Fla. ā€“ Florida-based company Alumni Research has filed for bankruptcy following and Attorney General complaint and Call Christina investigation.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is working to freeze the assets of the company one Local 10 News viewer claimed had scammed her.

The viewer did get a refund for the alumni directory book she purchased from Alumni Research but never received, but thousands of other consumers across the country are still waiting.

READ: Local 10 News viewer gets refund from Alumni Research after Call Christina investigation

Since the Local 10 News story aired, the Attorney General's Office confirms the company and its owner have filed for bankruptcy.

The AG's Office filed a complaint against Alumni Research and owner Robert Laping.

The Call Christina team went to the company's Holiday, Florida office to speak with Laping after our investigation uncovered several schools and alumni associations across the country claimed Alumni Research never delivered purchased alumni directory books or issued refunds.

On camera, Laping promised to send Local 10 News a written statement but that never happened.

Last week the company and its owner filed for bankruptcy delaying this week's scheduled hearing in the AG's lawsuit against Alumni Research and Laping.

When Local 10 News investigator Christina Vazquez was at their business address last month the company appeared open for business. There were workers on site, despite the mounting complaints from thousands of people nationwide who are out tens of thousands of dollars.

The Attorney General is asking the court permission to proceed in this case despite the bankruptcy filing.

They are seeking a temporary injunction to prohibit Alumni Research from soliciting new customers and to freeze the company's assets so that consumers may obtain refunds for orders they placed for alumni directories that have not been filled.

A majority of the victims known to the Attorney General are senior citizens who each paid approximately $70 to preorder a directory for their high school or college.

"Many of these seniors just wanted to reconnect with their high school classmates and they put their trust and their money in the hands of the telemarketers soliciting them," Attorney General Pam Bondi said. "Unfortunately, in most cases, the directories were never printed, and these seniors lost their money, but we are asking the court to make the company do the right thing and reimburse these consumers."

Follow Christina Vazquez on Twitter @CallChristinaTV

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