WILTON MANORS, Fla. – Jean Bennett of Wilton Manors thoroughly enjoys alumni directory books. "It tells you anyone who has been in your high school, college, and what they are doing now," she said. "I love to keep in touch with my classmates."
This is why when she received an offer for an updated Madison High School alumni directory by Florida-based Alumni Research Inc., she gladly paid $70.91. The book was expected to be shipped by December 2013.
The book never came and her calls for a refund were ignored so Bennett reached out to the Call Christina team.
"Because you always get things done," said Bennett.
Now $70 may not seem like a lot of money, until you consider that Bennett's complaint was shared by thousands of people all across the country.
Local 10 News uncovered schools and alumni associations from Louisiana to Iowa posting warning messages about their partnership with Alumni Research, Inc. on their websites. The Better Business Bureau issued an alert about the "F" rated company.
According to Joni Blum, Pennsylvania's Lower Merion/Harriton Alumni Association President, "In 2008 they did a terrific job for us. Five years later and unfortunately they were unscrupulous, and they did not ever produce the book they were supposed to produce. Just beyond ourselves that they took us for all our money. They would not return our phone calls. I just can't believe he runs a business like that. I call it a scam – I totally call it a scam."
Local 10 News started digging through documents and learned that more than 300 people have complained to the Florida Attorney General's Office, prompting them to take action.
The AG's Office is now fighting for consumers by filing a complaint against Alumni Research Inc. and the man state records identify as its CEO, Robert Laping.
READ: Full complaint
"Over the past three years, defendants have turned their once apparently legitimate, successful business with happy customers into a scheme replete with a widespread pattern of false promises and outright deceit resulting in thousands of angry customers who just want to receive their prepaid alumni directory books or the return of their money," states the complaint. "The aggregate loss suffered by thousands of consumers successfully solicited by Defendants to purchase directory books that will never be published for at least 43 different schools is massive."
"I don't want any more apologies or excuses," said Bennett. "I just want my money back."
The Call Christina team hit the road, driving to the company's Holiday, Florida location which is about an hour north of Tampa. What Local 10 News reporter Christina Vazquez found was that Alumni Research, Inc. was open for business.
The employees she encountered outside the business didn't have much to say. Some said this was the first time they were hearing of the complaints. Another wouldn't confirm or deny if the company has consistently been making payroll.
A man who identified himself as Robert Laping said, "As you know this is an on-going investigation. I have no comment."
Laping would not confirm or deny if the company was soliciting new business despite the current backlog. When Vazquez asked if he could address Bennett's case, and if he had anything to say to the thousands of people who claim he took their money he replied, "I will give you a statement tomorrow."
Off camera Laping said the company has been crippled by the passing of a key company employee.
Later he told Vazquez that an attorney was approving the written statement he promised to send, but that statement never came.
As for Bennett, she got her refund. "I was shocked and very surprised and very happy," she said.
Those still looking for a refund or the book purchased with Alumni Research Inc. are asked to contact the Florida Attorney General's Office.
Below is a list of the 43 schools the Attorney General claims was impacted.
1) Abraham Lincoln High School (Iowa)
2) Ashtabula/Lakeside/Harbor High School (Ohio)
3) Bellflower High School (California)
4) Bowling Green High School (Kentucky)
5) Brookline High School (Massachusetts)
6) Brother Martin High School (Louisiana)
7) Camden Military Academy (South Carolina)
8) Concordia Lutheran High School (Indiana)
9) Dupont High School (Tennessee)
10) El Dorado High School (Kansas)
11) Erasmus Hall High School New York)
12) Grants Pass High School (Oregon)
13) Green Castle High School (Indiana)
14) Holt/Dimondale High School (Michigan)
15) International Falls Senior High School (Minnesota)
16) Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School (Kansas)
17) Keokuk High School (Iowa)
18) Lower Merion/Harriton (Pennsylvania)
19) Manheim Township High School (Pennsylvania)
20) Milton Area Senior High School (Pennsylvania)
21) Mt. Healthy High School (Ohio)
22) Newberry College (South Carolina)
23) Nicolet High School (Wisconsin)
24) North Augusta High School (South Carolina)
25) Omaha High North Magnet School (Nebraska)
26) Our Lady of Mercy High School (New York)
27) Plymouth High School (Wisconsin)
28) Richmond High School (Indiana)
29) Rogers High School (Rhode Island)
30) Saline High School (Michigan)
31) St. Bernard High School (Connecticut)
32) St. Cloud Technical High School (Minnesota)
33) Storm Lake High School (Iowa)
34) Taylor Allderdice High School (Pennsylvania)
35) Taylor School District (Michigan)
36) Union College (Missouri)
37) University City High School (Missouri)
38) Versailles High School, (Ohio)
39) Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School (Ohio)
40) Villa Maria Academy (Pennsylvania)
41) Virginia Intermont College (Virginia)
42) Williamston High School (Michigan)
43) Woodruff High School (Illinois)
From the complaint:
Despite its inability to fulfill its obligations to current customers, Alumni Research continues to actively contact alumni nationwide and solicit them to purchase alumni directory books.
Plaintiff seeks to halt this scam through this action for restitution on behalf of consumers, civil penalties, temporary and permanent injunctive relief, attorneys' fees and costs and other relief pursuant to the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Chapter 501, Part II, Florida Statutes ("FDUTPA").
Additionally, Plaintiff's investigation has revealed that Alumni Research's financial condition is rapidly deteriorating. Alumni Research is significantly delinquent in paying its current and former employees and the landlord for its former office space located at 3333 U.S. 19, Suite 3, Holiday, Florida 34691. Additionally, two (2) vendors have brought collection actions against Alumni Research, and, as a result, two (2) courts have entered judgments against Alumni Research in the total amount of nearly $170,000.00 (a $150,164.78 judgment in favor of Thomson-Shore, Inc., and a $18,976.61 judgment in favor of MailFinance, Inc.). The State of Florida also has issued multiple tax liens against Alumni Research.
Follow Christina Vazquez on Twitter @CallChristinaTV
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