From: WHITESR@APPSTATE.EDU (Steve White)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: $$  WARNING  !!!!! (some personal opinions only)
Date: 29 Aug 92 16:21:21 GMT
Organization: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.23

In <BtpBKt.n2r@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca> cyor@logos.uwaterloo.ca writes:

> 			WARNING !!!!!
>  
> If you don't want to lose your money, please read the following:
> 
> This is in regard to a company called "SECOND WAVE" in Texas, Austin who
> claimed that their NB4 Expansion box will allow the IIsi to work with
> accelerator card such as the Radius Rocket.
> 
> On July 14, I called Second Wave.  They told me that their expansion
> for the IIsi will turn the IIsi into a IIci and thus allow it to work
> with the Radius Rocket Card.  They also assured me that they have 
> customers who have done it before and it works for them.
> 
> I felt into their trap and got the expansion box.  It turns out
> that they were lying.  I got Radius Canada and two techicians
> confirmed that the Radius Rocket is not going to work with the
> expansion box.   
> 
> I called that company (long distance) and tried to get a refund but 
> they said things like "We don't appreciated you!", "you have to pay
> for your own decision", "We are not going to give you any refund",etc.
> 
? [sic!] ??
> to them. Two weeks ago, they left a message in my answering machine
> saying that I CAN GET A REFUND.  I returned it to them but never
> heard anything from them since then.  
> 
> I called on this Monday and the guy called Roger said that Linda already
> put in a credit in my account last week.  I check with VISA center
> even this morning but still no refund.  I called again but the 
> receptionist refused to let me to talk to others and BLAMED me that
> I return the product to them and caused them troubles!
> (They lied to me at first and do you think it is fun to call them
>  all the time using long distance.  I think they want me to give up!)
> 
> After the third call, the receptionist allowed me to speak to Roger
> and he got angry with me.  He said they JUST sent out a letter and
> gave me credit today.  (Please note he said they did this last week
> on Monday already)   They are just playing games and try to make me
> impossible to get back the money by postponing all the time. 
> 
> Please note that sometime the receptionist said nobody in the office
> DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.  Roger is not the President but today
> when I wanted to talk to the President, the receptionist said Roger
> is the President. (I am sure he is not. Since Roger said the President
> was not in the office a while ago!)
> 
> Second Wave sells Expansion box, Optical Disk, Tape drive.
> If you have a IIsi, don't feel happy because of knowing there is
> expansion box available.  That company is a BIG LIER!
> Radius SAID THAT EXPANSION IS NOT  WORKING WITH THEIR ROCKET.
> 
> I lost about Canadian $1400 + $70 Restocking on Radius Rocket, lots of
> long distance calls, time,etc.
> 
> Would any kind people out there please do the following for me?
> 
> 1)  Please tell your friend of this case.  I don't want anybody to 
>     FALL into the trap of this company.  That is not a good company.
> 
> 2)  Can anybody please tell me what to do in this case?
>     Better Business suggested me to get a Lawyer.
> 
> Thanks...


As a FORMER Florida prosecutor who enjoyed prosecuting bastards
like you describe (assuming that you can prove the details
that you describe), some "humble" advice (these are my personal
opinions only; this is "friendly" advice, NOT legal advice):

CONSIDER DOING THE FOLLOWING:
1. (Assuming that you still don't have the refund) if you paid for
the stuff with a credit card, call your credit card bank and tell
them that you are contesting the charge, then fill out the forms
that the bank sends you.

2. Keep a record of EVERYTHING. Copies of all letters. Make notes of
the contents of all phone calls, the more details the better, dates,
times, contents, names. If at all possible, make the notes
IMMEDIATELY after the phone call etc. Make the notes in your
own handwriting so that you can easily identify them later.
Date and time the notes as well as the event that they describle.
Send mail certified.

3. If you have not done it already, reduce the essential details to
writing and send the details to the company via certified mail. In
the letter, not only narrate the history of your plight but also
demand your money back NOW (assuming that #1 does not apply).

If you REALLY want to pursue this further, CONSIDER:
4. Contact the prosecutor in the city in which this business
is located. You might also consider contacting the police there;
most big cities have a fraud division per se or least handle fraud
as a part of their larceny/theft division. You might consider
contacting the state prosecutor and the federal prosecutor (US
attorney). These agencies may already be working on the suspect,
and then they can add your case to the investigation.

5. Contact the Attorney General of the state in which the business
is located. Some attorneys general can do some stuff that
local law enforcement can't, eg, shutting down the business.

If you can't prove your allegations, consider disregarding all of
the above!!

Hope this helps,
Steve
Saturday, August 29, 1992 12:03 PM EDT
========================================================================
|       [The above are nothing more than my personal opinions.]        |
| Stephen R. White                    |                                |
| Department of Political Science/    |                                |
|     Criminal Justice                |  WHITESR@APPSTATE              |
| Appalachian State University        |  WHITESR@CONRAD.APPSTATE.EDU   |
| Boone, NC 28608                     |  Voice: 704-262-6167 (OFFICE)  |
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