Consumer complaint received 09/22/2016 about Debt collection (Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)) with Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., L.P.A. (OH).
Issue: Taking/threatening an illegal action
Sub-issue: Sued where didn't live/sign for debt

Complaint: The financial services entities cited within co-brand with at least three other companies, all use the initials " XXXX '' and the same website XXXX. 

In XXXX XXXX, I hired XXXX. on behalf of an XXXX that I am a member of to produce an expert intellectual property valuation report. After receiving a quote of {$2500.00} and prior to engagement, I requested a revised contract. Another contract was never furnished, and the one that exists was signed under false pretenses. It was my understanding that I hired XXXX. ( a XXXX biz ), on behalf of the XXXX that I represent. 

In XXXX XXXX, I learned that the XXXX and I actually paid {$3700.00}, through nefarious means, to XXXX ( a XXXX biz ), and the contract I signed was between myself and XXXX. 

XXXX failed to complete the assignment, produced a subminimal product, and missed the XXXX XXXX deadline ; therefore their product was never used or even considered. They never delivered any report to myself or the XXXX. 

In XXXX XXXX, XXXX billed a total of {$7500.00}, three times the quote with no explanation of cost. After two requests, XXXX, produced a vague explanation in XXXX point type. I made two more requests for a reasonable explanation of charges ; their response was to threaten me with and then send me to collections. I responded by letter citing failure to produce, lack of requisite experience, and that no payment would be made without further explanation of what services they actually performed. 

In XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( not XXXX ), sued me personally as a consumer for " accounting services '', not " consulting '' or " expert services '' which is how expert valuations are defined by XXXX. That case is still pending. 

The Ohio Administrative Code and a consul with an Ohio Board of Accountancy inspector, confirm that it is illegal for one company to collect funds on behalf of another without consent. There is nothing in the contract that permitted XXXX to take payments from me, and they never had any legal standing to sue me. 

I never received the credit cards receipts I requested or any revised invoices. XXXX and XXXX funnel payments, including credit cards, through the XXXX. None of the companies have trade/fictitious names registered with the Ohio Secretary of State , so when a consumer engages with " XXXX '', they have no idea which business they are getting involved with. 

" XXXX '' companies have not provided financial services in XXXX legal cases, or XXXX expert reports, as they falsely advertised on their website. Alleged expert, accountant XXXX XXXX XXXX ( OH # XXXX ), has only written a few reports in his career, and none value intellectual property ; and he is not a professor at Case XXXX XXXX University or a member of the XXXX XXXX 's litigation section, as he fraudulently claims on his resume. Accountant XXXX XXXX XXXX ( OH # XXXX ), who wrote the report, admitted under oath that it was the first report she had ever written, and that she had zero experience in valuing intellectual property. 

Counsel at a XXXX firm told me he also received a bum report from XXXX. Adversary case ( XXXX ), filed against XXXX in the US Bankruptcy Court for the XXXX of Ohio in XXXX, also cites confusion of XXXX entities. XXXX. is very litigious, XXXX lawsuits alone in XXXX . Info also points to XXXX operating as a shell company. XXXX 's conduct is riddled w/ethics violations, these entities should be investigated by the CFPB and the FTC. Complainant can produce more info and documentation to prove these claims.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation