I need business legal help....

[Bruce M. Sutherland]

Let me try to make this story as brief as I can because if you want more info from me for better advice I would appreciate a phone call or good email contact.
I just started my home inspection business last june and in the fall I was contacted by a company called Four Seasons Consulting who are grant writers. I had previously began filling out a grant application online thru a link that I found on my state's web site. I have already paid a $3500 retainer fee. I have received a 112 page Business Analysis from them which is a very detailed analysis of a home inspection company starting and making it mid-michigan. We have had several conversations by phone and email. I did background checks on this company and thought why not. I cannot contact them in anyway now. Phones,email and all other points of contact do not work.
I have already filed a complaint with the FTC and BBB. What should I do now?? D I contact the local police department and report this. Do I get a Lawyer (even though I couldn't possibly afford one)?? What do I do? Any HELP would be great.

Thanks,

Peak Home Inspections
Bruce Sutherland
(989) 644-2421
peakhomeinspections@yahoo.com
www.mihomeinspection.com

[James H. Bushart]

Sounds like you're screwed.

[John E. Mullarkey]

yep, just did a Google search, as they would say in the West of Ireland, "yer fooked"

http://www.scamradar.com/reports/191...onsulting.html

[Linas Dapkus]

Originally Posted by bsutherland

Let me try to make this story as brief as I can because if you want more info from me for better advice I would appreciate a phone call or good email contact.
I just started my home inspection business last june and in the fall I was contacted by a company called Four Seasons Consulting who are grant writers. I had previously began filling out a grant application online thru a link that I found on my state's web site. I have already paid a $3500 retainer fee. I have received a 112 page Business Analysis from them which is a very detailed analysis of a home inspection company starting and making it mid-michigan. We have had several conversations by phone and email. I did background checks on this company and thought why not. I cannot contact them in anyway now. Phones,email and all other points of contact do not work.
I have already filed a complaint with the FTC and BBB. What should I do now?? D I contact the local police department and report this. Do I get a Lawyer (even though I couldn't possibly afford one)?? What do I do? Any HELP would be great.

Thanks,

Peak Home Inspections
Bruce Sutherland
(989) 644-2421
peakhomeinspections@yahoo.com
www.mihomeinspection.com

My advise is simple:
File for bankruptcy and look for a real job, you haven't got enough smarts to run a business.

[Ed Bancroft]

If you are looking for business advice go to your local SBA. (small business administration ).
Many are located on collage campuses or nearby.
SBDC - Small Business Development Center
SCORE - Service Corp of Retired Executives
It is all free or very inexpensive and is an excellent source of info and training

[Gary Farnsworth]

Listening and agreeing with sales people only will get you lost revenue.

[Nick Gromicko]

I have received a 112 page Business Analysis from them which is a very detailed analysis of a home inspection company starting and making it mid-michigan.

Send it to me. If I find it of value, I will pay you for what it is worth.

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

3500 dollars for a manual on how to start a home inspection business?
And this didn't raise any red flags in your mind?

I have pity on you,

[James E. Braun, CMI]

I would have done it for $1500.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

Am I bad!

Sorry about the money you lose, Bruce.

[Christopher Currins]

Four Season Consulting is ripping people off daily. Based out of Las Vegas, NV.

When you pay them $3500 they promise to apply for those grants on your behalf and they also tell you that they have a 100% success rate for qualified applicants. Trouble is, all applicants are qualified as long as they can afford to pay the $3500. They DO NOT have a qualification process beyond seeing if you can afford them or not.

You sign a contract that only promises to deliver some sort of business plan or analysis or something like that within three months. They do NOT have to write one single grant proposal on your behalf in order to fulfill the terms of the contract.


You can find them at http://www.fourseasonconsulting.com/home.html

[Linas Dapkus]

They all look honest to me. I'm gonna send them a few $k.

[Bob Elliott]

How dare you guys commit liable against a genuine business advocate such as 4 seasons.
They have an "A" rating on the BBB site and as we all know BBB can be completely trusted ,right?

Just send then the $3500 wired and get your big grant money.http://www.bbb.org/southern-nevada/b...vegas-nv-81186

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by ldapkus1

They all look honest to me. I'm gonna send them a few $k.

Go for the $5,000 analysis, better results. The $3,500 that Bruce paid for is just a teaser.

[RAY THOROMAN]

Originally Posted by bsutherland

Let me try to make this story as brief as I can because if you want more info from me for better advice I would appreciate a phone call or good email contact.
I just started my home inspection business last june and in the fall I was contacted by a company called Four Seasons Consulting who are grant writers. I had previously began filling out a grant application online thru a link that I found on my state's web site. I have already paid a $3500 retainer fee. I have received a 112 page Business Analysis from them which is a very detailed analysis of a home inspection company starting and making it mid-michigan. We have had several conversations by phone and email. I did background checks on this company and thought why not. I cannot contact them in anyway now. Phones,email and all other points of contact do not work.
I have already filed a complaint with the FTC and BBB. What should I do now?? D I contact the local police department and report this. Do I get a Lawyer (even though I couldn't possibly afford one)?? What do I do? Any HELP would be great.

Thanks,

Peak Home Inspections
Bruce Sutherland
(989) 644-2421
peakhomeinspections@yahoo.com
www.mihomeinspection.com

Bruce,


Joking aside, speak with Nick. It sounds like you lost $3500. There is a ton of these type scams out there promising to help find you large grants if you pay them a fee upfront.

Why were you looking for a grant? $3500 would've went a long way in inspection equipment and tools.

Hope something good comes of this for you in the end.