Dive Shops Beware

[simbrooks]

Anyway, is it just me or is Florida the scam capital of the US? Is there something in the water down there?

Just kidding...

Well, kinda....

Probably, and of course what we have in the water are reefs, wrecks and caves

Feel sorry at your loss Aqualogic, been there, done things of a similar stupidity myself with money before to my cost - still paying some of that back now

 

[wolf eel]

AquaLogic Yes there is much more to this story, seven of us had the same thing done!! All of us have filed law suits against this guy. The bottom line is he's a scam artist and a thief, he takes peoples money and doesn't deliver. Regardless if all of us paid him up front, he stole money from us.

I just posted the response from them. And they are looking into this. Now that it is on the net and the world is reading this I bet you may get a call or cash.

Also you have 7 of you if 7 of you put 10k into the kiddy then you will have money. You also said that the state would do nothing if only one of you spoke up well 7 is many more then 1 so get them to speak up.
Hope my e-mail helps not hurts. One thing how is a company protected if they get a check is it not theft if you pay by check ? or what ?

 

[mccabejc]

My advice is, join the BBB for your own operation's credibility and get everyone that has been scammed to lodge a complaint about Undersea. Without any history on the BBB it damages your story's credibility.

Ah, the Better Business Bureau. Thanks for reminding me. Yesterday is the ONE YEAR anniversary of a complaint I filed and they still haven't done anything about it. Aside from writing the offending company some letters which have been ignored. Maybe I'll send them yet another followup email. Should be fun.

By the way, if you do decide to go thru them, ask them what power they REALLY have when the company simply fails to respond to them.

Good luck.

 

[wolf eel]

Hi again
Aqua logic question and I know I have asked but I am wondering. How does the point of the check help him ?????? Where I am if I write a check it is good as gold I have proof because I write on the check what it is for. Again is he protected from a law suit because of a check ?

 

[PhilEllis]

Please note, i AM NOT making a statement about the Aqua Logic/UBS problem. But there are a couple of points that should be made here.

First, I understand that Mike buys equipment and pays in an "as completed" fashion. This is typical when a big purchaser, with gigantic assets makes a purchase. Unfortunately, scuba stores don't fall into that category. Order an air compressor or any other large items and scuba stores are required to pay in advance. That's just how it works.

Assuming that the seller intends to conduct a scam up front, ie take the money without giving the equipment. If he allows the purchaser to use a credit card, that charge can be challenged and the transaction can be reversed up to ONE YEAR after it occurs. The demand for a check is very simple. Once cashed, there is no simple way to reverse it. The only remedy is a lawsuit. Just my 2 cents.

 

[wolf eel]

Alright then.
So it has nothing to do with florida law or something. In that case he should have a check with the amount, date and what it was for. Then it should not be all that hard to prove that a theft has occured you have the proof !!! Can you not take him to court yourself ?

 

[AquaLogic]

Alright then.
So it has nothing to do with florida law or something. In that case he should have a check with the amount, date and what it was for. Then it should not be all that hard to prove that a theft has occured you have the proof !!! Can you not take him to court yourself ?

Does anyone have $50,000 to lend me so I can pay all the attorney's fees it's going to cost me? This is the problem many of us are having, the attorney's fees are more then the equipment is worth.

He's got this down pat, he gets your money and knows that most small dive operations will not be able to do anything about it.

Most of the dive shops don't want to contact the Attorney General's office quite yet, they want to wait until there lawsuit is over.

I've tried to resolve this matter, Mr. Bill Delp will not return my phone calls, e-mails, or any of the correspondence I've sent. The only phone calls he returns is if someone wants to give him some money.

I feel really awful for the guy in Japan, his hands are tied, he can't exactly get in his car and drive over to Bill's business, or the lady in the Bahamas, who has been dealing with his B.S for 8 months.

 

[MikeFerrara]

First, I understand that Mike buys equipment and pays in an "as completed" fashion. This is typical when a big purchaser, with gigantic assets makes a purchase. Unfortunately, scuba stores don't fall into that category. Order an air compressor or any other large items and scuba stores are required to pay in advance. That's just how it works.

When I owned a dive shop I purchased 2 compressors. Both times I paid on delivery (actually I picked them up) after running them and checking them over.

Of course I'm not saying that what they're doing is in any way justified but there are millions of scams out there (no surprisees there) and there isn't any sense in making it too easy for them....and when in public don't carry all your valuables in one place and put your wallet in a front pants pocket rather than a back pocket because there are people out there who will take your stuff from you. There just isn't any substitute for street smarts when on the street.

Even if you get them in court, if they do't have any money you won't get any. Maybe it could become a criminal thing but putting them in jail still won't get you your money back.

 

[wolf eel]

Well I guess you must have liked the response they gave then. But why do you not just class action the company that way the costs are shared and you pay little to get him in court ? 7 companies is a lot of people.

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Just reading over the posts, I’m not sure I’d call it a scam. Since earlier systems were delivered and customers are happy, it sounds to me like Undersea Breathing Systems is experiencing difficulties meeting their deliveries. Bad business practices, maybe, but not a scam.

Did you have a written contract? Did it include a delivery date?

If I were you, AquaLogic, I’d keep pursuing legal action, and stop publicly slamming UBS before they counter-sue for defamation or slander. Would really add insult to injury if they file for bankruptcy (so you legally loose your money) then won a defamation judgment against you, and you had to pay them more.

Oh, and as mentioned earlier, get yourself and all involved listed with the BBB, then register complaints against UBS. Even if the BBB has no teeth, it would be ammunition in the courtroom.

Be careful, there’s a fine line between defamation and ‘warning other shops.’ Just reading your posts here, the whole thing had an “airing the dirty laundry” feel to it.

But what do I know... I am not a lawyer, nor did I sleep in a Holiday Inn last night.