sciencelab.com fraud

Shutterella · Mar 25, 2010

Existing Light said:
Shutterella, their address is on their website. I did a mapquest search for them, and it looks like they're based in someone's house. The streets kinda look like a neighborhood to me. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=H...29.925495&longitude=-95.28751&geocode=ADDRESS

If you live in the area, perhaps you could stop in for a nice little chat?

The mapquest address is not accurate, Google's is! It's a little industrial-looking building I believe.

Shutterella · Mar 25, 2010

dnk512 said:
What did you use to pay? Credit cards are your friend for something like this. "Service not rendered" will get the money back to your account. Eventually will prevent this seller from charging Credit cards, too.

They don't - not past the charge back period. sciencelab.com calculatingly jerks you around until that period is expired. Then they got AWOL on you.

John Koehrer · Mar 25, 2010

Do you have some friends that look like ruffians & thugs? Ruffier & thuggier than their ruffians & thugs? Ask them to pay them a visit.
You might try a collection agency but they get 50% & usually only make phone calls. You need someone that will go over there & thump'em on the head.

lxdude · Mar 25, 2010

John Koehrer said:
Do you have some friends that look like ruffians & thugs? Ruffier & thuggier than their ruffians & thugs? Ask them to pay them a visit.
You might try a collection agency but they get 50% & usually only make phone calls. You need someone that will go over there & thump'em on the head.

Geez man, I know what you're saying, but advocating violence is not very wise. Someone could get seriously hurt, and not just the fraudsters. You are advocating a criminal act. Just soliciting it is a criminal act. I don't think it's worth it.
If someone innocent got hurt, you might feel really bad.

I do understand the emotion behind it.

fotch · Mar 25, 2010

Yes, you let your guard down and run into a crook, not a good thing. When they don't deliver the order within two weeks, best to ask for refund. If they don't respond with refund in 24 hours, write a letter and snail mail to your credit card company and demand a refund. Phone calls, email, not good enough. Maybe fax. You have to call the credit card company and ask if a fax is good enough.

Writing to the local DA of where the company is located might help. Also the State's Attorney General. PITA, but make enough smoke and maybe light a fire under the fraudsters.

lxdude · Mar 25, 2010

Let the local television stations know, especially one with a consumer reporter.

marylandphoto · Mar 25, 2010

lxdude said:
Let the local television stations know, especially one with a consumer reporter.

Also, try Dateline NBC...I could just see them doing an expose on this.

marylandphoto · Mar 25, 2010

Furthermore, try this:

http://www.ic3.gov/about/default.aspx

Your best bet would probably the TX State's Attorney General's office. After doing some research, it seems they could prosecute if they get a few more complaints.

Valerie · Mar 25, 2010

lxdude said:
Let the local television stations know, especially one with a consumer reporter.

http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/22856576/detail.html
www.abc13.com
www.khou.com

All have a consumer section somewhere....

Too bad Marvin Zindler is gone.... he was a classic!

Shutterella · Mar 26, 2010

Great tips, I will follow up on the ones that I haven't done yet.

I did lodge that complaint with the TX Attorney General.

It never occurred to me to contact a local TV station. I'm on it like a pitbull on a ham bone.

jovo · Mar 26, 2010

MattKing said:
This link is very interesting:

Dead Link Removed

As to enforceability of judgments, each jurisdiction will have its own rules and procedures, but I expect that generally any enforcement actions will be similar to where I live - it will need to be initiated (and paid for) by the party trying to enforce the judgment. I doubt that there are many government departments out there that will automatically do the work, for free.

.

This is from their website, and who knows what kind of local laws Harris Cty. Texas maintains:

"You agree that any legal action brought against SCIENCELAB.COM Inc. shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree that the sole jurisdiction and venue for any litigation arising from your use of or orders made on the sciencelab.com sites shall be an appropriate federal or state court located in Harris County Texas."

Apparently you've gotta get yourself or your attorney to Harris County to proceed with any legal action.

fotch · Mar 26, 2010

jovo said:
This is from their website, and who knows what kind of local laws Harris Cty. Texas maintains:

"You agree that any legal action brought against SCIENCELAB.COM Inc. shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree that the sole jurisdiction and venue for any litigation arising from your use of or orders made on the sciencelab.com sites shall be an appropriate federal or state court located in Harris County Texas."

Apparently you've gotta get yourself or your attorney to Harris County to proceed with any legal action.

Maybe. Some rights cannot be waved away by contract language. Others might require a signature on a actual contract and not just an order. Can get complex and need to have an attorney look into. However, for the amount of money involved, it won't be worth it. Legal fees will exceed the amount lost and there may not be recoverable.

lxdude · Mar 26, 2010

fotch said:
Maybe. Some rights cannot be waved away by contract language. Others might require a signature on a actual contract and not just an order.

Right. They don't have the right to just stipulate anything they want to and have it stick. ANY legal action? If they're charged with fraud, they're not going to be the ones deciding on venue. It's doubtful any judge would consider this language legally binding beyond small claims. There's nothing to keep someone from suing in Federal court on an interstate commerce basis in their own state. A judge would be the one to decide on venue.

The point is to get state Attorneys General and/or the Feds interested, so they will pursue it. Another avenue is for an attorney to pursue it for a pool of defrauded customers on a contingency basis.

lns · Mar 26, 2010

jovo said:
This is from their website, and who knows what kind of local laws Harris Cty. Texas maintains:

"You agree that any legal action brought against SCIENCELAB.COM Inc. shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree that the sole jurisdiction and venue for any litigation arising from your use of or orders made on the sciencelab.com sites shall be an appropriate federal or state court located in Harris County Texas."

Apparently you've gotta get yourself or your attorney to Harris County to proceed with any legal action.

Not enforceable.

But it shows what kind of business you are dealing with.

-Laura

removed account4 · Mar 26, 2010

the ag said they need several written complaints to their office
the da said a phone call to their office with the story of what happened can start the ball rolling
the ag also said contacting the ic3.gov would be a good idea

good luck !
john

lxdude · Mar 27, 2010

I've been googling around on these guys, and the unhappiness is widespread. It appears some complaints have been made.

Shutterella · Mar 31, 2010

I took some of your advice and called the DA's office with all the details.

I'm waiting for the right time to contact a TV station. It's on the agenda.

dnk512 · Apr 25, 2010

Shutterella said:
They don't - not past the charge back period. sciencelab.com calculatingly jerks you around until that period is expired. Then they got AWOL on you.

That is correct. Sorry. That is why I *always* start a complain with my credit card *just* prior to the period expire date. If the item arrives after I start the complain, no problem, I inform the bank and all is good. If the item does not arrive, I have the complain initiated in time. I even tell my bank that I do not wish to let the period expire even though the seller claims that the item is on the way. The banks understand such tactics.

As long as you have good records (i.e. emails) and do not allow the grace time to expire before you initiate the complain, this is the best chance you have to get your money back.

sciencelab.com fraud

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