Bear Sheppard - Page 8

gypsywoman · #**106** 06-08-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

^^^
ditto.

Barbara has some very nice stuff and she's awesome to deal with...always sending special goodies and making everything special in some way. I think her site is enchantedmirror.com

I've only had one dealing with Bear and it was pleasant. she was initially going to make my NOTS outfit, but I ended up making it myself. she was always prompt to return emails, but I understand people's frustrations.

I bought stuff from Bear several years ago..I live in Georgia and she wouldnt let me come and pick up my stuff...It was very late but good stuff..I would by from Timeless Barbara Instead.. [email protected] Her stuff is better

Kelly · #**107** 06-09-2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

The more professional sounding and level-headed you are about it, the better.

I'm not sure what happens if she doesn't respond by the 6/22 deadline? I'd follow-up with the BBB at that point and ask them. They may not do anything, or they may give you some advice on how to proceed.

I doubt the BBB will do anything if she doesn't reply, but at least they will have another complaint against Bear.

I would avoid profanity in the letter...you want to sound professional and well versed in the law. (even if you are not really, lol) You may even be able to file a complaint by yourself, without having to pay a lawyer. You would have to pay the filing fee but it would probably be worth it. I doubt she will even respond to the Complaint, so you will probably end up with a Judgment for what you are owed. Collecting on that Judgement is another story though.

Andromeda · #**108** 06-09-2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

I doubt the BBB will do anything if she doesn't reply, but at least they will have another complaint against Bear.

I would avoid profanity in the letter...you want to sound professional and well versed in the law. (even if you are not really, lol) You may even be able to file a complaint by yourself, without having to pay a lawyer. You would have to pay the filing fee but it would probably be worth it. I doubt she will even respond to the Complaint, so you will probably end up with a Judgment for what you are owed. Collecting on that Judgement is another story though.

I cut out the profanity altogether....still working on the professionalism. I never realized how much profanity and slang are a pair of verbal crutches until I started this letter. My English teacher would smack me with a copy of "The Transitive Vampire" if he knew how degraded my English skills have become.

I checked the BBB website, looking to see if anyone else had complained about Bear. From what I've read I'm the first, which isn't surprising...they won't process a complaint without a company address (they prefer to serve complaints through the mail).

Collecting on that judgement...there's always a collection agency (even though they take a percentage) or standing outside her house with a megaphone until she has the cops haul me away....just kidding.

I think there are legal alternatives - garnishing her wages, having a lien placed on her accounts, things like that. I don't know if they'd do that in magistrate (small claims) court or not...

jannieC · #**109** 06-09-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andromeda

Collecting on that judgement...there's always a collection agency (even though they take a percentage) or standing outside her house with a megaphone until she has the cops haul me away....just kidding.

I think there are legal alternatives - garnishing her wages, having a lien placed on her accounts, things like that. I don't know if they'd do that in magistrate (small claims) court or not...

As far as I know (and I do have some personal experience with this

), there is no way to really collect on a judgment. However, once a person has a judgment in their history it wrecks their credit. So, at least you have the knowledge that until she pays it, her credit is totally shot.

Also, I'm no expert writer, but I am in graduate school so I have spent a lot of time writing professionally lately. If you want me to look over your letter I'd be happy to. Just send me a PM.

Andromeda · #**110** 06-10-2007, 02:44 AM

According to the BBB website if Bear doesn't respond in the two weeks allotted they'll try to contact her again. If she hasn't responded two weeks from that time they'll close the complaint and take no further action.

It would still remain on file, though - anyone who wanted to check her out would know that I've had problems with her and that she failed to respond to the complaint.

To me this makes it sound like all I've done in digging up information and relaying it to the proper authorities amounts to my running down a blind alley and hollering "fish". What more have I got to lose if I take her to small claims court?

A couple of weeks away from work (probably more like a month), airfare or gasoline, accommodations and meals, transportation within Decatur, filing fees....expenses, expenses.

The only thing keeping this going right now is that I absolutely refuse to file this aggravating and seemingly interminable chapter in the "Sometimes Life Sucks" folder and forget it.

Andromeda · #**111** 06-15-2007, 02:39 AM

The countdown begins...

Seven days until I hear from the BBB whether or not Bear actually bothered to respond to the complaint I filed.

Keep your fingers crossed...

Kelly · #**112** 06-15-2007, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannieC

As far as I know (and I do have some personal experience with this

), there is no way to really collect on a judgment. However, once a person has a judgment in their history it wrecks their credit. So, at least you have the knowledge that until she pays it, her credit is totally shot.

Also, I'm no expert writer, but I am in graduate school so I have spent a lot of time writing professionally lately. If you want me to look over your letter I'd be happy to. Just send me a PM.

You are right, they won't attach her wages for a Judgement like this. They only do that for child support or in some cases, a tax lien. Judgements, in cases like this, are pretty much useless unless the person cares about their credit, which I don't know if Bear does. It is still worth doing though as she may pay you in order to avoid hassle of Court. My prediction is she will ignore the Complaint and the Judge will rule in your favor, ordering a Judgement for what she owes you, plus court costs. From there, I think Bear will just ignore the Order. Sad, but I bet that is the way she handles it. She just doesn't seem to care about working something out.

If you attempt to file a Complaint on your own, I would be more than glad to help you out if I can. I am NOT a lawyer, but I have worked for one for pretty much my entire adult life.

I am not sure how much the filing fee will be but it is something to consider..if it is too much, it just might not be worth it.

Andromeda · #**113** 06-15-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

I am not sure how much the filing fee will be but it is something to consider..if it is too much, it just might not be worth it.

I don't think the filing fee is more than $50-60 US. If the loonie remains as high as it is right now, that won't be a problem. It's the rest (time away from work, transportation, accommodation, etc.) that's going to kill me.

The alternative is simply to give up and let her get away with it, but I can't do that...I honestly believe she'll put others through this. Not like I can stop her doing it, but at least if I take her to court and win there'll be enough legal documentation to prove a history of fraud if someone else tries to get their due from her through the legal system.

To date my complaint has not been posted on the BBB website as I thought it would have been...I went to the website to check it out and there was nothing there under the name Designs By Bear. I suppose they're waiting for her to respond or they plan to close the file before they post it.

DeeGeMe · #**114** 06-15-2007, 05:51 PM

she has already gotten away with this before apparently. And I imagne she will keep getting away with it. Although I think threads like this are very helpful in identifying who to steer away from when trying to buy Stevie/FM-related things. I got hosed big time by someone on Ebay who is a trader in FM/Stevie things and I know I'll never buy from them ever again.

Andromeda · #**115** 06-16-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeGeMe

she has already gotten away with this before apparently. And I imagne she will keep getting away with it. Although I think threads like this are very helpful in identifying who to steer away from when trying to buy Stevie/FM-related things. I got hosed big time by someone on Ebay who is a trader in FM/Stevie things and I know I'll never buy from them ever again.

Problem is, there isn't a lot of visibility for threads like this, especially if you're an outsider or someone new to the FM/SN world. I stumbled across this thread by chance (and a year too late to spare myself and my family a lot of frustration).

Andromeda · #**116** 06-23-2007, 01:39 AM

No wonder she changed her company name to "Designs By Bear"! There are two complaints against her with the BBB under the company name "Brandi's Dream". She couldn't be bothered to reply in either case.

Still no sign of the complaint I filed against her. I'm going to have another little chat with the BBB representative who's handling my complaint.

Enchanted_Stevi · #**117** 06-23-2007, 11:33 AM

I bought a few things from her....the 1st thing took like 7 months to get a top, 2 skirts and a shawl...when she said it would take a month...I sent her many many many E~mails in which she never answered....I got my stuff like a couple days before X~mas....I would buy stuff from Timeless Barbara....her store is called Enchanted Mirror She is also a very close freind of mine....I've gotten a few things from her and they are EXCELLENT quality and she REALLY cares about her costomers

[email protected] · #**118** 06-26-2007, 09:51 AM

Hi Caitlin!
Thank you very much

I do love making beautiful things for people, and I hope everyone
that ordered from Bear does get their purchases.
I popped over here for a hello, since the 7W is no more for me

Too strange how all that happened...
Love, Barbara

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchanted_Stevi

I bought a few things from her....the 1st thing took like 7 months to get a top, 2 skirts and a shawl...when she said it would take a month...I sent her many many many E~mails in which she never answered....I got my stuff like a couple days before X~mas....I would buy stuff from Timeless Barbara....her store is called Enchanted Mirror She is also a very close freind of mine....I've gotten a few things from her and they are EXCELLENT quality and she REALLY cares about her costomers

JazmenFlowers · #**119** 06-26-2007, 10:40 AM

I wish someone would just give her a good, swift kick in the ass and get it over with for doing this to (apparently) so many fans.

JazmenFlowers · #**120** 06-26-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I just don't understand why she doesn't refund the money
if she doesn't have time to for fill the orders, or just DO the orders,
and send them, if 6 months later, is better than doing nothing???
Barbara

you would think, right?

who knows. I can't understand the way some people's minds work. and she obviously doesn't care that her reputation is being ripped worse than snagged chiffon.