| Author | Subject: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy) |
| Rich Zuchowski | Posted At 12:11:39 05/02/2001
Latest info..... A while back I filed a complaint with the US Postal Service, since this guy used the US Postal Service to pass worthless checks in payment for goods received. Tuesday I got a response back stating that they had referred this complaint to their Consumer Protection Program. Under this program, they say they have notified the subject (John C. Smith of Wild World of Reptiles) of this unresolved issue and give him 30 days to resolve the problem. If 45 days have passed and I have not had satisfactory resolution, I am to contact them for futher action which may include having this matter referred to the appropriate United States Attorney for consideration and/or forwarded to their own Law Department. Not that I think anything short of a basball bat will resolve this matter, but one can only hope for the best. I am open to offers from someone in California to act as an informal and freelance collections agent in my behalf. |
| April Yohn-Absolute Constrictor |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3078.html Posted At 12:46:53 05/02/2001 What is it you need someone to do? I'm in CA, not socal tho. |
| Rich Zuchowski |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3079.html Posted At 13:41:45 05/02/2001 Here's his address: John C. Smith Wild World of Reptiles 969 13th Street Richmond, CA 94801-2347 (510) 620-0385 wwor69@aol.com He owes me a bit over $2,000 from animals he paid for with bad checks. If someone can persuade him to pay me the money he owes me, once I have received payment, I will forward a VERY SIZEABLE reward to the person that provides this persuasion. I don't expect to ever see the money, so I have written off getting it. As such ANYTHING I get will be more than I am expecting, and I am certainly willing to generously share what I do get. I just feel that Wild World of Reptiles should pay for those animals 'stolen' from me. I don't care what means are used to get the money from him, however I am NOT advocating violence. I am only interested in the results. The details are at your own discretion. But I will say that being nice about it hasn't worked for me so far. |
| Jude Fitch |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3087.html Posted At 20:07:37 05/02/2001 Have you checked into actual collection companies? For a debt that size, they would "buy" it from you and then they will go after the person for repayment. By using this method, you also make issue of the person's credit standing on a larger, more effective scale. Good Luck! jude |
| Rich Zuchowski |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3128.html Posted At 14:30:36 05/04/2001 Jude, excellent idea! I've contacted a few collection agencies, but none have offered to 'buy' the debt from me. I'll forward the info to one of them and see what happens. Oh, and a special thanks to Jordan Russell for finding and forwarding to me the mailing address of the local police station in Richmond, CA. I will also be filing an official complaint with that police department. |
| Jeff Houston |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3136.html Posted At 19:10:46 05/04/2001 That sucks, sorry to hear about that. The post office will do very little BUT you should contact the distirct attorny for Richmond. (the county it is in) I have had luck, they will send you a form and will ask you to send the checks. They are the ones who will go after him on a criminal case, the police can do very little. It will be up to the DA to press charges. For an amount that big (grand theft) it is a felony. They will most likely get involved for that much money. If it was $200. they would not care. Try it, it can't hurt. Good luck, Jeff Houston |
| Rich Zuchowski |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3144.html Posted At 23:02:48 05/04/2001 Jeff - I tried that. I sent a letter to the District Attorney of Contra Costa County, CA, and got a rather bizarre response from Dennis N. Murphy, whom is the Sr. Deputy District Attorney. I'll quote the letter EXACTLY here: "Dear Mr. Zuchowski, I received your letter dated 12/13/00. Unfortunately, the contents of the letter do not disclose evidence that a criminal act has occurred. The mere fact that a check is not honored does not prove that it was written with fraudulent intent. I realize that these are substantial checks. However, I do not know why they were not paid. As you know there are many innocent reasons why a check might fail and many situations where it is lawful to put a stop payment on a check. If you have evidence that these checks were written with the intent to defraud you, I suggest that you forward that information to the Hercules Police Department for investigation. Kindest regards, ... " I had enclosed copies of the checks, copies of the bills, copies of airbills showing his wife signed for the animals, and copies of several pertinent pieces of correspondence as evidence of John C. Smith's apparent intentions of fraud. I followed up with a return letter dated January 17, 2001, and pointed out that points of evidence previously itemized. I asked him if I am expected to get a confession from him as suitable evidence. Quite frankly, I believe most legal authorities would consider worthless checks as prima facie evidence of criminal intent. But evidently this guy dances to a different drummer. It's nice to know that if he ever worked as an attorney, that he would take such a light-hearted view of someone paying his bills for services in such a like manner. Perhaps another followup letter is in order. Or perhaps this guy has a boss I could sent it to instead. For all I know, this guy is John C. Smith's brother in law or something. |
| Ernie Watts |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3155.html Posted At 04:46:47 05/05/2001 You could try the federal prosicuting attorney in that state. You may have to get a lawyer to press the case with the local DA. If you can't do fraud try theft or theft by conversion. You may be able to call the police and have them investigate, maybe they can provide the needed evidence. If all else fails try the media. They're always looking for a reason to slam California cops and system. I think you proved your case, but I'm not a lawyer. What more proof do they need. He sent a check, you sent animals, check bounced, he didn't return the money or the snakes. The least they could do is go to his home, see if the snakes are still there, if so inform him to either pay you, return them or go to jail. What will probably happen is they'll call, make an appointment, he'll hide the snakes at a friends and say he doesn't have them, they died or whatever (probably sold). Anything to get out of a little paper work (more time for donuts). You could always take him on Judge Judy (or Spriger, LOL). Depeding on your situation, I say drive or fly to Cali and knock on his door with a cop, see what happens. The trip would be worth the look on his face. From now on wait till the check clears or stop taking checks from new customers. I know it may close the door on new business, but $2000 3, 4 or 7 times a year adds up quick. I think I will stop taking checks to be safe. If they have the cash in the bank, how much trouble can it be to go to your local grocer and get a $.79 money order. Keep us posted. Good Luck. Ernie (Bert died) |
| Ernie Watts |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3156.html Posted At 04:49:33 05/05/2001 One last thought. Take your camera if you go. Share the moment. Ernie |
| Rich Zuchowski |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3160.html Posted At 10:08:05 05/05/2001 Yeah, it's normally my policy to make sure checks clear before shipment, but this particular incident caught me with my pants down. Wild World of Reptiles had been discussing purchasing the animals from me for weeks. He was taking a bunch of corns newly hatched and right out of the egg, plus some leopard geckos. Anyway, it was getting to the point that I was going to have to set up the corn snakes and start feeding them or ship them out RIGHT AWAY. I had done business with Wild World of Reptiles before and never had a problem with them, so when he called and placed his order, I just decided to ship them and told him to send me a check when he got them. Yeah, I know. Stupid in retrospect. This is what happens when I decide to trust someone and try to be the good guy. Holding up the shipment for two weeks waiting for payment to arrive and the check to clear would have been longer than I wanted for those snakes to go without feed. The whole idea of selling them as cheaply as I did was to give myself some breathing room by moving out some large numbers quickly. In hindsight, I probably should have just taken all of those normal corns and released them out in the forest. It certainly wouldn't have caused me all of the headaches this is now causing me. And it's really not the money so much any more as it just irritates the hell out of me that someone I trusted would crap on my shoes like that. I do hate to sound vindictive, but yeah, I would just like the guy to go to jail for a while. So anyway, this morning I sent out a followup letter addressed specifically to the district attorney for that county, sent a packet of information to the local police station telling them that I would like to press charges against John C. Smith based on the evidence I am providing, and also faxed the info to a collection agency. I figure this is the time of year when baby herps are going to start becoming available, and most likely Wild World of Reptiles will be out looking for business. It would do my heart good to hear about people slamming the door in this guy's face because of what they heard about him here. |
| Ritchie Luna |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3168.html Posted At 21:54:13 05/05/2001 Does not show fraudulent intent? Bull crap!! I am here in South Carolina. I bounced a check at wall mart and forgot to take care of it. One year later I was arrested. Those people were just to lazy to help you... Or too lazy to arrest the dude. |
| Pat DelTurco |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3170.html Posted At 23:10:53 05/05/2001 Rich..that DA is full of crap. At least here in Ohio, a check returned for NSF or closed account is a prima facie case. Of course...people are given the benefit of the doubt at first, but obviously this case has gone past that. Sounds like a case of a bureaucrat not wanting to do his job. |
| craig goldie/hardcore reptiles |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3173.html Posted At 00:41:38 05/06/2001 rich i may be wrong but it sound a little like it not totally the money your after,you kinda want to nail the s.o.b to the wall.if im right why {after breeding season of course}dont you go there and sue his ass,or better yet go there and calmly talk about it with him {i cant say what im thinking but im sure ya know}.then drive home in his/ your newlly reposed car.trying to get the goverment to put the doughnuts down can be a big task,you may get more done by yourself.any way good luck and i hope people like that are shut down ,one way or another. |
| Rich Zuchowski |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3177.html Posted At 15:49:33 05/06/2001 Well, it looks like Wild World of Reptiles may be changing identities. He dropped his email account and his phone and fax numbers have been disconnected. Anyone know of a good private investigator in the Richmond, CA area? |
| Ciro |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3189.html Posted At 13:34:44 05/07/2001 Why don't you file a civil complaint against him in federal court in your state? After you win by default, if he doesn't show up, then put a lien against his house or whatever other assets he has... |
| Mike Tankersley |
Re: Wild World of Reptiles (Bad Guy)
3780.html Posted At 16:07:29 05/27/2001 Usually when someone bounces a check, you must send them a CERTIFIED LETTER stating that the check bounced and they have X amount of time to correct the situation. If they refuse to sign for the certified letter or they do not take care of the situation, then it changes to itent to defraud. Please take the time to do this and be sure to levy a return check fee plus costs such as those incurred from sending certified mail. When they do not take care of the situation, you can go to your local district attorney and file charges. This will only put a warrent out for the person's arrest in your state. If you have the time you can file in the state in which he lives, in which case they will put a warrent out for his arrest there. You will probably have to file in the Magisterial district in which he lives. It will take time and may even cost you more, but if they find him guilty, your costs can be added to the judgement against him. You typically have to file in the magisterial district where the sale took place. These laws probably have changed because of the internet, but there should be a rule regarding interstate sales. Hope this helps. |