More problems with Light Impressions

[ann]

Or, for those who never got a refund nor materials!

 

[lilmsmaggie]

BigJim, sorry to hear about your probelms with Light Impressions although I'm not surprised at all. The bottom line at this point is that if you do not take the time (only 5 minutes) to send your report to the appropriate places but instead only report it hear then what happened to you becomes nothing but another number and you will not be helping to prevent this from happening to someone else. I strongly urge you to look through the above posts and make a quick report (you can simply copy and paste your post) to the California Attorney General's Office and the LA BBB. I believe there may be one other place worth sending a report which is mentioned in a post above. I really hope you take the time to do this because at this point the things happening to people posting accounts here on APUG seem to be falling on deaf hears. The only way to be heard and to stop the criminals at Light Impressions is to speak up to the right authorities. Take care.

Francesco is right. EVERYONE that has been burned by Light Impressions needs to report their circumstances to the BBB, California Attorney General and the FTC. Personally, I don't think enough comlaints have been filed.

However, I did receive a letter response last week from the CA Attorney General's Office. Seems Light Impressions is ignoring them as well.

I can't for the life of me believe that a company like this is allowed to take advantage of consumers here in California, and throught the U.S. without consequences.

Please, everyone. Tell you friends, your business associates, your fellow photographers and anyone who could become a victim of this unscrupulous company, its owners and executives - NOT to do business with Lightroom Impressions.

 

[ann]

I reported them to the CA Attorney General's office but haven't heard a thing from them either.

Every chance I get I pass the word on about Light Impressions, including every class I teach every session. Which is from 6-8 classes each session, 4 times a year, not including weekend workshops.

 

[Douglas1111]

Light Impressions

I'm new to this site, but I found it after I had a bad experience with Light Impressions and did an online search on the company. I ordered extensively from them several years ago and was happy. However, I placed a large order with them on June 7th. Their standard shipping delivery times were not met, so I began calling them. After being either cut off or put on eternal hold numerous times, I finally got someone on the phone who told me the items were on backorder and were not available for at least 4 more weeks. I asked why this was not told to me when I placed the order, and the reply was that I needed to call in to inquire about that because their website was "not live" and they don't notify customers when items are on back order. HORRIBLE. DO NOT ORDER FROM LIGHT IMPRESSIONS.

 

[Sirius Glass]

On a more positive note, now that you have gotten to add your experience and thought about Light Impressions, I would like to say, "Welcome to APUG!"

Steve

 

[lilmsmaggie]

I finally got someone on the phone who told me the items were on backorder and were not available for at least 4 more weeks. I asked why this was not told to me when I placed the order, and the reply was that I needed to call in to inquire about that because their website was "not live" and they don't notify customers when items are on back order. HORRIBLE. DO NOT ORDER FROM LIGHT IMPRESSIONS.

You're not likely to receive anything in 4 weeks or 4 months. Try contacting your credit card number if you used a cc to place this order, and see if you can get the charges reversed. Also, file a complaint with the LA BBB, Calfornia Attorney General's office and the FTC.

BTW- Their website is "live" enough to accept credit card charges - so don't buy that BS the person on the phone gave you.

 

[Fragomeni]

It may be wise to change the credit card number as well. They have been known to keep your credit card number and then make fraudulent charges under different company names (they did this to me and others I know). A change of credit card number will be your safest bet and likely the least stress in the long run.

Most people are posting their complaints here and on other forums which serves absolutely no purpose at this point. People would not continue to have these problems if everyone who's experienced this simply went ahead and reported these issues to the proper authorities as described in posts above. If enough reports are made to the California Attorney General's office they are required by law to take action against the company. At this point these recurring fraudulent actions on the part of Light Impressions says more about people's laziness and unwillingness to make a proper report then about Light Impressions.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

You know what's nuts? Last week, light impressions sent me a catalog in the mail! I have not bought from them in 5 yrs, and they had not sent me a catalog in 3 yrs. All of a sudden, one arrives, dated 2011. Why are these guys sending catalogs when they won't even answer the phone? LOL

 

[lxdude]

One thing's for certain-they have made more than a light impression on a lot of people.

 

[lilmsmaggie]

You know what's nuts? Last week, light impressions sent me a catalog in the mail! I have not bought from them in 5 yrs, and they had not sent me a catalog in 3 yrs. All of a sudden, one arrives, dated 2011. Why are these guys sending catalogs when they won't even answer the phone? LOL

Sounds like they're trying to generate some business from people who haven't contacted or placed an order with them recently. Since those who have been burned recently aren't likely to place an order, LI may be thinking we'll go after the unexpected

"Come into my parlor, said the spider to the fly." Isn't that how its supposed to work

 

[Sirius Glass]

One thing's for certain-they have made more than a light impression on a lot of people.

This thread here and other places is giving it a lot of coverage.

Much like cordless bungee jumping!

 

[ann]

I get email's from them on a weekly basis, of course I can't say the same for return calls left on various upper managements phones.

 

[Fragomeni]

I'm so tired of this kind of manipulation and I'm even more tired of this continuing to be done to new people who aren't fortunate enough to come across this and similar threads before they purchase. There have to be lawyers among us here. Those of you well versed in the law, is there anything that those who have already been victims of Light Impressions scams can do at this point? Is there any basis for a class-action or some similar case being brought against them? I don't care about any kind of monetary compensation, I just want them out of business permanently so that that can't continue to take advantage of hard working people.

 

[Fragomeni]

I've received two letters in the mail from the California AG. The first stated that they would look into the matter and attempt to act as an intermediary to resolve the situation. The second letter, which I received yesterday, said that New Century Direct (the official name or parent company of Light Impressions) has failed to respond to any of their inquiries. The letter goes on to say that because they could not elicit a response from New Century Direct, the AG must end their direct involvement in the case. It goes on to say that the complaint and complaints they've received from others will be kept on file in case legal action is taken against the company on behalf of the people of California.

I would still contact the California AG so that they have your complaint on file. Also contact the BBB. Some other people in the thread mentioned contacting the FTC which will be my next step. It's rather absurd how difficult it is to get action taken against a fradulent company that is committing a crime. Capitalism at its best I suppose.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I've received two letters in the mail from the California AG. The first stated that they would look into the matter and attempt to act as an intermediary to resolve the situation. The second letter, which I received yesterday, said that New Century Direct (the official name or parent company of Light Impressions) has failed to respond to any of their inquiries. The letter goes on to say that because they could not elicit a response from New Century Direct, the AG must end their direct involvement in the case. It goes on to say that the complaint and complaints they've received from others will be kept on file in case legal action is taken against the company on behalf of the people of California.

I would still contact the California AG so that they have your complaint on file. Also contact the BBB. Some other people in the thread mentioned contacting the FTC which will be my next step. It's rather absurd how difficult it is to get action taken against a fradulent company that is committing a crime. Capitalism at its best I suppose.

Shsss! If the Tea Party gets wind of this, they will push for a special tax break for distressed companies to avoid taxes on fradulent activities. The justification will be that if the government cracks down on fradulent companies, it will hurt not only the economy but the Tea Party's ability to collect donations from the fradulent companies!

 

[Aristophanes]

File a small claims action. Find the name of Officer and Directors of the company. Include them as well. If they do not respond to the claim and you prevail, you have multiple options depending on jurisdiction, including credit reporting all the way up to lis pendens. If this is mail order the USPS may have a recourse mechanism. Sales with this company are private, civil contracts, so usually, to get state intervention, there needs to be some groundbreaking legal claim as proof of broken contract.

 

[c6h6o3]

File a small claims action. Find the name of Officer and Directors of the company. Include them as well. If they do not respond to the claim and you prevail, you have multiple options depending on jurisdiction, including credit reporting all the way up to lis pendens. If this is mail order the USPS may have a recourse mechanism. Sales with this company are private, civil contracts, so usually, to get state intervention, there needs to be some groundbreaking legal claim as proof of broken contract.

I did a little digging on the web to try to find out who their process agent is. Wow! What a labyrinthine maze of holding corporations and private equity LLCs to plow through just to even figure out who owns Light Impressions. By reading the disclosure notice at the bottom of Dead Link Removed I learned that the owner of Light Impressions is NCD Acquisition, Inc. What the relationship is between this entity and New Century Direct or Corvest eludes me, but at least I had a name then to plug into the Dead Link Removed. (Do an Entity Number search. Their entity number is C3096879.) Imagine my surprise to find that their process agent is yet another corporation, but at least there's an address for it. Hope this helps.

I think the advice to file a claim against them in small claims court is admirable. In my state it only costs a $5 filing fee, although if your defendant is not in the same County the sheriff won't serve the summons. You'll have to hire your own process server. It was well worth it in my case. As I recall it cost me about $75 to serve someone in the District of Columbia.

 

[c6h6o3]

It may be wise to change the credit card number as well. They have been known to keep your credit card number and then make fraudulent charges under different company names (they did this to me and others I know).

If you ordered online that's wire fraud. It should be reported to the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

 

[c6h6o3]

...including credit reporting all the way up to lis pendens....

What is 'lis pendens'? My Black's Law Dictionary is buried somewhere in a box in the utility room.

 

[MattKing]

What is 'lis pendens'? My Black's Law Dictionary is buried somewhere in a box in the utility room.

lis pendens is shorthand for a "certificate of lis pendens".

In this context, lis pendens means "pending litigation"

A certificate of lis pendens is generally registered against title to an asset when an interest is claimed in that asset - it warns the world that if someone else buys the asset or lends money in return for a mortgage on the asset, their ownership or security interest may be subject to the interest claimed in the litigation, if the litigation is successful.

In some jurisdictions, one can claim an interest in a defendant's assets as part of litigation, even if the litigation doesn't specifically concern ownership in those assets. In most jurisdictions however, one needs to obtain a monetary judgment first before that judgment can be registered against an asset.

Once a monetary judgment is registered against an asset, it can be seized and sold in satisfaction of the judgment.

 

[jeroldharter]

Shsss! If the Tea Party gets wind of this, they will push for a special tax break for distressed companies to avoid taxes on fradulent activities. The justification will be that if the government cracks down on fradulent companies, it will hurt not only the economy but the Tea Party's ability to collect donations from the fradulent companies!

Don't blame the Tea Party. What a crock. The Tea Party actually believes that the Constitution should be enforced and that a legitimate function of government is to enforce laws.

On a positive note, I just received 2 rolls of Tyvek tape I ordered in 2009! I should have planned better.

 

[Fragomeni]

Please please please please please don't turn this into a political argument. I can just see it turning that way. Seriously don't let that happen! This thread is a very powerful illustration of the negative effect of Light Impressions on the photography community. To spin off into a pointless segway would dilute the significance of the thread.

 

[lilmsmaggie]

that a legitimate function of government is to enforce laws.

The more laws and order are made prominent,
The more thieves and robbers (e.g. Light Impressions) there will be.

Lao-tzu,
The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

 

[Sirius Glass]

Shsss! If the Tea Party gets wind of this, they will push for a special tax break for distressed companies to avoid taxes on fraudulent activities. The justification will be that if the government cracks down on fraudulent companies, it will hurt not only the economy but the Tea Party's ability to collect donations from the fraudulent companies!

This was posted in jest. Lighten up. Can't you see the absurdities in the post?

 

[lilmsmaggie]

Finally, after 3 mos. I received a refund check yesterday. DOH! -- I should have deposited it right away.

It might be vaporware