Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting consumers about Pure Shot Action Photography- formerly Xanadu Productions- a Tucson-based photography company that has received eight complaints since November.

All the complaints have been filed by the parents of children who ordered team photos as part of a youth football league in the Phoenix area this past fall. In the complaints, parents allege the packages they received were either missing photos, the photos were very poor quality, or both.

Last year BBB issued an alert about Xanadu Productions, also owned by Pure Shot Action Photography principal Wyatt Hironimus, and located at the same Pima St. office as Pure Shot Action Photography.

The complaints filed against Xanadu Productions are extremely similar to the complaints filed against Pure Shot Photography; the main difference being that complaints against Xanadu Productions were filed by consumers in Tucson.

One Phoenix-area mom told BBB that she ordered photos from Pure Shot Action Photography in the middle of September, but has still not received all the photos she ordered.

“Where’s my photos? It’s now December and I’ve only received half my order,” said Monica Hall, who ordered photos for her two sons. “There’s a huge customer service issue with the fact that I’ve left 10-15 voicemails [for Pure Shot Action Photography] and haven’t heard anything back.

Consumers in both Phoenix and Tucson who did receive at least part of their orders from Wyatt Hironimus’ photography studio complain to BBB that many of the pictures are of poor quality.

“The pictures’ paper quality was very bad, and the coloring was all off,” said Caroline Barragan, whose (more…)

The Federal Trade Commission has resolved an action against Residential Relief Foundation, a company targeting homeowners struggling to keep their homes.

According to consumer complaints filed with Better Business Bureau, Residential Relief Foundation used clever marketing to trick consumers into believing the company was a government agency and part of a program the Obama Administration had put into effect. The company claimed it could help struggling consumers with late fees, interest rates and reduce mortgage payments.

Between March 2010 and September 2011, 156 homeowners from 33 states, including Southern Arizona, filed complaints with BBB against Residential Relief Foundation. The complaints revealed an alarming pattern of false and broken promises, and alleged losses between $250 and $1,595. Single parents, seniors and families from across the country, were left deeper in debt or even homeless.

In a complaint to BBB, one troubled homeowner wrote, “I am now behind on my mortgage payment due (more…)

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is warning potential investors to be on the alert for unsolicited phone calls from salespeople offering to set them up with web-based stores or other Internet business ventures.

Consumers nationwide say they lost hundreds or thousands of dollars to telemarketers who took their credit card information in exchange for promises of future business income. Many complaints involve companies based in or near Phoenix. The businesses include Web Media, Web Media Blogging, ITech Financial Group, Web Media Malls and UPG Marketing.

An attorney in the consumer protection division of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office called the Phoenix region “the Silicon Valley” for Internet investment schemes. She said complainants often claim to have lost $40,000, $50,000 or more.

Kim States, BBB President, said the companies typically prey on seniors and the unemployed, who may be vulnerable to high-pressure sales pitches.

“These callers can be very convincing,” States said.  “They know exactly what buttons to push to get (more…)