Sunday, February 23, 2014

Meet: "H0NEST MIKE" Burns

For more details, see the blog posts listed at the bottom of this page. 

FYI

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anglen, Robert  
Date: Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 9:40 AM
Subject: Story on camelback consign
To: Glenn Michaels 



Story is in today's paper. Your blog is mentioned prominently in the story. Thanks for all of your help. Here is a link:


http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/consumer/call-12-for-action/2014/09/28/missing-painting-returned-owner/16373445/


HE JUST SEEMS SO NICE.
He didn't fool me once, or twice.
He fooled me thrice.
Don't believe him. That's my advice.
NOTE THE COMMENTS SHARED, BELOW.






























This man has owed me $20,989.46 *  -  per the calculations we worked through together approximately four weeks ago - since October 12, 2013. He keeps promising payment. It just never arrives. Honest. By the way, those calculations don't include my costs for chasing the money, for removing the items he didn't sell, or for interest on the unpaid debt.

About what about the value of the publicity he's getting thanks to my efforts?


A PR firm would charge good money for all exposure.

Good, old "Honest Mike." You know, the first time I met him in mid-2013, he, I, my sister and her intended all went out to dinner. One of the first things he mentioned was his age, 70.
I complimented him on looking so well for his age.


After I had him investigated, months and months later, it turned out that he was born in 1952. You gotta wonder why on earth a guy would lie about his age to a total stranger, and err on the high side?


Among other things, he told a funny story about a horrid divorce from his wife that turned on joint custody of a dog they owned. Later, he ended up flying somewhere and found himself seated next to his ex.They had a few drinks, landed, forgot their divorce and had a few laughs.


A couple of months later, according to Mike, his ex called him up. She was pregnant. So they remarried. 


Mike had no regrets. He loves his kids. But the marriage didn't last the second time, either.
More recently, I sent his wife - his ex - it really wasn't clear to me, a request that she ask Mike to pay the folks he had harmed... in the form of a nice Xmas note.
The note apparently upset the older of Mike's two sons a great deal. Mike called me to talk about it just after the start of the year. He mentioned that he and his ex were still good friends and that she is a "great gal" who gave him two terrific sons. He mentioned that his son had called him about the note and was very upset.
Weeks later, Chad, the older son, whilst cursing me up and down for sending that note to his mother as I was picketing in front of his father's shop, told me that she hadn't spoken to his father in 10 years!  


To tell the truth, I've no idea what's true anymore, when I hear from Mike Burns. He has promised to pay me so many times - and failed to do so - that I'm beginning to think he might not know what the truth is, either.


One day he calls me and says, "I've got the money." Two days later he calls and says, "I'm trying to get your money."


Good, old "Honest Mike." God bless him. He's a pill, alright.


* Yesterday, March 25, 2014, I ran the numbers again and came up with $21,036.00, owed me by Honest Mike.  It's not a large discrepancy, but I guess it is a discrepancy.


DON'T KID YOURSELF. 
Mike Burns wasn't born yesterday. He wasn't born on the Fourth of July, either. NOPE. Mike Burns was born on 9/11 in 1952. 
He was destined. 
Don't forget to tip a hat to Ms. Indispensable, Vera Manuz, either. Where would Mike be without her?


I don't know if the truth will set you free. But fuss loud enough with a big 'nough bunch a friends and I swear folks 'll do near anything to get you to shut up. Fast as they can. 


5 comments:

  1. He took a house full of furniture from us in October and November, 2013, and he has never paid us one cent. He keeps promising, as does his associate, Vera Manuz, but neither of them has followed through. I sent a complaint to both the BBB and the Attorney General of Arizona. He has, in effect, stolen our furniture and accessories!

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    1. There is strength in numbers, they say. If you will share your contact information with me, I would love to coordinate efforts. A civil fraud conviction, per my attorney, requires proof that multiple people were cheated using the same tactics by the same entity. If I could put together a list of folks with the same complaint, ready to testify, it might be possible to bring this predator to justice in Superior Court... and to push the Attorney General's office to take action sooner rather than later.

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    2. Glenn et al,

      We really need to talk. I, too, have been victimized by Mike Burns quite recently and the whole debacle has been traumatizing.

      In October of 2013, I consigned highly valuable family antiques and collectibles with Mike Burns, owner of Camelback Consign and Design, and have painfully regretted the decision. Like others, he was the nicest guy when it came to removing the items from my recently passed grandmother's apartment and my house, as I was going through a divorce at that time. He promised not to sell one piece until we'd sat down and gone over each line item and agreed upon the pricing. Well, I could never get him to commit to sitting down with me to discuss the value(s) of the items. He always had an excuse, lie, or story about why we could not move forward.

      After losing my grandmother (I was her caregiver) and my husband, I moved back to Alabama (my home state) and continually called and emailed Mike Burns. Not only was he at many times unresponsive but he knew he had me over a barrel, as he'd also volunteered to have his "professional movers" move my furniture I was taking with me back to Alabama. Six weeks later I was still sleeping on a blow-up mattress with not one piece of furniture in my new rental house. I finally got in touch with one of his "professional movers" who after paying him $7k delivered roughly 60% of my furniture. Yes, this gets confusing. So, now Mike Burns has in possession my antiques and collectibles as well as the furniture and items NEVER agreed to consign.

      The beginning of 2014, I borrowed money for a plane ticket, hired more movers, rented a moving truck and paid Mike Burns a visit at his shop. Immediately after entering, I saw a lot of my stuff with prices displayed as well as "sold" signs. I couldn't believe it! I was horrified. I was able to recover some items, however, the majority is still missing (and we're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as the sentimental value). I called the police who did respond, however, did absolutely nothing except tell me to hire a lawyer. Last I checked, theft is unlawful, why is this crook getting away with this? And repeatedly??? Mike Burns proceeded to tell me the rest of my property was offsite at another storage location or at Brinks...some kind of highly secure storage venue. I offered to take my movers and truck to the offsite storage location yet he refused to tell me the address. Instead he promised his movers were bringing my stuff and that he's pick up my silver at Brinks as well as the 17th century dining room chairs he sold to a "friend". I went to his store and waited all day and all night for five consecutive days. I was literally begging him for my stuff, tears pouring down my face, sitting in his shop at 1:00am. I finally realized that I was powerless -- he did not care of my circumstance or that I came all the way back to claim what is rightfully mine because he is a predator and crook. There never were movers allegedly bringing the rest of my property...Mike Burns was prepared to sit it out with me until I would just go away, which I finally did. I had no choice at the time. I had to get back to Alabama and begin a new life, find a job, etc.

      I am now strong enough to move forward and hold this monster accountable. Several lawyers in the area have been recommended to me. I believe, however, this case could be much stronger should I find other victims and file a class action lawsuit. Can you provide direction? What should I do first - hire a lawyer, assemble a victim list, file with the AG? I did hire an attorney is AZ to write a menacing letter to Mike Burns demanding the immediate return of my property and included a manifest of missing items. Mr. Burns did not respond.

      ANYONE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN HOLDING MIKE BURNS ACCOUNTABLE FOR A LITANY OF ILLEGAL ACTS HE HAS COMMITTED, PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP! My name is Courtney and my email is c.chamberlen@gmail.com.

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  2. I'm in the same boat. He owes me thousands and I'll never see again. I got all the same stories about his past, multitudes of "I'll have your money tomorrows". I plan on filing with AG also. He may be judgement proof but if there's another way to skin this cat I'm going to find it.

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  3. See my comment, above. Contact: gsmichaels@yahoo.com

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