Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  09/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May 24, 2024 a quote for new playground equipment was sent from Creative Recreational Design (CRD) in the total amount of $50,850.00 This was approved by ***** ****** the ******* ********* ****** principal and Kyle H********, the sales representativea and Duke D********* owner for CRD. The order was for the design #********: 5-12 composite, surface mount for 12” of EWF. Fibar system 112: 12” of engineered wood fibers and fibar felt to cover 1,700 square feet for the composite, 6 Fibar mat for under swings/slide exits and installation. On May 30, 2024, the first payment of $20,725.00 was requested as a partial 50% deposit for the project. The sales representative emailed the invoice# ****** and said they do not accept checks due to many NSF in the past. Kyle requested the money be a bank wire transfer to their account at *** **** **** in Rio Rancho, NM. On June 13, 2024, there was a request from Kyle H******** to send $9,000 to for the deposit of the project. The money was bank wire transferred to the same BMO Bank. On June 28, 2024, there was another $10,000 that was bank wire transferred to CRD to the BMO Bank for the purchase of the playground equipment. On July 3, 2024, the final payment of $11,125.00 was bank wire transferred to CRD to the BMO Bank for the purchase of the playground equipment. The sales representative said the equipment would be delivered on July 6, 2024 and wanted to ensure someone was on campus to receive it. On July 8, 2024, another payment of $24,375.00 was requested by Kyle H******** for the invoice #****** for additional equipment and it was sent to the school principal for approval. On July 9, 2024, the school principal spoke with Duke D********, the owner of CRD and he stated they have not received any funds via bank wire transfer and that they only accept checks. They have not proved they didn’t receive any funds, given a refund or delivered the playground equipment.

  Business response

  09/13/2024

  I recently received a copy of the complaint against “Creative Recreational Designs” (CRD) code #**************, regarding the ******* ********* ****** in *** ******, NM 87301 fraud event.
  
  On May 28, 2024, CRD provided a final quote to the ******* ********* *******, quote #***** in the amount of $50,850.00 to both *** ****** and ***** ******. We had been working with them on a playground design for some time prior to that day.  As per the terms of the quote, we requested a 50% deposit for the project.  On July 3, 2024, we provided invoice #****** in the amount of $25,425.  On July 3rd, we provided two invoices to ****** ****, resending #******, and a final invoice #****** for $25,425.00.  The text of that email stated “Please see the two invoices for the project.  I adjusted the previously sent copy of invoice ******, so please use this rather than the previous copy.  You are welcome to pay the ****** at this time, then wait until the equipment arrives for ******.”  These were sent upon a request as they were going to make a payment.
  
  Our team has never reached out to ******* ********* ******s to request, or require, an Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).  It is my understanding that they received emails and phone calls that stated the EFT must be done, prior to the equipment being shipped.  I was told this person had a “middle eastern” accent by *** ******* on July 9th, 2024.  Kyle H******** (salesperson on the project and listed in the claim) was born and raised in New Mexico and I was 4-years old when I moved to Rio Rancho in 1972.  Neither Kyle, nor I, have a middle eastern accent. 
  
  Post-payment occurrence, we were asked if we had received EFT payments, the client reached out to both Kyle and me.  Once back in the office, I confirmed that we had not received any payments from ******* ********* ******, either in a check or EFT funding sources.  I confirmed using both our accounting system (QuickBooks) and reviewing our bank accounts online to confirm that no payment had been received and no requests for EFTs were requested.  I was told by the Hilltop staff that they went through the email payment requests and found that the emails were not from our office, but someone who created an email slightly different from our email address.  I was not told what the exact differences were.
  
  While we are very unhappy and sympathetic that this occurred to the ******* ********* ******s, it was not something that Creative Recreational Designs, Inc was involved with.  We confirmed that they wanted to cancel the order, which was completed on July 19, 2024.  As we were not involved with the fraud, we would like all complaint information against our company to be removed from all public records.
  
  Thank you and I am available if there are any questions.  Please direct any communications to me directly. 
  Duke D*********
  President
  Creative Recreational Designs, Inc.
  P.O. Box 15191
  Rio Rancho, NM 87174
  Mobile: ###-###-####

  Customer response

  09/19/2024

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: the company indicated they emailed the revised invoices to a 6th grade teacher who does not have authority to make financial decisions on behalf of ******* ********* ****** or ****** *******.

   

  In response to the message from Creative Recreational Designs there are two items.
  All communication for this project was between the ******* ****** ********* ***** ******, ****** ******* Business Manager *** ******,  Accountant ***** ******, President of CRD Duke D********* and the CRD Sales Manager Kyle H********. On July  3, 2024 the president of CRD, indicated that “two invoices to ****** ****, resending #******, and a final invoice# ****** for $25,425.00   Please see two invoices for the project.    This particular email and invoices were emailed to ****** ****, who is a 6th grade teacher at ******* ********* ****** and was out of town for the summer months and furthermore does not have authority to make financial decisions.  Why would they send the invoices to the 6th grade teacher when all along the communication was with the 5 individuals mentioned above.  It is evident that the email for Kyle H********, Duke D********* and ***** ****** were hacked.  Were there other customers of CRD that had this same problem or just ******* ********* ******.
  
  Thank you for your help in resolving this unfortunate matter.   For two years the students had food sales, pumpkin sales and donations to purchase this $50,000 piece of playground equipment. 
  
  God Bless
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  *** ******

   

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, the consumer must give a reason why they are rejecting the response. If the consumer does not provide a reason the complaint will be closed Answered]

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