Cody at Cleburne Marine

[mharris7]

Man - don't do business with this guy. He pretty much just took my money and ran. I ordered a coral from him back in Feb. and he never sent it. He kept giving excuse after excuse. He never sent me ANYTHING and finally just flat out refused my refund request. That's just simply stealing in my opinion. Can anyone suggest any other recourse?

[brewercm]

Do you have any records of the money being sent. I'm not a legal wiz but seems like you and others could first get it on record with the local law enforcement wher he's located. Once that is done possibly take him to small claims. I know there are others on this board who were taken for a ride from him.

[mharris7]

Yeah - it was all done through pay pal. I'll have to check, but I'm pretty sure the records are logged there. He got me for ~$84. Really chaps my hide......

[brewercm]

Definately file a complaint through paypal also. That will get it on record also and maybe help in the end.

[StephenA]

Do you use a credit card on your paypal account? If so deny the charges on the credit card. Also call paypal and do the same. You should have asked here first. There are others with similar issues.

Sorry :cry:

[Instar]

Good to know. I almost used him for something.
1st you can file a complaint against him with the Better Business Bureau. They often get your money back.
2nd, if you paid with a credit card, you can have the transaction reversed because he didn't deliver. File a complaint with your credit card company. You should do both, if you used a credit card.
3rd, if you did any part of the business with a check and your local bank, reverse the check and have them draft the money back to your account.
4th, if your bank won't take care you you like this, tell them their competition does.
5th, contact the IRS and police departments and file as many complaints as possible if you can find the correct places.
6th, find his entry on our sidebar menu here and file the lowest rating possible against his business. If anyone bothers to check on this Vendor from our sidebar menu recommendations and ratings, it will be there with the reasons.
7th, don't do this if you are unreasonable or ordered something impossible. If you have a legitimate complaint and are not just a complaint crank, then all this is worth doing. I don't know you, I don't think. You are not a paying member and have not listed your city in your profile. Why not?

[StephenA]

Read this post from June 7th:

http://www.maast.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=5701&high light=cody+cleburne

[wkopplin]

It is too late to get your money back from Paypal. Has to be done within 90 days.

[Instar]

I don't think paypal will tolerate a vendor not delivering. Thats why its the Ebay pay method of choice. I think you can undo the transaction. On the other note, I understand that its not always really all that direct a method of payment and you might have to email Cody the transaction details and tracking number to complete the sale with complete contact info to fill your order?

[mharris7]

Thanks Larry - I'll look into that. As far as who I am - I'm Mike Harris. :) I know several of the folks here personally. I attended the meeting up in Leander at Robert's house a while back. Several of you may know me from Austin Aquariums - I did a brief stint there as a manager. (I came in after Charlie moved back to Dallas).I'll go back and add my city (I'm in Austin, btw). I just never noticed I had not done it before now. I need to pay my dues - I'd like to do it on this site but the last time I checked there wasn't an option for that?

As far as what happened - I simply ordered a coral from Cody on his website and he never shipped it. I had to call him and he told me that it was "sick" and he was trying to get it healthy again. Long story short - I kept emailing him asking him when it would be shipped and he just gave me one excuse after another. I gave him many many chances and a lot of time to make right on this, and he just never did.

[Brett Wilson]

I think I am one of the only people lucky enough to get anything out of cody (RO/DI unit) but it took 6 weeks after sending him paypal. He has also bought frags from me before (about $300 worth) and he wanted me to send them to him before he paid for them!
yeah, not gonna happen.
I'm through doing business with him, it just isnt worth the risk.
I've met him before as well, he 'seems' like a nice guy... but that appears to just be a facade.

-Brett

[brewercm]

I had met him last year at the meeting we had at Austin Aquariums, several people bought a lot of Southdown sand from him on that day that he had brought down. Not sure where things went bad but something definately happened along the way. At the time he was very pleasant and told me to get with him about certain things. Even then it would take weeks to get emails back on inquiries I had on equipment. I just decided at that time it wasn't worth the hassle having to wait that long for answers to simple questions to risk purchasing.

[Bigreefer]

My story is the exact same.... He got me for $70 last November.

[Brett Wilson]

Maybe you guys could all pool together and start a suit against him...

[StephenA]

I got lucky. I called him to check stock and to inquire about his new store. I asked if I could stop by on my way down from Dallas and he said he would be close for some reason. I stopped by anyway. The place was locked up, empty tanks, a real mess!

[witecap4u]

Yeah, he's a friggen FLAKE

[Brett Wilson]

I would say he is a liar. not flake, liar. Flaking out is forgetting.. and he just simply lied to many unfortunate people.

Someone defended him saying that he took on too much.... but what they failed to see is that his true character came out when the going got tough, he lied.
(chad, I am not saying you are defending him, i'm just further expressing what I saw happen)
I wish we could shut him down....

[Tim Marvin]

Be sure to look at my post from the above link......I'm out $400.

[mharris7]

well, I filed a complaint on Pay Pal. Tomorrow I'll go to the BBB. I might also contact the authorities in Cleburne and see if they can do anything. This is stealing as far as I'm concerned.

[Tim Marvin]

If you need anything from me let me know....I filed a complaint on PayPal also, but I got a message saying it was more than 30 days so they would not cover it. I'm a little curious if he has changed his business name or if he went out of business.

[brewercm]

I like the way you used the term "swing" twice in that post.

[StephenA]

There is nothing in the store! Good Luck. He should go to Jail for stuff like this. If someone took your wallet and stole $100 they would lock them up!

[mharris7]

I sent an email to the Cleburne Police Dept. today. I didn't want to get into a phone call in my cube environment at work. I may call them as well this weekend. Here's the contact info near as I can gather from the web page:

Cleburne Police
web: http://www.ci.cleburne.tx.us/police/index.htm
email: police@cleburne.net
phone: 817-645-0972

I think the more people that contact them the more weight this will have. Also, does anyone have any contacts at DFWMAS? I'm sure few folks up that way are hacked off at him too.

[mharris7]

did anyone else contact the police department - looks like my last post killed this thread....or did we all just vent enough to get it all out. :D

[Tim Marvin]

I didn't, what did you ask them to do? What is Cody's last name? I'd be happy to send them an e-mail. If you decide to try small claims I'd also be more than happy to get in on that with you.

[mharris7]

His name is Cody Blue, I think. I just told them that I wanted to file a complaint. I think something like this has a lot more weight if a lot of folks come together. Frankly, what Cody did was criminal, in my opinion.

I'd also probably encourage phone calls as well as emails. We should also co-ordinate with dfwmas I think.

[Tim Marvin]

What is his phone number? The one I had was disconnected. E-mail?

[Instar]

After reading this I have no doubt there are enough people and charter members of this club to sign charges and file a joint suit. The end result is this - you stop him and it goes on his record. Be sure each files a BBB complaint first. Why? b/c the police and any lawyer will either discourage that or use that as an attempt that failed to resolve it. In either case, they will discourage and advise you not to do that after contacting them, for some reason (my experience). There is no way you can force him to actually pay any part of debt or court costs, even if you get the judgement in your favor. So, its principle here as it could put you more out of pocket. No doubt he is still taking peoples money and it could be jail for him in that case. If you do confront him in person, be very careful. Even if its just to get your money or credit and if it does happen and it just goes sour for some reason, you get charged with criminal intent and conspiracy. I'd take a police officer with me if there was to be a group confrontation. An ounce of prevention...

[brewercm]

An ounce of prevention...

Isn't near as fun as a pound of whoop ***. :-D

Just couldn't help myself.

[RobertG]

An ounce of prevention...

Isn't near as fun as a pound of whoop ***. :-D

Just couldn't help myself.

I like this, could'nt happen to a better guy! LMAO!!!

[Instar]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
brewercm wrote:
Quote:
An ounce of prevention...


Isn't near as fun as a pound of whoop ***.

Just couldn't help myself.


I like this, could'nt happen to a better guy! LMAO!!!

Good point! :lol:
More fun, no doubt most effective...

[Ram_Puppy]

you know, I am not certain on this, but, anyone know where paypal's official address it? I believe a federal case might be made here, as he defrauded Mharris over paypal, mharris I would be willing to bet that somehwere in your wire transaction with paypal, the money crossed state lines... that is all it takes. (I think.)

[Tim Marvin]

I paid through paypal also.

[Ram_Puppy]

well it sounds to me like this guy is nothign more than a petty thief. I am glad you all took the time to blow the whistle here so more of us could not get burned. thanks.

[Ram_Puppy]

well it sounds to me like this guy is nothign more than a petty thief. I am glad you all took the time to blow the whistle here so more of us could not get burned. thanks.

[pilot_bell777]

More than likely his is not Inc..ed and if not, you could also put a lein on his personal property as well. This guy probably wasn't smart enough to start a LLC and then lease back for protection of personal assests to his dumby corp. Probably just some guy that started trying to sell some stuff and really screwed himself. You all REALLY need to get togther and go to the BBB togther about this guy, then file a joint action against him in court. If you all together total (I think) more than $1000 or $1500 then it would not be small claims court anymore and if someone did pay over state lines, then it is a Federal Offensece and he is looking at jail time.

You might check too cause I know there is a federal class action pending against Paypal for not doing something right. Check it out and contact them again, may they will help now. Tell them that you kept getting excuses past 30 day adn you never tool delivery. Regular credit card companies don't put a 30 day cut off on disputes do they?

[Ram_Puppy]

... and never end up owing money to pilot bell 777. He obviously knows his stuff! Lol

[kaiser]

A lawyer told me once not to throw good money after bad. So if You don't want to spend the money on a lawyer and the filing fees in small claims court. Just file charges against him. If I remember correctly Theft over $500 is a felony.

[pilot_bell777]

YUP it is! and the thing about spending money I agree. You get a judgement against him and then he declares banckruptcy and guess what, you jsut waisted your money and time in court. But, if you get him in court and can prove that he traded over state lines that is a feloney and he will more than likely be taken away in an orange jump suite, but you are still out you own money. The judge will more than likely order the guy to pay X amount of restitution after his sentence (probably serve 2 months) and then you got him because if he fails to pay then, he is in violation of parole and will be sent back.

You just have to ask yourself if you really want to play those games! A baseball bat is way cheaper than an attorney! LOL

[pilot_bell777]

... and never end up owing money to pilot bell 777. He obviously knows his stuff! Lol

Sadly, I still have a landlord from two years ago that still owes me $1500, so I have been through all this. I finally just ended up telling myself if he needs it that bad, then he can have it and what goes around comes around. Last I heard he was loosing his house in Cali, lost his job, and the house I rented from him here was already forclosed on. So I guess he need the money more than me. But I did do all my homework and talk to lawyers and the fair housing people, etc, etc......

[RobertG]

A lawyer told me once not to throw good money after bad. So if You don't want to spend the money on a lawyer and the filing fees in small claims court. Just file charges against him. If I remember correctly Theft over $500 is a felony.

Theft over 750 is a felony. Had to file on a guy before, hot check.

[pilot_bell777]

I was thinking it was a $1000 but $500 sounded good....theft period should be a Felony.

[kaiser]

They have got it split up. $0 to $15 is a misdemeanor C, $15 to $250 is a misdemeanor B, $250 to $500 is a misdemeanor A and $500 to $1500 is a State Jail Felony and it goes up from there. Don't quote me on these numbers, but I worked at the county jail for a couple of years and dealt with this stuff.

[brewercm]

Need to check and see if that amount is per instance, per person, or a running total if brought by more than one individual. Reason I say this is because he may be able to basically get away scott free on a technicality. Don't you just love our legal system (and notice I didn't call it a justice system), sorry to you lawyers out there (not really on that one either).

[Salty]

You could win a judgement in court (without a lawyer) and even get an Abstract of Judgement and effect his credit (for an additional court fee) BUT, unless you (the victim) can convince the DA in that county to pursue and prosecute him, there is no other punishment like jail, probation or a fine.