The owner of White Egret Farms in far east Austin is charged with stealing from her customers.
59-year-old farmer Lee Dexter's turned herself into authorities last week.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office said Dexter received orders via the Internet, then ran her customers credit card numbers at a nearby feed store.
According to the warrant, several customers claimed they were overcharged.
"We're very sorry if that indeed did occur and we will refund those moneys if that did indeed occur," Dexter said.
The owner of the feed store told 7 On Your Side he received charge-backs because of this. He said he's out $10,000.
"Our recent bill with them is more like $3000 and so we'll certainly apologize to the business and make it right with them in the future," Dexter said.
The Better Business Bureau received more than 100 complaints about Dexter's farm in the past year and a half.
Customer David Rice filed a complaint with the BBB. Rice said he goes out of his way to support local markets and farms. However, he said he paid White Egret Farms for an order and never received it.
"We got absolutely no response back and ultimately the Better Business Bureau let us know that they didn't get any response from them, either," Rice said.
7 On Your Side asked Dexter about David Rice's case.
"We understand they are due a steak and we will either deliver that to the customer or invite the customer to come to the farm and pick it up," Dexter said.
What about the other complaints?
"We thought being mentioned in a book that hit the New York Times Bestseller List would be a boom and instead it turned out to be a nightmare," Dexter said.
Dexter said her farm was bombarded with orders in the summer of 2004 and she's still filing some of those orders.
The Office of the Attorney General said it's received almost thirty complaints about the White Egret Farms.
Meantime, Dexter said her farm is still in operation and she plans to fight the theft charge.
Dexter said in some cases, the overcharging may have come from customers asking for next day delivery.
An OAG spokesperson urges consumers to scrutinize credit card statements to make sure a business is not overcharging.
If you feel you've been overcharged, you can file a complaint with the OAG by
CLICKING HERE
Link - Via myfoxaustin.com
1 comment:
Lee Dexter is still scamming people. We have not received our order from Egret Farm, placed July 30th, 2009, and cannot leave a message on the company's "always full" mailbox. Fax, emails not returned.
Thank goodness we're only out $60. Although am doing what I can to spread the word about her and get our money back. Don't even want the product anymore as I don't trust its quality, based upon her business practices. Sad thing is, she holds a "monopoly" on the types of goat's milk products she produces. They're very healing for people with serious bowel disorders such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis and come highly recommended by bestselling authors Jordin Rubin and Joseph Brasco. Makes this whole ordeal even more frustrating; we're trying to get a grip on improving my husband's health, and cannot get the product we need from the only place in the country that sells it.
Maybe I'll buy myself a goat.
Thanks for the blog. Saving it!
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