Help With Junk

Update: 4÷27÷2012 He received my complaint from the BBB and he called me today. After a couple of conversations, he apologized, which I appreciated. He admitted he dropped the ball with us and is willing to make amends. I appreciate the offer. I gave a link to another review about this company and he has his side of the story to that review. You can contact him to hear his side of it.

We have had a real problem with this company. They advertised as taking junk for free, which sounded great. I should have known better.
Our little not-​for-​profit corporation needed to get rid of some really good office furniture in a hurry, as we were downsizing. Could not sell on Craigslist, as there is a glut of office material. What a shame — and I was excited that Help with Junk said they’d move it out for free. Otherwise, the landlord would charge us for moving it out — and that is SO expensive.
So I set it up and met Shawn at the offices. Suddenly, he said that there was not enough metal, and that it would cost $ 400 to move out all of it. He promised he would do good for us – and so, in a bind I agreed and went on to my business. And, he said he would invoice us later.
Our office manager also met with him, later that day, all seemed ok, except we were not happy about the $ 400. Then, about 4:00, he called me, insisting that he had to be paid that day. I was out of town at the time, and did not know what had happened, but managed to get our Exec. Director to go by with a check. He had not finished the job, but promised to come back the next morning to complete the job. This was critical, as we had to get the stuff out by that day — the landlord insisted.
The next day, despite several calls — and a couple conversations where he promised to be there — he totally failed to show. We left several more messages for Shawn — nothing.
Then, on Friday, I got a call on my mobile phone from someone called Gary who claimed that Shawn had been in an accident and was in Methodist Hospital. Of course, I was flabbergasted. They said he was in intensive care. So, I said we understood — but they made no offer to try to get anything done for us. I felt really bad — but then, I thought, this could still be a scam. They took the stuff they wanted, got $ 400 from us, and left our not for profit holding the bag. If so, it’s an amazing story.
I hope I’m wrong — I mean, we don’t hope he’s hurt, and if he is, then I pray for him and his family that he’s ok. But, it sure seems odd. He had already cashed the check, and our office manager now says he talked with him a few times on Thursday, which is odd if he was in an accident on Wednesday night.
And, I have called Methodist Hosptial about him and checked for news and googled accidents on I 69 about this supposed accident and there’s nothing. And, no such person was in the hospital.
So I am posting this review in warning to those who might deal with this company. What is it they say, if it sounds too good to be true. .. .