Meineke Car Care Center #2033

Antiquen Treasures operated under the name Clean Sweep Estate Sales until the owner, [redacted], was investigated by WOAI Troubleshooters in Feb/Mar. We hired her last year to handle our father's estate sale. In our state of grief, we did not check her out before signing a contract. We read reviews on line, AFTER hiring her. Horrified, we made detailed lists and videotaped the contents of the house, before and after the sale took place, and were at the sale to witness the items sold. There were many shady practices going on before the sale ever began. Rooms of furniture were sold to "an associate" for the price we expected, and taken away in a moving van, then replaced with other furniture needed "to stage" the house! Hers and her staff's items were mingled with our father's, but we were assured this would all be kept separate. After tagging, we pointed out that their tags were on some of our things. True to the reviews, the pay date on our contract passed, and we had to chase her down. "The check is in the mail" never came, the "unsent check" was blamed on her secretary, a death in the family, being out of town, etc., and then she stopped answering calls. After 2 months of certified letters, threats to file a theft report (we did), Troubleshooters, and detailing our evidence for her, she finally provided a cashier's check, in person, which we insisted upon. I told her it was not the right amount based on our own lists of what was sold & video before and after the sale, and that we were not done. At home, the 17 pages of her own itemized inventory were added 5 times. Her total on the last page (& the amount of the check) was $1,100 less than the items totaled on her OWN inventory! As per other reviews, not the first time her math "didn't add up." In addition, many items we witnessed being sold were not on the inventory. I listed them for her, showed her own pics used to advertise, and insisted she pay us the rest of what was owed. More excuses, but she finally realized we were not going away and paid us the balance. She changed the name of her business after the WOAI Troubleshooters report aired. Phone # is the same, but her name is omitted on her website and [redacted] page, where she continued to advertise sales until May 1. She is now being investigated by the Tx Attorney General's office, but says, "it's not a big deal." I'm sure her former clients disagree.