STRATUS Franchise Called “Pyramid Scheme” on FOX News
May 10, 2012
Stratus Building Solutions is under fire in this Problem Solvers report by FOX News’ Kansas City, MO affiliate
“An attorney calls it a pyramid scheme” says the lead-in anchor.
“Victims out money call it outright fraud.”
FOX 4 “Problem Solver” Linda Wagar does an excellent job describing how Stratus, like other janitorial franchises, allegedly preys on working class immigrants, sells them cleaning contracts that promise guaranteed work, then doesn’t deliver.
Attorney Jonathan Fortman Calls Stratus Franchise a Pyramid Scheme
Attorney Jonathan Fortman is suing Stratus Building Solutions on behalf of nearly 100 franchisees.
Here are some quotes from the interview with Fortman:
“They are stealing from people, and they know going in when they get that money that they will never do what they are obligated to do under that franchise agreement… and they don’t care.”
“Now more and more what we’re hearing is these people are paying thousands of dollars and never getting an account.”
“These are the people who have the work ethic, they want to succeed, and they want to buy into the American Dream.”
“It’s just a whole variety of things that they are doing that make it so difficult for these franchisees to be successful… they can’t make them be successful because there’s not enough work.”
Stratus CEO Dennis Jarrett Blames Franchisees
“No, it’s not a pyramid scheme. Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Stratus Building Solutions CEO Dennis Jarrett.
When asked why the Internet is filled with complaints about the Stratus franchise and why so many franchisees are suing, Dennis Jarrett has two answers: Not that many are unhappy, and it’s their own fault.”
“It’s a small minority…” says Stratus CEO Dennis Jarrett. “It could be people that have messed up their accounts, they feel like they want to point the finger of accountability toward somebody else.”
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Janitorial / Commercial Cleaning Franchise Issues
March 9, 2012
Janitorial / Commercial Cleaning Franchise Issues
LA FRANQUICIA DE STRATUS es una Estafa, Acuerdoa Abogado
March 6, 2012
La franquicia de Stratus es una estafa, acuerdoa abogado.
[In English: STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise is a Scam, Attorney Claims]
La franquicia de limpieza de Stratus Building Solutions es una estafa que se aprovecha de las esperanzas y sueños de inmigrantes, trabajadores sin documentación, y familias que no hablan inglés, dice abogado Jon Fortman.
Acuerdoa un comunicado de prensa (abajo) distribuido en Inglés y Español por lasOficinas del Ley de Jonathan Fortman, Status intenta captar víctimas que considera poco probable luchar. Luego, Stratus los vende franquicias delimpieza, las que garantiza que generarán un ingreso mensual atractivo.
Acuerdoa Fortman, Stratus sabe que las cuentas de limpieza nunca van a generar elingreso prometido. Actualmente, Fortman está llevando a cabo en litigio denombre de los franquiciados de Stratus. Aquí es el comunicado de prensa:
Contacto: Jonathan Fortman PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
Tel.: (314)522-2312
Email: jef@fortmanlaw.com
Stratus Estafa Miles Por el País
Stratus Building Solutions está estafando miles de personas por los Estados Unidos por una conspiración de franquicia compleja.
Stratus Building Solutions es la franquicia de más rápido crecimiento en 2012 de acuerdo a Entrepreneur.com y es #12 en Franchise 500® en 2012. La empresa de franquicia de limpieza se fundó en 2004 por Dennie Jarrett y Peter Frese y se creció astronómicamente desde entonces. Stratus dice que tiene una sistema de apoyo, costos mínimos, e incluso garantiza un ingreso mensual. ¿Parece demasiado bueno para ser cierto?
Eso es porque LO ES. Stratus estafa miles de personas con una conspiración de franquicia compleja. La empresa ahora tiene dos demandas colectivas presentados contra ellos en el estado de Missouri y una acción grupo en California. Las demandas contienen varias reclamaciones alegando que Stratus intenta captar minorías, no proporciona el ingreso mensual “garantizada” , no tiene una sistema de apoyo, y termina franquicias sin previo aviso y por razonamiento falso. Stratus intenta captar minorías que hablan poco o nada de inglés (algunos ni siquiera son ciudadanos legales) en un intento de disuadirlos de tomar cualquier acción legal. Garantizan un ingreso mensual mientras que saben que no tienen las cuentas de limpieza para proveer esos ingresos. Entonces, Stratus termina la franquicia, diciendo que el franquiciado recibió quejas de la cuenta de limpieza y con ello se termina el contrato, cuando no existen quejas de ningún tipo. La resulta es una conspiración conocido como “franchise churning.” Miles de personas están perdiendo todo porque se ven envuelto en la estafa de Stratus. Es el momento de que el público, objetivos futuros, y personas ya afectadas saben la verdad de Stratus.
# # #
Si le gustaría más información sobre este tema, por favor llama Jonathan Fortman a (314) 522 -2312 o manda un mail a jef@fortmanlaw.com. Para español, por favor llama a Teresa a (314) 522 -2312 extensión 104.
LE PODEMOS AYUDAR.
¿CONOCE LA FRANQUICIA DE STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS? POR FAVOR, COMPARTE SU EXPERIENCIA EN UN COMENTARIO ABAJO.
Read: All posts on Stratus Building Solutions franchise
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise is a Scam, Attorney Claims
March 6, 2012
The Stratus Building Solutions janitorial / commercial cleaning franchise is a scam that preys on the hopes and dreams of recent immigrants, undocumented workers and non-English speaking families according to franchise attorney Jon Fortman.
A press release (below), distributed both in English and Spanish by the Law Offices of Jonathan Fortman, alleges that Stratus specifically targets victims they deem unlikely to fight back.
Stratus then sells them janitorial franchises that they guarantee will generate an attractive monthly income.
According to Fortman, Stratus knows that the cleaning accounts will never generate the promised income.
Fortman is currently engaged in litigation on the behalf of Stratus franchisees.
Here is the press release:
[Haga un clic aquí para leer el comunicado de prensaen Español]
Contact: Jonathan Fortman FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel.: (314)522-2312
Email: jef@fortmanlaw.com
Stratus Scamming Thousands Nationwide
Stratus Building Solutions is scamming thousands of people throughout the United States in a complex franchise scheme.
Stratus Building Solutions is the #1 fastest growing franchise in 2012 according to Entrepreneur.com and ranked #12 in the Franchise 500® in 2012.
The cleaning franchise company was founded in 2004 by Dennis Jarrett and Peter Frese and has grown astronomically since. Stratus is said to have a support system, minimal costs, and even guarantees a monthly income.
Does it sound too good to be true?
That’s because IT IS. Stratus is in the business of scamming thousands of people in a complex franchise scheme. The company now has two class actions filed against them in the State of Missouri and a group action in California.
The lawsuits contain several claims alleging that Stratus specifically targets minorities, does not provide the “guaranteed” monthly income, has no support system, and wrongly terminates franchises without warning and for false reasoning.
Stratus specifically targets minorities that speak little to no English (some are not even legal citizens) in an attempt to dissuade them from taking any legal action. They guarantee a monthly income knowing that they do not have the cleaning accounts to provide that income. Then Stratus will terminate the franchise saying that the franchisee received complaints from the cleaning account and is thereby terminated when no such complaints exists and results in a complex scam known as franchise churning.
Thousands of people are losing everything when they get caught up in the scamming web of Stratus. It is time the public, future targets, and those already struck get the truth about Stratus.
# # #
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Jonathan Fortman at (314) 522-2312 or email Jon at jef@fortmanlaw.com.
Para espanol, please call Teresa at (314) 522-2312 ext 104.
WE CAN HELP.
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STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise: Guadalupe Clemente’s Horror Story
February 2, 2012
Unhappy franchisees of janitorial/commercial cleaning franchise companies often share a common complaint.
___________________________
They allege that janitorial Master franchisees use deceptive tactics and dirty tricks to keep from providing the cleaning accounts unit franchisees have paid for with their life savings.
Unit franchisees pay these masters thousands of dollars for cleaning contracts with guaranteed minimum revenue.
But if the franchisees are offered jobs which they decline, the contract states that the masters have fulfilled their obligations.
The masters can keep the fees and the unit franchisee gets nothing.
Sometimes the masters offer jobs that are bid so low, the franchisee cannot profitably service them.
Sometimes the masters offer cleaning accounts so geographically distant, the franchisee cannot profitably manage them.
Sometimes jobs that have been accepted and are being successfully cleaned by the unit are taken away by the masters to give to another franchisee, and then another, a practice called “churning.”
In either of these scenarios, the unit franchisees have lost their franchise investments and have no cleaning jobs, and no cleaning revenue.
According to a class action lawsuit filed in Missouri Circuit Court against Stratus Building Solutions, Ms. Markeeta Rivera (STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS: Markeeta Rivera’s Franchise Horror Story) and Ms. Guadalupe Clemente were two of many victims of these deceptive tactics perpetrated by Stratus Building Solutions and its master franchisees.
Ms. Guadalupe Clemente’s story below is an excerpt from the lawsuit Markeeta Rivera And Guadalupe, Plaintiffs -vs- Simpatico, Inc, And Stratus Franchising, LLC, Defendants.
* * * * *
GUADALUPE CLEMENTE’S STORY
79. The story of Guadalupe Clemente is even more outrageous and a perfect example as to how the system developed by Simpatico has been used to blatantly take advantage of the Unit Franchisees.
80. Ms. Clemente discovered Stratus Building Solutions in a magazine called Segundo Mano. There were advertisements in Spanish concerning Stratus. The advertisements make no reference to the existence of the Master Franchisee and direct the reader to the Stratus website. (See Advertisements attached hereto as Exhibit “17”).
81. Stratus also advertised on radio station 105.9 in Phoenix, Arizona.
82. Ms. Clemente speaks little English, but Stratus provided a salesperson who spoke Spanish.
83. Ultimately, Plaintiff decided to purchase a Stratus franchise at the level which would generate revenue of $36,000.00 per year or $3,000.00 per month.
84. Plaintiff asked how long it would take to generate the revenue and was told it would occur immediately after she completed her training.
85. In order to pay for her franchise, Ms. Clemente had to sell her car.
86. She delivered a check for her franchise fee on April 4, 2011, signed her Franchise Agreement with PHSCCH SBS, LLC, doing business as Stratus Building Solutions of Metro Phoenix, the Master Franchisee, and completed her training. (A copy of the Franchise Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit “17”)
87. Based on the representations made to her, she expected to be offered accounts by mid-April.
88. She was offered her first account on April 28, 2011. However, the account was too far away and would not have given her the profit she needed to make it feasible to accept the account.
89. When she refused the account, Stratus had her execute a form entitled “Non Acceptance of Account.” (See Exhibit “18”)
90. Plaintiff was not offered another account until September of 2011.
91. Prior to visiting the account, Plaintiff contacted a woman named “Martha” who had gone through training with her.
92. Martha informed Plaintiff that she had only been given three accounts and that they had just taken one of the accounts away.
93. Further discussion revealed that the account being offered to Plaintiff was the account that had been taken away from Martha.
94. Plaintiff visited the account but felt bad that it was the account taken away from Martha.
95. Plaintiff was not willing to participate in the “churning” of accounts.
96. Plaintiff informed Stratus that she did not want any part of the system and asked for her money back.
97. Instead of getting a refund, Plaintiff received a letter informing her that her rejection of the account in April fulfilled Stratus’ obligations under the contract. (A copy of the letter is attached hereto as Exhibit “19”)
98. The letter further admitted that since Stratus only offered her accounts with total monthly revenue of $1,500.00 within the time prescribed in the Franchise Agreement, she would be entitled to a refund of the difference in the value of the franchise plans. However, since Stratus alleged she did not make full payment, they gave her no
refund.
99. Plaintiff has had to borrow money to purchase a vehicle and she has never been given sufficient accounts to be profitable.
100. Plaintiff lost all of her savings as a result of the fraudulent actions of Stratus.
Read all related stories here: Stratus Building Solutions Franchise
Read and comment here: STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise Complaints
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY: WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
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STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS: Markeeta Rivera’s Franchise Horror Story
February 1, 2012
Many contend that commercial cleaning / janitorial franchise opportunities like those offered by Stratus Building Solutions, Coverall and Jan-Pro are blatant scams.
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The text of a recent lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court of the County of St. Louis, State of Missouri, against Stratus Building Solutions contains the horror stories of two alleged franchise scam victims, Markeeta Rivera And Guadalupe Clemente.
Both alleged victims are women.
Both are Hispanic.
Both were allegedly tricked out of their savings by a cold and calculated technique that has been used and refined by janitorial franchise sales sharks for decades.
Here is an excerpt from the actual lawsuit document:
* * * * *
MARKEETA RIVERA’S STORY
70. In April of 2010, Plaintiff Rivera entered into an amended “Unit Franchise Agreement” with Impressive Cleaning Solutions, Inc., doing business as Stratus of Upstate New York. (A copy of that franchise agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit “15”.)
71. Pursuant to the FDD, Plaintiff purchased a franchise plan that was to provide her projected gross annual revenue in the amount of $30,000.00.
72. Pursuant to the Unit Franchise Agreement, if the Franchisor fails to offer accounts that satisfy the projected revenue within 120 days of the execution of the Agreement, Franchisor is required to refund a pro rata portion of the initial franchise fees.
73. However, Franchisor’s obligation to refund any portion of the initial franchise fee is deemed waived if the Unit Franchisee rejects any customer accounts offered by Franchisor or subsequently discontinues service to any customer accounts offered by Franchisor.
74. Plaintiff was offered accounts that required Plaintiff to travel such distances that it was economically not feasible to accept the account.
75. Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, Franchisor could offer an account hundreds of miles away from the Unit Franchisee that Franchisor knows the Unit Franchisee will reject to relieve the Franchisor of its obligations under the contract. Such actions have occurred throughout the United States.
76. Plaintiff has never been provided accounts which total the projected annual revenues in that amount, had accounts taken from her without just cause or excuse, had excessive and/or unauthorized fees assessed against her, and has never been able to attain the business level represented to her by the Master Franchisee.
77. That the Master Franchise engaged in the practice of “Churning.”
78. That the above-referenced fraudulent actions set forth by Plaintiff, were first undertaken by the Defendants who passed their practices, policies, procedures, and methods to the Master Franchisee to utilize.
* * * * *
Also read:
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise Lawsuits Ahead? STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS: Markeeta Rivera’s Franchise Horror Story
Read all related stories here: Stratus Building Solutions Franchise
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY: WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
To contact the author or site admin, email UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise Lawsuits Ahead?
February 1, 2012
Attorney Jonathan Fortman filed suit in Missouri yesterday seeking certification of a nationwide class of all Stratus Building Solutions unit franchisees who have agreements with the master franchisees.
Fortman’s petition to the court on behalf of Stratus franchisees Markeeta Rivera and Guadalupe Clemente (and those similarly situated) does not seek monetary compensation. According to Fortman, “We are simply asking the court to declare that under Missouri law, the Stratus Master Franchisees are captive agents of Stratus (based on Stratus’ level of control) and not independent contractors.”
Fortman says “We are also asking the court to declare that Stratus Building Solutions and its franchising company have conspired to defraud both the master and the unit franchisees into purchasing into a system they knew, based on their experience in St. Louis, could not be sustained.”
The Stratus Master Franchise Agreements require that the agreement be interpreted under Missouri law. If the Missouri judge rules in Fortman’s favor, he will be well-positioned to file group action lawsuits throughout the country on behalf of Stratus Building Solutions franchise owners.
The lawsuit includes the sad stories of the Plaintiffs, two Hispanic women who lost their savings through the alleged “churning” and other deceptive practices of the Stratus Building Solutions franchise sales machine. As soon as they are posted, you can read their stories here:
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS: Markeeta Rivera’s Franchise Horror Story
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise: Guadalupe Clemente’s Horror Story
Read all related stories here: Stratus Building Solutions Franchise
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY: WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
To contact the author or site admin, email UnhappyFranchisee[at]gmail.com
STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise: Are Stratus Franchisees Successful?
November 9, 2011
The Stratus Building Solutions franchise, like other commercial cleaning & janitorial franchises, is under fire from its franchisees.
Our post STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise Complaints prompted some harsh criticism.
Stratus Franchisee wrote: “…[Stratus] franchisees are offered accounts that are not profitable. When they are forced to give them up because they lose money, the franchisor transfers the account to another new unsuspecting franchisee… It seems the business is not set up to find new profitable accounts but to find new gullible franchisees because that is how the franchisor can make a quick buck.”
Linda Seneway wrote “I am a former employee at Stratus Building Solutions. I left because I could no longer be a part of scamming minorities. The contracts are set up against you. You cannot win and will never make money.”
SUCKER wrote: “THEY UNDER BID YOUR JOBS AND TAKE 30% OF THE CHECK…THEY LOW BALL TO GET JOBS…”
Nunya wrote: “Stratus Building Solutions is a scam……period!!!!!! They jack up the price on any and all equipment….uniform attire that one would use… they double that price when it gets to the Franchisee.”
Jonathan Fortman wrote: “…I filed a class action lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis on behalf of 3 plaintiffs who purchased Stratus franchises. The franchisees allege that Stratus gave them false and misleading information to get the to sign the franchise agreement, failed to provide services it agreed to provide in the franchise agreement and violated Missouri law by terminating franchises without proper notice.”
Stratus Building Solutions Responds to Criticism
How does Stratus Building Solutions respond to such damning allegations about its commercial cleaning franchise opportunity?
A blog named Franchise Chatter recently acknowledged online criticisms from janitorial franchisees.
Franchise Chatter posed the question “Are Stratus Building Solutions unit level franchisees financially successful?” Stratus Building Solutions Marketing Coordinator Marisa Lather provided an official company response, which is reprinted in its entirety below. Italicized commentary is UnhappyFranchisee.com ’s.
Are Stratus Building Solutions unit franchisees successful? “What an outstanding question…”
Are Stratus Building Solutions unit level franchisees financially successful? Marisa Lather replies: “What an outstanding question and one to definitely take into consideration. I can only speak for Stratus Building Solutions. It all goes back to creating a system built for success with appropriate margins for every participant. Every Stratus system has been built with the unit franchisee in mind.”
Yes, Marisa, it is an outstanding question! We have fielded numerous complaints that Stratus underbids jobs and provides franchisees with contracts that yield less than minimum wage. Not to be pushy, but we eagerly await your answer to this outstanding question.
Stratus’ Marisa Lather continues: “The founding philosophy of Stratus Building Solutions is to draw distinction to the company by being a true bottom up organization. The success of the unit franchisee is paramount to the success of the company. Even in building our tagline of ‘Your Success is Our Only Business’ we wanted to convey how truly committed we are to having successful franchisees on all levels, starting with the unit.”
Marisa, we agree. It’s a beautiful tagline! We have not received one complaint about the Stratus tagline!
However, we have received complaints that Stratus Master Franchisees will take away accounts from unit-level franchisees under the pretense that there were client complaints (when there weren’t) so they can award them to new franchisees at a much higher profit. I’m sure you’ll address this when you answer the outstanding question. Which will be soon, I hope!
Marisa states: “Every product, system and process has been carefully evaluated to see how it will influence the outcome of the unit franchisee’s investment. For example, we are the only company in our industry to have our own line of Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals. When we were exploring the idea, we went to our developer and stressed it must be competitive or superior to anything else available in our market.”
Marisa, how will Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals help unit level franchisees whose jobs are hopelessly underbid or who have profitable accounts taken from them under false pretenses, as is alleged? You ARE going to get to the outstanding question soon, right?
Marisa states: “Our Stratus brand HEPA Filtration Backpack Vacuum is a top grade piece of equipment that costs $450 at retail. Through the Stratus program, unit franchisees are able to have the vacuum at a discounted price while still maintaining top quality.”
Marisa? Seriously? People are claiming that they are losing their savings and being scammed out of their livelihoods, and you brag about the discount they get on a vacuum cleaner? Plus, franchisees contend you double and triple the price of such things as uniforms and business cards to franchisees. Answer the outstanding question, now, please!
“It’s also worth noting that we have zero litigation (compared to our competitors) and we offer unlimited consultation on what the FDD states so that our prospective franchisees understand exactly what is coming in and going out.”
Zero litigation compared to your competitors? What does that even mean? And what about the class action lawsuit reportedly filed against Stratus Building Services on behalf of three stratus unit franchisees? Have you read STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise Class Action Lawsuit Filed?
“We’re lucky to have avoided such issues for the most part, but it’s certainly a valid question and it’s best to know all sides of a business — good and bad — when evaluating a final choice. Buying a franchise is more than just an investment in your money – it’s your time, your life really.”
Oh, Marisa, you teased us, then broke our hearts. You said the question of franchisee profitability was outstanding, and then you dazzled us with your tagline, HEPA vacuum discounts and Green Seal Certified chemicals! And you never answered the outstanding question!
We do agree on one thing: Buying a Stratus franchise will cost you more than money… so prospective franchisees should thoroughly research this opportunity and get expert advice before buying the franchise.
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STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise Class Action Lawsuit Filed
August 13, 2011
Attorney Jonathan Fortman has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of 3 franchisees against the Stratus Building Solutions janitorial franchisor.
According to a message left on UnhappyFranchisee.com earlier today, the 3 Stratus franchise owners (all based in Missouri) claim they were enticed into signing the Stratus franchise agreement through the use of false and misleading information.
They claim that once they signed up as Stratus franchise owners, the franchisor failed to provide the services promised in the franchise agreement.
The franchisees’ suit also alleges that Stratus Building Solutions violated Missouri law by improper termination of franchisees.
Jonathan Fortman invites Stratus Building Franchisees who want to discuss their experiences with this franchise to contact him directly.
Fortman’s message and contact information follows:
Jonathan E. Fortman
Submitted on 2011/08/13 at 3:59 am
My name is Jonathan Fortman and I’m an attorney in the St. Louis area, the hometown of Stratus.. On August 13, 2011, I filed a class action lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis on behalf of 3 plaintiffs who purchased Stratus franchises. The franchisees allege that Stratus gave them false and misleading information to get the to sign the franchise agreement, failed to provide services it agreed to provide in the franchise agreement and violated Missouri law by terminating franchises without proper notice. We are seeking to have the case certified as a class action on behalf of all Missouri franchisees who had losses due to the improper conduct of corporate. I would be happy to discuss any of your experiences you had with this franchise. Feel free to contact me anytime at (314) 522-2312 or by email at jef@fortmanlaw.,com. . If you are already represented by an attorney, please pass this message to your attorney. I wish you all the best of luck in this matter. Just remember you are not alone.
Jonathan E. Fortman
LAW OFFICE OF JONATHAN E. FORTMAN, LLC79 Hubble Dr., Suite 101
Dardenne Prairie, Missouri 63368
(314) 522-2312
(314) 524-1519 fax
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STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise Complaints
July 18, 2011
(UnhappyFranchisee.com) Is the STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS Franchise a scam? At UnhappyFranchisee.com, we’ve received a number of Stratus Building Solutions franchise complaints.
Strangely, Stratus Building Solutions is ranked #20 in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 (READ: Top 100 Franchise Opportunities 2011: Behind The Hype)
In fact, when Unhappy Franchisee asked for commercial cleaning franchise complaints, half of the negative comments were against Stratus Building Solutions franchise opportunity.
Why are some franchise owners calling Stratus Building Solutions franchise a big scam? The complaints are the same as those levelled against Jani-King, Jan-Pro, Coverall, Cleannet USA and the other commercial cleaning franchise companies out there: Underbidding accounts, fraudulently taking cleaning accounts from one franchisee to give to another, etc. etc.
The question remains: Why are these janitorial franchise companies allowed to get away with these despicable practices?
Chris wrote:
Stratus Building Solutions, Especially the one is Pittsburgh is a big scam. Please do not go to Stratus.
“I bought a franchise and now they plan on taking the one and only account off of me. That leaves me with zero income. The way the contract is written is that they are able to take off of you any accounts they say. They tell you they have complaints about the cleaning you have been doing. They tell you ‘We warned you now the account is taken from you. We need to protect our intrest too.’
The contract favors them. I lost $13,700 Also even tho you think you own a franchise you really do not. They get you accounts that belong to them. so you can not sell your franchise. The only way you can sell it is to go door to door and get your own accounts. You could have started you own cleaning and keep all the cleaning money yourself. Please listen to me. The contract does not protect you at all. The contract benefits them.
Please help me stop Stratus of pittsburg and Stratus corporate from swindleing any one. The solution to me is to go clean places on your own. By the way, if you do get your own places to clean while you are with stratus, you still have to pay percentage.
Ale wrote:
stratus is all bull shiet !! its a fucking fraud!!!
Javier Santos on March 31st, 2011 7:27 pm wrote:
STRATUS is A Big Scam! Don’t let them ruin your dreams they take advantage of good people to fill up their pockets.
guest on May 14th, 2011 10:15 pm wrote:
Stratus Building Solutions Franchise has received a grade of “F” from the Better Business Bureau of Orange County
http://www.la.bbb.org/PublicComplaints.aspx?CompanyID=100103761
Stratus Building Solutions Franchise complaint 1:
“Posted 3/11/2011 Summary – Consumer alleges services were not rendered as agreed.
Complaint Description Consumer alleges services were not rendered as agreed. Consumer paid your company $1000.00 down for a franchise business opportunity on 7/19/10. She completed the classes needed to get certified on janitorial services on 8/24/10. Once the classes were completed she was going to start getting job sites were she had to provide janitorial services, using her own equipment and would receive a check for services rendered minus a 25% fee from your company. To date consumer has not received job sites. Every time she calls to get assistance she is given the run around. She requested to get her money back for the down payment on the franchise however you refused. Consumer wants a refund of her monies.”
Stratus Building Solutions Franchise complaint 2:
“Posted 4/15/2011 Summary – Consumer alleges services were misrepresented and no refund has been issued
Complaint Description Consumer alleges services were misrepresented and no refund has been issued. Consumer purchaser a franchise from your company on 7/14/09 and paid $22000.00. He was promised to have his own business, his own building to provide the janitorial service that will pay $120000.00 a year. To date he has made $17000.00 in one year. He is not running his own company, instead he is introduce to clients as if he was working for your company. He had to pay 25% fee from each check for insurance, processing fees etc. When consumer complains to your company and ask for a refund of the money he invested you refuse. Consumer wants a refund of the $22000.00 he paid because the franchise was not as represented.”
Stratus Building Solutions Franchise complaint 3:
“Posted 4/21/2011 Summary – Consumer states company failed to provide proper services.
Complaint Description Consumer states company failed to provide proper services. Consumer paid $14,500 to the company. The company stated they would assist her in getting contracts with franchises, to clean their facilities. A list of potential leads would be provided to her. The lists they provided are not valid. When she requested a refund, she only received the runaround.”
Rob on June 2nd, 2011 wrote:
Stratus Building Solutions Franchise in Philadelphia is a big SCAM, Please don’t made same mistake I did and do not Buy franchise from them, they take advantage of good people, You are actually paying 10′s of thousands of dollars to make between $8-$10hr. You can’t even hire people without taking a loss, the ONLY people making real money are the people selling the franchises.
anonymous on July 15th, 2011 3:22 pm (Edit)
What bothers me the most is that with all the cleaning companies out there, they all repeat the same deceptive, abusive, misleading and unethical practices. They prey on the average american who wants to legally make money and work hard doing it. Often people have invested their life savings into the hope of making a better way for their families. It is unbelievable how the state and federal government aren’t doing anything after years of complaints and law suits to protect people from these modern day ponzi schemes.
I invested my money into Stratus Building Solutions to later find out that im not a owner of my own business but merely a employee, i paid $11000 to work a job. The gross revenues arent guranteed, they underbid contracts just to build their portfolio. Some of the jobs break down to be less than minimum wage. A business is meant to grow, not keep you stuck in one place where you have to do all the work to get by. If you speak against their actions they totally cut you off, no contact, even when they still owe you money.
IS THE STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS FRANCHISE A LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY OR A FRANCHISE SCAM? SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.
