Landstown Lakes
Between 4:00 P.M. and 4:28 P.M. a Caucasian man in a green shirt, cream-colored pants driving a bright yellow pick up truck pulled up to a person near their residence. The individual claimed he was selling discounted steaks and gave the impression he was talking on the cell phone at the same time. Individual also asked if anyone was at the resident’s home during the day.
Home resident noticed the website DirectUSA.com on a brochure the man was holding. A subsequent search of that site revealed an unrelated dormant website. Further search of Direct USA revealed numerous fraud complaints related to their products and practices.
Individuals are cautioned not to purchase any products from this company and are encouraged to call the police if they suspect fraud or feel threatened. Question to ask – Why would you by meat off the back of a truck?
Also, contact your city Attorney’s Office about this fraud.
Do not answer any questions asking if you are home during the day or personal questions about yourself. Actually, don’t answer any of their questions.
Additional Description:
Manager: Belben,Al
1052 NW 53rd St,
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33309-3146
Company Website:
www.directusa.com
http://all-us-states.b121.com/itemcategories/details/FL/Fort-Lauderdale/Direct-USA-Inc
Direct USA Inc
Company Details:
Food Products (Wholesale), Fort Lauderdale, FL
Complaints and methods they use:
Direct USA Foods old meat, rancid, horrible, non-edible Joliet, Illinois
Direct USA Foods Satisfaction Guarantee is a lie
Direct USA Foods Sells Bad Meat!
Marc
March 3, 2009 at 10:24 am
The owner of the company is a man named Steve James. His direct line is (phone remove). If you have been ripped off by them, give him a call and let him know.
kim
April 7, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I am currently filing a complaint on this company with the BBB the mis-lead and rip people off!!!! this company should not be a company at all !!!! They are liars and the meat is yucky!!! I say CAUTION!!! slam the DOOR AND CALL THE POLICE ON THESE TRESPASSERS !!!
Amy Hall
March 4, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I was scammed yesterday> Two young guys ripped me off> I work very hard and they were doing everything they could to get inside my house> they showed up later again, and I was suspicious>>………>I finally figured out that they were not only trying to rip me off with the streaks but scoping out my house to later rob me. my neighbors are waiting to catch them in the area to call the police. I am devastated>……>GOD WILL DEAL WITH THEM>>>..>>…hell on earth is better than ETERNITY IN HELL>
Janet Pattison
April 21, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I feel so stupid as I sit here on hold with my bank as they check to see if these guys have deposited my check yet. Thank goodness no, and I am stopping payment. I will have some angry people I’m sure but it’s worth it after reading all of this. I never let them in the house and I’m glad about that. I still think I am going to call the police anyway.
Janet Pattison
April 21, 2010 at 3:19 pm
@ Marc
Oh, I forgot to say that this happen to me in York County, so they are moving west.
Jamie Johnson
May 21, 2010 at 2:05 pm
As always, I am looking for a good deal and here it was at my door, I didn’t even have to leave my house and I was hungry too. After buying a case with a free box of fillets, the guy was so happy because now he had a chance to win a free fishing trip to the Keys. He even gave me a card and ask me to make the check out to him personally, so I did, After he left I thought that was weird that he had me make the check out to him so I looked the company up on line and oh my GOD you got to be kidding me, scam after scam I read about, one good thing is I told him not cash the check until Wednesday because there wont be any money in there until then, and I put a stop payment on the check that my wonderfull Wachovia charged me $30.00 to do. If he drops by the house on wednesday I will give him his steaks back, Thank God I have a big dog so maybe he will think twice about robbing me.
Jamie Johnson
May 21, 2010 at 2:07 pm
@Jamie Johnson
Oh, this is going on in the Indian Rocks Beach FL. area
Tisha
July 10, 2010 at 11:02 am
Wow. I just bought meat for these men yesterday. How could I be so stupid. I gave them my debit card and he swiped. Now I am freaking out!
sarah
August 5, 2010 at 7:07 pm
These men told me they were affiliated with the Naval Base here, and I came *this* close to buying! I can’t believe I even let them into my home.
EmmertBowl814ATaoldotcom
August 30, 2010 at 12:20 pm
August 30th, 2010… I just responded to a classified at in the Ocala Star-Banner for delivery drivers/customer service/warehouse help needed. Avg. $14.50/hr to start. Then there was a phone number. I called and was given the address and to come by and fill-out an application. No mention of the company name. I show up and the ‘warehouse’ is a rinky-dink shack the size of a small house. The ‘freezer’ was a walk-in freezer about 10 feet by 20 feet. and there is a line of about 20 people waiting to see the ONE employee for an interview.
There were TWO large yellow vans that looked practically brand new, with the name DirectUSA Foods and pictures of the meat,pork,poultry,etc. The two vans took up about 40% of the ‘warehouse’ space and the application stated we would be independant contractors. This operation is fairly new because the address of the building, 940 NE 16th Street, Ocala, 34470 comes up as a different company and the Occupational License was obtained on 4/1/2010.
Anyhow, after reading about the company and even though I am DESPERATE for work, if I were to receive a call-back I would deny working for DirectUSA. I hope other possible employees of DirectUSAFoods and possible customers read this and the MANY complaints about the company, (Just Google “Direct USA Scam”), and decide to not affiliate themselves with the company and to not purchase ANYTHING from them.
EmmertBowl814ATaoldotcom
September 4, 2010 at 11:41 pm
@EmmertBowl814ATaoldotcom:
Door-to-Door Meat Sales is just flat-out rude and embarassing. Apparaently, you are told to “SELL! SELL! SELL!” and not to take “NO!” for an answer! It’s a shame they opened up this company here in Ocala,Florida… which is about 15-20 minutes away from The Villages, which is a VERY LARGE 50 and over retirement CITY. Praying on them and selling them over-priced products just makes me sick. I sure hope this company gets put out of business. Although, it is obviously porfitable or they wouldn’t keep opening new franchises and have brand new vans and such. OH well… just my thoughts … again… anyone else have an opinion? I am VERY curious to hear from someone who either also applied for a job with them (not knowing it was Direct Foods USA as the employer, as the job postings and advertisements were vague about the company), or I would like to hear from someone who WORKED FOR DIRECT USA FOODS! Tell me your experience(s) with the company and your horror, or even your good stories. Thanks. GE.
teila
October 19, 2010 at 1:44 pm
My name is (name removed) and I’m a mother of 4 desprete need of work and I ran across there ad on craigslist and I didn’t. Know what direct usa was so out of curiosity I look on the website and I saw everyone comments on this people of coarse I don’t wanna work for nothing like that so thanks for the heads up.