Complaint Review: AVI Data Processing Center - Highland California

The San Bernardino District Attorney's Office and the United States Postal Inspector have launched into an investigation of A.V. I. Data Processing Center, who may be charged with using deceptive and misleading classified ads and websites to sell their Judgment Recovery Operations Program, a possible violation of both state & federal consumer protection laws. The DA's office could be filing charges soon. The Federal Trade Commission will neither confirm or deny that they are ensuing an investigation.

Better Business Bureau records confirm that there have been over 117 complaints filed in the past two years by consumers across the country. In spite of these complaints, the company continues to use the same ads and websites. They have recently been placing ads in small Canadian community papers as well.

Robert Brady, a consumer and Reagan Lynch, a consumer advocate, allege that "AV I Data Processing Center, (www.aviathome.com) located in Highland, Ca., is misleading consumers into believing that they want to employ home-based data entry workers and can earn a potential income of $2000-$4000 a month. For a $175 deposit, what the consumer receives is an out-dated, 20-page brochure, and a floppy disc, that instructs the consumer to start his or her own home based business. They also claim that a support phone number will be provided, but all the numbers listed in the "operations manual" are disconnected or no longer in service."

Dameon Higgins, the owner of AVI, recently filed a $350,000 Defamation suit, naming Brady (CJFA.org) and Lesley Fountain (FriendsInBusiness.com) as co-defendants because of whistle-blowing efforts used on their websites to inform the public about the nature of AVI's offer. No other websites mentioning AVI Data's offer have been named in the suit.

Lynch and Brady, in an earlier attempt to get Brady's money refunded, contacted Higgins. Higgins verbally and in an email, denied any personal connection with AV I, stating that AV I was only a client of his firm, RDH & Associates. No records have been found to show Higgins' alleged firm, RDH & Associates, ever existed.

However, according to Fictitious Business Name records in San Bernardino County, Higgins filed for a five-year D.B.A. business license in August of 1999. Records also show that Higgins has used other aliases, misspelled addresses and phone numbers when filing and registering various other related licenses, permits and Internet domain names.

Brady had applied for AVI's program earlier this year. "After seeing their ad and visiting their website," he states, "I knew I wouldn't make as much as their ad claimed, but I felt I could make enough for my student loan payments. As soon as I received the materials, I felt that what they were doing could be illegal, so I contacted Reagan and informed the District Attorney's office, the FTC, and various other government agencies."

Lynch, a consumer advocate (www.firstconsumerwatch.com) who was representing Brady states, "Companies like AV I prey on honest, unsuspecting people in small communities that are looking for a way to create an income at home, especially stay-at-home Moms and senior citizens, who then end up as victims. They need to be shut down, or required to simply state on their website that their "business opportunity" is not an offer of employment. Then people won't be misled!"

If convicted, Higgins could face several years in prison on multiple counts, stiff fines and penalties, and ordered to return thousands of dollars to consumers.

If you would like to contact CJFA.org concerning your experiences with AVI Data Processing Center, visit www.CJFA.org for more information, and what rights and remedies you have.

CJFA.org

Palmdale, California

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