Well here's the latest:
I'm on my 3rd attorney due to the fact that I was living in Florida, the dispute is in Kentucky and I have since moved to VA.
Due to the total amount in dispute.. a bit north of $13,500 this will have to go to circuit court.
The BBB offered to arbitrate the case, which I agreed to. Unfortunately STS refused. I think they are well aware as I that any reasonable individual or panel will side with me and do not want to risk putting it in their hands. I have all of the documentation ready and prepared from the initial email to the refusal to ship.
I understand where many of you are coming from in that that legal litigation could be very costly and it's something I have tried to avoid.
Even if i dispute he credit card payments with my banks it won't get me the equipment back, which is where the majority of everything is tied up. It has been $3,945 is payments and nearly $10,000 in the scope, chassis and related equipment that I sent to STS to complete the system.
I'm quite sure that, as many have said, that STS used my deposit to pay off other builds. Then didn't have the capital to order my action and complete the build. Delays are completely understandable, especially when parts are sourced by the smith but to deceive the customer is not tolerable.
I did agree to settle to the terms that STS outlined in order to recover my rifle and equipment, they still refused to ship. I didn't post this thread until after they revoked the release agreement, then after it was sent a second time by their attorney, I signed it ad agreed to not further discuss the issue as long as the equipment was shipped. They refused to ship, even after the agreement was signed, it was after that point that I updated the thread to reflect the on going issue.
It's still an ongoing battle, and will continue for sometime. I've very much learned that whatever Mr. Turner says can not be trusted and STS will do whatever they can to delay and postpone.
As the matter moves forward I will update. I hope that this has shed some light on some shady business practices. Thanks to all for the support and welcomed advice and comments