Page Title

Wall Of Shame

We had accepted checks for any payment, and sure, we understood
when it was an honest mistake and the bride didn't know the groom
had also written a large check from the same account and the check
was made good immediately. As the old saying goes, it only takes a
few to ruin it for everyone. To give these special customers the credit
they deserve, we have set up a "Wall of Shame" as you come into the
bakery where each of these checks are on display. While we have
been in business since 1990, the amount of checks on the wall is
relatively small, which shows the majority of people do not believe in
stealing. To become a member of the wall, you must pass a bad check
and then not clear the outstanding balance owed.

*If any member would like to lose
their membership to the wall,
it is a simple process of
clearing the check balance,
a $25 returned check fee &
any legal costs incurred to collect payment.

The check will be taken down immediately AND
your name will also be deleted from the list below.

Wall of Shame
Members:

Brandi Livingston of Gardner
Member since Jan. 2004
Returned check for daughter's birthday cake
written on a closed account

Nicole Burke d/b/a/ Bridal Dreams
in Fitzwilliam, NH
Member since Jan. 2004
Returned check for cake for their
Prom Fashion Show
to promote the dress shop.
The bigger shame:
She promised the students at a local high school that if they
modeled in the fashion show they would get their attire for the
prom at a deep discount. She then just disappeared, leaving the
kids without either a dress or tux for the prom. Those kids were
then left to find an alternate dress or tux rental right before their
prom night. When I called the high school principal to inform him
that she had shut her doors and he may want to try to contact
her on behalf of his students, he had no idea of what she had
done. The students would have been waiting for the call from
her to come pick up their dress or tux, a call that was never
going to come that would have left so many of them with no
formal wear for their big night.

Laura Radefield of Chicago
Member since Aug. 2005
Returned check for cake top & supplies
for her sister's wedding in Gardner

Nancy Anderson of Athol
Member since Aug. 2007
Returned check for Baby Shower cake
for her daughter

Farrah Zanga of Athol
Member since June 2008
Returned check for birthday cake

If you are one of their friends,
I'm sure you have heard every excuse from them, I have as well.

I would just like to set the record straight for all of you that they say we (and others) have been so
unfair to them by taking them to court, they have tried to pay their balance, etc. etc.
For any one who attended their wedding, please take the time to call to the bakery which ended up
providing their wedding cake and ask how they enjoyed creating a cake for free - well not really
free, they also were hit with a bank fee for the check being returned by the bank as unpaid:
it was written on a closed account.

Here are just a FEW of the email excuses and promises I have received:

9-7-07 email from Jen:
Sorry about any inconvenience, things have been extremely hectic around here as we just
had a new baby on the 27th and he is very ill. Katie, however, probably called you to rant about
something or other because that seems to be what she does. You can just ignore her
and I will speak to her myself. Anyhow, if there was a problem with the order
please let me know and I will clear it up ASAP.

9-7-07 email from myself:
Jennifer, I am so sorry to hear about your little one, I will keep him in my prayers.
I had called to speak with you in reference to your payment for your order, which was returned
by your bank. Your child should be your first priority and you may clear the
balance up when he is feeling better. Please keep in touch.

9-17-07 email from myself:
Hi Jennifer, I just wanted to touch base and check in with you. I hope the baby is feeling better. I
also wanted to check when you or Jason will be able to drop by and clear the balance due for your
wedding cake. All of your accessories have been done in your colors and are ready for the 13th.

9-23-07 until 10-4-07: SIX appointments made, all NO SHOWS

10-4-07 email from Jason at 1:04:
Bev, Jen has been hosptialized for the last several days, as her blood count has been extremely
low and she fainted at our home last week. She is still there, however she informed me that she had
set up an appointment with you to clear up the balance on the wedding cake and what not. I would
like to come clear it up, however could only find your email address. I'm trying to tie up all the loose
ends before the wedding so, please let me know a good time to meet up with you and I will stop by.
Thanks so much, Jason Jensen

10-4-2007: I happened to be on the computer when the message came in, I responded at 1:09:
Jason,I will be here all day today. The address is 203 Turner Lane, Templeton. Directions are on my
web site, cakesforalloccasions.org. Let me know what time you would like to stop by.

Same Story, NO SHOWS AGAIN

2-14-2008: email from Jen:
Dear Bev,
I just received your letter in the mail was shocked. I was unaware of any small claims court
proceedings, and if I was I would have, by all means, shown up. I have called the court and given
them my correct address, and also informed them that I would be getting in touch with you. I deeply
apooligize for any financial problems we have caused you. I was aware that a check to you had
bounced, but was unaware that the balance was not cleared up. I spoke to my husband about it
and he informed me that he thought I took care of it, and I thought the opposite. I am willing to do
whatever it takes to make good on this balance, however, I am wondering if a payment plan would
be some sort of an option. I can afford to pay you $75 per week, or $300 per month, if that is
acceptable, as I just recently lost my job due to illness. I understand that this probibly sounds like
one long excuse to you, but I would never intentionaly steal from anyone. It is just not how I was
brought up. You can email me back or call my cell. Again, I am so sorry for all the trouble this has
caused. God Bless, Jennifer Jensen

2-15-2008: 13th NSF check contact - email from Jen:
Thank you so much for accepting the payment plan. Unfortunatley, the reason I out of work is due
to a Bi-Polar Disorder illness, which caused me to spend a lot of money we ultimatley did not have,
in a manic state. I am slowly fixing all of the trouble that I have caused. The arrest on 2/2 was
because I failed to appear for a summon that I never recieved. Like I said before, I have since then
updated my address with the court. Thank you, Jen

2-22-2008 email from Jen:
I sent $150 out of my paycheck to the address listed on your website today.
I would appreciate that my name and personal information be taken down after you are paid.
Thank you. Jen

No payment is ever received.

3-1-2008 (2) emails from Jen:
email #1: Bev, I would like to pay the total due probibly Thursday. Should I bring it to you?
email #2: I haven't heard from you in over a week. I just want to know if you recieved my money
order. Also, I just recieved my tax refund and would like to pay the balance. Could you please give
me the total?

3-1-2008: 15th NSF check contact - email from myself:
Jen, I emailed you on 2-26-08 that I had not received your money order.
Your total balance due as of today is $872.44

3-3-2008: 16th NSF check contact - email from myself:
Jen, I can meet you at the Gardner court house so they can dismiss this case for you when you pay.
You can give me a call on Thursday when you are ready to drive there.
The clerk's office is open from 8:30-4:30.

*To All Readers of this page, keep in mind she lives less than 2 miles from the court house.

3-3-2008 email from Jen:
Bev, I work 7 - 330 on Thursday so I will call when I leave work.

3-4-2008: Jen again is a no show

3-12-2008 email from Jen:
Bev, Its been almost a week since I tried to meet you. I called you with no answer and emailed you
with no response. Please inform me of a good time to meet you so you can get your money and
this whole mess can be fixed. I do not work Sat. this week or Tuesday next week.

3-16-08 email from myself:
Jen, I've given some thought to even responding to your email since it's very clear you are just
playing games, but ok, I'll let you set up one more time for you to clear this balance. I was here the
entire day on Thursday as I had a busy weekend and was here working, and of course everyone
else's calls and emails were received.

I am not busy on Tuesday, so just call an hour prior to when you would like to meet at the court
house. If you actually show up with your balance due, you will be taken off the wall of shame and
the capais will not be served. However, I think Tuesday will become the 17th time you or Jason
have supposed to show up to pay this off and haven't, including 2 court dates. If you decide not to
show up again, an update will be made.

3-20-08 email from Jen:
Bev, I'm just getting to this email from Sunday now, as I've been in Boston helping my mother who
just suffered a stroke. I have Tuesday and Thursday off this week and can meet you at the court
house. Please let me know which day is good for you.

3-25-08 email from myself:
I will be here all day, give me a call if you want to clear this up & I’ll meet you at the court house.

NO RESPONSE - NO SHOW AGAIN
All together, there are 18 different times set up by either
Jen or Jason to pay this balance.

******************************************************************************************************************************

So that's the stories behind the "Wall of Shame"
and the people who are featured on it.

We have created hundreds of cakes for special
occasions over the last 21 years and have enjoyed
baking and decorating each and every one of them.
99.9% of people are wonderful, hard working people
who would NEVER think of stealing or shoplifting.

When we have gone to court for these cases, the court is FULL
of small companies trying to collect on bad checks / shoplifting.
The people who are owed the money are there,
but rarely are the people who owe the payment.
They go on with their lives, taking what they want but not paying.
Banks will cancell their accounts,
credit cards will settle for a lower amount to clear them off the books.
They open another account from a new bank to get more checks.
They open more credit card accounts and the cycle goes on.
Their credit rating falls, but at this point, they just don't care.
THEY are the reason WE pay higher prices for
products we need & higher interest rates for our credit cards and bank loans.

Do they tell their friends they do this? Family?
NO, they don't. And with the flawed system now in place,
no one finds out until they pass a bad check on them.

The companies who receive a court finding
have just that, a finding in their favor.
They are out the money from the bad check,
the bank fee, the court filing fee AND ...
If they would like the court to bring in the person to answer the
charges in front of the judge, they get to pay another $300 for
a sheriff to serve the court papers to that person!

Again, we would like to thank our customers who believe stealing is wrong.
We, like you, work hard so we can pay for things we want in life and
not place a hardship on others by taking a product or service
and not paying what is owed.

Jennifer Howes & Jason Jensen
of Gardner
Members since Aug. 2007
Returned check for
their wedding package.

They owe OVER $850 !!!
AND
They also passed another bad check to
another bakery for the same wedding
date on a CLOSED account.
As for her excuse that she didn't know she had a
court date, the courts had no problem serving
her and showing she received her summons well
before all of the court dates. She even goes so
far as to write other arrests posted in the local
newspaper are for - you guessed it - more court
summons for other cases that she didn't receive!

*** Update on this bride:
The Gardner Police Log lists her being arrested
on
Feb. 2, 2007 on yet another charge !!!