What's the scam here?

[Noah930]

At my business address I just received a postcard "Notice of Delinquency" from my state's "Secretary of State, Business Programs Division." It's dated 6/30/10 and claims the required statement is due: (Form SI-200 N/C) Statement of Information. Again, it's been mailed to my business address.

However, it's not my business that's listed. Instead, it's Car Club LA Inc. The only car-related stuff I've ever gotten at my business address has been the free AutoWeek subscription. I have no idea what Car Club LA Inc. even is. A Google search shows up a FaceBook page for those ridiculous street-legal golf cart death machines. Obviously I have never expressed any interest in one of those things, nor did I ever keep my work address linked to my FB account while I still had it (it's now gone). Clearly I have no business affiliation with this outfit.

So what gives?

Edit: Mystery solved. It was an address typo and the building's tenant directory in the lobby has the office suite listed under the owner's name, not the business name.

[stomachmonkey]

If it's legit they obviously have the wrong address.

Is there a phone number listed that when you call to try and get info will put you on hold while charging you $10.00 per minute for the call?

[Noah930]

No phone number. Just a website listed on the back. You know, after they tell me they need said form or face $250 penalty.

Just wondering why (if this isn't some honest clerical error) someone would use my address for their business.

[McLovin]

The "notice" you got may be from a private company, but made to look "official." These are companies that offer to do business filings on behalf of companies, for a fee (usually around $250, plus filing fees. Kind of a ripoff). They usually get their names and addresses from the state's Secretary of State website, etc.

But it could also be a notice directly from the Secretary of State. You have to look carefully.

Anyways, here's the info on file with the Cal SoS for that particular company:


Entity Name: CAR CLUB LA INC.
Entity Number: C2404535
Date Filed: 02/20/2002
Status: ACTIVE
Jurisdiction: CALIFORNIA

[Noah930]

Yep, that's my work address. I haven't been here since 2002, but this office has been at this location since 2004. I'm told it was vacant before the office got set up, and prior to that it was a bank. So maybe some long-forgotten/defunct business was formerly here. Thanks.

[Zeke]

Now that has been shown and determined, it might be a good idea to edit.

[McLovin]

Here's the info for Car Club LA, Inc.

It looks like at some point, they moved suites, but are still in your bldg. (they show the same address, but a diff suite number).

Maybe walk down the hall and give the notice to Ronald Hasson.

Car Club LA - Home

[McLovin]

P.S. It looks like the biz model was to buy 2 Ferraris and a Corvette, and try to rent them out at $800/day. So there's a good chance this biz is out of biz by now.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by McLovin

P.S. It looks like the biz model was to buy 2 Ferraris and a Corvette, and try to rent them out at $800/day. So there's a good chance this biz is out of biz by now.

Good way to own 2 Ferrari's and a Corvette and make them a write off.

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by McLovin

P.S. It looks like the biz model was to buy 2 Ferraris and a Corvette, and try to rent them out at $800/day. So there's a good chance this biz is out of biz by now.

Who the Fark would pay $800/day to rent a 60k car?

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Maybe walk down the hall and give the notice to Ronald Hasson.

Thanks, McLovin. That's what I did. Turns out he's upstairs on the 11th floor, though he's listed under his name in the bldg directory and not the company name. FWIW there are no fancy-schmancy exotics stored in the office parking garage. From time-to-time I've seen a Lambo and even a 996 GT2, but I have no idea if they're related to this exotic car business.

[Hugh R]

Interesting, McLovin, you should delete Noah's address info.

[john70t]

Delete. Moderators.....?

[McLovin]

I didn't post Noah's address info. I only posted the address listed on the SOS page for Car Club LA to try to help him out. Noah930 posted to say that was his address, so obviously he doesn't care (probably because "Noah930" is a screenname, no last name, etc.). But deleted anyways.