WESTFORD, Mass. — A Westford monument business is facing claims of false promises and deception as customers demand refunds.
Small claims court documents and police reports portray a pattern of Garside Monuments not following through with items and services that were paid for.
Boston 25 News learned that 13 police reports have been filed in connection with Garside Monuments, owned by John Thomas Smith.
There are also six outstanding police reports, which would make 19 in total.
“We paid him up front with the full expectation that he would do the right thing,” said customer David Blackstone. “He lies and makes up stories to delay and delay and delay.”
David Blackstone and his wife said they paid in full for an engraved monument for future purposes back in September.
The couple told Boston 25 News that they still haven’t received what they paid for more than nine months later.
“He always says he’s going to do the right thing and then he never does,” explained Blackstone.
The Blackstones reported to small claims court that Smith owes them $2,762.50 plus $100 in court costs.
“They only go as far to say, yes, he owes you the money, but there’s no way for the court to go and collect,” said Blackstone. “There is little recourse, and that’s the frustration.”
The police reports obtained by Boston 25 News portray a similar pattern of money paid, often thousands, followed a confusing cycle of grieving customers getting the runaround.
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