We are a small business in Elkridge. For a while Elkridge had an Identity. We are now rolled into other community's and our editor is now Patch staff. We paid good money for advertising and had a video made. We were promised a digital copy and never received it. We got a hyperlink and when I asked for a file I was told to go back to the video producer and they want $50.00 for it. The video did not bring any traffic to our store. We also pay for the video to run. We was promised PR material for our store and never recievied it. We fulfilled our end of the commitment. As of February we have been trying to have the video stop running but we are still being charged $49.00 a month. It is automatically withdrawn from our account and with the overhead exceeding sales we wind up with a bank fee on top for overdraw. There is virtually no way to call the Patch and e-mails are not answered. I did get a hold of the of the acting editor a month ago and was told it would be resolved. Just got charged $49.00 again and we just cant afford it. We feel now that we are being stolen from and don't know how to resolve it. Mom & Pop type businesses are struggling these days. Taxes are higher for us than what a small business is we are considered a glorified hobby, phone is higher because its a business, permits insurances and utilities are high and we just can't afford to be ripped off. We find ourselves working for 50 cents an hour at times. We are being forced to let Walmart take over. But at least we can still claim Hand Made in the USA and be telling the truth.
Goodys Folkart
