Are you looking for a wedding photographer or personal trainer? Are you in the Springfield, MO area?
If so, DO NOT HIRE CRYSTAL RENEE
Crystal Renee claims to be a photographer and personal trainer in the Springfield, Missouri area. She is a con artist. She comes off as a very nice person and gives a good impression, as most con artists do. She promises to do the work, you sign contracts, and then she collects your money and never finishes the work...but your check will be cashed the same day she receives it. This is not describing one incident, this is describing her pattern and how she makes a living. DO NOT HIRE HER UNLESS YOU WANT TO LOSE YOUR MONEY & TIME.
Crystal Renee goes be several aliases: Crystal Rana, Crystal Steimel, Crystal Van Matre, & Crystal Unzner.
Her photography "businesses" go by the names of: Crystal Renee Photography, VM Photography & Behind the Red Door Photography.
Crystal Renee goes be several aliases: Crystal Rana, Crystal Steimel, Crystal Van Matre, & Crystal Unzner.
Her photography "businesses" go by the names of: Crystal Renee Photography, VM Photography & Behind the Red Door Photography.
Here are some of her previous experiences with ripping people off (all info found on Missouri's case.net):
2/23/2012 -Passing Bad Check (less than $500) under alias Crystal VanMatre (1231-CR06411)
10/18/2010 -Breach of Contract with Troy Capital LLC (1031-CV15723)
8/30/2010 - Ordered to Pay Discovery Bank and having wages garnished at a sum of $2,149.94 (1031-CV12995)
1/24/2008 -Breach of Contract with Berlin Wheeler Inc. She was ordered to pay $2, 879.55 (0831-CV01015)
10/18/2010 -Breach of Contract with Troy Capital LLC (1031-CV15723)
8/30/2010 - Ordered to Pay Discovery Bank and having wages garnished at a sum of $2,149.94 (1031-CV12995)
1/24/2008 -Breach of Contract with Berlin Wheeler Inc. She was ordered to pay $2, 879.55 (0831-CV01015)
Crystal Renee Photography reviews on Better Business Bureau:
(http://www.bbb.org/southwestern-missouri/business-reviews/photographers-portrait/crystal-renee-photography-in-springfield-mo-34304)
Although she is not accredited by the BBB, customers are still able to write reviews on her business and her BBB grade is an F!
Complaint Category: Non-delivery of products
Complaint: We ordered family pictures from her paid her and never heard from her again. Never got pictures
We ordered pictures from Crystal Renee. We gave her a check for 80 bucks after we already paid a sitting fee of I think 50 dollars. Both checks were cashed. We called to receive pictures and we never got a return phone call. ******* had my wife ******** as a friend on facebook, and she deleted her as a friend from facebook. We have haven't got a hold of her for about 3 months now. We don't want our pictures anymore from her as she has not displayed good customer service. We want our money back.
Complaint Resolution: Company failed to respond to BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
Although she is not accredited by the BBB, customers are still able to write reviews on her business and her BBB grade is an F!
Complaint Category: Non-delivery of products
Complaint: We ordered family pictures from her paid her and never heard from her again. Never got pictures
We ordered pictures from Crystal Renee. We gave her a check for 80 bucks after we already paid a sitting fee of I think 50 dollars. Both checks were cashed. We called to receive pictures and we never got a return phone call. ******* had my wife ******** as a friend on facebook, and she deleted her as a friend from facebook. We have haven't got a hold of her for about 3 months now. We don't want our pictures anymore from her as she has not displayed good customer service. We want our money back.
Complaint Resolution: Company failed to respond to BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
Personal Experience with Crystal Renee
Anyone who has ever gotten married knows the significance and importance of wedding pictures. They are to capture the day, the bride's beauty, and remarkable memories. Unfortunately for us, we hired Crystal Renee to do our photography. We signed a contract and she was paid a total of $2,300.
Fast forward 5 months and we still have NOT RECEIVED OR SEEN ONE PHOTOGRAPH FROM OUR WEDDING DAY via Crystal Renee.
We contacted her several times and she was very RUDE, gave excuse after excuse (it's an industry standard for it to take this long, she's moving, she's getting a divorce, she's outta work, she had to take a 9-5 job,...). She told us 3 separate times to meet her at places to get the pictures and failed to show up all three times....texting later with another excuse why she couldn't make it. Currently, she is suppose to mail us the pictures, but two weeks have gone by and we aren't holding our breath.
UPDATE 11/16/2012: Thanks to this website Crystal Renee has mailed the pictures and we have received the pictures on discs. Unfortunately, (not surprising) the discs are messed up and cannot be opened.
We have filed a lawsuit. While it would be nice (although probably not realistic) to get our money back or the finished pictures, our main goal in filing a lawsuit was simply to add another mark to her record for others to view and become more aware of her poor business practices.
Fast forward 5 months and we still have NOT RECEIVED OR SEEN ONE PHOTOGRAPH FROM OUR WEDDING DAY via Crystal Renee.
We contacted her several times and she was very RUDE, gave excuse after excuse (it's an industry standard for it to take this long, she's moving, she's getting a divorce, she's outta work, she had to take a 9-5 job,...). She told us 3 separate times to meet her at places to get the pictures and failed to show up all three times....texting later with another excuse why she couldn't make it. Currently, she is suppose to mail us the pictures, but two weeks have gone by and we aren't holding our breath.
UPDATE 11/16/2012: Thanks to this website Crystal Renee has mailed the pictures and we have received the pictures on discs. Unfortunately, (not surprising) the discs are messed up and cannot be opened.
We have filed a lawsuit. While it would be nice (although probably not realistic) to get our money back or the finished pictures, our main goal in filing a lawsuit was simply to add another mark to her record for others to view and become more aware of her poor business practices.
Our GOAL for this webpage
Our goal for this webpage is to spread the word about this con woman named Crystal Renee. We have asked around and she has a very poor reputation, and we have learned that we are not the only ones that have been scammed by her...but we want to be the last! In the social media world we live in we hope that we can spread the word & help others not be scammed and taken advantage of.
During our networking, we received this email:
"Apparently this isn't the first time she's done this. I've heard the the other victims of her crimes didn't get anything in return, she just took deposits and ran off with them. I've also talked with a photographer friend who is also an attorney and he said unless you have between $2500-5000 to spend on a law suit its not worth your time. "
This is how she gets away with scamming people over and over. Her victims do now want to waste more money trying to get what is rightfully theirs. She is counting on her victims to keep quiet and not spend MORE money to get what they already paid for. This is NOT right!
During our networking, we received this email:
"Apparently this isn't the first time she's done this. I've heard the the other victims of her crimes didn't get anything in return, she just took deposits and ran off with them. I've also talked with a photographer friend who is also an attorney and he said unless you have between $2500-5000 to spend on a law suit its not worth your time. "
This is how she gets away with scamming people over and over. Her victims do now want to waste more money trying to get what is rightfully theirs. She is counting on her victims to keep quiet and not spend MORE money to get what they already paid for. This is NOT right!