Crazy Deaf Joe Blog

Viable & DeafNation Dirty Business

I found this interesting post somewhere and I want to share with you folks, I didn’t write this but I exactly copy what it says from other website.

If you think Viable can run away from the FBI investigation and play innoncent, that’s not going to happen. They will fall into a trap of new findings very soon.
Read this:

Do you remember…

…Viable’s new VPADs released at DeafNation Expo in April and May of 2008?

…The advertisement on DeafNation Expo’s website: “Buy VPAD for $99 at Deaf Nation Expo! If you’re not happy with it, we’ll give you a full refund.”?

…Many, many deaf customers were not happy with their defective VPADs?

I have been an employee at Viable for three years. Because of my confidentiality contract with Viable, I couldn’t discuss issues with anyone other than Viable staff. I am very disgusted at both Viable, Inc. and DeafNation, Inc. for misleading and cheating deaf buyers last year. I prefer to release this post and remain anonymous from any possible lawsuits until the process of Class Action against Viable and DeafNation is done.

Viable VPAD is a 10.2-inch touch screen, an USB port, audio/visual ports, and allows for one-click connection to ViableVRS. The VPAD is the first WiFi-enabled and portable videophone to be developed for VRS users. See VPAD demo – http://www.viable.net/product/vpad.

John Yeh was fully aware that the all VPADs were already flawed and defective before they were sold at DeafNation Expo last year. The touch screen was not correctly functioned.

When a new, upgraded device VPAD+ (VPAD Plus) successfully functioned, John Yeh had no money to manufacture VPAD+. He was worried and had to fire some of his employees and figure out with many, many “junk” VPADs in stock.

In late December 2007 Viable Founder John Yeh and two Viable executives urgently invited DeafNation co-founders Joel Barish and Jed Barish to the confidential meeting near the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January of 2008.

John Yeh and Joel Barish are well-bonded fraternity brothers and former business partners of WebbyNation, Inc. Their partnership information can be found at http://www.jdcc.org/site/2001/nov-dec/business.htm.

After hours of private deliberation in John Yeh’s hotel suite room, John Yeh couldn’t say no to Joel Barish’s dreadful offer to sell “Junk” VPADs at DeafNation Expo in April and May of 2008.
DeafNation intentionally contracted an undisclosed arrangement with Viable, Inc. to get rid of all “junk” VPADs at DeafNation Expo in April and May of 2008, to mention hidden charges at DeafNation Expo and to earn big commission per VPAD sold.

DeafNation intentionally agreed with Viable, Inc. to put “Buy VPAD for $99 at Deaf Nation Expo! If you’re not happy with it, we’ll give you a full refund” advertisement on DeafNation Expo’s website and to take it down after 30 days.

Viable intentionally agreed to change their refund policy after VPADs were purchased.

Thousand “junk” VPADs were sold out at DeafNation Expo: Pomona, California, on April 12, Omaha, Nebraska., on April 19; Columbus, Ohio, on April 26; and Atlanta on May 3.

That was only 22 days…That was LESS than a month!

DeafNation Expo took down the “Buy VPAD for $99 at Deaf Nation Expo! If you’re not happy with it, we’ll give you a full refund” advertisement from the website and advised all customers that VPAD were sold and non-refundable.

Many, many victims grew anger and lost a lot of money on VPADs. Not many of them can afford to hire an attorney to handle this fraud case. It’s very sad that several “dirty” VRS companies and DeafNation Expo made millions of dollars out of the deaf community.

Viable thanked DeafNation for all the dirty efforts and wrote them checks in the amount of $425,000 for commission.

Last June I bumped Joel Barish at Puerto Rico DeafNation Expo. He chuckled and winked. My emotion crumbled into widespread disgust.
SHAME on Joel Barish!
SHAME on Jed Barish!
SHAME on John Yeh!
SHAME on DeafNation Expo!
SHAME on Viable, Inc.!
“

FBI Visit Viable VRS Headquarters

This story came to my eyes and was shocked. This is from Gazette, a Maryland newspaper that they are doing some research. This is scary but sad. Story:

The Rockville headquarters of Viable Inc., which provides video interpreting services for hearing-impaired people, was visited by federal investigators recently, and the company is “cooperating fully” with investigators, a Viable spokesman said.

Glenn Lockhart said in an e-mail Saturday that federal investigators visited the company’s headquarters in June. He referred specific questions to company attorney Timothy Sullivan, who did not return calls seeking comment on the reason for the investigation Monday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland did not return calls, either.

“Regardless, our service has remained 24/7 without downtime,” Lockhart said. “We are still providing top-notch video relay services to deaf and hard of hearing individuals who rely on our technologies for their telephone calls to family, businesses and everyone else important in their lives.”

Viable’s offerings include videoconferencing hardware and software, and video-based and on-site interpreting services.

The business has grown from a handful of employees in 2006 to more than 240 employees, with most workers hearing-impaired. It has numerous call centers in Maryland and other states.

Last year, Viable was named one of The Gazette of Politics and Business’ Exceptional 53 businesses and nonprofits.

Source: Gazette ( http://www.gazette.net/stories/07132009/businew181442_32538.shtml )