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The Berkbridge Foundation - Questions Regarding Legitimacy
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Started by Cat,

682 posts in this topic

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Cat

Cat

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Posted

This is going to be a long post, I apologise for that. My attempts to work out a collapsible format failed miserably. Hopefully the content is worth it.

As of the time of writing, I have not heard back from anyone at Berkbridge, and it has been well over a week. I gave them that long as a courtesy. Please also note that everything past the line represented by ***** is what went 'missing' for me, but what I was luckily able to recover. The 'lost' emails were the ones where they confirmed they would not be supplying the requested information, and all that chain. Very strange indeed, and in all my years, I've never seen anything like it. 

No editing has been done, other than to remove my surname. If you're wondering why I've removed the name of the person I'm conversing with representing the foundation, I haven't. Despite requesting I identify myself in various ways fully (ie my CGC ID), at no stage did this person/s ever identify themself or sign off their email. Obviously you know who I believe it was. 

Emails from me are in Italics. 

Emails from The Berkbridge Foundation are in Bold. 


Without further ado, here they are. 

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Subject: Disclosure

September 10, 2019, 4:58 AM

Hi there, I'm contacting you in reference to a now-closed thread on the CGC forums, in regards to certain financial disputes that you guys are legally required to make available upon request. I'd like copies of these documents, please.

Yours sincerely, 

Craig

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September 10, 2019, 5:02 AM

Hello Craig, 

Thank you for your email.

Please provide the name and address you would like the information sent to and also you CGC Forum user name.

Berkbridge Foundation

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September 10, 2019, 5:31 AM

Hi, thank you for the swift reply. A physical version is not necessary, I'm perfectly happy to save some trees. :) You can send the files/links to this email address, please. 

Sincerely, 

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September 10, 2019, 5:43 AM

Hello Craig, 

Any legal documents requested from us will be sent by USPS registered mail with return receipt. 

Thank you

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September 10, 2019, 7:15 AM

Thanks once more for the swift reply. I do not wish to receive physical copies of this documentation, thank you, digital is preferable, and in line with applicable policies. In accordance once more with your required responsibilities as a registered 501(C)3, I am requesting either a link to these forms, or that they be emailed to me at this email address. This is in compliance with IRS statutes, and there are penalties for non-compliance for organisations that do not comply with law. 

Thank you once more, and I look forward to receiving the documentation. 

Yours sincerely. 

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September 10, 2019, 8:05 AM

Hello, 

We have forwarded your email and request to our CPA and as soon as we receive a response, we will get back to you.

Thank you

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September 10, 2019, 8:47 AM

Thank you very much. I appreciate your prompt response. 

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September 10, 2019, 10:05 AM

You're very welcome Craig. 

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September 11, 2019, 9:46 AM

Hello Craig, 

In response to your previous email:

Please let us know which document(s) you are requesting for inspection. If the particular document falls under the "Public Disclosure and Availability Requirements" of the IRS rules, we will provide them at a reasonable cost of copying and postage. There are no rules or laws requiring Exempt Organizations to keep these documents digitally. 

Please first refer to the IRS web site as these documents may be available online through the IRS site. 

Thank you

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September 11, 2019, 2:13 PM

Hello once again, the documents I am requesting are as follows: the 990, 990T, 1023 or 1024 (whichever is applicable), and any relevant supporting documentation and exhibits. Once more, I am asking for these in digital form. I am trying to confirm your organisation as legitimate, as I am interested in supporting it, as I know many others are. There is no need to be adversarial in this, we are united in the love of the comics medium and the shared humanity for those in need, and bettering their circumstances and futures. Also note that nothing I am asking for is out of the ordinary. These are all documents that are required to be made available to the public. My intentions are genuine. 

I look forward to receiving these documents/relevant links ASAP. Thank you in advance. 

Sincerely, 

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*****Mecha Fantastic Note: All emails past this point, dated September 11, went 'mysteriously missing', but were luckily able to be retrieved on my end. I mentioned this in an earlier post. This happened no later than the 24th, and could have occurred up to 3 days or so earlier, as I had been awaiting a response. Still an extremely unusual circumstance I've never experienced before, and cannot rationally explain without interference, as nothing else was affected. Regardless, I had copies, so we continue.*****

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September 12, 2019, 2:57 AM

Hello Craig, 

Thank you for your email. 

We have been prompt, professional and courteous in replying to your messages and addressing your requests.

Berkbridge Foundation is an active Exempt Organization with the IRS, therefore, any form which were required to establish the EO and maintain its status are available or will be available as they come due, on the IRS web site in digital format: Results for Tax Exempt Organization Search ***** Mecha Fantastic Note - this was a link******

We can also mail physical copies of the forms you are requesting as we mentioned in our previous email. 

Thank you

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September 19, 2019, 6:10 AM

None of the requested documents are available on the IRS site, although your response does mean that you do have them in digital form. Therefore, as requested multiple tinrs, I will take them digitally please. 

If you still refuse, you may ship physical copies, but please note that you will be responsible for all copying and shipping charges, as you are the one refusing to supply them in digital form. Had I been the one to request physical copies, I would indeed be required to pay. As we know, this is not the case. 

Thank you, and I look forward to a prompt response. 

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September 19, 2019, 6:37 AM

Dear Mr *****Mecha Fantastic*****, 

Any information that is required by IRS regulations to be made available for "Public Availability" are digitally available on the IRS web site. If you are having trouble finding them, please contact the IRS for assistance.  

We can provide physical copies upon written request and payment of a reasonable fee to cover copying and mailing costs. We've attached the disclosure from the IRS' website for your reference. 

If you which to have physical copies, please send us a request letter with directions on where you would like them mailed to and include a check or money order payable to Berkbridge Foundation for $5.00 to cover these costs.  Our mailing address is 401 Ryland Street, Suite 200-A , Reno, Nevada 89502

Thank you

***** Mecha Fantastic Note: Attached was a Public Disclosure Availability PDF*****

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September 19, 2019, 8:28 AM

I would prefer to pay by Paypal, thanks, and am happy to cover all PayPal transactions fees. 

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September 19, 2019, 8:36 AM

Mr *****Mecha Fantastic*****, 

We are not set up to accept Paypal for any payments unrelated to Ebay transactions. We provided the procedure for your request and we look forward to your letter. 

Thank you

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September 19, 2019, 8:41 AM

Please provide the mailing address for said check or money order. Who should it be made out to? The documents will also need to be posted to Australia. Can you please assure me that $5US is the correct final amount?

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September 19, 2019, 8:44 AM

Mr *****Mecha Fantastic*****, 

That information is in our previous email. We can only mail these documents to a US address and to US residents. 

Thank you

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September 19, 2019, 8:47 AM

Their is nothing that states I must be a US citizen to receive that information, nor have I stated whether I am or am not a US citizen. If you'd prefer, I can provide a US address. I was merely going for convenience, seeing as I am paying for these documents in the first place. 

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September 19, 2019, 9:05 AM

Mr *****Mecha Fantastic*****, 

With all due respect, a matter of convenience for everyone would be to access these documents from the IRS web site. It would save you money and save us time. 

If you still would like physical copies from us, please follow the instructions in our previous email. We have provided all the details and there is no need to continue this conversation. 

Thank you

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September 19, 2019, 9:13 AM

Again, none of those documents are on the IRS website. None of them. It would indeed be much easier if they were. I am ready and willing to pay. I would like these documents please. Thank you. 

Craig

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September 19, 2019, 10:54 AM

Sorry, I forgot to add that you will be mailing to a US address. 

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September 24, 2019, 11:53 AM

To whom it may concern at the Berkbridge Foundation, 

Can you please confirm if you intend to honour my request for documentation, or if you are indeed ending this "conversation' as you call it. Please note that I do would not refer to a serious request for required documentation as a mere conversation, but as that was your choice of terms, that is what I used. 

Please confirm so I know where I stand, and know what course I should take. 

Yours faithfully, 

Craig

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That's everything to date. Make up your own mind about their intentions, the legitimacy of this organisation, that of Robert S Jalali, and anyone else involved with this fiasco. 

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Foley

Foley

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@Mecha_Fantastic

What a pathetic exchange on their part. It’s apparent that they were using obvious stall tactics to avoid disclosing what they are legally required to provide, probably in the hopes that you’d relent. 

They provided incorrect information multiple times (documents are not available online) and tried to make it as difficult as possible for you to obtain them (not providing them digitally, not posting outside the U.S. etc).

What an obvious load of :censored:

Will you be filing a complaint with the IRS for their failure to disclose the required information?

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whisp

whisp

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So while researching more about why so many business at that location which I mentioned and just edited this post of the list since I google mapped that address and that address is the Bosma Business Center and a shared suites.

Has anyone contacted that center about this since they would be renting from them or have had done something thru there programs or whatever is going on there?

https://www.bosmabusinesscenter.com/

No idea if I missed this in the discussion.

 

 

Edited by whisp
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The Lions Den

The Lions Den

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9 hours ago, Mecha_Fantastic said:

That's everything to date. Make up your own mind about their intentions, the legitimacy of this organisation, that of Robert S Jalali, and anyone else involved with this fiasco. 

Well, my mind is made up...as far as I'm concerned, stick a fork in it...

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Cephusdog

Cephusdog

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11 hours ago, whisp said:

So while researching more about why so many business at that location which I mentioned and just edited this post of the list since I google mapped that address and that address is the Bosma Business Center and a shared suites.

Has anyone contacted that center about this since they would be renting from them or have had done something thru there programs or whatever is going on there?

https://www.bosmabusinesscenter.com/

No idea if I missed this in the discussion.

 

 

I posted this way back but it seems that the are using a registered agent service to do business in Nevada. The business that the Berkbridge Foundation is using is listed at the same suite in the Bosma Business Center and can be found here:

https://www.nevadaresidentagent.com

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whisp

whisp

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9 hours ago, Cephusdog said:

I posted this way back but it seems that the are using a registered agent service to do business in Nevada. The business that the Berkbridge Foundation is using is listed at the same suite in the Bosma Business Center and can be found here:

https://www.nevadaresidentagent.com

 

So you think that nvagent is the main person at suite 200A?  Why are they not listed on the main tenant list for Bosma?

There is plenty of businesses using the same suite address.

exp:

https://mustpugs.com/pages/contact-us

https://premiumlabs.com/pages/customer-service

 

This one is interesting since there contact is somewhere else and then there refund setup is out of the same address.

https://gofable.com/legal/refunds

https://gofable.com/contact

 

I can list on and on so many out of the same suite.

 

 

 

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James J Johnson

James J Johnson

Posted
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7 hours ago, whisp said:

 

So you think that nvagent is the main person at suite 200A?  Why are they not listed on the main tenant list for Bosma?

There is plenty of businesses using the same suite address.

exp:

https://mustpugs.com/pages/contact-us

https://premiumlabs.com/pages/customer-service

 

This one is interesting since there contact is somewhere else and then there refund setup is out of the same address.

https://gofable.com/legal/refunds

https://gofable.com/contact

 

I can list on and on so many out of the same suite.

 

 

 

Maybe that's where the BerkBridge Foundation is housing all those single mothers and children that they're helping?

And aren't there government agencies that destitute single mothers can go to for whatever assistance they need rather than relying on Berkbridge to provide for them and their children? Aren't those programs one of the many budgetary expenditures that tax dollars go towards? Did the government suspend their social services?

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Domo Arigato

Domo Arigato

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9 minutes ago, kav said:

You there!  settle down! :preach:

Done!

But I imagine they might get a lot of unsolicited emails and some random guy sending a blind email might not get much traction.  But, if somebody in here actually knows someone there, it would carry more weight and might get some results.

But, who knows?  I just thought they might have more resources available to do an actual investigation and get to the bottom of this mess.......but maybe not....I actually have no idea how big of an organization they are......for all I know, it could just be one guy running a website. (shrug)

 

Edited by Domo Arigato
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Cat

Cat

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On 9/29/2019 at 6:39 PM, Foley said:

@Mecha_Fantastic

What a pathetic exchange on their part. It’s apparent that they were using obvious stall tactics to avoid disclosing what they are legally required to provide, probably in the hopes that you’d relent. 

They provided incorrect information multiple times (documents are not available online) and tried to make it as difficult as possible for you to obtain them (not providing them digitally, not posting outside the U.S. etc).

What an obvious load of :censored:

Will you be filing a complaint with the IRS for their failure to disclose the required information?

There's a few different avenues to explore here on who to notify about what. I'm not ruling anybody out just yet.

Fun fact for Jalali: saying a conversation is over doesn't make it so! :wink:

I did think about contacting Rich Johnston, he has run a few things I've given him a heads up on in the past, albeit quite a few years ago at this point. I just don't know if he really even does that sort of thing anymore. I can't really recall the last time I saw him cover this sort of thing, and it's not like the comics world all of a sudden cleaned itself up so there was no longer anything to expose, you know? 

 

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revat

revat

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Posted

I haven't been back to this thread in a while, did everyone get sued or arrested? what's poppin?

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Sweet Lou 14

Sweet Lou 14

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Posted
2 minutes ago, revat said:

I haven't been back to this thread in a while, did everyone get sued or arrested? what's poppin?

There's only one guy at the heart of this, and he seems to be feeling emboldened enough to reboot his listings on eBay.  He's definitely not putting his books up for liquidation prices, in fact he's jacked up the asking price on several of his books.

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