Business ProfileforFlorida State Filing Corporate

Certificate Filing Service has received a pattern of complaints concerning advertising and sales practice issues.

Specifically, consumer complaints allege they received letters appearing to be from Secretary of State of Florida, shortly after the consumers have formed their own business. Consumer complaints further allege the letters request a payment of $68.42 to complete the final step in attaining Florida Certificate of Status. Consumers who have paid the fee found that no services were provided, no refunds were issued and the company is not affiliated with Secretary of State of Florida. Consumer complaints also state the actual service provided by the Division of Corporations is optional for a fee between $5 to $10.

BBB has contacted the business multiple times in attempt to understand their position on the complaints. No response has been received to date addressing the complaint issues.

The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

Attorney General Moody Secures Restitution for Businesses and Seeks Others Duped by Certificate of Status Scam

For the full news release please visit:
http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/C42C91EDBA45FD35852585C8006AEC9F

On August 18, 2020, Attorney General Ashley Moody announced a settlement (Case No.: 2018-CA-6222 filed in CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR DUVAL COUNTY) that provides restitution to businesses scammed into purchasing unnecessary corporate certificate services. The proposed stipulated consent judgment, submitted today to the court for approval, resolves an action filed by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division against Leandro Rodriguez, owner of Florida State Filing Corporate and Certificate Filing Service, for sending deceptive and misleading solicitations to businesses regarding the certificates. The solicitations gave the misleading impression of being from the state and sought payment for a certificate of status that the solicitations falsely indicated were required by the state. Certificates of status are not required to do business in the State of Florida. Attorney General Moody encourages businesses and individuals who purchased the unnecessary certificates to contact the Florida Attorney General's Office.

In 2018, the Florida Attorney General's Office filed an action against the defendants and immediately secured a temporary injunction and asset freeze to stop the defendants' deceptive conduct. The defendants were soliciting Florida businesses with deceptive advertisements. According to the state's filed complaint, thousands of businesses responded to the defendants' solicitations.

Prior to September 2018, businesses and some individuals paid $68.42 for each fraudulent certificate, after which the price increased to $78.42 for the certificates. A business has the option to purchase various types of certificates directly from The State of Florida at a cost of $10 or less, but none of the certificates are required to operate in Florida. As a result of the defendants' mailers, thousands of consumers were affected and more than 100 complaints were filed with the Attorney General's Office against Florida State Filing Corporate and Certificate Filing Service.

The Florida Attorney General's Office obtained more than $75,000 in restitution as part of a proposed stipulated consent judgment filed today in the lawsuit. The consent judgment must still be approved by the court. In addition to the restitution payment, the defendants also agreed to no longer send any solicitations that appear to originate from the government or sell any products that a consumer could get from the government for free or at a lower cost.

If you are a victim of this operation and wish to seek restitution, contact the Florida Attorney General's Office a 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visit MyFloridaLegal.com to file online.