ComplaintsforVine House Recovery, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  10/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I paid yejee Hoffman $1475.00 to live at vine house but she rejected me due to there failure in following the proper screening process. Yejee also promised to refund my money in full, even going as far as asking for an address to send the check.She lied. She responded saying that her accountant sent the check on Sept. 7th 2023. She was asked to cancel that check amd to please send another one and she since thar question has not responded to any kind of communication.

  Business response

  11/13/2023

  from: The Vine House Management <[email protected]> via wynco.bbb.org 
  to: [email protected]
  date: Nov 13, 2023, 1:32 PM
  subject: ID 20733415 - Natasha Swenson
  
  Hello, I am writing in response to a complaint made by Natasha Swenson. I apologize that I have missed any prior communication. 
  
  Natasha Swenson had applied to The Vine House Recovery Program and was interviewed on 8/16/2023 by house members. She was notified by house members that they had accepted her into the program, despite the fact that she used crystal meth 2 days prior. When speaking with the Program Director (Ye Jee) on 8/17/23, she was informed that applicants are not usually approved unless they have at least 14 days sober. Because of her honesty, prior recovery track record, and knowing the terrible environment she was living in, the Program Director agreed to make an exception with very specific terms based on Natasha's promises: Natasha MUST quit smoking crystal meth to be able to move in (because it's a SOBER living home), she must go to detox (Natasha confirmed that she would leave that Friday to go to the Greeley NorthRange detox for 3 days), she would be called in for random UA's between that time and move in date (9/1) and she must come and must have clean UA's...if she failed to do ANY of this, she was told that she would not be accepted into the program.  She was told these terms by voice (phone) as well as text - we were very clear that IF she chose to break these very obviously important terms, her money would be forfeited and because of this, I was hesitant. She had also let me know that the money was her dad's and She ensured us that she understood and would "not let {us} down". Natasha was also instructed to bring proof of her attendance to said detox. Natasha signed all of her paperwork that day, which states that none of her fees are refundable, and paid her monthly fee, intake fee, and security deposit (totally $1475). Several days passed with no response, which I had hoped meant that she had gone to detox - but on 8/20, she sent a text at 10:38 pm informing me that she was unable to go to detox because she needed inform parole. I tried several times the next day to call and text her, asking for her parole officer's phone number and wanting to discuss this with her. She was clearly caught in a lie. I sent her a text letting her know that our program was not going to be a good fit for her. When she called me back, she made every excuse and was even caught in several lies but she was honest about one thing - she had continued to smoke crystal meth over the weekend. She was clearly not committed to her sobriety and it would be dangerous to allow her into the program with all of these sober women who were working really hard in their recovery. 
  
  Because of her failure to follow the most basic rules of moving into a soberliving program, her paid fees were technically forfeited (per voice, text, and her signed contracts). Because she had told me that her dad paid the fees, I told her that I would make an exception, once again. I understand how much families sacrifice financially for their loved ones and I wanted to give her dad his money back. I told her that, although her money was not refundable, I would make an exception and either 1. help her get into another soberliving home by sending the money directly to that company/organization within 30 days or less or 2. speaking with and sending it directly to her dad.  She told me that #2 wasn't an option and she would pursue #1. Eventually, she allowed me to speak with, who she claimed to be, her step-dad. I am now unsure if this was actually the correct person, but we did send out a check on 9/9/23 to an address given. It was rejected by the USPS on 9/27/23. We have a photo of the envelope, dated by the USPS, and checks. Several different people - some anonymous and some claiming to be her step dad, texted me asking for money. Eventually, her step dad (supposedly) agreed to meet me in person. I scheduled my dad around this and he chose not to come. All of this followed dozens of harassing texts from Natasha, her father, and several other anonymous people. Eventually, the person who claimed to be her step-dad informed me that they were going to fraudulently cash the check and "David Gates" was not even his name. 
   Additionally, Natasha's actions prohibited another applicant, who was clean and sober,  from being able to move in during this time. 
  Natasha and David were given several opportunities to have money refunded back, however, they chose to lie and manipulate, and not show up. That is to no fault but their own. 
  
  I have screenshots and photos of all of this evidence to back me up. 
  
  Ye Jee Hoffman
  Program Director/Founder
  The Vine House
  www.thevinehouse.net
  [email protected]
  call/text: 970-430-6119

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