Mental health agency still waiting for pool table

Some members of the Mental Health Association in Jefferson County Inc. thought they would get the best deal on a pool table when they ordered one online in June.

What was supposed to take about two weeks has turned into a four-month ordeal after pooltablesdirect.com, Atlanta, Ga., cashed the $2,297 check July 11 and never sent the members their new 8-foot pool table.

"This thing really frustrates me because we worked really hard on it," said Ronald C. Goodnough, association member. "I've got a lot of time and effort into this."

Mr. Goodnough said it took him and a few other members nearly three years to raise the funds through bottle and can drives, and donations from friends and family members.

"It ain't lookin' too good now," he said.

Mental Health Association Operations Manager Bethany J. Northrop said several attempts to contact the pool table company owners were unsuccessful until the Watertown Police Department contacted a police agency in Georgia, which had a company representative contact the association.

She said the person assured her the pool table would take only a couple more weeks to arrive, but that has just turned into a lengthy process that's gotten the association nowhere.

"I told them with my last message that we wanted our money back and we'd spend it elsewhere, and of course no response," Ms. Northrop said. "I have filed a formal complaint with the attorney general's office in Georgia, and they advised me to send a complaint to their governor's office. We're also investigating what we have to do with small claims court."

Agency Executive Director Daun M. Burk said she's disappointed the members "got screwed by this company."

"I'll drive down there if it comes to it, I really will," she said. "There's no excuse to steal."

She said after the pool table was ordered, the association members were proud they had worked hard to raise all of the money. People with mental illness often need a sense of accomplishment, Mrs. Burk said, and for the company not to complete the order has just made those members more anxious.

Calls to pooltablesdirect.com were not returned as of Friday afternoon.