Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Black Line Productions, LLC's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

close

Find a Location

Black Line Productions, LLC has 2 locations, listed below.

*This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

BBB accredited

Near

Country

USUnited States

Please enter a valid location.

Filter

• 

  Black Line Productions, LLC

  PO Box 2104 Pearl City, HI 96782-9104

• 

  Black Line Productions, LLC

  66-133 Keahipaka Ln Haleiwa, HI 96712-1542

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/07/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  The following information is fact based and not slander of this business. I applied on the business website to participate in a pageant called Miss Hawaii Plus.************************* reached out to me for an intake meeting. I met with her October 28, 2023. She advised that if you're a contestant it's a $300 entry fee. The original text didn't say it was non-refundable. After you meet with her she then says it's non - refundable after you sign the contract and you as a contestant are required to sell 20 tickets at $85/each with in 2 weeks of your intake. She then says sell 10 tickets within 2 weeks and she will meet again and can work with the contestant. Additionally your required for $380 for a photoshoot to which you would need your own photographer. Also in the contents of the contract it doesn't say anything about non-refundable. She writes non-refundable after the transaction is complete. (I also have a video). I was looking at the contract and noticed where she wrote in "non-refundable" on the bottom. I believe in myself and truly believed this to be a path in pageants. I had no prior experience. Her website was valid, fb active, and ***** name was active on Linkin . The set up is no matter what even if your seasoned in pageants its impossible to sell tickets in 2 weeks for a show that is not even until March 21, ****. I was very sad to feel like something was very wrong and lacking integrity. The next day I saw 2 complaints online about feeling scammed by this company. I was then contacted by a Miss World Pageant winner who advised me that this company Miss Hawaii Plus is an expired business with no credentials. They operate under Blackline Productions LLC but are not a "authorized " pageant. The Miss Hawaii Plus and Miss Hawaii Bikini are not apart of the pageant association. She advised that she will not return any of our monies even though she has her tickets back and I am not a contestant. Why keep our $ saying it's prepaid. Paying your event fees with our $!

  Business Response

  Date: 11/16/2023

  Please see the enclosed letter.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/16/2023

  Please see the enclosed

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/17/2023

   
  Complaint: 20832625
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  This business has threatened myself and other people who felt the same integrity issues. Threatening with ***** and decease letters that are full of grammatical errors. This business sends  letters to random past contestants outlining information with no proof. Mainly if you question or bring up viable data she immediate threatens her lawyers. This report and compliant I provided is not slander nor misinformation. This business does not clearly outline the details of the monetary responsibility until after the potential contestant pays the entry fee. The verbiage in the contracts lack integrity and It's imperative the BBB at least be aware. . Patrons are allowed to contact the BBB about practices that are unethical. Patrons are allowed to report or verbalized factual data about a company. I have also researched and this company is not accredited with the BBB as well Miss Hawaii Plus trade name is expired . If this business is going to operate we should ensure that license and how they communicate with the community is clear and concise. There's also misrepresentation that this is an accredited pageant. The title "Miss Hawaii Plus" is not apart of the accredited Hawaii pageants. This is a private business who created this. So advising patrons that they can go on to compete in those contest just because they're running is misleading. I would want this to be apart of transparency so that patrons don't feel lured by false pretenses.

  We need businesses in our community who are honest and present with ethical behavior. One of the main reasons the community has feared speaking up is because she and her legal representation have created "contracts" which try to prohibit or deter contestants from speaking on the business practice. What I find scary is they send  a letter outlining the facts that after the contestant pays $300 fee they are mandatory required to sell $1700 worth of tickets in 2 weeks. So they are confirming exactly what were complaining about.

  Instead of this company being accountable for multiple people complaints against the manner in which they communicate services to the community. They **** down any person who even speaks up about how the contest is conducted. This is not  ethical business practice. At minimal if and when they are vetting contestants all required cost should be provided up front prior to anyone provided an entry fee. They should have full understanding and the company should be fully honest with patrons. Slander is making false acquisitions and deformation is false information that ***** a business. None of the above or statement of facts is false. They company outlines and doubles down on the facts after the patrons discovers that no matter what as soon as they enter all money is non- refundable. I am also reaching out to our legislator to determine if we can implement a bill or law that prevents pageants from keep monies from people are not participating in the contest. Upon return of the response from this owner I will present additional evidence from other girls have spoke up about this company. I am not the only one. However , I will not be threaten into not documenting this behavior. The whole reason the BBB exists is to ensure compliance and ethics. I as a patron have a right to speak up about this without having someone's lawyer try to shut me up. There is no documentation of slander or otherwise from my person or proof of anything other then a BBB report. All I did was make a BBB compliant and then I have a lawyer telling me to be quiet. Seems very out of ethics to me!
  
  ***************************************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/17/2023

  Aloha,

  Here is additional proof that the contract signing doesn't happen till you have already given your $300.

  Here is other members of the community confirming my compliant.

  I think it's imperative to understand. I am not seeking a refund. I am seeking accountability for the fact that for years this company has not been transparent and honest to contestants. 

  It's only after they get your entry fee that non-refundable wording is used. Also I take accountability for signing with out a lawyer present and also taking her words at face value.

  The only resolution that is viable is when a contestant signs up for your contest that your business tell the entire truth. That it's not just $300 . 

  Its $300 or $600 +ticket sales(1700)+$380(Magazine ad) in total that is mandatory with in 2 weeks.

  So if this business is truly caring for the community . Just be honest.

  This report should be present and available to the community so that he/she can determine if this is something they want to participate in.

  Just like when we get coffee from  a shop we expect it to just be coffee. If I want a latte I wouldn't want the business to say here's a coffee and after I pay say all the latte ingredients are extra money.

  Why are they so focused on silencing people. That's not good business. 

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/17/2023

  My apologies. Adding*

  I also wanted to note. There's never been any post about Miss Hawaii Plus outside of my post to say I was participating and it's not public.

  So they have no way of seeing , confirming or otherwise. They don't have access to private pages. They upset because other people are saying the same information online.(I sent screen shots)

  Since this business is making claims. Where is the proof of social media claims? My last contact was on 11/6/23 sending my tracking information for the tickets via phone

  I have no contacted anyone in fact we had them blocked from phone contact. 

  Also if you note the original screen shots I took of the contract did not have all that writing on it.

  We sign and initial , then afterwards is when the non-refundable conversations occur. Look at my photos then the contract they sent.

  I again are being very intentional in my delivery. I am not the only but are the only one who is not afraid to speak up.

  Also there are others willing to come forward and provide the exact same experience. So when more than one person says the same thing it is normally TRUTH.

  I am also not interested in defaming a business who is clearly not being forward with it's patrons. As we can see doing business in this manner will not silence people.

  I am just asking that the BBB do the research , see that they're are others , and hold this business accountable for being completely honest about fees associated with the business.

  I also would want to question that if a person is not a participant, not in possession of property or tickets, why would you keep the entry fee.

  We should not be paying for your event pre-paid fees if were not apart of your contest. I have another contestant who is willing to provide evidence upon request.

   

  Business Response

  Date: 11/21/2023

  Dear *******,
  
          In response to *********************** frivolous and meritless BBB Complaint (BBB Complaint ID: ********* and follow up posting, Black Line Productions LLC, the Miss Hawaii Plus Organization, and *************************, Director of the Miss & Ms. ********************** Plus Pageant respond as follows:
  
          ******** hides and fails to address the fact that she signed a contract with the Miss Hawaii Plus Pageant but refused to honor, abide by, and follow the terms and conditions of the contract.  The contract explicitly detailed the obligations required of contestants as well as all monetary responsibilities.  How can ******** claim ignorance and file a complaint when she violated the contract and in addition to meeting with ****************** in person and signing the contract, Entry Form, and receipt of payment, ******** initialed and dated every page of the contract.  ******** should not be allowed to file a false and frivolous complaint.  
  
          Sharmika is not credible and individuals like Sharmika that defame and slander Black Line Productions LLC, the Miss Hawaii Plus Organization, and ****************** will be liable for damages to the fullest extent of the law.
  
          Sharmika is incorrect and factually mistaken about the Miss Hawaii Plus trade name.  The Miss Hawaii Plus name has been openly and continuously used in the marketplace and commerce for over half a dozen years.  A trade name does not have to be registered with the State of ********************** to be valid, and registration of a trade name with the State of ********************** does not equate to ownership of that trade name.  Nevertheless, as of the date of Sharmikas complaint, the Miss Hawaii Plus trade name has been registered with the State of **********************.      
  
          There are no requirements that businesses and organizations in ********************** or any state be registered with the BBB.  Regarding ethics, the BBB exists in part to protect businesses from disgruntled individuals like ******** who perpetuate falsities and seek to harm businesses.  Her complaint is frivolous, full of lies and inaccuracies, and a form of harassment.  Unlike what ******** writes in her complaint, Miss Hawaii Plus Pageant contestants and winners have gone on to represent ********************** and compete in national level pageants.
  
          Although it is clear Sharmika does not intend to stop her behavior, neither Black Line Productions LLC, the Miss Hawaii Plus Organization, nor ****************** wish to keep engaging in a back and forth with her.  There is no factual basis for her to make a complaint with the BBB, especially after she signed a valid and binding contract with the Miss Hawaii Plus Pageant but then breached the contract.
          
            Thank you.
                                  
                          Very Truly Yours,
                              
                          /s/ ********************************;   
      
                          ********************************
                          for
                          ******* & PRICE    
  cc: *************************

  Business Response

  Date: 11/21/2023

  Where is the video that ******** claimed to have in her original complaint? Please have her produce the video! Has she provided it to the BBB?

  Business Response

  Date: 11/21/2023

  ******** claimed that the contract stated no refunds. In actuality, the contract says no refunds 6 times!

  Business Response

  Date: 11/21/2023

  ******** claimed that the contract does not state no refunds. In actuality, the contract says no refunds 6 times!

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 20832625
  
  I am rejecting this response because this company is providing false allegations without any documents of proof or statement of facts.

  There are no documents , statements, post , or otherwise that has ever existed. My complaints verbal and  directly to ******************

  So providing documents or written statements without proof is actually slander. As a patron of this community we expect business owners, entities and beyond to have integrity, ethics and provide services as stated.
  It's imperative this business understands the BBB is not a criminal or civil entity. The BBB is for ethical business behaviors and monitors compliance.
  Slander or deformation of character is providing false statements to damage one's reputation. I as a patron simply provided facts of service.
  This business made it clear of how they do business which is provided in this compliant. So what I stated is fact, there's no refunds at anytime for anything.  The contract is not standard to pageants. It allows the company to take all fees no matter what and scares people into not speaking up about the manner in which it's presented. This business created this written contract as a personal entity. All other pageants I reached out to here in Hawaii said to have not affiliation nor credits with Miss Hawaii Plus.

  Although this is the first written complaint. The community has had no issue informing others that this companies is not transparent in it's delivery of fees and services .Once more than two people are saying the same thing we must consider. The previous attachments I provided included names of these patrons who are more than happy to provide the same facts. The facts are no matter the manner you wish to proceed all fees and monetary amounts paid by the contestants should be fully provided up front before they give a fee for entering. Understanding that this compliant is not asking for a refund. I am asking that our community be notified of the manner in which you provide your services and contracts.

  As a patron of this community we expect business owners, entities and beyond to have integrity, ethics and provide services as stated.

  If we look at the manner all the other contest present is tells you everything you have to pay up front including any entry fees. As a business you have the right to proceed within what you created however transparency guarantees integrity. I urge this company to stop responding or attempting to contact me or think they have any power to create fear with in my being. I am no longer a contestant, I am not looking for a refund, I will never endorse nor participate in companies that are not transparent up front. I seek to inform the community this way future interactions will be positive, uplifting and honest. 

  There's others who experiences were exactly the same. We have no reason to come up with stories. We all were minding our lives and happy. Your advertisement is the only reason people are reaching out. So when they submit online. The first phone call should outline the entirety of fees and monetary amounts. That is leading with ethics and honesty. This way the person can determine if this is a services or business that aligns to them. Additionally, this company should contact the *** to reinstate the business names(Miss Hawaii Plus, Miss Hawaii Bikini) since it shows currently expired as provided in the document for the DCCA. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************************