Troubleshooter Tom Martino Referral List
WATCH & LISTEN LIVE BROADCAST HERE FROM 10:00AM TO 2:00PM (MST) PLAY ARCHIVES OF PAST SHOWS BELOW. The Troubleshooter, Tom Martino, gives practical, everyday advice with humor and intellect to listeners looking for help with their problems.
Tom Martino in Studio | |
| Born | 1953 |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Broadcast Artist 'The Troubleshooter Show' |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse(s) | N/A |
| Website | Referrallist.com |
Thomas Gerard 'Tom' Martino (born 1953) is a consumer advocate and Americantalk radio host. He is also known as 'The Troubleshooter'. His nationally syndicated show 'The Troubleshooter Show' airs from KHOW, based in Denver, Colorado. His show format focuses on callers who give him specific complaints about businesses; ask general consumer oriented questions; or have various problems they need help solving. He also provides business and consumer advice to listeners. Martino investigates the complaints by contacting the other party in disputes when possible; he then gives advice and solicits comments from callers. The show began more than 38 years ago and was syndicated nationally around 2001. Martino says that over the years, he has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in cash, merchandise, and services for consumers who contact him.[1]
Radio career[edit]
Martino's career began at the Catskill Daily Mail, a newspaper in his native New York, where he wrote a consumer-oriented column. In 1976, he began working in radio and television.[2] He continued to write columns for the Rocky Mountain News, but now writes columns only for his own website.
Martino brought his consumer advocacy to television, first at several stations in the Eastern United States. In Denver, he spent 18 years at CBS station KCNC-TV.[2] His most recent television position was with Fox Broadcasting Company affiliate KDVR in Denver, which dropped his show from the schedule in 2011.[3]
Martino is known for his bold style. If he believes a businessperson is acting unethically, he does not hesitate to call that person a liar or a cheat on air. If he believes a business is failing to respond to his investigation, he sometimes broadcasts the business's phone number and encourages listeners to contact the business.
He is also known for letting consumers know when they are in the wrong and aids them in rectifying the situation and avoiding it in the future.
On April 24, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion affirming the dismissal of a libel suit brought against Martino by an Oregon watercraft dealer. A customer of the dealer had called Martino's show to describe the problems she had with a personal watercraft that she bought from the dealer, and in the course of the on-the-air conversation, Martino said 'they're just lying to you.' The dealer sued Martino for libel and interference with business relations. The federal district court in Portland granted Martino's anti-SLAPP motion, dismissed the dealer's case, and awarded attorney fees to Martino against the dealer. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court, saying that Martino's statement was a statement of opinion protected by the First Amendment. Gardner v. Martino, Ninth Circuit No. 06-35437 (April 24, 2009). Car mechanic simulator 2016 mod apk.
Businessman & Legal Troubles[edit]
Martino operates the 'Troubleshooter Referral List,' a list of businesses endorsed by him. In order to be a member of the Referral List, a business must agree to a code of ethics, including an agreement to abide by Martino's decision in the case of a dispute with a consumer. A business can pay to have Martino personally endorse their product or service on air, though critics say that Tom Martino's status as a consumer advocate is compromised by the money he receives for his endorsements.[4] Martino's website has a lengthy disclaimer stating that he is not liable for the quality of service received from the companies he endorses.[5] However, it is the only form of advertising that offers recourse to consumers through, arbitration, public testimonials, media exposure and public censure and suspension of members who do not measure up.[6]
On his website, Martino states: 'Although the Referral List is paid advertising, no members can 'buy' their way onto the list nor can they remain members unless they adhere to our strict code of ethics.'[7] The Referral List website also addresses the member fee structure, stating, 'Members of the Referral List are charged fees commensurate with the feedback and complaints generated in their fields of endeavor. Words with friends cheat board. Since we handle any and all complaints about members, it stands to reason that those categories that generate the most work for us will be charged more than those that hardly ever generate feedback.. Current members pay anywhere from $1,200 annually for a tiny business in a single category all the way up to $16,000 annually for a large businesses covering many categories with several locations.'[8]
Martino also began Liberty Bell Telecom, a telecommunications company, and sold it to Dish Network in 2010.[9]
He was also a real estate developer and a private helicopter and airplane pilot.
On September 2, 2011, Tom Martino filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. He had borrowed heavily to invest in real estate, and became insolvent when real estate prices dropped.[10] Martino said that he owed about $36 million, although his creditors put the figure at $78 million.[11] The filing was contested when some creditors accused Martino of improperly transferring property into his wife's name, which he denied.[12] After a thorough investigation, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court dismissed the lawsuit tied to Martino's personal bankruptcy and lawyers from First Citizens Bank & Trust acknowledged, 'no fraud or false pretenses' on Martino's behalf.[13] After a series of court proceedings, the bankruptcy was settled in March 2013. The only debt included in Martino's bankruptcy filing were real estate business loans. All personal debt was paid before or shortly after his bankruptcy.
On December 21, 2013, Martino was arrested by the Denver police for investigation of disturbing the peace and domestic violence.[14] The assault charge was dropped due to a lack of evidence. He did not contest the charge of disturbing the peace and accepted that conviction. All arrest records, charges, and convictions have been expunged from his record.[15]
References[edit]
- ^Referral List: About UsArchived 2008-12-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ ab'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2006-02-25. Retrieved 2006-02-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^Denver Post, 'Troubleshooter Tom Martino says he's suing Fox31', 30 Sept. 2011.
- ^Westword Blog.
- ^Referral List: FAQArchived 2008-09-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^[1]
- ^[2]
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2014-12-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^[3]
- ^http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/pdf/Martino%20filing.pdf
- ^9 News, Troubleshooter Tom Martino in bankruptcy disputeArchived 2013-12-22 at Archive.today.
- ^Tom Martino's wife loses bid to keep property out of his bankruptcy, Denver Post, 10 May 2012
- ^[4]
- ^Tom Martino arrested in Domestic Violence Charge, Denver Post, 22 Sept. 2013
- ^[5]
External links[edit]
Automotive Avenues, an entity of Aimbridge Automotive, a division of The Aimbridge Group, is a complete one-stop new and used automobile dealership, including a purchase and lease program, service and parts facilities and on-site financing exclusively for credit unions.
Tom Martino is known as 'The Troubleshooter' on his nationally syndicated talk show, which airs in more than 250 cities. In Denver the show can be heard on KHOW.
As part of the show, Martino began his full service Web site to disseminate consumer information to the public. One of the fundamental pieces of Martino's efforts is the exclusive referral list. As a place to find reputable merchants, contractors and service providers, inclusion in the list cannot be bought or sold, but must be earned. According to Martino, Automotive Avenues deserves a spot on the referral list because they exceed the high standard of ethics he places on members.
In order to be included on The Troubleshooter Network's referral list, Automotive Avenues had to pass through the scrutiny of an extensive background check. The network surveyed the individuals working in the company. It also reviewed court records, credit referrals, complaint history and customer references, to name a few.
'Our research led us to understand that the people behind AAI are innovators,' Martino said. 'The employees at the dealership weren't the type of people that wanted to fit into our list and tweaked their program to try to make the cut. They have been doing things a different way for 15 years and were already meeting our standards. Automotive Avenues has been doing business in a way that rarely elicits complaints. The dealership handles minor challenges professionally, in a timely manner - they are truly a cut above.'
Martino stated that the background check is only part of the process. Candidates for the list have to meet the network's standards of excellence. Some characteristics that set Automotive Avenues apart from its competition include having a standardized and organized way to manage customer service. The company also takes the mystery out of car buying by educating members about the experience and providing safe and convenient car buying environment.
'It doesn't matter what you do for a living or how sophisticated you are,' Martino said, 'the car buying business is complicated and you need help. Automotive Avenues is truly an advocate on your side when you are making big decisions.'
Among seven Denver area dealerships, Automotive Avenues has been on The Troubleshooter Network's referral list since November 2002, and continues to operate with zero complaints.
About the Troubleshooter Network
The Troubleshooter Network was created to disseminate all of the valuable information gathered by Troubleshooter Tom Martino and his staff. While Tom's nationally syndicated radio show is at the heart of this effort, Troubleshooter Network's reach is not limited to the radio airwaves. The network also provides troubleshooter.com, a comprehensive website featuring a wealth of consumer information plus an exclusive referral list. Another vital service is the Troubleshooter HelpCenter where friendly consumer counselors provide all of the same information and referrals by telephone. The Troubleshooter HelpCenter is the place to get quick answers to consumer questions or direct help in solving consumer problems.
For more information on the Troubleshooter Network, visit its Web site at www.troubleshooter.com.
About The Aimbridge Group
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Denver, The Aimbridge Group markets financial products, such as auto loans and leases, mortgages and insurance products through partnerships with credit unions. The company, formerly Bentley Networks, Inc., helps their partners attract members and deepen their relationships by providing members with more reasons to do business with their credit unions.
The Aimbridge Group is comprised of five divisions, including Aimbridge Indirect Lending, Aimbridge Leasing, Aimbridge Mortgage, Aimbridge Financial Services and Aimbridge Automotive Group. While the company is headquartered in Denver, it has remote offices in Austin, Texas; Dallas; St. Louis; Pequannock, N.J.; Chicago; Charleston, S.C. and Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and Miami in Fla.
For additional information, write Automotive Avenues at 10701 West 6th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215 or contact Bill Green at 303.231.2690. Visit its Web site at www.autoaves.com.