Poprocks owner Charmaine Dupuis is seen at her downtown store. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

By Prina Atwal

Medicine Hat couple alleges moving company tried to extort them

Oct 26, 2022 | 4:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A Medicine Hat couple’s move from Ontario to Medicine Hat has turned into a nightmare.

“I had opened Poprocks, June 1 of this year, and my partner and I were amalgamating the two stores, so we had hired movers to move stock from one store to this one, so we could expand,” says store owner Charmaine Dupuis.

“Then we hired what looked like a legitimate moving company. We did some research, the reviews looked great, at the time, we signed a contract for $11,000 for the move . . . they took possession of our stuff, waited a week, and then tried to extort us for $33,000,” adds Dupuis.

The couple called the police after the alleged extortion.

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“Calling police was a very frustrating process because this now spreads across three jurisdictions,” says Dupuis.

After police were informed, Dupuis says the movers made contact.

“They started sending us threatening and intimidating emails, and then they dropped off all communication, they lied and said we did not communicate with them, which was not true,” she explains. “Upon further investigation, the emails started bouncing back, it was a no-reply email.”

The belongings of the couple are currently said to be sold on the Facebook Marketplace.

“We don’t think we are going to get our stuff back, it’s over 7,000 brand new records, probably just as much in used, there’s first pressings, colour vinyl, all kinds, not to mention our personal belongings, ” says Dupuis.

Medicine Hat Police Service is investigating. Meanwhile, the couple is warning residents that this situation can happen to anyone

“Even after doing research, and reading good reviews, poor reviews became apparent after the fact. They were burying poor reviews with good reviews they had paid for,” says Dupuis. “We had located some of the poor reviews and got together with some of the people that have made poor reviews, those are real people, we are now talking to them about pursuing further legal action, and civil action. If anything happens, don’t be afraid to come forward, contact police.”