Eviction notice latest in series of potential problems for Smosska company

By: Patricia Burkett | SCNOW
Published: October 05, 2009

On September 23rd, Holcombe Land Development officials say they filed eviction papers on the Smosska company.

Smosska officials say they make patient medical information cards, and had been operating in Florence out of an office at 2137C Hoffmeyer Road.

That office space is owned by Holcombe Land Development.

HLD officials say that they filed the eviction papers after failing to receive rent payments from Smosska.

They say they received a pro-rated payment on July 10, when the company moved into the office. HLD officials also say they also received a bad check for August rent on August 25th. HLD officials say that Smosska did not make any other rent payments since that time.

Smosska officials first came under question in July, after holding a job fair in which they charged a $40 assessment fee to potential applicants.

Officials with the Better Business Bureau announced that they were investigating the company because of what they called “red flags”, including the assessment fees, the company’s claim that it wanted to employ 3,000 people in a short amount of time, and the lack of a permanent facility.

Smosska officials were not immediately available on Monday when attempts were made to contact them using the phone number listed on their web site.

In August, the Better Business Bureau turned its investigation into the company over to the Attorney General’s Office.

BBB officials say they have not yet heard back from that office as to whether or not it will pursue an investigation into the company.

Also in August, the local Employment Security Commission office said it stopped referring clients to the company.

ESC officials say they had previously received information from the company advertising jobs and had previously referred clients to Smosska.

ESC officials say they were waiting on information from Smosska before referring any more clients that way, and continue to wait on that information.

Officials with the Florence County Economic Development Partnership met with Smosska officials in July to discuss the company’s plans for the area.

Since that time, development officials say they have checked in occasionally with the Smosska company, but have not had any other formal meetings or exchanges of information.

- News13's Conan Gasque contributed to this report