The food vendor for your restaurant can create dreams come true or be a waking nightmare.

This is a horror story that should frighten any restaurant owner. Please take heed.

In July 2004, our food vendor, Vistar Corp., began double debiting the our checking account. Telephone calls to Vistar Corp. were made weekly beginning in July 2004, requesting a reimbursement of funds not owed. My husband was forced to cancel auto debiting privileges to the food vendor.

Finally some of the monies were returned. We were required to pay the fees for wiring the money to us! We had to pay to have our money, wrongfully taken, returned to us.

The amounts debited did not directly correspond to invoiced goods delivered to our business. We requested a complete accounting of invoices, monies paid, and monies owed (either Vistar Corp. to us, or us to Vistar Corp.) from June through September 2004. They ignored our request.

During the month of August 2004, on six different occasions, our manager spoke with Darren, in the Vistar Corp. accounting office. Each telephone call requested a complete accounting of invoices and monies paid. A complete accounting was never provided.

On 15 September 2004, I was contacted by phone by a representative of a collection agency. During the telephone call, in a letter faxed on 15 September 2004, and in a letter mailed to on 16 September 2004, I requested an explanation of debt.

On 20 September 2004, another collection letter was received, requesting payment of the debt. On 20 September 2004, I sent a second letter requesting an explanation of the debt, and to show how the debt was calculated. No further correspondence has been received from the collection agency or Vistar Corp.

On 4 December 2004, a letter was received from lawyers who have set up shop as a collection agency. This letter requested payment of the debt. In the letter was a statement that the debt would be validated if a request was sent within 30 days. On 4 December 2004, I sent a letter to the "lawyers," stating the facts of the debt dispute, including copies of all letters previously sent, and requesting an explanation of debt.

Oddly, the amount that the "lawyers" attempted to collect was less than the other collection agency.

On 16 December 2004, a second letter was received, requesting payment of the debt. This letter too had a different amount requested.

On 16 December 2004, I sent a letter, requesting an explanation of the debt, and to show how the debt was calculated. At no time did the lawyers or Vistar Corp. provide information validating the debt. We were expected to simply write out a check.

At no time did we refuse to pay any legitimate debt. Beginning in July 2004, there had been an attempt to obtain documentation from Vistar Corp., and its representatives, regarding the account. At no time has Vistar Corp., or its representatives, ever provided this information.