Brett Davis was having a hard time with an extended warranty on his 1993 Pontiac Montana.
Davis, a 49-year-old phone technician with the Frankfort Plant Board, purchased the warranty in 2008 from a St. Louis company, but ran into roadblocks whenever he tried to use it.
“Every time I would try to get something repaired, they would deny it,” Davis said. “My brakes one time, my transmission one time and my engine one time.”
When mechanics told Davis he’d have to pay out-of-pocket for engine work, he went to Brenda Phillips, founder of Busy Bee Consulting.
“Brenda and I looked over the policy, and she pointed out the money back guarantee,” Davis said. “I was going to go through a lawyer, but Brenda told me she could take care of it.”
Phillips settled the matter through the Office of the Missouri Attorney, Davis said.
“Long story short, I got my money back.”
Phillips, from Tipton, Ga., earned her degree in social work from Kentucky State University in 2008. She began consulting in December of 2007.
She says personal experiences with an unnamed company in Frankfort prompted her to become a social advocate and consultant.
“I felt like people were going through the same things. I felt like people needed a voice. I’m also a big advocate of following legislative activity, and I saw where they were cutting back in funding for public defenders.
“I felt that was going to be a gap that needed to be filled from a social services standpoint.”
Phillips connects people with proper agencies and educates clients on how to approach situations with bosses or others in high-profile positions.
She deals with a variety of cases involving labor, warranties, discrimination and sexual harassment among others.
Fees for Busy Bee Consulting are dependent on the type of case a client wants to pursue.
“It just varies on what the consumer wants. That’s what makes this service so personalized, because it’s based on what they want.”
Phillips says her prices are competitive. She doesn’t want to add more financial strain to clients in tough situations.
“If you just got fired from your job, there’s no sense in me overcharging for my services.”
For example, clients pay $150 for unemployment appeals, $375 for discrimination issues and $200 for help in filing divorce papers.
Phillips says she’s had about 75 clients since opening and a lot have left satisfied.
Count Davis as one. He says he’s already recommended a co-worker who’s going through the same warranty difficulties to Busy Bee.
“I’d still be stuck with that warranty if it weren’t for her,” Davis said. “Yeah, you could say I’m satisfied.”
Busy Bee Consulting
Location: 624 Shelby St.
Contact: 352-0852
Web site: busybeeinc.net