Westford monument business facing claims of false promises, deception

WESTFORD, Mass. — A Westford monument business is facing claims of false promises and deception as customers demand refunds.

Small claims court documents and police reports portray a pattern of Garside Monuments not following through with items and services that were paid for.

Boston 25 News learned that 13 police reports have been filed in connection with Garside Monuments, owned by John Thomas Smith.

There are also six outstanding police reports, which would make 19 in total.

“We paid him up front with the full expectation that he would do the right thing,” said customer David Blackstone. “He lies and makes up stories to delay and delay and delay.”

David Blackstone and his wife said they paid in full for an engraved monument for future purposes back in September.

The couple told Boston 25 News that they still haven’t received what they paid for more than nine months later.

“He always says he’s going to do the right thing and then he never does,” explained Blackstone.

The Blackstones reported to small claims court that Smith owes them $2,762.50 plus $100 in court costs.

“They only go as far to say, yes, he owes you the money, but there’s no way for the court to go and collect,” said Blackstone. “There is little recourse, and that’s the frustration.”

The police reports obtained by Boston 25 News portray a similar pattern of money paid, often thousands, followed a confusing cycle of grieving customers getting the runaround.

“How could he do this to somebody when they’ve just gone through such a loss?,” questioned customer Heidi Targ.

Heidi Targ told Boston 25 News she’s still waiting for Garside Monuments to refund her the $525 dollars she paid for an engravement on March 9th.

The payment was made following the death of her 37-year-old brother from a suspected fentanyl overdose.

“He made it seem like it was going to be done in a couple of weeks, and it’s still not done,” she said. “I feel like I’m right back to that day of grieving my brother.”

Targ said she set up a time to get a refund from Smith and claims he never followed through.

“I met him, and it was like he forgot we even spoke. He didn’t have the money,” she added.

There are two current complaints on file in the state’s consumer complaint database in addition to the small court claims and police reports.

Boston 25 News gave Smith multiple opportunities to respond to the allegations, but he has not yet provided a comment.

Smith took the reins of the business back in 2015 following the death of his grandfather, Al Garside.

Garside was an Army veteran and helped install Westford’s fallen firefighters and 9/11 memorials.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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