WASHINGTON - There is no doubt the historic Inauguration provided people in the area an opportunity to make some extra money in the tough economic times, but ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 has learned a number of people who worked that day are still waiting for their money.

Parthenia Palmer went to work during the inauguration, picking up an extra job as an overnight chaperon for visiting high school tour groups. But the company that hired her, SD Protection, has left her waiting for her money.

Henry Lindsay Jr. and Robert Chandler, along with hundreds of other, also worked for SD Protection during the Inauguration,  and like Palmer, both are still waiting for hundreds of dollars.

"I specifically said this couple hundred dollars will help me pay some credit card debt left over from the holiday," Chandler said.

They submitted their time sheets and reports to their Winter Springs Florida-based employer, expecting to be paid via direct deposit by Jan. 30th. But both men received an email on the 30th, saying they'd be paid on the 6th. 

But on the 6th, no money - just an email blaming a payroll problem and promising checks would be mailed on the 10th. And on the 10th, another email, promising the checks would be sent on the 11th. But a week later still no money.

The Better Business Bureau in Orlando says it has five complaints against SD Protection, and the Florida Attorney General reports two more. While a first attempt by ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter Kris Van Cleave to reach the company was unsuccessfully, he did track down one of its D.C. team leaders.

Link: Department of Labor Web site

When asked why people were never paid for their work, he replied, "They had some software problem down at the payroll office, so people are getting their checks as we speak." The team leader went on to say, "They got some today...so it's a non-issue today."

But that is not exactly true. It is still an issue for Lindsay, Palmer and Chandler.

"That money was for my tires, specifically, for my car, just for some bills," Palmer added.

Finally, SD Protection's director of operations called us, claiming all checks were mailed out by the 17th - six days after the last email said they would be mailed out.

"It's not a scam by any means; we are too well known out there to cheat somebody out of a few hundred bucks. Everyone will get paid, and everyone is being paid," the director said.

But when asked if he thinks the company will pay up, Palmer responded, "I hope so, but I don't think so, I really don't think so."

Although there is some confusion at the company over how many people were even employed during the Inauguration, some people have received checks. Unfortunately, though, the three people in this story are still waiting. In addition, people who did get paid are claiming they were paid less than they were owed.

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