Complaint Review: Barter Connections Inc

When I was first approached by Kenneth Barron, President of Barter Connections, I was told that there were several people who had inquired about a Dating Service.  Once I decided to join the Network, he was adamant about driving over to pick up the check.  Within months, I soon realized that  a) there was no one interested in my services, b) the one person he later said was interested, was an employee of his, and c) it was impossible to get a list of companies involved in the Barter Exchange, although I asked on numerous occasions. 

After quite some time, I decided to buy some radio advertising through the Barter Exchange.  Ken told me I could use a combination of Barter dollars and real money.  Again, as soon as I said I wish to proceed, he was again insistent on driving over for the money.  He wouldn't accept it all on credit card, as he didn't wish to pay the points. 

Within a few weeks, the first week of advertising was missed, at which time I met with Ken and asked for a refund for 3 weeks, a total of $1,760.  Although Ken tried hard to get me to use the dollars elsewhere, he reluctantly agreed to refund the money.  After promising week after week to issue a refund, he finally issued me a refund check for 1 week of advertising, in the amount of $440.  However, he told me he put it in the mail.  After 10 days of waiting for the check to arrive, and trading countless emails, Ken informed me that the check was sitting on his desk. 

When I picked up the check on a Tuesday, he asked me to hold off depositing the check until Friday, as he was waiting for funds to arrive.  On the following Thursday, he called me to ask that I hold off depositing the check until Tuesday, again claiming the funds weren't available.  On the following Monday evening, he again asked that I hold off on depositing the check.  I elected to deposit the check Tuesday evening, only to learn that Ken stopped payment on the check.

I reached out to Ken and he said he issued another refund check for the entire amount owed to me ($1,760) instead of the additional amount owed to me ($1,320), which is why he stopped payment.  He then strung me along for 3 weeks saying the check was on its way.  I received an email from Ken on Friday, March 8, informing me that the check was put in the mail that day. The check didn't arrive until Monday, March 18th, with a postmark date of March 13th. 

AND, to top it off, the check was post-dated for Friday, March 22nd.  Ken called me on Thursday night to ask that I delay depositing the check until Tuesday, March 26th, again citing that funds weren't available, but that he expected to have enough cash by Tuesday.  On Monday, March 25th, Ken called me to ask me to hold off depositing the check until that Thursday.  I elected to deposit the check on Monday, March 25th, only to learn that Ken once again stopped payment on the check.

After several phone calls and emails, Ken said he was willing to give me some cash, as I had recently closed my business (although had made arrangements with Ken to honor the trade vouchers that Ken had purchased from me).  He first said he could give me $200.  I finally got him to agree that day to give me $500 in a bank check, as it was clear he could not be trusted.  Ken had me sign a document indicating receipt of $500 towards the $1,760 that he owed me; a clear acknowledgement that the funds were owed to me.  Ken tried to get me to retract a complaint that I filed with the BBB regarding this matter in exchange for the remainder of the money owed to me.

Having spoken to many people since this issue came up, everyone who had done business in the past with Barter Connections and Ken Barron said that the organization is quick to take money but is VERY difficult to deal with to get your money back.  Ken uses every tactic known to mankind to avoid giving you money back.  I seriously doubt he didn't have the cash in the bank to have me deposit the checks, as Ken would be fully aware that it's illegal to knowingly write a check without having the funds available.  How many times can one hear:  the check is in the mail?  Or I made it out in the wrong amount.  Meanwhile, I await the $1,260 that Ken Barron/Barter Connections owes to me.

If approached by Barter Connections and/or Ken Barron to join this network, run, don't walk.