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Bob Fitzgerald Coaching ELAN Program $5,000 Scam towards Realtors. Contract states 10 lisitngs in 180 days plus addition services which were never received. Pittsford, New York
The Bob Fitzgerald ELAN Program is a scam. They target Realtors across the country claiming you will recieve appointments from Expired listings & FSBO. They promise you 10 listings in 180 days and additional services as well. I was told that I can give them a list of zip codes to target and a price range, they will call to make the appointments. They charge $5,000 upfront and a 20% referral fee or $250 under 200k sales price. It's been over 6 months and I got 2 listings out of the 30 leads. In fact I never received 3 leads because they forgot to give me the information. In additiion of the 30 leads 10 were not even in the area I service. I guess the zip codes I sent meant nothing to them. Some where 2 hours away. Out of the 20 other so call leads many of them wouldn't meet, never called back or didn't show up. The message I received was
I got a HOT one for you". The additional service they promised which I never received were: Weekly Mastermind Group Call with ELAN Members; Monthly Interview with a Top 100 ELAN Member; Admission for (2) to the ELAN Retreat in Miami, Florida (4 day event); Coaching 911 access to Bob Fitzgerald and his team of ELAN Coaches. I emailed Bob and requested an appointment for us to talk to discuss my issues, he said he was too busy just email him. So I did, his response "ALL WE DO IS CALL". I guess the other services they promise are just thown in to make it sound better. When I emailed Bob again (because he won't talk over the phone) requesting a refund because he is in breach of the contract he said "he doesn't give refund he only makes calls". I'm lucky he calls 1 day per month. He even threaten to call my listings to tell them what he thought of me. I didn't know I was working for him, I thought he was working for me. At least that's what I thought I paid him to do. Another thing they never told me was I needed to sign up for Landvoice, which is extra. I complained to Bob he said he would refund the cost of Landvoice. Still waiting on the check. If you are a Realtor Beware of this Scam.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
DB
USABob Wouldn't Defend His Services
#4Author of original report
Thu, September 01, 2011
Bob wouldn't even defend his services in court. He refuses to talk to you directly, he refuses to show up in court and he refuses to honor his contract. He claims they call 3 - 5 days out of a week. I actually changed my landvoice password to see how long it took them to reach out to me about the problem. It took them 3 1/2 weeks before they contacted me stating they couldn't get into my landvoice account. His claim of 3 - 5 days is more like 3 - 5 weeks. Realtors Beware of his service. Take him to court he won't show up!
DB
United States of AmericaYour Contract Doesn't State "WE JUST CALL"
#4Author of original report
Sat, April 16, 2011
I've tried to discuss your service with you directly but you didn't want to talk. Apparently you don't take pride in customer service. A refund isn't what I originally wanted. I wanted you to provide the service you promised. You refuse to talk to me directly and only after several emails with you, did I state I wanted a refund. You just kept saying "We Just Call". The contract states more than that and doesn't say "We Just Call". You keep saying I didn't list any of the 30 but you must not read anything I keep telling you. I listed 2 out of the 30. 10 of those 30 were over an hour away from my service area. I'm not sure why you keep sending me leads from not in my area since I sent you zip codes over and over again.
Just so you have all the facts again and I sent this also weeks ago. Apparently he doesn't read anything....
Here is the breakdown of the 30 leads.. Remember I gave zip codes and a minimum price point of $125k from the beginning.
10 Too Far (all over 1 hour)
a. 7 under 90k
b. 2 over 100k but were 2hrs away
c. 1 at 100k
2 Seller Cancelled their appointments (1 cancelled twice and will not return calls, in fact this one was 1 hour away but I just wanted to go to say I got a lead from Bob)
1 Seller didnt even show up at their own house after I confirmed the day before
2 Seller didnt even call me back after several attempts
5 Phone Appts (these were set as phone appointments from Bob)
a. 2 wouldnt meet
b. 2 I turned down due to price (which aren't even listed)
c. 1 I am still working on (seller is out of state, property local)
Of the 9 actual appointments I went on here's what occurred:
2 I listed, both under 120k (my original criteria was over 125k)
4 I turned down due to price, which are all still listed with other companies and haven't sold
1 which I was going to list but ended up selling fsbo two days after I meet with them
2 I just lost out to other agents, both were under 85k. (once again my original criteria was over 125k)
The bottom line is you promised a certain service and haven't provided it. I tried to discuss with you directly about it and you didn't want to talk. Apparently you still don't want to resolve the issue since you told me in you last email "this was the last communication you will have with me". I guess that's great customer service!!
You can bash my listing presentation skills all you want, you wouldn't know how they are since you won't and have never spoken to me.
Bob Fitzgerald
Pittsford, NY,New York,
United States of America
Prospecting isn't now nor is it complicated!
#4REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, April 11, 2011
This realtor thinks that his threats and words like "scam" are more important than having a listing presentation or any lead follow up skill with FSBO and EXPIREDS.
His communications with me were ALL about wanting a refund not doing what it takes to get listings. He doesn't even know that all the coaching he referred to are on the BLOG because getting his money back is his only concern.
We have almost 300 clients and some think they can threaten me or bully me with with this type of posting.
Prospecting isn't new nor is it complicated. "We just call!"
He's right. We've called hundreds of hours on his behalf and sent him more than 30 FSBO or EXPIRED appointments... EVERYONE of them willing to meet with him when we finished our call. He hasn't listed ANY OF THEM. NOT A SINGLE HOME.
We do the exact same thing for every client. This agent has complained from day!
If you are reading this and you are serious about our service... you can talk to as many agents as you'd like that are thrilled with our service and understand that "we just call!"
The listings are up to the agent.
"I have taken 17 listings with the Bob Fitzgerald Agent Tele-Marketing Listing Lead Program... in a market with a population base of only 400,000. I'm getting 18-20 appointment/leads per monthThis equates to 36-40 additional listings for me this year... a real "NO-BRAINER"!
Steven Futch
"The Terminator"
RealtyExecutives SB
The system works, Debbie Chennisi, Keller Williams Realty,
5 Great Listings Taken So Far: 5 More To Go!
Bob,
I am happy to take the time to write you a quick note about the way that I handle a lead that your telemarketers set for me.
1. As soon as I see the email I call the prospective client and introduce myself to them and find out for myself if they are truly interested in selling their home. If they say that they are then I confirm the time that was arranged for us to meet and see if it works for both of us.
2. I prepare a Market analysis when we meet and handle the listing as if your company had nothing to do with it.
3. Basically speaking your company saves me time by weeding through the possibilities and landing some good leads for me. They are appointment/leads notbguaranteed listings. I understand the numbers and my role.
4. The system works but does take time at first to land some prospects because of lead follow up. Just like my own
prospecting.
Let me know if you need further clarification and have anyone call me if they want to talk. Have a nice day.
Debbie Chennisi
Keller
Williams Realty
Our strategy is simple. ATM is just calls, we have to convert.
Ty Ignaszewski, RE/MAX
If I could find a way to take listings for agents, Id do that
too! But, we just call. If an agent is too busy or too flakey
to convert what more can we do.
To bad agents like that blame me rather than sharpen their skills
considering we could be setting appointments for them for the rest of their
lives! - Bob FItzgerald
Hi Bob,
How is the ATM service
working for us?
- When we receive the
email we place a follow-up call with 4-hours to:
a) Continue to build
rapport,
b) Confirm motivation
& information,
c) Confirm appointment
or change.
- If unable to reach
we leave message and follow-up daily or what is
appropriate for
situation.
- 24-hours before
appointment we call with courtesy confirmation.
At appointment
we: a) Educate on specific market and competition, b) Confirm motivation, c) Share realistic plan, d) Come to consensus to do business together or not (price right now or pre-determined price reduction strategy).
- Effectively communicate weekly or bi-weekly to provide update and working with clients on doing the right to get it sold.
Our strategy is simple. ATM is just calls, we have to capture/convert.
Talk to you soon,
Ty
Ty Ignaszewski
Real Estate
Consultant/REALTOR
The Carrie and Ty Real
Estate Team - RE/MAX Insight
I spend 2-3 hours per day prospecting the same phone number and leads I send you, it is just your team is able to reach them at different times of the day that I am not calling. I have actually had telemarketers work for me before and paid by the hour or appointment, but spent way more money for less quality leads.
Neil Bennett, Prudential
Thanks Bob,
Since I started using your prospecting services it has increased my way of finding prospects to contact. I treat each listing lead you send me as a hot prospect. As soon as I receive your email with their information I call back to pre-qualify the lead and either confirm or reset the time for the appointment. Several leads I canceled the appointment since they either could not or did not really want to sell.
The last listing I took which is number 4, was actually the first lead, a FSBO, you that I had gone on the appointment and continued to touch base with on a 3-4 week basis. Then 2 weeks ago he called me and was ready to list! I continue to followup with each one till they list with someone or sell.
I spend 2-3 hours per day prospecting the same phone number and leads I send you, it is just your team is able to reach them at different times of the day that I am not calling. I have actually had telemarketers work for me before and paid by the hour or appointment, but spent way more money for less quality leads. Feel free to have anyone contact me if they have any questions.
Neil Bennett MBA
Neil Bennett and
Associates
Prudential Towne
Realty