Complaint Review: EMerchant Middleman LLC

Nov. 29, 2011, I received a phone call from EMerchant Middleman, Stephanie Winters Ext.506, 1-888-477-4521 asking me to set up a in home business.  The business was Merchant Credit Card Processing.  I paid $175.00 to set up a website.  On Dec. 8th, 2011, I received another phone call from Dave Thomas 1-877-255-4197 wanting me to purchase leads to jump start my business.  he walked me through setting up a LLC with EIN and I purchased 5000 leads for $10,000.00, with a guarantee for the quality of leads and was advised in 9 months I would receive 100% of my cost back or they would purchase an equal amount of leads, and run my campaign again at no additional fee to me.  

Dave advise they had a 2% rate of leads closing.  They placed leads in the back office of my website.  EMerchant Middleman would place leads in their caller phone system and would contact the leads.  You received payments in several ways, $500.00 per termial and 1/2 commission on money ran through the termial, referral commissions, business loan commissions.  Payment on termial and referral commission and commission on money ran through termial would be paid on the 5th of month and commission on business loans will be paid when loan closes.  I called every month speaking with Bill Starks, Chris Buckingham, Jim Reagan, Christina Nelson, Michelle Mitchell and now Victoria Willmy.  

I sent emails requesting payment and getting updates on leads, the back office only gives names of business, address, phone, owner name but it doesn't tell the status of leads.  I ask for status of leads, by name and was told they didn't have to give me I advised then I am running a business blind.  I ask to speak with owner was told that would not happen.  As of Sept. 2012 I received $1,075.00 ask for my money back I did not want them to purchase more leads I feel this is scam.  I filed a complaint w/BBB AZ and online BBB and my Card holder.  Victoria stated they will not refund my money but will run new leads.  However, when I purchased leads for new businesses from phone company it was $2.00 per lead  and I had no leads to close that said Leads were not quality and I don't want them to purchase me new leads I feel if they are not a scam I could get my money back.  

They will be spending same amount of money.  They spoke with me regular but made excuses about payment never received payment for referral commission on the 5th.  Everything I ask they would not do they didn't want me to call the leads.  Frank Goodman (Ext. 534) called me, he was risk management wanting me to invest more money and they would take the risk on my original investment, I told him I was not investing anymore money they had not delivered what they said when they talked me into the business. Michelle offered me advertising for $1,500.00 and I would get additional 2,000 leads.  I did not do that either.  I received activity reports for Sept. and Oct. and I am still waiting for Victoria to call me back to explain the reports.