Complaint Review: Government Contracting Online

About a year ago, I got contacted by John Starr, one of the salespeople at governmentcontractingonline.com.  He was a convincing fast talker who claimed that that my phone would be “ringing off the hook” as he saw RFPs all the time in my line of business.  They were running a “special” that day, a free upgrade to a ¼ page ad at more than 50% off ($389)  John also said he would personally get involved if I wasn’t getting all the business that I could handle.  Sounded good.  Website looked legit, and it’s not like we are talking about a huge amount of money here.  

After a few months and not a single call, I spoke to John and he said he’d work on it and that was the last time I reached him. After several attempts and no returned calls, it was obvious that this was a smokescreen.  I spoke with Teri Strickland (client services) and filed a complaint.  Teri actually told me that there have been numerous similar complaints against John Starr but there was nothing she could really do as he was related to the owners. 

I asked that my complaints get forwarded to the owners and that I wanted a refund.  After multiple inquiries, I received no response even after I threatened to file a complaint against them with the Better Business Bureau. 

I did file a complaint with the BBB and to this day they have not responded.  My fault for not digging a little deeper.  When I googled governmentcontractingonline.com, I clicked a BBB link that went to Federal Contracting Online (same address as Government Contracting Online/Federal Business Partners, 6611 US Hwy 19, New Port Richey, FL) and they had an A+ rating at BBB.  I guess I should have looked a little closer, as the correct entity, Federal Business Partners, Inc. is rated “F” at the BBB with a business alert that there is a pattern of complaints that the company has not responded to since 2013.

Here is the link:

http://www.bbb.org/west-florida/business-reviews/business-consultants/federal-business-partner-in-new-port-richey-fl-90077235

Pretty much sums it all.  It’s amazing that these con artists are allowed to stay in business. 

Caveat Emptor…