IPA,International Profit Associates,IBA, International Business Associates Sells consulting services at inflated rates under false pretenses Buffalo Grove Illinois
Well, I wish I would have looked here first. They cold called me and said a rep would be in the area. I said no thanks but they were persistent. Sales guy showed up and talked me into letting an analyst look at my books for the "reduced" rate of $300.
Analyst shows up and tells us we are the worst company she has ever seen, but IPA can save us If we are committed. She even produced a generic "10 Commitments" form for me to initial. She said she didnt know if upper management would take me as a client but she was going to try her best. She came back the next morning and said she talked them into it and she was putting her reputation on the line. These guys are the best high pressure sales people I have ever encountered.
She set me up with a PM and a consultant to come out on Monday. I told her that if she really looked at the numbers and if she knew how bad of shape we were in financially, how did she expect me to pay $325/hour plus expenses. She said not to worry, we would work out something.
Consultants show up. Spend the first day gathering the info that the analyst had already gathered and reviewed. Then they talked to three of my 33 employees, spent a lot of time generating reports and graphs that I never saw and were not given to me. The consultant was a joke. He couldnt string three sentences together. The PM was obviously experienced at this scam. She was very polished and had the art of manipulation mastered.
They left and came back in the morning. Their mood and mannerisms had changed drastically from the previous day. I think they figured out that there was no way they were going to get one penny from me. By 11AM they called me in the office and gave me their Value Enhancement Review. It stated that I had lied to them, that they had talked to many of my employees and they felt I wasnt dedicated, and that they were not sure how they could be paid and hence they were leaving. Then they presented me with a bill for $9329.00 for 11 hours of "work" plus "expenses". I was initially upset because I had been sold that they might actually be able to help us. Once I started thinking about it and did some research that I should have done beforehand I was relieved. I didnt, nor do I intend to, pay the invoice. I really do hope they try and get it. It will be fun screwing with them.
Please beware of these people. They have no moral compass and they prey on people in difficult situations.
Steve
Monett, Missouri
U.S.A.