Complaint Review: Power Seller Consultants And Bright Builders

I filled out a coupon online for a information on how to make money on ebay. On September 23, 2008, I got a phone call from Jim Peterson of Power Sellers Consultants who explained that I could make a lot of money by building a website which would be linked to my ebay account from which I could sell products and payoff my initial investment in 2-4 months. He made it sound like they were part of ebay.

He took me to the BBB of Salt Lake City to show me that Bright Builders (their fulfillment house) had gotten complaints but that they had all been satisfactorily resolved. He also showed me 2 websites of customers that had developed successful websites as a result of taking their program.

I suggested that I call them to discuss their successes and he said I couldn't because if everyone taking their program called it would disturb these people and their businesses. He said I should just be happy knowing they were successful. He was trying to make me comfortable and he did.

He said they (Power Seller Consultants) were the only people authorized by ebay to link websites. After Jim found out I had a Mastercard with a large credit line, he said I could do this using "other people's money" or OPM and someone else would be calling me back.

Then I heard from Mark Peterson (no relation, so he said). Mark explained the "program". Then, after he told me I had to say yes or no before the conversation was over, that I could not change my mind, he hung up saying that someone else would call me back to arrange my payment for the program.

"Chrystal" called back and she had Bank of America on the line. Chrystal said she wanted the payment handled as a bank transfer and that Power Sellers would write me a check for the charge for it. I didn't know what they were talking about and assumed it was a regular credit card charge. It turned out that it was like a Balance Transfer and I was charged $213.79 for the "service" and never received a reimbursement from Power Sellers for the fee.I didn't know it at the time, but it was a good way of making the transfer of funds irreversible.

The following week I began the program and took the first webseminar through Bright Builders. My "coach" contacted me once to introduce himself. I did the first assignment and took the second web seminar the 2nd week. I realized that I would need to put more money into this for inventory which was not covered at all in the $7,126.00 that I'd already paid. I also realized that in order to make any money at all, I would need a lot more money, like thousands more money. There was no way these charges would be paid off in 2-4 months unless I were superhuman and psychic. The stock market took a dive and my retirement fund suffered a substantial loss. I got sick.

I felt I was being cheated and not getting any value for my money so I asked my accountant to look at the program. She told me to get out, that it was a scam, so I called and asked for a refund. I then called Bank of America and disputed the charges. The bank reversed the charge from Bright Builders(Power Sellers fulfillment house - their coaches) web hosting charge of $39.95 and the bank did an investigation on the $7,126.00 sent to Power Sellers Consultants and would not reverse the charge as of their communication of November 13th, 2008. When I objected to the charge with my bank, they said that because it was a "convenience check" aka "balance transfer", it fell outside of federal guidelines and it could not be reversed. I contacted the OCC or "the Controller of the Currency" and they are dealing with the bank now about the problem.

In subsequent calls, Mark Peterson of Power Seller Consultants refused me a refund completely saying that it was "like college; if you graduate 4 years and go to find a job and don't get one, you can't come back and ask for a refund". I was onboard less than 2 weeks. Then he said he'd put the money on hold for me, that I could come back anytime. When I said I wasn't coming back because I had financial problems and could not continue, he said I should "play the hand you've been dealt" and I should "move on".

He was very sarcastic, humiliating and degrading in his tone..as though I was the one cheating him. I hung up on him.

Then I had a male friend call and ask for a refund, threatening that we'd go to the Attorney General's office with the complaint. That seemed to get Mark Peterson to back up a bit. He said he'd speak to the owner and get back to us. When he didn't call back, my friend Steve called him. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, November 25th.

Mark said he had to speak to the owner and would have an answer after Thanksgiving. Steve called back on December 2nd and Mark said that they would not issue a refund, that they would work with me and complete the program, but there was no chance of a refund.

That is where I stand now. My credit card payment of $132.00 was due on December 9th. I have complained to the OCC (Office of the Controller of the Currency_ and now to the Attorney General's office. I've also called the WSB Consumer Action Center in Atlanta, which advertised on the radio that they could help. They referred me to the Attorney General's office and also to the Office of Consumer Advocates.

I am a single parent with limited income. This expense financial hardship to me and has caused me hardship already as I cannot afford to pay my existing bills and also the $132.00 charge per month for $7,126 worth of services that I did not receive. After the fact, I found several complaints posted online about these people and realize that other people have been bilked for thousands as well. Some people have lost more than me.

I want a complete refund. $7126 plus the $213.79 that they said they'd reimburse for a total of $7,340.15. (The very fact that they never sent the reimbursement is proof of their deception.) I didn't sign a contract. I was not informed of what I now know is a "3 day right of refusal". I got nothing for my money but a waste of my time and money.

My accountant said that "a high school kid could have written a better course" when she saw the one inch binder they sent as a "teaching" tool (this was returned to them). The stress that I've suffered from September to now has been unbearable. I have health issues (I've had quadruple bypass) accompanied by high blood pressure and know that this has not been beneficial to me in any way. I have had to seek medical treatment as a result.

I advise anyone to beware of any interaction with these people. They are not reputable and do not treat their customers fairly or in accordance with any laws for purchases of services and refunds. I will take the advice of others who have continued to protest. Don't give up if you've experienced the same treatment as me. It is illegal to hold someone's money without just cause. This is theft.

For anyone who feels that they got a fair deal from Power Seller Consultants or Bright Builders, they are fortunate. That has not been my experience.

Deb
Scranton, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.