Complaint Review: Raymond Aaron - The Monthly Mentor

In August 2006 Raymond Aaron came to Australia to promote his "Monthly Mentor Program". Like most of his kind, he was a very good salesman, and sold his Monthly Mentor Program to Australian residents.

The predominant part of the sales pitch was that there was absolutely "No Risk" to the potential consumer, so you had everything to gain and nothing to lose. To emphasis the point, he gave a written and signed guarantee which stated:

"100% Iron Clad Guarantee
Better -Than-Risk-free, No Hassle Triple Guarantee

1. You will be astounded by achieving your own goals every month - goals you select on your own.
2. Even more amazing, you will actually begin achieving goals you personally view today as "Outrageous".
3. Finally, and possibly most amazing, you will be dazzled to notice that some of your goals will achieve themselves Automagically - that is, as if effortlessly.

OR GET ALL OF YOUR MONEY BACK!

It's just that simple. And, as our gift, you get to keep all of the books, CD's, DVD's, transcripts, lessons and mentoring that are part of the Monthly Mentor program.

All we require is that you participate in the entire 17 month program, recording your goals each month, and requesting mentoring support when you have difficulty. That's only fair.

The Monthly Mentor Guarantee really delivers. It's better than risk free!"

I have always been successful at goal setting, having attended courses and by way of reading and habit. The purpose of my being involved in the program was to assess it and if I believed it worthwhile, promote it to leaders and others within our business.

I completed the program per the guarantee - to wit:

* Remained in the program for the 17 month period;
* I recorded my goals each month;
* I had no need to contact the mentoring support, as I did not experience difficulty with the program.

I advised that it was in fact the case that I achieved my goals, but was not astounded or amazed by the program, believing it to be no better than my previous goal setting practices (of which I was already very successful).

On this basis I requested a refund from the Monthly Mentor Group. I had written communications from one of the staff members there, advising that I was to send my goals to their office, and they would review them. I advised that nowhere in the guarantee was there a requirement that a client had to send their very private and personal goals (which included business; family; spiritual; relationships) to members of their organization for scrutiny.


Below are some of the written responses from the staff member:

* Promises were not made that you will be "astounded" and "amazed" by the program, but that you will achieve the goals you select. [This is in direct conflict with the guarantee as produced verbatim, above]

*We do require copies of your MAINLY forms and the coaching emails etc. for review.
[No where is this written in the guarantee whatsoever]

* If at the end of the 17 months you are unsatisfied with the program, after completing your MAINLY form each month and seeking help from the coaching, we ask that you (sic) to send us your 17 MAINLY forms along with any correspondence you had with our coaches for review. They will be review (sic) by the coaching team and a refund decision will be made.
[Again, there is no requirement in the guarantee that you submit your personal goals for scrutiny (known as the Mainly forms); nor has it been accepted that no difficulty was experienced, necessitating additional contact with the coaching team.

* A refund will not be issued based on this when you have notified us Paul that you have been achieving your own goals every month - goals that you selected on your own. For the fact that you were not astounded by your own personal goal achievement does not speak to the fact that you did not achieve them - because you did, as to why you have been successful with the program - which is what we guarantee - - the success of goal achievement!
[Again, another criteria is added to the non-refund of the guarantee - that if you achieve your goals, a refund will not be issued.

Although requests were made to speak with senior management, these were denied, with the response; "As this is a customer service issue, myself and Courtney are the ones that handle all program refunds, holds and membership inquiries / cancellations, etc..."

It is very clear that a "100% Iron Clad - Better than Risk Free" guarantee, carries other unwritten criteria, which are being used to refuse any claim made on the program.

In fact, the very conditions put on the bottom of the guarantee immediately negate the "Better than risk free" claim, as significant risks attach to the guarantee.

I would be interested in knowing others who have had their very risky "risk free" guarantees refused, in order that a class action may be instigated.

Paul, australia
Brisbane
Australia