thecoachingdepartment.com Lies and Deceit, Internet
I signed up for an internet business and a day later received a call from thecoachingdepartment.com. My first question to them was, "are you with this company I just signed up with?" I was told yes and so naturally I thought they would be coaching me through learning and succeeding at this online business.
Each time I asked about the online business and the website I had spent a lot of money on that was just sitting out there I was told to not worry about it. I would reply I am worried about it. This began with teaching me to sell something on eBay -- I've been selling very successfully on eBay for 10 years. Their main thrust was drop shipping but every time I turned around they wanted more money.
I called the internet business I'd signed up with and found out that thecoachingdepartment.com had absolutely nothing to do with them in fact, they had never heard of them. So, they had lied from the beginning. In the initial call I was told that I would be expected to give a written testimonial which they needed to keep their site legal. I was told that I'd have my money back in no time.
Their "webinars" were the most lame attempt at training that I've ever seen. The coaches would call 40 to 50 minutes after a scheduled time with no apology. I don't believe for a moment that any of them are successful otherwise why are they working on the phones? They were suppose to help one "brainstorm" but I don't think they knew what they was. The only thing they would say is "well that's up to you." If the coach didn't like a reaction they would yell at you as if you were 5 years old.
The coaches also told me many times we will help you set up an e-commerce website and all it will cost you is $39.95 per month for the service provider. Then suddenly I was told that my package of $2300.00 didn't include the website. Really, what did it include besides lies and lack of knowledge? Oh, they also told me I needed to pay them an additional $1,500 for a directory of drop shippers? Why? There are tons of free directories to be had.
When I made a complaint to this company regarding the complete lack of professionalism, inappropriate behavior and outright lies to me from the beginning I received a call from the Director of Client Relations the first words out of his mouth were, "you aren't getting your money back."
I have read other reports on this company (unfortunately after the fact for me) and it appears that their mode of operation is calling people and telling them that they are with another they have just signed up with. How sad that they can't stand on their own merits instead of lying, cheating and stealing.
My hope is that more people will begin checking companies like this out before believing one word that they say. Don't get sucked in by thecoachingdepartment.com -- there is no coaching involved, they are just there to take your money and run.
Let me end with this -- drop shipping seems to be their big thing. I found a free ebook on drop shipping and 3 free marketing lessons on drop shipping that taught me more than they ever did!! Don't pay anyone for what you can get for free. These people know NOTHING!!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
another victim
everytown,Nationwide,
USA
FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE UTAH DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
#2Consumer Comment
Sat, May 12, 2012
AVOID ALL UTAH BASED BUSINESSES LIKE THE PLAGUE!!
They are becoming one of the worst states for TELEMARKETING SCAMS, due to some of the most lax business rules and regulations in the country.
Work-at-home and e-commerce coaching scams are becoming such a huge operation, that now they've even created SCAM DEBT RECOVERY SERVICES (supposedly to help victims recover their money - but just another vicious scheme to help themselves to your wallet) and even scum CHARGEBACK BUSINESSES to handle their overload of credit card chargebacks from dissatisfied victims.
Now it looks like they've even started to turn their recurring monthly fees over to an actual DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY - which may or may not be involved in the original scam? But most Debt Collection Agencies are bad news in of themselves!
First contact your credit card company and discuss the matter with them. Next determine what you need to do to actually CANCEL the contracts. The scammers will ALL tell you that you can't cancel, but just like cell phone service providers - there has to be a way to cancel and it has to be spelled out somewhere in their communications with you or in the original online contract you may have electronically signed. It has to specifically state the number of months that you initially agreed to, and if and what the penalty is for early cancellation. You can't have an unlimited ongoing monthly charge forever without a clause for cancellation!!!
Send certified, return receipt letters, and keep copies for yourself and your cc companies.
Next you do have to seek legal counsel to look over the contracts. The scammers should be able to provide copies if you don't have or can't find them. AND don't let them tell you that they don't have copies, because THEY DO and they have to furnish them upon request. Otherwise, it would obviously be their word against yours. Most cities and states have low cost paralegals or offer senior legal advise. Look in the phone book or online. The TELEMARKETERS' contracts aren't that complicated, but they usually have their bases covered! And what you're looking for is a way to cancel. What is more complicated is getting your money back.
Be prepared to have the SCAMMERS attempt to possibly belittle you, intimidate you, bully you, or even threaten you. They will tell you that they will ruin your credit, that it will cost you thousands in legal or arbitration fees, and that you won't ever get a penny out of them. TAKE GOOD NOTES inc. names, dates, phone numbers and then REPORT THEM TO THE FTC AND THE UTAH DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION!! And of course, DON'T believe every word they tell you.
Stopping them now is better than trying to stop them after they've drained your bank accounts, retirement savings, and even forced you into foreclosure or bankruptcy. They leave victims lives in ruins without a care or concern for anyone but themselves.
Read "They Can't Hang Up" on the www.fraud.org website for a chilling expose on TELEMARKETER SCAMMERS who are nothing more than hardened criminals.