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True North Media True North Business Ventures Ripoff of "guarantee" money Scottsdale, Arizona
This company scammed me! I was cold-called by a True North salesman who sold me on checking out the possibility of being an affiliate for the company. I would be trying to get companies to change their "merchant account" (on credit card purchases) to True North, as True North is supposed to have a great guarantee for this type of thing. I was told I had a money back guarantee (a necessary requirement for anyone doing business over the phone or on the internet in the current business climate) and was required to pay $150.00, which became $179.00 on my credit card. This amount I was told by the salesman was only 1/2 of the regular price to be enrolled in this program by their credit card clients, such as Visa and AMEX. Wow, I was getting a 50% off deal!
I was emailed a Welcome Package, consisting of various forms and information which started to make me wary, as it didn't give very much information about the program. But one of the forms did at least say there was a 30-day cancellation policy. Then, I was called by "Joe Deiuliis" in their advertising department and told I needed to invest, first $7500, and (when I told him that was ridiculous) then $2500 for advertising on "my" site. I told him that, at best, the link they had given me was merely a back door to the True North website. So, I saw I'd be paying for their advertising for them!!! This kind of deal wasn't for me.
I wrote to the company as per the instructions in the Welcome Package, asking to cancel my connection with them and for a refund. Days later, in a call to me by "James" of their Customer Relations Department I was told they had received my letter, but that there was no refund due because the "initial website set-up fee" was non-refundable--and it was $179. Well, this is just a rip-off as there was never any "website" of mine "set-up" and they never mentioned anywhere in the documents I received that there was a set-up fee. Even if there was, it certainly wouldn't cost anything to add an affiliate page to the True North website, as most websites come with many hundreds of pages that can be added for zero cost. Then, James told me the set up fee was explained on the original receipt which was supposedly emailed to me---and which I never received! I asked him to send me a copy of this receipt, but I guess its taking time to findor createas it hasnt been forthcoming as of yet! I was ripped off!! The moral is be wary of giving ANY money to ANY company on impulse---before you have a chance to check them out!!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
lefty
Stuart,Florida,
USA
True North Refunded my money
#3Author of original report
Thu, September 01, 2011
Soon after contacting the Phoenix BBB, and Arizona State Attorney's office, True North contacted me to say they were refunding my money in full. They said I had been told incorrect information, and since it wasn't my fault, they were giving me a refund. Of course, this doesn't explain the discrepancy between their documents, which say there is a 30-day refund policy---and their attempt to instead take all of my initial payment.
In any case, Their check arrived about a week later. So, this episode only cost me some time and aggravation, as, once I contacted the above authority's, True North seemed to change their tune and issued my refund...
Client Relations
USAPlease contact us as soon as possible.
#3UPDATE Employee
Wed, August 31, 2011
Valued Customer,
We are sorry to hear that you have had challenges with our company. We obviously are not a perfect company and it's very disappointing to find that we have fallen short in creating a positive experience for all of our clients.
Please contact our office right away, and I will ensure that we do whatever it takes to provide a resolution to your situation.
Please email me at support@tnbventures.net
Client Relations Manager
True North