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  • Report:  #1055917

Complaint Review: Fortune Builders - Internet

Reported By:
Paul - ventura, California,
Submitted:
Updated:

Fortune Builders
Internet, USA
Web:
www.fortunebuilders.com
Categories:
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REVIEW UPDATE: May 15, 2018: FortuneBuilders, Inc. remains committed to increased customer satisfaction and has improved their business practices over the years to better serve their customers. FortuneBuilders, Inc. is truly dedicated to making sure their customers are satisfied and that any complaints which do arise are addressed promptly and fairly.

To date, FortuneBuilders, Inc. has made good faith efforts to resolve all complaints reported on Ripoff Report. Based on our experience, the member business has proven to be among the top members of the Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program as a Verified Safe Business™.

Over time and since becoming a member, FortuneBuilders, Inc. has remained actively engaged and improving the way they address customer service complaints. As an active and current member of the Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program we are happy to report that now more than ever FortuneBuilders, Inc. remains committed to improving customer satisfaction.

Remember, no company or individual can ever satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time. There are no products or services that will always be perfect for everyone and even the best companies will receive complaints from time to time. However, by participating in the Corporate Advocacy Program, the member business has made a commitment to working with its customers to resolve complaints quickly and fairly whenever possible.

Please keep in mind that as a consumer you have some responsibilities as well. Success has many definitions that based on your past experiences, current situation and your perceived expectations. Success with any product or service is always based on the proper application and understanding. The fastest car will not run if you never turn the engine on. Look at how you used the product or service that was provided in relation with the instructions that you received. The Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program will help you get your voice heard but please be prepared with documentation and fair representation of your concern, also have an idea of how the company can fix your concern. Can they offer additional services, extend warranties, offer a fair refund or just get you talking with someone that can help. ..let them know and let us know!

*Any consumer not receiving satisfaction from a member of the Corporate Advocacy Program should email us at [email protected].

Ripoff Report Verified™ REVIEW

EDitor's UPDATE: Positive rating and recognition has been given to FortuneBuilders for its full commitment to quality customer service.

Ripoff Report's discussions with FortuneBuilders have uncovered an ongoing dedication by the company to total client satisfaction. This means that clients can expect that the company will work towards finding a mutually satisfactory resolution to any concerns. FortuneBuilders listens carefully to client concerns and sees them as an opportunity to learn from past mistakes and become more efficient as a company in the services offered and the support for those services.

The founder of the company Mr. Merrill has informed us that his personal philosophy is that his students are the heart of the business. As a successful real estate investor and one of the most trusted and well respected real estate educators and authors, Mr. Merrill feels it is critical to listen to his clients and respond properly. By always putting his students first, Mr. Merrill hopes to maintain his company’s strong reputation as one of the top educational company’s in the country. Another top executive, Mr. Chadwick told us that he has worked at the company for the past seven years and that Mr. Merrill, the founder, is extremely committed to constantly improving the educational development and experience of their students.

He said “Mr. Merrill is always inspiring and challenging everyone within the company to continue improving the educational experience for our students. Whether it’s adding more live training events, or improving our online training curriculum, or continuing to improve the systems, tools, or software that we offer students.”



Mr. Chadwick went on to say that he really has never met someone as dedicated to their company as Mr. Merrill. He went on to say “ Mr. Merrill doesn’t sleep and that he has never met anyone with the work ethic and commitment to the company’s programs and students.” He went on to add that “he is also constantly teaching and coaching students within the program at a lot of their advanced live training events and that their students really appreciate how connected he is to the student body.”

One of the things Ripoff Report learned in the course of its review is that the company has thousands of successful investors students around the country. The common thing their students said is that they “truly feel part of a bigger family.”

Many of their company’s clients reference the fact that the company is always sharing best practices not only of the founders real estate business, but also of the numerous successful students who have also created extremely successful real estate businesses in different markets around the country.

Ripoff Report also learned, in the course of the review, that the company is extremely responsive when and if the company knows about an issue that might arise with a student. It is very clear the company is committed to their students and that even when a student falls behind they stick with the student to help them get back on track.


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Ripoff Report Verified™ .. part of Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program.A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business..

The information provided in this report is based on comments made by Geoffery Chadwick during an onsite inspection held by a third party verification company with no biases toward Fortune Builders.

Fortune Builders is a real estate education company that has developed education tools and platforms in order to provide their clients with the highest quality information to further develop their real estate careers. Fortune Builder's goals are for their customers to develop real estate education for buyers and investors to buy, hold, redevelop, and or manage real property. Geoffery Chadwick went on to state the following, "there is no specific area of real estate emphasized, but each course and coaching package is aimed at what the client wants to do and their comfort level in dealing with real estate.”

The leads for Fortune Builders are developed through several different avenues including referrals, radio advertisements, television advertisements, direct mail, and online inquires. Once an initial interest has been made Mr. Chadwick explains the typical experience a client would receive with Fortune Builders, "clients are offered at attend a free two hour seminar. It is mostly a informative show of real estate techniques, then they are offered an opportunity to attend a three day training course at a cost of $197.00." The training course offers in depth details and training materials for the client's review.



CUSTOMER CARE & COMPLAINT RESOLUTION FROM FORTUNEBUILDERS

During the onsite interview Mr. Chadwick was asked to describe a situation where a client was not satisfied with the level of service they received. Mr. Chadwick explained that the complaints Fortune Builder is most aware of involve the sales approach and pitch at the seminars. Some customers are unaware of the dedication necessary to effectively own real estate, and they request their $197.00 back. Mr. Chadwick explained that when this happens, "our policy, at the time, was a delayed return of their money within 7-10 days. We have since streamlined the refund policy to within 48 hours of their request and that has proven to be satisfactory to the clients. We also made the offer for clients to cancel at the end of the 1st day of the seminar instead of at the end." These complaints were at the local workshops in San Diego, and at other workshops throughout the United States and Canada.

When asked to comment on complaints posted on Ripoff Report's website Mr. Chadwick stated the following, "if the client was not satisfied with the product or service promised, perceived or not, a simple phone call to the office would have rectified the problem in the clients favor." Fortune Builders is a company dedicated to education and customer service. This can be shown through their many clients who are successfully selling, owning, and redeveloping properties.

Fortune Builders is proud to be a part of Ripoff Reports Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program. Mr. Chadwick further explains by stating, "as you may be aware, many complaints are made and posted by anonymous posters with no form of rebuttal available to our company. Being a member of the program has given us the ability to interface with the complainant and deal with the problem in a timely and professional manner."

FORTUNEBUILDERS / STATEMENT FROM CHIEF OFFICER OF CUSTOMER CARE ROY LINDENMAYER

"We are one of the top educational company’s in the country that helps real estate investors start, grow, and scale their real estate investment businesses.

FortuneBuilders's The company has an extremely positive work environment. Everyone within the company is encouraged to grow both personally, professionally, and financially. The managers within the company are also always pushing everyone to always think of ways to improve the educational experience of our students while at the same time making sure that every employee is also growing.

If you have any questions please email the company’s chief officer of customer care Roy Lindenmayer at [email protected].”



FortuneBuilders takes employee satisfaction seriously as well. Employee feedback and surveys reveal comments such as this, "Opportunities for suggestions and improvements are encouraged within the company. The founders are definitely committed to providing growth opportunities and have created a family like atmosphere within the organization.”

Ripoff Report was pleased to learn that FortuneBuilders's past and current approach to business is focused on its pledge to total commitment towards client and employee satisfaction.

Mastery Coaching

Top professionals in any industry know coaching is an invaluable resource, with some surveys indicating 70% of Fortune 500 CEOs utilize business coaching. We believe to be the best, you have to constantly surround yourself with people who have a different perspective and have already achieved what you desire. Mastery is our program that allows investors to reach their financial and personal goals by learning how to strategically invest in real estate. Mastery students receive unparalleled support through one-on-one coaching, foundational systems and course materials and exclusive access to our live training events.”

FORTUNEBUILDERS' REAL ESTATE INVESTING EDUCATION

"We are passionate about real estate and business and we believe education, systems and coaching are the key components to running a successful real estate investing business. We have built our business on this foundation and our sole purpose is to share our knowledge, systems and coaches with investors at all levels from aspiring to experienced. Our education and systems are designed to accelerate the learning curve associated with investing in real estate and running a business, and reduce the risk and costs associated with the challenges all new investors and business owners encounter.

Truly wealthy people do not trade their time for money. Truly wealthy people invest in their financial education, start businesses and accumulate assets that do the work to produce income for them. This is why we have made it our mission to teach our students how to build a business that is not dependent on you trading time for money. Browse our educational programs and resources to learn more about how we can help.

STATED IMPROVEMENTS FROM FORTUNEBUILDERS

FortuneBuilders recognizes that complaints posted on Ripoff Report (whether true or not) are issues that need to be addressed, not ignored. If handled correctly, complaints can be valuable learning opportunities. With the feedback generated by Ripoff Report's review, FortuneBuilders has made organizational changes allowing its clients and employees a more streamlined approach to problem resolution and a commitment to a great client experience.









In summary, after our review, which included discussions with Mr. Merrill the founder, Mr. Chadwick, and Mr. Roy Lindenmayer the chief officer of customer care, Ripoff Report is convinced that FortuneBuilders is committed to quality delivery of services resulting in total client satisfaction.

Read more about why consumers should feel confident when doing business with a member of Ripoff Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. Yes, it’s a long name for a program that does a lot for both consumers and businesses alike. Read about Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program, a program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business. This program works.

As a matter of policy, when a business becomes a member of the Corporate Advocacy Program they agree to allow Ripoff Report to contact every client who filed a complaint so they can make things right with them. In order to confirm that the complaints were resolved, Ripoff Report is copied on all responses so we can insure that the member business did right by their customer.

NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED

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Fortune Builders Three Day Seminar--a Sales pitch ordeal no agenda, over-promises, didn't do what was promised, insults and juvenile humor Internet

There is some good content in this seminar--they have SYSTEMS that are excellent and that obviously have made the owners and the presenter millions. Unlike what one is led to believe in the preliminary material that you will get this material at the 3-day training,  you do not get any of unless you purchase their additional training. The amount of useful content was about a day's worth and the rest of the time was filler so that they could "interview" the people one-by-one that they were trying to sell their $15,000 and way up ($30,000 and more) training packages.

Additional critiques:

Ahead of time we requested an agenda and received one from the company. Our biggest complaint is that they DID NOT follow it. They did not give out a schedule for any of the days. You never knew what would be covered, when the breaks or lunch would take place, or even when it would end each day.

We, along with everyone else, I'm sure, attend a seminar for specific content. To ask people to commit for 3 days is a HUGE investment for many people (it was no small matter for us). People come to these things to learn what we were told we would learn.  That is an immensely important, unwritten contract between people who come and the presenters. They broke that contract by giving bits of useful information, but not in a take-home form and hours of:

-- Tony Robbins knock-off, change your life rah, rah, positive thinking talks

--Would-be actor impressions and dancing from the stage

--Political, state of the economy reports (this was especially offensive if one did not share those views and if you have read a newspaper or listened to any news in the last year)

-- Lengthy personal stories--short is OK--over an hour and more not relevant

--AGAIN and again and again selling of the program which took hours of time--this was incredibly irritating. If the content of the program is truly worth it--people will buy it--and they didn't have to have to sell it that hard.

Most upsetting is that there were a lot of obviously disadvantaged people there who desperately wanted to buy into the American dream. These people most likely do not have parents with lots of money to fund their deals (as did the presenter and other examples) and no matter what you told them, most of the people in that room will never get an investor to lend them money or make a huge deal. They were told to charge the training on credit cards. I found all that very upsetting and really borderline immoral.

In addition, for the $200 we got almost no handouts and in addition, no coffee, food or even tables for most of the people. Not only no agenda, but the forms and "Systems" were quickly flashed on the screen and no one could take a picture of them.

The people managing it ranged from kind to mean to wierd. And if they did not like what you talked to someone about at breaks or lunch (they had staff with no identification) you were rebuked in a public setting for what you said. Women were demeaned from the platform: numerous references to the little woman out shopping, and "yeah, gals you too can do this." When someone asked about a break (because no schedule) he was told "there is the door." If your phone went off, you had to come up to the stage and do the chicken dance—that is junior high behavior and many of us did not consider it funny.

All in all I WOULD NOT recommend this 3-day ordeal to anyone. If you have piles of money or access to it, contact them directly--I'm sure their Master's program for real estate investing  is useful, but don't subject yourself to 3 days of sales pitches and juvenile humor sprinkled with tiny bits of useful information for  this.

 



1 Updates & Rebuttals

Daniel Hoff

South Bend,
Indiana,
fantastic experience

#2General Comment

Thu, June 06, 2013

I just googled fortune builders to get into thier web-site, saw this web-site and had to comment. 

First, I did attend every minute all three days in south bend last week-end.  I found it to be very informative and even inspiring.  I have been involved with many areas of real-estate for the last six years and truly believe that was the best few hundred dollars I've spent for awhile.

Second, If you believe that for $200 that they are going to give away all the information that they have spent years and millions developing you shouldn't have gone to begin with.

Third, I was not able to join thier company and do not work with or for these folks in anyway, but it is not because I did not want to. As a matter of fact, I will be doing something with them as soon as I reach the goals I have set.

I spent many years in marketing and sales in corporate america and have never heard of any company that is in business not to make money.  When someone chooses to attend this event, walks in with an open mind, and a willingness to learn something, you will probably have fun and maybe learn something you didn't know.

When someone chooses to attend this event, walks in with a negative attitude, worries more about "no coffee" and and concentrates on all the information that fortune builders isn't giving away for free instead of the information that they are giving, you deserve every miserable minute that you spend there.

I heard a few miserable people spreading thier misery on others and I chose to get the most out of my time. I for one am very glad I went and would recommend to everyone that they should attend and make up thier own mind.  I would ask that if you want to walk in thier and be miserable, keep it to yourself.

 

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