- Report: #72310
Complaint Review: International Profit Associates - International Business Associates - International Tax Advisors - Buffalo Grove Illinois
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International Profit Associates - International Business Associates - International Tax Advisors
1250 Barclay Boulevard Buffalo Grove, 60089 Illinois, U.S.A.
Phone:
847-808 0916
Web:
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International Profit Associates/Business Associates Tax Advisors Ripoff! Consultancy scam basically just quickbooks training, strong arm sales pitch, run-around on refund request. Buffalo Grove Illinois*UPDATE: Rip-off Report Investigation - International Profit Associates recognized by Rip-off Report as a safe business service - IPA pledges to resolve all complaints, 100% commitment to customer service and satisfaction, feel confident and secure when doing business with IPA
We were contacted by the IBA/IPA with the understanding that they would help us with marketing our business. Our business was incorporated in 1992. In the last 2 years sales have dropped dramatically, mainly due to overseas competition. Because of this drop I/we felt it was perfect timing when they contacted us.
The sales approach was very aggressive and being that business was down to such an extent I guess I felt as though it was my last chance to save my business.T he first salesman (the door opener) mentioned in his pitch that they basically guarantee a 3X return on the consultation investment. It was made out to be a "sure thing".
My wife and I worked with the 2nd sales person (the deal closer) and were made to feel as though our business was gasping it's last breath and that without their help we would most definately be out of business very soon (we were basically told that it was amazing that we had gotten that far) Because of all of this we felt we had no other options.
We chose to go ahead with this program, the main purpose of which was to help us in marketing our business. The next morning 3 of their representatives were there to meet me at my shop.(Part of their system it seems is to strike while the iron is hot, it all moves very fast so you really don't have a chance to second guess) It felt like as though I had been called into the Principle's office.
I was basically told that someone like me had no business running their own business. I was immediately told I needed to eliminate 1/3 of my staff and that I should consider eliminating my office manager, who it just so happend is my father, this they seemed to feel was necessary due to the fact that our bookkeeping was all done on paper GASP!!. Remember we hired them to help us market our business.
After a little over a week of this "consultaion", which primarily consisted in training myself and my father in Quickbooks, we finally came to the "marketing" portion of the project. This consisted of making a list of potential customers, calling them, and setting up appointments to do a sales call. How brilliant huh? By the time we got to that I was physically and emotionally drained, I couldn't believe that that was their "strategy". I guess it works, I HIRED them.
When this "strategy" was unveiled I had had enough and chose to put the remainder of the project on hold. We had already spent about $30,000.00 and I didn't want to get in any deeper.They required payment promptly at the end of each week.
When I contacted the ITA to get a refund on the partial payment made to them(I had put that portion of the project on immediate hold at the very beginning)I was told that they would not be refundnig any money and they felt that they could come and collect for the remaining portion of the contract so I really had no right even requesting a refund.
In closing I really don't expect to get my money back out of them but I would hate to see someone else go through this and would like to warn them before they get in too deep.
Clint
Elgin, Illinois
U.S.A.
The sales approach was very aggressive and being that business was down to such an extent I guess I felt as though it was my last chance to save my business.T he first salesman (the door opener) mentioned in his pitch that they basically guarantee a 3X return on the consultation investment. It was made out to be a "sure thing".
My wife and I worked with the 2nd sales person (the deal closer) and were made to feel as though our business was gasping it's last breath and that without their help we would most definately be out of business very soon (we were basically told that it was amazing that we had gotten that far) Because of all of this we felt we had no other options.
We chose to go ahead with this program, the main purpose of which was to help us in marketing our business. The next morning 3 of their representatives were there to meet me at my shop.(Part of their system it seems is to strike while the iron is hot, it all moves very fast so you really don't have a chance to second guess) It felt like as though I had been called into the Principle's office.
I was basically told that someone like me had no business running their own business. I was immediately told I needed to eliminate 1/3 of my staff and that I should consider eliminating my office manager, who it just so happend is my father, this they seemed to feel was necessary due to the fact that our bookkeeping was all done on paper GASP!!. Remember we hired them to help us market our business.
After a little over a week of this "consultaion", which primarily consisted in training myself and my father in Quickbooks, we finally came to the "marketing" portion of the project. This consisted of making a list of potential customers, calling them, and setting up appointments to do a sales call. How brilliant huh? By the time we got to that I was physically and emotionally drained, I couldn't believe that that was their "strategy". I guess it works, I HIRED them.
When this "strategy" was unveiled I had had enough and chose to put the remainder of the project on hold. We had already spent about $30,000.00 and I didn't want to get in any deeper.They required payment promptly at the end of each week.
When I contacted the ITA to get a refund on the partial payment made to them(I had put that portion of the project on immediate hold at the very beginning)I was told that they would not be refundnig any money and they felt that they could come and collect for the remaining portion of the contract so I really had no right even requesting a refund.
In closing I really don't expect to get my money back out of them but I would hate to see someone else go through this and would like to warn them before they get in too deep.
Clint
Elgin, Illinois
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Thane
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
This company needs to be stopped and it's corrupt owner John Burgess
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, February 18, 2004
I cannot believe someone has not put a stop to such an immoral and illegal company.I have been victim to their scams also. so far I am only out $500.00 but that is more than my small company could afford in the first place, to be told the obvious. I am outraged,and embarrased to have been duped by this Company and it's corrupt owner John Burgess Please beware of this company and do not do business with them.
