- Report: #203539
Complaint Review: Manchester Whos Who Cambridge Whos Who Manchester Publishing - Internet
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Manchester Whos Who Cambridge Whos Who Manchester Publishing
manchesterwhoswho.com Internet, U.S.A.
Phone:
516-742-7907
Web:
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Manchester Whos Who, Cambridge Whos Who, Manchester Publishing deceptive and predatory business practice, mis-representation, no customer service Internet
This company presents material to portray it as an above board professional 'C' level networking site.
They are eager to take your money, but do not offer any customer service in any sense. They change their company name on what appears to be a regular basis.
I was lured into to signing up for their service, but changed my mind in the next day or two and called to cancel, because I felt I was being frauded.
I eventually was able to get a refund, but only after being ignored for 4 days with no response to phone calls or email until the last day.
I was also bullied on the phone, where a rep threatened to use against me the recorded conversation I had with the application screener and appointed personal representative at my time of sign up.
When I mentioned California Consumer protection law, they ignored me. In fact they completely ignored me during the phone conversation until I mentioned I would take legal action.
There was no customer service. Instead all I was hearing was all sales are final, no refunds, with claims that custom items have been created as so called justification for no refund.
Timeline: They called and approved me on a Thursday on the phone, no written contracts. They charged me the next day on my credit card. The next two days were a Sat and Sunday. I called them on those days to cancel.
There was no time to create anything, let alone they said nothing at signup time other than a packet would be in my hands in 10-15 days, and that airline vouchers required I tell them *first* where I wanted to go, then it would be 30-45 days to get those from that point.
They were agressive in signing me up and even more agressive trying not to give me a refund. There was no service or consideration extended as a provider to me as a customer.
The original paper application said membership was free yet on the phone it was not the case. Another form of the olde bait and switch.
They changed their name 2-3 weeks after my experience with them, and are now known as Cambridge Whos Who, previously known as Manchester Whos Who. The content on the website has changed only to update the name throughout, but the web address is still ManchesterWhosWho.com
The web domain registration has a contact address different from Manchester Publishing, the parent company per information on the website previously, and appears to just be a home address. You can see it for yourself, look it up via Whois lookup.
There is no mailing address or specific e-mail to a person on the website. Their phone system is circular in nature in terms of trying to contact people. Again they took 4 days to return my repeated phone calls and e-mails to cancel my application process. My so-called personal assigned representative never returned my calls.
To the best of my knowledge, as mentioned above, from information previusly posted on their website, they are part of Manchester Publishing out of Garden City New York which per Internet search engine lookup has revealed two postal addresses, albeit I have not confirmed them.
In summary the rotten core of the apple here is the deceptive and predatory business practice as the company skirts the line on legality, pulls you in with a slick sales presentation and website, but in reality is selling you on a Book and CD of listings of anyone they can add to their database, regardless of their true significance as a networking contact or professional level. The product/service they present is mis-represented in substance to the consumer/customer.
If you notice when looking at their public website, it is a mix of information unrelated to members with disclaimers to such, then a significant profile of an exec (at the time I was lured in it was a female Playboy Exec), then profiles of a handful of members with minimal information, with links to two charitable organizations, etc.
They appeal to your ego in a multi-stage process of solicitation, first with a mailed application on which they claim membership is free, then a phone call screening 'interview' process where they make you decide on the spot after phone "approval" to join or not, and that it costs money, that it is not free. They also lure you with airline vouchers on the phone as an offset to the cost of membership, of which there are tiers.
The net effect is all this makes you think of it as a valuable organization at first, then hopefully your internal sense of self preservation kicks in and screams in your mind, you are being ripped off!
Value is relative, and legally I am guessing this is how this company has remained in business and not in a District Attorney's office, but this may soon change.
More people like myself need to step forward regardless of embarassment or other concern for being initially taken, to put these folks in their place, so others will not be taken advantage of moving forward.
The term con artist was coined in that it is an art to deceive others. I think it applies here.
CAVEAT EMPTOR
G
Santa Clara, California
U.S.A.
They are eager to take your money, but do not offer any customer service in any sense. They change their company name on what appears to be a regular basis.
I was lured into to signing up for their service, but changed my mind in the next day or two and called to cancel, because I felt I was being frauded.
I eventually was able to get a refund, but only after being ignored for 4 days with no response to phone calls or email until the last day.
I was also bullied on the phone, where a rep threatened to use against me the recorded conversation I had with the application screener and appointed personal representative at my time of sign up.
When I mentioned California Consumer protection law, they ignored me. In fact they completely ignored me during the phone conversation until I mentioned I would take legal action.
There was no customer service. Instead all I was hearing was all sales are final, no refunds, with claims that custom items have been created as so called justification for no refund.
Timeline: They called and approved me on a Thursday on the phone, no written contracts. They charged me the next day on my credit card. The next two days were a Sat and Sunday. I called them on those days to cancel.
There was no time to create anything, let alone they said nothing at signup time other than a packet would be in my hands in 10-15 days, and that airline vouchers required I tell them *first* where I wanted to go, then it would be 30-45 days to get those from that point.
They were agressive in signing me up and even more agressive trying not to give me a refund. There was no service or consideration extended as a provider to me as a customer.
The original paper application said membership was free yet on the phone it was not the case. Another form of the olde bait and switch.
They changed their name 2-3 weeks after my experience with them, and are now known as Cambridge Whos Who, previously known as Manchester Whos Who. The content on the website has changed only to update the name throughout, but the web address is still ManchesterWhosWho.com
The web domain registration has a contact address different from Manchester Publishing, the parent company per information on the website previously, and appears to just be a home address. You can see it for yourself, look it up via Whois lookup.
There is no mailing address or specific e-mail to a person on the website. Their phone system is circular in nature in terms of trying to contact people. Again they took 4 days to return my repeated phone calls and e-mails to cancel my application process. My so-called personal assigned representative never returned my calls.
To the best of my knowledge, as mentioned above, from information previusly posted on their website, they are part of Manchester Publishing out of Garden City New York which per Internet search engine lookup has revealed two postal addresses, albeit I have not confirmed them.
In summary the rotten core of the apple here is the deceptive and predatory business practice as the company skirts the line on legality, pulls you in with a slick sales presentation and website, but in reality is selling you on a Book and CD of listings of anyone they can add to their database, regardless of their true significance as a networking contact or professional level. The product/service they present is mis-represented in substance to the consumer/customer.
If you notice when looking at their public website, it is a mix of information unrelated to members with disclaimers to such, then a significant profile of an exec (at the time I was lured in it was a female Playboy Exec), then profiles of a handful of members with minimal information, with links to two charitable organizations, etc.
They appeal to your ego in a multi-stage process of solicitation, first with a mailed application on which they claim membership is free, then a phone call screening 'interview' process where they make you decide on the spot after phone "approval" to join or not, and that it costs money, that it is not free. They also lure you with airline vouchers on the phone as an offset to the cost of membership, of which there are tiers.
The net effect is all this makes you think of it as a valuable organization at first, then hopefully your internal sense of self preservation kicks in and screams in your mind, you are being ripped off!
Value is relative, and legally I am guessing this is how this company has remained in business and not in a District Attorney's office, but this may soon change.
More people like myself need to step forward regardless of embarassment or other concern for being initially taken, to put these folks in their place, so others will not be taken advantage of moving forward.
The term con artist was coined in that it is an art to deceive others. I think it applies here.
CAVEAT EMPTOR
G
Santa Clara, California
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Tami
Merritt Island,Florida,
U.S.A.
Who's Who uses ego to rip you off.
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 23, 2007
I was also a victim of the Manchester Who's Who rip off. A kind representative talked me out of over $800, the lifetime membership with free airline tickets to boot, all so I could be in a book of important people. I was job shopping at the time and thought it would sound great on a resume. I never did receive the book. I have an $800+ plaque to show for my investment. So I urge anyone who receives the mailings or a telephone call, don't let your ego shop for you, it's more expensive than you realize. They also call you every year and try to pressure or insult you to get you to re-up.
Jenn
Anywhere,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thank you
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, April 10, 2007
I just recieved a very friendly and offical letter from Cambridge Who's Who and thier Office of Managing Directors today. I am so glad that I searched their business name and found this rip-off-report. I found it strange that I could not access the webaddress written on their letter to fill out my online application, but would have to mail in this bogus looking application within 5 days. It offered no information as to why I would even be chosen to be in this type of publication and the application was very plain and basic, with no opportunity for me to expalin why I shloud be recognised, furthermore, how did they even hear about me and I have less than a important job and there is no reason at all for me to be included in such a thing. I thank you again for taking the time to subimit this report, it has saved me the headache and probably countless other people. Luckily I do have legal representation myself, so they kind of picked the wrong sucker with me...LOL
Jenn
Anywhere,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thank you
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, April 10, 2007
I just recieved a very friendly and offical letter from Cambridge Who's Who and thier Office of Managing Directors today. I am so glad that I searched their business name and found this rip-off-report. I found it strange that I could not access the webaddress written on their letter to fill out my online application, but would have to mail in this bogus looking application within 5 days. It offered no information as to why I would even be chosen to be in this type of publication and the application was very plain and basic, with no opportunity for me to expalin why I shloud be recognised, furthermore, how did they even hear about me and I have less than a important job and there is no reason at all for me to be included in such a thing. I thank you again for taking the time to subimit this report, it has saved me the headache and probably countless other people. Luckily I do have legal representation myself, so they kind of picked the wrong sucker with me...LOL
Jenn
Anywhere,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thank you
#5Consumer Comment
Tue, April 10, 2007
I just recieved a very friendly and offical letter from Cambridge Who's Who and thier Office of Managing Directors today. I am so glad that I searched their business name and found this rip-off-report. I found it strange that I could not access the webaddress written on their letter to fill out my online application, but would have to mail in this bogus looking application within 5 days. It offered no information as to why I would even be chosen to be in this type of publication and the application was very plain and basic, with no opportunity for me to expalin why I shloud be recognised, furthermore, how did they even hear about me and I have less than a important job and there is no reason at all for me to be included in such a thing. I thank you again for taking the time to subimit this report, it has saved me the headache and probably countless other people. Luckily I do have legal representation myself, so they kind of picked the wrong sucker with me...LOL
Jenn
Anywhere,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thank you
#6Consumer Comment
Tue, April 10, 2007
I just recieved a very friendly and offical letter from Cambridge Who's Who and thier Office of Managing Directors today. I am so glad that I searched their business name and found this rip-off-report. I found it strange that I could not access the webaddress written on their letter to fill out my online application, but would have to mail in this bogus looking application within 5 days. It offered no information as to why I would even be chosen to be in this type of publication and the application was very plain and basic, with no opportunity for me to expalin why I shloud be recognised, furthermore, how did they even hear about me and I have less than a important job and there is no reason at all for me to be included in such a thing. I thank you again for taking the time to subimit this report, it has saved me the headache and probably countless other people. Luckily I do have legal representation myself, so they kind of picked the wrong sucker with me...LOL
Jane
Garden City Park,New York,
U.S.A.
Manchester/Cambridge Who's Who
#7Consumer Suggestion
Tue, August 08, 2006
I am so sorry to see that you were ripped off and treated that way. I am an ex-employee who was fired after i spoke up about unjust practices. Firings are rampant at this organization. I know of many-- including the firing of a pregnant woman for being pregnant and a woman who was fired because she had to care for a sick child. People should know that Manchester/Cambridge who's who prey on those who do not have the means to defend themselves. They sell memberships to a book that includes ANYONE willing to pay a lot of money to be in it. Please note that YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL and all your membership information is PRINTED on an ORDINARY printer so please do not believe the lies about it being customized. I think people who have been ripped off should unite and write letters to the Better Business Bureau. I believe that it would prevent others from being ripped off. Additionally, this organization will continue to change it's name to avoid being prosecuted. The company is located on Earle Ovington Blvd suite 240 in the Omni Building which is considered Uniondale. I hope this information is helpful to you. And I am glad you got your money back.
