Complaint Review: MINDBODY Connect - Internet

I apologized to Ms. Patterson immediately after she let me know that she was contacted too early. I offered her a first month free. This was not enough. I was a Senior Executive Software Specialist that had recieved Ms. Patterson's request for a demo of the business management software. I contacted her immediately and she stated texted that she had family problems and to contact her early the next week. I let her know that since her request was live in the system, that this would not stop her from getting automated emails and texts regarding promotions but she could unsubscribe if she wished. I asked if I should delete her profile to avoid this from happening. Ms. Patterson said that would not be necessary. I told her that we would touch base soon and told her that I hope everything resolves beneficially.

A couple of days later, Ms. Patterson reached out to me to let me know that she had gotten communication about a promotion. I immediately apologized and reminded her of our conversation.  She said that in return, she wanted a year free of business management software. She asked to speak to a manager. I let my manager know of the situation and let her know that I apologized and offered her a month free. My manager let me know that was more than sufficient. Brianne still wanted to be contacted. My manager said that I could give her her email address. This was not sufficient for the prospective client who then went on RipOff Report and posted this and also started expressing her discontent through other social media sites such as Twitter, among others.

I had been working at this company for 3 years and had a reputation of giving exemplary customer service with zero complaints from clients or prospective clients the entire time.  I had dealt with thousands of happy business owners and C Level Executives and was known for excellent customer service and care throughout the company. I had never had a business owner ask for thousands of dollars of service for something like this. It was extremely unusual and unheard of.

I Googled the prospective client's name. I saw 6 pages of other RipOff Reports that she has posted on other businesses. There are also lawsuits on other comanies (Burnaby hospitsl). There are websites dedicated to her character.  I realized what it was she wanted. She was given 3 months of free services for her trouble, however, she ultimately was not able to utilize these services since the one person beauty business she had started was not registered and did not have a valid business ID.

I hope that Brianne was able to get her business registered and that she has found success in her new venture. Again, I deeply apologize for her inconveniences. I have since been contacted by dozens of other professionals that have had similar encouters with Brianne and I feel much sympathy as many have lost their jobs due to such an incident.

My name is Samantha VanOstrand. I got notification for this "RipOff Report". I have never worked for MINDBODY Connect. MINDBODY Connect is a search engine that consumers use to find and book businesses that does not have reps that would reach out to anyone to sell services. It seems to me though that it was an honest mistake and the complaintant asked for assistance and someone reached out a few days too early. That is not a RipOff. That is a mistake which was apologized for. 

This woman filled out a request to be contacted by a rep to see a demo of the software. I had been with the company for 3 years and NEVER had a complaint from a customer. I reached out to her and she said that she had a family issue and to wait a while to contact her. I knew that her request would be live in the system and that would not stop her from getting auto emails and texts so I asked her if I should delete her request and she could reach out in the future when her situation is resolved. She told me not to do that. I wished her well and told her that I hope everything was alright and that I would reach out in the future.

A few days later, I was going through my open leads and there were two that were similar: businesses that were not searchable on the internet with one employee. I quickly reached out to let them both know that we were offering a special. I sent out notifications to them and several others. Quickly, I got a response from her letting me know that she did not want contact and because I contacted her prematurely that she wanted A YEAR of free service....

I immediately apologized and she demanded that a supervisor called her. I contacted my supervisor and told her that I had a prospective client with a business that I could not find online that was demanding a year of free business management software because I reached out to her on accident too early when going through my files and that I had already apologized. My manager told me that the prospective client could email her. That was not enough for the compaintant. 

She was very impatient and said that she now wanted no less than 6 months. I had been doing this job for almost 3 years, every day all day. I was an executive at this company and had 2 young children which I am the sole provider for. I quickly Googled this persons name: Brianne Chantal Patterson and found sites from other people that claim to have been used to get free things from the companies they represent and some other very odd sites. Alot of negative things came up on the Google sites. I got nervous because this was my career and she kept demanding to be contacted. I explained that it was an honest mistake, that I was sorry and that I had thought that she was another lead that looked similar that came in on the same day and it was my fault that I didn't go into my notes and see that I was to hold off. I apologized and she kept coming at me. When I told her that this was my career and a i was a mother her response was "guilt trips don't work on me honey".

I was put on administrative leave and lost my position due to her. She was granted 3 months of free service with the company and she was not able to use it because she did not have a registered beauty business. 

I had recently reached the highest position for a sales Exec in the company and was cleared to go remote. I moved to a remote town in North Carolina with my little family because North Carolina was the closest state that I could move towards my parents (my children's grandparents) due to my job not being able to process payroll in the state of South Carolina where my parents lived. I had signed my lease to that house 4 days before. We were out of a job and in a state all alone all because this woman wanted to make a big deal out of a mistake and try to get free things at a hard working mothers expense. I since have connected with a group of dozens of people that have all been deeply hurt by Brianne's actions.

We speak regularly and this is a shame. Some of these women tried to reveal what she did and she began to write false online articles about these people and attempt to destroy their lives on line. She has many different screen names and facebook pages and handles and it is scary. This is the ONLY place I come up on line if you Google my name (other than Linked In, Facebook, networking pages). It is a shame that someone can post something like this and there is no way to get it off except for paying thousands of dollars for lawyers. I can only imagine how many businesses have been hurt by similar posting by similar people. I can say with 100% validity that this has deeply hurt my career and my family. She used Ripoff Report in this manner. This did not "help" anyone. I pray that my link gets taken down so that I do not have to explain this ridiculous story to employers and clients for the rest of my career. 

Once I show them all of the websites that pull up when you run the compaintant name, it seems to be enough but it is still such a deep deep shame. She asked for a demo and all I was doing was following up. My only mistake was reaching out a bit early to offer her a first month free for a service that she indicated interest in paying a first month for......