Debbie
NANAIMO,#2Author of original report
Thu, February 28, 2008
I would like to make a FULL PUBLIC APOLOGY to Michael Madden and COMPLETELY DISASSOCIATE him with the actions of BTN and Tom Mansfield. As mentioned in the previous update, not only did Michael turn around and offer me a full refund of his share of my training money, but he has also consistently honoured his word with regard to placing me at Island Radio in Nanaimo, BC in Canada. Just to recoup.... Having been forced to return to England in June 2006 due to visa issues and serious health and mobility problems, Tom Mansfield, the owner of the Broadcasters Training Network refused point blank to give me a refund of the $4450 I had paid, even though I had not received a single day of training. I tried everything, including putting in a complaint to the BBB and had been forced to employ the services of a lawyer to help me try to regain my money, but despite this, Tom Mansfield was only - and reluctantly - prepared to offer me the mentor fee of $1200, which meant I would have incurred a loss of $3250, which I could ill afford, especially bearing in mind my health problems. With a diagnosis of MS, my health was seriously plummeting and deteriorating. I had been forced to leave the US as I gave up my course and had therefore had to relinquish my student visa that allowed me to stay there. However, as a Canadian landed resident as well as a British citizen, my ultimate aim was to move to Vancouver Island, so when Michael Madden offered me a refund of his commission (which he could ill afford either), I turned down his extremely kind gesture and instead the arrangement was that he would find me a mentor at Island Radio in Nanaimo when my health and mobility permitted me to return. For 18 months I struggled with my health and mobility problems trying everything under the sun - from chiropractic treatment to acupuncture, from LDN (low dose naltrexone) to detoxification, from vitamins and minerals to dietary changes - all to no avail. However, every time I tried something new, I was extremely hopeful that this would prove to be the key to my recovery and made tentative plans to return to Canada. I stayed in constant touch with Michael Madden and every time he responded instantly, honouring his promise to place me at Island Radio in Nanaimo when I was ready. He consistently told me to e-mail him 2 weeks before my arrival and he would e-mail me back with details of my interview. Unfortunately, by the time I booked my flight back to Canada in Feb 2008 Michael Madden had left BTN and was unable to place me at Island Radio as he no longer worked for the company. Tom Mansfield refused to do so and honour the agreement I had with Michael/BTN, and I am currently in dispute over this and yet again trying to obtain a refund of the $4450 for the 0% of training I have received. However, Michael Madden's actions cannot be put in the same category as those of Tom Mansfield, who is a rip-off merchant and a thief. Michael Madden has consistently behaved in a professional and honourable manner, and done "what is right" by me and if it ever appeared otherwise, then it is simply because he was following the instructions of his employer. Debbie
Debbie
NORWOOD,#3Author of original report
Mon, May 28, 2007
This response is full of inaccuracies and incorrect information.... 1) Re my credit card co, let me clarify this.... They did NOT rule against me! In fact, they were unable to intervene because they said that the transaction/payment had occurred more than 60 days ago and had therefore gone past the legal limit where they were able to step in and reclaim my money on my behalf. 2) Re the Attorney General of Washington, all this organization did was act as an independent mediator, and help BTN and myself try to reach an agreement re an acceptable refund or outcome. However, they were unable to do this and said that they could do nothing more to resolve the situation. 3) Re my attorney, all I was offered by Tom Mansfield, the owner of BTN, was the $1200 that he would have paid to my mentor. Once I had deducted the fees I owed my attorney, this worked out at under $1000, which was less than a quarter of the $4450 I had paid for the training and was therefore totally unacceptable, especially as I had not attended a single day of it. I would like to reiterate that as I stated in my original report, after my initial interview with the radio station in Boston I was extremely loathe to pursue my training with BTN because the opportunities afterwards seemed so poor, especially as a non-US resident with visa obstacles to overcome. After all, one of the selling points of the BTN training is to help you get your foot in the door, but what's the point if you're not allowed to stay in the country and take up the job that's offered to you? In this v. popular and competitive industry with so many people desperate for jobs, I was told that it was extremely unlikely that any employer would sponsor me for a visa with all its associated cost and hassle. I was also v. unsure that I was going to stay in Boston as I was considering moving elsewhere in America. Having paid my initial $250 admin fee, my gut feelings was to ask for this back and call it a day. However, Michael Madden encouraged me to carry on to the next stage by offering to waive his $1000 relocation fee if I moved somewhere else in the States, a fact which he is now using against me. He also encouraged me to pay the full fee up front by saying it was "cheaper" this way, rather than paying it in instalments - something that I realize now was a big mistake because I could always have cancelled the instalment payment plan. I was actually surprised to read this report from Michael Madden because as he knows, in addition to the effects of the bad car accident I had while I was out in the States, I have MS (multiple sclerosis) and have been v. poorly. I lost my mobility and have been suffering from a range of sensory symptoms, which has meant that I have not been fit enough to undertake training and had to return to the UK because I was unable to walk without assistance or cope alone. I have provided both Michael and Tom with medical evidence of this too, ie doctors' letters. I tried to stay in America and make it work there for as long as I could before my health situation made it impossible for me to do this any longer. Throughout all my discussions with Michael I made it clear that I was NOT interested in pursuing the BTN training in England as the prospects are so poor here. The broadcasting industry is extremely overcrowded and it is hardly possible to survive on the salaries, especially as the cost of property is so high. Also, there are 100s of people working for free in the industry, hoping to get their foot in door and I would be just another Brit trying to do the same. At least in N America my British accent, which they love over there, would stand out of the crowd. For the last year after returning to the UK my health continued to deteriorate - I even developed slurred speech twice, which is hardly compatible with undertaking talk show training! However, just in the last month the situation has finally turned around thanks to acupuncture from the most amazing, dedicated and experienced Chinese doctor here in Leamington Spa, along with a range of other treatments offered by him including Chinese medicinal herbs. In complete contradiction to his comments and remarks in this report, Michael had the humanity to finally turn around (before my health turned around!) and offer me a refund. He offered to return all of his share of the money and "leave Tom to do whatever he felt was right by his conscience". However, in addition to being a British citizen, luckily I am also a Canadian landed resident and have been trying to regain my health and mobility so that I can move to Vancouver Island, where at least I have the right to work. My dream is still to be a talk show host in N America and prior to offering me a refund, Michael promised to place me with Island Radio in Nanaimo. After he offered me a refund I thanked Michael fully for his kindness and consideration, but turned it down as my health had finally started to improve. I am now hoping to move to Nanaimo in September and start my talk show training with Island Radio then. Provided my health continues to improve and I am able to do this, then as far as I am concerned, this matter has been resolved. Debbie Leamington Spa England
Michael
Agoura Hills,#4UPDATE Employee
Mon, May 28, 2007
Instead of trying this case one more time, it's important that rational people understand a few FACTS that Debbie conveniently 'forgot' to mention in her claim. FACT #1) Debbie took her allegations to her credit card company. After a thorough investigation of the true facts that represented both sides of the story, her credit card company ruled that BTN and myself did nothing wrong, and ruled in our favor. For anyone who has a merchant account, you'll understand how unusual this action is for credit card companies. Typically, they'll bend over backwards to not alienate customers, in fear of losing their business to a competitor. FACT #2) Debbie also filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Washington. Once again, upon completion of their own independent investigation, the Washington AG ruled against Debbie and found that BTN or myself had participated in NO wrongful business practices. One has to wonder why a consumer protection agency actually ruled AGAINST the consumer, after investigating some very different facts than Debbie presented here. FACT #3) Debbie hired an attorney, who was offered a cash settlement in an attempt to amicably resolve this dispute. Our offer was refused. Debbie obviously believes that receiving 100% of nothing is a better deal than receiving what was offered her. BTN and myself have a standing offer to Debbie to place her in England, Canada or the country of her choosing to receive her radio training. Thus far, she has refused my/our offer, for a variety of reasons. This case simply boils down to this: Imagine going to ANY school and paying to take a class in Boston. The school does its part by providing an opportunity in Boston, only to have the student change their mind and decide they now want to take the class in Seattle. The school then waives it's customary replacement fee, and facilitates training in Seattle. Upon arrival in Seattle, the student now decides they don't want to take the class in Seattle, but decides they'd rather take the class in Connecticut. Once again, the school (in this case, BTN) agrees to waive the customary $1000 replacement fee, and facilitates an interview for schooling in Connecticut...only to have the student rejected, after it was determined her true motive was NOT to learn radio broadcasting, but rather, to earn VISA assistance and be allowed to stay in the USA. Once again, the student hits the road and ends up in North Carolina, with the relocation fees being waived for a third time. This time, the student discovers that her scheme for VISA assistance had come to an end when she couldn't get admitted to a North Carolina college and is forced to return to England. All along, the student provides written communication to the school THANKING them for their patience and superior service in dealing with her situation for nearly a year. Suddenly, her opinion changes after being refused a refund, as per the CONTRACT she signed one year earlier. In the above scenario, should the school be considered unreasonable and in the wrong for denying the student a refund after dedicating all the time and resources to fulfilling their contractual obligations...only to have the student continually change their mind by going elsewhere? Debbies credit card company and the Washington AG obviously believed that BTN and Michael Madden did NOTHING unethical, illegal or immoral in their treatment of Debbie Pittel. Debbie continues to be assured by myself and BTN that when she gives the word, we stand willing to provide her the Broadcast Training she came to us for, and will place her in the radio station of her choice in whatever country she chooses. Michael Madden