Complaint Review: People Helping People - Bakersfield California

On October 15th I received a phone call from a 'higher up' of the company upon recommendation from a person I met on LinkedIn regarding a potential job offer.  She specifically said that there would be no "cold-calling" and I understood that the leads would be provided.  She seemed very knowledgable, pleasant and I felt at ease.  She then mentioned there would be a fee of $150. to cover costs associated to allow me to attend their trainings to be held in Bakersfield, that she needed my credit card.  She also said she would send me a booklet in the mail that would be an overview to explain the process, I might get it the next day. 

I contacted the person that I 'met' on LinkedIn the next day and stated I would be in town on the following Saturday to see what their meeetings were all about, but I could only stay a few minutes, my husband was with me.  I only stayed a few minutes, not attending the full meeting, just the jam session, then we left. 

My orientation was not scheduled until right before their "Breast Cancer Awareness" party, which was on a Tuesday, October 20th and I stated to the person I met through LinkedIn I had questions...one of them was regarding pay because it was not initially answered in the job offer phone conversation as that was mostly a sales pitch and I didn't do a lot of talking then.

I asked about the leads.  She said that I would have to generate them myself, ask my neighbors to refer their friends!  I said I thought the company provided leads!  She said no.  After many other questions, I left for a dinner break, and instead of attending my first training I left for home, feeling betrayed.

I texted her that night and said that we needed to talk, and the next morning sent an email and asked for my money back, this was not the job for me,no response.  Later that afternoon, another email, no response.  I called, her phone message stated her voice mail was full.  I then called the boss, she's very pleasant, but sales pitch.  She did however state she doesn't dissuade cold calling! I did state I wasn't happy and that I would need to discuss things with my husband.  I couldn't state anything else.  I later texted her I wanted my money back, to which she stated "I respect your decision, but it's been over 72 hours." 

Later that night I received a call from the young lady who set up the orientation asking me if I spoke with the boss, and I said I did, that I would be returning all my materials in the morning.  She stated the office would be closed (it was Thursday, the Pink Party) So I asked, so it's completely shut down for business? She then stated maybe some rep may be there.  I arrived at the office around 11:20a or so, met a male manager there who printed out a receipt for the materials.  I reinterated my story and he stated, "I guess once the trust is broken, it's broken."  I said, "It's hard to sell door-to-door in a small town."  He said he understood, he works in Delano.  He also said leads aren't given out unless YOU'RE AN ESTABLISHED REP WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.  So that is another half truth told to me.

I just feel like I should have been told about the 'cooling off period' up front, believe me I had to hunt good to find their policy and had no reason to suspect initially that I would need to exercise it.  It seems like my orientation was set up much later so that the 72 hours would be long gone.  I received no training at all and I think it's fair to receive a refund since I no longer have any materials.