Complaint Review: Empire Marketing Systems - St. George Utah

On April 6th 2004, Peter Kloepfer, a sales rep. from EMS called me and knew that I had recently purchased a book from moneyhome.com by author Stephen Ducharme titled "How to get 1 million visitors on your web site without paying a dime in advertising".

Peter told me his company, EMS, is working with moneyhome.com in helping a few people get off to a fast start using Stephan's marketing tools. Peter also said, since I already have the book I could eventually get to the income level I desire by myself. However, for a small investment and six months of free coaching, EMS can get me there alot sooner. He also told me EMS is offering this great deal in exchange for my testimony. Peter said all testimonials have to be published according to some kind of government code now so that people will know they are real and not published by just anyone.

I asked Peter if I could think about it for a few days and get back with him. He said no, the position may not be available because the openings are filling up quickly and there may not be another opening for 6 months. So I asked him if he could hold my position for about 3 days because I was switching from a dial-up connection to satelite connection in three days. He said no, he couldn't hold my position and assured me that my connection change and e-mail address change would not be a problem.

After Playing phone tag with me several times being transfered from Peter then to Todd(the screener)back over to peter then to the secretary(julie)and so on something just didn't feel right about this business deal. But the red flag just didn't go up yet, because all three of these people congradulated me on passing the screen test and becoming their newest client.

Peter told me there were 3 levels of investment: $4200.00,$8100.00 and $1500.00. He told me the $8100.00 would be my best investment. So I asked him, if the coaching is free then what does the $8100.00 pay for? He told me the $8100.00 pays for all the downloads and software programs.

I agreed upon an initial investment of $8100.00 and six months of free coaching. I wired $4900.00 on the 6th, and put the remaing $3200.00 on a credit card on the 7th. I signed and dated the agreement on the 7th also, but didn't fax it until the 8th. I didn't get this all accomplished on the same day because something just didn't feel right about this business deal. But I couldn't tell at the time if I was just nervous, or if I truly made a bad decision.

So I called Peter back on Friday the 9th and told him I didn't feel right about this business and wanted a refund of my $8100.00. He tried to talk me out of it first and that didn't work. So then he tells he will have to contact the companies that own these downloads and software programs to see if I am still elgible for a refund and he will get back with me. I NEVER HEARD FROM PETER AGAIN.

I called EMS for four days, left several messages for peter to call me back, he refused to call me back. So on the 13th I finally exploded on the secretary and she finally puts me through to Jason,who claims he is the ceo and vice president of the company. Jason tells me he will talk to peter and discuss the situation but I need to keep in mind that peter is a sales man and that salesmen do have a tendency to lie, and since there is no confermation of my conversation with peter, he's not sure if he can grant me that refund. Jason said he will get back with me the next day.

Jason failed to return my call, So I called him back, very surprised to actually get through. Jason doesn't want to even discuss or resolve my refund request, so he put's me through to another guy named Jason who is suppose to be head of the coaching staff. This guy continues to run me in circles about going ahead with an online business instead of asking for a refund. I tell this Jason that I wouldn't even be in this position if Peter would have just let me think about it for a few days. Jason says, no Peter couldn't do that because his sales quota for the month would of been expired by friday the 9th.

So now I am a victim of some sales guys quota? finally I explode on him as well and told him for the 50th time I do not want an online business I just want my money back and I want an answer right now. He said NO, you can't have a refund because your 3 days had expired. Jason told me I should have called before midnight on the 8th.

I first talked to Peter on the 6th, I signed the agreement on the 7th, I asked for a refund on the 9th. I have absolutely no downloads and no software programs to show for that $8100.00. It took me several calls and several days for EMS to come up with an exuse as to why they can't refund my money. Jason obviously must have taken the short bus to school in his days because I was taught in school 72 hours = 3 days, Peter called me in the afternoon of the 6th and I called him back for a refund in the morning of the 9th. THAT IS NOT 72 HOURS!

It is now May 7th and I still have not received my refund. I will take Leonard Mullen's advice in reporting this scam to rip-off.com and the Utah Attorney General's office cybercrime Task Force division at 1-801-269-4506.

Julie

Luzerne, Iowa
U.S.A.