Complaint Review: StartUp Essentials - Dallas Texas

I responded to an Internet ad for a home-based business opportunity on or about Monday, December 11, 2006. I believe that I received a call from Start-Up Essentials on Wednesday, December 13, 2006. During that call, I was asked to make an appointment to speak with Ms. Barbara Corday, a representative of StartUp Essentials. The call was to take place the next morning at 10:30 AM.

This complaint does not propose that Ms. Corday knowingly engaged in any unethical or illegal activities. This complaint is for the purpose of warning others that StartUp Essentials and/or their vendor/partner, A-1 Leasing LLC, MAY BE ENGAGING in unethical or illegal actions that MAY include intent to swindle, bait and switch, and possible other transgressions.

This statement is based on my notes and memory, and is not intended to harm the reputation of any party noted above, if those parties are, in fact, free from transgressions.

This statement is intended to encourage others to be very calculating and aware of their personal and contractual responsibilities, and to take seriously their role as actors and owners in the world of commerce.

I, by making this complaint and statement, recognize that I may be typical of members of our community who are not trained in business.

Further, with this statement, I encourage all readers to NOT sign agreements without first attaining professional training in contracts, or without the assistance of a competent attorney.

With this, I state that I did not engage an attorney in the initial process of becoming involved with StartUp Essentials and A-1 Leasing LLC, and that I have not received enough training in business to take on a business enterprise involving leases and other complex contracts without the assistance of an attorney or reputtable business coach or manager.

During the eventual interview on December 14, 2006, a very composed, interested, and encouraging Ms. Corday interviewed me with the stated intent of qualifying me for the StarUp Essentials program. I shared with her my aspirations and my desire to assist malnourished children. I spoke to her of other personal interests, including my interest in selling camera equipment.

I will note that I continue to believe that Ms. Corday was sincere in her interpretation of my character, and my commercial and humanitarian aspirations.

During the course of the interview on Thursday, December 14, 2006, at 10:30 AM CST, I expressed my concern for the pace that my new business might take at the beginning. I am disabled and am trying to become independent of funds from the U. S. Social Security Administration. I must make more than a specific income to break free of Social Security Disability Income and to remain solvent.

For the sake of your curiousity and my own professional and ethical development, I will note that my disability includes depression and anxiety; and, until recently, I was not confident that I am able to work extended hours, or independently.

StartUp Essentials' promises, and my good faith in the program at the inital stage, prompted me to believe that I would be free of start-up expenses.

During the course of our interview, Ms. Corday asked me for my Social Security Number. Her stated intent was to have another department query my credit bureau reports and scores.

My bank's security services notified me that USA Card Services queried my credit bureau scores on that date.

During the course of the interview, at the time that we spoke of my concern for netting more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) a month, Ms. Corday provided a hypothetical example of how StartUp Essentials would provide two-hundred dollars ($200.00) for a price per click advertising campaign on Internet services such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN query websites (e.g., www.google.com, www.yahoo.com, and www.msn.com).

Together, we went to google.com, and we entered "Cameras". You might imagine the number of queries there have been for cameras on google.com during the past month. I believe we looked at the possibility of my gaining 1% of 1% of 1% of the attention, given my high-profile price-per-click ad campaigns. Ms. Corday indicated that if I sold cameras, with my revenues at one-hundred dollars ($100.00) per camera, I MIGHT make up to a figure of either around fourteen-thousand dollars ($14,000.00) or around nineteen-thousand dollars ($19,000.00) per month. I didn't record this math, and I recall that one of the two figures might be possible only because they are numbers with stems on the right side of the numerals 4 and 9.

My interest in becoming independent of Social Security Administration funds got the best of me. I ended up signing on with StartUp Essentials and one of their partners and/or verndors, A-1 Leasing LLC, formerly and also known as Bond Corporation.

Please note the following addresses:

StartUp Essentials

4455 LBJ Freeway, Suite 501

Dallas, TX 75244

1-866-552-8845

A-1 Leasing LLC

2007 Eastern Avenue SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Toll: 1-616-243-7463

Toll Free: 1-888-222-0348

Fax: 1-616-243-0530

During the course of our conversation, Ms. Corday indicated that I would have to lease a computer from A-1 Leasing. The stated monthly lease fee (for 48 months) during that conversation was one-hundred and thirty-nine dollars and ninety-nine cents ($139.99). Over a period of 48 months, the full amount of $6,719.52 would be collected by A-1 Leasing or their representatives.

I indicated to Ms. Corday that I did not need a new computer. Nonetheless, Ms. Corday indicated that I must lease a computer loaded with StartUp Essentials' (non-proprietary) software, and that this would be necessary to take part in StartUp Essentials' program.

PLEASE NOTE: StartUp Essentials representative lauded the benevolence of this program because "no start-up fees are required." Given the excitement of the moment (WOW! I will be free of social security!!!), I just didn't get that a lease agreement and leasing fees (and federal taxes) essentially IS a start-up fee. DO NOT BE LED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH StartUp Essentials OR A-1 Leasing (AKA/Formerly Bond Corporation without making this consideration.

This fact may kill my case against either of the two parties. I am making this very public because I believe that I jumped too soon, and that I MIGHT be an actual victim of a swindle campaign.

I have not engaged an attorney on this subject, so I cannot make the statement that I have, in fact, been swindled.

Moreover, again, I do not wish to impede the reputation or prosperity of those named in this complaint if they are actually free of any true transgression of ethics or state or federal laws.

I went on to electronically initial a statement that bound me to 48 payments of $139.99 (A-1 Leasing, NOT StartUp Essentials).

When I received the electronically initialed and signed lease, additional wording, in the amount of four (4) pages (not just one), appeared. I do not recall initialling a document that included the full text of the lease agreement. I recall initialing and signing after reading only the following statement:

"I understand that...

This is a commercial lease and is NON CANCELABLE (The lease cannot be canceled by the lessee during the term hereof as stated in the lease contract

The return of any equipment will not release lessee from full payment of the lease, as stated in the lease contract

This lease is a binding agreement between the lessee and A-1 Leasing LLC. No written or verbal alteration of this lease contract by a sales representative will be accepted as stated in the lease contract

This lease is for $125.99 and the payments are for 48 month. Plus applicable taxes

I have authorized A-1 Leasing LLC to have the monthly payment deducted from my business checking account

The above must be read and understood by lessee before signed and dated."

I will hold onto the lease in preparation for for a review by an attorney.

Why? StartUp Essentials, in association with A-1 Leasing LLC, is **essentially not free from start-up expenses.**

By bringing A-1 Leasing into the equation, StartUp Essentials is, in fact, requiring a start-up expense. If I am at fault, I nonetheless wish to make it clear to all others to be wary of signing agreements on the Internet.

For those who are receiving SSI or SSDI, I encourage you to not allow yourself to jump into any home-based business, or real-estate program, or investing program, without first consulting with someone who is expertly trained in contracts and the management of funds and business. Your efforts to be free of Social Security programs may get the best of you, and you may jeopardize what you believe to be your legal rights.

In this case, bankruptcy apparently does not dissolve the contract with A-1 leasing. That said, again, I have not passed this by an attorney.

In close, I offer best wishes to all this new year. Please act in accordance with laws and enforceable contracts, and please go the extra mile to act in an ethical and encouraging manner to those who may be in need of expert advice in business and other matters.

In my faith community, we recite "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo" -- a mantra in an ancient language recognizing and devoting ourselves to the mysterious laws of the Universe. I am a Nichiren Buddhist, and I strive to act in good faith.

Barry

Minneapolis, Minnesota
U.S.A.

Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Work at Home Scams

click here to read other Rip-off Reports on Home Based Businesses