
Kathy of Knoxville, TN on March 25, 2010
Well, I too was scammed out of a lot of money from the Tax Club and A Way of Life/IW Solutions. I am a single mom, disabled with a disabled child on SS Disability and VA Disability under a doctor's care for severe depression, sleep apnea and chronic back pain related to surgery (a fusion). I only make $2,100 a month.
Well I received a call from IW solutions, wanting me to do an online business (which I knew nothing about). He convinced me that I would be able to make all my money back in 6 months guaranteed. If I could not, they would refund all the money invested. Well, I had no money to invest. Usually, I am very smart when it comes to money and doing something that I do not have the money to pay for but this time, I guess I was weak or stupid or whatever.
Actually, this happened when I was not sleeping and had not started using the CPap which I have to do due to the apnea. I just was not or could not think clearly. He convinced me to use my credit cards which I had excellent credit. It almost seemed as they knew what my credit rating was and how much credit I had available. I was told initially that I would have 1 hour a week for 6 months, 1-on-1 training and could call them any time for any help I would need. I continued to tell them that I knew nothing about doing a website or anything and again I was convinced that anyone could do this even if they had no experience on the internet or computer.
Finally, I agreed. My daughter was getting impatient and I needed to get her dinner, as I had been on the phone with him for about 1 hour. It would only cost $8,230.00, my goodness only $8,230.00. I told him that I could not stand another bill and I was convinced that I would make it back even before the first bill was due. Wow! That would be great. That to me, $8,230.00 was almost a years income of disability payments. I kept asking to call me back tomorrow and he kept convincing me that now was the best time. So I agreed I would put it on my card and would pay it all back in 6 months. It would only take about 16 hours a week to get the "Business" up and running. So I talked with my therapist the next day and he made me aware of the mess I was getting myself in so I called him to cancel the deal. It had only been 2 days, he would take no for an answer. I even told him that I was advised against it from my psychiatrist. He still would not accept no and convinced me that I could not go wrong and sent me a warranty that said if I had not made my money back in 6 months that they would refund it all or what I had not made in writing. I thought okay, how can I loose with a money back guarantee, right? Wrong.
Then all these other people started calling from the Tax Club, even before I knew anything about starting the business or anything. I kept telling them I had no business at this time. They kept telling me I needed this and I could just use the same card I used for the Training at IW Solutions/Apply Knowledge Institute. So I thought that I had to do all this because they knew all about the business and my credit and credit card. So IU agreed to the Tax Club. I had to have it, they said I needed business license, corporate records, corporate binders, etc. They would have other people to call me also that was with the Tax Club so I initially thought that I would get all the other services included. I was guaranteed a loan to start the business and all, they would do my business plan, logo for the business and everything and I could work on getting the business ready to go. Everyone who called wanted more money. I expressed my disappointment with each entirety that called my bill was climbing and I was not looking forward to a payment. Each person that called wanted $2,000-3,500 or more. I do have it all written down but not with me at the present time.
To make a long, long story short. I worked everyday from about 8 am until 9-10 a night with just an hour or so off to go pick up my daughter at school and get her something to eat. My medical condition seemed to deteriorate more and more every day and my "coach" for the business would call one time a week for 30 min., not 1 hour as promised. For the first month, I was looking around my own home to find stuff to put on eBay. This was not going to make me any money. I had to pay to put things on there too. I worked from 8-10 for 4 months. I then called and talked to them (Apply Knowledge) and explained that I was not well and my doctor did not want me doing this as it was detrimental to my health. I was informed they could not give me my money back. I talked with Dave S. first and at that time, I was not aware that IW Solutions who sold me the plan and Apply Knowledge was not the same place, as I had talked to a lay named Megan both times when I talked to Mike ** and the people at Applied Knowledge. I was confused and he (Dave) got very angry with me and was actually very hateful and mean the first time we talked. I kept trying to tell him what had happened and when and he said that Megan was his secretary and not with IW Solutions.
I then talked with another lady about 1 month later from another part of 1 of the businesses (not sure which at this time). She instructed me she would send me some suppliers that did drop shipping which was what this mess was all about. It was all garbage things not going to make my money back with them. As instructed by my doctor, I was sick, could not sleep, eat, drive or do very good at taking care of my daughter. Especially, after I would go to sleep while driving, this is when I quite trying to do this "Business".
I cancelled the Tax Club mess and was informed that I could not get any of my money back except the $859 for doing my taxes well. What did I need them to do my taxes for, I had made no money and just lost about $25,000.00. No business, No loan as promised, nothing. They faxed me a form to sign to release them of everything and they would refund the $859.00 for doing my taxes. I have not and will not sign it. All this mess has ruined my credit and my life. Please beware. If it sounds too good, believe me it isn't. I have ruined my credit. I went from having a 730-740 credit score to probably a 600 last time I checked and that was a month ago. I am going to go bankrupt, in debt of $25,000 for the "business" and $18,000 personal. I cannot make the payments. I probably will loose my home and then my daughter and myself will be on the street, because if I go bankrupt then I was told I would have to sell my 2005 Honda CRV which is paid for. If there is anything I can do please help. Thanks for listening.