We bought their seminar with the promise of being taught how to buy and sell houses with little or no money. It seemed that the entire seminar was headed toward the package called Bus Tour, which was a big letdown. It was a "bait and switch". The cost, loss of work, the frustration of being ripped off. Besides the fact of being very dissatisfied; it was very expensive and time consuming. They also had the nerve to bring religion into the lectures when the whole seminar was a scam to try to convince us to buy another "seminar" that they called a Bus Tour Elite package for $39,000.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
I was billed for a service I did not request nor receive by Armando Montelongo's Flip and Grow Rich offer. I ordered the book Flip and Grow Rich on May 17, 2010. I spoke with Chris on July 5th at the number on my credit card statement and they would not make a refund. He played me a recording of my conversation with Scott. I have no idea how much they edited out. During that conversation, you can hear me mention several times I did not want the number to their service personnel. I was told I would be billed monthly only after I received the service.
Chris was well prepared-- I guess this is a common unorthodox practice for them. They said I had to cancel within 30 days by calling the same number. I called this morning. I was only given the "cancellation" number on my credit card statement. I presume I received a phone number to call for the service but I never called it therefore, the contract was never consummated. Chris also informed me that there was no one else I could talk to. The cancellation confirmation number he gave me today: ***. Will they continue to charge me again? Who knows? I only quit calling when I was assured I would not be billed! Please tell me what I need to do to obtain a refund. More importantly, I want a record made of their shoddy practices. The networks that run this show needs to be made aware as well!
On April 27, 2010, I charged $800.00 (discounted from $1,497.00 retail) on my HSBC MasterCard to pay in full for a 3-Day Workshop Package (May 7-9, 2010 transaction #**) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After paying, I was given a "Master Home Study Course" as well as a workshop certificate and two so-called money back guarantees. I disputed the charge for legal services not received, based on what was promised at the seminar versus what was delivered at the workshop. Bottom line, the workshop was used to upsell each attendee to either the Gold Elite ($21,495.00) or Platinum Elite ($25,495.00) AMS memberships costing thousands more instead of fulfilling the original contract for $800.00. That is, plain and simple, bait and switch which is not only unethical but illegal!
From May 11, 2010 until filing for a charge back on June 02, 2010, I tried to resolve this issue in good faith with AMS. However, all I encountered from countless phone calls and emails was the runaround and finger-pointing. Even when I proved to Heather **, at her request, the home study course was nothing more than repackaged free information online that even contradicted sessions taught at the workshop, she replied their prices for goods and services were justified by Montelongo's TV show, "Flip This House" on A&E.
What follows is an email I was asked to send by ** to the attention of the AMS Director stating reasons for the refund:"This e-mail serves as final notice to refund $800.00 as a credit to the MasterCard on file ending in ** for 'legal services' charged on April 27, 2010. The reason for the refund is overpromising at the seminar, followed by under delivering at the workshop.
Bottom line, the workshop was used to upsell each attendee to either the Gold Elite or Platinum Elite memberships costing thousands more instead of providing the promised above. That is 'bait and switch' which is against the law! To date, no response from AMS as promised by June 1, 2010 has been received. I've disputed the charge with MasterCard as well as filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, Oklahoma Attorney General, Texas Attorney General, California Attorney General, Better Business Bureau, Ripoff Report, Complaints Board, Consumer Affairs and My 3 Cents. By the way, others at the workshop are demanding a refund also for $800.00.
