I too got caught in this scam to sell card processing machines at stores and was promised the leads, only to find the numbers were attached as phone lines sold and tied up by card processing machines or fax lines. I never received the website and traffic and I am holding a box of brochures. I can't afford to drive around and hand out as I thought it was an established home business.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
I called about a business opportunity that was advertised in a business magazine in May of 2008. I was told that if I invested $500.00 that they would use my money to purchase call blasts to advertise their products and services. This amount was then charged to my eBay credit card on 5-15-08. I was originally approached by Eric and then later by Alan **. On 5-22-08 I was asked to invest another $3,000 to expand my opportunities to make money. I was assured that this was a sound investment and would receive my money back within a short time plus a substantial income. I was then asked to invest another $1500 with the promise that I would be provided with $3000 worth of services. I used my target card to pay this fee.
Despite my checking their website, my email and calling them at least once a week, there was no return on my investment. I was continually told that it often takes months to receive any return. The only communication I received was CD's in the mail that provided information such as health news. I was also sent a magazine called Real Estate Riches and a national media guide that was supposed to provide me with additional opportunities to advertise their services. My husband is elderly, disabled and on retirement. This has caused an economic hardship for us. We have worked out payment plans to pay the credit cards, but this has affected our credit rating and we have had to forgo taking care of needs that we have. It also has caused a lot of anxiety as we try to meet our financial obligations.
I believe that this company was never honest or truthful about the goods and services they offered. I believe that David Alan Mersky, the CEO of the parent company of Band Card Empire, conspired with others to commit fraud. I would like to join in on a class action lawsuit against this person. I want to send a powerful message to this man. The message is that prison is where he really belongs. It has and continues to cause me financial hardship. It has affected my physical health because I'm having a difficult time trying to stop my credit card company from making the automatic payments.
I thought I was investing in a legitimate marketing enterprise but became suspicious when my website began to be difficult to sign into or receive updates from. I wasn't finding anything really negative on the net about the business; That was until May 3, 2010 when I called the BCE 800 number I had and a message, dated April 14, relayed the info that BCE was closed but would reopen April 15. I hunted around the internet for sites like this having stories similar to mine and possible inclusion in class action or other advice.
To all whom have and who will in the future post here, there is help around the corner. However, in the meantime, you haven't already done so, file complaints. There is a criminal grand jury investigation in process. We have gotten some refunds but remember, you must document your statements in detail. Not that really difficult.
Yes, I am one of those that they filed a lawsuit against and I am not worried one bit. They will lose as they did in the case that MRS brought against another couple here in Florida. We are beginning to see more and more connections between BCE and all of the various LLC's. As I have just found this site, I will be returning with more posts of interest. After all, I have more than a year investigating this situation and it doesn't get any simpler as time goes on. They are popping up new LLC's into this business just a mushrooms pop up in the spring time.
As those that already know me, are aware that through my determination to not be taken advantage of, and the fact that I proved my case to my CC Co, I was made whole. I have a group that presently exceeds 70 and we would all be very appreciative to be contacted by any of your attorneys as their fraudulent scheme is massive border to border and coast to coast. The sad part is that there are literally hundreds if not thousands that are too embarrassed to even come forward as a majority are of the senior and challenged classes. Some have even had to declare bankruptcy. We would welcome any and all help available.
The invoice from this company may have the name "Edgemont Productions LLC" printed on them. Edgemont Productions LLC is not licensed to do business in the state of Arizona. Bankcard Empire used that LLC for their marketing scheme, but says BCE is not responsible for the LLC's actions.
Contact your credit card company and tell them that Edgemont Productions, LLC is not a registered, licensed business. Therefore, they are committing fraud when charging your credit card. Check azcc.org and look for this company in Arizona. Not there!
P.S. Most of the names used at this company are false, so remembering names is useless. The only name you have to remember is David Adam Mersky, the CEO of Bankcard Empire, who was trained in the business by Richard Kuhlmann and his father, Leslie Mersky, a known felon for money-laundering and securities fraud. Look up the names on Google.
I have received a phone call back in October of 2008 from a representative from Bankcard Empire. I was searching to do a business at home. They said they were very reputable and worked with Visa &a MC to help businesses get set up to take credit cards. I would be an affiliate with Bankcard Empire and all I needed to do was buy their package and they would help get it set up. After I bought the package for $175, they would set up an exclusive website for me for $19.95 a month. The next thing I know, a couple of days later, someone calls me and said they work with Bankcard Empire and that I need to purchase advertising for my business. I told them Bankcard Empire said I did not need to purchase anything else.
They proceeded to sell me $10,000 worth of advertising. They were going to do call blasts for me. Each invoice was from a different company but had a Bankcard Empire invoice number on it and the addresses, phone and fax numbers were all Bankcard Empire's. Each invoice was for $5,000 for call blasts. I have contacted Bankcard Empire to get my money back and they said it was non-refundable in March in 2009. I asked twice for a list of names and numbers to prove the call blasts were done and I never received anything from them. I filed a complaint with the BBB, the Attorney General of Arizona and the postmaster of Arizona. I never received any of my money back.
Many people have complained about this company online and how they got ripped off. So I did the same and I have been threatened by attorneys from Bankcard Empire. I have proof and Robin **, one of Bankcard Empire attorneys, lying to me in writing. Now, they are suing me and 6 others for defamation. I never received the exclusive website I was promised. Should I take them to small claims court? I am not sure what to do without spending thousands of dollars for an attorney. I already have spent $1,700 for an attorney and they are not sure if they can get the suit dismissed or not. I am at a loss of what to do! There are also around 50 people who have been ripped off by this company and hundreds of complaints from the BBB.
John Anthony contacted and convinced me that he can get me a home very lucrative home business with Bankcard Empire. By Paying $2000, he will have me set up with a website and monitor and work the site. He promised that by the end of the month, I will be able to pay off the $2000 charged to my credit card. I never heard from him once I signed up. I called and emailed him several times, left voice messages with no response from him, his assistant nor his secretary.
I was called by a member of bank card empire and told about this "home business". I told the gentalman I talked to that I had just lost my job and had very little money but he assured me that for $199 and $19.99/mth I would have a website and training to sell merchant services. They waited about a week for me to have money in my account before I became a member. I got a packet from them with two CD's that didn't explain exactly what I was selling or for how much. It also said that my website address was on the top of the form which it was not. I was told by the man who sold me on this that I could do this business by simply talking to local business owners that I knew and then I could advertize as I started making money.
Over the next three months I recieved 7 or 8 more phone calls from differnet people. I always asked them for my website address and was told I would be called back with that information (which never happened) and they asked me about how much was in my bank account and if I had any credit cards or people to loan me money. The final phone call a man just told me straight out that I couldn't do this business without $10,000 to give them for an email blaster program so call back when I have money. I was treated abusively on the phone three different phone calls. They tookfunds out of my account every month and I recieved nothing.
