Merchant Referral Solutions

I was randomly (?) contacted in or around December 2009 on my cell phone and was told about an investment, through which, if I became involved right away, I would quickly begin making huge sums of money. I would just invest $251.96 and send it to "Superior Enterprise Solutions." I would be investing in a credit card processing system, where I would receive 1 1/2% to 3% of the gross credit card receipts, based on the level of commitment I was willing to invest in it. The more I invested, the higher rate of return I would receive of the customers who would accept the credit card processing machines that would be provided through Merchant Referral Solutions (MRS). Also, I would receive $500 for each processor that would be installed with my customer account number.

After giving them $251.96, I received further calls indicating that if I really wanted to supercharge my income from this program, I needed to invest $3,500 to buy the "gold plan" investing system where they would kick in another $1,500 to cover a $5,000 advertising campaign. Within a month, I would have my $3,500 back and much much more money will be sent back to me. I could authorize them to begin a monthly withdrawal from my bank account, or credit card to become a part of their discount shopping system where I would, for only $39.95 per month, be able to buy all kinds of cool, high quality stereos, televisions, audio equipment, exercise equipment and other high-dollar stuff at huge discounts.

I did not get involved in this. I felt that I would wait and see how the investment would pan out. I was fooled by high pressure sales, high pressure lies, misrepresentations, false friendliness and other high pressure tactics to try to separate me from my money. I did send them $3,500, along with the $251.96 that was the initial investment. Before I sent them any money, other than the initial $251.96, they had a guy who would call me all the time telling me how this special was going to expire if I did not get in right away. I fell for the scheme and did invest the $3,500 and now am only the poorer for it. One of the names associated with this scam is Edward **.

On Monday March 1, 2010, I received a phone call from Kimberly ** (or someone using that name) of Merchant Referral Solutions. She proposed that I purchase an Advertising Package which would purchase leads from national banks her company has working business relationships with, including Chase Manhattan, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and some credit unions. I could purchase lists of leads at $1 each who are business owners turned down by these banks for business loans.

Respondents to call blasts (robo-calls by telephone) and e-mails would speak with company operators who would explain how they could qualify for cash advances based on their current levels of monthly credit card processing receipts. Then if the owners take out the loan, I would get a 2% commission of their total loan balance, plus a percentage on their monthly credit card processing volume, plus $500 on every credit card machine they lease. I was also told, I would be purchasing both radio and television commercials and the sales coming from calls generated from these would automatically make me commissions as well.

I was encouraged to max out the potential credit on my cards. I charged $14,000 on my Bank of America credit card (2 separate charges of $11,000 and $3,000) and gave them $7,000 from my checking account at First Community Credit Union through my debit card. (Initially I thought I was buying time on radio and television for this $21,000). This $21,000 would purchase 10,500 call blast leads and 10,500 e-mail leads. She said that there was an 8-15% close rate on businesses who respond to the calls or e-mails and that some associates were making $2,500-$3,000 per month and other were making $7,000-$9,000 per month. Ms. N said that she would immediately create an LLC on my behalf in the State of Missouri under "WBA Marketing," which she has not done.

She also said that within five days she would be able to transfer my credit card balance to a Bank of America business credit card, since I would now be incorporated and that she had a relationship with the bank that would get me an interest rate of around 1.5%. The loan being similar to those to be offered to other businesses based on projected future earnings. She also said she would put back $7,000. Then later upped it to $10,000 on my debit account from this new line of credit. She even had me call my credit card issuer to request a larger credit line so I could reach her program investment goal of $25,000! But she eventually settled for $21,000 of my money. Everything was in a rushed mode and I had to sign these forms immediately as the contracted leads and media spots needed to be confirmed immediately for some reason.

As of March 4, I had repeatedly called her line at 602 687-8496 and e-mailed her 2-3 times with no return calls or contact whatsoever. In the meantime,"coaches" have set up sessions with me to show me how to run the business. I am to have a webpage and there is a training site at merchantlibrary.com where I enter my affiliate ID number: 373511. The coaches say that's all they can do and don't know the circumstances of my recruitment other than that I have invested this money to get the training- seventeen weeks of coaching as part of the program. On March 15, two of these coaches called to get the reasons for my hesitation to continue and said they would have someone get back to me to discuss. They did call back and said they would convey my wish to speak to Kimberly and that she would call me. She never did.

I also spent $500 with them earlier, $250 to join the program as an affiliate, another $250 for postcards and "business cards." None of which have my name on them, only my affiliate number. So I have given them a total of $21,500. I was told on March 11 by "Mike **" at the Agent Relations Dept that the radio spots would not begin for 3 weeks for the $3,000. 7 weeks for the $7,000 and 11 weeks for the $11,000. In the meantime, I'm paying 12.5% on my outstanding balance on my credit card with Bank of America of over $18,000, which I would never have agreed to had I not thought I would be able to transfer my balances to a lower rate.

In a second call, I spoke with "Armando," and questioned him as to how many radio and TV spots I would be getting, as the invoices don't spell this out. He told me then that I would be getting a produced spot for each which I could run on the radio or TV. But that the company doesn't pay for air time. That would be up to me! I was under the impression that the company was to do this. So really I'm paying $14,000 of the $21,000 primarily for the 21,000 leads and seventeen weeks of coaching.

It has taken me a month to find out what company I have been dealing with. I found on the internet a copy of the complaint CV2009-034585 against Maximum Business Concepts, dba Merchant Referral Solutions, with primary place of business in Maricopa County, Arizona. The phone company has no record of the company under either Merchant Referral Solutions or Maximum Business Concepts.

Kimberly ** told me her office was in Phoenix, Arizona. In a phone call March 12, Michael told me he could find no listing for Maximum Business Concepts even though it is his parent company in the lawsuit. I later called 1 800 304-6970, but Scott who answered, said he didn't have the address or phone number but that someone would call me back and tell me (No one ever did). I finally found the following address on at the website of the better Business Bureau of Central, Northern and Western Arizona. The invoices themselves are from Advertising Fidelity Systems. Unfortunately, I verified that I okay the charges by a scripted tape conversation with her and that no refunds would be given.

In a phone conversation with Mr. Kenneth ** (1881 Innisbrook Ln, Sarasota, FL 34234-3029) Phone: 941-360-8940, e-mail Kecfmmo@aol.com) on April 2. A former military investigator who has been researching this group of companies for over a year, he helped me discover by my invoices that I was signed up by a company with trade name ABIZ, short for Automated Business Group, whose statutory agent is Darrin ** (all of this confirmed in the records of the Arizona Corporation Commission.) At www.complaintsboard.com one posting claims to have found a different aliases or this crooked company. One new alias is a Deluxe Marketing Group, which Mr. Carrell points out is owned by Automated Business Group.

There are many postings of complaints against this web of companies on complaints.com, scam.com and many others. According to Mr. Carrell, there are hundreds of people who have been victimized by this web of companies, with links to other states in complicated ways. There are many stories about how the perpetrators go by different personal names over the phone and business names are added and dropped as the complaints mount. Although the business model seems to make sense, victims are never paid commissions as promised.

I personally talked with another victim who invested $30,000 six months ago, and has never seen a dime. On both of the websites mentioned above, there is currently a posting by a woman who quit working for the company on March 4 due to sexual harassment. She has about this company, its fraudulent practices, and its many incarnations as Merchant Referral Solutions, Bank Card Empire, Core Payment Solutions, D.W. Scott Financial, and Deluxe Marketing Group. She claims the company brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars each week, that it does not go to our marketing, and just goes to enrich the owners and the scam artists. (Post can be found at: http://www.**).

The bottom line for me personally is that Kimberly ** enlisted me in this program under promises she could not and/or intended not to deliver, and has not followed through on her verbal promises to incorporate me or transfer my indebtedness to a low interest business card. Production of radio and TV spots that I have to pay to have aired was not clearly conveyed and is certainly overvalued as is the coaching and the ** I am to receive. I feel, there is no intention of ever paying me commissions were I to actually work the business. I had no written agreement other than these sparse invoices. Nor was I told I had a right to cancel within three days. According to a post on complaints.com.

Arizona's telephone solicitations statute (A.R.S. para 44-1271 through 44-1282) require covered telemarketing companies to file a registration statement with the Secretary of State (www.**) and post a bond with the State Treasurer's Office (www.**) before they can solicit customers over the telephone. Arizona law also requires all telemarketing companies to tell their customers, both orally and in writing, that they have the right to cancel their order within three days after receiving the merchandise or any gift, bonus, prize or award.(posted by oh yeah) In addition, the firm going by the name Advertising Fidelity Systems is not registered in the state of Arizona, either with the Arizona Corporation Commission or the Better Business Bureau. Hence my payments went to or through a company or dba both operating illegally in Arizona and in violation of the above Arizona statutes.