I hope you can help me! In October of I got involved with Trek Alliance at their Kansas City office, "Global Innovations." I now have $5000 on my credit cards because of their deceptive claims and practices. I am 20 years old and I dropped out of college last semester to "work the business." Currently I am still out of school, working overtime to try to pay off my debt and restore my credit. I have contacted the FTC, the MO Attorney General, and the FBI, but have yet to hear back from them. Reading through web, however, it seems as though these agencies might be well aware of this pyramid scheme and on their way to shuting Trek down! If there is any way this site can get my money refunded, you are a god send! Here's my brief (attemted brief) story.
I was recruited by my ex-manager, Dennis. He said he started with a new company and would be selling environmentally safe products. He said he got paid off commission and "other ways that were too complicated to get in to." He asked if I was "Keeping my career options open" and they were having a meeting tomorrow if I wanted to get more information. Being dissatisfied with my serve job and environmentally concerned, I thought, why not?
Under the impression I was going to hear about these products, I was not in the evaluative mind state when I listened to the briefing. I also did not expect the overly-excited sales-women to approach me afterward and convinse me how this was "Such a great opportunity." I was niave to the words pyramid scheme, network marketing, and Amway. I had no idea there could be an element of fraud involved.
So Beth Schupanitz had me fill out a 100 Names List of ANYONE I knew, watch a retailing video, and asked me all kinds of dreamy questions... Future plans, what would I do with financial freedom, bla bla. She got me to register for the Kansas City EP ($225) insisting this was one of the most fun, most informative events I could ever attend. So, with a full refund policy in place (incase I was dissatisfied) I agreed to go. I purchaced a starter kit and listened to a tape that night.
That weekend, the EP was mostly a motivational mind f* and people were lining up in droves at the counter buying BIBs (Business in a box) On the emotional and conditional high I was on, I too was in that line. As I tearfully explained how I couldn't afford maxing out my one and only credit card, Beth reassuringly said, "Don't worry, Corinne because I'm going to help you sell it." With my trust given, I put a $900 Gold Sampler on my Visa. (Beth left Kansas City 2 weeks later to recruit in Ohio) Not exactly helping me sell the products. SHE LIED!!!
Anyway
I did as I was told. I Kept my mouth shut fearing OPO, (Other people's opinions) and I was motivated and convinsed I was gonna be a "Powerplayer" with Trek. (A powerplayer is someone who doesn't want to mess around with success. They buy into the Supervisor position at $4000 to get to the 40% commission level immediately.)
So within the next two weeks, Beth signed me up for another credit card and I purchaced my "inventory." I also got on a desk at a special rate of $100 per month. Got my phone line and started calling the names Beth generated off of resume sites. I was now a "Supervisor Elite"
But my excitement disappeared when I told my boyfriend what I was doing. He was the one who warned me of scams. I didn't want to believe him when he showed me the FTC warning signs and the False Profits website. I just repeated all the rebuttals I had leaned to say, like... Who listens to that negative stuff, they were just lazy reps, corprate america is a pyramid, you're a rotten apple... Bla bla. Then he looked at me scared-like, and said, "Corinne it sounds like you've been brain washed!" It all sank in and I BAWLED. I felt so stupid! I had dropped out of school, ruined my credit, and just felt completely duped. Why hadn't I talked to him sooner?!
Then all of the deceptive phrases and practices that had bothered my instincts came to the fore front... I was taught to...
Be as elusive as possible on the phone. You just want to get them to see the briefing. Be new. When the recruit has questions, say you're new and refer them to an "expert".
They say "us ladies have the power to take guy's wallets and money and sign them up for a saturday training." (LIKE ID EVER DO THAT!)
Have the recruit stand with their back to the products before the briefing so they don't ask questions.
Always nod and laugh and create energy during a briefing.
Get access to any money source they have... Parents, friends, family, credit cards, loans, savings... Whatever. (Beth actually told this guy he should pawn his watch and jewlewy and cell phone to buy a starter kit and products. Rationalizing, "We take people's last dime, but give them back a quarter"
Call businesses in the phonebook. When the person picks up and says, "Hi this is blabla company, Sue speaking, how can I help you?" the Trek person says they have the wrong number. Then like 2 hours later Trek calls back and says, "Hi, is Sue available? Hi, Sue? This is soandso with Global Innovations, and my executive was in your business the other day and said you had excellent customer service skills. We're an expanding Marketing firm here in Kansas City looking for people with your skills. Are you keeping your career options open, by chance?" then the Trek person flatters them and gives them the pitch. THIS IS LYING AND I COULD NOT DO THIS!
During the briefing when the speaker pours the yellow tap water into the clear tested water claiming "so the people in the back can see", its actually because BOTH GLASSES TURN YELLOW OVER TIME (detecting chlorine)
Once I became a desk-holder, I learned deskholders kept the money collected for Saturday trainings to help pay for desk rent. Recruits were told it was to hold a seat for them and a guest and to accomodate the speaker! The trainings cost anywhere from $10 to $50!! (THIS WAS A LIE AND IT BOTHERED ME) No wonder why they pushed the trainings!
Never be exact with your income. Since I was new I always said, "I'm on track to make $5000 next month."
*There is more that I would go on forever, but these are just some of the major recruiting tactics that led me to look up this scam stuff. I was feeling awful being deceptive to people and COULD NOT WORK THE BIZ ONCE I LEARNED ALL THE INNER WORKINGS! I am not a lazy, unmotivated rep like some Treks would call me. Rather, I have MORALS and am not motivated by MONEY!
So here I am stuck with products I can't get a full refund on, due to their 70% rule. (Which is never mentioned until I try to return products,) And I refuse to sell these products for this awful company, even though I do like some of them. I don't know if I should hold on to them so I can get more money back, or what. PLEASE get back to me with any information, and in the meantime, could you post this so others are warned about TREK ALLIANCE and their focus on deceptive recruiting practices.
Thank you, Corinne
0 comments