I naively purchased some 900 lines from Don's Making Monday/New Strategies in February of 1998. Basically, it is impossible to make money in this business without a huge advertising budget - which we could not afford.
I also had many problems with my lines not working - almost every time I called them there would be a busy signal - which I reported to New Strategies. New Strategies would always say that it was the phone company's fault and that they were working on it. I had also heard that people were not receiving their checks from New Strategies.
I also personally had an unauthorized charge on my credit card which showed up over a year after I had purchased Don Lapre's package.
I had not used the card since that time and found out (on the internet) that many people had had a similar experience with unauthorized charges on the credit cards they had used for New Strategies products. I could not continue to do any business with these people.
In the Spring of I went on the internet and read an article which showed numerous complaints regarding the company, that it had filed for bankruptcy and that refunds were available to those who had purchased 900 numbers, etc. Since the numbers purchased are useless to me (for obvious reasons), I called up Universal Business Strategies and had them look me up on their computer.
I was told that since I purchased pre-bankruptcy, that I WAS entitled to a refund. They saw me in the computer and confirmed the refund amount that I had, which was $1,470.30. I was sent the paperwork to file with the US Bankruptcy Court of Arizona - which I did. I followed up with the Court and they said that refunds were now in the hands of Universal Business Strategies.
Basically, since that time, I had phoned Universal Business Strategies numerous times (have names and dates) and each time the person I spoke to confirmed that I was entitled to a refund and confirmed the amount. Jim Macry 9/28/01 of Universal confirmed my refund showing in his computer.
I was then directed (by a guy named Marty) to George Green in Quality Control at Universal, who also confirmed my refund due and that he would work on it. The last time I spoke to George he told me that my credit card had been credited on September 28 in the amount of $1352 (the cost of the four 900 lines) and to look for it. I was never credited for the amount.
The interesting point here is that I first spoke to George Green in October and he said he did not show a credit yet.
Then in November told me that the credit had indeed gone through on 9/28/01. I then called almost daily through the end of November and the month of December and had no response from George. On 12/28/02, I spoke to a girl named Carla, who looked me up in her computer and showed no credits being issued for me.
I then faxed George a letter stating my case and asking again to have this issue resolved. After more unreturned phone calls, I tried on January 16th of 2002 and spoke to a guy named Pepper Jones. Pepper Jones said that George Green doesn't know what he's talking about and neither did anyone else I spoke to who told me I would get a refund.
He went on and on about how Universal is not affiliated with Don Lapre and that they could get me hooked up with some great new products! He also said that I will never get a refund from Universal (after all - they have nothing to do with Don Lapre) and to contact Charles Riley/9th District Bankruptcy Court in Chandler, Arizona.
Pepper Jones also confirmed that although I would not receive a refund, that Universal had taken back my 900 lines! So basically, I have no lines and no money! If Universal has NOTHING to do with Don Lapre - how can they take back the 900 lines!
I did write Charles Riley, whose letter back to me stated that there are millions of dollars owed creditors first in the Don Lapre case - creditors who kept extending money to Don. So they are first on the refund list. People in my position are last.
I have also filed a report with the Better Business Bureau, who cannot really take any action, although there are numerous reports on Universal.
These people are completely dishonest crooks. They have cancelled/taken back my 900 lines (without my authorization) and kept my money! How is that fair?
I am still really angry after all this time and don't understand how Don Lapre can keep on ripping people off like this. Any help you can provide me with will be greatly appreciated.
Kristin
Tucson, Arizona
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