I joined International Speakers Network (ISN) in February. From the information I was given over the phone by Dona Meritt I was excited and felt this would help me attract more paid speaking engagements. Between March and November, I sent several emails and was only able to leave voice messages for Ms. Meritt (whom I called 5-6 times), with the exception of actually speaking to her sometime in August. After I explained my situation to her, she said she would pass my information on to someone else, who would get back to me. No one ever did.
In November I found out their computer system crashed sometime during the year and all information had to be reentered into the system. I realize these things happen sometimes, but someone should have at least responded to my repeated calls and emails. No one did and that is totally unacceptable.
There are numerous other services they didnt provide as stated in the contract. I received almost no evaluation of my marketing plans. I was told that my web site was good and I should add a downloadable bio sheet. One sentence, thats it! Sounds like pretty poor feedback to me.
I didnt start receiving the cooperative marketing program until November, and it didnt have any information on what I was supposed to do with the list of two hundred company names. Thats right, just company names; no addresses or phone numbers. I did receive another email in November with a marketing campaign, which was going to cost $1000. So much for the cooperative marketing plan.
I did finally receive an email in January explaining the cooperative marketing program. Almost a year after joining. Now isnt that timely and professional?
I have asked for my membership to be refunded. I was told it states in the contract there are no refunds. I spoke with a supervisor, and left multiple messages for CFO Greg Wright and CEO David Wright, telling them they didnt hold to their part of the contract, so my membership fee should be refunded. I have made at least two dozen (24) phone calls to David Wright to discuss this matter and only once did he bother to return my phone call. He said he would look into it, then called back 15 minutes later and asked for my website address. I never heard back from him or anyone else.
ISNs customer service is very poor, especially when their CEO is the worst of all. He is leading by example! The supervisor with whom I spoke claimed to be the owners daughter, Leesa Wright-Knowles. When I said I was going to file a complaint with the Knoxville (TN) Better Business Bureau, she said I am on the board of the BBB. After checking out the Knoxville BBB website and not finding any information on board members, I phoned that organization and the person I spoke with indicated that ISN is not accredited with them. This means neither Ms. Wright-Knowles nor ISN is on the Knoxville BBB board. The only conclusion I can possibly reach is that this woman had knowingly lied to me, apparently to stop me from questioning her companys reputation.
This is why I decided to file a report on usacomplaints.com. ISN is only operating as a business to rip people off. They dont appear to care about the services they state in their contract, much less how satisfied their members may feel. The only thing ISN can do to prove to me theyre a legitimate business is to refund my $525 membership fee. If they do, I will be pacified and their customer service would gain a small measure of credibility.
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