In December, I purchased a coaching program from PMI Coaching for $5,000, using my credit card. Later that same night, I did some internet research and found this site and others regarding PMI's incompetence and fraud (I had tried to do some before the purchase, but they identified themselves as Professional Marketing International, which doesn't really turn up this stuff regarding PMI).
The PMI sales rep had advised me of my three-day right of rescission, which I already knew about, so I called him the next morning and told him I was exercising this right. He acknowledged my call and told me he'd take care of it. My credit card had not been charged.
I followed up this phone call with a fax that same day, and a certified letter they received the following day, both advising I was rescinding the purchase and revoking authorization to charge my card.
I was supposed to have gotten my first call from my "coach" that night, but when I didn't get it, I assumed PMI was honoring the law. Two days later, my card still hadn't been charged.
I checked my credit card balance again a week later and found PMI had charged the full purchase amount, *clearly* in violation of the law.
Fortunately, my credit card company was aware of this situation and began the disputed charge process right away.in addition, a lawyer at the Utah Attorney General's Office Consumer Protection Division was very interested, because this was a clear case of PMI violating the law—the complaint and supporting documentation are in the mail even as I write this.
PMI got my name from Auctions For Income. They represented themselves as working for AFI, and AFI acknowledges a partnership with PMI on their own website. I called AFI and spoke with Sherry, told her what PMI had done, and that I considered it a fraudulent practice. She agreed, and advised they would contact PMI to resolve it. To date, I've heard nothing from AFI—if they remain silent, my update here will be to inform people of their complicity with PMI.
The PMI sales rep with whom I spoke both times identified himself as Dave Fountain.interestingly, on a document I received from PMI, Dave Fountain suddenly morphs into Dave Fairbanks. I suspect the only true part of that is his first name.
My advice? If you pick up the phone and hear "PMI" or "Professional Marketing International", hang up. Hard.
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