Last year, in the October time frame, I was contacted by a representative of Startup Essentials (A-1 is partner with Startup Essentials). This representative lead me through a 2 hour telephone conversation that eventually lead me to believe I was entering a professional internet coaching business that would help me build a profitable website business in little time. One of the tricks was to check out my credit history right away and qualify me before making any further effort. They also used very pretty selling techniques that involved pressure and lying, such as, "sir, do you know how to click and copy-paste?" I said "yes", and they replied "great that's all you will need to start your new website business". The Startup Essentials official guide me through the process of convincing me. I was told that I would get help starting my own internet business by beginning my own website where I would sell products that they would supply. At the moment, I was manipulated by the fact that I was obviously looking, and actually paid attention to the positive side of their controlling story. After they got my attentions, they transferred me to a the person who would get my information to sign the contract. I was never told this person was a A-1 leasing official. I followed all the steps thinking I was still dealing with an StartupEssentials official which implied that I could at least rebut if they didnt provide a good service. Not knowing it was a third party, the A-1 Leasing official guided me through to sign a 150$ per month contract for 6 years (total 6,000$). A week later, I received a 500$ worth laptop computer with some installed software "to help me build the business", and a letter from A-1 Leasing showing me the lease contract. After I got the 6,000$ laptop, I decided to stick to the program for a while to see if I could start making the mentioned money and pay the monthly fee with it. To my surprise, the program was not only copy-and-paste and you are done. It required time effort and more money to advertise, etc.
It was totally a ripoff, and I immediately understood why they do it this way, or everybody would be canceling after the first month. The service was greatly misrepresented. It took forever to get through each section of the program and way more time than it was worth. I was lead to believe that I could have my own website up in less than a month, and start making at least enough money to pay the monthly charge. They didnt had a coach to help me one-on-one through the phone as they advertised, and they made little effort to help me through to complete the website as advertise. After 7 months later, the 6000$ laptop was already hitting the 1000$ mark. I called to cancel the lease and return the "equipment". It is very clearly written in the lease that it is a "equipment lease", but they obviously knowing that it would be easy to return the laptop made me sign a "noncanceleable lease". The worst part is that I never knew I was dealing with A-1 leasing, and they claim that they already paid StartupEssentials their money. I was never told it was through a third party, and if StartupEssentials is an Scam, then A-1 Leasing is an Scam collaborating with StartupEssentials. If StartupEssentials has been Scaming A-1 then A-1 should be suing StartupEssentials instead of persecuting the Scammed clients.
Now I can say that I wasted my time and money. I hope to get this resolve. My lawyer told me to report it to BBB and write letters to all state attorney offices, and credit report agencies. I would just like to return the equipment and cancel everything.
Pedro
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.
0 comments