I was intriged with the information that I recieved from Startup Essentials about starting a home based business. They would supply all the tools and software that I needed, as well as support for any problems that I might encounter along my way.
First I was assigned a "mentor" who would help direct me along the way to getting setup and approved for the Startup Essentials program. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't qualify since I had been laid off for almost a full year, was about to run out of severance pay, and my unemployment was also about to run out. I supplied the information needed anyway.
Well, to my surprise I was just the type of "candidate" they were looking for. According to Startup Essentials my credit score was pretty good and there would be no problem getting me the "financial assistance" I would need to get the tools and supplies for their program. My "mentor" assured me that the costs I would have during the training and business setup would be tax deductable. He also advised me that I would be locked into a four year leasing deal for the laptop computer that I would be supplied.
I was curious how the leasing program would work. I wanted to know what would happen, if during the four year term that I had to agree to in order to qualify, I had problems and had to break the lease. I was advised that depending on the circumstances they could probably work something out for me with BOND Corporation.
However my "mentor" wasn't able to tell me that officially over the phone about the tax and lease information. I received an email instead, that should have been my first clue that all was not as it was being presented.
Soon after qualifying I found and started a new job. I was called one day from Startup Essentials with a representative from BOND Corporation. They were calling to verify some information so that they could get me setup with the laptop and other "tools" that I'd need to start the program. Even though I advised them that I was at work and in training, I was assured that this would only take a "few minutes". So the representative from BOND Corporation started reading me the terms of the program.
To make a long story short, that "few minutes" took almost my whole lunch period. I was asked many questions, and I had many questions to ask. I was assured if there were any problems I could call. I was assured that if I has technical problems with the laptop provided I could call for support. I was advised many things that just didn't turn out to be truly as they were presented to me on that phone call.
So about a week later the laptop and other "tools" arrived that I would need in order to start my business. This consited of a laptop that is not very powerful, slow starting up, needs more RAM, a bigger hard drive, and would be considered inadequite for anyone that would have purchased it for use in school. It can barely handle the basic programs that it should be able to run, and can barely run the "extra" programs installed for my "business". One of the "tools" consisted of a sofware program so that I could take payments directly from "my website" that I'd be able to build using provided software. (Isn't that why we have PayPal???). The other "tools" were a workbook and package of CD-ROMS that contained more motivational information than any actual lessons on getting a business started.
Almost a year later, I am still at the new job. My finances are not as good as they could be because I am making about half the money I used to make at my old job. I'm geting no where with the Startup Essential program and have yet to make any money. The laptop works for me only after I reboot it at least three times in order to get all the programs to come up that need to during startup. I've tried to email the Startup Essentials support using the email link on their web page only to have a message shot back to me that the link is invalid. The only phone number that I have for them is invalid.
Next step, I decided to call BOND Corporation to see what they maight be able to do to help me. I did say HELP.instead I was threatened that if I didn't pay or if I closed the acct they were drafting from they would sue me, garnish my wages, place a lien against my home, etc. They offered no advice and no solutinons. I was told they paid the whole four years worth up front to Startup Essentials and then they set up the lease as it was. I even advised that this was never disclosed at the time this took place. I also advised about the quality of the "equiptment" that was supplied. Basically I was told that wasn't their problem. The price and setup was determined by Startup Essentials.
If anyone has any advice on how I can get out of this lease and out of the program without going bankrupt or being sued please let me know. I've had no luck trying to contact Startup Essentials, and I am definately not getting anywhere with BOND Corporation.
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