After 4 years on my own (independent), I am building an insurance & financial services practice & had hired 2 agents to start days before entering into an agreement with Touch Call Solutions (a/k/a Advantel - they use at least 2 company names & it's no doubt because of the many grievances filed against them!) whereby I would have 50 Business to Business appointments so I could immediately start training the 2 new agents.
Mark Honig contacted me after I responded to several internet solicitations as I was seaching for a really good telemarketing/appointment setting company. This was my 1st experience "hiring" a company to handle this type of request.
Boy, did Mr. Monig give me the snow job of my life! He insisted that he could help me & my practice & that he & the owner (David) have over 75 years experience. Mark said he used to be an insurance agent for many years & knew just what I was looking for & he could deliver! I trusted what he had to say & based my next 6-9 month business plan on what he told me. Needless to say, I have had the worst, most herrific experience with this company & their people.
The company should be closed down immediately so that other business owners don't take a monetary loss & waste their precious time. This company & some (if not all) of it's people are absolutely deceiptful & of fraudulent nature! Not only did I lose money, I've lost time & money by going out on their 5 bogus appointments (not any of the pre-set appointments proved to be a quialified lead/appointment & further every one of them stated they told the caller they did not want to set an appointment & some of them further stated they didnt have the need for the services we provide to businesses.) I also lost one of the agents I hired because I have had not pre-set appointments to take him out for training! Mr. Honig put in writing that we (my business) would be up & running within 5-7 days (getting some appointments by that time, for training purposes) after I paid Touch Call Solutions/Advantel $2,975.00 by bank wire, 6/28/07.
Mark Honig insisted I bank wire the funds so they could get started immediately on my campaign so I could get the 2 agents trained quickly, utilizing the 50 pre-set appointments. That was 6/28/07. Wouldnt you think by now, 9/9/07, a company who specailizes in appointment setting & telemarketing (Mr. Honig's letter to me states they are one of the top telemarketing companies in the U.S. For the insurance industry, recognized by Senior Market Magazine. Is that true? I'll be finding out soon.) would have already scheduled many if not all of the 50 paid pre-set appointments.
I paid for 50 appointments & have had 0. The 5 they have scheduled are bogus & I've reported them all back to the company, in writing. I have had the same experience all of the other 13 complainers on this site have had. This company will do any or say anything for the almighty dollar. DO NOT engage in business with them. I am seeking damages & hope all 13 complainers will join me! I will contacting an attorney as well.
I am filing a complaint with every agency available & will be nofifying the companies they (Advantel) told me they do business with, such as AOL, Aflac (Aflac does NOT DO business with them - I have already verified that with their head quarters in Columbus, Ga.), New York Life, Genworth (formerly G.E. Capital), Penn, Midland, an army of Farmers, Allstate & Met Life.
I based my business plan & training schedule on Mr. Honig's written word. They have never got my campaign up & running because I have had not 1 qualified appointment to this date! My 10 year old could do a better job calling to schedule appointments than all of them! The owner has evidently refused to return my calls even though I've left 3 msgs. Through Christina Russell, one of the owners. I haven't heard from David, supposebly the owner. I've lost an agent which affects my business (income); my business name has been put on the line by sending me out to bogus appointments & getting the business owners upset that I showed up after they said "no, they didnt want to set up an appointment"; I have worked hard to have a great reputation, personally & in business & they have put that in harms way, affecting my business that I have worked to build for 6 years! I am taking this as far as I can go.
I ask that you join me if you've done business with them. If you haven't - STAY AWAY!
I have all 5 businesses, that I was given as pre-set "good" appointments", willing to testify that they indeed said no, they didn't want anyone coming out! I'm sure the FCC will be interested in this also.
I want all of my money back PLUS damages! My contract does NOT state I cannot get my money back for total dissatisfaction, for severe neglect on their part, for fraudulent/bogus appointments set by them or for deceptive business practices on their part.! They want their cake & eat it too, right?
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