In January I accepted an invitation from Cambridge for a membership. This was one of those "You have been selected as a result of your accomplishments, " etc. This also allowed, according to the caller, networking with other professionals in like field. This was considered a plus to me.
Now the nightmare:
In March a caller from Cambridge used a pressure sales tactic to get me to agree to purchase a book of members.initially, I told the person that I was not interested (actually, about 6-times). I then agreed to the purchase, but never agreed to the terms on the Internet, and within 3-days I contacted Cambridge to make certain that I would not be charged. Although I was assured that a credit would be made, it never happened.
Having gone through my American Express Card, I contacted them and complained about this process and demanded a credit. They stated that they would investigate the matter and then get back to me. When they got back to me American Express provided so-called "proof" of the approved purchase, by using my transaction in January to justify the subsequent transaction.
After providing American Express with the information about the 2nd transaction and compared it to the 1st transaction, I believed that I had finally made my point, since Cambridge could not refute the transactions.
Unfortunately, American Express decided that they could not do anything, because of the vendor's assertions, in direct conflict with the documents.
And worse yet, I never received the book that was promised.in the end, I was out of the money $235 and I was without the book. Wow! This was an experience.
My personal advice is this; do not do business with Cambridge Who's Who. Did I mention that the woman that I spoke with on several occasions was nasty to me over the telephone? She told me that Cambridge was, in essence, a book publishing company. I informed her that if they had been candid about this in the beginning I would have told them not to call me and I would have hung-up the telephone. I suggest the reader do just that, hang-up the telephone.
It is not worth the time and grief that awaits you. I have done business with Marquis Who's Who, since 1999, and they are the only Who's Who that I will do business with in the future.
0 comments