I, too, have suffered just like the others that have reported ripoffs on the company listed above.
I received an unsolicited email from Robert G. Allen praising his Multiple Streams of Income concepts and stating that he was seeking motivated individuals to prove to the public that his methods worked. I filled out a short survey online and later had a representative contact me to "sell" me on the service.
The first person I spoke with was a screener, who asked general, goal-oriented questions that qualified me for further questions about my motivation, work-ethic, and available finances. After passing through this person, and receiving a bunch of hype about the success of Robert G. Allen's program, I was transferred to an official salesman. The salesman reviewed some of the accomplishments of Robert Allen, trying to build value in his services, since I had never heard of Mr. Allen before. He even acknowledged the fact that Robert Allen had filed bankruptcy in the past and had suffered severe financial troubles.
The salesman explained to me how I would be "coached" by a mentor over a ten-week period via telephone conferences, and I would then have the remaining year to call back and forth at-will to ask further questions as needed. I was to be taught how to generate multiple streams of income by starting out with a web business. After all the typical sales-hype associated with commission-based sales, the salesman first reviewed a $5000 plan to buy into. I ended up paying $3065, because I had trouble attaining that much money at the time.
Why did I spend such an exorbitant amount of money? I attribute it to my own inner desire to own my own business. Even to this day, I still yearn to have my own freedom and money to make. Couple this with the fact that the saleman (on behalf of PGM) guaranteed that I would recoup my investment within the first 6 months of the program or (they would enable an advanced mentoring course to help me recoup my investment). Notice here that there is no provision for refund involved in the satifaction guarantee.
The guarantee was enough to make me take such a decision that I will forever regret the rest of my life. I was to commit 5-10 hours each week to this mentoring program and meet with my mentor on each scheduled date and complete all assignments to fulfill their guarantee. The salesman voice-recorded our phone conversation where we agreed to contract with one another and also recorded the fact they employ a "no refund" policy. I acknowledged this fact passively; I do not remember the exact words I stated in regards to their policy, but I do remember that I voiced high disregard and discontent with it. I felt as though, in the event I sought a refund of $3065, a simple voice-recording could not hold me to it, based largely upon the fact that they are guaranteeing me certain outcomes.
The mentoring sessions began as planned. I kept at least the first 6-7 sessions, then quit. Why did I quit? There are a few prominent reasons. Foremost, PMG CANNOT help me build the website I desire. My mentor and the manager I am requesting a refund from BOTH acknowledge this fact! My idea does not cater to the web-building software they use, called Vermotion (Vermotion is reported by members of PMG to be wholly-owned by PMG). Furthermore, the "mentoring" sessions are NOTHING more than the "coach" giving me a list of internet links to visit and study on my own time.
Why then, am I paying $3065, when I can "surf the net" for only $24.95 per month through AOL!? Every idea I discussed with my coach was my own. Nothing was told or given to me that I could not figure out on the internet on my own. I attribute this failure in judgement with my lack of information about internet web-design at the time. I still do not have the resources to build the site I desire, but I know that I will not give my money to untrusted sources any longer.
There is also a "web-hosting" fee that their company Vermotion charges each month in the amount of $39.99 to host the website they have helped you produce. I do NOT have a website posted, as it does not exist! I simply have a cover page with a bunch of empty, useless links. I have been charged this fee for the past four months (even after my account was made inactive by PGM after I failed to meet with my mentor any further). I failed to have the account cancelled after the first billing, because of other, more important issues in my life at the time. I cannot justify why I have been charged hosting fees for a site that does not exist nor is published on the world wide web.
For the past month now, I have been trying wholeheartedly to get my money back. I even offered PGM to keep $400 of my dollars as good faith towards their bogus mentoring sessions, even when I have not benefited from them whatsoever. The manager I have been dealing with, whose initials are D.W., (who is also apparently the main manager of the customer support center responsible for refunds) has avoided every valid argument I make as a case for a refund and has offered only to refund me one month of Vermotion fees ($39.99) and an erroneous shipping charge that was billed to me ($65.00, I never received anything via mail to be charged shipping). D.W. Offers either to refund the money stated above, or let me start a new mentoring program "free of charge." I made it VERY clear to him that I have no use for PGM, and I do NOT wish to receive any further "service" from his company.
To this date, I have not received any money whatsoever. I have cancelled my bank account to prevent this company from sapping any more of my carefully saved funds away.
For those that have also suffered this horrible blow to their finances and have achieved justice, please send me information through the rebuttal key. I will also be presenting this same text to the UTAH BBB, attorney general, and other consumer's voice websites.
John
Charleston, South Carolina
U.S.A.
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