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MyChagrin
Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 8
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2009 16:58
Reply
Hey, I just thought of something. In the Order to Cease and Desist it names/recognizes any affiliates as part of the business. That means that they must obey this order too! Ergo.. all those places that were "referred" to us by Thrive are also implicated. That means Imax, Strategic Business Solutions, AKA The Tax Club are all held responsible because they are affiliates of Thrive. I think that makes an even stronger case to get Imax to refund and other affiliates that are known to have participated in this fraud.
I realize that the Order is for Illinois only, but it does set a legal precedent. I don't see why other states would not honor it. And also, the credit card companies can clearly see that legal action has been taken. What do you guys think?
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MyChagrin
Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 8
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2009 17:04
Reply
Does anyone know where we can get a list of all of Thrives' affiliates and DBA names? I know there have been posts listing many companies involved, but I think we need something official. A master list.
OK, I'll stop talking now.
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MyChagrin
Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 8
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# Posted: 24 Aug 2009 17:45
Reply
Check out the Six figure consulting BBB review. They just listed a second government action listed July 2, 2009. Thirve and others of course are named in this too. This is since I checked on the 17 August 2009! Just go to www.bbb.org/utah/business-reviews/ and type in their name--pick one, any one, your choice!
Cheers
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stillwaiting
Member
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2009 09:43
Reply
Thanks C A Future_
I will take your advice. Yes, my cc is with a bank and I plan to gather all my notes, emails, etc. and go forward. I felt cornered since I did sign that stupid contract with TLI. Any other advice is greatly appreciated!
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struggler
Member
Joined: 4 Aug 2009
Posts: 14
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2009 09:45 · Edited by: struggler
Reply
Yeah, one thing that I want to know is if the government action stated on bbb.org is considered as civil case. If it is, I'm really curious if we can present this information to the credit card company and FTC, and various places we can place a complaint to remind them in means of getting our refunds from thrive. If that's possible we have more hope in getting our refunds back. I want to appreciate those predecessors who stood up against thrive. If it weren't for their efforts, it wouldn't have come to this.
Just a reminder: For those who are new to this forum, please check page 7,8,9. There are tons of information there that would be useful who are also ripped off from Thrive Learning.
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stillwaiting
Member
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2009 09:58
Reply
Does anyone on here know just how many of us have been scammed by Thrive (and its other company names) ? Just curious. I think the AG in Utah, BBB, and FTC all need to know exactly how many of us there are out here without money thanks to these liars.
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c a future
Member
Joined: 12 May 2009
Posts: 16
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2009 13:23
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Stillwaiting,
Good to hear your response concerning your contract and dealing with your bank. I think you are just like me-have some integrity and like to honor what ever you sign your name to. So when the bank told you they couldn't do anything because after all, you had signed a contract, I can just imagine how you felt, because I would have felt exactly the same-defeated and hopeless.
But you will see. Once you get into putting it all together you will quickly see through it all and easily recognize how rinky dink that contract really is! I found that so energizing (sigh)! Best of luck to you!
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Taken4aride
Member
Joined: 31 Jul 2009
Posts: 7
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2009 18:08 · Edited by: Taken4aride
Reply
Everyone - please sign the petition. We need all of your signatures!!
http://www.gopetition.com/online/27433.html
Keep passing this information along.
Do not let Thrive intimate you. Remember you are not the one in the wrong.
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Taken4aride
Member
Joined: 31 Jul 2009
Posts: 7
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# Posted: 25 Aug 2009 18:23
Reply
I tried to file a complaint against Thrive with the BBB but could only get through part way. Right now, as of today, Thrive has a NR rating. Perhaps there are so many complaints - they cannot handle them all!
If you are new to this site and a victim of Thrive and one of its affiliates, start documenting your experience.
First send a letter asking for a refund from Thrive as well as the company who sold the mess in the first place.
Thrive Learning Institute
Corporate Office
512 W 800 N
Orem UT 84057
Dispute any credit card charges now.
Then send complaints to the Attorney General of Utah:
The Honorable Mark Shurtleff
Attorney General of the State of Utah
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 142320
Salt Lake City,UT 84114-2330
Then send a complaint to the Utah Consumer Protection:
Utah Division of Consumer Protection
Attn: Complaint Processor
Heber M. Wells Building, Second Floor
160 East 300 South, SM Box 146704
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6704
Tel: (801) 530-6601
Fax: (801) 530-6001
www.consumerprotection.utah.gov
This is a good start.
Start a blog. We need more of them to get the bad news out about Thrive.
Keep going. We are all here to help and encourage each other.
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struggler
Member
Joined: 4 Aug 2009
Posts: 14
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2009 07:41 · Edited by: struggler
Reply
I was doing more research on trying to find if thrive was illegal to do business in Utah and I came across this. Apparently Profit or Nonprofit organization, LLC and etc should be registered with Division of Corporation and Commercial Code. I'm not really knowledgeable about laws and such, but doesn't this mean that thrive is illegal to do business since they are not registered?
This is where I went
http://corporations.utah.gov/
I saw information they should be registered with division looking at this (which coud be accessed by clicking on "About the Division" on link above)
http://corporations.utah.gov/mission.html
and then I didn't find any name of Thrive or Summit Group in search by looking in here (which could be accessed by clicking on "search a UCC/CFS" on the first link)
https://secure.utah.gov/uccsearch/uccs
Anyone who knows about laws and regulation who can reply to this post to prove my point would be great. Please let me know. Thanks.
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stillwaiting
Member
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2009 10:20
Reply
Thanks c a future...
I am not giving up. I also need to sign the petition! Keep the advice/encouragement coming to all of us who have been taken. I am a college grad and former teacher...never thought I'd be scammed!
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Taken4aride
Member
Joined: 31 Jul 2009
Posts: 7
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2009 11:39
Reply
Has anyone had any dealings with Corporate Crossing?
Apparently they are part of Internet Income Solutions or Internet Logistics. (whatever they call themselves)
CC are the ones who "set up" your business entity in Nevada.
You pay a yearly fee for being registered in Nevada because they are so business friendly??
We got taken for 1K from them because we were concerned about the legality of our business. We understood they were attorneys which they are not.
Now my form says I am responsible to pay fees for changing my registered agent and fees to withdraw them as my agent! It just does not say how much.
Any advice anyone on how to handle this one?
My year is up in December. Thanks
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struggler
Member
Joined: 4 Aug 2009
Posts: 14
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2009 16:17 · Edited by: struggler
Reply
Taken4aride, I haven't progressed that far so I can't say much. However, I would put the information about them when you submitted the complaints to the government as well.
If you take a look at government action that was taken against them on bbb.org, it says that "thrive has allowed many named and unnamed respondent marketing companies which are not registered with the Division to offer Business Opportunity Sales". For doing this they are fined for having 16 counts of violation.
It could be possible that Corporate Crossing is a part of the scam. Remember, scammers do anything to get us consumer tricked into their traps. I'm sure there are scammers who work as a group.
In the end of government action in bbb.org, it was written that "The Division reserved the right to amend the citation to include unknown consumers who file complaints with their office in the future."
This should get government moving and have investigation started on this matter.
I would include the information that you were forced to pay for this CC on your complaints to FBI, FTC, Attorney General of Utah as well as your own state attorney general.
Hopefully this advice was some help to you.
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Taken4aride
Member
Joined: 31 Jul 2009
Posts: 7
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2009 19:33
Reply
Thank you.
I have been researching Internet Income Solutions and Corporate Crossing and found an interesting fact. The registered Agent is Blair Jackson for both. These companies are both registered Utah businesses. Like that makes them legal or honest!!
Lead Source Solutions is also another scam of Blair Jackson's.
Internet Logistics LLC is registered by Maxamillian Consulting Group. Has anyone heard of them?
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MyChagrin
Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 8
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2009 22:44
Reply
Struggler,
If you look at page 7 on the post from joeblow2009 you will see that since you were sold by a "telemarketing" company and that they have to be registered and licensed in the state of Utah. Your billing should tell you who sold you the "goods". If they are not on the list they are in violation and breaking the law. Here is the link again:
http://consumerprotection.utah.gov/lists/telemarketers.pdf
Hope this helps.
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struggler
Member
Joined: 4 Aug 2009
Posts: 14
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2009 23:28 · Edited by: struggler
Reply
Thanks for the reply MyChargin,
Yeah, there's one thing I'm smelling fishy here...
According to the BBB.org reading through government action, they were in fact registered looking at the summit group of Utah dba momentum marketing... (they were the one who sold me the package) the address matches up with both of them... BUT!, What I thought was really fishy was that they had gone by the name as momentum marketing instead of the summit group of Utah. However, none of that which indicates that momentum marketing was written anywhere in the contract. Like "c a future" is saying, this is one more fact to add that this contract is rinky dinky that they had to go by a different name than what they are registered with the state. Why would they have to go by different name? Probably because The summit group was name that was infamous that when people saw it, they thought they might turn it down.
The grading on Summit group of Utah is D. The complaints that were done against them is 127! Also, the complaints filed against them are increasing in the recent years! I'm convinced that's why they disguised themselves by momentum marketing.
What do you guys think?
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workerbee
Member
Joined: 5 Aug 2009
Posts: 6
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2009 01:29
Reply
Well, here's a little bright spot finally. I just got an email from IMax Bancard telling me that they take the problems with Thrive seriously even though they're a third party and they're closing our merchant account and refunding the 4 months of payments we made to them. That's $140 down and $4170 to go!
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stillwaiting
Member
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2009 11:59
Reply
Thrive has a (old) rating of "C" with BBB and are NOT accredited anymore. They also have 33 complaints and it looks like they have 8+ violations against them. Maybe there is hope that I will eventually get my money back from these scam artists!
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struggler
Member
Joined: 4 Aug 2009
Posts: 14
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2009 14:08
Reply
Stillwaiting, one more thing to add on concerning government action from information "Nothappy" gave me. In Illinois, there was order to cease and desist against thrive.
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/securities/administrative_actions/2008/ october/onlinedata_o2cd.pdf
Something really serious went down in Illinois against thrive, and hence I believe this order to cease and desist was filed. I'm only reiterating what "Not Happy" was saying in this forum, but add this info and info on bbb.org's "government action" when you're complaining to FBI, FTC, AG and etc.
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c a future
Member
Joined: 12 May 2009
Posts: 16
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2009 14:47
Reply
Hey EVERYBODY! Based on my experience, I think that filing with the BBB is a waste of time! Stick with the Consumer Protection Division of Utah and these other agencies you are all onto on this page. And yes, in the letter of complaint that I had passed around to all agencies and my cc company, I pointed out that the telemarketer who approached me about the whole Thrive program was NOT listed as registered or licensed to do telemarketing in Utah. Very astute of you, MyChagrin, to go back to page 7 and what JoeBlow2009 was recommending. That info is in the Consumer Protection Div of Utah website, very readily available.
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stillwaiting
Member
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2009 16:54
Reply
MyChagrin...yes I am a victim of Thrive also, but the name Vanuity, LLC. is on my contract. My cc bill for that lump sum was under The Shanklin Group! Can they legally do this? I am currently going through the process of getting my refund and I'm not giving up yet!
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stillwaiting
Member
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 9
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# Posted: 28 Aug 2009 16:55
Reply
Thanks Struggler!
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struggler
Member
Joined: 4 Aug 2009
Posts: 14
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# Posted: 29 Aug 2009 03:42 · Edited by: struggler
Reply
Today, I called the number that I got from my representative who signed me up for this program to call him back. Apparently, he disappeared according to the phone call director. I wonder what happened. He probably realized what he was dealing with and ran away or he was preparing to run away from the very beginning. I hung up and called again, I came to same call director. I called to ask what business they are related to, and she said she doesn't know... and that it's related with google, etc etc... what a bold face LIE! I hung up and called again and came to the same call director again. I asked the call director where my representative was working at, she said he used to work for success team. I asked her if success team had a another name that they went by and she said no. What a bold face LIE AGAIN! Success team also goes by aka of Summit Group of Utah dba momentum marketing so it says on bbb.org. They had government action taken against them and yet, they still continue to try and deceive us! Also, I asked Alex or the one who takes care of the contract was available and she says that such person in that name do not exist. LIED AGAIN! I even asked the lady who I processed the contract was there and the call director says such person does not exist. ANOTHER LIE! I also asked to connect me to zachary bradshaw, but she says that she didn't know who he was and that he is probably in a different department. WOW, that's 5 LIES in a row! WOW, even though the truth is revealed in bbb.org about them, they continue to LIE to us! Also, the program I was put into was different from success team. Why was I contacted from success team to sign up to a different program? Another fishy string! How amazing that they could lie without a second thought! I am disgusted by their existence! Surely the call director lady should be familiar with things that are happening around her since she gets complaints from people on the first thing. or maybe not? since all she knows how to do is just to say "Corporate office, how may I direct your call?" what a pity!
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donbroro
Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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# Posted: 29 Aug 2009 12:07
Reply
I've been religiously reading everyones posts and am rooting for every single one of you. Struggler, if the call director is what I think she is, she's stuck in the middle. She is more or less just answering phones and routing the calls. She more than likely has been ordered to give those answers to everyones questions. I had worked for a dubious character in a kind of a mom and pop type business long ago. They sold a (bad) product and had an 800 number for customers to place orders, but if they needed service on the bad product they had to call long distance. If the owner and manager didn't want to speak to them (because the customers were angry about their product not working) they gave me only certain responses I could use and they pretty much stood there and listened to what I told them. I left when I couldn't take the deceit (and guilt) any longer (though it wasn't my fault).
I feel badly for all of you and I feel bad for the lady stuck in the middle (if she has no control over it), trying just to keep her job (as crappy as it may be). Hopefully, they will be put out-of-business soon as was the business I had worked for, shortly after I left.
Keep going at them, Good does triumph over Evil eventually.
__________________
DMR
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struggler
Member
Joined: 4 Aug 2009
Posts: 14
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# Posted: 30 Aug 2009 08:04 · Edited by: struggler
Reply
Donboro and anyone who read my previous comment, sorry if my word was offensive to any of you. At one point I thought that she would be one who is stuck in the middle, but for the fact that she's been there more than 2 months, it should be more than enough time for her to figure out what this company is all about. Also, there is a huge difference between this call director and you, Donbroro. Call director lady had an option to quit, like you did, but she's still there working for these scammers. She has no control over her job while she's in the company, but at least she has control over her life.
I was more angry by the call director's tone of voice that she didn't care if one of us is suffering because of them. Even if one of the reps have disappeared, she told me in a tone of voice as if she was telling me that the rep was going to a picnic. Call director lacks the morale and stays with her job for more than 2 months with those scammers. From this, I can't come to bring myself in feeling sorry for her and the rest of the company that has relations with thrive.
If I'm feeling sorry about one thing, it'll be that those people who work there that's stuck in the middle also has to go through lots of troubles just because of those scam companies exist. I hope they will be put out of business so that those people wouldn't have to work for scammers anymore and go find a better and honest job. And thanks for the encouragement Donbroro, I also do believe that Good does triumph over Evil eventually.
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Taken4aride
Member
Joined: 31 Jul 2009
Posts: 7
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# Posted: 31 Aug 2009 09:52 · Edited by: Taken4aride
Reply
I have been continuing my research. Apparently I was wrong about Corporate Crossing. Blair Jackson is a licensed attorney in Nevada.
She gets paid to be a registered agent for many companies and files the paper work with the state for a fee.
I have not found any complaints against this company yet but I have also not found any one saying good things.
Has anyone out there been sold this "Thrive" business by a company called Internet Income Solutions? That what I have in my notes say but my credit card says Internet Logistics. Are these 2 different companies? The 2 addresses are different but they have the same name.
I did call IIS (the number on my credit card) but have not received any call backs.
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ScamVictimHelp
Member
Joined: 31 Aug 2009
Posts: 1
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# Posted: 31 Aug 2009 18:07
Reply
My name is Tyler Jackson I work for a company who can help anyone who feels that they have been scammed by this or any other company get their money back. If you have questions or would like our help please go to our website. Thanks.
__________________
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MyChagrin
Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 8
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# Posted: 3 Sep 2009 23:43
Reply
I just visited the www.scamvictimhelp.com web site. I have to say after what I've been through that this is an even bigger scam than Thrive. They are located in Utah..imagine that. The contract you have to sign looks very similar to the one Thrive uses. And the kicker is that you have to give them 40% of what they recover. Oh please. Do these people ever stop? Scam people once and then reverse scam them on the way out. If I was a soul-less dirt bag this idea would sound mighty good. Take their money, pretend to be their advocate and get it back only to take 40%. Now Thrive or whoever is behind this repugnant scheme can pay out refunds but still keep 40%. At least that probably is their plan. How stupid do they think we are?
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