07/05/2006
Here's the catch: Bruce Berman offers a free book and CD on wealth-building methods and ideas. Those who accept his offer must pay for shipping, but their product also carries unexpected baggage: more unordered CDs and unauthorized charges for them. Bruce Berman's real method for building wealth ultimately is selling free products. You learn too late that the secret to his success is that it's his wealth he's building.
Consumers report learning about Berman Investment Group on the radio and from the company's website. "I got here. You can too!" he claims on www.igothere.com. "Earn $5,000, $10,000, even $15,000 a month or more!" At the bottom of the page Berman promises, "We Will Include A Bonus FREE 30-Day Aggressive Wealth Trial."
No one complains that this Aggressive Wealth program doesn't work. Indeed, it doesn't appear that anyone's even tested it. Rather, consumers feel hoodwinked, and their allegations of misleading advertising by the company in charging for the additional, unordered CDs, is the basis of the 132 complaints we've received about Berman Investment Group.
Only if you click on Berman's "return policy" can you learn that the book and CD are yours free ("free" meaning that you pay only a "small refundable" shipping and handling fee of $3.95) as Berman's thank-you for trying their Aggressive Wealth program for 30 days. Unless you call them within that time to cancel, your credit card will "conveniently" be billed for $99.90.
Complainants who did not check out Berman's return policy in advance and were unaware of the Aggressive Wealth trial believed the package they received to contain the free offer. One complainant says, "In an agreement for a free service is a buried stipulation that obligates one to purchase products that are nowhere else mentioned." Although this consumer allows that a refund is offered, the product has to be returned in its exact original condition, within 30 days of the date the company shipped it. But, he says, although you're immediately charged the $3.95 shipping and handling, you're not aware of the additional cost until "a month or more later," presumably too late to return the unwanted CDs in time to be eligible for a refund.
Another complainant was charged the $99.90 and the $3.95, but never received anything.
Those who call to request a refund complain that they are given a runaround, kept on hold for excessive amounts of time, and that when someone takes their call it's often a representative that can't speak understandably, and finally, that the company continues to try to sell them the product. The company does respond to almost all complaints and often agrees to a refund.
The Better Business Bureau corresponded with Berman Investment Group about their advertising a year ago. We questioned their earnings claims, their use of the word "free," and asked for verifiable testimonials. We also advised them as to disclosure of the material that generated consumer complaints. However, we find no change in what they offer on their website, and their rating with us is still "F."
Kim's advice: Don't get caught!
- Remember to get a current reliability report from the Bureau before you do business. The more than 3,600 consumers who have requested on this company are not likely to be listed among its complaintants.
- If you do business with this company, use credit card to pay the shipping and handling. Then, if unauthorized charges show up later, you can dispute them. Bank debits don't offer the same protection, and unauthorized debits can result in returned checks and hefty charges for them.
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