BBB warns about Fresno company

FRESNO
November 6, 2009 5:18am

The Better Business Bureau serving Central California is warning consumers against a Fresno-based business that promises they have the “Portal to Success.”

The BBB says it has received numerous complaints in the last two weeks from dissatisfied consumers across the country about Master Internet Profits, located at 426 E. Shields Ave. The company has failed to respond to 11 of the complaints and has earned an “F” rating with the BBB serving Central California.

The company advertises on the Internet that, in return for a fee, they can help consumers set up and manage a self-owned business using Google AdWords. Their website lists four simple steps to completing that process.

Master Internet Profits is not affiliated with Google, the BBB says.

Consumer complaints allege that although there was supposed to be a free trial period, their credit cards were immediately charged for $88.97, sometimes twice. Although the company promised refunds, no refunds have been received by the consumers, even those consumers who cancelled within the three-day “cooling off” period, the Better Business Bureau says.

In addition, complaints allege that private access codes to the members-only portion of the company’s website were never provided, making the service unusable as advertised.

The company denies any wrongdoing.

“That information is false and incorrect. We have thousands of satisfied customers,” says Tony Tigran, who identified himself as a “supervisor” at the company’s call center.

“We are in the process of selecting a compliance director,” Mr. Tigran says.

No higher manager at the company has responded to requests for comment.