The BBB has issued a warning about a product called Affiliate Training Academy
The AffiliateTrainingAcademy.com website claims to be “the #1 Online Business Resource Using Google” as well as claiming that “There has never been a more effective method of creating a successful online business than combining your website with the ability to post links and advertise using the number one search engine: Google!”
However, according to the BBB the the company behind the AffiliateTraining.com site has developed a history of complaints concerning their supposed “free trial period” that the BBB states have gone unanswered. most of the complaints about AffiliateTrainingAcademy.com claim that consumers are incurring credit cards charges of $89, despite the company marketing a free trial period and refunds. The BBB goes on to report that many of the complaints state that customers are never get access to the site’s training material.
Related BBB warning:
Update: 11/25/2009
Looks like a lot of people are in the same boat with this Affiliate Training Academy organization. Here are a few tips as to what actions you can take:
#1 of course is to file a dispute with your credit card company. You can usually find out how to file a dispute with your credit card company by looking on the back of your monthly statement. You may want to point them to the BBB report if they ask you if you tried to work things out with the company directly.
There is also good information about how to work with your banks and credit card companies at HelpWithMyBank.gov
#2 is to file a complaint with the BBB using their complaint form here. The BBB may not be able to help you directly in this situation, since it seems that Affiliate Training Academy has been nonresponsive so far, but BBB complaints are sometimes used by the Federal Trade Commission in cases that they bring.
The following two steps won’t get you any direct help, but could help law enforcement should they decide to file charges against the company behind Affiliate Training Academy:
#3 is to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission here.
#4 is to file a complaint with your local Attorneys General office and the Attorneys General office of the state Affiliate Training Academy is operating out of.
You can find a list of Attorneys General’s offices here:
NAAG | The Attorneys General – Information Related to AGs
#5 – Contact your consumer protection office
You can find a list of State, County, and City Government consumer protection offices at the link below:
