Nancy Richards - Dog Training Institute - Toydogtrainers.com - Trainpetdog.com - Dogpottytrain.com dog-training info scam; one website for each dog breed same info on each website there is no Nancy Richards this is an Indian scamming operation ripoff Los Angeles California

Desperate for help with my new puppy, I signed up for a $29.95 membership for a Maltese training course (I notice the price is now $59.95). I thought it was weird that they also asked me to fax the last four digits of my credit card, along with a statement that I was approving this transaction. Supposedly this was for my own protection against credit-card fraud. I still don't know what that was really for, but I can't believe what a sucker I was!

I was able to access the e-book immediately, as promised, but the information was just generic dog-training information easily available anywhere, and they had obviously plugged in the word "Maltese" wherever applicable. Also, they promised a Maltese forum where Maltese owners would exchange questions and answers about their dogs. However, the forum turned out to be a general dog owner forum about all kinds of breeds, and I was only able to see single comments and questions--no back-and-forth discussions.

I immediately e-mailed them asked for a refund, since the website promised a "120-day money-back guarantee with no whining, no questions asked." Of course, no response to my first or second e-mail, although I kept getting daily e-mails with chatty little messages from the (fictitious?) Nancy Richards, president of the Dog Training Institute.

Then I tried calling them, only to get a automated voice mail message: "No one is available to take your call." I left a message, and have not received a call in return.

Today I have spent hours researching this company, and I see that they have dozens of websites--one for each dog breed. There's ratterrierinstitute.com, weimaranerinstitute.com, puginstitute.com...you name the breed, they've got it covered. Of course, the info is all exactly the same on each website, and it's not particularly specific or helpful.

Then I somehow stumbled upon their Terms of Use, which I hadn't seen before, and it is SCARY! Here are some excerpts: "All refund requests need to be made through postal mail to Dog Training Institute's post-sales customer service office, the address of which can be obtained by sending an e-mail to address@dogtraininginstitute.com. ...Any refund or cancellation requests made to any other email address, or through phone or fax will not be accepted, honored or replied to, under any circumstances. ...You are not allowed to make any comments criticizing the Training Materials in the members' only forum that accompanies the Training Materials. ...This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of West Bengal in India. Exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be in the courts serving the city of Kolkata in West Bengal, India."

So there you have it...there probably is no Nancy Richards with an office in Los Angeles, and this whole thing is a scam operation out of India. Don't fall for it, because you'll never get your money back.

Carole
Ridgefield, Connecticut
U.S.A.