Brand Rep, SEO Google this scam! Irvine California

I was recently hired as an office manager of a local construction company. Upoon reviewing my bosses marketing expenses and reviewing the services they offered i came accross Brand rep who had charged 3 monthly  Installments of $108.95. After inquiring to the owner what this was for he added that they never followed through with their promise.

I googled them to see what exactly they claim to do. I called to speak to someone to discuss out account and the woman answering the phone told me all reps suddenly became busy with a rush of calls and someone would return my call. I asked "Today?" she assured me someone would . When I did not recieve a call by the end of my day my boss asked me to call again.  This time i did not pick the promt for customer service but went to the dial by name since my boss remebered the names Mike and Jenny. I typed in Mike and low and behold tranfered.  Mike at fist tried to seem helpful nut gave me the excuse he needed to run a report from Google which took 24 hours and he could not help me before then.

I told him i wanted to ask some fundemental questions. 

  What its it exactly that your company does?  "We are an Google Internet optimization service"

OK what does that exactly mean?  "You've never heard of Internet Search optimization?"  No. "Are you a web designer?"  No, I am an office manager.  "And you don't kknow what that is?"  No, in plain english why don't you tell me.

So he goes on to say how they will work to get you on the front page of Google but that they are still working on it and that is why my boss is on their "Garuntee" Program. Well what does that mean?

He goes on to explain that they have you make a 90 day comittment and if they can't get you on the 1st page of Google in that time they claim to work for free until you get there. So I say well how long do you have to do that?  We signed up in July 2016 and you billed us but here we are what? * months later?

I begin firing tougher questions at him like what are we payng for? When can we expect results? Then start to make statements like "So we paid to get nothing?" I accused the company of not being legit in their business practices. He immediately got defensive and used the "Have I been unprofessional with you?" in a very insulted tone and tried to turn the converation on me like I should be appologizing. I did not back down.

I told him I didn't say him in particular but the company as a whole looks like a scam and I was going to call a trusted friend who is in the business and ask him his opinion on what they are doing and if it is legit.  He was angry at this point and tried to ask me why I was attacking him and his professionalism.  I again assured him this was nit the case but that i felt what I did and would give him the professional curteousy of his supposed 24 hours to have solid data in front of him and that I will call bcak tomorrow and to be prepared for questions I expect answers to. He gave me the generic customer service like and told me to punch "2" and anyone could help me.  I also asked for a copy of an agreement signed by my boss. He sent it over.

I questioned the 69.95 charge and he said that was their fee once we were visable on Google. I asked him why they were charging 108.95 then? he stated it was their initial fee. Too bad i already got your extension moron because i was not transfered by your front desk person so you thought I was new pray. 

The interesting thing is they do not have individual email addresses so you can deal with the same rep. They all are for cs@brandrep.com  

I called my friend who told me any company like this is a scam and that no one can garuntee you Google visibility. He advised we contact our bank and reverse the charges.

I found some old emails in my bosses inbox that state they want the google code that is sent so they can control your busniness listing. Very suspicious and now I undertand why we have a duplicate and I can't get control of our Google business listing.  

Be aware of these people. iread over the contract which has dozens of red flags that scream SCAM like the cancelation portion which tries to make you wave your"right to refund" and they give you the run around making it impossible to cancel. And furthermore the agreement is dated a month after thy took the last payment and is NOT signed by my boss.

CANCELLATIONS

This Agreement becomes effective on the date BrandRep receives Customer’s initial payment. Customer may not lower the mutually agreed Monthly Payment during the Commitment Period or cancel any Service prior to the end of the Commitment Period. Once the Commitment Period for a Service has ended, Customer will be billed the monthly fees on a monthly recurring basis until such Service is cancelled. Customer agrees to direct all cancellation requests via the BrandRep Cancellation Request Form.

REFUND POLICY

In the event Customer cancels the Services within three (3) calendar days of initial payment, Customer will receive a full refund of all fees paid ("Rescission Period"). After the expiration of the Rescission Period, no refunds shall be given by BrandRep for any other party, for any amounts paid for Services, including, without limitation, any service charges or fees. Further, the Customer acknowledges and accepts the risk that BrandRep, may not succeed with some of the Services paid by the Customer. No refunds shall be given by BrandRep for any reason. Further, the Customer hereby acknowledges and understands that he or she foregoes the right to dispute credit card charges on the grounds that BrandRep has failed to deliver satisfactory Services. The Customer further understands that, because BrandRep is an Internet-based business, BrandRep never actually takes physical possession of the customer's credit card; the Customer acknowledges that, for this reason, BrandRep would normally have difficulty prevailing in credit card charge disputes with the Customer relative to a physically-based business. The Customer therefore foregoes his or her right to dispute the agreed upon credit card charges he or she incurs with BrandRep.