Dealer Dialer Bait and Switch Tactics to Customers Called for Auto Financing Credit Repair Scottsdale , Arizona

Patrick Gibson is back at his old tricks again of running this home based business with a predictive dialer and using Craigslist as his methodology for hiring telemarketers. In addition to Patrick, his lead henchman, Jon Brenza his supposed manager in charge of running this operation.

I had applied for this job in anticipation for filtering this as an opportunity for disabled veterans to be able to do this. My objective was to test this first so I did not dissuade these veterans with a bad opportunity. Little did I know how much of a ripoff this would be.

Their methodology is to get their telemarketers to have this simple script when talking to the leads that come across their SIP computer telephone. I was told that this was an opportunity to help leads from their cars.com site they received leads from (it actually is car.com, a division of Autobytel) and help them get financing for their vehicle.

What transpired was a script that was an out and out lie. Once the lead was on the phone, we were to tell them that we were the credit expert and that we had their file on our desk and that we knew they had credit issues. In addition we were to tell them that we were calling based on the application they had submitted. Rarely did anyone ever fill out an application. If they did they had anticipated speaking with a loan officer to see about getting financing.

Their was no files and we were not hired as a credit expert nor were any individuals accredited to be a credit specialist.  Once the customer disclosed that they might have credit issues then the objective was to have them talk to Lexington Law to get their credit fixed. Then have them on a 3 way call with Lexington to have them work through their issues and get them to buy into the Lexington Law credit repair program.  

Many times leads that were called had no idea what we were talking about but talk to us anyway because they had been surfing the internet to find vehicles and their contact information was passed on through a series of web site and auto dealers, etc. They had no idea the objective was to hope their credit was too bad to get a loan and that in order for them to secure a loan they had to have their credit repaired. At no time were these calls ever forwarded to a real loan officer.

The script said that we were calling on BEHALF of Auto Credit Express ( a sticky way of making sure they were not represented as an employee of this company) The number we dialed out on was in the same Michigan area that Auto Credit Express  but was not a number of that company.

Payment to the telemarketers was like a Chinese menu. With number of calls, percentage of completed sales versus actual transfers and a hold back on half of their pay until they were sure that the sale wasn't reversed by the customer. I would go on about this but it would take up too much space. Needless to say it was a higher level of math in trying to limit the amount of payment to the telemarketers. Again the objective was to get the telemarketers frustrated enough to quit and go away before their pursued action against the company. Additionally, other reps pay was late and Jon Brenza's statement to them was that is wasn't his job and call payroll or email them. Their was never a reply back from payroll. When payment was made it was a minimal amount compared to what they expected. For example one rep had expected $325 dollars and they received $31 dollars instead.

I did take action and I called the FTC (Case # 40776651) and when I told them what happened and they were appalled.  Action has been filled in the state of Arizona, Georgia and California. If you have been a part of this make sure you also file with your state Attorney General.

This company address is a Postal Box in a mall and they have had 3 different addresses that I can find. They do not answer their phone, reply to emails on any of the extensions. Additionally they have changed the compensation plan that was different from the ad answered and continue to change the plan in spite of the fact they say they have been in business for over 10 years.

Once word was out that I filed a report with the FTC I received a call from Patrick apologizing for the misleading actions of Jon Brenza and that he had heard about the difficulty with him and he would remove him (which of course never happened). I told Patrick I wanted my pay and that I better have it within the next few days. I did receive my pay for which it was about what I had expected. I am sure Patrick was paying me for HUSH money so I would go away.

In my subsequent calls to other reps after I was paid I found out that Jon was still there and Patrick was doing the same song and dance with them concerning their pay and it would be fixed and Jon would no longer be involved with them. Again this is his way of keeping the wolves at bay and telling them the pay would be fixed. Again this is an outright lie and he continues to advertise with the same misleading ads in Craigslist and use the same bait and switch method to speak with the leads they receive.

I phoned all of the partners per say and once I told them what I wanted to talk about, they abruptly ended the conversation. All of the parties listed above are complicit in this scam. This company and this person and partners needed to be fined and the appropriate legal action taken against them. They will continue until someone like me takes action. 

In this tough economy they are using telemarketers that are more than willing to take the risk and misleading leads they call into something different than they ever expected.

Make sure you do not fall pry to this bait and switch scam.

Regards,

ELW
Atlanta Georgia