Don Lapre, Universal Business Strategies, Joe Diehl ripoff! No refund, disconnected numbers, unauthorized withdrawals. Phoenix Arizona

I was pulled into this too. I got the making money package back in 1999. I was an early subscriber. They got me for the 900 lines and the "Lifetime Reminder Service" too. My problems began when they filed for bankruptcy back in 2001-2002.

I was told by one of the service people that a guy named Joe Dielh (or Diel - pronounced deal) was the new owner. I noticed that money was being deducted from my checking account for "newly introduced monthly service charges" for each of my 900 lines and each of the websites (monthly hosting fees) for these lines. I was in the hole about $96/month for about 6 months total.

I called the day after they made the first unauthorized withdrawl and they said they would stop it. I told them that I wanted to cancel anything that they are going to charge me for. In other words, everything but the "Lifetime Reminder Service."

The next month, it happened again. I called my bank and they said they could stop them from making the deductions by freezing the account but that would also keep me from it too for the time it is frozen. I could not afford to do this so I called them again. They said they would credit my account for the $192 dollars.

The next month it happened again. This time when I called they assured me that it would not happen again. It did... 3 more times for a grand total of $576. Recently the 1-800-DonLapre number "is no longer accepting messages" or "mailbox is full, please try your call again later."

Also, all of the reminder services I sold are no longer receiving post cards and I have tons of calls per day asking about their cards and refunds. Now I look like the bad guy...

I also HAD about 700 of the Reminder Service Kits that I recently threw away that cost me $3.90 each.
576 + 2730= $3306. This does not include the stress and anxiety I'm enduring from people calling me and harassing me and threatening law suits. I also used these in a fund raiser for a few schools in my area. Boy is my business credibility shot. What's that worth?

This company needs a Class Action Lawsuit started. Let me know how to get it started and I'll work to get it done.

Doug
Brookpark, Ohio
U.S.A.