RBM Merchandising What RBM promised is NOT what I received Lake Zurich Illinois

RBM Merchandising, a so-called "business opportunity" which I found in the National Enquirer, has apparently been ripping people off since 1982. The ad said they supplied free materials and postage, so I sent them an SASE to receive information on mailing their burglar alarm ads. What I received was a pair of letters (one for the burglar alarm ads, and one for the rose catalogs) telling me I had to send a $15 application fee to receive the materials to start working with them (I also had to send a packing label and "coupon" with the application, which I said I could likely mail 400 of these "catalogs" a week, and fee).

Well, I sent them my $15 application fee (choosing the roses over the burglar alarms), and waited for the materials to show up. They did show up, just short of 2 weeks later (the check was cashed on July 23, 2009, and I received the materials yesterday, August 5, 2009). What I found inside the envelope was not the materials that I was promised, instead being 2 ordering fliers for the roses (which I was to send out), 2 address labels (printed in dot-matrix), 2 44-cent stamps, another packing label, and a letter and order form stating that I had to pay RBM for more names and "catalogs" ($10 for the names and $10 for the "catalogs").

I sent out the 2 fliers as instructed, and went about my day happily. Then, while I was online later that day, I decided to check into this company, finding several things via a Google search labeling the company as a scam. Right now, if I see those 2 orders come back (and the checks written in my name), I am planning to send them their money back, and personal apology letters, as I do not want to have to deal with a fraudulent company, because if I do receive orders, and RBM doesn't deliver, I will be the one in trouble, not to mention the tax problems.

Steven
Litchfield, Minnesota
U.S.A.