Sam Chanin - Mike Berman - Second Source Funding - BPS - Tribul - Outside Ventures I worked with this extremenly dishonest and unethical company for a few days before I found out the illegal behavior of lying and ripping off businesses. I was promised things would change, they never did, I reported sexual harrasment and was laughed at, I reported fraud to merchants to both the CEO Sam Chanin and ex Enron manager and present COO Mike Berman. They went to great lengths to erase New York New York

Basically Mike Berman was a moron who destroyed the company. I am happy he did because he destroyed a company that was destroying businesses around the country on a daily basis.

He knew nothing of the business, so he did what he thought he should do, make himself appear important. He hired his friend to become CFO (with a huge salary of course) and they tried to figure out how to save the company money. They ended up firing half of the workers in one day and turned off advertising. That saved money, but also stopped revenue.  

They made it a mandatory rule that each loan has to come with "closing costs." The lenders (FF, Rapid, MCC) hated these costs because they hurt the businesses they were lensing money to. Mike forced the agents to charge a minimum 10% of the loan as a closing cost.

So a business owner would take an advance of 50k, and they would have to pay back 25% of their credit card receipts for the advance through their credit card terminal after every days batch, until they paid back 69k. That’s a 38% interest rate.

Besides the closing costs, Mike convinced employees to "upsell" their clients. Basically if a lender approves them for 50k at 25% withholding till 69K, the agent was supposed to write 74k in the contract and hope he would sign. 2ns Source would get a more money if the agents "upsold" the customer because they were paid a % on the payback amount.

They also forced businesses’ to switch processing to their in house Tribul Merchant Services, this was not necessary with some lenders but they forced all the client to do so. They generally charged a much higher rate, had hidden feed and forced the merchant to lease a terminal for $100 a month for 48 months. This terminal only costs $300, so the leasing company would give them a big check for each terminal they leased out for that rate.

The leasing company had to put a max on the lease amount because some agents were forcing merchants to sign a lease for $400 a month for 48 months and they knew they were going to be sued if it continued.

Let’s see how this company ruined and destroyed businesses throughout the  country right before the recession (I actually think they were a partial cause of the recession, they took advantage and forced companies to close because of the ludicrous loans and addendums they forced a merchant in need to sign.) A merchant was approved for a 50k advance, instead of just giving them the 50k to pay back 69k, they forced the merchant to pay back 77,500 (1.55 rate was extra bonus commission for them!) They also took out minimum 10% sometimes 20% of the initial advance. So the merchant would receive a wire for 50k, and within minutes he would have a deducting of 10k out of his account, he's left with 40k now. Plus the terminal fees for the next 4 years comes to another 4800 taken out. So the merchant received 35,200 and has to pay back 77,500 at the end of it. This is what destroyed companies, they killed businesses and should be held accountable.

I saw that all the replies supporting the company had the same writing style, it was Mike Berman who wrote those and made a new account every day or so. He had nothing else to do with his time except defend his large pay and destroy the company from within. I doubt if Sam Chanin even knows that he was taken advantage of by Mike, Sam is a fool and I am only happy that his company went down the drain.

I worked for Mike Berman as a Sales Manager at a former company - I am still employed at this company, I just past my 20 year mark. Although Mike and I did not see eye to eye on most subjects, (if at all) whether it was how to manage or motivate people or his opinion of my management style and capabilities at the time - I will say since 1997 I have always believed two things Mike said religiously to our team when anyone thought it was OK to complain and whine: 'CHANGE HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB, OR CHANGE WHERE YOU WORK'. The 2nd was with respect to setting standards. 'IF YOU CHIP AWAY AT THE STANDARDS, AND CHANGE THE RULES AS YOU GO ALONG, ULITMATELY YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH NOTHING AND WILL NEVER EXECUTE FLAWLESSLY'.

I worked for Mike Berman as a Sales Manager at a former company - I am still employed at this company, I just past my 20 year mark. Although Mike and I did not see eye to eye on most subjects, (if at all) whether it was how to manage or motivate people or his opinion of my management style and capabilities at the time - I will say since 1997 I have always believed two things Mike said religiously to our team when anyone thought it was OK to complain and whine: 'CHANGE HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB, OR CHANGE WHERE YOU WORK'. The 2nd was with respect to setting standards. 'IF YOU CHIP AWAY AT THE STANDARDS, AND CHANGE THE RULES AS YOU GO ALONG, ULITMATELY YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH NOTHING AND WILL NEVER EXECUTE FLAWLESSLY'.

I worked for Mike Berman as a Sales Manager at a former company - I am still employed at this company, I just past my 20 year mark. Although Mike and I did not see eye to eye on most subjects, (if at all) whether it was how to manage or motivate people or his opinion of my management style and capabilities at the time - I will say since 1997 I have always believed two things Mike said religiously to our team when anyone thought it was OK to complain and whine: 'CHANGE HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB, OR CHANGE WHERE YOU WORK'. The 2nd was with respect to setting standards. 'IF YOU CHIP AWAY AT THE STANDARDS, AND CHANGE THE RULES AS YOU GO ALONG, ULITMATELY YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH NOTHING AND WILL NEVER EXECUTE FLAWLESSLY'.

I worked for Mike Berman as a Sales Manager at a former company - I am still employed at this company, I just past my 20 year mark. Although Mike and I did not see eye to eye on most subjects, (if at all) whether it was how to manage or motivate people or his opinion of my management style and capabilities at the time - I will say since 1997 I have always believed two things Mike said religiously to our team when anyone thought it was OK to complain and whine: 'CHANGE HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB, OR CHANGE WHERE YOU WORK'. The 2nd was with respect to setting standards. 'IF YOU CHIP AWAY AT THE STANDARDS, AND CHANGE THE RULES AS YOU GO ALONG, ULITMATELY YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH NOTHING AND WILL NEVER EXECUTE FLAWLESSLY'.

Dear IB
I won't use your real name, but we know each other quite well. Suffice it to say that I am stunned that you drank the Sam Chanin Kool Aid for a second time. With everything that went on there and the people that they have screwed out of "lifetime residuals" I am surprised that you would go back for a second chance for him to stick it top you again.
I also have known Sam for 10 years and all I can say is that he is a liar a thief and a cheat. How many people has he screwed out of residuals? How many lawsuits have been filed against BPS? All anyone has to do is go to the clerks office in New York and see the suits that have been settled and the ones that are still pending aginst BPS.
Yes I knew Sam when he was broke and a coke addict and was living off of his former partner. I was one of the original offices that came on only to get screwed by Sam out of all of the money that I had built up. Please don't make him out to be some kind of Saint, he is more like a wolf in sheeps clothing.
As I posted before if you would like to see the affidavits signed by BPS that our industry doesn't pay lifetime residuals I would be more than happy to send them to you, even though they tell you and put in the contracts that you get lifetime residuals.
He screwed his former programmer out of 100's of thousands of dollars. He has screwed just about every office or salesperson that has worked with him and mark my words as soon as he is done sucking the life out of you he will kick you to the curb like he has done to everyone else.
As far as Sam being on the short end of the stick, his reputation in the industry speaks for itself. He is a thief plain and simple.
As far as a heart goes, ask triple A about his heart when he stopped paying them in excess of 30k per month or why he refused to pay residuals to the kid in Philly that had cancer or the office in Ohio and PA and Texas and Calif. plus other states.
IB please stop kidding yourself Sam would screw his own family out of a nickel if it benefited him.
The best place for Sam is in jail before he commits any more fraud. The only wealth that Sam is concerned about is his own and as far as the 100's of independent contractors that he has created wealth for he will find a way to stop paying them at some point. The reps that have done business with BPS have not screwed SAM out of money, it is the other way around. They gave BPS business and should be paid accordingly.

Sincerely
Burned by Sam

To whom this may concern,

I have been working with Outside Ventures for over 5 years, and my experience has been very empowering. When i started to work at OVL, i knew nothing of the business world, and nothing of resposibilty. I was young and naive. OVL has taught me what it meant to be a hard working and honest person. I started from the bottom, and worked hard. I made lots of freinds over these 5 years, some that ill cherish forever. I learned so much at OVL. but most of all, i learned what it meant to be Giving, Honest and Caring. And this i learned from one person. Sam Chanin.

He has a heart of gold, and hates to see people suffer. I have seen him save peoples lives. This is not an exaggeration. This is fact. I have seen him take people from the bottom of the pit, and hand them a life to be proud of. I am not here to make Sam Chanin look like a god. He is a human being. But this human being is a honorable one. People like Sam Chanin are few and hard to come by. Only you should be so lucky to have anything to do with him.

I have gone through some pretty tough times in my life, and all sam wanted to know, was that i was taken care of. wether it was to invite me to his house for a meal with his loving family, or bringing a psycologist to the office to have someone to talk to. There wasnt once in the past 5 years that Sam Chanin let me hurt.

Now this is the man that runs Outside Ventures, and i see him giving the same attention to every employee, and every customer. I personally received calls from Sam Chanin at 10 o'clock at night, telling me that there is a small customer that is having some issues, and that i should go see him first thing in the morning, to make sure everything is ok. That is the kind of attn. you can expect from Outside Ventures. and this is thanks to the person running the company, Sam Chanin.


I end this letter with this:
There is no amount of words to describe the goodness of Sam chanin. I only pray that whoever reads this, can one day have the honor of meeting someone in the caliber of Sam chanin.

Thank you
Very grateful, living and loving.

I have known and worked with Sam Chanin for about ten years. I have seen Sam start at below broke and with simply a concept and a few people that believed in
his vision, create a multi million dollar, multi faceted business that is only a dream in most peoples minds.

In spite of the fact that I don't always see eye to eye with him, my hat is off to Sam and in fact I'm honored to work with him. Sam is a true visionary and man of action. Like a farmer, he has planted seeds that have grown into fruit bearing trees that not only feeds his family, but provides decent incomes to roughly 100 employees and has created true wealth for hundreds of other independent contractors across the country. And, unlike some people who grow to be parasites of society, Sam continues to enhance society by not only providing jobs to people but by providing worthwhile products and services that are needed and used by business people in every single state of our nation. What could be wrong with that?

If Sam does have a flaw, if it can be called a flaw, is his inclination to generosity.
Over the past ten years that I've known Sam, I've seen him exercise his generosity to countless people from all walks of life. Whether it's an employee who lost everything in a house fire, or a new independent rep that needs a start in life, Sam has always been there to lend immediate help to those that need it.

Oddly enough, in many of those cases, it has been Sam who ends up on the short end of the stick when these same people forget about Sam's benevolence and
screw Sam out of his money. These people actually believe that Sam owes them something when in fact it the quite the reverse.

Regarding some of the posts that attack Sam Chanin and Mike Berman about the cruelty of terminating certain employees, and how Mike has run the company to
the ground, here's the scoop...

It's the best thing that happened to the company in a long while.

As stated previously in a prior post, the industry we are involved in provides an honest individual with the ability to generate an extraordinary income in a relatively short amount of time. However, when unscrupulous sales reps start taking advantage of neophyte clients, and steal the hard earned efforts of honest sales reps, something had to be done. I believe it is these same reps, who cloak themselves with aliases are responsible for the negative posts in this forum. They continue to propagate a total waste of time by causing busy, responsible people to post rebuttals to their ridiculous, unsubstantiated claims.

Another note about Mike Berman...

Since Mike has come to this company, I see nothing but positives. One of the smartest things Sam has done was to bring a dynamic, experienced, acute business
minded person to the company as Mike Berman.

Mike has turned the place around. While in some areas there may have been chaos, now there is order. Mike constantly instills an atmosphere of integrity and accountability. It's in every action he takes with the company and the results are apparent. By his actions, you can see that Mike is genuinely interested in the growth of the people who work with him. Yes, it can be challenging, but the people that understand his motivations are far better off from it as they have truly gained by their
professional growth.

On another level, and equally important is the way Mike has mended the relationships of our outside business partners that were ruined by the terminated unscrupulous reps. It is now easier to do business with these partners because of Mikes efforts, and I thank him for that.

It's very easy to go online these days login to a forum such as this using a fictitious alias, and commence to slander a company, or an individual, in an attempt to ruin reputations. But, as any intelligent, mature minded person knows, just because it is written, moreover on the world wide web, does not make it true.

Let me ask you, why would a person who has a justified gripe (even though it may only be in their own minds), post something on such a public forum without having the guts or backbone to simply sign with their real names? If you have a legitimate complaint that can be factually substantiated and would stand up to all tests of truth, be a man about it and sign your real name to it!

To me posting unsubstantiated negativity in an attempt to ruin another's reputation, disguised in the cloak of an alias is no different than a modern terrorist blowing up innocent people disguised as a religious zealot.

In conclusion I would like to say that it's impossible to grow an entity to the size that Sam has grown his company and not have somebody complain about something. That's the way of the world. But, I must remind readers who may be pointed to this site that every story has more than one side, and, not to judge a person until you've walked in their shoes.

IB
Happy and proud to be working here.

I for one vouch for Sam Chanin. I've been working at 2nd source funding for a little over two years. I've seen this company grow from a 15 man operation to hundreds, all employees rewarded handsomely. The disgruntled employees who have posted their dislikes for Sam Chain really weren't professionals with real workforce experience. In the beginning employees were recruited by friends with no prior secondary education or experience in a real corporate environment and it showed through their behavior/work ethic. Since the screening process as been put into effect this problem has been declining. People often forget the good that Sam has brought to our lives and company. They forget about those wonderful trips they were able to take because of the generosity of Sam's Corporate card, or the amount of reward money given to someone that went above and beyond their job titles. To this day Sam feeds all his in-house workers free lunches on Fridays.

Lets Face it, 2nd source is still standing, the crew that conducted business ethically and professional are also around. Don't be fooled by the disgruntled /dismissed employee. Sam Chanin will be around for a long time with a wonderful portfolio that will earn him millions, and has a proven track record of making others that are team players wealthy.

ef

I initially came to BPS following the sudden death of a sales rep. Sam Chanin brought me in to do some trauma work with employees who were impacted by this difficult situation.

These types of interventions have become very accepted within the American workplace, especially post-9/11. What was interesting to me was that after a few sessions, Sam asked that I continue coming back on a weekly basis as an in-house therapist, to be available to workers who could benefit from meeting with a professional counselor.

The idea of being a vendor for on-site mental health services was unique. Sam kept repeating that he had been considering such a position for a while. I was not involved with the business end of BPS, so I cannot comment on anything involving those matters. During my time there, I saw many acts of care and generosity.

There were people he encouraged, and at times paid for, to get all sorts of emotional, and if they wanted, spiritual, help. Local, out-of-state, even international. People who struggled with finances, sometimes for basics like food or lodging, whom he personally helped out. At times, he even offered to contact friends, family and colleagues to encourage them to pitch in for a good cause as well. Paycheck advances to get people through rough spots seemed fairly common.

MB, formerly in-house therapist, BPS

I wish I could use my name but I can't because I live in the same community as the people who made these terrible statements and they are my friends. At first we thought it was funny but now I am seeing how this is hurting people. Lev, Ben, JB are all lying. They were all fired for stealing from the company which is why they will not give you their real names.

JB knows the truth because he was one of the people accused of sexual harassment. The reason why he is so bitter is because Mike Berman fired him for it. The FTC case was from 2006 that was settled by the company in 2008. I know JB is very stupid but he is lying about this. JB pretends he is a religious Jew but he is anything but. He knows who he is and so do I. He also knows Sam Chanin is one of the most charitable men around.

I have known and worked with Michael Berman for over 20 years. These personal attacks are exactly what I would expect.

Berman is one of the straightest, toughest and most successful professionals I've ever had the privilege to know. He has been recruited by many companies with messes and he fixes them. These people who write about him don't even give their names, but Mike put his out there he added his address and asked people to contact him. That is the Berman I know.

These people who write about Berman look like they are exactly the type he has no patience for. One idiot didn't even understand when Informed included one of Berman's emails in his rebuttal post here. All these complaints are about their commission payments. I bet if you looked to get the real story you would find there is a good reason why he fired these people. The Berman I worked with quit one job in protest because the company's ownership was trying to unfairly reduce commissions. He did that with no personal gain. It is never about the money for Berman, but for these creepy writers that's all it is.

Yes, Michael can be hard, very hard. He can be sarcastic and brutal on people. He does not suffer fools and will be ruthless about getting a company to perform. Berman is all about integrity and the people he goes after hardest are those who lack it. This is the most honest man I have ever met and he is working in an industry that seems to have more dishonest people than even mortgage. Those are the assignments he seeks and the companies who fight hard to recruit him. Not many people excel in those environments, Berman is one of the very best, probably the best.

The work he does, the companies he does them for, and the way he does it, I am sure Michael Berman has some real enemies out there. Those people are losers. I can give you names of hundreds of people, maybe more, who will tell you Berman is their role model and how he helped them succeed in their careers and their lives. He cares about good people as much as he cares about making great companies.

I bet my rebuttal will get more nasty posts about Berman. Don't you believe a word of them. If you are not sure, take Berman on his offer and call or email him. The guy does not shy away from anything. I just hope he doesn't get too pissed about me writing this on his behalf.

Sam, a guy who owes his success to Michael Berman

The company's defense was NOT written by some random employee. It was written by Mr. Mike Berman himself. Anyone who has worked for him is very familiar with his style of writing and is argument tactics. Has anyone heard Mike explain anything WITHOUT a sports analogy?! Especially random one which have nothing to do with anything.

To address the claim that the company makes money only when the reps make money. This used to be true, when all sales reps were paid a lifetime residual of a certain, predetermined percentage on every deal they ever closed for the company. Now, the company has a new contract which demands that outside reps produce a minimum of one new deal every month in order to receive any residuals. Furthermore, the inside reps for Second Source Funding and Tribul do not receive lifetime residuals. When they leave, they stop getting paid. Thus, getting rid of top reps means tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars now staying in the company and not being paid out. All the 1099 ensures is that the company doesn't need to pay unemployment.

Come to your own conclusions....

SEE POSTING HERE FOR MORE INFO---http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2008/DA-08-398A1.html

Sorry it wasn't the FTC but the FCC--see link above by cutting and pasting ---

I am a former representative who has left this company. I was with the company for a couple of years. I am very happy with the people I work with now. Not all merchant service companies are so sleazy. I am not a disgruntled employee or rep. I was not fired but someone who left on my own free will. I felt the need to inform others. I HAVE COME TO THIS SITE AND I AM TAKING THE TIME TO TELL YOU THAT THIS COMPANY(WHATEVER THEY CALL THEMSELVES THIS WEEK---(OUTSIDE VENTURES,TRIBUL,BUSINESS PAYMENT SYSTEMS,SECOND SOURCE FUNDING,CYNERGY,WATERMATIC ETC. ETC.) FROM MY EXPERIENCE IS TROUBLE!!!!!! Let me be clear and separate fact from fiction----

1.Mike Berman took a company that was doing over 1000 deals a month down to a couple of hundred. It has everything to do with Mike Berman chasing away all these reps. Mike Berman was hired as COO and yet never sold merchant services himself. Inside sales reps have to wait up to 30-45 days to get paid.The Outside reps who are supposed to get paid by the 25th usually get paid on the 30th of the month and sometimes later.

2.He was hired to get money for the company to grow but has been turned down at every turn by hedge funds who don't want to fund this company due to it's problems and has yet to do the #1 reason he was hired to do.

3.Yes--he's cleaned up the books by not paying reps and then turning around and borrowing money from other companies and then shifting the monies to avoid paying the reps should they win in a lawsuit.Here is just one of may lawsuits for non-payment of residuals (Please look at the New York State courts--AAA Viza vs. Business Payment System) Sam Chanin has personally turned someone off from their residuals as they were fighting Cancer (true story people)

4.Under his watch,the Company was sued for sexual harassment.

5.Is cited many times over in the Better Business Bureau(please free to look up the companies listed above).

6.Is being investigated by a midwest Attorney General and New York Labor Dept.

7.Major Leasing companies do not want to take their deals due the fact that they have a super-high default rate due the reps overselling to their customers.

8.Has been fined by the Federal Trade Commission for 2.5 million for illegally fax blasting merchants (Feel free to punch up Sam Chanin's name here on the FTC's website) and guess what? All under Mike Berman's Management(THE FINE WAS IMPOSED IN 2008!!!!!)

The last time I was part of the company we had a dynamic sales conference in Las Vegas and it felt great (It was a great place to work)---Mike Berman has taken the very same company to the bottom of the barrel. Great Job, Mike!!!! So keep posting Mike,Sam and no matter what you and your people try to post here---The truth is out there!!!!

I am a former representative who has left this company. I was with the company for a couple of years. I am very happy with the people I work with now. Not all merchant service companies are so sleazy. I am not a disgruntled employee or rep. I was not fired but someone who left on my own free will. I felt the need to inform others. I HAVE COME TO THIS SITE AND I AM TAKING THE TIME TO TELL YOU THAT THIS COMPANY(WHATEVER THEY CALL THEMSELVES THIS WEEK---(OUTSIDE VENTURES,TRIBUL,BUSINESS PAYMENT SYSTEMS,SECOND SOURCE FUNDING,CYNERGY,WATERMATIC ETC. ETC.) FROM MY EXPERIENCE IS TROUBLE!!!!!! Let me be clear and separate fact from fiction----

1.Mike Berman took a company that was doing over 1000 deals a month down to a couple of hundred. It has everything to do with Mike Berman chasing away all these reps. Mike Berman was hired as COO and yet never sold merchant services himself. Inside sales reps have to wait up to 30-45 days to get paid.The Outside reps who are supposed to get paid by the 25th usually get paid on the 30th of the month and sometimes later.

2.He was hired to get money for the company to grow but has been turned down at every turn by hedge funds who don't want to fund this company due to it's problems and has yet to do the #1 reason he was hired to do.

3.Yes--he's cleaned up the books by not paying reps and then turning around and borrowing money from other companies and then shifting the monies to avoid paying the reps should they win in a lawsuit.Here is just one of may lawsuits for non-payment of residuals (Please look at the New York State courts--AAA Viza vs. Business Payment System) Sam Chanin has personally turned someone off from their residuals as they were fighting Cancer (true story people)

4.Under his watch,the Company was sued for sexual harassment.

5.Is cited many times over in the Better Business Bureau(please free to look up the companies listed above).

6.Is being investigated by a midwest Attorney General and New York Labor Dept.

7.Major Leasing companies do not want to take their deals due the fact that they have a super-high default rate due the reps overselling to their customers.

8.Has been fined by the Federal Trade Commission for 2.5 million for illegally fax blasting merchants (Feel free to punch up Sam Chanin's name here on the FTC's website) and guess what? All under Mike Berman's Management(THE FINE WAS IMPOSED IN 2008!!!!!)

The last time I was part of the company we had a dynamic sales conference in Las Vegas and it felt great (It was a great place to work)---Mike Berman has taken the very same company to the bottom of the barrel. Great Job, Mike!!!! So keep posting Mike,Sam and no matter what you and your people try to post here---The truth is out there!!!!

I've been an employee with this company for a while. I've seen a lot of reps and employees come and go. I've been able to compare the management styles of Mike Berman to what we had before he came.

Mike instilled structure. He instilled ethics. You complain that the company dealt dishonestly with the merchants, "forcing" them into underhanded deals, while simultaneously complaining that Mike cleaned house of performing reps.

You're right. Mike cleaned house and we all should thank him for doing so.

If before Mike came reps could find ways of getting away with unethical and underhanded dealings then we've got the answer to which was the better management style.

The company makes money when the rep makes money. It makes no sense for a company to discontinue a working relationship with a performing sales rep, a contracted 1099 not on a payroll, unless there was a valid reason to disassociate this person from the company's name.

Along with taking measures to protect our customers, measures had to be taken to protect the company itself from these types of dishonest and unethical dealings. Mike Berman's "long and lengthy" emails like the one below openly assert his views on company ethics:



"Two entirely different stories with an underlying storyline I believe is fast becoming relevant again in some quarters of our industry



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/07/29/donaghy.sentencing.ap/index.html?cnn=yes





http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/07/29/karadzic.deportation/index.html





I get the fact that our industry permits people to make and sustain rather significant incomes easier than most, and this is a highly appealing aspect of being here. But what I can't digest or accept is anyone who either believes or is led to believe this is a get-rich-quick program.



For a period of time NBA ref Donaghy "got away with it" and in a far more brutal and far more consequential way so did Radovan Karadzic. Until they stopped getting away with it and will now have to suffer the supreme consequences of their actions.



We have an abundance of new, focused and motivated (sales) talent. The Company has an obligation to create the right success platform; management the responsibility to properly lead them, but ultimately only the individual can create her or his own success. Together, we must assure this is consistently done right the first time and every time."



Mike listed his address and number. He has placed himself wide open to be contacted directly to confront, face to face, any of the allegations made on him by any "jilted" reps. If the changes Mike Berman implemented here had an adverse effect on your productivity, then its probably better for everyone, the consumer as well as the company, that you're no longer with us.

I've been an employee with this company for a while. I've seen a lot of reps and employees come and go. I've been able to compare the management styles of Mike Berman to what we had before he came.

Mike instilled structure. He instilled ethics. You complain that the company dealt dishonestly with the merchants, "forcing" them into underhanded deals, while simultaneously complaining that Mike cleaned house of performing reps.

You're right. Mike cleaned house and we all should thank him for doing so.

If before Mike came reps could find ways of getting away with unethical and underhanded dealings then we've got the answer to which was the better management style.

The company makes money when the rep makes money. It makes no sense for a company to discontinue a working relationship with a performing sales rep, a contracted 1099 not on a payroll, unless there was a valid reason to disassociate this person from the company's name.

Along with taking measures to protect our customers, measures had to be taken to protect the company itself from these types of dishonest and unethical dealings. Mike Berman's "long and lengthy" emails like the one below openly assert his views on company ethics:

"Two entirely different stories with an underlying storyline I believe is fast becoming relevant again in some quarters of our industry

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/07/29/donaghy.sentencing.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/07/29/karadzic.deportation/index.html

I get the fact that our industry permits people to make and sustain rather significant incomes easier than most, and this is a highly appealing aspect of being here. But what I can't digest or accept is anyone who either believes or is led to believe this is a get-rich-quick program.

For a period of time NBA ref Donaghy "got away with it" and in a far more brutal and far more consequential way so did Radovan Karadzic. Until they stopped getting away with it and will now have to suffer the supreme consequences of their actions.

We have an abundance of new, focused and motivated (sales) talent. The Company has an obligation to create the right success platform; management the responsibility to properly lead them, but ultimately only the individual can create her or his own success. Together, we must assure this is consistently done right the first time and every time."

Mike listed his address and number. He has placed himself wide open to be contacted directly, to confront, face to face, any of the allegations made on him by any "jilted" reps. If the changes Mike Berman implemented here had an adverse effect on your productivity as a rep, then its probably better for everyone, the consumer as well as the company, that you're no longer with us.

As an ex-employee of BPS (and Tribul), who worked closely with both the old management and Mr. Michael Berman (COO), I have to say that Lev was pretty much on point. They usually get away with ripping off their agents by putting things in their contracts which are illegal. For example, one contract states that once leaving BPS, you cannot work in the industry for 2 years. Most of them (until early 2008) promised lifetime residuals, which somehow was annulled. Of the 4000+ people who have sold for this company and its affiliates, less than 700 are getting paid today. Granted, some have broken the contract rules and some no longer have business with Tribul/BPS, but at least 2000 should still be getting paid for their accounts.

This company does not have much of a history if ripping people off, as their former management was quite ethical and did not believe in stealing from people to make money. Since Mr. Berman was hired to "clean house" by Mr. Sam Chanin (CEO), they have screwed more people than I can count. In one instance, the company had a "glitch" in a system that isn't even theirs. This glitch caused over 10,000 customers to be charged a $100 annual fee. While some of them did have this fee in their contract, the vast majority had it waived. This resulted in over $500,000 in unearned revenue. True, they did offer to refund the money to their customers, but only if the customer called in to complain. Considering the fact that at least 50% of customers don't even open their bill (as it is automatically charged), they still walked out with over 1/4 of $1M of stolen money.

To address another point, Mr. Berman IS a business genius. He is known as a motivational speaker and is quite the prolific writer. Unfortunately, he has used his vast knowledge and talents for many unscrupulous ventures, the latest being Tribul Merchant Services. His 2 previous places of employment were Meridian Capital Group and the now infamous Enron. It seems that he took a few pages out of their book....

Let me first state that as an ex-agent of BPS, the lives they have ruined are to numerous to mention. Mr. Berman, I have never met you, but can tell you if you are lying down with Sam Chanin, then I would chose to believe the postings on this site. I have emails from Sam Chanin, I know that lawsuits have been filed against BPS, I know that he has stopped residuals on a number of agents for no reason even though his contract says lifetime residuals.

Disappointing, Sad, Pathetic, Slanderous was the heading of your rebuttal. it's none of those things when it turns out to be true. Why not ask Sam about the residuals he cut off from a 22 year old that had cancer. Why not ask Sam about the residuals he cut off from his close tribe when they wouldn't agree to what Sam wanted. You want proof, I have the proof. Only question is, will it change the way Sam and you do business, probably not. If you would like me to post affidavits from BPS on this site I will be happy to do so. Signed affidavits from officers of BPS that state we never give lifetime residuals and it is uncommon in our industry to do so. Lies, Lies and then more lies.

Having lived the Chanin lies for 3 years, I can provide you with document, after document. Dave from Brooklyn was right on the money when he said that Sam has zero business ethics, is dishonest, unreliable, abusive among many other traits.From his closest friends to his own family members, Chanin doesn't hesistate to ruin relationships over money. Sounds like the same Sam Chanin that has been screwing people for the past 5+ years that I know.

BPS says it stands for Business Payment Systems. It should stand and does to many of us for BURNED PERSONALLY by SAM.


Be careful Mr. Berman, my advise is to count your fingers everyday when you leave the office and don't be surprised when one day Sam does the same thing to you that he has done to so many other. Keep the KY Jelly close by. Based on experience he'll stick to you eventually.

Dave

Just like Lev, you come on here and throw baseless allegations at Sam and the company. I challenge you to name one person that had their residuals cut for no reason. It's obvious you're pissed off and have a bone to pick, but that's no justification for you to slander the people who made you a living for so long. Where's your appreciation? Where's your gratitude? How about the hundreds of people whose entire incomes have been (and continue to be) a result of Sam's efforts? But no, you're frustrated so Sam's a crook, Berman's a crook, and the entire company is a bunch of rip-off artists. Come on you and I both know the anger exhibited by your types are only because Berman, in leading the efforts to clean up & sustain the organization, have pushed the real rip-off artists out of the company and back to the gutters & alleys from which they came. I suspect you may be part of this group, or heading in the same direction.

Simply being around the company from day one doesn't entitle a person to eternal employment or absolute immunity from being fired. And your ideas of loyalty are mixed up. Real loyalty means hard work, dedication and understanding that sometimes maybe the long term health, viability and sustainability of the larger group is more important than your personal selfish interests

You demonstrate your stupidity and overall lack of business knowledge when you think laying people off is careless, reckless or some kind malicious act carried out by the company against its employees; on the contrary, it's done to preserve the company, to save it from itself that people are let go. Why should the company be viewed any differently from other businesses across America that has had to lay people off this year? What about Yahoo, HP, WalMart, Home Depot, Bear Stearns, Citigroup, Ford, General Motors, Sprint Nextel and the list goes on and on. But no, Sam is the devil. BPS is the devil. You need to grow up. Go educate yourself. No one took joy in seeing people lose their jobs, but you're a fool to think keeping the entire group on board and letting the whole ship sink would be a better alternative.

I hope you, Lev and all the others who've made a hobby of vilifying Sam and the company these days will find the ability to move on with your lives and not blame your own lack of success on them. It's sad and unfortunate if the communities and families from which you come never gave you the tools to succeed. But that's no excuse for you to be a crook, a criminal and to constantly point your finger at everyone but yourself. Take note of others who've overcome this obstacle by working hard, busting their a*s, and maybe you'll have a chance to make up for this shortcoming.

Move on with your life. Stop blaming the whole world. Start taking responsibility for your own actions.

Wishing you only the best. Good luck.

I would like to say on the record that Mike Berman is someone who's strength is writing long and wordy emails and letters to people. He's not good at much else. He, like Sam Chanin also has zero business ethics, is dishonest, unreliable, abusive among many other traits that no company's C.O.O. should EVER have! Bottom line is that Outside Ventures and BPS and Tribul etc...are all ripoff artists and they are cutting people's residuals left and right.

People who have been loyal to this company and been here through thick and thin are cut right out and left in the cold. From his closest friends to his own family members, Chanin doesn't hesistate to ruin relationships over money. Money got to his head and he ran the company down the toitet. ( He did have some help from Mr. Berman of course!) This is a company which fired 47 people in one day a couple of weeks ago with no notice. Some were employees here for over 5 years. That just goes to show what type of people are running the show here.

I would like to say on the record that Mike Berman is someone who's strength is writing long and wordy emails and letters to people. He's not good at much else. He, like Sam Chanin also has zero business ethics, is dishonest, unreliable, abusive among many other traits that no company's C.O.O. should EVER have! Bottom line is that Outside Ventures and BPS and Tribul etc...are all ripoff artists and they are cutting people's residuals left and right.

People who have been loyal to this company and been here through thick and thin are cut right out and left in the cold. From his closest friends to his own family members, Chanin doesn't hesistate to ruin relationships over money. Money got to his head and he ran the company down the toitet. ( He did have some help from Mr. Berman of course!) This is a company which fired 47 people in one day a couple of weeks ago with no notice. Some were employees here for over 5 years. That just goes to show what type of people are running the show here.

I would like to say on the record that Mike Berman is someone who's strength is writing long and wordy emails and letters to people. He's not good at much else. He, like Sam Chanin also has zero business ethics, is dishonest, unreliable, abusive among many other traits that no company's C.O.O. should EVER have! Bottom line is that Outside Ventures and BPS and Tribul etc...are all ripoff artists and they are cutting people's residuals left and right.

People who have been loyal to this company and been here through thick and thin are cut right out and left in the cold. From his closest friends to his own family members, Chanin doesn't hesistate to ruin relationships over money. Money got to his head and he ran the company down the toitet. ( He did have some help from Mr. Berman of course!) This is a company which fired 47 people in one day a couple of weeks ago with no notice. Some were employees here for over 5 years. That just goes to show what type of people are running the show here.

I would like to say on the record that Mike Berman is someone who's strength is writing long and wordy emails and letters to people. He's not good at much else. He, like Sam Chanin also has zero business ethics, is dishonest, unreliable, abusive among many other traits that no company's C.O.O. should EVER have! Bottom line is that Outside Ventures and BPS and Tribul etc...are all ripoff artists and they are cutting people's residuals left and right.

People who have been loyal to this company and been here through thick and thin are cut right out and left in the cold. From his closest friends to his own family members, Chanin doesn't hesistate to ruin relationships over money. Money got to his head and he ran the company down the toitet. ( He did have some help from Mr. Berman of course!) This is a company which fired 47 people in one day a couple of weeks ago with no notice. Some were employees here for over 5 years. That just goes to show what type of people are running the show here.

As a named individual in the outrageous post by Lev of Brooklyn I can only say the number slanderous, libelous and absurdly untrue accusations are too numerous to even address in a dignified or concise response. Forums like ripoffreport.com serve a very useful purpose for the public and it is a tragedy to see it infected by this nonesense.

I invite anyone that wishes to see a copy of the detailed commission reports we provide, a copy of our agreements and employee handbooks, training materials, detailed methods for removing disinterested business from our active call list, and even a copy of my resume (sorry to disappoint Lev but I never worked for Enron), or any other matter raised by Lev from Brooklyn to contact me and/or visit our offices. I will, however be unable to provide copies of any memo or email about sex or drugs in the workplace because this, too, is the figment of Lev from Brooklyn's imagination

At the same time I would encourage ripoffreport.com to ask Lev from Brooklyn to provide even the slightest shred of substantiation for these scurrilous charges and if the information is not forthcoming to remove his post.

Michael A. Berman
Chief Operating Officer
Outside Ventures, LLC
646-289-8888
mberman@outsideventures.com