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Report: #396060

Complaint Review: Tardus - Honolulu Hawaii

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  • Reported By: Kaneohe Hawaii
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  • Tardus tardus.com Honolulu, Hawaii U.S.A.

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Tardus guaranteed that if you use their system they will save you $12,000 the first year or refund your 'membership' dues of $4000. The system is a cash flow that involves using a home equity line of credit to pay down your mortgage.

In principle it is a good system. My problem was that they used my estimated figures of income, debts, etc. to make the promise with an additional promise to follow up and get the actual figures.

The follow up was never available. I went to two of their seminars but when I tried to make an appointment with my 'counselor' he was no longer with the company. I tried to make appointments with the leader of the seminar who was also a counselor. He set up appointments several times but then canceled at the last minute.

After struggling to make the system work I realized that it would not, for reasons that were apparent at the time I signed the contract, but which I was unaware of.

I discussed this on the phone with another counselor and explained the problem to her. She referred me to a third-party web site (for which I had to pay to use) that was a budget calculator. A budget calculator was not what I needed. I needed to find a way to be able to use their system with my cash flow.

Later I tried to contact this latest counselor by phone and got no answer. I tried email and got no reply.

Yet later I received an email from someone at Tardus whose name I did not recognize. It was a mass mailing advertising a seminar of some kind. I replied to the 'reply to' address from that email and got no answer.

Finally I went to the office (a 45-minute drive from home) to demand my refund after the year had passed. The office was empty except for a receptionist, who told me there was no one there. She gave me the email address of a man in Las Vegas.

I phoned him. He told me that all of the Honolulu operations had been moved to Las Vegas and told me to send him an email detailing the reasons for my refund request.

I did.

After a month I had not heard from him so I called again. He said he was backlogged with requests (what does that tell you . . .) and would get back to me.

I called him one more time two weeks later to remind him and he put me off again.

Finally I received a call from him, this three months after my initial request.

He informed me that since I had not 'used' the Tardus system that the guarantee was not applicable. I argued that I had used the system, but he claimed that 'using' the system meant actually moving money through the HELOC to the mortgage.

As noted above the situation into which I was put made it impossible for me to 'use' the system according to their definition.

In summary the Catch-22 is that you must use the system, but we (Tardus) have arranged our customer service in such a way that it is impossible to 'use' the system.

I think this is a major ripoff and I have been scammed for $4000.

I have not contacted an attorney since the CEO of Tardus is an attorney and I am afraid that after months of rigamarole and paperwork the cost of the attorney would exceed the refund.

I hope there are other Tardus suckers out there who have found them to be as slimy as my experience.

Dabrillag
Kaneohe, Hawaii
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 11/29/2008 04:51 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/tardus/honolulu-hawaii-96813/tardus-refused-to-honor-refund-guarantee-honolulu-hawaii-396060. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
3Author
3Consumer
3Employee/Owner

#9 Consumer Comment

similar business

AUTHOR: Brian808 - ()

POSTED: Thursday, March 06, 2014

Aloha, thanks for the info. Can you please tell me who is the contact person for the company similar to Tardus? I went to a seminar last week for a very similar company that also charges $4000 which makes me hesitant to sign up now. I guess that the going rate?? Mahalo.

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#8 Author of original report

Phone number?

AUTHOR: Dabrillag - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, February 05, 2013

What is that phone number to contact CEO please?

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#7 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Tardus with more programs serving more clients than ever

AUTHOR: Tanisha - (USA)

POSTED: Monday, February 04, 2013

Mr. Dabrillag,

Although I've never personally spoken with you, someone from our office obviously upset you and I apologize for that.  However, I am still waiting for a phone call from you to discuss and hopefully resolve the issues you complain about.

Also, for your information and clarification, we sold our building more than two years ago, leased it back during that time period, and following expiration of our lease, we moved into the Topa Tower at 700 Bishop Street, Suite 501, which is where our national headquarters is located, and our clients usually meet us at our office.  Obviously, we are not bankrupt.  To the contrary, we are serving more clients, improving more lives, and working even more closely with the local banks, several real estate companies, mortgage brokerage offices, insurance agencies etc., who refer their clients to us, as evidenced by the links below.  We offer many more programs and resources then when you first became a client.

Currently, our clients are enjoying a one-of-a-kind program called the Wealth Revolution Competition where families compete with one another to win a Grand Prize 7-night vacation at their choice of a luxury residence.  We hold the competition twice a year.  Participants are divided into teams and they compete for team prizes as well as individual prizes.  There is no additional fee to join and the object is to increase one's cash flow and income and decrease debt as much as possible in a six month period.  Those who have improved their financial situation the most after going through our program will be awarded prizes at a Gala awards event held at the end of the competition.  If anyone reading this would like more information about it, or would like to hear from some of our clients, or view our other programs please see the links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkYIZqTr2Zg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBtU7xc14bM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLyMGiBunE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiRs7l1mAOg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5hUDBSZc4

To learn about our patent pending Income s****.> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMfAxXK0bn0

I hope this helps.  If you truly want a resolution, you may reach me at (808) 440-0688.  If I am with a client, I will get back with you as soon as possible.

Anyone else reading this, please feel free to contact us at the number above and a wealth coach will get back to you right away.

Mahalo!

Tanisha Souza, CEO


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#6 Author of original report

If Only

AUTHOR: Dabrillag - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, February 01, 2013

It's two years later and CEO's words sound good now as ever. They are just as untrue now as then. The empty office in the Tardus building, my story about everyone moving out, and my unsuccessful attempts to get my money back are true. Why would I make this up?

The good news is that Tardus is now bankrupt, their building in Honolulu is sold (but still unfortunately is called the Tardus building). I imagine slick CEO has emerged smelling like a rose and has gone on to find other ways to fleece gullible folks.

I am so ashamed of myself for being so stupid to fall for their scam, but I have learned a painful and expensive lesson that has only added to a growing cynicism and a disdain for those who get rich by preying on the gullible (especially those who project such a clean and legitimate image.)

My advice is to be aware of any guarantee as it will be interpreted however it best suits the guarantor. As in the above where she notes the part about trying it at least once. In my case I could never have done so and the 'counselor' I was working with knew it.

I would be done with this except I was brought to this site as I checked on another company (before spending money . . .) and happened on my old case. It still brings up a deep anger at the circumstances and the $4000 I was bilked out of. Ms. CEO has taught me a valuable lesson. It is not worth $4000 and I did not sign up for the lesson but knowing that the company failed is some consolation.

Some consolation indeed.

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#5 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Easy to contact the CEO of Tardus

AUTHOR: Tanisha - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Mr. Dabrillag, it is easy to contact the CEO of Tardus.  In the 10 years we have been in business, our phone number and emails have never changed.  We have had close to 3,000 satisfied clients through our 10 years in business, and there are bound to be a few that have had a less than satisfactory experience.  We do our best to ensure everyone is happy, and that is the case the vast majority of the time.  We have a refund process.   If indeed it is too much to explain in this forum, please feel free to contact us and I will address your concerns directly.

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#4 Author of original report

Actual customer

AUTHOR: Dabrillag - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, February 01, 2012

I am disgusted with the outright lies and the spin by the owner. To say that I was nt hold that the company had moved to Las Vegas is not only a lie but calls me a liar.

The points made only reinforce my claim. Had the owner read my claim she would understand. It is obvious that she did not and did. OT know what was going on in the Honolulu office even before they cut and ran.

If the owner would like to confront and rebut with me directly I'm sure we can arrange it. In the meantime please stop the lying and the spin. It is not becoming and does help your case.

I swear that I was an actual customer, was never an employee and that my original statement was true. It is impossible to convey the details in writing in this forum.

Since Tardus claims not to be in the individual market anymore hopefully there will be no more marks

Don't be one regardless.

Can I have my money back as per your guarantee please. I'm sure the $4000 means more to me than to you.

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#3 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Possibly fabricated claim? Disgruntled ex-employee?

AUTHOR: Tanisha - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, July 10, 2010

Unfortunately, it's hard to tell whether this complaint was filed by a client or simply a fabricated claim by a competitor or disgruntled former employee.  This is because facts are vague such as "After struggling to make the system work I realized it would not, for reasons that were apparent at the time..." 

In addition, other facts are completely false: "all of the Honolulu operations had been moved to Vegas," "no one in the office" "backlogged with requests" etc.  In addition, none of my employees have been identified and no names or dates were given.  There is no reference to a signed tuition agreement or what provisions of the refund policy were not honored.

If this is a legitimate complaint, it is unclear why the writer never came forward to report the problems to management or owners of the company, or why he waited more than a year to make a complaint.  If you truly are a real client, I encourage you to call our main office number and ask to speak with our GM or myself, the CEO to get your complaint resolved.

It is our policy to respond quickly and investigate client challenges so we can come to the right resolution to every situation.  We have always been easy to reach since our office address, phone and fax numbers have been the same for the last seven plus years.  We are located in the Tardus Financial Plaza in the heart of downtown Honolulu.

We spend time, energy and even money when necessary to resolve client problems.  By way of example, on a Saturday afternoon, and at our own expense, I flew some clients who lived in Kona to our Honolulu office so that I could work with them personally due to some challenges they were having.  Needless to say, they were very grateful and quickly got back on track with the program.  

Our A+ rating with the BBB is a testament to our business practices over the years.  My company and I have had numerous recommendations on websites like LinkedIn from clients and others who are thrilled with our services.  Please see the link below as one source of references.

http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=31855930&trk=tab_pro#recommendations

For those reading this report, if you would like a list of references to our satisfied clients, we would be more than happy to provide them at your request.

We are proud to say that we have serviced more than 2,000 clients over the past eight years, and less than one-quarter of one percent have reported problems.

During a certain period, we offered a money back guarantee contingent upon clients taking at least the first step in the process during the course of twelve months from the date of enrollment in the program.  If they took the first step at any time during that year and failed to save money, they were entitled to a refund.  Period.

The terms of the refund were spelled out clearly in a one-page tuition agreement that was signed by our clients.  Our refund policy was very generous.  If a client never bothered to take the first step twelve months from the date of enrollment, they were not eligible for a refund outside of extenuating circumstances. 

I hope this clarifies our position.  Mahalo.

 

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

Tardus Refund

AUTHOR: Evanity - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, January 17, 2009

I know someone who had the same problem and when she threatened to complain to the BBB Tardus refunded her $4,000.

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#1 Consumer Suggestion

Solutions

AUTHOR: Muad'dib - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, December 21, 2008

I used to work in the Honolulu office of Tardus. All of the people that were working there when I left in the summer of 2007 are gone. The last one of us left about a year ago. At some point the company decided to move away from the consumer market and move to corporate training. From the company's perspective I can see why they were at least slow to refund your tuition.

First, it sounds like you never got started on the methods. If you had moved as little as $10,000 to your LOC you would have saved enough on your mortgage to not qualify for the refund anyway. There are several things that come into play that properly coached you'd more likely be OK. You may actually be lucky you couldn't get anyone to help as whomever that might have been would likely have been very green. It takes a while to train someone to recognize, diagnose and instruct a client on what to do in their particular situation.

Second, as you now know, the company has changed dramatically over the last 2 years. IMHO it is experiencing an identity crisis that seems to include as much as a change in ownership of at least some of its operations. It's hard to tell quite frankly. If I were the new owner I would have purchased everything but the liabilities of the old company. The model the company now uses is one to do nearly everything by internet and telephone. I don't know anybody who has been able to get in to see a live CSR of any type in quite some time.

There is good news. There is a company in Honolulu willing to take on your case. They're not in the business of acquiring refunds for Tardus clients, but they do have an "adoption" policy for Tardus clients that feel abandoned. There is no cost to you unless you decide to purchase some of the services unique to them. It is their policy to analyze and retrain Tardus clients at no cost. This policy was in response to Tardus clients that feel as Dabrillag does. Most of the people who worked at Tardus operated at a high level of integrity and offered personal commitments to the success of their clients. All they ask is that if you're happy and successful in turning around your situation that you refer business to them. I suggest you call the person who enrolled you into Tardus or talk to the banker to whom you were sent. Chances are that person has heard of the new company and can guide you to them. Worst case is that you'll be guided in the right direction even if you cannot use the methods you paid to learn at this time. They have to be dynamite for you as their only request for compensation is for referrals which you wouldn't provide unless you were happy.

Finally, for anyone else reading this...before you pay good money to change your habits be sure that the education that you are paying for will include a live, thinking professional and solid support network behind and in front of you. Books, Tapes, DVDs, computer programs, etc. have an extremely high rate of failure. They tend to be great in support and helpful in increasing knowledge but usually get stuck at the intellectual level. When you make changes in your financial habits you need a professional to teach you not only the whys and hows but to also provide the liaison for this knowledge to enter the real world through execution.

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