Epenzio Bring it Home Inc ripoff Salt Lake City Utah

I was hired on to do websites for this company for customers who paid the $9000+ fee for 10 websites + 1 free one. From the start, this company was shady. I was not told what the customer wanted, i was just told to do design a site. I worked for them when it was only 6 of us. I had no idea how bad they were scamming people, until about the last 3 months I worked there. The knowing sold a product they knew was crap, and offered absolutely no support for customers who needed it.

Their advice was for the customer to hire a web designer. That was not what was promised to the customer. I saw a countless number of people lose their savings over to this scam. I was let go because the company hired an efficiency consultant (anybody who has seen Office Space knows what that is).  I had been there longer than most people, my wage was higher than most, so i was one of many let go.

3 months after I was let go, the office manager was charged with embezzlement, not a rumor, but a fact. 
I am sorry for those people who were taken to the cleaners. I invested into a work-at-home company a few years earlier, and lost about $500. It was a hard lesson learned, always investigate something that sounds too good to be true. chances are, it is.

I would be willing to disclose the information I know about the company from the inside, but keep in mind, i was not in support, or customer service. I was just a developer.

I have no grudges or grievances against BIH/ePenzio, so my comments are not to obtain any monetary monies, or compensation. 

I went to a seminar in St. Louis, Mo back in 2000 and I signed up for the website

and credit card processing. The website didnt work and I cancelled my account. I

thought that was it. Last tyear in March of 2007 i received a copy of my credit

report and epenzio sold my account to duvera which is trying to get me to pay

them $2676.00. I told tyhem I would pay them $200.00 so they could take it off

my credit report they declined my offer and came back with an offer of $800.00 I

was going to pay it but then I asked for a copy of the contract to make sure they

were not getting over on me, Marvin told me two weeks I have not recieved the

contract yet. Marvin is a very, very RUDE person, he aslo hung up on me.

I havent lost any money but they are messing with my credit and preventing me

from buying a house.

Refer to Report: #19002, 4/17/2002, Modified 4/17/2002
Epenzio and it associated partners Bring It Home and Pacific Web Works, promise, lie, deceive and falsely advertise to get your money and that's all!
On January 5, 2002 I attended the Nation Grants Conference seminar for (Pro-Scammers and rip-off artist). I didn't purchase anything, but learned about an Internet business that the seminar instructor said would produce positive cash flow. This seminar instructor showed us the internet site that we would be getting, told us that to set up our website would be quick and easy, showed us mmpwarehouse in which we would offer merchandise to customers, in addition to Bring It Home free technical assistance for the website. This seminar instructor lied without a flinch, and didn't worry about going to hell for selling this propaganda. He especially mislead customers when he said that the visual tool software version 4.1 would aloud simple setup and easy utilization of the merchant account website for no additional cost. At the conclusion of his seminar, I watched how so many customers were impressed and signed their rip-off contacts.

I didn't purchase the Epenzio merchant account that day, but came again on the 6 January 2002 and again saw many customers purchasing the merchant account costing $3698.69, so I did too. Now I paid my account in full by 15 February 2002 to escape the 18% APR, despite my website not working. I then contacted Bring It Home, Inc at 3267 East 3300 South #210, Salt Lake City, UT 84109, ph 801-365-0160 for assistance! and was brushed off and told to re-read the web wizard 4.1 Clip on Commerce and try again.

Now after spending another two weeks re-reading and calling Bring It Home for their substandard assistance, I then contact Epenzio and they said that Bring It Home, Inc was specifically the authority on all matters dealing with technical support and there wasn't anything that they can do to help. I then tried to cancel the Bring It Home, Inc $29.95 hosting fee, through fax 801-365-0225 and the Pacific's Web Works gateway access fee of $13.00 at 180 South West #400, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101, ph 801-578-9020 ext. 109.

I send both providers the Notice of Cancellation and Memorandums with instruction not to debit my bank account but they ignored my request. I then called back both providers and was then told that they will continue to debit my account until I sold the Merchant Account that never worked to another person. Not! Excuse me, they mean sucker! Will I say no, and told them that I don't want to turn out like a scam artist like you have become. I currently don't do any more business with the above rip-off companies and hope other people do the same. But if you do, be prepared to loose it all, gain broken promises and empty pockets.

Oh, one more point. I also have a friend who has purchased the merchant account through Epenzio at the Nation Grants Conference seminar 5 months before I did. He has the same problem as a do and is very disappointed about getting ripped off too. So all you honest hard working people, beware of these scammers and spread the knowledge of this website www.ripoffreport.com to all.

I have talked with Au Pauga at the Utah consumer affairs and he said there was nothing he could do. I have reported Monterey financial for their harrasing phone calls, nothing. They have reported it on my credit and I am lost. I don't have the money for a lawyer. I am really in a corner. They call me at work everyday.
i'm loosing my mind. iemiera

Saw your complaint...Her is ours in a nutshell..Have filed numerous reports before but this is it...bypassed stores on line, had new website done, and paid stores on line $999 for getting credit card co. for us....they didn't or couldn't...soooo they have not only our $3500+ for websites they didn't construct...AND $999 for a credit card co. they didn't get us....we went though an expert in the area...(more money paid out) and had a credit card co...paypal and STORES ON LINE SHUT OUR WEBSITE DOWN...check out www.doggycollection.com...it's gone....WE WERE go ing to put it on disk, but they are shrewd and got us first....If this is not illegal, I don't know what is....ok the website money is gone, but they want us destroyed since we do NOT HAVE THE WEBSITE....It was submitted by the new company we employed and were excited since they blasted it out there....experts in the area and good people....NOW WE H AVE NO WEBSITE AND CANNOT DO A THING...PLEASE HELP..I AM SICK....JAN IN FLORIDA

Hello Everyone:

Laurie from Denver here. I can't add you to a list for a class action law suite. You need to contanct Ao Pauga. You can contact Mr. Pauga at Utah Division of Consumer Protection (801-530-6601). He told me to fax (801-530-6001) a written request, under the Utah GRAMA law, to request public information on any legal actions the state may have taken against these companies.

Since I first wrote into RipOff Report, Avalon Business Direct has filed for bancruptcy protection. I receive regular mail from the attorney's handling the bancruptcy. If any of you want to try and get your money back, you need to contact Ao Pauga as soon as possible. I don't know if you can still be added to the list of creditors.

I was fortunate. My credit card company protected me because I was able to prove that what was sold to me was fraudulent and didn't work. It took a lot of paperwork and writing back and forth. Also, I copied Ao Puaga on everything I cooresponded on.

Good luck to all of you. It's embarrassing to think that all of these intellegent people who write into this fell for this scam. Me included.

I am being threatened by Monterey Financial services to pay $1600 after paying $1,728 for the last 3 years for nothing. I have never received any product or any help. They call me at work and tell me they are going to garnish my wages and destroy my credit.
I called and asked what exactly was going on, all they did was send me the contract and said I was bound to it and that I had to pay it all. A merchant account is worthless if you can't even access it. I talked with the consumer affairs dept under the state of Utah and they said I don't owe them a dime.
I am trying to figure out what else to do. I did report Monterey financial, Steve Powell to be exact to the federal trade comission.
Any help would be appreciated. I am just a young working woman who doesn't have a spare few thousand to throw away.
Please help!

Please have some one stop him (Mr. Crawford)and his comopany from affecting your credit. They have damaged my credit and credit score. I filed a claim with the attorney general and they said they could not help me. How do you clean your credit report with thiefs like e-penzio and his companies. How many peoples life and credit do they have to ruined.Lets put a stop. If the attorney general of Utah will not help who can I count on.

I agree with Lauie, we need to band together to put these guys out of business. I joined July 3, 20032 signed a contract for 3 years with these crooks. I have been paying since. I haven't ruined my credit yet, but I could see how easily it can happen. I'm in the process of trying to email the Utah Consumer Protection Agency now. Please keep me informed

Please add me to the class action suit. I would like to be updated on the status of any suit currently filed.

All these companies are frauds. I went to one of their meetings at a Mariott Hotel in San Diego in 2001. I lost over $800 over a period of 9 months. They took money from my account every month. I had to close my bank account to stop them from stealing my money. I tried several times to cancel everything, but to no avail.

I have been harrassed and insulted by the people at Epenzio. The people at Monterey Financial threatened me with physical violence, and harassing phone calls, and letters. They have ruined my credit.

To this day I have not gotten one cent of my money back. I never received any product from them, yet I was charged $100 per month. This is by far the worst experience I have ever had in my life.

I even tried small claims court against Monterey Financial! But the judge threw out the case, because he said I sued the wrong company. He said I needed to go after Epenzio in Utah.

I still want every dime I paid those JERKS/LIARS. The best way is a class action suit. Feel free to contact me, so we can band together in out pursuit of justice. I still have all the documentation to prove I was taken advantage of, just like countless others.

Thank you,

I fell for it too."3"years later with the help of consumer protection of utah (Ao puaga and jeff ),i saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It seems that Usight is much smarter then the average people like myself and odviously "you all!" When he starts another business(almost daily),He closes the door behind himself by closing one, example: "homeinc." closes and "tranzline" opens,"Webresources" opens and "epenzio" closes.

If you can stay in the battle as long as i did you stand to get half your money back. In my case, much less. I put over 10k into it and got a measly 2600.00 back. I have undesputable proof of everything including all the lies and fruads and sent many copies to everyone who'd listen including my own state and the attorney general of utah(jeff Buckner).My advice is band together for a "class action Suit" or forget it and pay the piper like many have done.

In my suit,there where about 15 of us collectively and we all got back pentence.Stand all together and get the bastards!Definately "go public" and DON'T back down from Brandt Anderson and his group of goons and don't fall for his lies.

Good Luck to all and i'd be very interested to hear peoples turn out.

I, too, feel that I have been victimized by Epenzio and Bring It Home (now known as Avalon Business Direct). I went to a free seminar hosted by Bring It Home last November in Portland, Oregon. I then paid $149.00 to go to a one-day training in December. I was sold their flash e-commerce web design package, a Merchant Account and a promotional tool called Guess the View for several thousand dollars in total.

Later on, I found out that their web design product was fradulent and did not work as nearly well as they presented at the workshop. They did not provide the kind of customer service and sales assistance they promised at the seminar. They sold me the life-time right to use Guess the View for almost $500.00. I just found out that this program was no longer available. I had a terrible feeling that I might have been scammed by the company.

My suspicion turned out to be valid when I found these rip-off reports on the company (under various names). I checked the State of Utah website and found out that both Epenzio and Bring It Home no longer exist. Avalon Business Direct is still listed as "active". I called the company today and the phone numbers I had for them were no longer in service (801-365-0160 and 800-620-0225).

I called Mr. Pauga at Utah Division of Consumer Protection (801-530-6601). He told me to fax (801-530-6001) a written request, under the Utah GRAMA law, to request public information on any legal actions the state may have taken against these companies.

I want more information about what legal actions are being taken to get our money back and to stop these companies. Laurie of Denver, Colorado, could you please put me on your list of victims? I'd like to be informed of any actions taken in this matter. Thanks.

Hey count me in if we can get anything done to get these companies stopped. They are so slick. They talked us out of $5500. Yes you heard me right and when i tried to call them and tell them i wanted my money back they laughed and said so sorry we dont do that. I tried to even sell them back the websites that they say i own on their server now. Which is 30 of them. I did research after the fact of course and called and told them there was no way i could sell the sites for the price they wanted us to sell them for and the hosting was way too high also. Of course they laughed again. So im out 5500 which i borrowed from the bank and am still paying back. They promise you all this success and help but the software doesnt work the sites you cant get into. The server is always down. How can i sell someone such shoddy service. As it would be me they would scream at and find not Pacific Web Works or Bring It HOme. You can never get them on the phone. Oh and notice they have already dumped epenzio. At least when i started calling epenzio and cancelled with them they were smart enough to drop it and quit charging me. The seminars are very misleading and they pressure you into making decisions right on the spot its very high pressure sales and gimmicks they promise the sun and moon and then leave town with you holding the bag and paper that isnt worth the ink they used to sign it. I would love to get any part of my money back.I still have all my contracts and everything if that will help. Someone please hear my plea. NOw that i see how many have been ripped off now im mad again and not so embarassed. Lets get our money back. If you are like me you cant afford such a loss. I have two children to raise and my husband and I are two average american workers trying to find a better way. And this definitely wasnt it. No more seminars for me.

I just filed my own rip-off report and would like more info on trying to get my money back. I have been at this now for about a year at a total of 155.10 per month, with about 24 more months to go.

All this for services that are doing nothing for me.

I would also be intrerested in joining your group to stop these people from continuing this scam.

Please let me know what I can do to stop this scam from grabbing money from my bank account.
Please post below...

I attended a Bring It Home seminar over 2 years ago. I went through the same s****.>

I attended a Bring It Home seminar over 2 years ago. I went through the same s****.>

I attended a Bring It Home seminar over 2 years ago. I went through the same s****.>

I attended a Bring It Home seminar over 2 years ago. I went through the same s****.>

I have been dealing with the same issues. I have filed a report with Au Pauga at the Utah Consumer Affairs Department. This department took Avalon AKA Epenzio, Pacific Webworks, Work-At-Home, etc. (They are all the same company) to court in March for the same complaints. They took them to court in violation of the Consumer Sales Practices Act.

They are getting ready to file another class action suit against Avalon and in order for you to be listed as a plantiff, you need to file a complaint with the Consumer Affairs Department.

Here is the website: www.consumerprotection.utah.gov

The person handling this is Au Pauga

Utah Division of Consumer Protection
Heber M. Wells Building, Second Floor
160 East 300 South, SM Box 14607
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
(801) 530-6601 fax (801) 530-6001

Please file right away and tell anyone else that you know is in the predicament.

Rebuttel Department, please give Laurie from Larkspur, CO my email address.

Thank you.

Karen and I have been sceptical about these companies from the start. We went to a seminar in the Fall of 2001. Also sold at the seminar was some cheap gold jewelery that had a "quality guaranteed" certificate with each piece. We wouldn't sell that fake stuff to our animals. It does not appear to be anything more than costume jewelery that was sold for $5.00 each. Real gold jewlery usually has a stamp showing its carat value. This doesn't. Since then, our website hasn't produced any income. We have paid our $89.95 a month since then for the merchant account, as well as the non activity fees for it.

In addition to our scepticism about the seminar and e-Penzio's business practices, we have had a strange problem that had arisen with USight. Karen's credit card that was being used for their account had to be changed due to some fraudulent activity that was discovered. Since she changed it, Usight didn't even inquire about the card change, and said that our account was "current". We were perfectly honest with Usight, and they told us that we didn't owe any money. So, we contacted the tech support people from Usight, and had our site information uploaded to a new server.

Now that our site has been uploaded to a new server, we have been told that the shopping cart information is proprietary to Usight.com, and we can't upload it. So, now we have a site that is online and functional, except for the shopping cart. When one goes to the shopping cart page, all that one gets is a bunch of error messages. We are paying for merchant services that aren't being used.

Also, in the past year and a half, when our site was being maintained by Usight.com, we didn't have any orders whatsoever. I wonder if that is because of something to do with Usight. We even paid for some marketing "coaching" sessions that did no good.

I went to a seminar in December 2002 in Valencia, CA at the Hyatt Valencia. I purchased the right to attend the class for $99. A week later my partner and I attended the class that we had paid for. We went through the seminar and proceeded by buying a $1,500 merchant account along with a $5,000 and $495 for Guess the View. To furter add to the disappointment of this whole operation, we were contacted a few weeks later and purchased a marketer throuhg Bring It Home for $3,500 and have only been contacted a few times by them and have not heard from them in a while. So all and all, I was scammed for $10,495. Please get back to me asap to resolve this matter so I can get all my money back. Please post your info below so everyone will know!

I went to a seminar in December 2002 in Valencia, CA at the Hyatt Valencia. I purchased the right to attend the class for $99. A week later my partner and I attended the class that we had paid for. We went through the seminar and proceeded by buying a $1,500 merchant account along with a $5,000 and $495 for Guess the View. To furter add to the disappointment of this whole operation, we were contacted a few weeks later and purchased a marketer throuhg Bring It Home for $3,500 and have only been contacted a few times by them and have not heard from them in a while. So all and all, I was scammed for $10,495. Please get back to me asap to resolve this matter so I can get all my money back. Please post your info below so everyone will know!

I went to a seminar in December 2002 in Valencia, CA at the Hyatt Valencia. I purchased the right to attend the class for $99. A week later my partner and I attended the class that we had paid for. We went through the seminar and proceeded by buying a $1,500 merchant account along with a $5,000 and $495 for Guess the View. To furter add to the disappointment of this whole operation, we were contacted a few weeks later and purchased a marketer throuhg Bring It Home for $3,500 and have only been contacted a few times by them and have not heard from them in a while. So all and all, I was scammed for $10,495. Please get back to me asap to resolve this matter so I can get all my money back. Please post your info below so everyone will know!

I went to a seminar in December 2002 in Valencia, CA at the Hyatt Valencia. I purchased the right to attend the class for $99. A week later my partner and I attended the class that we had paid for. We went through the seminar and proceeded by buying a $1,500 merchant account along with a $5,000 and $495 for Guess the View. To furter add to the disappointment of this whole operation, we were contacted a few weeks later and purchased a marketer throuhg Bring It Home for $3,500 and have only been contacted a few times by them and have not heard from them in a while. So all and all, I was scammed for $10,495. Please get back to me asap to resolve this matter so I can get all my money back. Please post your info below so everyone will know!

After copleteing the seminar in Ga I found myself sitting at a table being ask to sign incomplete contracts that they would finish filling out later.

I was concerned my c/c limit may be at its max but was talked into charging on my card $495.

Telling me the charge wouldnt go threw if it was over and I could call and change the card if it wouldnt work. It went over my limit and they wouldn't do a thing about it. I have been over 2 weeks now trying to get my $495 credit back folowing all the rules to cancel and they keep sending me stuff to do before I can Cancel.

They even want the folder and copies of the contracts back in Resaleable condition or they will charge me $25 for each. What was so sad is to see the little old ladies there trying to scarf up enough money to buy all the crap they were shoving down our throats.

I even told them I would keep the useless travel club and memory package I also paid for. Oh the so called free CD for atending the seminar. It wont work. Just cheap burned copies of old stuff.

Laurie,

I am unable to identify your account from Laurie in Colorado. I have no record of ever receiving an Attorney General complaint from the Utah Attorney Generals office that concerned any client in Colorado.

Please identify yourself so that I may respond.

Sincerely,

Brad Crawford, CEO, ePenzio, Inc.

Hi,

I signed up for Usight and Epenzio at a Seminar in Oak Park, IL. That was many months ago. My website is not generating any money and they are constantly taking money from my checking account. I decided to pay off the epenzio merchant account in full to avoid interest. Is there any way to get back all my money I lost. please help and provide me with any info that can help me. my e-mail is : mby385@hotmail.com

Thanks
Felipe