Karin Bertschi and her Team are earning huge amounts in the adult sex industry together with international investors. xratx.net or www.xrate-scenes.com/dvds and a new XrateToy shop are generating
1.0%-2.8% daily for 14-28 days!
I found this one and got a $500 dollar gas voucher. The voucher gives the end user $25 dollars back a month. It's really a legitimate, great deal and good for business.www.upeleven.com
I ran into this new program online called Distinct Advantage. Honestly it isn’t bad. Me and my boyfriend go to the movies a lot and it gives us discounts on tickets. Every weekend we go and see a new release. The best part is that the program has discounts on other things too like travel discounts, Ryder truck rentals, and pharmacy discounts. My boyfriend really likes the tires and rims section. Also they give you $100 in gas vouchers just for checking it out. I don’t know about you but I could use the free gas. Check it out for yourselves though. www.distinct-advantage.net
Isn’t the internet a great thing when used properly!? These guys (Suntasia Marketing) have been running this scam since the late 90’s when they started out in Treasure Island then in St. Petersburg and now in Largo, Florida.
If you want to know who runs this company, just click below and you’ll see the pics of the corporate suits.
Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771. Telephone: (727) 471-0276
Travel Agents Go Direct, Floridaway, Prism Communications, Distinct Advantage, Freedom Gold as well as other prior travel names are ALL or were promoted by SUNTASIA MARKETING in Largo.
Nothing surprises me any more about this company. They are certainly getting lots of attention from people around the country, state attorney generals offices and the media. Click below to see the first news story that was done by KOMO Channel 4 in Seattle exposing these crooks. Same routine free gas and airline vouchers.
Distinct Advantage was also exposed on August 23, 2006 by KETV Channel 7 I-Team in Omaha Nebraska. Click on the link below to see the news investigation done by reporter Carol Kloss basically saying that Distinct Advantage (which is under the Suntasia umbrella) is a scam.
The agents prey on gaining your trust and making you think their “free” vacation or gas vouchers is a once in a lifetime deal. Forget it! In times of high gas prices and over worked families it is easy to fall for their “pitch”. Their main goal is to obtain your checking account. Once you give that up, chances are you will be charged before you even get the package.
When I first started working there I remember managers bragging and joking about how dumb people were that they didn’t check their bank accounts for months sometimes even years not aware that the $19.95 was being taken out of their checking account. This is why they tell their unsuspecting customer over the phone that they have over 30,000 active clients. The truth is the word should be 30,000 “unaware” clients.
Funny thing is they also tell the customer they’ve been in business for 10, 20 or even 35 years (pick a number) which should be a big red flag when you consider they only have 30,000 “clients”.
As long as you don’t tell them anything, for example: what is the name of your bank and where did you open it at, then you’re safe. If you did, call your bank and inform them to close your account then open up a new one. This way they can’t take anything out. Banks are becoming increasingly aware of these crooks. Suntasia Marketing which promotes Distinct and other programs is part of FTN Promotions (Florida Travel Network) which is currently being investigated by the Florida State Attorney Generals office for illegally debiting of checking accounts.
If you visit other sites (click below) and type in the search box “Suntasia Marketing” or "Distinct Advantage" you will see there are many, many people out there ticked off with this product.
If you log onto the Better Business Bureau website you’ll see Distinct Advantage has 153 complaints against them in the last 36 months alone. Scroll down a bit on the site and you will also see a familiar number (727) 471-1416. That’s right it’s Suntasia Marketing ALL over again.
Here is the link to the BBB site displaying Distinct Advantage’s info.
Finally GoCzechs, I don't know what your motive is but I think you either work for this shameless company or have stock invested in it b/c if you look on the internet (i.e. Google) and type in the name of this company or the people who promote it (Suntasia) you'll see for yourself that you're in the minority.
Many people have complained about being debited even before receiving anything. How can they get away with this? Well, I am posting ONE of the scripts the agents use while on the phones. I say ONE b/c many agents there reword the script just to make a sale. I have a copy of a NON APPROVED script. Here is the regular script they normally use. Read below.
HERE IS AN ACTUAL SCRIPT THEY USED OR STILL USE.
When they call people they use this Script.
*Agents Travel Network Script & Verification!!!!
Hi, (Customers name)
My name is __________ I’m a registered agent calling on behalf of *Agents Travel Network (or Travel Agents Direct which is what it’s called now) in regards to your bank account. As a valued customer we are going to send you $400.00 in American Airline Saving Vouchers and two free nights of hotel accomodations, just for accepting a 14 day free trial into our *Agents Travel Network program.
* Note: IT IS NOW CALLED TRAVEL AGENTS DIRECT
This program will give you the same hospitality benefits usually only available to travel professionals, such as discounts of up to 50% on cruises, rental cars and airline tickets. You’ll also receive major discounts at thousands of resorts and hotels nationwide, including Hilton, Marriot and Radisson and you’ll save a ton of money on selected theme park tickets. Your membership will arrive with your own personalized Agents Travel Network (now TAD) identity card.
After your 14 days, if you decide to keep it, it’s only $19.95 a month billed to your checking account, with a one time activation fee of only $40.00. If you decide to cancel, just call the 800 number in your package during your free trial period, you’ll never be billed, and there’s no further obligation, Either way you still keep the airline vouchers and your free hotel accomodations, as our way of saying thanks for looking over the program. So you can’t lose!
Now we will be shipping your package to (Verify Address) is that correct?
How does your name appear on your checking Account?
If different from customers name: are they authorized signer on this account?
What is the name of your bank?
And you opened your account in (Customers City and State)
Now we are going to pull up your information to confirm that everything is correct. Please Hold.
(Obtain the nine digit ABA routing # from your manager)
OK, (Customers Name) I’m going to verify your ABA routing number that’s on the bottom left hand corner of your check book. If you can follow along with me to make sure the numbers are correct. (Confirm ABA Routing Number with customer) Is that Correct?
** Now there will be a symbol after those numbers I just verified with you, please go ahead and verify the next set of numbers, which is your account number.
Thank You!
** Note: ASSUMING YOU GAVE THEM YOUR INFORMATION THEY THEN PREPARE TO RECORD THE CONVERSATION FOR BILLING PURPOSES. NOTICE ON THE RECORDING SCRIPT BELOW THAT THERE’S NO DATE SO YOU DON’T KNOW WHEN YOUR TRIAL PERIOD ENDS. THE ONLY DATE THEY RECORD IS THE DATE THEY CALLED YOU ON. ALL THE AGENT TELLS YOU IS THAT AFTER TWO WEEKS WHEN YOU RECIEVE THE PACKAGE IS WHEN YOU WILL BE BILLED IF YOU DON’T CALL TO CANCEL. PROBLEM HERE IS THAT YOU NOR SUNTASIA KNOW THE DATE YOU’LL GET THE PACKAGE EXACTLY B/C IT IS SHIPPED REGULAR MAIL. THIS IS SO THEY CAN CHARGE YOU AT ANYTIME IF THE PACKAGE EITHER NEVER ARRIVES OR GETS TO YOU LATER.
Verification Must Be Read VERBATIM.
Thanks for holding, the remaining portion of this call will be recorded OK??
(Must get affirmative, YES, OK, OR CORRECT) I’m speaking with (customers Name) and todays date is __________.
Now we will be shipping your package to (Customers Address) Is that correct? OK. Great ! And I’m showing your telephone number as (read customers telephone number back) For security purposes we need to attach a password to your file. What city were you born in ?
And what is your email address? These will act as passwords whenever You contact us.
How does your name appear on your checking account.
If different from customer name: (Are you an authorized signer on this account?)
What is the name, city & state of your bank?
Now, please read your routing number back to me that starts with a 0,1,2 or 3. Now please read back to me the account number that YOU PROVIDED. Ok great.
After your 2 week trial period, the program is just $19.95 a month with a one time activaction fee of $40.00 billed to the checking account YOU JUST PROVIDED to us. If you decide to cancel your membership, just call the 800-number in your package. Theirs no further obligation and the airline vouchers and hotel vouchers are yours to keep just for accepting the membership for the first 2 weeks. With your permission we’ll rush your Agents Travel Network card (Now TAD) and materials to you and your benefits will start immediately. OK?
If funds are unavailable upon deposit after the free trial your bank may charge you a processing fee.
Now, (Customers name), you qualify for 2 additional packages
FLORIDA PASSPORT UPSELL!!! (Changed to Floridaway)
As a new VIP member The Florida Passport (FloridaWay) would like to sponsor your first travel agent fam trip. Its called the Fun in the Sun Dream Escape, you’ll receive 6 days 5 nights of hotel accomodations in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. You will receive this on a 7 day free review basis. This fam trip is subject to blackout dates of Christmas, New Years & Special Events. These vacations are fully transferable and will be sent to you with a travel date of 1 year from today, which can be changed at no additional charge. This vacation package comes to you risk free for 7 days. If, during your free review period, you do not call to cancel,the promotional fee of only
One Hundred Forty-Nine Dollars will be applied to the checking account we have just verified with You. OK? Great. (Must Get an Affirmative, Yes, Ok, or Correct)
TELEFLEX COMMUNICATIONS UPSELL!! (Changed to Prism Communications)
As a Special Bonus you will also receive a free 21 day trial of unlimited long distance with voice mail from Teliflex communications (Now Prism). This has nothing to do with your home phone its in the form of a calling card and comes with a pin number. You can use this service from any touch tone phone at your home or office and call anyone, anytime, anywhere, coast-to-coast and talk as long as you want, free for 21 days. If after your free trial you decide to continue its only $49.95 a month billed to the checking account used today and thereafter, but keep in mind you are under no obligation to continue. If You feel its not for you simply call the customer service number within the free trial period and you will never be billed… its that simple… So with your permission under the terms described your billing information will be transferred to TELEFLEX Communications (Prism) and they’ll send out your free trail in the mail. OKAY?? (must get an affirmative)
*** Thank you for your time and have a good day/night.
*** Note: You are told to hang up immediately and not engage in any other conversations with the customer b/c he or she might end up asking too many questions.
END OF SCRIPT..
Notice a few things on this script. I capitalized some words purposely b/c it lets you know how they get away with charging you. The words are “Now read back to me the account YOU PROVIDED” or “. . .billed to the checking account YOU JUST PROVIDED”. This places YOU responsible NOT them for giving out your information in order for them to have the right to bill you.
Also, with Suntasia there is no SPECIFIC date when the trial period begins or ends. They don't know when you will be receiving the packages and that is where the confusion starts.
On the recording it says:
"After your two week trial period the program is just $19.95 a month billed to the checking account you just supplied to us. If you decide to cancel your membership, just call the 800 number in your package. There's no further obligation and . . . . . . . ."
HHmmmmmmmmmm. . . . Let's see what's wrong with this picture?
Well for starters the word "free" is not found after the word "your" and before "two" even though the agents stress it's a "free" trial before the recording began.
Also , there is no SPECIFIC date when your "trial" (NOT "free" trial) period starts or ends. All the agents tell the customer is that when you recieve the package in the next 7 to 10 business days, your "trial" period will begin two weeks from then. Unfortunately, Suntasia REALLY doesn't know when the package will arrive to them (if they sometimes ship it out at all) and thus the billing can start at any time. It has happened over and over again where customers have complained about being charged, not receiving their packages or they got it very late. Many have been charged even before the package was sent out to them or on the day of recieving it. What is Suntasia's response to these complaints? It's the U.S. Postal Services fault. Yeah, pass the buck will you! Some have been able to get refunds but that's after struggling to get through customer service and it's 3 different phone numbers that ALL lead back to the same place, Suntasia Marketing.
Another thing that sticks out is they tell you to call an 800 number that’s on your package to cancel the travel program but on the second package (Florida Passport or Way) they just say to call and cancel. On the last package (Teleflex or Prism) they say to call customer service # to cancel. Why? Because the truth is that they have 3 different numbers for you to call if you want to cancel everything. The agents are told NOT to give this information out to the customer in fear that they may cancel on the recording. They are also not allowed to give out the customer service number b/c many of them cancel everything on the same day.
When the customer starts asking questions like, “Do I have to call 3 different numbers to cancel everything?” The agents are told to say, “if you have any questions or problems just call the customer service number on your package and they will handle everything”. The customer might ask what is that number and the agent will say, “it will be on your package the day you get it”. The truth is that any numbers that the customer sees on the packages or gets from the agent themselves ALL lead to the same place Suntasia Marketing customer service department. When you call they tell you in order to cancel the other two packages you must call these numbers. Again it ALL leads back to the same place. They do this to frustrate you enough so you get tired of trying to cancel thus buying enough time to be billed later.
As for the travel discount card and the 21 day trial calling card, if you don’t send back the travel card you’ll get billed. The calling card has to be de-activated, by you writing a letter to them to do so, otherwise you’ll get billed. Another thing is even if you liked using the calling card (most of us have cell phones so there’s no need for this unless you are that dumb to pay $49.95 a month for long distance), the pin number often doesn’t work at all and you constantly have to call in to customer service to either get it fixed or get another pin number.
Some have posted in other forums that they were told by the agent they needed to confirm your bank account number b/c the shipping & handling fee is $1.95 and we need your number so we can debit your account. THIS IS A BIG FAT LIE!! IT’S ALL A TRICK!! There is no $1.95 b/c Suntasia ships out the packages (if they ever REALLY do) through regular mail and they pay for that. Of course once they bill you then they make that money back and much more. This is why the agents are told to add the other two packages (FloridaWay which is a timeshare and the calling card) b/c that is where their profit is made. The $19.95 travel card just covers cost of the regular expenses (lights, security etc) in the company.
Hopefully this will bring you more insight on how these crooks work. I also know what rebuttals they use in case the customer has any objections to the products they sell. I will post those in the near future.
Caller Sues Suntasia And Wins In Small Claims Court! Also There's A New Website!
When I told you someone would get ticked off enough to do something about this company I wasn't kidding. Kalvin B sued Suntasia Marketing in small claims court in Arizona for calling his phone number, violating the DNC rule. The result was that he won a few hundred dollars but that's not here or there. The fact is that these crooks went too far and thus have to pay. He tells you how to do it in his NEW website called, "Suntasia Sucks". lol Pretty accurate if I say so myself. Plenty of good information in there to view and worth taking a look at.
There is a forum in there if you want to post your horrible experiences with this company. "Suntasia Sucks" offers ALL the important information you need to know about this company and what you need to do if you feel you're being harrassed. It is very well done. The site will also serve as a tool for posting information on other fraudulent companies as well. You did a GREAT job putting it together Kalvin B and I appreciate ALL of your efforts in doing so.
Now it’s the Teachers Federal Credit Union sending out an alert on "Distinct Advantage" which is marketed by Suntasia.
The following statement comes from the TFCU website.
Telephone Scam Alert
The latest tactic involves members contacted by individuals - by telephone - claiming to be a “Checking Account Supervisor” and offering “free” services. Please be aware these are not TFCU employees and the calls are originating from a company based out of Florida named Distinct Advantage. As when contacted by any company soliciting services via the telephone, TFCU recommends exercising caution. Ask questions to fully understand all aspects of the offer being made.
If you are contacted and note charges were made to your account without consent by Distinct Advantage, or if you feel employees of Distinct Advantagemisrepresented themselves, please contact the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection. The toll free number for the Florida Attorney General’s office for filing a complaint is 1-866-966-7226. Complaints can also be filed online at http://myfloridalegal.com. Once on the site click on the ‘Consumer Protection’ link, then click on the ‘How to File a Complaint or Check on a Business’ link. All the necessary information for filing a complaint is provided.
You can click the link below to see the alert for yourself.
BBB NEWS ALERT: Don't fall for free airline tickets!
That's right! Frosted News in Fort Wayne, Indiana is warning all of its residents in the state about "Distinct Advantage". They sent out the warning on August 30th. They were informed by the Better Business Bureau News Service. Basically, the alert says that the agents misrepresent themselves and in the end your account gets debited. Don't give them any of your account information.
You can read the article below.
FORT WAYNE (Better Business Bureau News Service)-If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Distinct Advantage, located in Largo, Fla., and whose type of business is a travel club, has been making calls to northeast Indiana residents offering them free gas vouchers and free airline tickets. All of this for free, right? The person on the other end of the line will then ask for your routing number, and then wants you to confirm you bank account number. STOP THERE! You could get a lot more than what you bargained for.
Distinct Advantage has a total of 145 complaints to date, concerning issues such as misrepresentation in selling practices, refund disputes, and delivery and billing issues. Consumers were told they would receive a free trial membership package prior to being charged. Before the trial period ends, however, money is being debited from their accounts.
Please do not give any information to anyone until you have completely checked the company out.
If consumers or business owners receive a call such as this from any company, please contact the Better Business Bureau toll-free at 1- 800-552-4631 or locally at (260) 423-44333, with information regarding the name of the company, how they are trying to get your account information, and whether they are asking for bank account or credit card account numbers.
End of article.
If you want to see the news alert yourself, click on the link below.
Suntasia Marketing Exposed a 3rd Time by the Media!
BREAKING NEWS !
Consumer Alert: Discount Membership Clubs
A woman in McKeesport, Pennsylvania called her local news station b/c she got charged for a so called, “discount” package with the same bait scam, free gas and airline vouchers.
Shirley Smorey really believed she was getting $500 worth of free gas and airline vouchers but as usual the package got to her home late and thus Shirley got charged $59.99 membership fee plus the first monthly charge of $19.99. She also got a bounced check fee and is now out more than $113. Yes it’s typical folks that the people who are responsible in promoting this scam Suntasia Marketing in Largo don’t take the heat for it b/c everyone thinks it’s Distinct Advantage that is the only one involved. Make no mistake about it Suntasia is FULLY behind selling the products of Distinct Advantage, Travel Agents Go Direct, Prism, Freedom Gold and other names as well.
Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771 and their corporate website is http://suntasia.com/.
To see the video of the news story that was done by KDKA Channel 2 reporter Yvonne Zanos their Consumer Editor there , click below.
Re: Free gas vouchers
Re: Free gas vouchers
Re: Free gas vouchers! Bullcrap!
A Second Credit Union Puts Out an Alert on Suntasia!
Hybrid Mode
