Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/28/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was contacted by someone, ********** believe, from Leedom PR and spoke to **** Leedom, the supposed ************* of the firm a few days later. She confidently asserted that ****** services would help me attract clients to my private practice as a licensed clinical psychologist and published author. She encouraged me to purchase the jumpstart or leopard package, providing 8 months of PR services for a total of $5,975, which I paid her on Nov 6th of 2023. From the outset she provided very little services in sharp contrast to the deliverables outlined on her website and in the contract, which purports to include strategy consulting, content development strategy, online contributor placements etc. We spoke maybe twice over the phone. She provided very little feedback about my website and helped me to develop a tag line, afterwhich, I wrote 5 articles for her to send to online media outlets for placement. One of them was published on yourzenmama.com and another on wellness.com, which I came to learn anyone can create an account and publish on. It does not appear to be a credible site. And yet when I addressed this with her she became very defensive and suggested that it is highly credible and features experts when in fact anyone can publish a blog post on the site. As the former complaint states, I have also come to believe this is a sham PR agency. Also consistent with the prior complaint, I signed a contract with her which states services are non refundable, but she is entirely misrepresenting the services she is providing. It is not a matter of me being dissatisfied with the placements. I understand results and placements cannot be guaranteed. She is misrepresenting herself and her services.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/15/2024

  We don't have anyone names **** working for our company.

  We provide PR services which do in fact, increase client's business over time. *********  package was initially for 5 months and I offered an extra 3 months as a courtesy, as she would need time to update her website and we were heading into the holidays. I did not charge her for the extra time.

  The services provided were precisely in line with the agreement, including 2 consulting sessions and ongoing email support, as well as placements. We only had a few weeks to provide placements as she did not provide content as required and terminated the agreement 4 months early. Her emails on file are a testament to the satisfaction and momentum I had in place and are available for review for anyone who would like verification this client was very satisfied with all of the consulting, branding and strategy as promised. I provided in-depth support on content presentation and topic support, as well as detailed content format to be accepted by editors with specific content requests regarding format. 

  I had to nudge the client in March, as 4 months into the agreement no content was yet received. I was very clear 5 articles were required before send outs. This is in the agreement and welcome packet she received, also available for review.

  We were met with very unexpected emails from ******* saying she had no idea what I was talking about...what content did I need and for what purpose. This was very unsettling, as the entire project was based on content placements on relevant websites. My website, my initial outreach and proposal, Agreement and welcome packet discussed all content requirements, goals, marketing strategy and specific format and timing in great detail. So her confusion made no sense at all.

  This is all available for review for anyone interested in verification that I was not in any way deceptive, misleading or vague in what was required to move our process forward. Her comments led me to believe ******* was having some kind of personal of other issues sadly, as it simply wasn't possible for her to not be extremely aware of content requirements in every way. All of this is avaialbe in emails for review to any party interested for verification. She had not checked in with me for 4 months.

  Given I had less than 30 days to place content, I secured the initial content on 2 very reputable sites to start. Both sites require full editorial review and editorial approval. Forbes, Entrepreneur and *************** and many other large sites 'allow' people to 'log in and set up an account and provide content'. It is a rare person who is able to secure actual live placement and proper promotion without a publicist.

  Given ******* has never secured any media of any kind when we began, sites reaching semi-large numbers, albeit not the New *********** would be extremely helpful in starting to establish expert crediblity and a positioning as a trusted authority. From there, more sites and larger sites would follow over time. Ironically, I have clients who received major media from much smaller website placements.

  ********* site did not display the crediblity changes I recommended. Her site, *********************************** is a far difference than other clients like www.drmicheleborba.com. Website presentation is crucial. However, no expert or client would receive a massive increase or any increase with only a few weeks to position. I have worked with clients who were on Oprah and had little to no movement in their business. It is a complete package over time.

  ******* appears to have been looking for advertising, which rarely works to build business either in just a few weeks. Regardless, I provided the consulting, strategy and placements as agreed, adding on months for extra time with no cooperation from the client regarding content and website updates.  I offered to work from a strict wish list so she could review each site prior to send out, but instead she issued a charge back with PayPal, who refused to provide it given I have done nothing wrong after revising the evidence.

  All I can do is respond as best I can and hope people see the obvious issue with services that cannot possibly control outcomes. All materials and emails are on file and available for review to any parties who need verification on my integrity. 

  I am sorry ******* had a difficult time with our package. I am confident if she reviews the agreement, e-mails, welcome packet and content format guide and requirements, she would understand I provided everything as agreed. As she herself stated, nothing is guaranteed in PR, so to take this kind of step when clearly I did more than what was required leaves me completely stunned and hurt. I hope I can do better in the future to clarify expectations even further.

   

   

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/16/2024

  I am rejecting this response because:

  **** is a fraud. She does not provide legitimate PR services. She has clients sign a contract up front that stipulates no refunds, no guarantees, and requires up front payment. She provides minimal feedback on websites (I have gotten far better feedback for free), develops a tag line, edits a bio, and asks for content (blog posts), which she then uploads on non-credible websites. These are services anyone could provide. When clients express frustrations with the lack of legitimacy of the services she provides she is very quick to say that she has met the minimum required services per the contract, that no refund will be provided, and  that you are prohibited from sharing your experience. She then proceeds to gaslight and intimate. 

  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 05/16/2024

  *******, I am again so saddened you feel you were not getting the services you paid for. As I did offer many ways to accommodate you that were only met with silence I am at a loss as to how to resolve this. It appears you just want a refund for no legal or ethical reason, and when that wasn't provided per the terms of our agreement and PayPal's refusal, you are now using the BBB to attempt to intimidate me. Never at any point have I taken any 'action' against you.

  In our agreement you provided in here, you can clearly see the initial consultations were to review your home page and your branding. There are two set calls as discussed and unlimited additional calls if needed. You never requested one.

  I helped you come up with a great tag line based on our branding call, which that alone can be a very expensive project with other agencies. Emails attached testify that you were very happy with that process and result. Suggesting I didn't give you the level of support you feel is warranted is not a reasonable complaint, as my support was consistent with the agreement and your needs as provided to me and the goals of the agreement as mutually agreed upon.

  I noticed you never integrated the suggestions I provided for your website, which I explained was very important to secure media placements.

  You never reached out for additional support if needed.

  You did not provide the required content as described in our agreement, welcome packet and emails to you until I nudged you, and you then stated you had no idea what I was referring to. I have those emails as well.

  I did not have to add on extra time. You were on a 5 month package with a gratuitous extension, and getting content to me at 4 months only after being nudged and stating you had no idea content was needed certainly left me little time to position you on a large number of sites. The 4 sites you were positioned on are very credible and used my hundreds and in some cases, thousands of experts globally. 

  You stated in final emails you wanted to only wanted increase your business locally, and given this wasn't going to do that as quickly as you wanted, according to you, you apparently decided to pursue a refund. Publicity is not guaranteed and it certainly takes more than a few weeks for exposure to translate to book sales and increased business. This does not make me a 'fraud.' 

  When a refund wasn't provided by PayPal after your attempts, who also agreed I did nothing wrong, you are now choosing to attempt to defame and harm my reputation through the BBB. That is not ethical, legal and to this date you have not referenced one single deliverable in the agreement that you did not receive. 

  Consulting and branding were completed timely and exactly as promised and to your satisfaction, according to the emails with you on file. I can provide additional emails if needed.

  Content support was provided exactly as promised, including topics, format and overall presentation to tie into your revenue models.

  Placements were just starting when you terminated the agreement for no reason. No placements were guaranteed as you also noted, so again, this claim is not legally or ethically valid. 

  I am a very established agency, having worked with thousands of clients successfully. In today's world when people are not happy and had unrealistic expectations they use the Internet as a weapon, which makes me very sad. The Internet is a wonderful place for information and resources that help millions of people. I am proud to be apart of that and have many wonderful clients who testify that I am anything but 'sham' in my operations and processes. 

  Please clarify if you think all of these people, very credible, prominent people are lying?

  ***************************************************

  *******, I continue to be sorry that you are so unhappy, as you have clearly stated here and with PayPal.

  As I have provided you the deliverables of our agreement, including by other people's review, to the fullest extent I see no ways in which I was a 'fraud' as you claim.

  Given your lack of website changes per our discussions, lack of acknowledging your responsibility to provide content in spite of the abundant information I shared to confirm what was needed from day 1, and refusal to work with highly credible sites ongoing as we agreed unless they immediately upped your local business, I do not see any way that I could have been fraudulent.. To suggest I am with no solid claim of any kind is very concerning on many levels. 

  It is my hope you will see the issues you have not taken responsibility for and agree that terminating the agreement was your choice alone and we can both move on from here.