Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/05/2025

  Type:Order 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.

  **This company is a complete scam.** They sold me a dream and delivered a nightmare. I was promised a fully managed ****** store that would *at minimum* earn back my investment or Id get a full refund. That promise was backed in writing with a contract. Instead, Im out **$81,000**, my Amazon store has been **deactivated since December 2024**, and ******** is holding $27,000** due to policy violations tied to **deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activities**. Thats not my language thats from *******Their solution? Open a ******* store to *help offset the damage*. That store barely functions, sells inconsistently, and hasnt come close to covering a fraction of the losses. Its a pathetic excuse of a Band-Aid over a massive financial wound.This company **preyed on trust, made bold guarantees, and failed on every front**. I fully expect them to either break their contract or declare bankruptcy to avoid accountability.**Do not give these people a single cent.** Run, dont walk. Save your money, your sanity, and your future.**STAY FAR AWAY.**

  Business Response

  Date: 04/22/2025

  To: *******************************************************************************************
  Subject: Response to Complaint ID #******** **********************
  Dear BBB Dispute Resolution Specialist,
  Thank you for notifying us of this complaint. We take all concerns seriously and appreciate the opportunity to provide our response.
  We are deeply sorry to hear that Mr. ******** feels dissatisfied with his experience. While we understand and acknowledge his frustration, the statements presented are not fully representative of the events or terms outlined in our agreement.
  Our Position:
  Contractual Terms & **************************** entered into a signed agreement that clearly outlines the scope of services, responsibilities of both parties, and explicitly does not guarantee earnings or a refund unless specific milestones are met. These included:
  Product sourcing and uploads
  Communication responsiveness
  Participation in onboarding and coaching
  Account compliance as per Amazons policies
  Amazon Account Suspension
  Unfortunately, Amazon account deactivations can occur for a number of reasons outside of our control. While we provided support to help resolve Mr. ********* issues, Amazons internal decisionsparticularly relating to complianceare final and often not disclosed to third parties. The policy violation cited by ****** was not due to any intentional misconduct by our company. We have no access to his Amazon backend or inventory handling beyond the approved scope.
  Walmart Store & Continued Support
  To mitigate losses and continue delivering value, our team helped Mr. ******** establish a ******* store as an alternative. This was an effort made in good faith, at our own additional cost, even though our original contract pertained solely to ******. While sales have varied, we continue to offer support and optimization guidance to help him move forward.
  Refund Request
  At this time, Mr. ******** does not qualify for a refund under the contractual terms, as several outlined responsibilities were not fulfilled on his part, including sustained communication and meeting the participation requirements during the fulfillment phase.
  Conclusion:
  We are open to resolving this matter amicably and would be willing to engage in mediation if needed. However, we firmly deny any allegation of fraud or deception. We stand by the legitimacy of our program and its terms.
  Please feel free to contact us for any further documentation or clarification.
  Sincerely,
  Automated Ecom Profits
  *********************************************************
  *********************************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/18/2025

  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.

  Between July 2024 to the present day, March 18, 2025, we have been lied to and scammed by Automated Ecom Profits. We contracted with them to build and manage an Amazon FBA store for which they never did. Instead, the started doing Amazon FBM which they knew would get the store shut down. When we started noticing problems and red flags, ***** (the CEO or owner) refused to meet or speak with us directly and instead, brushed us off on other contractors or employees who refused to directly answer any of our concerns. When we finally got someone to work with they told us they were working to get our store unfrozen and to appease us, they would open a ******* store in the meantime which would make us money until the ****** store could be reopened. They told us that it was required that they remote into our computer to run the ******* store, but then we started noticing that they were using our business account to purchase items and then selling those items on our seller account which isn't allowed by *******. Then we started getting returns at our home which they told us we could take to the local ******* to return, but when we took those items to *******, ******* told us that this was not the case and not allowable. We had to lock them out of both our computer and our ******* accounts, now they are refusing to even respond to our demands to get our initial investment back due to their breach of contract. This company is scamming people. ****** is holding on to $12,000.00 of our money because of this scam organization. Thankfully, we have a legitimate ********* company that is helping us to fix these issues but we are now thinking we will be forced to sue for our initial investment back. We also want to make sure that no one else is scammed by this company or other like scammers.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/25/2025

  Response to BBB Complaint ID #********
  Respondent: Automated Ecom Profits LLC
  Client: **** *****
  
  Dear BBB Representative,
  We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the concerns raised by Ms. *************** reviewing the allegations made, we would like to respectfully clarify the following:
  Scope of Services:
  Per the signed agreement, Automated Ecom Profits LLC was contracted to build and manage an Amazon FBA store for Ms. ****** The contract clearly outlines that we manage *** operations and maintain compliance with Amazons policies to the best of our ability. There is no mention of FBM (Fulfilled by ********* services in the agreement, nor was there any intention to violate platform policies.
  Account Suspension:
  Unfortunately, platform suspensions can occur beyond our control due to ******'s internal reviews and changing policies. As stated in the signed contract (Section 4, Service Provider Obligations), if an account suspension occurs, we advise the client and attempt reactivation. If reactivation is not possible, we offer to set up an alternative store at no additional charge, which was indeed offered to Ms. ***** in good faith.
  Alternative ***************** Setup):
  The offer to set up a ******* store was made as a gesture of goodwill while the ****** situation was being resolved. The actions taken on the ******* account were intended to mirror typical ******* marketplace practices and were managed using Ms. ****** direct authorization for remote access. If any misunderstanding regarding return policies occurred, we sincerely regret the confusion but maintain that this was not done with ill intent.
  Communication and Support:
  Throughout the term, Ms. ***** was provided with support from dedicated account managers, and there is documentation of ongoing efforts to assist her. The contract also explicitly states that communications may be handled by different team members (Section 1).
  Refund Request:
  The signed agreement (Section 13, Satisfaction Agreement) clearly states that a refund would only be considered after 36 months if specific spending thresholds and conditions were met. As of the date of this complaint (March 2025), fewer than 9 months have elapsed since the store was initiated (July 2024). Thus, the request for a refund is premature and outside the contractual refund terms agreed upon by Ms. ******
  Funds Held by ******:
  Any funds being held by ****** are at ******* sole discretion and are not controlled by Automated Ecom Profits LLC. We have no ability to release or influence Amazons internal disbursement policies.
  
  Summary:
  We empathize with Ms. ******* frustrations and have made multiple efforts to remedy the situation within the scope of the signed agreement. However:
  There has been no breach of contract by Automated Ecom Profits LLC.
  A full refund is not currently warranted based on the agreed terms.
  We remain open to resolving this amicably within the contracts framework.
  We respectfully request that this case be closed in favor of Automated Ecom Profits LLC.
  
  Sincerely,
  Automated Ecom Profits LLC
  *********************************************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/18/2025

  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 signed up with ********** 2023. I did everything and more from what they asked of me. By January 2024 ****** had shut down my store for fraudulent product. I asked ***** for invoices showing authenticity of the product the invoices that were given to me ****** said, had been altered and were not accepted. All of the guarantees they gave me havent been meet. ***** said, its your store and ultimately your responsibility. In the contract I was told they would help and get stores reactivated if something ever happened which they claimed rarely ever happened. They havent assisted at all in any way. I asked about my inventory and getting refunded since they guarantee it. They did nothing ****** destroyed the inventory and now they refuse to refund me for inventory or on my investment. The only offer they gave me was to open a ******* store and to buy more inventory. Which I told them I wasnt going to do because thats not what I paid for. And they have ghosted me ever since. Now even worse I come to find out they are using a recorded conversation we had on their website of me as a customer testimonial. Which is crazy even in that conversation I wasnt happy. They had been failing as a business partner. And I never gave them permission to use it. Not to mention. They tried to charge me fees that were never apart of our contract. They clearly were buying illegitimate product which they told me they always buy from approved vendors. And even after my store was shut down they bought more inventory.AEP is a terrible company! ***** is stealing my money at this point refusing to speak with me.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/29/2025

  ************
  ************
  **************************************
  
  January 29, 2025
  
  Via Electronic Mail
  Better Business Bureau
  Attn: Dispute Resolution Specialist
  ************************
  ********************
  *******************************************************************************************
  RE: Complaint ID ********* ******* ********

  
  Dear *** or Madam,
  This firm represents Automated Ecom Profits ("AEP"), and we are responding to *******
  ********** Complaint referenced above regarding our agreement of September 17, 2023 (the
  Agreement).
  While *** sympathizes with Mr. ********* and believes he was treated unfairly by ******, each
  and every one of Mr. ********* allegations of wrongdoing against *** is false. *** has honored the
  Agreement to set up, stock, and manage ******************** store (the Store). *** has neither
  violated the Agreement nor any ****** policies.
  
  Mr. ********** statement:
  I signed up with *** August 2023. I did everything and more from what they asked of me. By
  January 2024 ****** had shut down my store for fraudulent product. I asked ***** for
  invoices showing authenticity of the product the invoices that were given to me ****** said,
  had been altered and were not accepted. All of the guarantees they gave me havent been
  meet. ***** said, its your store and ultimately your responsibility. In the contract I was told
  they would help and get stores reactivated if something ever happened which they claimed
  rarely ever happened. They havent assisted at all in any way. I asked about my inventory and
  getting refunded since they guarantee it. They did nothing ****** destroyed the inventory
  and now they refuse to refund me for inventory or on my investment. The only offer they gave
  me was to open a ******* store and to buy more inventory. Which I told them I wasnt going
  to do because thats not what I paid for. And they have ghosted me ever since. Now even
  worse I come to find out they are using a recorded conversation we had on their website of
  me as a customer testimonial. Which is crazy even in that conversation I wasnt happy. They
  had been failing as a business partner. And I never gave them permission to use it. Not to
  mention. They tried to charge me fees that were never apart of our contract. They clearly were
  buying illegitimate product which they told me they always buy from approved vendors. And
  even after my store was shut down they bought more inventory. *** is a terrible company!
  ***** is stealing my money at this point refusing to speak with me.
  
  AEP Response:
  On January 16, 2024, ****** suspended the Store. ****** routinely suspends thousands of
  stores and rarely provides explanations detailed enough to satisfy store owners. In this case, the
  rationale provided by ****** was that some inventory was not authentic. (AEP cannot be sure
  exactly why this happens, but *** believes that various competing store owners provide false
  reports to ****** in order to gain unfair advantage over each other.) In any case, ******
  requested proof of authenticity of the goods in inventory, and AEP promptly provided such proof
  (attached at Exhibit A). Upon Amazons receipt of the proof provided by ***, Amazon re-activated
  the Store thereby, acknowledging its own action of suspending the Store was in error.
  At all times during which the Store was suspended by ******, AEP worked diligently to resolve
  the suspension, adhering to the Agreement; and AEP was successful in convincing ****** to
  reactivate the Store. Despite this success, ever since ****** lifted its suspension of the Store,
  Mr. ******** has blocked AEPs access to the Store, making it impossible for *** to continue to
  administer the Store. Thus, it is Mr. ********* not AEP, who is in breach of the *************************** claims *** has not been responsive to his communications, but the opposite is true.
  AEP provides multiple channels for customer contact including email, phone and Slack. AEP
  responded to every concern of Mr. ******** multiple times and on at least the following dates:
  6/5/24, 6/26/24, 10/8/24 and 10/18/24.
  With respect to Mr. ********* claims regarding the testimonial, Mr. ******** initially gave his
  full permission. When Mr. ******** changed his mind, AEP promptly removed his testimonial
  from **** website.
  AEP did not charge, or attempt to charge, Mr. ******** fees that were not a part of the
  Agreement.
  
  If Mr. ******** continues to publish false and defamatory accusations against AEP, AEP will take
  action against Mr. ******** for at least breach of contract and libel.
  
  Sincerely,
  ***** & Mousilli
  Attorneys at Law
  
  ************ for the Firm
  
  encl: Exhibit A (Supplier Invoice, Supply Chain Documentation, Reseller Certificate)
  
  cc: AEP

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/05/2024

  Type:Product 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 contracted automated ecom profits to build me a managed and done for you Amazon fba store to be run and managed by them. Contract started in October of 2023 and after an initial investment of $45,000 via wire transfer and purchasing over 17k in inventory they managed to get my store shut down via ****** and all inventory destroyed since they didnt produce the proper chain of custody forms to sell on ******, this occurred on 12/23/23. I worked months with them to try and make several Attempts with ****** to reopen the store but as denied since automated ecom could t product the documents Amazon was needing. Ive since had little communication after they wants me to setup a vpn for them to control my account which I no longer felt comfortable doing as it violated Amazons policy and has video recording capabilities which Ive been advised against to use. Im still waiting for a full and complete refund on my inventory that the contract has a 90 day buy back clause and also an 18 month full investment money back guarantee but wont mature until April 2025. I ask for a full and complete refund on my inventory and early money back guarantee on my 45k investment as they have not responded to any of my last communication. They require me to use a 3rd party channel called slack. I feel I was lied to about this money back guarantee and it has put me into a great financial difficulty. I seek resolution to help with the refund on my money lost.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/16/2024

  ************
  ************
  **************************************
  
  December 16, 2024
  
  Via Electronic Mail and BBB Portal
  Better Business Bureau
  Attn: Dispute Resolution Specialist
  ************************
  ********************
  *******************************************************************************************
  RE: Complaint ID ********, ****** ******

  
  Dear *** or Madam,

  
  This firm represents Automated Ecom Profits ("AEP"), and we are responding to ****** ********
  Complaint referenced above. *** has advised that Mr. ****** contacted *** last week, indicated
  satisfaction with **** service, and requested that *** continue to service his account. However, AEP
  was Informed that the complaint could not be withdrawn and accordingly we submit this response to Mr.
  ******** complaint.

  
  Mr. ******** statement:
  I contracted automated ecom profits to build me a managed and done for you
  Amazon fba store to be run and managed by them. Contract started in October of 2023
  and after an initial investment of $45,000 via wire transfer and purchasing over 17k in
  inventory they managed to get my store shut down via ****** and all inventory
  destroyed since they didnt produce the proper chain of custody forms to sell on ******,
  this occurred on 12/23/23. I worked months with them to try and make several Attempts
  with ****** to reopen the store but as denied since automated ecom could t product
  the documents Amazon was needing. Ive since had little communication after they wants
  me to setup a vpn for them to control my account which I no longer felt comfortable doing
  as it violated Amazons policy and has video recording capabilities which Ive been advised
  against to use. Im still waiting for a full and complete refund on my inventory that the
  contract has a 90 day buy back clause and also an 18 month full investment money back
  guarantee but wont mature until April 2025.I ask for a full and complete refund on my
  inventory and early money back guarantee on my 45k investment as they have not
  responded to any of my last communication. They require me to use a 3rd party channel
  called slack. I feel I was lied to about this money back guarantee and it has put me into a
  great financial difficulty. I seek resolution to help with the refund on my money lost.

  
  AEP Response:
  *** honored the agreement with Mr. ****** by setting up an Amazon FBA store for him.
  Mr. ******** store was suspended due to product verification process. *** was not at fault for the
  store suspension.
  *** did not violate any ****** policies nor did it violate its agreement with Mr. ******* The
  agreement between *** and Mr. ****** specifies that "Client will operate their business in
  accordance with all applicable rules, regulations, and laws."
  *** has been working diligently to resolve the suspension, adhering to the terms outlined in the
  agreement. However, in order to do so effectively, AEP needs the proper access to Mr. ****************** which access he blocked. Without access, *** is unable to manage the store, dispute the
  suspension, or resolve the issue with ****** on Mr. ******** behalf. Mr. ****** has not given AEP
  proper access to his account. In fact, he has violated the terms of the agreement.
  *************** prevented ***'s access to his store, it prevented *** from being able to fulfill
  their obligations under the contract. Additionally, by not providing access to his store, Mr. ************ hindering AEP's ability to service the store.
  AEP has offered to continue working with Mr. ****** to get his Amazon store reinstated and
  properly managed once access is permitted, and Mr. ****** has asked *** to continue to service
  his store and assist him in getting his store reinstated.
  AEP provides and has official lines for customer contact including email, phone and Slack.
  
  Sincerely,
  ***** & Mousilli
  Attorneys at Law
  
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/03/2024

  Type:Product 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.

  My contract with Automated Ecom Profits ended on February 1st of 2023. It took the company more then 6 months to start the process once I wired them the money. I invested $35k in their business, I was guaranteed $50k credit line for inventory but the bank did not qualify me or my mom for any business credit. This prompted me to terminate my contract with them because their business consultant *************************** misinformed me during the onboarding process. He also did not tell me I needed extra $20k for inventory. If that was the case i would have never went through with the process. I spoke to him for a week before I made up my mind and in that process he did not mention once that I needed extra money to buy inventory. I was refunded half of my money but the rest is yet to be refunded. I've been waiting since October 1st of 2023. I finally got in touch with Erika on Whatsapp to get an update but she stopped responding and deleted herself off of the account and this is why I am now seeking your help. Thank you and I really appreciate what your business does for the common people.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/05/2024

  Automated Ecom Profits
  Complaint ID ********

  
  Text of *************** review (the Review):
  My contract with Automated Ecom Profits ended on February 1st of 2023. It took the company more then 6 months to start the process once I wired them the money. I invested $35k in their business, I was guaranteed $50k credit line for inventory but the bank did not qualify me or my mom for any business credit. This prompted me to terminate my contract with them because their business consultant *************************** misinformed me during the onboarding process. He also did not tell me I needed extra $20k for inventory. If that was the case i would have never went through with the process. I spoke to him for a week before I made up my mind and in that process he did not mention once that I needed extra money to buy inventory. I was refunded half of my money but the rest is yet to be refunded. I've been waiting since October 1st of 2023. I finally got in touch with Erika on Whatsapp to get an update but she stopped responding and deleted herself off of the account and this is why I am now seeking your help. Thank you and I really appreciate what your business does for the common people.

  
  Automated Ecom Profits (AEP) Response:
  The Review is not a review but a request for a refund and a disagreement over what the customers obligations were in a contract that she signed. 
  *************************** is mentioned by name in the review. Per BBB Policy listed in the letter to AEP: Please do not include any information that personally identifies your customer. That should also apply to individuals who are employees and/or independent contractors for AEP.
  The Review contains numerous inaccuracies which are addressed individually as follows:
  From the Review: My contract with Automated Ecom Profits ended on February 1st of 2023.
  The contract was signed on 2/21/2023 so it couldnt possibly have ended on 2/1/2023.
  From the Review: It took the company more then 6 months to start the process once I wired them the money.
  The delay was because ************** did not provide the required $20,000 in working capital.
  From the Review: I invested $35k in their business, I was guaranteed $50k credit line for inventory but the bank did not qualify me or my mom for any business credit.
  AEP does not sell investment opportunities in its business or otherwise. The $35,000 is an initial fee for setting up ************************ The store belongs to the customer, not to AEP.
  AEP does not offer or guarantee credit lines. If credit is desired, obtaining credit is entirely the customers responsibility.
  ************** signed an Agreement with AEP which states: Client shall fully perform all of the following in a timely basis: ... **************** In order to facilitate purchase of inventory and operation of the Online Store, Client must have a minimum of $20,000 in working capital.
  From the Review: This prompted me to terminate my contract with them because their business consultant *************************** misinformed me during the onboarding process. He also did not tell me I needed extra $20k for inventory. If that was the case i would have never went through with the process.
  ************** signed an Agreement which stated she was to have a minimum of $20,000 in working capital.
  From the Review: I was refunded half of my money but the rest is yet to be refunded. I've been waiting since October 1st of 2023.
  AEP had no obligation to make any refund but, as an accommodation and gesture of goodwill, $17,500 was credited to **************** account on 10/26/2023.
  From the Review: I finally got in touch with Erika on Whatsapp to get an update but she stopped responding and deleted herself off of the account and this is why I am now seeking your help. 
  We provide and have official lines for customer contact including email, phone and Slack, but we discourage abusive messages through personal social media.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/17/2024

  I am rejecting this response because: A typo in the date does not make me a liar. Contract ended a year after it was signed which would be 2/21/24. I have reached out to Erika many times during this process but she stopped responding to me after she learned I didn't get approved for the business credit. She keeps outlining the fact that I knew I needed to have $20k for the inventory before I signed the contract along with the initial $35k for the upfront cost to get started. Her business consultant told me all I needed was $40k in working capital to get started and the credit line will take care of the inventory. I told him I am a regular 9-5 working woman and that all I had was $35k in my savings account. I told him to give me a few months to come up with $5k to get started but he told me he will lower the cost to $35k for me. If I knew it takes $60k to start an online ecommerce store I would have never even considered it. There are many other businesses like hers that claim you only need a certain amount of money upfront and guarantee you a  business credit line to purchase inventory with good or bad credit. If I knew I did not have the $20k to purchase the inventory, why would I go out of my way to lie to her and have them create an online store for me just to not have any inventory to sell to people? As soon as I wired them the $35k on February 22nd Erika started helping me with the onboarding process by February 27th to March 3rd via zoom and phone calls and she referred me to her Chase relationships manager to start the credit card application to get approved for the credit line so I can purchase inventory. If I already had $20k why would she feel the need to refer me to her relationships manager?
  
  Erika had me go to Chase to open a business account first under a business name I already had when I used to operate a small commercial cleaning business. When I was there the member service rep opened the business account and also approved me for $6k of credit without my knowledge. Erika then referred me to a credit repair person to get the credit inquiry off of my Transunion so I can re-apply. When I spoke to her credit repair person I told him why I was removing this inquiry. He told me that I have a very thin credit file and that by removing the inquiry from the report won't qualify me for much let alone $50k. I called to inform Erika but she stopped responding to me around that time and I had to go through this process alone. The person she referred me to told me he can help build my file for $2000 and help get me the business credit line but they will take 10% from whatever I get approved for. I agreed because I already wired all my savings to Ecom Profits to start the store and I felt like I had no choice but to go through with this process. He then referred me to another person after getting paid to build my file. He did not inform me he will be referring me to someone else after getting paid. The person he referred me to said he can fix my credit file but he will need more money from me in order to help me apply for the amount I'm looking for. At that point I realized the first guy just wanted to get the business from me and sent my info to someone without discussing my issue with them. I know this for a fact because when he referred me to another person, he did not even know who this person was and why he referred me to him. I told him I don't have any more money to spend and to just help me with my credit file and I will figure it out from there.
  
  During this process I got in touch with her relationships manager and she sent me an application to apply for approval. After I told her Chase just approved me for $6k she informed me that I will most likely get approved for the same amount because of my credit history. I asked her if people that get referred to her by Erika get approved for $50k and she informed me that depends on your credit history and not everyone gets for that amount unless you have a long credit history. I tried calling Erika again to ask her why I was misinformed but I did not get any response from her. I spoke to the relationships manager and she advised me to use my moms info to apply since she has a longer history then me for a better chance. She then sent me an application to fill out on May 29th and I did what she advised me but my mom did not get approved for any credit line. I kept reaching out to her team and finally someone got back to me under Erika's email but it wasn't her. She told me they will use the $5k from the initial payment to purchase the inventory and told me to place an order on the online portal they were creating for me. I did what she asked me to do and placed the order but the company Erika was working for had no idea regarding my situation. They weren't communicating with each other at all. The person at the company messaged me letting me know I cannot place an order for the inventory with the money from the initial payment. I told her I was informed by Erika's team member to place the order. I then explained to her the situation. She stopped responding to me after that yet I was billed an invoice of $5k to pay for the inventory. I emailed Erika again to express my frustration and the desire to cancel until I am approved for the credit line. I then got a response from Erika's team member on August 25th stating that since I did not follow their explicit instructions of not opening a credit card account at the bank and utilizing their Chase relationships manager causing me to be not approved for any credit line, the partnership with them will not work out and proceeded to start the termination process. They stated that they will refund half of my investment on October 1st and the rest of it when the contract ends. It's been 7 months since then and I have yet to receive the rest of my money. She also had me sign up for the tax service for online businesses which I was informed that its a one time payment for the year but they started charging me monthy for a service I did not use since there was no store that was in operation. When I tried to get my money back from the tax service, they told me that I should have been aware of the monthly payment since it states on their website and did not refund me my money. These Ecom businesses advertise that they will do 95% of the things needed to operate your business and they only need 5% effort from the client. All they needed from me was the initial payment, my info and my signatures while they took care of the rest. When things went south, I was left alone to figure out how to get out of the services I was signed up for. This process cost me even more money.
  
  She ended the partnership with me because she knew I wasn't the ideal candidate for her business and would not get approved for a credit line that big. Their ideal candidate according to their advertisement is businesses that make 6 to 7 figures and I don't even come close. Her consultant signed me on without asking me further questions to see if I am the right fit just to make his commission. When I emailed him regarding the issue he informed me that he was no longer working for Erika. Instead of helping me get in touch with Erika or get me out of the situation he put me in, he stated and I quote "I have moved on to better and cheaper ventures that do not require elaborate fees and fingers crossed with banking entities to make it actually happen. I'm terribly sorry and I apologize that things didn't work out for you and the Amazon store. Let me know if we can discuss other, more wholesome approaches without wishy-washy financers whispering sweet nothings into everyone's ears". I'm not sure why he thought I would still want to do business with him after that.
  
  I then realized he won't help me so I reached out to the company Erika referred me too to build the store. I got a response after a few weeks and he informed me that he does not work with Erika anymore either. He said he has zero contact with Erika and to take this matter up with her company since the contract was signed under her business. I asked him if he had a working phone # for Erika and he provided me one but I got no response from that number either. I found her on FB and sent her a message. I did not abuse her on social media messages as she stated. I told her I will get a lawyer if she does not return the rest of my money and that I made a huge mistake trusting her. She did not respond to me there either. I then found her on Whatsapp and messaged her there asking her why she isn't responding to me. I was pleading with her to return my money because I needed to pay for my school. She finally responded to me and said she has been defrauded by a company she was working with to run her business and lost all her clients investments therefore she cannot refund the rest of my money at this time and to send her my lawyers info. Then she either blocked me or took herself off of Whatsapp. If that is really the case then why is she still advertising her business on every platform? Her lawyer has not reached out to me and she has not reached out to me with any updates on the situation.
  
  I can send you the people's contact info that she referred me too to confirm with them what I'm saying is the complete truth. I also have almost every conversation and email from them. Erika has all of my information including my bank account info, drivers license etc. After this I do not trust her business with my information. The day I submitted this complaint someone tried hacking into my email account twice. I never had this happen to me before. This certainly is one h*** of a coincidence. I have screenshots of the alerts I received the day I filed the complaint. If she does not refund my money I am ready to make other people aware of the scam using news channels. This has caused me and my family tremendous stress and hardship. According to Erika, fighting to get my money back is defaming her company. I have tried reaching out to her multiple times during this process but she just left me in the dark.
  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/26/2024

  Via BBB Portal
  Better Business Bureau
  Attn: Dispute Resolution Specialist
  ******************************************************************************************

  
  RE:  Complaint ID ********, Shalvina ***** (the Complaint)

  
  Dear Customer Relations Representative,
  This firm represents Automated Ecom Profits ("AEP").  AEP takes its customer relationships seriously; and accordingly, has asked us to assist with responding to the above-referenced Complaint (attached for convenience as Exhibit A).
  We have reviewed the file in detail, and we find that **************** accusations are unfounded, and that ************** mis-represents the nature of the relationship between the parties (as reflected in their Agreement, attached for convenience at Exhibit B).
  AEP provides two basic services:  (1) the set-up of an ecommerce store for the client (which the client then owns), and (2) the on-going management of the stocking and sales of those stores.  Accordingly, there are two fees involved:  (1) a set-up fee for AEPs store set-up services, and (2) an on-going fee based on the volume of sales AEP is able to generate through its stocking and sales.  AEPs business model is to collect a set-up fee of $35k to cover AEPs set-up costs, and then to generate revenue through its on-going services to those stores.  Because of this, the Agreement states that it is the clients obligation to maintain a minimum of working capital to purchase inventory:  In order to facilitate purchase of inventory and operation of the Online Store, Client must have a minimum of $20,000 in working capital (SEC 4).
  AEP performed completely by setting up the ecommerce store as agreed.  **************, however, never provided any working capital as required by the Agreement.  Apparently, ************** had intended to rely on her ability to secure a credit line but was unable to do so.  In response to her own failure to obtain funds, ************** inexplicably blamed AEP.  In reality however, AEP has nothing to do **************** efforts to provide the requisite working capital (via credit or otherwise).  AEP does not offer financial services or guarantee credit lines nor has AEP ever offered financial services or guaranteed credit lines.  AEP does offer to assist clients in making connections with banks by providing contact information, and AEP did so for **************.
  Upon determining that ************** could not and would not meet her obligations under our Agreement, AEP terminated the Agreement with ************** and returned 50% of her set-up fee to her purely as a gesture of good faith and good will.  AEP made this gesture despite the facts that (1) the set-up fee is consumed in the set-up process, and (2) ************** is now the 100% owner of a valuable asset (the ecommerce store) created by the efforts of AEP, in which AEP will have no on-going interest.
  In summary, ************** undertook obligations to AEP she did not fulfill, but is now the owner of an ecommerce store created by AEP.  If she continues to make false accusations, AEP may be required to take action against her.
  AEP takes all customer relationship matters seriously and welcomes the opportunity to clarify and assure there are no misunderstandings.  
  
  Sincerely,
  ***** & ********
  Attorneys at Law
  
  ________________________
  ************ for the Firm

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/11/2024

  I am rejecting this response because:

  I am rejecting their response because Erika is clearly lying and gaslighting me. Why hasn't she clarified anything about the emails and text messages? She said she provided me with her contact information so I can easily reach her but why does all the text messages and emails show me hunting her down? Why is she only now responding to me through BBB? Her business does not deserve to carry your logo. She does not have a team to reach out to. They have only communicated with me for about 3 weeks once they got my money and just disappeared. She stated that they created an online store for me and I am now the owner of it. Where is the website? Why don't I have access to anything? Can she prove to you that I have a website that I am an owner of? If I didn't need any credit line why did Erika refer me to 3 people to get my credit approved? Where does it say in your contract that if the client doesn't have the money for the inventory you are allowed to keep all their investment? Gaslighting me only makes you look really bad as a business. I can post all the conversations in public to show people that you are a liar. Your business cannot be trusted because your people constantly leave you and no one knows what's going on with your clients. It's not my fault that your business partner scammed you. You cannot use my money to pay your bills. I need you to refund me my money!