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:07/13/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore 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.

  The business is delinquent and not properly registered in the *****************. They are conducting business in *****************, *******. Main Address ***********************************************************************************: Lee County Much like the Coach scam warning on the federal trade commissions website, the business promises You can make 5-6 figures if you follow our system. But that doesn't happen.******************************************************************************************************** My business, a veteran owned business, paid $17,000.00 and is being blamed for the lack of results, despite following the system that was promoted on ******** for those recently laid off. My company was pressured to pay in advance to save $2000.00 and in return have dedicated coaching with Betty. The session was not coaching. Rather a time for Betty to sell more services like a promised website template and retreat to her home in ******* to meet fellow coaches. These two items never came to fruition. There are also additional coats that were not disclosed during the ******** Bootcamp which was subsequently deleted and evidence distorted. Cost for logo creation, requires photos and website design.The system does not work nor will the owner produce any tangible evidence of the timeframe in which it too her to earn a 6- figure income using her own system. I have seen no evidence that any academy member has earned a 6 figure income by following the system. When challenged, my company was blamed and access to portions of the program were removed, thus preventing my company access to needed resources. A full refund and no-contact is demanded.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/29/2023

  Better Business Bureau
  P.O. Box 191279
  *****, **  *****
  
  
  Re:  Complaint ID ******** 
  
  
  Dear BBB,
  
  
  This letter is sent in response to the above-referenced complaint forwarded to ** from the BBB.  Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.  We appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns raised by Mr. ************************* and provide a response. Please note, ************** is our client, not ***** Innovation.  
  
  
  We strive to ensure the utmost satisfaction of all our clients, and feedback like this helps us identify areas for improvement and ways to deliver better services.  Upon receiving the complaint, we conducted an internal investigation to understand the issues more thoroughly.  Unfortunately, ************** did not reach out to us directly or bring his concerns to our companys attention prior to filing the BBB complaint.  As a result, we were not given the opportunity to address **************** concerns with him directly.
  
  
  ************** signed up for the Corporate to 6-Figure Coach Academy, a 12 month program, with a start date of November 12, 2022.  During the initial 1:1 coaching session with **************, we focused on his business specifically and what he intended to accomplish in the program. This is documented in 6 pages of notes which ************** also has access to.  ************** has had continued access to all the client program materials, on demand learning center and client ************** and at no point was his access revoked.  A few months after he started the program, ************** answered a program survey rating the coaching program an 8 out of 10 and has participated in the program since then without expressing the issues raised in the complaint he filed with the BBB.  Nonetheless, we take every clients experience seriously, and we apologize for any upset ************** may have experienced.    
  
  
  In addition to me being personally available to address client concerns, we have a dedicated ************** Concierge, *****, who is available to assist our clients with any issues they encounter in the coaching program.  We encourage our clients to reach out to us directly whenever they face challenges as we are committed to finding prompt and effective solutions to any issues that arise.  It is very important to us that each of our clients has a positive experience and we go to great lengths to accomplish this.  Prior to receiving **************** BBB Complaint, *****, our ************** Concierge reached out to ************** multiple times seeking to schedule a time to talk with him about any concerns/feedback he has.  Unfortunately, ************** did not respond to her.
  
  
  As for the registration process, we are sorry that ************** felt pressured.  We make every effort to support our clients in making an empowered decision when signing up for our coaching program.  The contract signed by ************** sets forth the terms of service provided in the coaching program.  We do not make any guarantees with our program as results are dependent on each clients level of participation in the program. In fact, our contract expressly states, Coaching success is fully dependent on the commitment of the client to the process, to taking action, and to completing the homework.  Based on a review of his access to our electronic program resources, ************** has not completed the work required by the program which has directly impacted his results.  
  
  
  As you can see from the testimonials on our website, when our program is followed, we are known for helping our clients achieve great results both financially and otherwise and care very deeply about our clients:  **************************************************************.
  
  
  We are aware of coaching scams that guarantee results and caution visitors to our website regarding any coaching company that guarantees results and we expressly state: There are too many outside factors for any coaching program (including your own!) to guarantee results.  Your results are 100% dependent on you, as the client showing up, taking instruction, being open-minded, being consistent, & doing the work.  What we CAN guarantee is that we are providing a proven methodology and framework that will work for you if you invest in yourself and do the work.  (Weve never seen a client implement every step as laid out and not see results!) And as long as we see YOU showing up, WE will go above and beyond to see you succeed. 
  
  
  With regard to the specific concerns raised by **************, we would appreciate the opportunity to directly engage with him to better understand the situation and take appropriate action to resolve his concerns.  We are also mindful that there are potential confidentiality concerns related to **************** prior communications with us due to the nature of our coaching relationship with him.  Im pleased to share that ************** reached out to us directly this week regarding his concerns and we are in the process of addressing the matters directly with him.
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/14/2023

  Dear Better Busines Bureau,

  This letter is in response to complaint ID ********.

  Thank you for forwarding Ms. **********************'s response to me for review. Please be advised that ***** Innovation & *********************** hired Ms. ********************** and her organization Betty Kempa Career Coaching, and is the client,not *************************, an agent of ***** Innovation & *********************** ************* specifically told **************** that ***** Innovation & *********************** was the client and would be the source of funding. ************** informed ***************** that if ***** Innovation & *********************** could not be the client and be the source of funding, we could not reach an agreement to join this Ms. **********************'s Coaching academy. ***** Innovation & *********************** paid $17,000.00 to Betty Kempa Career Coaching in ******, ********, a delinquent business entity since April of  2022. The pressure to join the Academy and pay upfront was overwhelming. For example, if you signed up today and paid $17,000.00 in full, you would receive additional benefits. On many occasions during the boot camp, Ms. ********************** stated that the Academy was perfect for someone between jobs, someone who was laid off, or someone looking to do something different in 2023. Additionally,Ms. ********************** claimed that joining in November 2022 would ensure success in early 2023. This was a marketing tactic only served to benefit Ms. **********************. 

  After signing up for the Corporate to Six-Figure Coach Academy, ************** and Ms. ********************** met for a one-on-one session. The session was hurried, disorganized, and there was little value gained from the session. In fact, Ms. ********************** seemed more interested in the upcoming holiday than in ensuring the client's success. When reducing the font size and eliminating all the extra space, the six-page document referenced by Ms. ********************** is merely a few paragraphs of brainstorming. After the one-on-one session, ************** was instructed to dive into the modules and to seek out and interview Ideal Client Avatars (ICA).During the boot camp, Ms. ********************** expressly mentioned that she had many ICA connections that she would put ************** in contact with. The only ICA connection that came from Ms. ********************** was ****************, an employee of Ms. **********************'s. ****************** struggles to find ICA's began on November 23, 2022, and continued into April 2023. When ************** shared with both Ms. ********************** and **************** the challenges he was having with making ICA contacts over the holidays, he was informed that this was typical and expected as most executive leaders were on vacation,spending time with their families or otherwise not utilizing social media during the holidays. Two months into the program, ************** again expressed his concerns about the lack of ICA candidates and was told this is normal and you are right where you need to be. ************** was told to seek ICA candidates from Ms. **********************'s *************** which she touted as a great source for ICAs and networking. Not one ICA or network connection came of being part of Ms. **********************'s *************** ************** has on many occasions share with his accountability coaches that he was feeling stuck. The accountability coaches acknowledged ****************** concerns and stated that ************** was exactly where he needed to be. 

  After review of the contract, it is one-sided and unconscionable. It favors only Ms. **********************. According to Ms. **********************'s contract,she is in violation of her own contract as she has failed to respond to inquiries in a timely fashion. Specifically, during the Thursday night coaching session on May 4, 2023, Ms. ********************** invited Academy members to contact her if we had any problems or needed help, and she would promptly respond. ************** utilized Ms. **********************'s preferred communication method, Voxer, and left a message for Ms. ********************** on May 4 at 9:06 pm, stating that he was stuck. Ms. ********************** did not respond until May 17 at 5:03 pm.

  ************** has often questioned the purpose of Ms. **********************'s administrative assistant and raised those concerns during the survey process.However, no response was ever provided, and communication with the administrative assistant was lacking in substance. For example, during the boot camp, attendees were informed that the Academy would have industry expert guest speakers present to Academy members on a regular basis. This was an embellishment as there have been fewer guest speakers than promised. In addition, when responding to an inquiry about what type of guest **************** members would like to see added to the schedule, ************** asked about accountants or CPAs for coaches. Ms. **********************'s administrative assistant's response indicated that the Academy doesn't know any CPA for coaches and thus would not be able to have a CPA coaching expert be a guest speaker.

  In the spring of 2023, Ms. ********************** placed Academy members into what she termed as peer pods. The peer pods are divisive and only serve to isolate Academy members from each other, thus reducing any mentorship.Throughout the conversation with the peer pod members that ************** was assigned to, it was obvious that there were several members of the Academy who were also dissatisfied with the Coach Academy and Ms. **********************. Below is  a letter sent to Ms. **********************.

  July 27, 2023
  Betty **********************
  *******************************************************
  Dear Betty,
  We each value feedback and believe it is a strong pathway to growth. With that said, this letter is to make you and your team aware of our concerns with the administration and execution of your program. The enthusiasm with which we entered the Academy has waned significantly due to misalignment in offer/needs; lack of response to requests via email and Voxer; lack of acknowledgment in how family emergencies impact one's capacity - to name only a few. These are our shared and collective experiences in various areas of the program. By sharing these with you, we expect you will address our concerns and provide ways to remedy the situation.
  While we understand the self-motivated nature of the program and appreciate the tools within the program as they have been curated for our success, the way we have been left to flounder has us each feeling like we are lost in a machine.
  Misalignment in offer/needs
  We each participated in your live bootcamps and agree that your offers were exactly what we needed. The bootcamp set a tone: emphasizing high engagement, interaction, and a high-touch approach. However:
  As paying members, we have each experienced isolating and unguided entrances into the Academy.
  For a significant period of time,approximately 4 to 5 weeks, we floundered without clear direction or knowing where/how to start with the program.
  Our accountability coaches didn't enter the scene until weeks after we started the Academy contributing to our confusion.
  Each of us is building a program that aims to work with C-Suite and Businesses. We voiced this at the time of discovery and in additional conversations.We were told both you are not a coach for B2B and that the program should still work and to invest in additional paid resources outside of the program. In other words, we entered into an agreement with you that has us finding additional resources (and costs) to receive value for our investment with you.
  Additionally,roll call is taken but no one is following up with us. We do not feel valued as clients. The message, intentional or not, is "once the client is signed,customer service is not necessary". We are all the faces of our respective companies and would be viewed poorly by our peers and client bases if we adopted this practice or reputation.
  Lack of response to requests via email and Voxer
  In addition to the above feedback, each of us attempted to connect with you and either: A) didn't receive a response at all; or B) didn't receive a timely response (in contract: expect a response "immediately"). We voiced our concerns to both you and *****, and eagerly completed the feedback survey earlier this year, and we have yet to receive any high-level notes from the survey results.
  Lack of acknowledgement in how family emergencies impact one's capacity
  Several of us have experienced significant life disruptions due to unforeseen circumstances and did not receive responses or exceptions in that ??me of need and pause.
  Enrolling in your Academy is a significant financial investment. As you stated in the contract, you "want to make sure that our coaching relationship is as open, honest and as trusting as possible so that we can achieve the success that we want." We were led to believe you would act in good faith as our coach and guide us to achieve our individual goals.
  As an entrepreneur yourself, we all know building a business is not for the faint of heart. This Academy is complex to navigate and requires a substantal time investment to fully engage ourselves with the offerings and how they serve us.Without one-on-one support, small group work sessions, or even a wider offering of session dates/times it is incredibly difficult to stay on track.
  Since enrolling in the Academy, we have been deeply disappointed with the hands-off approach paired with your high-ticket coaching program. With an investment of this size, the experience of the bootcamp, and the positioning of the Academy, we expected high-touch, white-glove concierge service including frequent communications,more one-on-one coaching, a support team fully dedicated to our success in the program, curiosity about the roadblocks and challenges impacting our participation,targeted guidance on approaching the program for maximizing success, rapport and trust-building with success coaches, and an attentive, supportive environment.
  Betty, you are the face of the Academy. Your success depends on the success of this program and your Academy graduates. We value the knowledge and expertise you and your team bring to the table. Your insights and guidance would greatly contribute to our growth and success within the program. It is important to us that the Academy meet the expectations set through your hands-on approach during the Bootcamp.
  It is important to us to receive a response to our concerns. Knowing these pain points, what might you offer?
  Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on how to remedy these maters and having a construc??ve dialogue to improve the coaching experience for all participants.
  Sincerely,
  *****
  *******
  ******
  *******
  cc: **********************
  
  Please be advised that neither ***** Innovation & *********************** nor ************** has received any response to the concerns raised in the email letter dated July 27, 2023, by members of the coaching Academy peer pod.The last correspondence received by **************** billing department stated that my request for a full refund was under review. However, other members of the peer pod have received the following form letter from Ms. **********************:

  
  Hi,
  I see you have some concerns. I care a lot about you as a client (and a human!) and want to make sure this is all addressed. Let's schedule a 1:1 session to talk through your concerns.
  I have my calendar blocked off next week because I'm on PTO, but I'm happy to make time to chat with you.
  Are you free either this Monday, 7/31 12pm EST - 3pm EST or 4pm EST - 7pm EST? Or Tuesday,8/1 3pm EST - 7pm EST?
  Let me know what day/time works for you so we can connect!
  Sincerely,Betty
  
  Betty **********************,CPC, ***********
  Six-Figure Business Coach for Coaches
  Helping corporate renegades repackage their genius into a 6-figure coaching business
  *******************************************************************************************
  bettykempa.com
  Live your passion. Feel authentic. Be free.
  
  While the peer pod letter only includes the concerns of four Academy members, several more are dissatisfied and have left the Academy early or did not sign up for additional coaching because they were not satisfied and felt scammed off by Ms. **********************. 

  In addition, Ms. **********************'s motto of "you only need to be one step ahead of your clients" is not a solid business model. This indicates that Ms. ********************** does not know how to coach or consult but rather manipulate clients.

  Therefore, ***** Innovation & ******************* *** respectfully requests a full refund in the amount of $17,000.00 from Betty Kempa Career Coaching for the Corporate to 6-Figure coaching academy to be paid immediately. 
  

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/21/2023

  Additional Questions & Concerns: 

  Questions and Concerns raised in our peer group.
  

  1. What feedback did you receive through the survey and:
  a. How have you started to work this into the Academy structure?
  b. What other changes will be made beyond peer pods?
  c. What feedback was received that you will not implement, and whats the thinking behind that?
  2. How did you select the leads for the peer pods/engage them to prepare for this role? Why arent members of the Academy team leading them?
  3. What was your timeline for reaching 6-figures in your coaching business?
  4. What did your business timeline look like to help provide a more realistic timeline for participants?
  5. How have the success coaches been trained to build rapport and work with us effectively?
  6. What ways, other than Voxer, might we communicate with you when we are stumped and receive timely responses?
  7. When we are stumped or stuck, who do we reach out to for assistance or support? How do we do this?
  DS
  SM
  MS
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