Business ProfileforOptima Consulting

In January 2014 BBB contacted the business in regards to a number of advertising statements present on the business's websites. Specifically, BBB requested that the business provide substantiation that cruises were indeed being offered free of charge for a limited amount of time to all customers that registered in a program, that the terms and conditions that must be met to receive the satisfaction guarantee be disclosed, that the business provide substantiation that they are able to reduce student loan debt by 50% or more for a considerable percentage of their clients and substantiation that the business does indeed donate money to breast cancer research.

BBB Code of advertising indicates the following in regards to the use of "free": "The word "free" may be used in advertising whenever the advertiser is offering an unconditional gift. If receipt of the "free" merchandise or service is conditional on a purchase: the advertiser must disclose this condition clearly and conspicuously together with the "free" offer (not by placing an asterisk or symbol next to "free" and referring to the condition(s) in a footnote); the normal price of the merchandise or service to be purchased must not have been increased nor its quantity or quality reduced; and the "free" offer must be temporary; otherwise, it would become a continuous combination offer, no part of which is free."

BBB Code of Advertising indicates the following in regards to warranties and guarantees: "When the term "warranty" (or "guarantee") is used in product advertising, the following disclosure should be made clearly and prominently: a statement that the complete details of the warranty can be seen at the advertiser's store prior to sale, or in the case of mail or telephone order sales, are available free on written request.

"Satisfaction guarantee," "money back guarantee," "free trial offer," or similar representations should be used in advertising only if the seller or manufacturer refunds the full purchase price of the advertised product at the purchaser's request.

When "satisfaction guarantee" or similar representations are used in advertising, any material limitations or conditions that apply to the guarantee should be clearly and prominently disclosed."

BBB Code of advertising indicates the following in regards to misleading claims: "The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any claims or offers made before publication or broadcast and, upon request, present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or the Better Business Bureau.

Advertisements which are untrue, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, falsely disparaging of competitors, or insincere offers to sell, shall not be used.

An advertisement as a whole may be misleading although every sentence separately considered is literally true. Misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements but by omitting or obscuring a material fact."

To date the business has failed to respond to BBB's requests. The statements can still be found on the business's websites. In January 2014 BBB contacted the business in regards to the misuse of the BBB Accredited Business seal on one of the business's websites. This business is not an accredited business with BBB and the misuse of the BBB Accredited Business seal is trademark infringement. To date the business has not removed the infringing mark from use on the website.