ComplaintsforAwakened Motherhood LLC

• Initial Complaint

  02/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I was having a very challenging time within my marriage and signed up for a free call with **************, in which I ended up signing up for her 12 week personal growth program called Awakwend Motherhood. The cost was $6000. I didnt have the money but Honor encouraged me to be resourceful and get money from family and open credit card. She also reassured me, sayingthe program had worked for all her clients and it will work for me. After obtaining funds from my parents, I was able to pay her partially, and a few weeks later I paid the rest via a newly opened credit card. Honor told me participating in her program would greatly shift things for me and Id be much better able to handle challenging situations and transform things within my family. However, after diligently going through the program, I saw that it was not a good fit for me, and had not had a significant impact on me. Not only did I not feel confident and able to manage tough situations within my marriage, but the program content often caused me to move backwards..ie. when I tried the suggestions, it would put my husband and I at odds with each other. By week ten I really needed to get out of the program because I felt drained and felt the program was hurting me more than helping me. Although I found aspects of the program helpful, overall it was not a good fit and not worth even close to $6000, as it had not made any significant impact for me. I explained to Honor that her program was not a good fit for me and I asked her for a refund. She told me she couldn't offer me a refund and asked me to join the alumni program. Her response felt dismissive to me but i thought there was not more i could do. But a few weeks later I reached out again, as I didnt see any reason why she couldnt refund me. She said it was because i had gone through the program (services rendered). however, it's by going through the program that i was able to discover it didn't work for me. She insisted it had worked for me.

  Customer response

  02/08/2022

  When I signed up for Awakened Motherhood program, there was no contract, so I have no documentation with any kind of guarantee. I had a lot of hesitation about signing up for the program as it felt like a lot of money, -$8000 with payment plan, or $6000 if paid up front. Honor said participating in the program would get me to a place where Im able to stay grounded during challenging situations and know what to do, and how to handle things in a way that is helpful for everyone. She emphasized what a postive impact i'd have on my kids.  I was dealing with what felt like a really tough situation in my home life, within my marriage, and was very concerned for my children.   I so wanted to believe Honor that this program would help me grow as an individual in a way that would serve me and my family.  I told her it was a lot for me and i didn't have the money. Within my marriage, my spouse controls the money, and i did not feel comfortable to tell him about this program. Honor encouraged me to be resourceful and find ways of obtaining the money from family or putting it on a credit card. I was interested, but was also hesitating, so she asked me to consider that if i got what i wanted, would it be worth the $6000? I said yes it would. What she said I'd get out of doing this program is the very thing I want more than anything, so in my mind, it would have been worth being in some debt if this program would get me to such an empowered place. Still, i was worried, not knowing for sure that this program would work for me.  I didn't prefer to ask my parents for money but I needed their help. Honor told me participating in this program, and my growth, would make it worth asking my parents.  She assured me the program worked for all her other clients and she knew it would work for me. All of this was told to me verbally (on the "breakthrough call"). She also pointed out that shes an expert and has been doing this for many years, and that I need an expert to guide me to the place I want to be.  I decided to go for it. Honor congratulated me and celebrated my decision to take this step. In the next few days, following her advice, I secured help from my parents to make a partial payment to Honor.I also applied for a couple of credit cards, and a few weeks later, after one was accepted, i was able to make the remaining payment. Honor congratulated me and told me i had done a wonderful job being resourceful. After she received the full payment, she gave me access to her program.  No contracts were involved.

  Customer response

  03/23/2022

  Id like to appeal the BBB decision to close my case.   After speaking to a BBB rep, I understand that my case was closed because I completed most of the Awakened Motherhood Program (ie. services were rendered), and there isnt a contract which guarantees that the program will work for me, ie give me the certain specific results that the owner, **************, verbally told me i'd get. 

  Before filing the complaint with BBB, I had spoken with someone at BBB and I was clear that there was no written contract for the program I signed up for.  I had explained that **************, who runs the Awakened Motherhood program, only verbally told me that this program would work for me.  She did so during our breakthrough call in which she signed me up for the program.   In addition to letting the BBB rep know that there was no contract, before filing a complaint, I had also explained that I had done much of the program and really dedicated myself to it, but that it did not give me the results Honor had told me it would.   I asked the BBB rep if it was worth filing a complaint based on what I had told her, and the rep still encouraged me to file a complaint with BBB and, as well, with CPD.  

  So I was surprised when BBB made the decision to close my case based on the above mentioned factors.

  
  I'd like to appeal the BBB decision to close this case by expanding on two areas.  First, I can share more details about how Honor signed me up for this program, or rather, how I made the decision to sign up for Awakened Motherhood. Second, I can share more about why the program didnt work for me.

  
  Back in July I had a free breakthrough call with Honor.  I was having a really tough time in my marriage and was seeking some guidance. In the free call,  Honor told me she wanted to see if i would be a good fit for her program. She explained to me it's not a fit for everyone. After asking me several questions to learn about my concerns and goals, she told me that her program would get me to the place i really wanted to be within my marriage and family. She said I'd be able to take charge and handle tough situations. That I'd be able to stay much more grounded during challenges, and that I'd be able to transform things within my family, and especially for my children. She said she was an expert and had been doing this for a long time and that I needed an expert to guide me.  After going over the cost of the program, which I found to be incredibly expensive, she asked me to consider what the cost would be to me, and to my children, of not doing the program.  I really felt desperate when she pointed out how not doing this program would affect my children, and how by doing it, i could be the example i wanted to be for my children. 

  The cost of the program was around $8000. Honor told me about payment options to make it easier, and said if I paid upfront, it would be $6000. I told her it was a lot for me and i didn't have the money. Within my marriage, my spouse controls the money, and i did not feel comfortable to tell him about this program. Honor encouraged me to be resourceful and find ways of obtaining money from family or putting it on a credit card. She said this program would get me to the place I wanted to be. I so wanted to do it, but I was hesitating because I didnt know if the program would work for me. So Honor asked me to consider that if i got what i wanted, would it be worth the $6000? I said yes it would. What she said I'd get out of doing this program is the very thing I want more than anything, so in my mind, it would have been worth being in some debt if this program would get me to such an empowered place. Still, i was worried, not knowing for sure that this program would work for **** didn't want to ask my parents for money but they were my only resource. Honor assured me the program worked for all her other clients and she knew it would work for me. All of this was told to me verbally during the call. I so wanted to believe Honor that this program would help me grow as an individual in a way that would serve me and my family. I was dealing with what felt like a really tough situation in my home life and Honor said that participating in this program would get me to a place where i will be much more grounded in those tough situations and know what to do. I decided to do the program. Honor congratulated me and celebrated my decision to take this step. In the next few days, following her advice, I secured help from my parents to make a partial payment to Honor. I also applied for a couple of credit cards, and a few weeks later, after one was accepted, i was able to make the remaining payment. Honor congratulated me and told me i had done a wonderful job being resourceful. After she received the full payment, she gave me access to her program.  

  If the program had worked for me, there would have been no issue. But it did not work for me.  As I see it, its part of good business practice to stand behind a strong claim made by the business, whether its done verbally or in writing. Ie, a good business should be willing to take responsibility if a client does not experience the result that the business promises, no matter how it is said, written in a contract, or verbally.  Honor made a strong claim when she told me that her program would make me confident and grounded, and able to effectively handle the tough situations I was dealing, and that my children would see that and benefit.  I did not get these results. Furthermore,when a  business activiely encourages the potential client to obtain funds from family or by opening a credit card, it doesnt seem like a good business practice to later take no responsibility when the client didnt get the results the business owner said the client would get. It actually doesnt seem like a good business practice to even encourage the potential client to obtain funds, credit, etc. in the first place.  I was in a really tough place in my life and I was desperate.  This is where the above described business tactics can be used successfully but that doesn't make them good, and especially not so if the business takes no responsibility afterward, when the client is clearly dissatisfied.   I did not experience at all what Honor had told me I would.   The bottom line is that her program did not work for it. it was not a good fit for me.  

  I imagine that BBB would also consider it a good business practice to act responsibly and with integrity after making claims to client and encouraging them to obtain funds. 

  The second factor Id like to expand on is why the program didnt work for me.

  Once in the program, I was very committed and dedicated myself to each module. ..but as the weeks went on, i noticed that i didn't resonate much with the content. While the bi-weekly calls, each being over two hours, had some things that were useful to me, much of it was not relevant to me. I was able to ask a question on the call but the time was limited since there were so many others on the calls. Honor often interrupted me. It was her coaching style. I continued on, thinking I just need to stick with it to see the benefits, and get to a point where Im experiencing shifts.. But by week 9, I was burnt out. Participating in the program was draining me and I was finding very little benefit from it. While i found certain aspects helpful, I did not find most of the content helpful, or the overall structure of the program, including the very limited coaching one got within the calls each week. I also felt discouraged from asking questions so stopped at some point. After listening to the content in week 10 module and not finding it helpful, I stopped participating in the program. I really needed to take a detour. Participating in the program was hurting me more than helping me. Even with the certain aspects I had found helpful, the program was not worth even close to $6000 for me.

  Ater doing the Awakened Mother program, i continued to feel quite challenged within my marriage.  While i had learned some  helpful things through the program, it was certainly not enough to create a real impact for me.  I found myself losing my footing after going through much of the program and in the weeks after... just as I'd lose my footing before I did the program.  I needed something much more focused to help me within my marriage, and to create a really wonderful marriage.  Often i found the content in the Awakened Motherhood program would actually set me back, because when i tried to put into practice what Honor taught (which was in the content), it would put my husband and I at odds with each other.  It was not for us.  I got out of the program because i felt it was setting me back.  

   

  Doing this program did not give me more confidence. I did not feel more able to handle the tough situations I was dealing with at home.  This program did not make a real impact in my life and actually ended up costing me not only the money, but a lot of time and energy that I could have put towards something that is helpful, and likely at a cost that doesnt even come close to the price of this program.

   

   

  Something else to consider.  Maybe the Awakened Motherhood program works for most of Honor's clients. She had told me in the beginning, when i was hesitating to sign up, that she's never worked with a client that this program did not help in a significant way.  But I dont know. Because on the calls, there were various times where I'd hear a client complain that they would feel like even though they've gotten so far in the program, but they feel how tey did when they started the program.   Honor would coach them to a better place, letting them know it's normal and they can get back.. all good stuff, but if, at 12 weeks, the program doesn't make a significant impact for a person, then the price for the program is too much, and what she says when she signs people up, is not right to say.   i dont know if every woman who does this program can honestly say this program was worth the money, but i think it's a tough thing to face to want to confront Honor, who was their coach, and very pleasant, albeit, in a place of authority as the "expert" and also a good convincer.  There is also a feeling of shame that one needs to face after spending so much money and realizing the program really didnt help.  It is not easy to face. It's not a good feeling. This is inner work stuff so its as personal as it gets.  For me personally, I had no intention to ask for a refund. But at some point it became clear to me that the program had not helped me in any significant way, and actually left me feeling drained.  So, while it felt uncomfortable for me to confront Honor, i wanted to be honest with myself, so I respectfully did so. 

   

  Honors way of getting people on board, and having such a high price for the program, to me, is reckless and quite the opposite of a good business practice, if she cant  offer her clients some form of guarantee, or refund them if they sincerely commit to the program and it doesnt work out for them. I would not have known if the program would work for me without actually going through it.   I hope BBB can reconsider me doing the program as a reason to close the case.  How else would I have known it didn't work for me than to first give it a sincere try, and to really give it a chance by going through it as much as and as best i could?

   

  The bottom line is I dont think Honor's actions reflect those of integrity and honor, when she wants to keep $6000, that she got from me by encouraging me to borrow money, after I, the client, did not find the program helpful, and did not get the results she said i would. 

   

  I hope BBB will reconsider my case based on the above. 

  Thank you. 

  
  Vandana

  Business response

  04/15/2022

  Hello Vandana,

  As I've stated previously I am very sorry you are not satisfied with the services you received and your progress made in our work together. As stated in your signed member's agreement, the payment for services and program content was nonrefundable. As noted in my email correspondence with you, for the 12-week program you purchased we provided you 15 weeks of twice weekly coaching opportunities, so three weeks at no additional fee, and weekly training video content which you still have access to.

  In addition I offered you three 1-1 coaching sessions after you stopped coming to calls to provide more support, at no extra charge, which you declined. I have made multiple offers to provide you with a partial refund and have not heard back from you. That offer is still available to you.

  I want to acknowledge you again for really wanting to achieve your outcomes of ending conflict in your marriage, increasing your personal power, and bringing peace to your marriage and family. I am grateful for our time together and that I was able to help you begin to open the door to becoming more aware, slowing down, and allowing yourself to be in the present more.

  Wishing you all the best, truly, and hoping you find the peace you are looking for. 

  Warmly,

  Honor

  Honor

  Customer response

  04/20/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********. The cost of the program to me was $6000. Since this program ended up not working for me and was not a good fit for me, I chose not to accept anything additional the business offered me in terms of more calls/coaching.  I needed to move on as the program wasnt helping me.
  

  Because this program did not do for me what the owner told me it would, and I did not get the results she said I would get when she signed me up, I would like to receive most, if not all of my money back.  What is the partial refund amount she is willing to give?  

  Sincerely,
  
  Vandana Purohit 

  Business response

  04/29/2022

  Hello Vandana,

  I'm very sorry you are not satisfied with the skills you learned through our work together, many of which you celebrated openly about in our community at length - slowing down, letting go of old story, staying connected to your intentions, and learning how to create calm so that you could show up differently in your family. There were many beautiful celebrations you shared and I enjoyed coaching you and supporting you into that growth. I acknowledge you for wanting the outcomes to be bigger, and for wanting progress to be faster, however each of us learns at our own pace and in our own way. I can appreciate it was difficult for you to receive some of my coaching to slow down your story, and find some neutrality with it so we could change it, and thus change the experience you were having in your relationships. The longer we cling to story, the harder it is to create new patterns. This is why it's so important to stay committed. To keep going. To keep working on developing the habits of change you began in the program. Like everything in life, it only works if you work it. I regret that you didn't accept my offer to help you with three additional 1-1s which you refused, and with more time on coaching calls, all at no additional cost of course.

   

  After your program you shared with me that you did not learn anything that you didn't already know, which as evidenced in the shares above, is just not true. You explained that the skills of slowing down and being present (the first 4 weeks of the program) as well as expressing yourself were all things we worked on together and you developed through your program time. I share this because I want you to own that you made this progress! And it's wonderful. The more you build on that work the bigger those skills will grow.

  As you are aware you signed a member agreement when you hired me to enroll into my 12-week program, stating that you would show up and be coachable, and that I would do my very best to support your learning and transformation. I fulfilled that agreement and more, providing you with two additional 1-1 phone calls other clients did not get when you had trouble maintaining your commitment, as well as including an additional 3 weeks of twice weekly group calls and coaching. (agreement attached). On feb. 1st I emailed you in response to your complaint and offered you a partial refund of half of your payment for services provided and did not get a response. I emailed you again two weeks later to offer a refund again, and did not hear back from you. 

   

  I truly wish you all the happiness you are looking for.

  Best,

   

  Honor

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Customer response

  05/04/2022

  I had requested from Awakened Motherhood owner Honor, a refund of close to the full amount.  But she is offering me half refund of $3000 and it looks like she isn't going to offer more than that.   While i strongly prefer the full refund or close to full,  if all i can get is $3000, I will of course accept it.
  
  Please let me know if the conditions Honor is requesting can be fulfilled by BBB as she will only refund me if they are met.  
  
  Thank you.
  
  Regards,
  vandana

  Business response

  05/16/2022

  Hello, and thank you for reaching out again.

  I have offered my former client a refund three times over the last three and a half months, however she has not yet responded to my offer. Per our service agreement my client is not entitled to a refund, however I have offered to provide her with a 50% refund based on her complaints that she did not achieve the results she wanted.

  I would like to resolve this matter, and have attempted to the best of my ability to do so. I have emailed my former client the refund agreement to sign today for a final attempt at finding resolution, and am willing to provide her with the refund if she chooses to accept. 

   

  Thank you,

  Honor

  Customer response

  05/19/2022

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

*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. ↩