Information and Alerts

Ad Review

The company makes numerous claims on its website regarding the jobs offered, including home typing, envelope stuffing, mailing and other tasks. Many of the claims promise "excellent income" in "worldwide positions." The homepage requests the participant's name and e-mail address. When consumers register, they can select from a variety of "opportunities", with each requiring an up-front registration fee from $39.95 and up. The Bureau has received numerous inquiries and complaints during the last 36 months. All complaints have been answered within an acceptable time frame. However, the bureau has noted a pattern of complaints regarding the company’s practices. Consumers have alleged the following: * Difficulty and delays in obtaining refunds when requested. * Slow or nonexistent initial response to complaints when brought to the attention of the company by the consumer. * Failure to pay amounts promised for work completed. * Failure to acknowledge receipt of completed packages. In June, 2003, the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi began to note a pattern of complaints and inquiries from around the nation about Rainbow Expressions. This company has become one of the largest generators of inquiries to Better Business Bureaus from around the nation, with increasing international inquiries and complaints. In response, the Bureau began an investigation of Rainbow Expressions in July, 2003. The investigation was designed to determine whether the company’s promotional literature and website were accurate and truthful in their claims, and whether the company delivered on the goods and services promised. During this investigation, a BBB agent registered for Rainbow Expressions’ service, submitting the required pre-payment and paperwork. After the items had been received in the mail, the service was cancelled and a refund requested. Here are the results of that investigation: * Registration for the program required an up-front fee of $39.95. * Approximately one week after signing up, the BBB’s agent received in the mail an envelope containing a set of 60 postcards and a set of pre-printed labels with the names and addresses of people to whom were to be sent the postcards (at the expense of the participant.) The postcards contained a solicitation from Rainbow Expressions, which stated the company’s claims to be able to make large sums of money from home. To send all the postcards out would have cost the agent an additional $5.75 (23 cents per postcard at current USPS rates). * Upon receipt of the packet, the agent promptly contacted the company by e-mail to request an immediate refund on the credit card. The company has promised to send a refund within 30 days of the request. The refund was credited back to the agent’s account more than 30 days after the request was verified as having been received.