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Steve Manning Failed to Honor Money-Back Guarantee
You were asking about Steve Manning's writing course and I'll paste a
copy of the messages to him from me regarding his 'guarantee.' He has
not bothered to return or acknowledge my emails after the initial one
saying he would credit my account. He also gave detailed instructions
on how to return the merchandise, which cost me an additional $33, and
I found out later that sending it that way was not a good idea as it could
not be tracked. We suspect Mr. Manning deliberately wanted it sent that
way so he could say he didn't receive it. I don't know, as he refuses
to answer my emails asking for the credit.
Thank you,
BJ [withheld]
From: bj@[withheld]
Date: Tue Sep 30, 2003 04:11:30 PM US/Central
To: Steve@writeabooknow.com
Subject: returned material
Steve, you were so nice in answering my initial email about returning
the merchandise, so I don't understand why you haven't credited my account.
Is the $318 so important to you? I'm a newly divorced woman who is on
her own after thirty years of marriage and am trying to find my way in
life. I followed your instructions to the letter, mailing the merchandise
against the advice of the postal annex, saying the material couldn't be
traced. Since you have not acknowledged the return, I can only think that's
why you wanted it returned by mail. It was very costly to me to return
it that way, $33, but I trusted your word. I'm very sorry to learn you
are not trustworthy in returning my money.
Could you at least answer my emails? If I don't hear from you I have
no recourse other than pursuing another way to either get my money returned,
or to post what's happened on the internet. I may not get my money back
that way, but maybe I can save someone else from throwing over three-hundred
dollars away.
Thank you,
BJ [withheld]
From: bj@[withheld]
Date: Fri Sep 19, 2003 11:59:48 AM US/Central
To: Steve@writeabooknow.com
Subject: returned material
Steve Manning,
I can't understand why I haven't heard from you. You were so quick to
respond when I contacted you after receiving the material and I told you
it wasn't what I expected. On your instruction, I sent the material by
mail, which I have the receipt, but I was told that since it went by mail,
it couldn't be traced. You told me it was for custom purposes, but now
I
wonder.
Would you please credit my card the $318.86 that I paid for your course,
which was posted 6/25, 2003 and returned 7/09/03 at a cost of $33/31?
Thank you,
BJ [withheld]
On Tuesday, September 2, 2003, at 02:07 PM, bj@[withheld] wrote:
Hello, Steve -
I just checked with my credit card company and so far, it doesn't show
a credit for the refund. I sent the material by mail at your
suggestion,7/0/03 at a cost of $33.31. Will you be crediting my card soon?
Thank you, BJ [withheld], Yucaipa, CA
On Monday, July 7, 2003, at 12:41 PM,
Steve Manning wrote:
Hi!
I'm so sorry the information in "How To Write A Book on Anything
in 14 Days" hasn't been everything you were hoping for. Hundreds
of folks all around the world are using this information to get their
books written and published faster than they ever thought possible. But let's get started
on your refund, right away. Please mail the package back to me at 2065
Blue Ridge Crescent Pickering, ON Canada L1X 2N5
Don't send it via courier, send it by mail. It's a lot less expensive
and the difference is only a couple of days. Also, if you must fill out
a
customs form, or are asked the value of the material for customs purposes,
please use the replacement value of $28. This will eliminate customs
duties.
Customs duties that must be paid will be eliminated from refund amounts.
As soon as I have the package, your refund will be processed.
I wish you well.
Cheers,
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: bj@[withheld]
To: <Steve@writeabooknow.com>
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 1:38 AM
Subject: material
Steve -
I received the material a few days ago and have watched two videos and
have to say, this is not at all what I was looking for. If you'll look
on my order form, there's a space for me to write BEFORE the order was
shipped, and I wrote what I was looking for. Unfortunately, I didn't receive
an answer, either before the order was shipped or at any time.
Can I please send the material back and will you credit my card? I'm
sure your method would be great for a non-fiction book, but it's not what
I'm looking for on my fiction book.
Thank you,
BJ
December 3, 2003
In answer to numerous inquiries about BJ and
the outcome of her problems with Mr. Manning, I asked her to let me know
how it turned out. BJ writes:
Thank you, Holly for your concern and for the
concern of your readers.
Never did get resolved and Mr. Manning still does
not answer my emails. I had called my credit card company the first month
after sending the material back, but the card company said it was too
soon for the refund to show and to check the next month. I checked the
next month and the woman I spoke with said she'd put the amount into dispute.
I trusted that would happen; however, the next month the charge was still
there. I called, the credit card company said there was no record of the
dispute and I was two days too late. Now I'm paying on the charge because
I can't find the note where I jotted down the woman's name at the credit
card company. It's terrible to have to learn not to trust, but a lesson
I'm learning in order
to survive.
Thank you, Holly, it's nice that someone still
cares.
BJ
Rule of thumb if you're facing the same situation -- CONDUCT
ALL EXCHANGES WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY IN WRITING ONLY. Otherwise,
they're only marginally more ethical than Mr. Manning appears to be.
From: bj@<withheld>.com
Date: Thu Dec 4, 2003 10:58:58 AM US/Eastern
To: Holly Lisle
Subject: Steve Manning refund
Holly!
This was in my email box today; I just couldn't believe it. I know
it's because of the correspondence on your web site. If honor doesn't
get
a job done, then embarrasment often will. This email was followed
in just a few minutes by another one with a conformation number
for the
credit. Thank you! Thank you very much for having a site available
where people like me can post what has happened to them, and especially
for
your interest.
BJ
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Steve Manning" <manning00@rogers.com>
Date: Thu Dec 04, 2003 08:01:16 AM US/Central
To: <bj@<withheld>.com>
Subject: Re: refund credit
Hi BJ!
My sincere apologies. Lots of reasons, no excuses. As soon as I can
find your order, I'll be processing your refund. Should take
no more than
a few minutes. And I'll let you know when it has been done.
Steve
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