Hawaii BBB warns consumers about work-at-home offer
The Hawaii Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a Phoenix-based company offering work-at-home business opportunities selling credit card terminals to local merchants.
According to BBB reports, Merchant Referral Solutions—also known as MRS Referral Solutions and Superior Enterprise Solutions—began operating just a few months ago and has already racked up 30 complaints nationwide, with another dozen pending.
Residents of Oahu and Maui are among those who have filed complaints about the company’s misleading presentation, refund issues and high-pressure sales tactics.
A Kahuku resident paid $10,000 for an additional “call blast” service and others as much as $35,000 for an advertising campaign, a spokeswoman said.
Merchant Referral Solutions contacts people by phone with an offer to work from home as an “affiliate” selling its product to local businesses, according to the BBB.
After paying between $150 and $500 for the business opportunity, consumers are told they must also pay a monthly fee for their own Web site to sell the credit card terminals. Along with the unexpected Web site expense, people have complained to BBB about charges for training materials that were not disclosed, agreed to, or delivered.
Consumers also report that MRS affiliates pressured them to invest even more money on the business opportunity.
Merchant Referral Solutions contends that its charges are non-refundable and the company is not responsible for refunding charges from its affiliates. Based on the short amount of time it has been in business, the number of complaints filed against it and the company’s failure to respond to complaints, BBB gives Merchant Referral Solutions an F rating.
For more information, go to www.bbb.org/central-northern-western-arizona/business-reviews/business-opportunity-companies/merchant-referral-solutions-in-phoenix-az-1000007078/ .