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SMS offers a complete business analysis compiled with a one day study on your business and it takes 45 minutes or so to talk to them and that's it. SMS is known to increase profits. Better known for giving an analysis on their own merit, hoping that you will hire them and pay for their services should you feel you need them. I own a contracting company in Arizona and just in the first 15 minutes I knew the analyst had an eye for my business and much experience.
There is no catch. Instead of sending someone by to try and sell you, they basically give you a free analysis (done on their time and their own money) that shows you how to increase profits not modify your operations. If you don't see benefit in the analysis you don't have to pay or ever talk to them again.
I didn't pay for the analysis because the first few things I learned from the analyst in our focus meeting before the analysis opened my eyes to a few things and honestly, I make cabinets. 80% of my business is operational and 20% is financial. These guys study many businesses every week and they are proven to increase profits. I have never seen a company do this kind of work and put so much money up front to try and impress and they did.
No development/resource firm gives you a no obligation benefit. I was very wary of who they were. I figured out they have 3 different divisions and that there were a few issues they ran into in the past, but since I am open minded and looking for way to improve constantly (even though i make money every year) I gave it a shot and learned a few very good things about the business side I didn't understand. I guess it's true, you can't teach a guy how to make cabinets (been doing it for 40 years) but you can teach him how to run a business (which I always hated doing but I love making my cabinets and seeing people happy). After a month I am going to try and get some tax work done from them to educated my CPA (who is just a compliance officer).
Love SMS and I would recommend them to anyone.
Everyone has issues with the other firms out there but I honestly didn't see a drawback and they have a database of where I'm actually saving around 34, 000 a months by using other venders for my glue and nails. Very much knowledge contained there. If you have any questions they will answer them in the meeting and make sure you ask A LOT of questions. Good firm especially for their Tax division which helped my CPA tremendously.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
WHY WOULD ANYONE WORK FOR THESE PEOPLE? OMG THAT LAWSUIT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS PRECICELY WHAT THEY'RE STILL DOING!
CALL THE FBI ATTORNEY GENERALS AND GET THESE GUYS IS JAIL!
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
IPA, SMS, GPS ARE ALL THE SAME COMPANY!
The owners are "John Burgess and Tyler Burgess." The owner is a CHILD MOLESTER amoung other things. Would you want these people looking at your books?You have to see this! THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW!
Please look at YOU TUBE: FOX NEWS STORY ON RICO CASE AGAINST IPA
MADIGAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL PROFIT ASSOCIATES FOR CHEATING HUNDREDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES OUT OF THOUSANDS
Attorney General Says Buffalo Grove Consulting Firm
Practiced Wide-Scale Fraud
Chicago—Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA), a Buffalo Grove, Ill.-based management consulting firm, and its owner John R. Burgess. The suit alleges that the defendants use wide-ranging deceptive practices to ensnare hundreds of small-business clients into consulting service contracts that fail to fulfill the defendants' promises to boost their clients' bottom lines.
"International Profit Associates takes advantage of small businesses by painting an inaccurate and dismal picture of their financial condition and then conning the business owners into hiring IPA consultants who promise to turn things around, " Madigan said. "It is an unfair and deceptive scheme that has played out hundreds of times as reflected in the considerable number of complaints that my office has received from small businesses that lost tens of thousands of dollars to IPA."
"Small businesses are vital to our state's economy and are already struggling to weather the current difficult economic conditions. The last thing small business owners need is to be targeted for consulting services that simply will not benefit their operations, " Madigan said.
The suit also names as defendants: International Tax Advisors, Inc., Integrated Business Analysis, Inc., and Accountancy Associates, LLC, all based in Buffalo Grove, Ill. Burgess is the majority owner of all of the defendant companies.
Madigan's lawsuit alleges that IPA employs deceptive, high-pressure sales tactics to trap small businesses into management consulting contracts by falsely promising that the businesses will earn increased profits as a result of IPA's consulting services. Contrary to these promises, IPA typically charges the small businesses tens of thousands of dollars for services that fail to provide any constructive or useful information and do not result in any increased profits.
The complaint describes IPA's business practices in detail. IPA allegedly targets businesses through telemarketing, offering an initial evaluation of a prospective client's business for a nominal fee ranging from $300 to $2, 500. Once on site for the initial analysis, IPA sales associates allegedly convince small business owners that their companies are in serious financial trouble if they do not immediately retain IPA for consulting services.
IPA allegedly promises to prepare specialized, industry-specific recommendations that will help to improve a company's performance. The sales associates often promise that the businesses will see a three-to-one return on their investment in IPA consulting services and allegedly assure business owners that they will be able to afford the IPA services as a result of increased profits in the future. However, according to Madigan's lawsuit, the small business owners rarely realize an increase in profits and often are left in worse financial condition as a result of IPA's costly consulting services. One small business owner cited in Madigan's complaint paid IPA nearly $70, 000 in fees for consulting services that provided no meaningful advice to optimize business operations and, thus, failed to improve the company's profits.
As Madigan's lawsuit details, after a small business agrees to a consulting project, IPA consultants arrive, usually in pairs, and bill the small business at $275 each per hour, plus travel, hotel and per diem expenses. The consultants often produce reports and charts that appear to be based on boilerplate or generic data and do not provide specialized recommendations for the small business client as originally promised.
The complaint further alleges that IPA sales associates promise that business owners will not have to pay for consulting services if they are unsatisfied with the results. However, IPA allegedly uses aggressive collection practices to compel clients to pay for unsatisfactory service. Madigan's suit alleges that IPA demands immediate payments and, if a business owner does not make immediate payment, IPA consultants allegedly are trained to refuse to leave the business premises until their demand for a post-dated check is honored.
Since 2004, 215 consumers have filed complaints with Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau. During that time, more than 400 consumers have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
Madigan's lawsuit asks the court to permanently enjoin the defendants from engaging in this conduct. The suit also asks the court to order the defendants to pay restitution for the small business owners, civil penalties of $50, 000 for violations of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, an additional $50, 000 for each violation committed with the intent to defraud, and the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Consumer Fraud Bureau Chief James Kole, Special Consumer Counsel Charles G. Fergus and Assistant Attorneys General Anshuman Vaidya, Katrina Wanzer Derhake and Joshua Orenstein are handling the case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau.
OWNERS BEWARE!
SMS, ROI-NA, IPA, ABS, GPS [All the same company owned by John Burgess]
If you have a doubt, no more worries cause here's your proof. You have your answer on YOU TUBE. Watch this video THEN read the ATTORNEY GENERALS LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. Isn't that what they're STILL trying to sell us?
1. Attorney Generals Lawsuit
http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2009_04/20090422.htm
2. A must see video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpaQKm4b6oE
WOULD YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR BUSINESS?
John R. Burgess makes for an improbable courtier of presidents, or of a senator who might become one.
A disbarred New York lawyer with a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a 16-year-old prostitute, Mr. Burgess owns International Profit Associates, a management consulting company in Illinois.
NOW YOU KNOW WHY THEY "INSIST" ON SEEING YOUR TAX RETURNS AND BOOKS.
[It's obvious they want to know how much that they can't take you for]
MADIGAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST INTERNATIONAL PROFIT ASSOCIATES FOR CHEATING HUNDREDS OF SMALL BUSINESSES OUT OF THOUSANDS
Attorney General Says Buffalo Grove Consulting Firm
Practiced Wide-Scale Fraud
Chicago—Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA), a Buffalo Grove, Ill.-based management consulting firm, and its owner John R. Burgess. The suit alleges that the defendants use wide-ranging deceptive practices to ensnare hundreds of small-business clients into consulting service contracts that fail to fulfill the defendants' promises to boost their clients' bottom lines.
"International Profit Associates takes advantage of small businesses by painting an inaccurate and dismal picture of their financial condition and then conning the business owners into hiring IPA consultants who promise to turn things around, " Madigan said. "It is an unfair and deceptive scheme that has played out hundreds of times as reflected in the considerable number of complaints that my office has received from small businesses that lost tens of thousands of dollars to IPA."
"Small businesses are vital to our state's economy and are already struggling to weather the current difficult economic conditions. The last thing small business owners need is to be targeted for consulting services that simply will not benefit their operations, " Madigan said.
The suit also names as defendants: International Tax Advisors, Inc., Integrated Business Analysis, Inc., and Accountancy Associates, LLC, all based in Buffalo Grove, Ill. Burgess is the majority owner of all of the defendant companies.
Madigan's lawsuit alleges that IPA employs deceptive, high-pressure sales tactics to trap small businesses into management consulting contracts by falsely promising that the businesses will earn increased profits as a result of IPA's consulting services. Contrary to these promises, IPA typically charges the small businesses tens of thousands of dollars for services that fail to provide any constructive or useful information and do not result in any increased profits.
The complaint describes IPA's business practices in detail. IPA allegedly targets businesses through telemarketing, offering an initial evaluation of a prospective client's business for a nominal fee ranging from $300 to $2, 500. Once on site for the initial analysis, IPA sales associates allegedly convince small business owners that their companies are in serious financial trouble if they do not immediately retain IPA for consulting services.
IPA allegedly promises to prepare specialized, industry-specific recommendations that will help to improve a company's performance. The sales associates often promise that the businesses will see a three-to-one return on their investment in IPA consulting services and allegedly assure business owners that they will be able to afford the IPA services as a result of increased profits in the future. However, according to Madigan's lawsuit, the small business owners rarely realize an increase in profits and often are left in worse financial condition as a result of IPA's costly consulting services. One small business owner cited in Madigan's complaint paid IPA nearly $70, 000 in fees for consulting services that provided no meaningful advice to optimize business operations and, thus, failed to improve the company's profits.
As Madigan's lawsuit details, after a small business agrees to a consulting project, IPA consultants arrive, usually in pairs, and bill the small business at $275 each per hour, plus travel, hotel and per diem expenses. The consultants often produce reports and charts that appear to be based on boilerplate or generic data and do not provide specialized recommendations for the small business client as originally promised.
The complaint further alleges that IPA sales associates promise that business owners will not have to pay for consulting services if they are unsatisfied with the results. However, IPA allegedly uses aggressive collection practices to compel clients to pay for unsatisfactory service. Madigan's suit alleges that IPA demands immediate payments and, if a business owner does not make immediate payment, IPA consultants allegedly are trained to refuse to leave the business premises until their demand for a post-dated check is honored.
Since 2004, 215 consumers have filed complaints with Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau. During that time, more than 400 consumers have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
Madigan's lawsuit asks the court to permanently enjoin the defendants from engaging in this conduct. The suit also asks the court to order the defendants to pay restitution for the small business owners, civil penalties of $50, 000 for violations of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, an additional $50, 000 for each violation committed with the intent to defraud, and the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Consumer Fraud Bureau Chief James Kole, Special Consumer Counsel Charles G. Fergus and Assistant Attorneys General Anshuman Vaidya, Katrina Wanzer Derhake and Joshua Orenstein are handling the case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau.
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These guys want to charge $300.00 an hour to run my company like theirs? Lol Maybe I ought to charge them $300.00 an hour and a jail cell to go along.
Lol! What a joke!
1. They "LOST" the largest sexual harassment law suit ever in Americas history, $8, 000, 000.00
2. The owner has a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a "16" YEAR OLD prostitute. (pervert)
3. The Attorney General sued them for fraud. (read the details of the law suit. It's exactly what they're doing right now)
4. I was reading all these blogs and apparently they're ripping off their own employees also.
Maybe we should solicit them to $300.00 an hour consulting instead. They need our help more then we would even want them near us that's for sure! What a joke!
The following will help out any business needing real information. Truths don't lie, see for yourself:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpaQKm4b6oE
2. http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2009_04/20090422.html
3. http://www.learwerts.com/Investigations/IPA-Consultants/
4. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8039364
These guys are "predators" They seem to prey on business owners and the poor and unemployed by giving hope. To prey upon the vulnerable is low if not the lowest, so ultra cautions and beware!
SMS, GPS, IPA, ABS, ROI-NA are all owned by the same pervert!
ITS A FRAUD! IT'S A MESS!, "IT'S DISGUSTING! IT'S PERVERTED!" IT'S MISLEADING IT IS A DISASTER!
If after opening the following sites, you still wish to work for them, then you are them yourself and your really not much different. Is everyone including the ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS all wrong and the Burgess are just a bunch of victums? You can decide for yourself and this will make it easier.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpaQKm4b6oE
2. http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2009_04/20090422.html
3. http://www.learwerts.com/Investigations/IPA-Consultants/
4. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-22/business/ct-biz-0222-chicago-law-20110222_1_eeoc-sexual-harassment-individual-class-members
5. A disbarred New York lawyer (John Burgess owner of SMS, GPS) with a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a 16-year-old prostitute, Mr. Burgess owns International Profit Associates, a management consulting company in Illinois. (What a dirty old man! That's absolutely disgusting! what a Pervert!)
That Rico "Criminal investigation" is alarming.
SMS, GPS, IPA, ABS, ROI-NA are all owned by the same pervert!
ITS A FRAUD! IT’S A MESS!, “IT’S DISGUSTING! IT’S PERVERTED!” IT’S MISLEADING IT IS A DISASTER!
If after opening the following sites, you still wish to work for them, then you are them yourself and your really not much different. Is everyone (hundreds of business owners and employees) including the ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS all wrong and the Burgess (Pervert & Son) are just a bunch of innocent victums? You can decide for yourself but maybe reading this will make it easier.
1. http://funalize.com/fox-news-story-on-rico-case-against-ipa/
2.http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2009_04/20090422.html
3.http://www.learwerts.com/Investigations/IPA-Consultants/
4. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-22/business/ct-biz-0222-chicago-law-20110222_1_eeoc-sexual-harassment-individual-class-members
5. A disbarred New York lawyer (John Burgess owner of SMS, GPS) with a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a "16-year-old" prostitute, Mr. Burgess owns International Profit Associates, a management consulting company in Illinois.
A 16 year old? (What a dirty old man! That’s absolutely disgusting, what a Pervert!) Guess its easy to see why they lost the Sexual Harassment lawsuit and had to pay out $8, 000, 000.00
Heck the owner is a Pervert so Monkey see Monkey do I guess?
Please Note: That Rico “Criminal investigation” is alarming and disturbing. That's really bad but that's a Chicago Company for you. I don't think I'd want Al Capone looking at my books anytime soon. These guys are just really bad news and not the people I would want my little daughter with either.
These SOB tried coming in my business today I knew something was funny about them. The scammer told me they would increase my sales if I paid them $500.00 for some analysis. The only analysis I want from them is the way out of the door.
I just had this goofy looking sales guy trying to convince me to this analysis. I recognized the SMS name from past visits here and remembered reading up on them before. I quickly stopped his goofy sales spieel and asked him about this Attorney Generals lawsuit. As you would guess a scammer do; he turns white as snow, apologizes, and runs out the door nearly tripping over himself.
GPS, SMS, IPA, ABS, ROI-NA are all owned by the same pervert!
ITS A FRAUD! IT’S A MESS! “IT’S DISGUSTING!" IT’S PERVERTED!” IT’S MISLEADING!
You decide for yourself, but maybe reading this will make it easier. These 5 are just the tip of the iceberg but you'll get the picture about who you're dealing with.
1. Look at this video, It's scary.
http://funalize.com/fox-news-story-on-rico-case-against-ipa/
2. There's your answer on this read:
http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2009_04/20090422.html
3. This is just another law suit of the many.
http://www.learwerts.com/Investigations/IPA-Consultants/
4. This is absolutely repulsing!
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-22/business/ct-biz-0222-chicago-law-20110222_1_eeoc-sexual-harassment-individual-class-members
5. A disbarred New York lawyer (John Burgess owner of SMS, GPS) with a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a "16-year-old" prostitute, Mr. Burgess owns International Profit Associates, a management consulting company in Illinois.
A 16 year old? (What a dirty old man! That’s absolutely disgusting, what a Pervert!) Guess its easy to see why they lost the Sexual Harassment lawsuit and had to pay out $8, 000, 000.00 Heck the owner is a Pervert so Monkey see Monkey do I guess?
Note: That Rico “Criminal investigation” is alarming and disturbing. That's really bad but that's a Chicago Company for you. I don't think I'd want Al Capone looking at my books anytime soon. These guys are just really bad news, but at least it looks as though the Department of Justice is on to them and prosecution near in waits.
SMS is a fraud. Employees are being shorted hours and are pressured to make appointment that never sell. Owners get so sick at getting called that they start yelling at the poor BC's who are only trying to do a job.
Do not work with or for SMS under any circumstances.
That Burgess PERVERT guy that likes LITTLE GIRLS needs to pay you. He is a PIG!
How can you guys work around a PERVERT anyhow? The Attorney General's gona send that DIRTY OLD MAN to jail soon and they don't like perverts that like LITTLE GIRLS in that place very much. He better get his FAT ### in a gym and get some muscles cause he is going to need some.
A 16 year old? (What a dirty old man! That’s absolutely disgusting! Guess its easy to see why they lost the Sexual Harassment lawsuit and had to pay out $8, 000, 000.00 Heck the owner is a Pervert so Monkey see Monkey do I guess?
Thanks for all this information. Its clear the Better Business Bureau needs to be informed. They have a C- on the BBB but that should be more like an F. I guess they already have one but they use so many names, the BBB can't keep up. Unless we start informing the BBB, we will have this scam around awhile. I want to thank everyone for the heads up. I agree, that guys a pervert but he's also a scammer and belongs in the same house as Bernie Madoff. They should be cell mates and we can help him to his new home. Owners; if all of us inform the Better Business Bureau, we may help ourselves from all these predators. My secretary helped me out by checking up on them or I would have been scammed too. NOTIFY THE BBB.
I have no imperial evidence but it appears that over half of these complaints are written by the same person. The syntax and grammar construction on over half of these seem to have the same finger prints all over them. How many of us write with excess in BOLD lettering all over a rational statement.
Do you really believe that, Upyourssociety comments are made by an “former” employee of SMS. Let’s do a little math on his educational information.
Graduated from high school at 18, than 4 year undergrad degree equals 22 years of age. Now Grad School, 2 years, would make you at least 24 years of age. Oh I forgot you were an analyst for Scott Forge, maybe 1 more year, now 25 years old.
Than you went to work for SMS at the age of 23; because you have a “time machine” that allows you to go back in time.
Your language is not that of a professional consultant, I believe that you are a scam.
Do the math “MBA”
18+4+2+1=25 years before going to work for SMS, yet you are now only 23 years of age.
Let’s look as several claims over the next week.
This one by Buster One on March 9, 2011, he states I use to work for SMS and calls them a scam, no financial backing and do nothing.
SMS and its affiliates are not Bankers they are business, tax, and finance professional consultants. They will assist you in dealing with banks and have consultants with the experience, professional, and educational credentials to help.
The claim of doing nothing is so far from the truth, each of the consultants has personal pride. Just like the business owner the consultants are driven to secede. Sometime it comes down to the fact that owners have been in the forest so long that they no longer see what is truly going on around them. After a couple of days of interviews and observation the consultant usually can begin to show the businessman the larger picture that they have not notice after all these years. And as simple as some of the solutions seem they have in the past added up to large dollar amounts.
Yes, I have worked for an affiliate of SMS, but they have no knowledge of my writing in this blog and they do not know my real name. I have seen a lot of good come from this company.
I had a friend who has been working for SMS for a while. Even back when it was IPA and they had told me about all the sexual harassment lawsuits they have had and how they had to keep changing their name around. But I needed a job. And so I called and asked to speak Ron whatever his last name is. he told me to be in Monday (because I called on a Friday) early as possible. I traveled like 2 hours just so he can tell me I have the job. Not a real interview at all. I went to training for a week. It was pretty decent because of the people in there then I passed the written exam and the Oral exam. But now I'm out on the "Sales Floor" coming out of the Training class with Grant Simmons (Trainer) I had the mentality like I was going to have me on the phone with these owners. Monday I come back they had me listen to other people on the phone. Cool. Then they had me do what they call, "Call Leads" where you do everything the same but instead of having these Senior Area Managers (S.A.M for short) come to your business, they would call instead. Sounds easier right? WRONG! these people didn't even like my S.A.M so my calls didn't mean anything to them. They send you in the Zone which they feel like you will fit. I was automatcically put in the same Zone as my friend. I can say that at first I went in there on the sales floor with full force. Then after looking around at the different people working there I begin to wonder, they hire everybody apparently. I know equal opportunity, but these people clearly had criminal background records that weren't ashamed of telling me so I know that they weren't ashamed of telling Jimmy Jordan (I'm not sure what's his title, (but I'm assuming nobody is higher than him because my Zone Managers would have to answer to him). These people have tattoos all on there face and hands, gold teeth, pink and blue hair, and wearing all types of clothes non dressy. Like I said equal opportunity, so I couldn't really complain, but it often bothered me. But back to me. I get on the phones every day with determination with no result. I told myself that I will push myself a little more the following week. But before I got to my seat and asked for permission to get on the computer, they tell me that all my leads are fake. I couldn't believe it! I bussed my ### to get through to these owners and they told me that all the effort I put into it was worthless. So I tried to go through my day without going postal. At the nd of day I couldn't hold it in anymore. I had an emotional breakdown right there on the sales floor and my managers didn't give two flying ###s. They sat right there and said nothing. So if that wasn't enough, I come home and I get hit with a ton of bricks. My family needed me so I could afford to miss a day at work. I called them to say just that, and they told me I couldn't produce any legit leads and that they have to let me go. I also got a write up. This all happened so fast. Whatever happened to 3 strikes? Truth is I was not feeling that job in the first place. So them giving me the boot was fine with me. I made a few friends, had a a little fun, but most importantly I learned some things. I learned that corporate America prowls on people who seriousy need a job, hire them, train them, even feed them just so they can treat you like ### once you are hired. I have seen these managers yell, throw chairs, and threaten us the Business Coordinators ( or B.C. For short). They even keep you there for hours because you haven't finished your job. Some people that has been there forever put up with that but not me. The only thing I miss is the friends I made. I don't miss that intimidating feeling I would always get when I walk through those doors. I don't miss getting up at 4:30 in the morning to get to work at 7, get off work and only want to sleep. Complaint? No. But I'm not for SMS either. I saw it as a job and nothing more. I am grateful for the friends I made. The food was even good but I can afford to lose a job. Especially a job like that. If you like the type of stuff I mentioned, then apply because they always hiring, but just know that your pride and dignity will be stripped from you completely once you walk into their doors to work for them. I feel sorry for the other people that work there because they absolutely need the money, but I feel sorry for the owners I bothered every day I worked there. Either they were busy, not interested, or have already worked with us. They need their money too. They already have a lot of things going on, taking on a faulty consulting company shouldn't be the first thing to do when they wake up in the morning. I dont know why SMS feels that way. Don't know if they are a scam or not because that doesn't mean a thing to me. I can care less. They will be around. Harassing all you business owners and treating all you employees like ###. They will get hit with another lawsuit and change their name. Truth is, there are not going anywhere. You either learn to deal with them calling you or deal with them making you feel inferior. It's just that simple. You can take this as a complaint if you want, I'm just sharing my experience with SMS. Thanks for reading I guess and God Bless.
I am 25 yrs old & I worked at SMS. They are piece of poop company. They lie to bussiness owners and people. They make u spend gas and they are poop. They have lawsuit everywhere be cureful of thum cause you will lose money. They have bad people working for thum all the time. In my country they don't allow company like sms to doing bussiness. I hope the attorney genital shut Down this guys. They bad people I speak truth I now them how they opurate.
I just had one of these stupid sms sales guys in my business. Seriously why would I even remotely want you idiots in my business? I read that attorney general lawsuit and I am puzzled why you all are still in business? Cp an any one of you stupid mother ###ers tell me why on earth would any business want you helping them? Please don't give me your stupid spiel on we help business owners achieve this or that crap again either. The dope that was just in here did plenty of that already.
I can tell a good amount of folks out here are working employees. Can any one of you justify this lawsuit?
Attorney General Says Buffalo Grove Consulting Firm
Practiced Wide-Scale Fraud
Chicago—Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA), a Buffalo Grove, Ill.-based management consulting firm, and its owner John R. Burgess. The suit alleges that the defendants use wide-ranging deceptive practices to ensnare hundreds of small-business clients into consulting service contracts that fail to fulfill the defendants' promises to boost their clients' bottom lines.
"International Profit Associates takes advantage of small businesses by painting an inaccurate and dismal picture of their financial condition and then conning the business owners into hiring IPA consultants who promise to turn things around, " Madigan said. "It is an unfair and deceptive scheme that has played out hundreds of times as reflected in the considerable number of complaints that my office has received from small businesses that lost tens of thousands of dollars to IPA."
"Small businesses are vital to our state's economy and are already struggling to weather the current difficult economic conditions. The last thing small business owners need is to be targeted for consulting services that simply will not benefit their operations, " Madigan said.
The suit also names as defendants: International Tax Advisors, Inc., Integrated Business Analysis, Inc., and Accountancy Associates, LLC, all based in Buffalo Grove, Ill. Burgess is the majority owner of all of the defendant companies.
Madigan's lawsuit alleges that IPA employs deceptive, high-pressure sales tactics to trap small businesses into management consulting contracts by falsely promising that the businesses will earn increased profits as a result of IPA's consulting services. Contrary to these promises, IPA typically charges the small businesses tens of thousands of dollars for services that fail to provide any constructive or useful information and do not result in any increased profits.
The complaint describes IPA's business practices in detail. IPA allegedly targets businesses through telemarketing, offering an initial evaluation of a prospective client's business for a nominal fee ranging from $300 to $2, 500. Once on site for the initial analysis, IPA sales associates allegedly convince small business owners that their companies are in serious financial trouble if they do not immediately retain IPA for consulting services.
IPA allegedly promises to prepare specialized, industry-specific recommendations that will help to improve a company's performance. The sales associates often promise that the businesses will see a three-to-one return on their investment in IPA consulting services and allegedly assure business owners that they will be able to afford the IPA services as a result of increased profits in the future. However, according to Madigan's lawsuit, the small business owners rarely realize an increase in profits and often are left in worse financial condition as a result of IPA's costly consulting services. One small business owner cited in Madigan's complaint paid IPA nearly $70, 000 in fees for consulting services that provided no meaningful advice to optimize business operations and, thus, failed to improve the company's profits.
As Madigan's lawsuit details, after a small business agrees to a consulting project, IPA consultants arrive, usually in pairs, and bill the small business at $275 each per hour, plus travel, hotel and per diem expenses. The consultants often produce reports and charts that appear to be based on boilerplate or generic data and do not provide specialized recommendations for the small business client as originally promised.
The complaint further alleges that IPA sales associates promise that business owners will not have to pay for consulting services if they are unsatisfied with the results. However, IPA allegedly uses aggressive collection practices to compel clients to pay for unsatisfactory service. Madigan's suit alleges that IPA demands immediate payments and, if a business owner does not make immediate payment, IPA consultants allegedly are trained to refuse to leave the business premises until their demand for a post-dated check is honored.
Since 2004, 215 consumers have filed complaints with Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau. During that time, more than 400 consumers have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
Madigan's lawsuit asks the court to permanently enjoin the defendants from engaging in this conduct. The suit also asks the court to order the defendants to pay restitution for the small business owners, civil penalties of $50, 000 for violations of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, an additional $50, 000 for each violation committed with the intent to defraud, and the costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case.
Consumer Fraud Bureau Chief James Kole, Special Consumer Counsel Charles G. Fergus and Assistant Attorneys General Anshuman Vaidya, Katrina Wanzer Derhake and Joshua Orenstein are handling the case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau
Do you really believe that, Upyourssociety comments are made by a former employee of SMS. Let’s do a little math on his educational information.
Graduated from high school at 18, than 4 year undergrad degree equals 22 years of age. Now Grad School, 2 years, would make you at least 24 years of age. Oh I forgot you were an analyst for Scott Forge, maybe 1 more year, now 25 years old.
Than you went to work for SMS at the age of 23; because you have a “time machine” that allows you to go back in time.
Your language is not that of a professional consultant, I believe that you are a scam.
Do the math “MBA”
18+4+2+1=25 years before going to work for SMS, yet you are now only 23 years of age
Let’s look as several claims over the next week.
This one by Buster One on March 9, 2011, he states I use to work for SMS and calls them a scam, no financial backing and do nothing.
SMS and its affiliates are not Bankers they are business, tax, and finance professional consultants. They will assist you in dealing with banks and have consultants with the experience, professional, and educational credentials to help.
The claim of doing nothing is so far from the truth, each of the consultants has personal pride. Just like the business owner the consultants are driven to secede. Sometime it comes down to the fact that owners have been in the forest so long that they no longer see what is truly going on around them. After a couple of days of interviews and observation the consultant usually can begin to show the businessman the larger picture that they have not notice after all these years. And as simple as some of the solutions seem they have in the past added up to large dollar amounts.
Yes, I have worked for an affiliate of SMS, but they have no knowledge of my writing in this blog and they do not know my real name. I have seen a lot of good come from this company
I am very grateful for all of your comments. I received a letter from them about applying for a position. After reading this and doing some checking I will not interview nor take a job even if offered salary. That's right, the position is commission and they don't even pay for travel outside the metro area. Here is the pitch.
Senior Area Manager:
This is a Full-time/Outside sales position titled Senior Area Manager. You would be a W-2 employee with full benefits. Our company is based in Illinois. You are managing a sales territory within your area. This is a local territory within your area requiring no overnight travel, but you must live within a reasonable driving distance of the open territory (50 Miles). You are not required to relocate for this position. You would work with a telemarketer who is located here in Illinois who sets 2-3 appointments for you daily. You are going to meet with business owners, and decision makers, CEO's, etc. to sell them a 2-3 day business analysis.
During the meeting, the Senior Area manager will determine what problems are keeping the business owner from achieving their maximum potential. Once identified the Senior Area Manager will recommend our Business Analysis service to further define and help the client attain their goals. Qualified candidates will have proven sales ability with the skills to make first-call closes. Excellent verbal skills with the ability to sell intangible services are a must. Experience should include 3+years of sales experience and general business knowledge. Business Administration or Marketing degree is a plus.
You do not perform the analysis, you only sell it. This is basically a needs analysis to diagnose where the weaknesses fall within the company and whether or not the consulting services would benefit that particular business. The business analysis' you sell are anywhere from $600-$2600 (Survey Fee). You are paid on a Straight Commission Basis (No base salary). If you have never worked on a straight commission basis in the past, please do not let this discourage you. You will receive 91% of the survey fee as your commission in addition to a percentage of the consulting services. A six figure income is very attainable in your first year. A vehicle and valid driver's license are required for this position. Training is provided for one week. If you have not already done so, you can go to our website at www.sms-na.com.
We are looking to fill this position immediately. Please contact me if you would like to move forward with an interview by phone. Once I received your call or email I will check to see that you live with in the perimeters needed. I am available from 8:30am-4pm, CST, Monday through Friday. You can reach me at [protected], extension 14015 or email me at tammy.slywka@sms-na.com.
Thank you & have a great day!
Does anyone have a copy of their analysis they would be willing to share?! I am thinking about working for them and I want to see their work for myself to make a educated decision. If you do please email it to AdamTaxRes@gmail.com
Thanks, Adam
Does anyone have a copy of their analysis their are willing to share? I am thinking about working for them and I want to see for myself what all the fuss is about.
If you do please email me at AdamTaxRes@gmail.com
[redacted] IS THE SCAM - HERE IS THE REAL TRUTH: http://youtu.be/MHAcf1fYknE
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE since they are truly excellent in the real time information that save a $40k tax bill due and turn it into pennies on the dollar. GAVE REAL TIME INFORMATION TOOLS AND SYSTEMS. Also they put together a marketing plan that is working AND INCREASING SALES and it did not cost much. But it working and I would advise you not to listen to all this non-sense but make a informed decision with real information and not rhetoric and non-sense. This a our livelihood business and they have some solution look at it. It does not cost you to look. You make your own decision just like when YOU started the business you are in. I am sure you had many of people tell you it would not work, or that It would fail, etc. However no one can estimate, FAITH, DRIVE, & DETERMINATION of one's HEART. GET THE SURVEY and have the ANAYLST TO COME OUT THEN JUDGE FOR YOUR SELF. DON'T LET ALL OF THESE YEAH-Hews, NEGATIVE PEOPLE STOP YOU FROM TRYING A NO RISK OBLIGATION REAL WORLD ASSESSMENT of your BUSINESS. IT WAS EYE OPENING TO ME TO KNOW SOME OF THE AREAS IN WHICH I WAS FAILING AND WHICH AREAS I WAS SUCCEEDING. GET IT DONE. AS ALL OF YOU SMALL BUSINESSES KNOW IS THAT INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE LACK THERE OF COULD RESULT IN MISTAKES OR EVEN WORST FAILURE. IT TOUGH OUT HERE TO MAKE IT AN ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP I AM ALL FOR LOOKING INTO. DO BE SWAYED UNTIL YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION THEN RELYING ON SOME INTERNET NAYSAYERS AND DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES. BIBLE - KJV 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
NIV 2 Timothy 2
An Unashamed Workman
14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His, ” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”, HERE IS THE REAL TRUTH: http://youtu.be/MHAcf1fYknE
[redacted] IS THE SCAM - HERE IS THE REAL TRUTH: http://youtu.be/MHAcf1fYknE
I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE since they are truly excellent in the real time information that save a $40k tax bill due and turn it into pennies on the dollar. GAVE REAL TIME INFORMATION TOOLS AND SYSTEMS. Also they put together a marketing plan that is working AND INCREASING SALES and it did not cost much. But it working and I would advise you not to listen to all this non-sense but make a informed decision with real information and not rhetoric and non-sense. This a our livelihood business and they have some solution look at it. It does not cost you to look. You make your own decision just like when YOU started the business you are in. I am sure you had many of people tell you it would not work, or that It would fail, etc. However no one can estimate, FAITH, DRIVE, & DETERMINATION of one's HEART. GET THE SURVEY and have the ANAYLST TO COME OUT THEN JUDGE FOR YOUR SELF. DON'T LET ALL OF THESE YEAH-Hews, NEGATIVE PEOPLE STOP YOU FROM TRYING A NO RISK OBLIGATION REAL WORLD ASSESSMENT of your BUSINESS. IT WAS EYE OPENING TO ME TO KNOW SOME OF THE AREAS IN WHICH I WAS FAILING AND WHICH AREAS I WAS SUCCEEDING. GET IT DONE. AS ALL OF YOU SMALL BUSINESSES KNOW IS THAT INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE LACK THERE OF COULD RESULT IN MISTAKES OR EVEN WORST FAILURE. IT TOUGH OUT HERE TO MAKE IT AN ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP I AM ALL FOR LOOKING INTO. DO BE SWAYED UNTIL YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION THEN RELYING ON SOME INTERNET NAYSAYERS AND DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES. BIBLE - KJV 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
NIV 2 Timothy 2
An Unashamed Workman
14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ;The Lord knows those who are His, and;Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness, HERE IS THE REAL TRUTH: http://youtu.be/MHAcf1fYknE
That idiot that claims he had nothing but praise is clearly a fraud. (An employee pretending to be an owner.) No one in the right mind could possibly say that SMS or GPS or whatever other names IPA and so forth is ANYTHING LESS THAN A SCAM OR TOTAL FRAUD!
The sales staff also need to be sued cause they are in on the scam. If your aware that GPS/SMS/IPA is a little scary (scam) and you continue to be part of it, you deserve what's you have coming and lawsuits will be coming I assure you. I was scammed by the salesman and the company, but don't worry I'll be suing! This company after further research is a total scam! I hope the attorney general sends them all to jail and especially that fat disgusting child molester owner.
They called on Monday and tried to make an appointment. I very clearly and plainly told them to NOT send anyone out. The next day someone came out while I was out of the office. He told my secretary he had an appointment with him and when she got me on the phone, I said no, that I had told the young man to NOT send anyone out and I would not be back. He left. On Wednesday someone called again to make another appointment and I had to hold myself back from screaming into the phone. NO, NO under NO circumstances come out here. Thursday when the guy got there I pulled a big chunk of my hair out and told him everything that had happened and showed him the door. Friday when I was out of the office, my son intercepted a call from them and told them to jump in a lake. The guy asked for my cell # and my son said forget it. The next Monday when they called he asked if I met his Senior Manager last week and when I said I had, he began telling me the manager said I had expressed an interest in doing business. NO, NO, NO I responded. You go back and ask your team what I said, there are about five of them. I raised my voice like Ray Lewis does when he sacks an opposing quarterback and the guy said "You need to have a nice day" and hung up. I swear to you, the American public that if someone else shows their disgraceful ugly face over here again, I will literally (Im not exaggerating here) open the door and kick them in the butt on the way out. This is the worst abuse Ive ever taken.
BEWARE! These people called us to say they were interested in purchasing our product. They made an app't to come to see us. Then they started asking a lot of questions, which we answered because we thought we were explaining our stability to a customer. Afterward, we became suspicious and called them back to confirm their business contact information. We were told they are in Illinois (we are in California) and when I asked to speak to the person who had called, I was connected to a guy who sounded like he was on drugs, and answered, "Naughty Landscaping". When I asked who it was, he said, "Come on bro, you callin' me, who dis?" I asked for the last time and he said, "Come on bro, don't be playin' wit me". I called back the receptionist and this time got someone who said they were calling to cancel our appointment. I told her we were going to report them to the police unless I got some evidence from them that they were not trying to do us harm. I asked what address the person was going to go to before he canceled, and she said, that's why we were calling, the address we have is incorrect. I hung up and called the police. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THESE PEOPLE - THEY MAY BE TRYING TO ROB YOU FOR ALL WE KNOW.
I was to call 'Keith' today with my yes or no about SAM employment. I wanted to speak with a SM, so I phoned their offices. I was transferred to another person that answered, "ABS". I had called SMS-NA, so I was alerted. I then asked nicely, "What does ABS stand for?" The reply was, "It stands for nothing, sir." My call was then immediately placed on hold to the sound of Muzak. I hung up and found this site.
Thank you, all.
Current, future, and past Non-Employee
Things that make you go: hmmmm...
I have a telephone interview with them this week, (they reached out to me, responding to my resume posted with an employment website), so I figured I would just do some research on them to get ready for the interview and here's where I landed, (and Thank you for all the information.)
It sounds like a lot of folks out there were preyed on by these individuals, and I am surprised that no one (especially the ones applying for employment or accepting an appointment for a consultation) missed this blog...
Looking forward to my phone interview... ;)
These guys are relentless. I spoke with a guy at IPA over 6 years ago. They called and they were going to come in and evaluate our business. They were going to fly 3 guys in from Chicago to evaluate. The morning they were to arrive, I googled Scam and IPA. I read all the complaints. When they arrived, I wouldnt let them in the door. They said they were going to sue and they said that we owed for the time that it took to come there and plane tickets. I had never said they were hired or signed anything!
I received a call from the guy in Chicago and he threatened me and cursed. I told him I wasnt going to let them in and he said I better watch my back! They also did some work for a competitor and he ended up in a law suit. Thye gave him a bill of non approved billing.
They called me back a few years ago and I told them not to bother with calling and why. Yesterday I received a call from GPS usa. They told me they would help us with tax info and help find people who needed employment. I didnt put realize it was the same Company. He said some guy would be coming by to drop off some info and let us know who they were about. He was talking to my partner and I decided to Google "GPS IPA Scam" and discovered its the same company. I approached the guy and he denied he was with IPA or had any association with IPA. He gathered his stuff and left quickly.
I will stay on my toes for now on.
If anyone wonders about this SMS company it's a total scam. Business owners beware! Look what I just found about them:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
2.http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2009_04/20090422.html
3. http://www.learwerts.com/Investigations/IPA-Consultants/
4. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-22/business/ct-biz-0222-chicago-law-20110222_1_eeoc-sexual-harassment-individual-class-members
5. A disbarred New York lawyer (John Burgess owner of SMS, GPS) with a criminal record for attempted larceny and patronizing a "16-year-old" prostitute, Mr. Burgess owns International Profit Associates, a management consulting company in Illinois.
A 16 year old? (What a dirty old man! That’s absolutely disgusting, what a Pervert!) Guess its easy to see why they lost the Sexual Harassment lawsuit and had to pay out $8, 000, 000.00
Please Note; That Rico “Criminal investigation” is alarming and disturbing. That's really bad but that's a Chicago Company for you. I don't think I'd want Al Capone looking at my books anytime soon. These guys are just really bad news and not the people I would want my little daughter with either.
They are operating in Maine, using the same tactics. I let them visit once, and after 15 minutes politely showed the SMA the door. He showed up 2 months later claiming to have an appointment, I threw him out. Got a call from his "boss" who proceeded to try and tell me I was not professional, and needed to let them in the door to "fix" my business, which is just fine. I still get calls regularly, and while I used to be polite, I now tell the caller they should be ashamed at what they do and to remove me from their list, but they just keep calling.
If an SMA shows up again... I'll do like a previous poster suggested, park him in a conference room and call the cops.
I got scammed by SMS, NA LLC in 2011, I was told I would be trained as one of their Sam's (senior area managers) I called and started to ask more questions about the company and all I got was the run around and they became very arrogant, I had already paid for a plain ticket to Buffalo, ILL (ended up using it to go some where else), so canceled my reservation at there hotel/school, they then tried to charge my account another $250.00+ but I had already put up a block to stop them, I was then contacted by the AG office of ILL, and gave them all my info, was told that SMS was under investigation for racketeering and other pending charges. I advise anyone looking to gain employment with SMS, IPA, Global ?, and many other names that have come up with this organisation, to stay clear from them as they are a complete scam.
Stay away, they are a scam. They called. We said we were not interested. They showed up at our office uninvited. No legitimate business would conduct themselves in this manner. End of story.