SMS.com review: sms, roi-na, ipa, abs, gps are all a scam 106

It would seem the complaints come from two distinct groups. 1. short time employees 2. Business owners who were treated poorly in initial contact. As someone who have run a direct b2b business for 17 years now I have never changed my name, I have whoever had numerous former employees who made outlandish claims. I had one employee actually tell me that they believed the prices we charged were criminal, LOL as if they had a single clue on the cost of doing business. I checked the B2B which is not an ultimate guild, trust me it's run by local small business ours so don't get to excited they two are a direct high pressure b2b selling company . That being said their score was a B-. showing only two product complaints the rest had to do with sales tactic's to me I ignore those for a whole host of reasons. To you business owners out there you are not protected like privet citizens when it comes to calls there is no such thing as a no call list for business owners for those of you that don't understand this then I might say clearly you don't understand Business and maybe should consider working for someone who does. If it doesn't sell nothing happens. That being said I personal and my companies policy on people that say don't call me, they are done for at least 2 years, chance are they won't be in that business in 2 years anyways as 82% of all new business fail in the first 2 and and 95% in the first 5 it is what it is.
Here are the legitimate issues as I see them, numerous name chances, as a former cpf and CLU their answer of tax reasons doesn't fly. The type of complaints I see show bad management in the calling room and a lack of respect of their prospects. I can not say what the company policies are but clearly they have issues for such a new company considering the name change to have 10 complaints so quickly in just one state seems like a management issue to me. Lastly references ... thats huge to me the first thing we do when we enter a business is brake out our customer list, that list is our badge of honor that list is the good the bad and the ugly for sure but it also tells the story of our commitment to our customers, no one is perfect but we sure try to be, some of our previous complaining customer are now some of our biggest fans, and certainly some of those customers never said word one to us about their problems we only discovered some complaints when folks who took their names as references told us of their complaints Our response wasn't to move forward and try to over come the objection I response was to thank them for the information and inform they we will contact them as soon as the issue was resolved. It's always better to solve your problems first before attempting to add a new prospect. IN every instance where this was the case invariably we got the deal, because every business owner respected our desire to solve the problem first before moving forward.
Sounds to me like this company has some issues I would only recommend competent business owners to hear them out, if you are weak if you lack knowledge if you are easily lead it might be too much of a risk for you.
If I might give some business advice to sms because we know you are reading this, face your problems change your business plan build off you clients successes, if not I've seen the movie boiler room and by all appearances you seem to be following that model.

I took a job there as a Business Consultant/Appt Setter. I began last Tuesday, and didnt return on Thursday. The employees are a bad looking crowd. The security guard came in and said to make sure to keep your belongings with you at all times. ie theft is a problem. The instructor was using every excuse to weed people out. During training yesterday, there was lag time A couple guys talked about their drug of choice, another girl talked to her friend that worked there and told her she cant keep coming to work high, or she wont get promoted, then I heard about a big coke problem there. If that wasnt bad enough, they do not take out state income tax. I asked the HR rep who clearly had an attitude problem and she said its the same form. for state and federal. I tried to explain it wasnt, but she wouldnt listen. They expect you to treat the business owners you call with no respect and be down right rude. The admitted that they change their name a lot because people get sick of them calling or realize its a scam. If they here a different name, then they think ti's a different company. They also just changed their website to www.americanbusinessmag.com what that has to do with SMS is beyond me

What particularly amused me was the guy who didn't know that IPS and SMS are the same company, just a different name. Of course, any company that has been sued as often as IPASMS changes names constantly. I believe the name changes are now double digit. But it is IPA that the Illinois Attorney General has filed suit on for unethical business tactics. A racketeering case against them is ongoing as well. Any positive comments on this page are indeed IPA shills as their MO is to invade companies, bill as many hours as possible, and then use ridiculous collection practices for services that were worthless. The owner of the company is a dis-barred lawyer for commmitting grand larceny. His record also includes soliciting a 16 year old prostitute. And most of the longterm management staff knows all this and will continue to rack in their ill gotten gains hoping their prison terms will not be to long. Lathespell, I name thee, IPA, an ill wind.

I was supposed to have a phone interview tomorrow. After reading all this intel and I also cannot find any information on the corporate owners or officers of the company. The web page not indicating who owns the company tells me they prefer to hide for a reason. A straight commision job always sends up the red flag.

I agree no question about it...CBS, ABS, SMS, ROI, GPS, ...all equals SCAM, FRAUD, and more SCAMS and FRAUD. I'm a former employee worked in both inside sales and the PROGRAM BC tel-sales. They are not a business development company by the state of Illinois or any other state. They can not close deals of any kind...SCAM, SCAM, SCAM, SCAM, SCAM, FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD. Just Google IPA .

These companies are all part of the original IPA model and a total scam. They now do business under the name of Corporate Business Solutions, (CBS). Very clever how they use these acronyms like CBS, (television network owned by Viacom), SMS, (name of mobile phone text messaging), GPS, (global position satellite, like the ones used to navigate to a location while driving a car), ABS, (used to describe anti-lock brake systems on cars and trucks). The use of these types of acronyms makes finding complaints about them via Google, Yahoo and Bing difficult, because there are bound to be complaints about problems with service on a car's brake system, a GPS not finding the destination you're looking for, problems with text messages going through, etc. Stay away from these companies...

Buyer Beware: SMS or SMS-NA, LLC from 1267 Barclay Blvd, Buffalo Grove IL 60089 (A.K.A: ROI, ROI-na, roi-na.com GPS, ABS).

One only needs to spend a few minutes on the internet and compare their own personal experience with this company to know that something is highly wrong. To start with, as of this writing the BBB rates SMS with a C- with 12 complaints closed in the last few months (make that 13 as I just added one more). Next ask for the references of the "The Greatest Consultant, Tax Expert, Financial Genius” that has been especially reserved for your Company. If they were that great don’t you think the company would lead with their references as the best way to sale their services and capabilities. I am sure you wouldn’t hire someone without at least a resume to review, why would you let someone you know absolutely nothing about come into your business to advise you. If the super consultant was that good do you think they would be working for free just to help you. After repeated requests, I have not received any references on the reported experts and can only assume you will have the same experience! Next check the business card of the sale person for an Email address or ask for the name, phone number and contact information of the area supervisor or any of the other wing nuts that follow up with you to confirm or understand why you are not interested in their services. Basic contact information is the standard of any honest business and these guys go out of their way to make it hard to reach them. I assume this is because once you reconsider the high pressure sales pitch and research who they are; they know you will want to cancel the appointment. I have never claimed to be a business genius but having run 3 successful corporate businesses in excess of $1.3 billion per annum each over the last 40 years, completed over 30 acquisitions, turned around a number of businesses and now the owner of 3 private business entities, I can tell you one thing; anyone claiming that they can spend 45 minutes with you and can save you thousands of dollars for free is flat out lying and running a scam. They are selling BS and they will feed it to you as long as you want to listen to them. Depending on the complexity of a business, one can spend hundreds to thousands of hours to build a concrete understanding of the market and potential of a company. Anyone can say you’re paying too much in taxes, in fact I say it every month and work hard to understand how to reduce my liability ethically and legally. Anyone can give you the top 35 best business tips and stand back with their hand out for your hard earned money. The simple facts are, its takes hard work, sweat and effort to implement plans, build a positive company culture and run a successful business. Do yourself a favor, surround yourself with competent people and drive your business. Don't bet on someone promising the stars for free but then have a sales model to sell you worthless business recommendations and reports. As one business owner to another business owner --- I absolutely detest scammer and leeches preying on those who are doing nothing more than building a business, providing work for good employees and making a better life for their families. SMS is a leech; don’t let them drain the life blood out of your company.

I am a small business owner. SMS Consulting called and asked if we would like to hear their sales pitch by a consulting pro. in person. It was free so we said sure. Later that day a different person stopped by and wanted me to sign what amounted to being a purchase order. It was a ticket that had various charges crossed through and the person said it was a "confirmation" for the appointment we had already made on the phone. I said that I would not sign it because I saw no reason to. He left.
Then the PUSHY and AGGRESSIVE "consultant" showed up for our appointment. He was a terrible person. Really, really, terrible. He continually wanted me to sign things. I said I would think about it and get back with him. He left.
Then I got a call from first person who had come by. He continued asking me questions that we had already answered. I told him I had customers to attend to and that I had to go. He then got very sarcastic and rude. I asked him if he ever got business by treating people this way. He said they did 200 million a year and that I should go help my customers before they walked out the door (sarcastically).
If working with people like that is how I can grow my business, I WOULD RATHER WORK AT MCDONALDS. I would rather do anything else. I would rather have cancer than work with those guys. I would rather be homeless. The kind of people they have working for them do not have souls. I feel sick that some of the air I will breathe in my life is shared with them. They are the worst kind of humans on the planet. I feel like I have been raped. I feel dirty for even having sustained a conversation with them. I feel like our world is doomed. I really want to go to the house of every person who participates with this company and berate them in front of their families. I bet their OWN DOGS HATE THEM. I bet they tell their wives they are going golfing and then just stay in the clubhouse and drink wine coolers. I bet that SMS gave all their employees gold wallet chains for a christmas bonus, and everyone was ECSTATIC. When you walk into the bathroom at a SMS headquarters, all the Urinals are full of guys with their pants around their ankles, and even if they weren't full, they would still be next to each other because they don't use buffers. I bet when they wipe up they smell their own fudge VERY INTENSELY and sometimes even taste.
I would recommend that anyone who has these guys bugging him take up as much of their time as possible without signing or agreeing to anything. That way the company loses as much money as possible'

I met with a Senior Regional Manager last Thursday. I bought into the "no obligation" offer and signed up for the evaluation. I felt a little pressured to hurry and make a decision because they "happened to have a "business analyst" already in the area and were willing to reduce their "if I am happy" fee from $1, 050 to $800 and throw in some additional evaluation. A couple of things bothered me during the conversation, for example. The $1M minimum. What IS the definition of SMALL BUSINESS? I'm not sure what it is but $1M sounds high to me. The second thing was that I asked for references and was told that due to the confidential nature of their business, they could not give me references but that there were testimonials on their website. I thought, that makes sense. However, when I looked, there were no testimonials on their website. This led me to do more digging and I was not happy with what I found. Besides this blog, they ARE now listed on the Better Business Bureau with a C- rating for multiple complaints and they still are not a member. As a small business owner, my husband and I have been taken advantage of many times and we just have to be more guarded with our information and our finances. So when the "analyst" arrived yesterday, I had decided I would decline the meeting. If only it were that easy.

Talk about not taking no for an answer. This guy was so aggressive, I finally had to tell him "I have told you I'm not interested like a 100 times, now I'm just going to have to ask you to leave". He kept hounding me about the service being "free" and there was no obligation. They only wanted to "help", yet I could not get this guy to leave my shop. It literally took me nearly an hour and a half of discussion to finally make him leave. Any question I had before about whether or not I was making to right decision to forego the meeting was confirmed by this guy's badgering of me. The icing on the cake? Before he left I asked him, "how long have you been with SMS?". He started some long drawn out explanation and I said, "Just answer the question"..."two months". I encouraged him to also investigate the company because he might not be getting a paycheck himself. He finally left.

Do what you want, but we will NEVER do business with this "business".

I recommend not working with SMS or any of the other names they go by (ROI-NA, IPA, ABS, GPS). Follow your instincts if you run across these folks. If your BS radar doesn't go off I recommend googling them and reading opinons from other customers online. I think you will find that they don't have a good reputation.

file a complaint with the Illinois AG's Office

I am a small business owner. They first called me saying they are some type of business networking outfit so small businesses can get together and learn for mutual benefits and would like to send someone by and tell me more about the program. When the person showed I realized they were trying to sell me business consulting services which I immediately told him I do not need (I could tell within a couple of minutes they were not what they said they were on the phone). After telling them the next 30 mins I don't need their services, the fellow got on the phone with his "supervisor" with the excuse that his supervisor needed to speak to me to confirm that he was there. The "supervisor" proceeded to ask all the same questions all over again and then told me I was being deceived to think that I don't need their help...I told him I don't appreciate this type of aggressive selling and hung up. The next day, another guy saying he was one of the managers at SMS called and continue to pester me as to why I think I could not benefit from their services, at which point I told him I do not have time and to please remove me from their call list, to which he responded by saying they do not maintain any call list so there is nothing to remove from. He basically ignored my request not to call again and so I had to hang up. I got another call today saying again he is yet another manager at SMS and wanted to find out why I asked to be removed from their call list and why I thought I could not use their services. I automatically screamed "Jesus" and hung up. These guys are like the viruses that cause genital warts - they just won't die and keep coming back...what can I do make them stop calling?

SMS...is the biggest scam in the US, they present them self as a BUSINESS development in the business of ? The true fact of the matter they are a band of FOOLS pretending to be financial consultants and business development professional. They are a BULL ### tee-marketing company that hires any-one. I work in both inside and the program BC for almost six months. They give a bad name to the consulting industry. They can not close deals of any king nor do they have anyone their that has the scholastic wherewithal to do any of the things they claim. STAY AWAY SCAM 125%

I totally AGREE with everyone except the ones who think sms isnt a scam i use to work at sms and i only worked there for a week and really i didnt like the job it felt like it was all bs! then had me calling the same places over and over i was like really this is not what the hell i see my self doing. Sms is really just full of S***!

I've spent the last 24 hours looking all over the internet for background information on this company. It's unfortunate, but they do appear to be as stated above a "well put-together SCAM". I came across a similiar company last week that operated in a similiar manner with several names - as if they were different companies. BE VERY CAREFUL out there! Get multiple references and check those references out! Don't stop there either. Be very careful before signing any contracts or wasting your time with scams! Good luck and good profits to you all! Michael

Pete from Indiana who's company is in the top 43 of growing businesses in Indiana? If you are such a financial wizared then you would know that financial efficiencies are very important tools for a small to medium size business to run effectively in the business environment of today. Do you know how many companies overpay their taxes on an annual basis? The majority of them have hired CPA's to assist them and the CPA does not properly advise them or prepares any tax planning for them! Also, you could learn alittle bit about business writing. Maybe English 101 would be a great tool for you since your comment's are all over the board. All because someone is a great cook, doesn't mean they should own a restaurant...Small to Medium size companies are the "heart" of America Industries, not the Fortune 500 companies...so any small business owner the more help you can get from any consulting firm to run your business more efficiently - don't let pride stand in your way let people with the expertise in the financial arena assist you so you toooooo can become one of the fastest growing companies in your state, like Pete from Indiana. BUT when you are at that growth rate make sure you mention your company name so people know who you are...instead of being rude and put another company down...Is he a financial company or just someone that doesn't use telemarketers or salespeople. Remember your telemarketers and salespeople are "real" people who need jobs today too!

I was called by an SMA solicitor a couple days ago; one of those "I'm too busy and important to call myself so I'll have my secretary call and then hand me the phone if you answer " routines, which immediately pissed me off. What a joke. Wouldn't take "NO" for an answer, so a "Senior Area Manager" shows up to talk to me about how they can improve my business. We're one of the top 43 (and officially recognized as such) growing businesses in the state of Indiana ... like I need help from someone I've never heard of. They offered a Utopia of all good things.. how they can improve everything about my business. Not one product, but the whole ball of wax. I swear even so much as the garbage taking itself out to the landfill. We can't even get our top government officials to agree on a BASIC financial strategy, so how is it someone's going to tell me how I can run everything about my business better when I'm already one of the top companies in Indiana? Pure BS.

The creme de la creme, which finally gave me a laugh out of this STUPID meeting, was this "Senior Area Manager" didn't even have a local phone number and NO email address. REALLY? I think I could offer some really BASIC advice on how THEY can run their business better!

just met with sms-na or sms, same spiel as IPA, empty promises, only pay if your happy with our findings. Of coarse there is a contract. and Surprisingly enough no references. NO REFERENCES. May be me the little independent business owner can teach them a thing or two for FREE. don't bull ### a small business owner we hear enough of it on regular business, Nothing truely is free, and YOU NEED REFERENCES!

Well I'm going to interview for a similar company called SMS (which I'm told is just like IPA) and while I'm concerned about the complaints I can't see where exactly the issue is. The first posting is very compelling but I also need to be careful of angry employees. The Better Business Bureau does have them listed but it has no score because no one has complained. How is a business running, hiring, interviewing, etc. if it's a scam? Consulting services are in fact tricky, especially for failing businesses. People are angry, they don't know how to run a business, little cash flow, and then they have to pay even more to get out of the mess by using services like IPA or SMS. This seems really logical to me but I would be pretty mad if I showed up at a business that didn't ask me to come. Can someone can explain the real issue on why the services don't work?

These guys just called me. I had their valuation done 3 years ago and they want to do a followup for free. From these comments I am confused now whether to let them come or not. I am located in Canada close to WA state so I would think a consultant from there would be the one they send. The fax they sent has all fees crossed out and says paid in full because I am a "previous client". They are obscure on the web so that concerns me also.

They are out in Washington state now, in the past couple months they called at least a dozen times, always asking for the owner by first name like a friend calling, but then wanting to set up an appointment, which we told them over & over we did NOT want. Then, just today, their rep came unannounced & unwanted, claiming we had asked for him to come (fat lie, we specifically told them we didn't want them to come & to quit calling us). I looked their phone number up on the white pages website, & no office listing or street address. If you get a call from SMS [protected], don't answer... Not listed with the BBB...

In 2005 I went through the training at IPA and found it to be a very rewarding experience. I went out into the field and went on 8 business analysis appointments of which 4 agreed to consulting services. Unfortunately I had a car wreck and some health issues while on an assignment. I was fired by my manager at the corporate office and as has been stated I was not paid most of my commission because I was in that 4 week window. The expense stipend is not enough to cover expenses as was promised. But even with all of that said you would think I would have hated my experience at IPA but it was the best learning experience I have ever had from any source. Yes! They are high pressure and Yes! They push their people hard! But if a business owner is mired in the pain of being overwhelmed by their business in order to help them they must realize their condition. I had 6 of my 8 visits with businesses include my findings report being accompanied by tears and anger. They realized that they were headed to Bankruptcy court and their families would be ruined. 4 of them choose to take the positive step of letting the IPA consultants come in to their businesses. Two business owners after crying (One tried to through me out after I gave him an ad I tore out for a bankruptcy attorney) decided they would try it on their own. After I was fired and recovered I had the opportunity to be in PA where both were located and they both were out of business so they were not able to correct there bad management. Of the four that accepted services I know one is still in business in Michigan and has opened 2 more stores so IPA must not have hurt. One called me after seeing me speak in my current business and said he thought I was great after (Even though I was more than likely one of the few people to make this architect cry and admit he was not perfect) my visit but the consultants did a fair job but were not as good as he hoped for at the start of the project. He did pay a total of $55, 000 to IPA. He hired my firm to advise his clients on security planning in regards to disaster relief. The other two I do not know what happen to them. But business is tough and some people can't make the corrections themselves and IPA fills that need. Even though they might be aggressive and have problems they do help some. I wonder it seems many people on here are like myself and have been fired or had IPA maybe take money out of services they wanted to bill the IPA client for but the client choose IPA. But it is understandable if you are not up to the job and they make you realize your own failures a person gets upset and blames the messenger. I wish IPA had not fired me I loved the job but I can never repay them for the tools they gave me. Since leaving IPA I have partnered with Intelligence and Counter Intelligence former officers to form a security and threat assessment business that caters to helping companies put together disaster plans to keep operations going in disasters, Corporate security, threat assessment, DOD contracting, IT security issues and other things that help medium to large companies be ready to act to anything that may try to hurt their revenue stream. I could not have done this without the training I received from my trainers and John Burgess. I still remember a short conversation I had with him and his advice I use to this day. Business owners that hire IPA and then complain maybe they just can't accept the changes necessary to make their businesses survive. Complaints about their collections activities are just plain dumb. If a business signs the paper work that is very clear then stops paying for worked performed they need to be aggressively pursued up to the constraints under the law. You may scoff at IPA saying many complaints are from people that owe money and laugh that off but what if someone owed you money would you just write it off and bend over? If so lend me some money and I am sure John Burgess might take a loan to if you start making them. Many times I have thought about contacting IPA and offering to partner with them to offer our services to businesses for disaster planning, security analysis or other services businesses need to ensure their survival in a disaster or terrorist attack. Because I would not be ashamed of their representatives selling our services because how else do businesses know about the platforms that are out there for businesses unless they go market it. Someone mentioned sending businesses to the SBA well that would be great but a business that is about to hit a wall does not have time or the mental ability to wait weeks for SBA to offer help one hour at a time. So give IPA a break and lay off John Burgess for his problems in life like being disbarred or lawsuits. Because we all make mistakes you might not be surprised to learn I was disbarred from the practice of law. I made mistakes we all have but if a person is out there fighting for success we all might make a few. The government does I hold a security clearance so even the government looks at the whole person. I have always found I learn more from people that have lived a real life and made mistakes than from a person that has never lived. The same is true in Business. Sorry for this rant but I just happen to come up on this web site while flying back from Iraq and it got me thinking what I owe IPA for the success I have had since being fired. Instead of hating and dumping on IPA for trying to help small businesses why don't all the downers go out and help small to medium size businesses. If you can't then maybe that is why you left IPA and just shut up! If you would like to get pissed at me email me at ThankyouIPAandJB@myway.com.

That comment from the cabinet maker is someone inside the business of SMS/IPA/GPS (et all)... I worked for them during a brief time from July/07 thru Feb/08... I was the only person from my class to make it and when I learned what was really going on with my 'clients' I couldn't represent IPA (the company name at the time) any longer. The reason I know the positive comments above are from someone inside the company is pretty simple actually. There is a not a business owner I have ever met that would use the term "compliance officer' for a CPA... that is a phrase used as part of the sales process to keep the business owner from getting his accountants approval. The fact is, IPA/SMS/GPA makes their money from praying on companies who have great potential but are to busy to educate themselves (that is why you have a to have a min of $1mil in revenue for them to look at you). I have turned around multiple companies since 2008 at much lower cost to my clients and by only providing services that they can't do for themselves. Most companies have the desire to change, they just need a little guidance... you don't need to pay $20, 000 for someone to implement boiler plate procedures and processes... Check with your loan officer or accountant to see who they recommend in your area... I am sure you can find someone better and more ethical then IPA/SMS/GPA to help you and your business.

I agree...I use to work for SMS they are a well put-together SCAM they can not help anyone, they don't have the expertise they clam to have. They have no financial backing at all, nor do they have ties with any financial or investment banking firms any where on earth. They are a SCAM no question about it. I worked both in inside-sales and the what they call the Programs BC. Please alert all of the Building Association across the US.

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