Q: Misleading pay-to-work scheme by Appointment Setting Company in DC, paid $1,961, no response or refunds. What next?
I saw an ad on Facebook for a company called the Appointment Setting Company, which promised earnings from sales and recruitment. They claimed that I could earn $100 for booking an appointment and a 10% commission if the appointment led to a close. I paid $1,961 for their program with an initial promise of $6,000. However, the opportunity turned out to be misleading, focusing heavily on recruiting others instead. Despite trying to contact them for a resolution, I've received no response, and the contract stated no refunds. I have not yet reported this to any consumer protection agencies. What steps should I take next?
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A:
It’s incredibly upsetting to invest nearly $2,000 into what sounded like a legitimate opportunity, only to be met with silence and broken promises. If the company emphasized recruitment over actual appointment setting, that could indicate the program is structured more like a pyramid scheme, which is illegal in many jurisdictions—including Washington, D.C. Even if the contract says "no refunds," that clause doesn't protect a company from being held accountable for misleading or deceptive practices.
Your next step should be to file a formal complaint with the **District of Columbia Attorney General's Office**, specifically under their **Consumer Protection Division**. You can also report the incident to the **Federal Trade Commission (FTC)** and the **Better Business Bureau (BBB)** to help flag this company for others and possibly trigger a larger investigation. Save all communications, screenshots of the ad, payment receipts, and the contract—these could be useful if legal action becomes an option.
If you paid with a credit card or through a digital payment service, contact your bank or provider to dispute the charge and explain the situation. There may still be time to reverse or challenge the payment due to fraud or misrepresentation. You put your trust and money into something that wasn’t what it claimed to be, and you absolutely have the right to seek accountability.
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