After securing the first two advertisements for $250, which included a courtesy registration to the event, and subsequent payments of $60 and $120, for a total of $430, BRAB/Sharon Blount emailed that the criteria for the advertisement had changed significantly where it would cost an additional $500 for the advertisements as I submitted them. I requested an initial refund of $180 for the three full pages, leaving the first two advertisements and the courtesy registration intact. Ms. Blount stated that there were no refunds and that the website and social media postings stated this.
Unfortunately, neither was correct and in Better Business Bureau Case12795640, Ms. Blount ADMITTED that she altered the website to state "all sales final" AFTER I requested the refund because it was an "oversight." She did not address the fact that social media postings on her page for April 3, 4, and 7 also did not have the terms.
In a series of email exchanges to wit Ms. Blount constantly questioned my choice to fully refund the authors who had paid me to advertise in 5 events for one price, including BRAB, and that I would simply use the space for myself. Ms. Blount's fear of the exchange being posted on Social Media, resulted in her "threat" to bring in a lawyer, rather than simply refunding the amount.
Then with the BBB she implies she is on Disability, running a business, and $12 left every month. We haven't had issues for the past years. This year, the criteria changed and I was not informed before making the payments. The email exchanges came to a point where neither attending the event, nor having the advertisements remain were feasible; and given the fact that a) I did not pay for those additional ads via the website b) that the terms were not, in fact, on the website as she asserted, a refund of $430 is reasonable.
The fact taht she admitted in a Better Business Bureau communication that she DID alter the sight the next day as it was an "oversight" BUT the social media postings were still the same, all lends to the fact that she was being fraudulent and not honorable in her business dealings. Thankfully, I took screenshots of the before and after of the website, and have all of the ones posted on social media. Then she had the audacity to post up a youtube video stating the next day after the Better Business Bureau sent my complaint, alleging that my request for refund is "bullying" and that she attempted suicide by takin three out of the thirty pills spread out on a table. Somehow she survived, took a week off from social medica, came back and changed her online name to Sharon O'Connor, and is back in the defrauding business.
After three years of doing business with this woman, to change the terms of advertising and not recognize the fact that a) I paid for them not via the website, and before ther term change to cost a base rate AND then an additional amount for each book cover (which, I might add is not industry standard and just plain greedy), shows a dishonestly that is the reason that I'm putting everyone on notice regarding this. I am not the only author who has had issues with her business practices, just the first one to make it public.
Video posted on YouTube on Thursday, April 19 (28:37 minutes)
Brabonline Reviews
After securing the first two advertisements for $250, which included a courtesy registration to the event, and subsequent payments of $60 and $120, for a total of $430, BRAB/Sharon Blount emailed that the criteria for the advertisement had changed significantly where it would cost an additional $500 for the advertisements as I submitted them. I requested an initial refund of $180 for the three full pages, leaving the first two advertisements and the courtesy registration intact. Ms. Blount stated that there were no refunds and that the website and social media postings stated this.
Unfortunately, neither was correct and in Better Business Bureau Case12795640, Ms. Blount ADMITTED that she altered the website to state "all sales final" AFTER I requested the refund because it was an "oversight." She did not address the fact that social media postings on her page for April 3, 4, and 7 also did not have the terms.
In a series of email exchanges to wit Ms. Blount constantly questioned my choice to fully refund the authors who had paid me to advertise in 5 events for one price, including BRAB, and that I would simply use the space for myself. Ms. Blount's fear of the exchange being posted on Social Media, resulted in her "threat" to bring in a lawyer, rather than simply refunding the amount.
Then with the BBB she implies she is on Disability, running a business, and $12 left every month. We haven't had issues for the past years. This year, the criteria changed and I was not informed before making the payments. The email exchanges came to a point where neither attending the event, nor having the advertisements remain were feasible; and given the fact that a) I did not pay for those additional ads via the website b) that the terms were not, in fact, on the website as she asserted, a refund of $430 is reasonable.
The fact taht she admitted in a Better Business Bureau communication that she DID alter the sight the next day as it was an "oversight" BUT the social media postings were still the same, all lends to the fact that she was being fraudulent and not honorable in her business dealings. Thankfully, I took screenshots of the before and after of the website, and have all of the ones posted on social media. Then she had the audacity to post up a youtube video stating the next day after the Better Business Bureau sent my complaint, alleging that my request for refund is "bullying" and that she attempted suicide by takin three out of the thirty pills spread out on a table. Somehow she survived, took a week off from social medica, came back and changed her online name to Sharon O'Connor, and is back in the defrauding business.
After three years of doing business with this woman, to change the terms of advertising and not recognize the fact that a) I paid for them not via the website, and before ther term change to cost a base rate AND then an additional amount for each book cover (which, I might add is not industry standard and just plain greedy), shows a dishonestly that is the reason that I'm putting everyone on notice regarding this. I am not the only author who has had issues with her business practices, just the first one to make it public.
Video posted on YouTube on Thursday, April 19 (28:37 minutes)