I don’t care what business it is – success is founding on the choices you make. There are no short cuts or easy ways to finding success, rather success is founded on fundamental principles applied consistently through your life choices. As a business ethics speaker, I know from personal experience what it takes to create the outcomes you desire.
That said, part of what I do is focus a spotlight on unethical behavior, scams and/or frauds. I cannot say that what I am reporting on here is a scam, but there are too many issues arising related to the speaking business coming out of little Sevierville, TN to be coincidence.
First – here are two of my most recent posts related to speaker services and issues coming out of that little town in Tennessee:
NEXT OFFER…
So today I receive this email that offers me (I’m sure this offer has been made to thousands of speakers) a chance to co-author a book with Deepak Chopra and Ken Blanchard – both of whom I respect and neither of whom I know personally.
Really…I think to myself. Ken and Deepak want to work with me? What an appeal to ego huh? But, let’s look closer. The offer states:
Success
1 chapter left in our book project Roadmap to Success with chapters by Deepak Chopra and Ken Blanchard. You have been pre-selected to be a co-author, as our research department has recognized you as an expert strategist. We will focus on topics that are necessary for success in your business and or personal life. There will be 15 chapters total in the book. Please see below some topic suggestions.
The book will contain principles and topics applying to everyday lives and careers. Our authors find it easier for their books to be reviewed. Opportunities for media coverage are also greatly increased. Imagine your ideas and your story appearing in newspapers and magazines! Imagine yourself on talk radio! You gain maximum exposure, reinforce your credentials, and build credibility. It also represents real value for your audience. Your investment in this project is your inventory of books which depending on your package has an ROI of more than $16,000.
Inventory Choices
200 books $ 1144
300 books $ 1716
500 books $ 2540
1,000 books $ 3800
No interest payment plans are also available.
Hum … I can write “my” chapter and have it included along with others with my picture on the cover with Deepak and Ken – making it look like I was “chicken eatin buddies” with these masters. The only cost to me is a mere approximately $3.5 to $5.5 cost per book. Looks to me like it is a way to sell books masquerading as co-authorship – when in reality Chopra and Blanchard have no clue (at least I think that is true) who they are lending their name to as co-authors.
Here more though:
Details and benefits:
Interview based book, no heavy writing required
Custom cover with your photo and celebrity authors on your inventory of books
Professional editing done by our staff editor
Book will be listed and ISBN # registered with Baker & Taylor, Bowker, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com
Newsletter featuring each author will be emailed to 20,000 meeting planners listing their bio , photo and contact information
Custom press release provided to each author for promotion
21 Ways to Market your Book plan
You own the copyright to your chapter and can use it for whatever purpose you wish in the future
E book Rights – Each author will receive the E book upon on completion
To move forward give me a call in the office or email to discuss, prime chapter placement available. Hope you have a great day!
*If you are interested in building your brand/marketing and this title does not fit you. I am also looking for authors in our book project Bootstrap Business with Tom Hopkins, Jack Canfield and John Christensen.
Thanks!
Doors open faster when you walk in with someone famous!
Sincerely,
Dona Merritt
Marketing Representative
Insight Publishing
A Division of The Innovator’s Group, Inc.
Sevierville, TN. 37862
Let me be clear … I am an advocate of self-publishing! The publishing world is being turned upside down and twisted all around with the advent of easy self-publishing, printing on demand and, of course, the elephant in the room – the ebook. So my question does not center around authors being self published – not at all – rather, the question relates to the method of piggybacking on the names of individuals who you have no contact with – don’t know you or your content – and yet seem to find that the collection approach is a way to use their good name to promote yours.
First there are two firms that represent themselves as Speaker Services companies, both of whom have questionable reputations and have had complaints lodged against them. Now, another speaker services company emerges in the same little town. Sorry, but something smells fishy here.
Is what is being offered here ethical?
IF you are a client of Insight Publishing and wish to offer your comments good or bad – we welcome your thoughts. I cannot express a direct opinion from experience, but would sure like to hear from others.
As always – YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!
Greetings,
I have been approached by this company, and because I have a little marketing insight, I recognized it for what it is; a vanity publishing situation.
For someone like myself, this is a good opportunity because I recognize it as what it is and I will not re-sell the books under the guise of anything other than me having contributed a chapter.
I do not believe that the “co-authors” would be doing business with this company, contributing their writings, and allowing the use of their image and likeness if they knew it was an unethical scam.
The “co-authors” are in it for the money.
someone like me is in it for the vanity.
It is what it is.
If anyone of us pretends that it is anything other than money and vanity – that is when it becomes unethical.
Justin…I agree with all you say but one thing… The co-authors from what I’m told got no money and some of them from direct discussions with them had no idea that their work was being used in this way. When Brian Tracey or Ken Blanchard or others didn’t know this was taking place it raises the ethical question.
Boy, if it were just a “vanity publishing situation,” I’d be all over it. Unfortunately it’s an invitation to a lawsuit and COMPLETELY unethical. I received the cover offer above last week. Today they asked for my credit card before sending a contract…red flag…did a little research and found many others received the same scam. Bummer. I’d also been of the “I know what it is” ilk. Thankfully, I’m smart enough to know that there are scammers out there smarter than myself and REALLY appreciate all of the info that has been. Posted about these guys. Gotta ask: is Justin Cohen really David Wright…or just a hopeful business person?
You are right to be wary of Sevierville TN. Very strange events occur here. Sevier county TN is far from ethical or safe. I know. I live here. Should you look closer here, you should be wary.
I would have to agree with you. My first engagement with the company was fine and perfect for what I needed at the time. Shame on me for going back to that well. What happened to me is so incredulous I created a website – insightpublishingsucks.com. Definitely beware!
BEWARE. It actually goes beyond what has already been discussed. It is actually a LEGAL issue. It turns out that ISN has not obtained the rights to use the name & image of many of the “superstars” they say you can be on the cover with. I know because I received LEGAL NOTICE from the lawyers of one of the cover “superstars” stating that ISN had no rights to use the name and image of their client and now demands that I eliminate any books I have. WHAT A WASTE.
Insight’s position on this matter is simple. First, we have been helping authors, speakers, trainers, consultants and coaches for over 21 years and we have operated our company with honesty and integrity. Stephen Covey, working through his staff, agreed to be interviewed for our anthology book projects, designed to help professional speakers and authors get their positive messages out to people interested in self improvement.
His interview was recorded and published just as we agreed. Just last year, we received notice that Mr. Covey’s company decided not to participate in the project. A settlement was reached between Mr. Covey and Insight, in short, that Insight would no longer use our recorded Covey interview in any future publications after a specified date. Within this settlement, no admission of guilt was concluded regarding prior publications such as your book that fell before the specified date.
Obviously we are disturbed that Covey’s Attorney is now contacting the individual participants that they, by proxy, deemed “immune” due to the publication date of your book falling prior to the settlement agreement.
Our attorney is reviewing our options and we stand firm in our position, that Mr. Covey voluntarily agreed to be interviewed in a chapter of your titled book and that Insight owns that recording and had the right to publish that interview at the time of publication.
Thank You,
David E. Wright
President/CEO
Insight Publishing
A division of The Innovators Group, Inc.
707 West Main St. Suite 5
Sevierville, TN 37862
800-987-7771 ext. 17
info@insightpublishing.com
http://www.insightpublishing.com
WARNING!!! Do not engage with Insight Publishing, ISN or anything associated with DAVID WRIGHT, company president. Their business is not only unethical, it is downright illegal!!! It’s a scam!!! I fell for it and now the law firms representing the famous folks I appear on the book cover with are threatening legal action. ISN and David Wright totally misrepresented themselves. In speaking with David Wright, the man considers deceit acceptable. He is without remorse and is downright nasty!!!
I would have to agree with you. My first engagement with the company was fine and perfect for what I needed at the time. Shame on me for going back to that well. What happened to me is so incredulous I created a website – insightpublishingsucks.com. Definitely beware!
Yes, I am one of those who provided a deposit for my book projects (Jeanne Bach has no problem calling and asking for a credit card). I did receive my first book in 2013 (with some glitches, but had it in hand at least). I have had my 2nd book ready to send to printer since May 2014 and it is 14 months later and still no book. I leave messages, even talk directly to Jeanne and David and no return or action. Lots of stories, “Explanations”–which I receive as excuses, and promises that are never delivered on. If anyone has a suggestion of how to get my money back, I am all ears? Collections Agencies that work? Legal suggestions? Complaints to BBB (ironically, Jeanne’s email states they have an A+ rating with BBB. What a joke.) other actions I can take? Stressed, lost sleep and I know they contributed to my health challenges. They put my reputation on the line. I had some books presold on a promised delivery date and nothing ever showed.
Pauline, I was OK with the first book and the way I was treated by Insight staff. The second book was contracted a year and a half ago, but no word as to the delays have been forthcoming. My contact does not respond in a timely, credible, or believable manner, so I, too, feel that there are huge questions and am ready to consult an attorney. All my speaking opportunities where the book would be a back of the room feature, usually a good marketing tool, were lost…not to mention a sizeable investment of money and angst.
ALS
I am preparing the preliminaries on this lawsuit. Please email me at jim at jimjubelirer dot com.
Add me to the lawsuit please. I would like my $1700 back. Thanks.
In TN going to police today. Scammed to the bone….first book OK so paid in 2015 and I am mad, disgusted with lies and they have disappeared. I have the edited copy because I pushed but they have my hard earned money. Any help welcomed!
Maryjo@storytellin.com
Thank you for this post! I get lot’s of solicitations from these folks-from the “we heard you are a great speaker and want to work with you” (I am not a speaker!) to the co-author offers. I’ve found it suspect-never occurred to me it was downright illegal. Thanks!
Hi Jane,
I do apologize for you being contacted. This must have been by mistake as you would have only have been contacted if you were listed as a speaker so how or somewhere. I searched our database and could not come across your name. Please feel free to contact me directly as I will search again and remove your name from an e-mails and or phone calls.
Thank you, Jeanne Baach
Hi,
I am preparing to engage Insight to publish my own book – no “superstars” or endorsements. It is completely my project. Not just for ego, I actually will use the book for marketing.
My concerns- 1) WILL THEY deliver what they promise?
2) How can they do it this inexpensively?
Please share any more insight on Insight!
If they are using Jack Canfields name without his permission (I called his company myself) then you now know the level of integrity by which you are playing with.
Peter,
I know that you and I have been talking and I welcome a conversation so that I am able to answer any questions you may have. We will deliver on our promise as we always have and I am happy to provide you with clients to contact that have published their books with us.
On it being inexpensive we are able to offer a low price because our graphic designer, editor and formatter all work in our office under one roof. We do not have to contract anything out.
Thank you and have a nice day! Jeanne Baach
I was googling the phone number for Insight Publishing to ask them a question regarding my chapter in their upcoming book Mastering the Art of Success when I saw your site. I read through your comments and decided that I would call Jack Canfield’s office (who is presented as one of the lead authors for this upcoming book) to find out if this is a scam. They told me that Jack Canfield has NOT signed an agreement to participate in this book with Insight Publishing which is scheduled for release this December. I am assuming the other co-authors they presented have not agreed as well – Mark Victor Hansen and Les Brown. Forget the investment – I am happy to catch this before the printing includes me in it. THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS!
In your statement above, you are misrepresenting facts surrounding Insight Publishing with your personal opinion(s). Having an opinion is fine, however presenting them as fact is merely unethical.
Our interviews are scheduled and recorded with each celebrity speaker personally, for some celebrity’s it was scheduled through their staff member(s). They are made aware of the taping and of the intended use of the interview.
A telephone interview is scheduled and conducted along with a request for a head shot for the cover of the publication. Insight is in possession of and owns the rights to these taped interviews.
Each celebrity was compensated either by an honorarium or by receiving copies of the completed, published book.
No one was mislead or scammed as stated above. We have been in business for over 25 years working with speakers, trainers, coaches and consultants on the above books and self-publishing. We have many clients that are currently working with us and have in the past and I am happy to share with you their information and experiences.
Thank you, Jeanne Baach
Jeanne/David,
This is easily resolved if you guys are bona fide:
1) Explain why Cheryl got the info that Jack Canfield has NOT signed an agreement to participate in this book with Insight Publishing. And provide the relevant legit contact to refute this.
2) I received yesterday an invitation for ‘No Winner Ever Got There Without a Coach featuring David Rock and Dr. Pam Brill’ Give me contact details for my ‘co-authors’ and representation for their agreement and I will confirm with them that this whole thing is legit.
3) I will undertake to publish the results of both on this and similar sites.
Brian,
I am one of the co-authors you referenced. And, from my lens, Insight is legit and has not deceived anyone, including ‘lead authors’ like myself.
After careful consideration, I agreed to be a lead author on an Insight book along with David Rock. Each of us harnesses what we know about the brain to enable our clients to change and achieve their goals in our coaching methodologies. Each of us was a published author and speaker- my book The Winner’s Way- A Proven Method for Achieving Your Personal Best- had been published by McGraw-Hill in 2004. And I had many articles and research pieces that had been published during my time as a faculty at Dartmouth Med School and since my leaping into the wild world of consulting with competitors in business and sports.
I agreed and signed legal documents to contribute a chapter that was published with myself and David Rock as lead authors-published under the title of Coaching for Success. Various authors contributed their chapters in the arrangement outlined above, including Rudy of Notre Dame Football and the “Rudy!” movie fame. Given my respect for Rudy as an incredibly resilient person- and my passion for sports- I was honored that he had a chapter in the book!
My chapter was based on an interview with David Wright- and he was absolutely wonderful, offering great questions that enabled me to express the concepts and ideas that are integral to my system for coaching yourself- and others- to get into the peak performance zone where engaging with the challenge-at-hand can be a life-saving move. My contribution, then, was the interview, a headshot, the opportunity to edit the interview as desired, and compensation in the form of books or a fee.
Everything went smoothly. Recently, I saw that Insight is recycling our interviews for a second book. From my own point of view, this is not a problem. First, everything in the first book still applies though I have accumulated lots more examples and technology has confirmed the inner workings of the brain that ground my system and explain why breathing is a great strategy to cool down and think straight… And second, all ‘lead authors’ signed an agreement that the intellectual property they shared and the photo became property of Insight. Given that, personally, I am appalled that an attorney would demand that those author contributors must take their books out of circulation.
The bottom line is this. This offers speakers, consultants and others the opportunity to be published for a very inexpensive cost. Look around and you will see that many professionals claim to have books- and they were published by self-publshing houses for which the author spent 20K$ or more. I know people who have had their chapters published by Insight – and they were satisfied with the quality of the work, the process, and the ability to generate a marketing piece that is professionally done and ‘a book’!
I chose to respond to this on my own during a time when I really don’t have the time. But I believe that everything Insight has done, in my case, had been legit and that they offer authors the chance to be published for a cost lower than that which many authors you meet invest in their own self-published books.
Looking forward,
Pam Brill, Ed.D.
pbrill@inthezoneinc.com
I joined ISN years ago as they sold themselves to me as a speakers bureau who would market me and send me monthly leads of conventions and conferences. In three years, they have never gotten me a single gig ( although I am booked 50-60 times a year through my own marketing and other sources.) when they send their occasional “leads” they are always useless non-paying conferences looking for free speakers who pay their own way. They are also constantly sending marketing for their “workshops” and “book publishing” as mentioned in your article. Indeed they are scammers and a waste of time and money for any speaker.
I have been contacted several times by Insight to do an interview based chapter. I am not listed as a public speaker anywhere and I have yet to develop any profile, I am simply starting out with a small coaching practice. There is no reason whatsoever for them to ask me to contribute unless they’re trying to rip me off. As far as I’m concerned, if you contact me out of the blue, have no familiarity with my work and then ask me to give you money for some “too good to be true” outcome you are scamming me. End of story.
You’re right!
In reading through these posts, I am becoming more concerned. I agreed to be a co-author on a book, one of those referenced above. We were to have been in print and shipped August of 2012. It is now Jan 2013 and after my repeated followup (and my assistant’s) calls, emails – you name it – we only get ‘Oh, no – it’s not been printed yet, there was this issue” or “that issue”. Then they committed to a shipping date of Dec 4th. I had a local Postnet agreeing to hold space and take delivery of the 300 books I purchased as part of this program. It never happened. We had marketed the ‘upcoming book’ and now I fear our ‘book credibility’ damaged. I had several speaking engagements lined up and hoped to promote the book from a marketing perspective but have not been able to do so. It is embarrassing and frustrating. Now I wonder if I’ll receive legal notices from the other ‘celebrity’ authors once (IF) the book is ever printed and shipped. I had heard warnings about this organization requiring a lot of follow-up and calmly expressed my concerns to them last year after several things did fall through the cracks. They assured me they were on top of it. I really wanted to believe they were going to meet their commitments as seamlessly as they charged my credit card. However, at this point? . . . cannot get a return call or email for 1 week.
Please call me this is Jeanne Baach with Insight Publishing. 800.987.7771 ext. 22 I am happy to help you and give you an update on the project.
Thank you, Jeanne Baach
The update I just received from you Jeanne is that there is no print or ship date for this book. I’ve receive the “We’ll let you know” response for months now. This is not new information and is not helpful in terms of when this project will complete.
Sure hope you received your books. My first engagement with the company was fine and perfect for what I needed at the time. Shame on me for going back to that well. What happened to me is so incredulous I created a website – insightpublishingsucks.com. Definitely beware!
I have been contacted via facebook from Jim Lutes to co Author a book, then contacted via skype to chat and email aswell.. Finally told it would be $2500 to co author with him and Jim Britt.. Has anyone got info on this as a scam
I also got the Jim Lutes/Jim Britt co-author request. I am not a speaker, but I am an unknown writer ( nothing published, just personal, and in-house employment) and the only place they could’ve gotten my email is from LinkedIn. I’m guessing that they simply downloaded their contact list or bought someone else’s contact list, and are sending out spam, hoping for a nibble. I’d like to suggest that if you are on LinkedIn and received a letter from these people, that you report them to LinkedIn as spam, and hopefully their accounts will be removed. A minor victory, but it will let them know that the people have spoken, and we aren’t going to take it anymore.
Is anybody aware of a similar project by Dr. Joe Vitale and Dan Lok for the release of a book called The Midas Touch with 50 co-authors in it, each paying USD 5997?
Actually everything about this looked genuine, until I chanced upon this blog. Of course things that nagged me is how can they just approve me and ask me to pay money, without thoroughly researching me. They convinced me that “being successful or famous” is not a pre-requisite to being an author. In fact it is the other way round. Being an author, and that too one piggybacking on a powerhouse like Dr. Vitale, would ensure success.
They have not shared any contract stating the the terms and conditions of this offer as explained in their presentation. What is even more worrying is that everything that they promised or presented is deleted from the internet and there is nothing to fall back upon in case of a dispute. Shouldn’t they themselves make this a pre-condition to paying up. Something like “Read this draft agreement before making the payment”. They say that once you pay up and if we don’t finally select you, we will refund you your amount. Why go about it this way?
If this is true, this indeed is a rare opportunity, one that is discomforting, but rare nonetheless.
Question: How does one find out if this is indeed a genuine thing and not a scam?
The deal is easy. They get Joe Vitale to write an article. Feature that in the book. Get you to do the same and vanity publish the book as if you and Joe have some connection. Most people recognize this for what it is. My opinion, since they have had problems for years – run! But I have also had people say that they just wanted a vanity book with their name on it. Far less expensive to truly write a book and publish than to have a book that most would recognize as nothing more than a collection of articles that the authors are trying to attach themselves to a named author.
Hi Chuck,
Thanks for your reply. You are absolutely right about the “ethical” issue of “riding somebody’s back”. That issue apart, how does one actually find out if this isn’t a SCAM. Is my money at stake?
The ethical issue is a debate that I will have to settle, but that apart there is a commercial angle also.
Do let me know what checks I need to put in place to ensure safety of my money.
As of November 11, 2014, “Mastering the Art of Success” has not been published and no date has been promised. I engaged them in June of 2013 as one of the chapter authors and this has been the worst project I have ever been a part of.
Overall, their concept is fine (aside from the issue of whether the celebrities agreed or did not agree to participate – I’ll leave that issue to others.) However, their implementation has been totally unacceptable. And shame on me, too, for letting them slide for so long.
i would like to see the book finally come out, but will be beginning legal proceedings tomorrow to force their action.
Anybody else out there waiting for the same book to come out?
yes, I am waiting for my book. Ready and sent to printers (supposedly) May 2014. It’s been 14 months of chasing, lost sleep and unfulfilled promises. They have my money and I would like it back. I am interested if you are submitting a legal action, let me know.
Not only is everything here true about the unethical and illegal practices of this company, but I’ll add fraud and forgery. Jeanne Bach and her friends at insight publishing fraudulently charged my credit card, without my permission, without a signed contract and when I disputed the charge with my credit card company, they insisted I signed the contract and produced a doctored email stating I signed the contract and sent it to them. They typed my name into the contract and attempted to type my initials, yet, used the wrong letters. Anything they say or write anywhere is a lie. I too received email response from authors I contacted, that they do not have permission to use the celebrity authors likeness, name or transcripts of any kind. They make a lot of money scamming people and have for over 20 years. If anyone wants to do a class action lawsuit, I’m in!
hmmm, interesting comment on the class action lawsuit, They take advantage of small or solo preneurs (common in speaking business) and take their money. Then leave us hanging. they are playing the odds that noone will go up against them…or they simply wear us down by not doing anything.
Hi Tamara,
Thanks for your post. I recommend that you call the Attorney General of Seiver County, Mr. Dunn. His admin Stephanie’s (super nice!) number is 865-429-7024. Email me and we can talk about hiring a lawyer. Other’s are interested as well.
Best, Anne
I am interested in the lawsuit as well….
If you wish to initiate legal action against Insight feel free to email me at jim at jimjubelirer dot com.
I am another one taken in by Insight. It has been more than 2 years and no word of the book! If there is a class action suit, I will sign on. Planning to also contact the Attorney General of CA.
Oops…I fell for the okey-dokey too. They are good at deception. “Take Action Now” was supposed to be released in 2013 or early 2014. I advertised and marketed like most authors do during the pre-publication phases. Chapter 7 was to be my feature. Story after story…delay after delay by InSight Publishing left me hanging out to dry and out of $1700. No books were ever received, just consistently blaming the “printers.” Lately, Jeanne won’t respond to my inquiries any more although she did at first. I smell lawsuit. Count me in.
KWJ
WELL I am sitting here knowing that Jeanne is gone and I have NO BOOKS in hand ….hired them to reprint a book and redesign the cover. SUCKED IN!!!!!!!!!!!! I would be glad to join a law suit.
Speakers and Coaches be advised – Today I discovered David Wright has changed the name of his business again to…Resource Business Services and Speaker Services. As everyone has left his company since their paychecks bounced several times and they were being lied to, he has had to hire a new sales person. He has hired back Brenda Keefer and she is going by the name of Kay Garrett. So buyer beware and please warn all of your speaker friends.
I can get no response to calls – they all go to voicemail and it has been two weeks of leaving messages. I wrote a chapter around the development of my team building games and my Square Wheels materials and, of course, paid them with a credit card in advance. It seems that some of the key players remain visible, but getting some clue as to what has happened to my money would be helpful.
Any NEW information about what is happening here? This dated April 10, 2016.
dwtalks@aol.com – apparently an email contact for him. “Brenda Keefer is “Kay Garrett?”” – interesting how that seems to be working — count me in on a lawsuit. Any other contact information for anyone there? Anyone have a connection to a good newspaper reporter who might like to run with a story about these people?
I have left messages for David Wright on his LinkedIn page as well as tweeted messages to him at @insightpublissh. If he intends to continue to do business with people, and social media being social media, one would think a response to my calls and messages would be in order.
Generally, I am pretty persistent. And the reality is that I do have the time to spend on something like this.
Are there any other threads tracking this kind of activity? I can certainly blog about that myself…
Today I was informed by an author that their local number and 800 number are out of service. I did some digging and these are their current websites.
http://www.speakerservicesagency.com
http://www.resourcebookpublishing.com
http://www.resourcespeakersagency.com
These are the phone numbers listed: 865-325-3071 – Kay Garrett (AKA Brenda Kay Keefer) I am sure you can reach David Wright at this number as well…for anyone that is trying to get a hold of them. There is also this number 888-267-2665 which I believe is an old number.
I have been through everything you all outlined above. There are also several people I have connected with on LinkedIn who are interested in joining a lawsuit, so count me – and possibly them – in.
Here is some additional information I just discovered in the last few days:
Insight is closed down and Dona Merritt, Jeanne Baach, et. al. are all gone – phones disconnected etc.
However, a new scam is on the horizon called Resource Business Services and Resource Speakers Agency. The solicitations are coming from Leesa McGill – who is David Wright’s daughter! The other woman associated with this scam is called Kay Garret, but it is really Brenda Keefer, who apparently was convicted of embezzling – from David Wright!
Unreal – how has this been able to go on for so long? I filed a complaint with the BBB and Tennessee Attorney General, and I know I’m not the first to do so. So how can this guy continue to run this scam?
THIS particular blog post and thread has been really informative.
KNOWING the actual situation (or how it appears to be happening) is very useful.
I went back to my credit card company to dispute the charges and they were very helpful, (tentatively) crediting me with the charges made over a year ago and sending me the paperwork to file a formal complaint.
Is there some legitimate, legal way that people who are wronged on all this can come together, other than this blog? Should we start a social media site or website or something properly keyworded and organized so that people thinking about working with them might discover this beforehand, before contracting with them?
I put a LOT of time into my article to appear in the so called “Blanchard and Chopra” book, but it is not enough information to use to publish my own book, since it was structured as a chapter and not a complete work. I cannot get that time back, which is a shame.
There is a twitter handle for the old Insight and there are certainly hashtags. We know the names of the players. They MUST do marketing to make their “new venture” successful and we can certainly piggyback on that in a way that would make new business more cautious, without defaming any of them but making sure that people are aware of the history and all that, right?
It looks like I will get my money back, but not my time. The latter is probably more important, since it has limits.
Any thoughts on what we can do to take proactive next steps?
(Oh, I am in contact with Jeanne Baach through her LinkedIn page and she has been VERY helpful with background information, FYI. She was apparently simply an hourly employee and not directly involved financially in all this.)
Resource Business Services and Resource Speakers Agency sent me an email using the Insight list. It came from MailChimp, so they are using a third party email system, and probably just imported the Insight names. Which is illegal. I didn’t opt in to their website.
We can start a secret Facebook group, and can keep it secret by having only one administrator who must approve any members. I’m not too worried about crossing “legal” or “legitmate” boundaries with this bunch! We are all victims of their illegal and illegitimate scam. We have the right to organize and share information.
Gina
If you start a private FB group, count me in.
Will do. I’ll post it here.
Did you start a Facebook group?
No, not yet. Who would be interested?
I went online to the Tennessee government and filed an online complaint at http://www.tn.gov/commerce/topic/commerce-file-a-complaint — Apparently, complaints to these governmental consumer protection offices ARE generating some response from David Wright and his team of marketers. How can someone justify doing this kind of thing to other people, knowing that there is some lack of legitimacy in making promises and taking money for services and then NOT delivering on them, changing office locations, disconnecting phone numbers, not returning calls or emails, etc.
And then recapitulating and doing the same thing again to the same group of prospects??
Not a kind of business I could run. What kind of person is this David Wright?
Hey Scott. I don’t know what kind of person David Wright is, or what happened to him to cause him to feel justified in doing this. I have received an email from him as well as a phone call. I have a feeling it was in response to a call or visit from the Tennessee Attorney General’s office. Another colleague who has also filed a complaint received an email too. I have not responded to his contacts.
In his messages, Mr. Wright continues to defend his actions. He claims to have helped many people over the years and there has been trouble in the business recently. He’s “trying to get to the bottom” of all this mess.
I don’t believe him – does that make me a bad person? 😉
I have had no contact with him. But they have also not done what they contracted to do and have chosen not to respond to phone calls. Disconnecting a business phone is probably done for only ONE reason these days. NOT responding to emails or other social media connections is also an ethical choice. With Big Data being what it is, he cannot hide nor is it easy to shirk responsibility. They took money under apparently false pretenses and that is a crime, as I understand it.
Like others, I spent a LOT of time writing and editing and framing my article / chapter. I really have no place to use it. I would love that my time b be compensated, since I gave it to HIM. I assume that a full refund on my credit card will also occur; this whole thing seems fraudulent.
He has plenty of ways to communicate with ME about this. They, as an organization, have chosen not to do that. Do we care if he is a bad person? Nope. We know YOU are not a bad person. Thanks for your work on this.
Stephanie Gray
Administrative Assistant
865-429-7024
This is the ADMN for local AG in David Wright’s county. Everyone who reads this and lost money to this scam should file a complaint with them.
Stephanie N. Gray [mailto: sngray@tndagc.org
Stephanie Gray
Administrative Assistant
865-429-7024
Subject: RE: Rip Off Report Insight Publishing / David Wright
The above email and phone number is for the contact for the AG for this area of Tennessee. I would encourage all of you to file a written complaint with them and email it and mail it to until we either get money back or all of his companies are put out of business. We have a moral obligation to warn others about them including any writers or speakers.
Stephanie Gray
Administrative Assistant
865-429-7024
Stephanie N. Gray sngray@tndagc.org Everyone who has lost money with the writer or speaker scam should write a letter of complaint reference David Wright to the email above and call her too. This is the ADMN for the Attorney General for the county.
Stephanie, thanks for this reinforcement. I have had success with my complaint to the AG’s office. Once again, I encourage EVERYONE to take a few minutes and file a complaint. You will get some kind of response.
I am in Sevierville, TN. Building empty owing $16,000 to building owner. Trying to find new location. Got copy of deed to private property….got a GPS. They must be stopped. Will file a complaint tomorrow. Class action …. I am in for sure.
Going to do more investigating tomorrow.
He is a nasty liar, liar, liar. I will help any way I can.
WENT TO SHERIFF, COUNTY CLERK, DEED OFFICE, AND NON EMERGENCY GROUP TODAY AND FOUND THE EMPTY BUILDING!!!!!
Mary Jo,
Please read my posts on this. Insight has shut down, but I believe they are trying to continue the scam working through David Wright’s daughter, Leesa. The new operation is called Resource Business Services and here is the address:
Resource Business Services
105 Long Springs Road.
Suite 9
Sevierville, TN 37862
UPDATE – David Wright is in business selling out of his house and still scamming people. The updated information I came across is on these websites below.
http://www.speakerservicesagency.com
http://www.resourcebookpublishing.com
http://www.resourcespeakersagency.com
NEW NUMBERS:
865-325-3071
888-457-4214
Fax:
877-246-8864
NEW ADDRESS: (His home address)
420 Mountain Dr.
Gatlinburg TN, 37738
Please stay on top of this and I have filed paper work with the Consumer Affairs in TN along with as much information as I could gather. These people must be stopped. They lie repeatedly and promise, promise, promise and never deliver. The state of TN should be ashamed to let this go on, and on, and on.
I got the old, “attempts to contact them have gone unanswered” letter from the Consumer and Fraud department – Margo Taylor at margo.taylor@tn.gov on August 24. I will email her with this new information. I thought the Credit Card company was going to refund but they said something similar so I will contact them with the updated stuff, too. THANKS for the info.
send all your complaint information AND the updated David Wright latest scam websites, address and contact numbers to Att: Attorney General Dunn care of sngray@tndagc.org this is the “state attorney” for his county. They are familiar with his outrageous rip off behaviors and scams
, “Mastery Dynamics Publishing” is the name of the company used by Jim Lutes and Jim Britt in their coauthor letter that I just received.. So far, I can’t find the website, or any mention of it on the Internet. Could this be a new name for David Wright’s business?
Disturbingly, their “Change Series” is not mentioned on Jim Britts website at all. There are supposedly 13 volumes, yet he’s not selling any of them, and doesn’t even mention that the series exists at all. Looks like the only way anybody knows about it is if they get an email. I find this disturbing, that all these glowing endorsements of the series that I received in a colorful, well designed PDF, are not on any website anywhere.
Needless to say, I’m not biting the hook.
I got the same thing and if its not David Wright’s business, they sure took a playbook from his. History says BUYER BEWARE!
RUN!!!!
Yes Chuck you are right on. I was approached I wrote my chapter I record my audio book.
No publication,just one postponement after another
Nothing
I know Ken Blanchard he knows nothing about his chapter in this book
Nothing
It’s now been three going on for years and I have nothing for the money that I invested, save for a book jacket with my picture Ken and Deepak Chopra
I not only invested four hours a day for two straight years, but the services of an editor a wordsmith and two other publishing Giants and I have nothing.
Nothing
David White makes his promises collects his money, and does nothing
Nothing
Save for the fact that he did frauds people by his extravagant operation and unending and unrelenting misrepresentations
I just received a letter from the Tennessee Attorney General informing me that David Wright has filed for bankruptcy.
And that’s no surprise.
No, it’s not. It is a shame for the many people who trusted him, and could not get their money back. What is mystifying to me is that the State received many, many complaints about him and Insight Publishing, yet did nothing for years. They have some responsibility in this too.
Agreed. AND, he is apparently still doing the same business out of Gatlinburg (one can hope for Karma and that HIS place burned to the ground but that is a whole separate conversation). Maybe he will become honest and successful and pay us back, you think? CAN we sue him as a class action in some way, especially if he continues the same kind of scamming?
A group of us were talking about doing this earlier in the year, and one man started the process. This led to the AG contacting me about the bankruptcy. I’m not sure if David Wright personally is still doing business, but his daughter is operating the Resource Speakers Bureau, along with another woman who had been prosecuted for fraud. Nice group of people.
Has anyone taken any action, anywhere, to get resolution on any of this. The State simply stopped responding so they are apparently not taking any action to protect consumers against fraud. But that is only a perception.
Hi Scott. I was wondering the same thing. I had communication from the State, then nothing. Have you checked whether they are still in operation?
Not seen anything for a good while. I might ramp up again next week and send some letters to the state asking what is happening from their perspective. Sad that these people are allowed to operate again.
I don’t think they ever stopped operating. They just changed the name of the business. Let