On Monday, March 1, 2010, the following report was filed with www.ripoffreport.com, by  Gordon Bell

A Line-By-Line Response To Gordon's Assertations
(Gordon's comments appear in black text, Martin's
responses in red text)

Before you invest a dime, check out this company's address and phone number.  
 

Here Are The Actual Emails (In Their Entirety) Of The Conversations Between Gordon Bell, Martin Howey, And The TopLine Staff

 Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 4:05 PM

 To: chad@toplinebusinesssolutions.com

 Subject: Re: Refund

 Martin:

I had a conversation with Chad some time ago and expressed why your program was not for me etc.  I really don't want to get into it here and now.

I will tell you this:  The banking system has me over a financial barrel and I'm paying 26.24% interest on the credit card I made the purchase with.

Bottom Line Is: I MUST sell it if I cannot get a refund from you.

Chad said he would sue me if I did that etc.  I'm at the point if that occurs so be it.  I hope you see it otherwise of course.

Gordon Bell

================

On Jul 31, 2009, at 5:40 PM, Martin responded to Gordon’s email, as Chad was unavailable <chad@toplinebusinesssolutions.com, and wrote:

Gordon...

Thank you for your reply. I am very interested in helping you in any way I can.

However, and I think you can understand, it's difficult for me to determine the best way to help you unless you let me know what your concerns are. You mentioned that you "really don't want to get into it here and now", but that doesn't give me much to go on or how to best help you.

You said you had conversations with Chad, and as I mentioned, Chad is not available so I can't get any information from him. If you can forward me copies of your conversations with Chad, or provide me some sort of history it will help me immensely.

Because I will be away from the office and any Internet connection until next Wednesday, I may not be able to do anything until I return, but please be assured that I want to do whatever I can to make things right for you. It is our goal to deliver exceptional value to everyone who invests in our program and want to make sure they get the value they paid for. We've never had a complaint, and we don't want you to be the first.

So, please, Gordon... give me the opportunity to understand what happened, where you're coming from, where the program let you down (if it did), or perhaps where you didn't take the action or use the support service we offered. That way I can be of the greatest assistance to you.

Martin Howey, CEO

TopLine Business Solutions

================

From: gordon711@me.com [mailto:gordon711@me.com]

Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 5:50 PM

To: chad@toplinebusinesssolutions.com

Subject: Re: Refund

I'm away from my computer

Will do my best to recall the history when I return.

Gordon

Sent from my iPhone

================

On Jul 31, 2009, at 6:18 PM, Martin wrote:

Thank you, Gordon,

As mentioned, I will be out of the office and away from any to respond to you until next Wednesday.

I am looking forward to being of whatever assistance I can be to help you get the value from our program.

Martin Howey, CEO

TopLine Business Solutions

================

-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon Bell [mailto:gordon711@me.com]
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 12:19 PM
To: chad@toplinebusinesssolutions.com
Subject: Re: Refund

Well Wednesday has come and gone now.

Please, be advised that you have not nor cannot be of assistance if you fail to respond.

This is the same treatment I have been getting from each of my communications regarding your business agreement.

Therefore, I shall as of tomorrow begin my campaign to share this data 

with the entire world and in addition sell the course to raise direly needed funds.

Sincerely,

Gordon Bell

====================

On Monday, 8/10/2009 2:02 PM, Martin wrote:

Gordon,

Just got your email, and you drive a very tough bargain. Obviously, you are not a very easy person to get along with, not very compassionate or understanding, and quite an unhappy person.

Things come up in people's lives... yes, in mine just as they do in yours.

The reason you haven't heard from me, is because I have been out of the office since late Tuesday afternoon, and just returned this morning. My wife, two daughters (one who is due in 4 weeks), and 2 babies under 2 years old were driving back from California when their rental car broke down 50 miles outside of Yuma. The thermometer on the car said it was 119 degrees at 5:30 pm when it happened. They had 2 small water bottles that were about 75% empty. The rental car agency (Enterprise) didn't have any cars available to pick them up, and the Chevrolet dealer's service department was closed. They remained in the desert for 5 hours until they could be rescued.

Then one of my daughters who is due any time with her first baby was rushed to the emergency room to treat her for what was thought to be a blood clot in her leg, and another relative had their children taken from them by Child Protective Services because a neighbor filed a false complaint from them. So once my wife returned home with our kids and grandkids, we spent considerable time trying to get cleared by CPS (a very involved process) so we can now begin caring for a 6-week old baby (something that I am not real happy to do at 65 years old, but what needs to be done at least temporarily to give the baby a fighting chance.)

So your impatience with me and your threats considering what I've been going through of late doesn't sit very well with me, especially since I have offered to help you resolve your situation and your unwillingness to provide me the information I needed until I pressed you on it.

With that said, let me now respond to what you have written to me in your previous email. To make sure I don't miss anything, I have pasted the email message you wrote to me on Saturday, 8/1/2009 at 12:43 PM, and will respond to each point in detail in red (See below).

====================

Martin:

I appreciate your prompt responses and I understand that I caught you at a departing moment and you will be out of Internet range until at least Wednesday. Thank you for giving me that courtesy. Again, I'm sorry for not getting back to you after Wednesday, but as I explained above, several circumstances arose that I had no control over and frankly, took precedence over your refund request. While I apologize for not getting back to you as I indicated I would, I do not apologize for addressing my priorities in the order that I did.

Frankly, I'm afraid that too much time has passed for me to get value from your program. I’m not sure how you have come to that conclusion, especially since time has nothing to do with getting value from our program. You have received the materials, the training, and support. And we will continue to offer you the support you need, but unfortunately, we are not mind readers and have no idea what you need unless and until you ask for it. And as we have offered in the past and continue to offer, you are welcome to attend any future trainings at no cost to you other than your transportation and lodging costs. Much of our materials and information has been re-written, revised and improved, and you are entitled to receive that at no cost when you attend the trainings. The offer has been made to you in the past, and it continues to this day. So your claim that “too much time has passed for [you] to get value from [our] program is a hollow excuse without merit.

So, what I don't want to get into is, why or my situation.  Very tough to help you, Gordon, if I don’t know what your circumstances are. I told you that in a previous email, and I stand by it.

So, I'll just state the facts and recall what transpired that has led me to this point ...of either returning it to you for a refund or selling the package for what it can fetch.

According to Chad, it would not be good for you if the course were to appear on the market. Your putting the course you have on the market is of no consequence to us, Gordon. As I mentioned earlier, our entire program has been completely re-written, revised and improved. Yes, people have gotten great results from the program you have, but quite honestly, what you would be offering a potential buyer is an out-dated course. Actually, you would be offering them some out-dated printed manuals, but no training, no support, no connection and no association with us in any way. Can someone get results from what you will offer them? Of course, they can. But they’ll have to read, study, and figure out how to apply some 2,500 hundred pages of out-dated materials on their own. So what’s the value of your offer? Who knows… maybe $200, $300… I don’t know… maybe even $500. But certainly not any more. The real value of the program is in the live training, the interaction with other consultants, and the personal one-on-one help and assistance we give to our graduates… not in a bunch of printed and out-dated manuals.  Hence, the courtesy of notifying you about my dire need to liquidate immediately. Be my guest, Gordon. I’ve already indicated what your liquidated value would be worth. The real value in the program is in you implementing what you learned so you can get a very quantifiable, measurable and positive return on your investment, not in selling some out-dated manuals.

When I made the purchase, it was with the understanding that you would follow-up closely, especially because you wanted to collect the remaining balance of the agreed-to ultimate price. I specifically recall this as being some form of implied guarantee. Yes, and we still offer close follow-up support in the form of teleconferences and personal one-on-one assistance to those who need it and who ask for it. The offer we made to you of a very small fee to attend the training and payment of the remaining balance as a percentage of what you earned was made to two different groups of consultants as part of a test. There were only a couple of consultants who didn’t pay in full (you were one of them), and that was because they failed to implement the program for one reason or another. Just so you know, Gordon, we don’t chase money. We sold you the program and trusted your integrity and honesty that you would accept the program on the basis of a small initial payment and the balance on a percentage. We held our teleconferences, offered our one-on-one support to those who needed it, and even gave the consultants an option of returning for additional training and updates at no cost to them. We were there for you and fulfilled our end of the agreement, but unfortunately, you chose to not implement the program, take advantage of our offers of support, and instead, place the blame for your non actions on us, as indicated in your comments below.

Prior to going to Phoenix for the course, I had constant contact from you.  From the day I attended or thereafter I have never heard a word from your organization. This is very interesting, Gordon. You sent this email to me from gordon711@me.com. The email address we have on record for you is gordon711@comcast.net.  And our database connected to that address shows 28 different email messages going to you with updates, offers, and additional information. There have been 10 such messages just this year, with the latest correspondence on 7/20/2009 at 7:28 pm.  Not even the attempt to collect the balance, which made me feel that was not your actual intent.    ...I'm not accusing you as much as communicating that it's genuinely the way I feel.  I do appreciate your feelings, Gordon, but it’s difficult to correspond with you if you’ve changed your email address or do not respond to the emails we send to you, or even not request help if you need it. As far as the offer to attempt to collect, I’ve already addressed that above. But let me just say one more time, I don’t chase money. I’m assuming that I’m dealing with adults… adults who are honest and who enter into a relationship and business agreement with integrity, and who have every intention of implementing a program that they received at a HUGE discount so they can not only pay back the remaining balance, but so they can reap the rewards of the difference between what they made and what they paid back. So for instance (and I’ll use the following numbers as an example), if you owed, say, $15,000 and you were to pay that back at 10% of what you earned, you would have to earn $150,000 in order to clear your debt. So who is at the greatest risk, the person who stands to lose $15,000, or the one who stands to lose $135,000? Did I want you to succeed? Of course, I did… and I still do. But you continue to use the “attempt to collect” phrase. Gordon, I don’t “attempt to collect” anything. If you owe me money, I expect you to pay it… not have to chase you to get it. And, yes, you also use the excuse that you haven’t received any help from me. Well, I’ve already answered that in detail. But again, I have to stress that unless I know what you need help with, I can only assume that you have chosen NOT to act, and not that program isn’t working.

I also recall a "red flag", I regrettably chose to ignore.  There was one recorded call on your website that harped on the fact that an individual in question was wrong because he failed to act after attending the training. Hmmm… I’m not sure why that is a “red flag.” You buy a program, get the training, have access to teleconferences, one-on-one support and my personal phone line, and you don’t act… then exactly, Gordon, who’s fault would you consider it to be? If I’m missing something, please help me understand.

Now, I come from NYC Madison Avenue consulting.  We were always told that if the student failed to act, they simply were not ready.  Meaning, the training was inadequate and or the trainer was inadequate. And you fell for that line? Shame on you! I can provide you all the materials, the training, the support, and the personal attention, but if you’re too lazy to get up out of bed in the morning, or you’re afraid of picking up the phone and making a call, it’s somehow my fault? Gordon, if you believe that, you’ll fall for anything. At what point in life does a person begin taking responsibility for their own actions? When do you cut the apron strings? When does a person stop blaming others for their insecurities, laziness, Attention Deficit Disorder, lack of confidence or other inadequacies and begin applying the simple, ten, 2-letter word phase, “If it is to be, it is up to me” in your life? What Madison Avenue taught you is so bogus, I’m ashamed that I’m even spending time explaining it. It was deemed our responsibility! Anyone who makes an investment will go out there with full enthusiasm if and or when the questions (conscious or subconscious) in their minds are answered. Great… and so until that person finally decides to stop sucking their thumb and begin taking responsibility for who they are, and the investment THEY CHOSE to make, it’s someone else’s fault? Can you see how absurd this line of thinking is? Let’s see, I’ll go out and buy a million dollar home and not work to earn the money to make the payments. So if the bank forecloses on my house, it’s their fault, right?

So, you might ask; if I had no communication from you, why didn't I contact you?  My answer is; I did on at least 3 occasions. Chad apologized and said there must be an e-mail error and that it would be corrected. Yep, there was. I told you that I had a Comcast address and not a me.com address. Unless you let us know, we can’t fix it.

That simply never ever occurred.  In fact, nor did anyone follow-up to see if the error was ever corrected. And this occurred at least 3 times. Okay, and if it wasn’t corrected in those 3 times, did you just let it drop? Remember, Gordon, you had a lot more riding on your investment than I did. And if you weren’t getting the support, maybe you should have found out what was wrong. I can’t address the “you contacted us 3 times” issue. I don’t have record of that. I’ll just have to take your word for it. But just as you’ve chosen “3 times”, I could just as easily say that you never contacted us. I’d really like to know the dates of those calls, and why it was only 3 times in nearly 2 years. Just doesn’t make much sense to me.

Just as with a student who doesn't really understand what is holding him/her back from taking the knowledge and acting, I had many other urgent things with which to attend. Huh? You referred to a student who doesn’t really understanding him/her back from taking the knowledge and acting. Then you say you had many other urgent things with which to attend. How are these related? The student doesn’t know, but you do… in your own words, “many other urgent things with which to attend”. I’m not sure what you’re saying here, Gordon.

Finally, fed up and very preoccupied I put it aside ...until today when I was told our finances are such that our backs are firmly against the wall and liquidation of whatever can be liquidated must be liquidated immediately. Okay, Gordon, so the solution to pay off your debts is to sell some outdated manuals for a couple hundred bucks… or would a better solution be to start implementing what you learned, quickly grab yourself a couple of clients and begin earning the income the program has the potential to make you?

Additionally, and I mentioned this to you indirectly during the event ... You call your program "Business Consulting". Having once been a business consultant ...had the traditional steps of business consulting been a part of your course, I would have gone out there with or without your follow-up support.  Because I knew how to act in that role from past experience. So, Gordon… help me understand. What, exactly, are the “traditional steps of business consulting” and how does what we do not address the number one concern of our target market, namely, profit improvement? When we address all the things that we do in our program, are we not doing “business consulting”? Are you now saying that the reason you didn’t take action is because we didn’t teach you what you already knew... that what Madison Avenue deems is “traditional business consulting”? This doesn’t fly, as you will see when I address what you’ve written two paragraphs from here.

So, I honestly  feel the right monicker for your opportunity is instead " Marketing Consulting". So we’re talking semantics, right? Yes, we do “Marketing Consulting,” Gordon. But we also do profit improvement, customer retention, pricing, and a number of other (what we call, and this may not be “traditional”, but it still works) “business consulting” practices and methodologies.

I think too that you may have done a more thorough job of filtering and found me unqualified because I have NEVER been able to accomplish a new venture on my own.  You knew or might have known it required a self-starter (for lack of a better name for it). Gotcha, Gordon. Now it’s my fault that I didn’t try to talk you out of investing with us because you weren’t “qualified.” That’s not what you wrote on the Expression of Interest Form that you submitted. And it’s not what you told me in person at the Joel Bauer event (that I got you into for NO charge) in Los Angeles, and in our several telephone conversations. Of course, I know it requires a self-starter, and because that’s what you represented to me, what else was I to believe? Now remember a couple of paragraphs ago when you said that if we taught what you referred to as “traditional business consulting” that you would (and these are your exact words, Gordon) “gone out there with or without your follow-up support.” Remember when you said that? Well, now you’re saying (and again, these are your EXACT words), that you “have NEVERE been able to accomplish a new venture on [your] own.” Help me, Gordon… you keep crossing yourself up over and over again, and I’m getting confused. Which is it going to be… the actual curriculum that we taught you in the course (not “traditional business consulting”), what you think it should be called (“marketing consulting”), what Madison Avenue taught you (that if the student doesn’t take action, it’s the teacher’s fault), or now your comment that we should have screened you better no matter what you said or how you represented yourself?

I have always had incredibly good coaching when successful. But when you’re not successful, it’s the coach’s fault, right? You had nothing to do with it? Someone with whom to consult. We’ve been here the whole time, Gordon. You have my email address and phone number. Nothing’s changed. The support is here and waiting for you to avail yourself of it. But understand… I don’t chase money, and I’m not a mind reader. Meaning, being exceptionally shy, never have I been successful unless I had previous experience that as I said, was first accomplished with great coaching. Okay, so you represented to us that you had consulting experience and that you had clients in Oregon and California that you could immediately work with. We gave you the training, the materials, the information and offered the support and coaching. So now what? Do we now need to add  “exceptionally shy” to the list of reasons I wrote two paragraphs ago as to why you didn’t act or implement the program? Personally, Gordon, from what I’ve seen and heard, I think it all comes down to the “shyness” thing, otherwise translated as scared or frightened. So much so that you don’t take action. Remember, it’s not what you know… it’s what you do.

A candidate must be the type who can "invent" on his or her own if there is not going to be any follow-up coaching. That is a rudiment in business that I think to all would agree. We can only respond to you based on what you tell us. At the beginning of our relationship, it was what and who you told us you were. After the training, it was what you did, or didn’t do.

I hope you find the above adequate in terms of your request and I hope we can resolve this with a simple step versus dragging it on and on and potentially dealing with attorneys etc. Yes, Gordon, I think you’ve given me enough to understand your situation. And, no need to get attorneys involved. If you want to sell your outdated manuals for whatever the market will bring, be my guest. Of course, I would much rather see you implement the system and make the money you need to get yourself out of hot water, but if you feel getting a couple of hundred dollars will help you, I have no problem with that. I do reserve the right, however, to make this email conversation and all the details herein available to anyone who may contact us regarding the purchase they are considering from you. And please be properly advised, Gordon, that if ANYTHING disparaging about TopLine Business Solutions, Martin Howey, Chad Howey, or any of TopLine’s executives, officers, consultants, materials, or programs is said by you or any representative of you, that attorneys will definitely become involved.

Yours truly,

Martin Howey

Sincerely,

Gordon

==================

Mon 8/10/2009  6:27 PM,  (in response to Gordon’s email below dated August 10, 2009  3:25 PM) Martin wrote:

Gordon,

It’s amazing to hear your continuing denial to accept responsibility for your own actions, or as it were, your inactions, and your unrealistic insistence of placing blame on others, when the actuality is that your failure in this business is of your own manufacture.

And for you even suggest that you receive a refund for a product that is two years old because you’ve not even tried to implement it is totally ludicrous and unrealistic.

As I mentioned previously, I am certainly willing to help you in any way, but it is imperative that you take some type of responsibility and action yourself. That said, I will again respond to each of your concerns below in red.

Martin Howey

From: Gordon Bell [mailto:gordon711@me.com]
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 3:25 PM
To: chad@toplinebusinesssolutions.com
Subject: Re: Refund

Wow, Martin, you truly are an incredible CON MAN. Now, Gordon, let’s see if I’m getting this right. First off, I never called you any names, and for you to do so suggests a certain degree of immaturity and unprofessionalism. When you suggest that I am a “CON MAN”, I’m assuming that you are referring to what you have written below, since you have not made a direct reference to your definition. When I think of what “CON  MAN” means, I generally think of someone who deliberately cheats someone out of someone for their own personal gain. I never did that, and if you are referring to me changing the course materials, I will explain that below. On the other hand, Gordon, someone who buys a course at a discount, has a significant amount of the balance owed financed for them at no interest, and who promises to pay that balance based on a percentage of what they produce from that course, but who never uses the course (or maybe who actually does use it, but doesn’t report the earnings to the party they are to pay a percentage to), is certainly guilty of fraud and deceit, and in anyone’s book would be labeled as a “CON MAN.”

The course is out of date this short time later...Wow.  No, not a short time later, Gordon. We (just as any type of business that offers a product or service) have an obligation to our clients and consultants to make sure the program that we offer is current, up to date, and meets the needs of a changing society, economy and marketplace. Our program is a “living” program, meaning that it is in a constant state of change. If we were to offer the same thing today that we did even a couple of years ago, with all the changes that have happened in the marketplace, we would not be meeting the needs of the market, we would be selling them a “bill of goods”, and would certainly be qualified to be called “CON MEN.” But that’s not the case. We constantly update the program with new information, new findings, and new strategies to make our consultants and their clients even more successful. Anything less than that would be a con job.

I told you it was out of date because you were negating the Internet less than 18 months  ago. No, Gordon, not including the Internet in our program didn’t make it out of date. It’s just an area that we don’t cover for a variety of reasons. There are several areas that we don’t cover, but not including them doesn’t antiquate the course. We just choose to focus on certain things that we know can produce very fast, reliable, and quantifiable results.

I'll bet you have included it in your new course. Bet it’s not. Not at all. Doesn’t fit with our mix. (Wish you’d have told me about this bet earlier, I would have taken you up on that.)

You expect me to go out there with out-of-date info and tell me it is worthless.  That takes the biggest balls I ever heard of. No, that’s not what I said at all. You obviously didn’t read what I wrote. Or if you did, you didn’t pay attention. What I said was that many people have gotten great results with that program, and they still are. Some of them haven’t updated their courses yet. That’s okay, as long as they are comfortable with what they have and are making money, that’s their choice. And you’ll remember that I did say you could come back to training anytime you wanted for no charge to update your materials. The only thing you would be required to  pay for yourself would be your transportation and lodging costs. But I’ll even go you one better, Gordon… you come back to our next training and I’ll give you all the brand new manuals, put you through the training again, pay for your hotel costs and all your meals, give you all the personal one-on-one help you need, and even send 500 postcards to the prospects of your choice. The ONLY thing you need to do is get yourself to Phoenix. How can I be any more fair than that? You represented to me that you had consulting experience, that you had clients in Oregon and California that you could work with, then didn’t take any action. Now I’m giving you a second chance and paying all your expenses out of my own pocket except travel. That’s the “skin in the game” for you… the “guarantee” if you will, that you will take some kind of action. And if that’s not enough, Gordon, I’ll even waive the balance that you owe me and that you promised to pay me, but to date haven’t even made an attempt to produce. I’d say that’s a pretty generous offer. And what’s with the “biggest balls” comments, Gordon? Do we really have to talk like that? Aren’t we grown ups… professionals?

If that's really the case then .....You deserve any black PR you get my friend! Well, as you can see by now, that’s not “really the case”, Gordon. I’ve explained the situation and have made you a very good offer. And “black PR”? For what? I’ve clearly explained why you don’t have to use “outdated material”. But Gordon, once again I’m confused. Why do you refer to me as your “friend”? You’ve clearly called me a “CON MAN”, think I have cheated you and suggested that I must have “big balls” to change my course to keep up with the evolving marketplace. If you understood that basic premise of delivering value, you’d clearly see that that is a very necessary thing for any responsible business owner to do.

ANYWAY...   I provided you with the requested information, what else are talking about? With reference to what?

When I moved, Comcast was not available here.   So I was forced to change my address.

I reported it to Chad numerous times and had discussions with him on the phone, so please do not attempt to re-write history.

I even have an email of your refusing to change my address during the brief period I had two addresses because Comcast donated another 6 months to facilitate us. We simply followed your instructions, Gordon. If your email needed to be changed, and you notified us, we would have changed it. Whatever you had worked out with Comcast is between you and them, and we can’t be responsible for the decisions you made to make a switch to another provider. The first time I knew about the me.com address is when you began communicating with us this past week.

And until you get a degree in psychiatry please don't tell me about happiness.  My wife and I were trusting people and we are both temporarily very unhappy at what humanity can pull on other people. I don’t doubt that you are a trusting person. And so am I. That’s why it surprises me so much that you haven’t paid any of the money you owe me… or at least, haven’t even made an attempt. As I mentioned earlier, I thought I was doing business with a person of honesty and integrity, and who would make an effort to implement what we taught, and request the help needed in order to make the money necessary to repay the debt and to provide him with a very nice income and lifestyle. Guess I missed that one!

Honestly, thank God there are others who have learned about my talents and lousy experience (you are not the only one to harm us financially) but they mostly have been involved with advertising amazingly enough. How in the world can I have harmed you, when I gave you the training, the support, the materials, and offer to help, and you either did nothing with it (your choice, by the way), or you really did make some money, but have refused to repay me? Guess I’m not getting that one.

Anyway, I have met good people who have waived their tuition just to see us again become successful, and that makes me happy no end.   They know about you and find it hard to believe you are unwilling and have been to help someone who borrowed money to be your disciple. Ah, so now it comes out. Others have “waived their tuition” to help you “become successful.” That makes me “happy no end” also, Gordon. And if you’ll go back and re-read what I wrote, you’ll see that I have even done one (or two, or three) better, in waiving the balance, letting you attend training again, paying for all your expenses except travel, etc. And if you “borrowed money to by [my] disciple,” Gordon, that was (once again) YOUR CHOICE. You’re an adult. You knew your history of success and/or failure, and based on that history (which, as you purported, included having experience as a consultant), you had a pretty good idea of whether or not you could be successful at this game. No one twisted your arm and no one made you borrow the money.

And as far as attorneys go, better start lining them up because the world, and I mean the world, will be provided the truth and of course it will be disparaging.   I am honor-bound to report my experience.  And likewise, I am honor-bound to let those who know of your writings know the truth about the real Gordon Bell.

And I'm more than intent on becoming happy once again.  Gordon, I really and sincerely do hope you find happiness. Honestly, I do. Your earlier suggestion about me waiting until I get a degree in psychiatry before I told you about happiness was unfounded. In fact, that is the exact reason I came to that conclusion. You see, it is very clear that you are unhappy, and now you’re admitting it (for the second time). I have always found that telling my story to unsuspecting prospects very gratifying as they tend to show appreciation.  Great. But make sure you tell the ENTIRE story, Gordon. You know, the one about buying a program at a discount, making a promise to pay the balance based on performance, then keeping it for 2 years, doing nothing with it (or maybe doing something with it but not paying the amount you owe), and then wanting to return the books and letting me eat the cost of training you.

So, you can avoid that by doing what is more probably the right thing.  I can't imagine selling something to another person when it is stale dated less than 18 months later.  And just exactly what is “the right thing”, Gordon? What are the manuals worth? Even if I returned the cost of printing the manuals, that would just be a couple hundred dollars. But what about the training? And what about the support? That’s the rest of the cost, Gordon. How do I reimburse you for that? You have that. It’s in your head. I can’t get it back. You can’t return it. You can continue to use what I’ve taught you over and over again in any kind of business, regardless of whether or not you have the printed pages (which, by the way, you could have copied). So how do I reimburse or refund you?

That my friend is considered pure NONSENSE!  Yeah, you’re right. I can’t imagine selling something to another person when it is stale dated less than 18 months later, either. But that is not the case, Gordon. I’ve already told you that the material is still working for others who haven’t updated their manuals yet. And certainly no one is asking you to sell worthless information to anyone else. I’ve made a very clear and exceptional offer to you to make WAY more on your investment in our system than you would get by trying to sell it on the open market. What are you going to get? A couple of hundred dollars? And what are you going to tell someone… that it doesn’t work? That you didn’t implement the system? Why, in either case, would someone want to buy it from you? And you can’t sell the training or support, so all you have, Gordon, is manuals. And even if the manuals were the newest, most current ones we have, how much could you get for them alone? The value isn’t in the manuals, it’s in the training and support… an intangible that you can’t sell.

And for pity, I am understanding, but how would I know?  Again, all it might have taken is a word, just a word from you  ...not a whole laundry list of reasons why you are right and I am wrong. No pity for or from me, Gordon. I just want to make sure I’ve addressed each and every point you’ve raised and have made very clear what our position is… for your benefit, for ours, for someone considering purchasing your program from you, and if necessary for documentation that our attorneys may need concerning any disparaging or defaming remarks that may be said about us.

Listen Martin!  ...I can't drive without glasses and do not at this moment have the funds to buy glasses and other vital things.  So it's hard for me to find even empathy, but I still do have that for you.   I’m sorry for your personal situation, Gordon, I really am. And I appreciate your empathy for our own problems at this time. I truly am willing to help you, but I don’t respond well to treats and ultimatums. That said, an unfortunate financial situation that you got yourself in even before you and I met, doesn’t negate the fact that the program works, but only if a person works the program. A couple of hundred dollars may be nice, Gordon, but the truth is, if you just put into action what you have (even without re-attending training, and without the new materials), you’ll make WAY more than the money you can get from selling the manuals… and that’s all you can sell. The training is not transferrable.

Hopefully, the little baby will grow up soon to be grateful for your wonderful contribution to her life.   And age can be a matter of mind especially someone so young for his years. Thank you, Gordon. I truly appreciate your concern and comments.

Martin

Just keep the faith.

Sincerely,

Gordon

=============

-----Original Message-----

From: Gordon Bell [mailto:gordon711@me.com]

Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 4:02 PM

To: Chad Howey

Subject: Unexpected surprise

Martin:

Did you want me to know the dates for the upcoming workshops?

Or perhaps you don't have them set yet?

I was really surprised to get a $400 check from the government yesterday, an unexpected surprise.

Sincerely,

Gordon

===================

On Aug 17, 2009, at 12:40 PM, Dawn wrote:

Hi Gordon,

Martin is due back in the office this morning, and has a lot to catch

up on from being gone on his speaking assignments. But I wanted to get

back to you and let you know that we haven't forgotten you.

You inquired about when our next workshop is. We tentatively have one

planned for the second week in December, but the dates and venue is

not confirmed yet.

I do have you on the list to notify when that happens, and will

certainly keep you informed.

And congratulations on your unexpected check. What a nice windfall for

you!

Dawn Allen

Executive Assistant

TopLine Business Solutions

==============

From: Gordon Bell [mailto:gordon711@me.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:53 PM
To: Chad Howey
Subject: Fwd: This is the last email I received....

Martin:

It seems that Dawn's e-mial is not in service and maybe or maybe not...

I have been forgotten?

Gordon

==============

On Wed 10/21/2009  9:08 PM, Chad wrote:

Gordon…

You have not been forgotten, and Dawn’s email is still in service.

We took several months off during the summer and have not sent any communications of late.

We’ll let you know when we start up again.

I am currently in San Diego for this week and next, attending some seminars.

You are still in the loop. We just haven’t been on this end.

Martin

===============

-----Original Message-----

From: Gordon Bell [mailto:gordon711@mac.com]

Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 3:29 AM

To: dawn@toplinebusinesssolutions.com

Subject: I haven't heard...

Dawn:

Martin and you indicated "you" wanted me to attend your December meetings/school and December is one week away and I've yet to receive word.

Sincerely,

Gordon Bell

==============

On Mon 11/23/2009  7:28 AM, Dawn wrote:

Good morning Gordon,

It's nice to hear from you.

The reason you haven't heard from us regarding our December training, is because we don't have one scheduled.

Our advertising sources have not produced the results we've expected, and we simply haven't had the interest we thought we would have. It seems the economy is taking its toll on everyone and every kind of business right now. And with the holidays rapidly approaching, the health care bill debacle, and so many things uncertain, people are not spending their money the way they did before.

It's not good for us and we were hoping to have enough interest to have a good session to wrap up the year, but it doesn't look like it will happen, despite our efforts to attract a sufficient number of people.

We are continuing to market our program and still have hopes to have a session. If things change, I'll let you know, but at the present time it doesn't look hopefully.

In the meantime, since our last conversation how are you doing with the system you currently have? Are you using it? Is there anything either Martin or I can help you with?

Dawn Allen, Executive Assistant

TopLine Business Solutions

===============

-----Original Message-----

From: Gordon Bell [mailto:gordon711@mac.com]

Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 11:18 AM

To: dawn@toplinebusinesssolutions.com

Subject: Re: I haven't heard...

Good morning Dawn:

It surprises me that you haven't had success.

I'd think this would be the best time to be advertising etc. as a business. Rates are down and some industries or companies are doing well.  For example I understand that Ford Motor Co set a sales record for their high mileage car.

I have done nothing in terms of selling my professional skills because I honestly do not think I have what it takes to ethically do that.

I have; however, been applying everything I have learned both at Topline and seriously continuing my education to do my own launch next week.  That is my first ad is to appear next week.

I might have gained enough confidence once I have a successful launch.  I still am not sure about transferring my efforts from something I have a passion for to someone else's passion.

Anyway...

I think I'll attach my marketing piece which I can't afford to print.

I'll use the last page, page 4 as my ad and make it a download from the website.

I could use any suggestion(s) that might occur to you and Martin.

My target audience is up-scale homes for now and the ad will run in Ashland Oregon Dec 3rd with a cut off of this Wednesday.

Gordon

==============

Mon 11/23/2009  2:11 PM, Dawn wrote:

Thanks for your reply, Gordon.

Martin is in California attending some seminars at the moment and because it is Thanksgiving week, I don't expect him to be back in the office until the first of next week. I'll make sure he gets your note when he gets back.

It's nice to hear about the success Ford is having. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources (backed by the government) to spend on massive television, radio, and TV ads to promote our program. And buying a "high mileage car" is much different than asking someone to either quit their job and start a new career, or if they don't have a job, spend their savings on a high-priced consulting program... especially during this uncertain economy.

I'm surprised that it's been 3 months since you and Martin spoke and you still haven't taken any action with the course that so many others are having so much success with. By now you should have a number of clients and be generating a very significant income.

You mentioned that you don't think you have the necessary "professional skills". I'm not sure what you mean by that, but our new program isn't going to give you anything new in the "professional skills" arena. There are some changes, yes, but they are basically modifications on what you already have. And if you aren't getting what you need with the program you have, the new program isn't going to make that much difference.

And "transferring your passion" to someone else's passion isn't something that our new course covers either.

The ad you sent looks pretty good. It will be interesting to see how it works for you. But it appears that you are launching your own business and not trying to develop a consulting practice. I don't know how much you can earn in your business compared to what a consulting practice can generate for you, so I'm very interested to see your results.

In the meantime, I would encourage you to start putting what you learned in your TopLine training to work and get a couple of clients. Even at a VERY conservative amount of $500 per month and a percentage of the amount you grow their business, four clients can net you $2,000 per month. And to get four clients, using all the information you have in your course, is a no-brainer. Then you go through the Confidential Business Audit to see what they need and where they're leaving money on the table. Finally, you use your other manuals to find the solutions to solving those problems.

Really, Gordon, it's so easy, and as you say, Ford is selling record numbers of their cars... and to whom? To individuals who may or may not need a new car. But consulting is selling a valuable and much needed service to businesses that are trying to find ways to survive and make it in these tough times. Certainly, consulting to a market that needs and wants help, and that can write off the service as a tax deduction, should be easier than selling cars to individuals with the by-product of a new, a higher, or an extended payment option.

And unlike Ford, you don't have the unlimited advertising budget, but unlike Ford, you only need a couple of clients to make a good income from this business.

Why not try putting your existing program into action and see what you can generate between now and the end of the year? Who knows, you just may be surprised. I know Martin will be surprised, and would love to feature you as a case study if you could pull off some successes.

In any case, I'll keep you posted if we decide to put a December program together.

Dawn Allen, Executive Assistant

TopLine Business Solutions

==================

On 1/27/2010  4:22PM, Gordon wrote:

Martin:

December has come and gone and I have received no word from you to further your offer made last fall.

I was told that your efforts to hold an event were not successful.

Because, I have not heard from you I even wonder if the event might have taken place and you might be trying to see if I might give up.

And, even after all my requests, emails to me have never been reinstated while I have spoken to others who have received your communications and in fact I was sent or had one forwarded to me.

That seems to me that you did in fact, discriminate against me, which is your prerogative; however, since it is a breech of our contract and unless we can resolve my or our grievance, I will file a suit in the AZ Justice Court.

I would hope to not be forced to do that Martin.

I do not like that route, but feel if you do not facilitate my needs such as suggested in your previous and relatively recent communications I will be forced to see that my claim is heard by a Judge.

Sincerely,

Gordon Bell

==============

On Wed 1/27/2010  4:22 PM, Martin wrote:

Gordon...

Sue me.

If that's what makes you happy, then go for it.

We haven't had a program for several months now, and my health hasn't been right.

You bought a program for me, you attended training, we provided the support we promised. In fact, you gave me a video testimonial about your satisfaction with our training.

You then changed your email address and didn't receive our emails.

I have offered to have you come through our training when we have another one, but we haven't done so.

If you want to come to Arizona, I will train you personally, one-on-one, just to go the extra mile and over-deliver for you. I don't do this for anyone, but for you, because you are so persistent, I will make this offer through the end of February, and at your convenience, as long as I don't have any conflicting dates.

As of now, I am booked for the first through the fourth. Other than that, I am open at this point.

Just as my offer before... you get here, and I'll pay for your hotel room and train you on the new materials.

That's the best I can do for you.

If that is not acceptable, then do as you have so often threatened... sue me.

Martin Howey.

=================

On Wed 1/27/2010  4:29, Gordon wrote:

That is acceptable.

Suggest a couple of dates.

I'd much prefer the positive route'

Gordon

================

On Wed 1/27/2010  4:32 PM, Gordon wrote:

Oh I'm concerned about your health.

If there's anything I can do please let me know.  I have some very good sources.

Gordon

Sent from my iPhone

==================

On Fri 1/29/2010  1:16 PM, Gordon wrote:

Martin:

I thinking out loud here...

I'm wondering if I came to Phoenix for a longer term and worked in the field right there under your tutelage ...if that would be sensible ... versus doing it in short period?

I might be in the mood for a move...

Sincerely,

Gordon

================

On Fri 1/29/2010  5:10 PM, Martin wrote:

Gordon...

My schedule is filling up pretty fast. I have the following dates available...

Wednesday, February 10th

Friday, February 12th

Tuesday, February 16th

Thursday, February 18th

Thursday, February 25th

Because you have been through our program in the past, you will be familiar with a lot of the basic information, and will only have to be updated on the new information. And since there will just be you and me, we can move very quickly through the new material, which shouldn't take longer than one day.

There will be no need to schedule an overnight trip. If you schedule an early morning flight and your return trip later in the evening, we can knock this out in one day and get you back home so you can start implementing the information and getting some clients.

When I schedule personal consulting time with clients and consultants, it is critical that I am well versed in what you have done to market or improve your business, what results you’ve achieved, what has and hasn’t worked for you, and what you are still in need of. I’m here to give you everything I have to help you.

This will not be like a “regular” seminar where we have several people in attendance, have to take breaks every hour, and deal with a variety of random questions. This will be a very intensive, one-on-one session between you and me to give you the updated information and help you develop a strategic action plan to move you forward quickly and efficiently.

In order to make our time as productive as possible, please provide the following information as soon as you can so I can review it and be prepared for our meeting.

1.  What have you done to market your consulting services since leaving training? (What kinds of letters, postcards, calls, joint venture relationships, advertisements, Internet related, etc.?)

2.  What kinds of businesses have you targeted?

3.  What kind of list did you use, how did you obtain it, how many names were on it, and how many of the names did you contact using any of the various forms of marketing?

4.  Specifically, which of the marketing materials in your binders did you use, and what markets did you use them on? (Send copies of any sales letters or communications you’ve used in your marketing.)

5.  What were the results of your marketing efforts? (How many did you send, how many responses did you receive, how many appointments did you make or people did you talk to, and how many sales did you make using each of the various forms of marketing?)

6.  What kinds of strategies or systems that you learned in training have you used with your clients, and what have been the results?

7.  Describe your system for generating referrals from your clients.

8.  What kinds of clubs, associations, groups, or networking events do you belong to or have you attended?

9.  What do you do when you go there? (How do you interact with the other attendees, what kinds of contact information do you collect, what leave-behind marketing materials do you leave with them?)

10.Send a copy of your You In The Box recorded interview, your book, special reports, CDs, DVDs, articles, website, and other positioning, marketing, or sales materials.

11.Who, specifically, is the target market that you identify with and that you are attempting to connect with?

12.How are you connected with that market? (Do you have experience in that field or industry, do you know someone who has introduced you to that market, or do you simply have an interest in the market for some reason?)

I expect our time together to be very productive. That means no time for chit-chat, small talk, or personal visiting. This strategy session will use the same format I bill my personal consulting clients $17,750 per day for. We will begin early in the morning and work virtually non-stop until we complete the work at hand. We have a lot to cover and time is of the essence. I take my personal consulting time very seriously, and will give you 100 percent of my focus and help in moving you forward. And I expect you to also be 100 percent focused on getting as much as possible from our time together.

Bring your TopLine manuals with you when you come so we can discuss what’s in them, what’s new, and how to integrate the two systems.

You may want to consider printing this email out so you can check off the required items above and so you won’t forget to bring your manuals with you.

Let me know your choice of dates as quickly as possible, as they are disappearing at a very quick rate.

Martin Howey, CEO

TopLine Business Solutions

===================

As I write this entry, it is Tuesday, 3/2/2010  8:42 AM.

It has been 32 days since my last correspondence with Gordon, asking him to come to Phoenix and spend a day with me. Gordon has not acknowledged my offer or responded in any way.

I have made every effort to accommodate Gordon and give him the training he needs so he can be successful in this business. But unless and until he avails himself of the opportunity I can’t be of much help to him.

My offer to Gordon still stands as long as it fits into my schedule (which I am more than willing to be flexible on). BUT... He will need to furnish the requested information in the previous email so I can know how to best help him. His track record of non-action, blame-placing, and unacceptance of personal responsibility speak so loudly that I simply am not willing to dedicate any more time or effort to assist him unless he gives me something to work with.