How to Get Out of Debt With the Get Out of Debt Guy » dave burke

Dave Burke – DebtEliminator101.com – Consumer Complaint – 4-27-2012

Consumer — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:28:49 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Date This Problem Happened: April 27, 2012

State You Live in: Colorado

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age Range: 21-35

Total Amount of Fee Paid:

Company Name: Dave Burke

Company Address:

Company Telephone Number:

Website of Company: debteliminator101.com

Consumer Statement:

I got scammed by Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network… Even assisted the Colorado DA as a witness in the shut down of Real Talk. I just received an email from Dave Burke about a Debt Eliminator Program… It looks like he’s at it again and I want to stop him before he screws even more people. Can you help?

Consumer Action Taken:

I haven’t. I just got the email and googled Dave Burke Real Talk and selected a link and it was an article by you about him getting shut down.

If you feel you’ve been financially hurt by a debt relief company and deserve a refund, read these step-by-step instructions on how to proceed to attempt to get your money back.

If you do get your money back, come back and leave a comment about it. I’d love to praise companies that step-up and do the right thing for people.

Scam reports are submitted by consumers like you. If you would like to file a scam report, please click here.

If you are the company named in this report and you want to respond, please read How to Handle a Consumer Complaint Like a Pro And Come Out Smelling Like a Rose

Dave Burke, He’s Back Promoting Debt Relief After Being Slammed Shut by Colorado

Steve Rhode — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:48:05 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

A tipster just sent me in a note that old Dave Burke, the guy behind the Real Talk Network that was sued out of existence by the State of Colorado, is back in business promoting his financial coaching.

Want to read the saga behind Dave Burke, click here.

To summarize, Dave Burke had this pitch to teach people how to do better financially through coaching. He sold coaching to people that turned out to be problematic at best. In the past, people that signed up for his coaching did not receive what was promised and were even sent to collections.

You can read and listen to a breakdown of his radio show sales pitch here.

The Attorney General of Colorado filed suit against Burke and banned him from “from selling, marketing or advertising any debt-relief services.”

According to the registration for his new domain name, DaveBurke.me, it is registered to:

Dave Burke
1 Main Street
Denver, Colorado 80210
303-555-1212

Nice bit of honesty there. (Yes, that is sarcasm.)

Under Burke’s old incarnations he promoted his services as doing a great service for America and his new site continues that patriotic thread.

Dave Burke's New Website

Who knows, maybe he has learned from the beat down and fines the legal system gave him and he’s not violating the court order to not offer:

Defendants are permanently enjoined from providing, performing, selling, marketing, or advertising: (i) debt consolidation, (ii) debt elimination, (iii) credit repair, (iv) debt settlement; and (v) related counseling, in efforts to obtain money directly from consumers. For the purposes of this Consent Decree, the term “consumer” shall mean any individual natural person and not any business entity including but not limited to corporations or limited liability companies. This injunction does not prohibit David Allen Burke and Melodie Rose Burke (collectively, the “Burke Defendants”) from being employed in the financial services industry, which includes without limitation banks, credit unions, insurance companies, stock brokerages, money managers, investment firms, management consulting, or government sponsored enterprises, provided that the Burke Defendants do not have an ownership interest in or exercise any managerial control at the entity with whom they are employed. For purposes of this Consent Decree, “managerial control” includes any employment where the employee’s duties regularly consist of any combination of the following factors: financial control of the enterprise, management of the enterprise, regularly directing the work of two or more employees of the enterprise, having the authority to fire and hire employees or make recommendations of that particular weight regarding firing, hiring or advancement of employees, and regularly exercising discretionary powers.

Defendants are permanently enjoined from publishing, broadcasting, distributing or disseminating any information, including written, oral, or video, relating to debt elimination, debt management, debt settlement, debt counseling, wealth-building or credit repair services or products offered or provided to consumers in efforts to obtain money directly from consumers. – Source

In a perfect world Burke hopefully learned a valuable lesson from his past transgressions that harmed consumers and resulted in legal action against his debt free enterprises.

In past pitches the State of Colorado found that “Real Talk Network and its officers are suspected of telling consumers at the seminars that they will be able to work with the company to:

Develop an individualize debt-reduction plan through one-on-one coaching with a trained financial adviser;
Remove negative information from their credit reports and “explode” their credit scores; and,
Obtain no-interest credit and low-interest loans though the special relationships Real Talk Network has with banks.”

So keeping that last bullet point in mind, imagine my surprise when I read on Burke’s Twitter feed the following.

And the statements about the money merge account, those sound familiar as well. Those issues were covered in the article “Mortgage Accelerator Plus Software and Australian Loan Reduction Money Merge Scheme.”

The State of Colorado laid out Burke’s old pitch in one of its actions against him.

In March 2010, RTN’s website contained the following representations regarding its program: Real Talk Presents: The New Banking and Credit Event

0% INTEREST ON CREDIT CARDS AND MORTGAGES? IS IT POSSIBLE? Join us for a discussion and training on eliminating the interest in your life. Are you tired of losing money? If you are paying any interest on credit cards or your mortgage, you are losing. Come learn how to win in today’s opportunistic market.

EXPLODE YOUR CREDIT SCORE AND GET CASH: Learn the secrets to your credit score from the creator of the FICO scoring model. Put $1,000-$3,000 in your bank account in 45 days using the strategies you will learn in this webinar. Boost you score instantly and much much more.

PAY OFF YOUR HOUSE NOW: Learn to accelerate the payoff of your home. No gimmicks, no games, just simple math and accountability that will have you own your home free and clear in under 10 years. If you don’t own one now, how would you like to buy and own a home with no mortgage in six years.

ELIMINATE YOUR CONSUMER DEBT AND RETIRE SAFELY: Learn and practice advance financial methodologies to wipe out all of your consumer debt and increase your monthly cash flow. Learn how to get up to a 40% raise in your household income. Wipe out your debt NOW!

According to Burke’s own website his new webinar covers:

Complete overview of “America’s Debt-Free Solution”
How to pay off your mortgage in a fraction of the time without changing your lifestyle
How to pay off all your consumer debt faster than you ever imagined
How to increase your credit scores simply and effectively
Who can be debt free in 2 to 10 years, including a paid-off mortgage!

Call me crazy but that sounds extremely familiar to his old sales pitch.

The sales pitch under Burke’s last shuttered enterprise was “The Get Real with Dave [RTN] network of professionals are dedicated to changing the social economics of our country. We are a coaching network that provides critical financial education to families across the country.

What we do:
Our primary mission is to help families get out of debt rapidly, using advanced financial techniques. We provide ongoing coaching support to ensure our techniques are understood and provide a lifetime of empowerment.”

In this incarnation Burke is promoting he is volunteering to coach Americans to be debt free and while there is no sales pitch for money, certainly the puffery of the promotion seem very similar to what he was promoting in the past.

Burke says the reason he is doing this for free is:

I believe everyone has a life’s purpose. I believe mine is to help individuals and families become debt-free so they can pursue the things that matter to them. I help them reveal their own life’s purpose and identify their gifts so they can in turn contribute to others.

Volunteering to coach and teach as many families and individuals as I can was something I have pondered for quite some time. The flame and passion inside me was clear: This is what I’m supposed to do! This is my life’s purpose! – Source

Burke missed a redeeming opportunity to have learned from his old mistakes and turn that into education and advice for consumers about what to avoid and how to steer clear of the hype that sucks people in. Instead it appears he’s regurgitated his old program under the heading of doing it for free.

I suspect that the new “free” coaching model is an effort to promote the old program and instead of selling coaching, revenue is earned from referrals and the sale of products.

If you’ve had experience or attended his new program I’d like to hear about. Post your comments below.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.

Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Get Put Out of Business by Colorado AG

Steve Rhode — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:08:44 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I can now finally say how proud I am this site played a big role in the investigation and enforcement of Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network that was harming consumers with bogus debt relief services and claims.

This began with my article, Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network and appears to have ended today with the Colorado Attorney General making the following announcement.

- – -

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has reached a settlement with a Westminster-based company, Real Talk Network, David Allen Burke (DOB: 9/6/1967) and Melodie Rose Burke (DOB: 7/1/1969). The settlement permanently bars Real Talk Network and its principals from selling, marketing or advertising any debt-relief services. Real Talk Network also has agreed to pay the state $226,414, including $200,000 in consumer restitution, as part of the settlement.

The settlement, which results from a lawsuit the Office of the Attorney filed against Real Talk Network in July 2010, addresses allegations that the company’s infomercials falsely promised, through deceptive infomercials and seminars, that they could help consumers get out of debt and pay off their mortgages in less than 10 years. The infomercials primarily ran on talk radio stations.

- – -

Under the terms of the consent decree, Burke is prevented from:

Defendants are permanently enjoined from providing, performing, selling, marketing, or advertising: (i) debt consolidation, (ii) debt elimination, (iii) credit repair, (iv) debt settlement; and (v) related counseling, in efforts to obtain money directly from consumers.

Defendants are permanently enjoined from publishing, broadcasting, distributing or disseminating any information, including written, oral, or video, relating to debt elimination, debt management, debt settlement, debt counseling, wealth-building or credit repair services or products offered or provided to consumers in efforts to obtain money directly from consumers. – Source

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Will I Ever Get My Money Back from Real Talk Network? – Marvin

Steve Rhode — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:19:10 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

“Dear Steve,

I have several accounts in collections that I need to resolve. I was working with RTN until they went under. I kind of just accepted it and did nothing until I found a letter from ICEE the other day. A Google search led me to you.

Question 1 : Is there any way you know of to get some kind of re-embursement from RTN/ICEE.

Question 2 : I’m not sure what to do now as far as resolving my debt problem. Where should I start?

Marvin”

The Answer:

Dear Marvin,

Sadly the chances of you getting your money back are slim. Probably the best bet is going to be for you to file a suit in your local small claims court and hope you can enforce it to collect something.

If you can post more information about what your current debt problem is in the comments I’m sure we can get you headed in the right direction.

Please post your responses and follow-up messages to me on this in the comments section below.

Big Hug!

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Dave Burke, Erik Sale, Real Talk Network and Institute of Consumer Economic Education All Sued and Hit With TRO by Attorney General of Colorado

Steve Rhode — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:56:20 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

In January, 2010 I wrote and published Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network (Real Talk Network, Inc.). Is It a Scam? where I had some real reservations about a debt relief operation operating out of Colorado.

My initial concerns came after a reader sent in a question that he went to a get out of debt seminar and wound up in collections. I didn’t think that was possible at first, but it was.

My initial article led to a cease & desist letter from Burke’s attorney and threats that I must remove the factual information I had published about his operation that I felt was taking advantage of consumers. I didn’t back down.

Along the way I played a behind the scenes part in helping some reporters put together some additional investigative reports and a couple of investigative television reports also appeared about his operation.

Just in the past few days I had also reported how Burke was making his move and opening a new operation called the Institute of Consumer Economic Education.

But as of today, the entire operation has been shut down by a temporary restraining order.

Attorney General of Colorado Goes After Burke

Here is the release from the AG in Colorado:

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office has filed a lawsuit against a Westminster-based company, Real Talk Network, and its corporate officers, David Allen Burke (DOB: 9/6/1967) and Erik Sale (DOB: 11/26/1973), on suspicion that they engaged in false and deceptive trade practices and violated Colorado’s consumer credit laws.

“The down economy has left many consumers looking for a way to get out of debt,” Suthers said. “The defendants in this case are suspected of using deceptive sales pitches to bilk consumers out of thousands of dollars for services they ultimately never received. At its core, this scam preyed on consumers’ desires for a silver bullet to get out of debt.”

According to the complaint, Real Talk Network ran infomercials on talk radio stations in Colorado and California, including on Denver stations 630 AM KHOW and 94.7 FM KRKS. The infomercials ran in Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Elbert, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Lincoln, Park, Summit and Weld counties in Colorado. During the infomercials, Real Talk Network and its officers are suspected of telling consumers that they can get out of debt in short period of time, pay off their mortgages in less than 10 years and “explode” their credit scores by following the company’s program. Real Talk Network also is suspected of advertising a 100 percent success rate for participants. According to the complaint, consumers are advised to attend a “free” three-hour seminar to learn more about the company’s program.

Real Talk Network and its officers are suspected of telling consumers at the seminars that they will be able to work with the company to:

Develop an individualize debt-reduction plan through one-on-one coaching with a trained financial adviser;
Remove negative information from their credit reports and “explode” their credit scores; and,
Obtain no-interest credit and low-interest loans though the special relationships Real Talk Network has with banks.

At the end of the “free” seminar, according to the lawsuit, Real Talk Network representatives pressured consumers to sign up for their services and to pay from $1,497 to $3,497. According to the complaint, consumers who pay the fee or sign up for a monthly payment plan report receiving little to no assistance from financial advisers who have no financial training or experience. Real Talk Network’s purported “special relationships” with various banks did not exist.

Burke also is suspected of misrepresenting his credentials and not disclosing information about his financial history that might have changed consumers minds about the seminars. For example, Burke misled consumers to believe he was a graduate of the University of Southern California and did not disclose that he had filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and 2007.

Consumers who quit the program or declined to pay once they became aware of the lack of services Real Talk Network provided had their accounts handed off to a collection agency.

“Although we and our partners warn that Colorado consumers should always beware deals that sound too good to be true, companies should not prey on consumers’ desperation or fears after going into debt or falling behind on their bills,” Suthers said. “This case underlines my office’s commitment to ensuring that businesses operate on a level playing field and do not victimize consumers.”

Consumers who believe they have been defrauded by a business can file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General via www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/complaint, 1-800-222-4444 or stop.fraud@state.co.us.

Colorado Obtains a Temporary Restraining Order and Shuts Down Operations and Freezes All Funds

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff requests that this Court enter a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction that:

A. Enjoins Defendants and their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, independent contractors and any other persons in active concert or participation with Defendants who receive actual notice of the Court’s order including, but not limited to, Melodie Rose Burke, Freedom Financial Partners, LLC and Reality Financial, LLC, from:

Soliciting or accepting payment for services of any kind in connection with REAL TALK NETWORK, INC., d/b/a REAL TALK NETWORK and GET REAL WITH DAVE, REAL TALK, LLC, REAL TALK RADIO SHOW NETWORK, LLC, and INSTITUTE OF CONSUMER ECONOMIC EDUCATION, LLC (collectively, “RTN”), or any other company or person relating to debt elimination, debt management, debt settlement, debt counseling, wealth-building or credit repair services or products offered or provided to consumers;
Advertising, selling, marketing, displaying, offering or performing debt elimination, debt management, debt settlement, debt counseling, wealth-building or credit repair services or products offered or provided to consumers;
Publishing, broadcasting, distributing or disseminating any information, including written, oral, or video, relating to debt elimination, debt management, debt settlement, debt counseling, wealth-building or credit repair services or products offered or provided to consumers;
Performing, supervising, or otherwise participating in debt elimination, debt management, debt settlement, debt counseling, wealth-building or credit repair services or products offered or provided to consumers; and
Referring any consumer who has signed a contract for the RTN program to a collections agency.

B. Requires Defendants and their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, independent contractors and any other persons in active concert or participation with Defendants who receive actual notice of the Court’s order including, but not limited to, Melodie Rose Burke, Freedom Financial Partners, LLC and Reality Financial, LLC, to:

Deactivate within forty-eight(48)hoursoftheOrderallInternetsites,domain names, URL addresses, registrations, and any other forms or materials that advertise, market or solicit any business relating to debt elimination, debt management, debt settlement, debt counseling, wealth-building or credit repair services including, but not limited to, www.gortn.com and www.iceellc.com ;
Within five calendar days of the entry of the Order, withdraw from collections any and all consumer accounts that Defendants had previously referred to a collections agency;
Notify all current clients of the Order in writing by e-mail sent no later than July 9, 2010, and United States mail, first-class postage prepaid, postmarked no later than July 9, 2010, attaching and enclosing the Order and a letter from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office to notify each client that RTN has ceased operations; and
Provide a status report and certification to the Court by July 12, 2010 that Defendants have complied with the foregoing (1) through (4).

C. In view of Defendants’ fraudulent and deceptive practices perpetrated in and outside Colorado, it is necessary and appropriate for the Court to freeze any bank accounts of Defendants into which consumer funds have been deposited or transferred. Thus, it is necessary and appropriate that Defendants and their officers, managers, supervisors, directors, independent contractors and any other persons in active concert or participation with Defendants who receive actual notice of the Court’s order including, but not limited to, Melodie Rose Burke, Freedom Financial Partners, LLC and Reality Financial, LLC, are enjoined from:

Withdrawing, transferring or otherwise encumbering any funds from any account, including but not limited to those accounts in Defendants’ names, at any financial institution into which Defendants or their officers, managers, supervisors, directors, independent contractors or any other persons in active concert or participation with Defendants including, but not limited to, Melodie Rose Burke, Freedom Financial Partners, LLC and Reality Financial, LLC, deposited or transferred money received from consumers as a result of Defendants’ deceptive business practices;
Negotiating any checks, money orders, wire transfers, drafts, or other negotiable instruments received by Defendants or their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, independent contractors or any other persons in active concert or participation with Defendants including, but not limited to, Melodie Rose Burke, Freedom Financial Partners, LLC and Reality Financial, LLC, as a result of Defendants’ business practices;
Depositing or processing any credit card and debit card receipts obtained by Defendants or their officers, directors, agents, servants, employees, independent contractors or any other persons in active concert or participation with Defendants including, but not limited to, Melodie Rose Burke, Freedom Financial Partners, LLC and Reality Financial, LLC, as a result of Defendants’ business practices, and using any financial transaction device, such as a debit or credit card number, obtained from any consumer; and
Spending, transferring, giving away, or in any way disposing of any monies received by Defendants or their officers, managers, supervisors, directors, independent contractors or any other persons in active concert or participation with Defendants including, but not limited to, Melodie Rose Burke, Freedom Financial Partners, LLC and Reality Financial, LLC, as a result of Defendants’ business practices.

D. banking institutions associated with Defendants: Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and BBVA Compass Bank.

E. Any further Order as this Court deems necessary and appropriate to further the purposes of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, the Uniform Commercial Credit Code, the Colorado Credit Services Organization Act, and the Federal Credit Repair Organizations Act.

You can read the full court approved temporary restraining order here.

Additional Documentation on Real Talk Network Law Suit

The parties sued were:

REAL TALK NETWORK, INC. d/b/a REAL TALK NETWORK and GET REAL WITH DAVE, a Colorado corporation,
REAL TALK, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company,
REAL TALK RADIO SHOW NETWORK, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company,
INSTITUTE OF CONSUMER ECONOMIC EDUCATION, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company,
DAVID ALLEN BURKE, individually,
ERIK SALE, individually.

The suit makes the following allegations.

RTN has been in operation since approximately March 2008. Through RTN, Defendants sell a program for consumers to improve their credit scores and eliminate their debt. According to RTN’s current website (www.gortn.com):
The Get Real with Dave [RTN] network of professionals are dedicated to changing the social economics of our country. We are a coaching network that provides critical financial education to families across the country.

What we do:
Our primary mission is to help families get out of debt rapidly, using advanced financial techniques. We provide ongoing coaching support to ensure our techniques are understood and provide a lifetime of empowerment.
Defendants market RTN’s program through its website at www.gortn.com, through radio programs, and through free sales presentations held throughout the Denver metropolitan area and in California.
In March 2010, RTN’s website contained the following representations regarding its program:
Real Talk Presents: The New Banking and Credit Event

0% INTEREST ON CREDIT CARDS AND MORTGAGES? IS IT POSSIBLE? Join us for a discussion and training on eliminating the interest in your life. Are you tired of losing money? If you are paying any interest on credit cards or your mortgage, you are losing. Come learn how to win in today’s opportunistic market.

EXPLODE YOUR CREDIT SCORE AND GET CASH:
Learn the secrets to your credit score from the creator of the FICO scoring model. Put $1,000-$3,000 in your bank account in 45 days using the strategies you will learn in this webinar. Boost you score instantly and much much more.

PAY OFF YOUR HOUSE NOW:
Learn to accelerate the payoff of your home. No gimmicks, no games, just simple math and accountability that will have you own your home free and clear in under 10 years. If you don’t own one now, how would you like to buy and own a home with no mortgage in six years.

ELIMINATE YOUR CONSUMER DEBT AND RETIRE SAFELY:
Learn and practice advance financial methodologies to wipe out all of your consumer debt and increase your monthly cash flow. Learn how to get up to a 40% raise in your household income.
Wipe out your debt NOW!
 Credit Cards  Mortgages  Auto Loans  Medical Loans
RTN’s current website explains how the RTN program is conducted as follows:
Our Coaching Workshops include one-on-one coaching, lectures about cash flow management techniques, and a personalized action plan that we help you create. We teach you how to maximize every dollar to maintain the lowest possible balances, which reduces your effective interest costs and gets you paying PRINCIPAL down instead of interest, and the secrets to your FICO score. Our program walks you through eliminating debt, so you can begin building wealth.
RTN’s primary vehicle for attracting consumers is through radio programs. These programs are at least a half-hour long and feature Defendant David Burke.
On the radio programs, Defendant David Burke is described as a nationally-syndicated talk show host and financial expert.
In fact, RTN pays for the airtime on the radio, and the “talk show” hosted by Defendant David Burke is nothing more than an infomercial. Defendant Burke is not a nationally-syndicated talk-show host.
There is a brief disclosure at the beginning of each RTN broadcast stating that the show is a paid announcement, but the disclosure is not made at any other time during or after the program, such that a listener who tunes in after the start of the program does not know that the program is a paid announcement. Moreover, commercials are played during the RTN program, furthering the misrepresentation that the consumer is listening to a radio talk show rather than a paid announcement.
Defendants David Burke and Erik Sale have made the following representations on the RTN radio infomercials:
a. The RTN program can eliminate consumers’ debt in 7 days to 7 years;
b. The RTN program works for nearly 100% of all program participants;
c. RTN’s special banking relationships allow RTN members to obtain zero percent interest credit cards; and
d. The RTN program works for everyone regardless of income, and that 90-100% of the people who participate in the RTN program will have 25 years of their mortgage cancelled.
Defendants David Burke and Erik Sale also have falsely implied that RTN is aligned with the government in providing their services. Specifically, Defendants Burke and Sale represented in RTN radio programs that they had an “urgent” message for residents of Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Elbert, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Lincoln, Park, Summit and Weld counties, and that they were “servicing” a special program for residents of these counties. Defendants David Burke and Erik Sale additionally state that the program is for consumers who are $40,000 or more in debt, and is available only for a limited time.
Defendants also have claimed in these broadcasts that households who participate in this special program will have 78 to 90 percent of the interest on their mortgage cancelled, and will receive up to $24,000 to pay off other consumer debt.
Most recently, Defendants have stated in these broadcasts that Defendant Institute of Consumer Economic Education, LLC, or “ICE” is facilitating the County Household Economic Program, or “C-HEP” for eligible county residents. In these recent broadcasts, Defendants have represented that they are holding five free seminars in Colorado this month only, that seating is limited, and that participants will be educated on how to obtain up to $48,000 to cancel consumer debt and how to cancel 78 to 90 percent of the interest on their mortgages.
RTN currently broadcasts on the following Colorado radio stations at least once a week: 1600 AM KEPN; 94.7 FM KRKS; 710 AM KNUS; 630 AM KHOW; 100 FM KIMN; 105 FM KXKL; 92.5 FM KWOF; and 990 AM KRKS. The broadcasts may last from a half hour to an hour.
RTN currently broadcasts up to 27 radio infomercials a week in Colorado and California.
During these broadcasts, Defendant David Burke attempts to have consumers call in and register for an RTN “seminar.” The RTN free seminar is a two and a half to three hour sales presentation. These sales presentations are typically made by Defendant David Burke or Defendant Erik Sale.
Defendants employ high-pressure sales tactics at these presentations to encourage consumers to immediately sign a contract for RTN’s services. There is no break during the entire presentation, and at the end of the seminar, Defendants make it difficult to leave without signing a contract with RTN. At times, Defendants have physically barricaded the room exits to prevent consumers from leaving without first speaking to an RTN representative.
Moreover, Defendants make false representations about Defendant David Burke’s background in an attempt to bolster the credibility of the RTN program. Defendant David Burke is falsely represented at RTN sales presentations as a top financial expert in the world. Defendant Burke also falsely states at these presentations that he graduated from the University of Southern California, that he has a large ranch in Montana, that he recently came out of ten years of retirement to “help save American families in this time of crisis,” and that he has coached the House of Representatives and “a bunch of media figures.”
In reality, Defendant David Burke has filed for bankruptcy twice within the past thirteen years, and his last bankruptcy was terminated on October 25, 2007, only six months before incorporating Defendant Real Talk Radio Show Network, LLC. That bankruptcy, which was filed on February 2, 2000, involved a list of creditors to whom Defendant David Burke owed over $360,000.
Defendants have charged consumers from $1,497 to $3,497 for the RTN program. Defendants currently charge consumers $3,497 to join RTN. Unless a consumer can show that he or she does not have the ability to pay the entire $3,497 up front, payment of $3,497 is due upon the consumer’s execution of the RTN contract, before RTN has performed any services for the consumer.
Defendants represent to consumers that RTN will work with consumers who cannot afford to pay the entire $3,497 up front. RTN offers to put consumers on a payment plan, but charges them an additional $100 “processing fee” and requires them to pay in monthly installments.
Defendants have not notified and paid fees to the UCCC Administrator prior to collecting these processing fees.
Defendants employ numerous misrepresentations to get consumers, most of whom are already deeply in debt, to spend $3,497 and become RTN members. Defendants misrepresent the overall results that can be achieved through the RTN program, RTN’s abilities to improve consumers’ credit scores, RTN’s special relationships with banks, RTN’s abilities to obtain low or no interest lines of credit for its members, and the types of services that RTN offers. Additionally, the RTN contract is misleading and unlawful, and Defendants make misrepresentations to consumers regarding payment plans and refund policies to induce consumers to sign the RTN contract.

Defendants Misrepresent the Overall Results That Consumers Can Achieve Through Joining RTN

Defendants misrepresent that all consumers can use the RTN program to pay off their debt entirely in a short period of time, and that many consumers can be debt-free in a matter of weeks or months.
On RTN’s radio infomercials, Defendants David Burke and Erik Sale have represented that consumers can pay off their debt in seven months to seven years using the RTN program.
Similarly, at an RTN sales presentation on March 29, 2010, Defendant David Burke stated that “68 percent of you, we’re going to pay off all your credit cards, all your loans and everything in the next four to six weeks, and there’s going to be no interest, no payments.”
At the same sales presentation, Defendant Burke told the audience that they were all 40 to 84 months away from owning their homes free and clear.
RTN’s website in March 2010 stated that RTN could help consumers own their homes in ten years, or that consumers buying a home could pay off their mortgages in six years.
Defendants additionally represent that RTN can accomplish these results for every consumer regardless of income or debt level. For example, Defendant David Burke stated at a March 29, 2010 seminar that, “Our methodologies, math, access, tools, all that stuff is not dependent upon income, believe it or not, it doesn’t matter what your income is – it simply works for everybody, regardless of your income – your income means nothing.”
Similarly, at a March 7, 2010 seminar, Defendant David Burke stated that with the RTN program everyone in the room would get $1,000 to $4,000 “free money” to open a new bank account in 14-30 days.
Defendants further claim that their program does not require consumers to change their lifestyle, and that the RTN program will allow all consumers to increase their cash flow and pay off debt simply by minimizing or eliminating the interest paid on their debt. According to Defendants, all consumers can then use the money saved in interest to pay off a larger portion of their debt.
Contrary to Defendants’ claims, the RTN program does not work for everyone.
Defendants represent that the RTN program uses “advanced financial techniques” to create personalized action plans for all consumers to get them out of debt. However, the RTN program consists of nothing more than common-sense strategies that only work to eliminate debt for a small subset of consumers.
The RTN program largely depends upon minimizing or eliminating interest payments. Defendants instruct consumers to minimize their interest by paying credit cards on the closing date rather than the due date, by obtaining low or zero interest lines of credit and using that to “park” paychecks and to pay living expenses, and by paying additional principal on their mortgages.
These strategies do not work for everyone. First, paying credit cards on the closing date rather than the due date ostensibly pays off more principal prior to interest being assessed, causing the consumer to incur less interest. This only works to “eliminate” interest if the entire balance is paid off on the credit card. Most of the consumers that come to RTN have extensive credit card debt that they cannot pay off in full. Accordingly, this strategy does not eliminate interest for most consumers.
Second, Defendants advise consumers to obtain low interest or zero interest lines of credit. Many of the debt-ridden consumers attracted to RTN have poor credit scores that do not allow them to qualify for low interest lines of credit, and RTN membership does not improve those consumers’ chances of obtaining low interest credit, contrary to Defendants’ assertions. Very few banks will extend low interest lines of credit in today’s economic climate, and bank regulators would not allow a bank to extend a personal line of credit for zero percent interest.
Finally, Defendants’ representations regarding consumers’ ability to accelerate their mortgages can only apply to consumers that have significant excess income to put toward their principal. Many of the consumers who signed up for RTN’s services are in debt because their income has declined and they cannot make additional mortgage payments. Moreover, the RTN program rarely results in increased cash flow that consumers can put toward their mortgage.
Despite the clear limitations to the RTN program, Defendants have marketed and sold the RTN program to consumers for whom the RTN model will not work, including consumers that are unemployed, are already in debt settlement programs, owe more money on their homes than their worth, or who are on a fixed income, such as Social Security.

Defendants Misrepresent That RTN Can Improve Consumers’ Credit Scores

Defendants claim that the RTN program can help consumers acquire low or no interest credit in part through helping consumers improve their credit scores.
Defendant David Burke specifically represents that RTN retains the creator of the FICO scoring model and works with the nation’s leading credit attorney to analyze clients’ credit reports and remove negative items from their credit reports 69.7 percent of the time. Defendant Burke claims RTN clients receive a software platform that beats the FICO scoring model. Defendant Burke further represents that RTN can get bankruptcies removed from credit reports even if the bankruptcy occurred three months prior.
Defendant David Burke also claimed at a March 2010 sales presentation that all of the attendees would have a 760 or greater credit score in a matter of weeks if they signed up with RTN.
Defendants do not deliver the aforementioned results to RTN clients. RTN does not retain the creator of the FICO scoring model to analyze RTN clients’ credit reports. Nor can RTN exponentially raise consumers’ credit scores as they claim.
In fact, Defendants regularly contribute to the decline of consumers’ credit scores. If a consumer fails to comply with RTN’s payment plan, RTN will send the consumer’s account to a collections agency, which negatively impacts the consumer’s credit. RTN will report nonpayment even when nonpayment occurs as a result of a consumer’s legitimate complaint of misrepresentations made by Defendants, or if the consumer simply is financially unable to make payments (a fact Defendants knew or should have known at the time of contracting with the consumer).
RTN, despite representations to the contrary, is unable to remove recent bankruptcies from credit reports. Bankruptcy information remains in credit reports for up to ten years.

Defendants Misrepresent That RTN Has Special Relationships With Banks

In both their advertising and their sales presentations, Defendants frequently represent that RTN has special relationships with banks that allow RTN members unique access to low or no interest lines of credit.
At a March 29, 2010 seminar, Defendant David Burke made the following specific representations regarding RTN’s special relationships with banks:
a. “[RTN counselors] have special banking relationships. And you may say why, because we had 7,700 people go through our program and over half of them wiped out their mortgage in 48 months. The banks know it.”
b. RTN is in alignment with Compass Bank and is RTN’s “biggest collaborator;”
c. Going to a particular loan officer at Compass Bank would permit any RTN member with a 680 credit score or higher to obtain a line of credit with a checking account that would require no income verification;
d. With RTN’s tools, eventually all members can get a credit line from Compass Bank. “No one ever gets turned down because we know what happens before you go in. We have a 1% mistake ratio;” and
e. US Bank offers RTN members, with credit scores of 640 or higher, a credit card with a limit of up to $20,000. Every RTN member with a 640 score is approved for a credit card with a $5,000 limit, and these offers are only available to RTN members.
None of the assertions made by Defendant David Burke as set forth in the previous paragraph are true.
Contrary to Defendants representations, RTN does not maintain special relationships with banks that would allow RTN members preferential treatment over any other bank customer. At best, some RTN coaches have relationships with specific loan officers at particular bank branches such that the coach can contact the loan officer and determine what products are available to any bank customer.
Consumers who have joined RTN and have attempted to use RTN’s “special relationships” with banks have not been successful in obtaining products that would not otherwise be available to those consumers. In fact, consumers have been routinely rejected by banks with whom RTN claims to have a special relationship.

Defendants Misrepresent That Consumers Can Obtain Zero Percent Interest Credit Cards Through RTN

A central tenet of RTN’s program is the claim that RTN can obtain zero percent interest credit cards for its members. Defendants repeatedly tell consumers in RTN radio infomercials and in RTN sales presentations that RTN can get all consumers zero percent interest credit cards.
For example, at an RTN sales presentation on March 7, 2010, a large easel at the front of the room displayed the phrase “Access 0% Credit Cards!” The RTN website at that time also advertised access to zero percent interest credit cards.
The majority of consumers that have signed up with RTN and have attempted to obtain zero percent lines of credit through RTN have been entirely unsuccessful.
Moreover, there is no such thing as a true zero percent interest credit card. A former RTN coach said that the only zero percent interest credit card she could find for the RTN clients she coached had an introductory rate that went up exponentially after six months and included transfer fees. This coach concluded that such a card would not be suitable for debt-ridden consumers.

Defendants Misrepresent the Nature of Services Offered by RTN

Defendants induce consumers to sign a contract with RTN by presenting the RTN program as an opportunity for consumers to receive personalized coaching from highly-trained financial counselors who will help them devise a plan to get out of debt. Defendants further represent that counselors will use “advanced financial techniques” in formulating individualized debt elimination plans for consumers.
When consumers sign up for RTN, they do not receive the services RTN purports to offer. First, very few of RTN’s counselors have any financial background. One of RTN’s coaches entire previous work experience consisted of fast-food delivery.
RTN coaches receive little or no training in counseling consumers on ways to eliminate their debt. When consumers sign up for RTN, they are given a detailed spreadsheet to complete regarding their income, expenses and debt. RTN coaches are trained primarily in how to assist the consumer in filling out this spreadsheet.
The “advanced financial techniques” that RTN coaches use are little more than encouraging consumers to apply for additional credit cards and/or lines of credit that may have lower interest rates than the consumers’ existing credit cards.
RTN coaches additionally advise consumers to engage in common-sense strategies to reduce their debt, such as taking a second job, renting out a room in their home, or eliminating unnecessary expenses.
Defendants also misrepresent the consumers’ ability to gain access to RTN coaches.
According to RTN’s contract, consumers must complete twelve coaching sessions within 120 days of executing the contract in order to fully participate in the RTN program. In February of 2010, Defendants employed nine RTN coaches, and signed up approximately thirty to fifty consumers a week. Defendants employed only three people in customer service who were responsible for scheduling coaching sessions. Accordingly, it took consumers an average of five weeks to get their initial coaching session scheduled.
Additionally, consumers rarely get the same coach for coaching sessions and receive conflicting advice from different coaches.
Because RTN coaches were not trained financial professionals, and because consumers could not obtain the intensive one-on-one coaching that RTN promised, consumers did not obtain the services that RTN advertised.

The RTN Contract is Misleading and Does Not Comply with State or Federal Law

Defendants further sold RTN services through false representations in the RTN contract.
At the end of each RTN sales presentation, Defendant David Burke or Defendant Erik Sale request that consumers form two lines at the back of the room: one line for consumers who could pay the full $3,497 up front, and one line for people who could not afford to pay the full $3,497. A number of RTN salespeople are waiting at the back of the room to speak with consumers, and have clipboards with RTN contracts ready for consumers to sign.
Defendants do not provide any written disclosure to consumers prior to having consumers sign the RTN contract, as required by Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-14.5- 106 and 107, and by 15 U.S.C.A. § 1679(c).
The front of the RTN contract has changed several times since the inception of RTN. A recent version of the contract is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The front of the current contract provides that, “All sales of this Program are final. [RTN] does not provide refunds of any payments after the program is purchased.”
The RTN contract requires the consumer to sign on the front page. The contract does not state that additional terms and conditions are on the back of the contract.
The second page of Exhibit A is the back side of the current RTN contract, and is actual size. RTN sales representatives do not give consumers the opportunity to read the back side of the contract prior to signing it.
Contrary to Defendants’ repeated representations throughout the RTN sales presentation, the back side of the contract contains the following language:
As an inducement to [RTN] to accept Participant’s participation in the “[RTN] Coaching Program” . . . Participant expressly acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this document or any other written or oral communication relating to the Coaching Program, or any materials promulgated or distributed with respect to or commensurate with the Program shall constitute a representation or guarantee that Participant shall become debt free or increase their credit scores as a result of the [RTN] coaching program and/or use of the Coaching Program materials.
The current contract also states that the consumer “has been duly avised [sic] to seek the advice of their own legal counsel as to the nature and purpose of this document and as to whether or not to sign and/or enter the same.” However, RTN representatives do not advise consumers to consult an attorney prior to signing the contract. In fact, RTN representatives encourage consumers to sign the contract as quickly as possible.
No RTN contract has ever contained any language regarding the consumer’s right to rescind the contract within a specified period of time. Nor has any RTN contract ever included a cancellation notice as required by Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-14.5-108(2) and 15 U.S.C.A. § 1679e (b).
Additionally, RTN contracts made with consumers who pay Defendants in installments do not include any disclosures required by the federal Truth in Lending Act, including, but not limited to, the annual percentage rate.
Earlier versions of the RTN contract have contained the following fraudulent statements:
a. “Our refund policy and guarantee are simple – We guarantee results.”
b. “Mortgages are guaranteed to be eliminated in 2-7 years, consumer debt in days, weeks, and months.”
c. “If we determine, in your first one on one coaching session, that our program will not work for you we will provide a full refund.”
d. “Real Talk Network Guarantee – We will save you, in interest, the cost of our program – All Sales Final.”
Moreover, Defendants have stated in the contract that consumers “must follow the steps and actions of your coaching to remain within our guarantee,” but do not elaborate on what those steps and actions entail. And, as explained in Section E of this Complaint, Defendants make it nearly impossible to complete 12 coaching sessions within 120 days as required in the contract.
Defendants rarely provide consumers with copies of their contract and financing terms with RTN as required by Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-14.5-108(3) and 15 U.S.C.A. § 1679e(c) and by Colo. Rev. Stat. § 5-3-108.
Additionally, RTN sales representatives will frequently tell consumers that they are only obtaining “basic information” from the consumer and that the consumer is not yet signing a contract, then will charge the consumer and assert that the consumer has already executed a valid contract.

Defendants Misrepresent RTN’s Payment Policies

Defendants misrepresent that RTN’s primary goal is to “keep families safe,” and that RTN will help consumers even if consumers cannot afford to join RTN.
Defendant David Burke made the following statements at a March 7, 2010 sales presentation:
a. “If you can’t afford it, I’m going to make the investment for you, is that okay?”
b. “No one gets left behind. I’m going to ask all of you if you want to wipe out your debt. You’re all going to raise your hand. If you can’t afford it—I don’t care—I won’t say ‘no’ —we’re going to assign you a counselor. I don’t care about fees—I’ll make the investment for you. . . . And your cash is going to go through the roof!”
c. “We took 1,500-2,000 families in 2009 where we said, “You’re behind in your mortgage, you have no business giving money to anybody—your family needs to be safe.” $700,000 payroll—6 months without getting a dime—why do we do that? Because we do what we say.”
None of the statements made by Defendant David Burke set forth in the paragraph above are true.
Defendants’ primary objective is to get full payment from consumers as quickly as possible. At a March 29, 2010 RTN sales presentation, Defendant David Burke warned the audience that if anyone attempted to get on a payment plan who could afford to pay the full $3,497 up front, they would be kicked out of the RTN program.
Defendants have represented to unemployed consumers that they will not be charged anything for joining the RTN program until they are employed, and then have charged the consumer’s credit card within a few days, when the consumer was still unemployed.
Defendants have continued to charge consumers on payment plans even when those consumers have alerted RTN that they can no longer afford to make payments. If those consumers refuse to make payments, Defendants send the full balance of the consumer’s account to Conrad Credit Corporation, a collections agency, without giving consumers notice of their right to cure the default.
Defendants are reluctant to give consumers refunds or to cease charging consumers on payment plans even if the consumer has alerted Defendants that the RTN program is not working for them. Consumers who attempt to contact RTN to request a refund are regularly ignored or told that they must schedule more coaching sessions and will not be given a refund.

You can read the entire suit here.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.

Institute of Consumer Economic Education (ICEE) – Sadly Dave Burke Appears to Be Back

Steve Rhode — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:05:57 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

A tip just in.

Real talk is no longer a business…However Dave Burke is still very much in business just under a totally different company name! RTN is now the “institute of consumer economic education” Melody Burke purchased all of RTN assets, under the institute of consumer economic education so real talk doesn’t exist anymore! what she didn’t purchase was all of RTNs liabilities… ICEE is an “education service” for consumers? So do some research check it out, ICEE is very real they’re website is iceellc.com and if you notice they are even holding events at the exact same places that RTN use to hold events. Oh and they are even opening up a new market in Houston, Tx. This is Burkes way to get rid of the negative press he has received as well as all of the BBB ratings and of course the event picketers!

I’ve written so much about Dave Burke and his old Real Talk Network enterprise. If you want to learn more, start with “Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network (Real Talk Network, Inc.). Is It a Scam?” And once you finish that article you can read all of these.

Thanks to the tipster it was super easy to connect the Real Talk Network site and the ICEE site. All I had to do was look at the code on the site to get the connection through Experian.

According to the ICEE site, the company is Institute of Consumer Economic Education, LLC at P.O. Box 33300, Northglenn, Colorado 80234. – Source

The Institute of Consumer Economic Education, LLC lists on its articles of organization the address of 1333 W. 120th St #208, Westminster, CO 80234. That just so happens to be the mailing address of the Real Talk Network, Get Real With Dave and now the ICEE.

The Institute of Consumer Economic Education was registered by Melodie Burke on June 17, 2010. – Source

The ICEE describes itself as:

The Institute of Consumer Economic Education (ICEE) is a content- rich information source focused on educating consumers on the vast array of topics regarding consumer financial management. Through its website, proprietary curriculum, classes and orientations, and personalized, one-on-one mentoring, ICEE provides consumers with the tools to live smarter, richer lives. Based in Denver, Colorado, ICEE is a one-stop information source for tools, tips and community sharing. – Source

And as the tipster noticed. It does look like the seminars are held in similar locations as Real Talk Network did.

And the Real Talk Network doesn’t list any additional sessions to be held after the one on July 1, 2010 at the, wait for it, Costa Mesa Hilton. – Source

The iceellc.com domain name was registered on June 14, 2010.

ICEE is hiring. A recent advertisement says there is an opening for a back-up speaker. I wonder if Dave is looking for a new sidekick since it seems all the others have been kicked out the door.

The ad says:
Post# A72219

Consumer Economic Education Speaker (Denver)

Posted on: Wednesday, 30 June, 2010 11:11
Updated On: Monday, 05 July, 2010 10:12
Expires On: Friday, 08 October, 2010 11:11
Reply to: (Not Shown)

Position: Education Orientation Professional Speaker

Overview
The COO of an exciting, fast-growing company is looking for a Back –Up Professional Speaker to speak about the Institute of Consumer Economic Education’s Economic Education Program at various orientations around the country. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a demanding, fast-paced, high-energy environment and have previous finance related work experience. Candidate must be professional, passionate, have a high level of energy, the ability to speak in front of large crowds, detail-oriented, ability to multi-task and possess strong oral skills. High level personal training is provided to the right candidate.

Responsibilities
• Learn the ICEE philosophy, Household Economic Education Program and training.
• Develop and maintain a professional atmosphere at all events.
• Work with COO to update new financial product info.
• Attend all orientation engagements set up by ICEE.
• Work with COO on a continued basis, training and orientation tactics.

Qualifications
• Recent Speaking at Event level experience.
• Excellent oral skills; detail-oriented.
• A professional who is prompt and reliable.
• A resourceful self-starter and self-manager; ability to work independently and be self directed.
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills in a high interrupt environment.
• Strong customer service and people skills.

Work Environment
• Speaker will work out of corporate offices and at orientations nightly. Working hours vary depending on event details
• Be able to attend orientations for at least three to six months before speaking
• Demanding, high-energy, fast-paced environment (small, growing company).
• Work with group of sharp individuals who are highly committed to company vision.
billicampanella@yahoo.com – Source

Notice the email address in the ad, Billi Campanella. Well Billi Sue Carwile was listed as the COO of Real Talk Network. I wonder if she is using a different last name to try to distance herself so people don’t figure it out. – Source

According to the Facebook page for the ICEE it sure sounds like the Real Talk Network and other Dave Burke pitches.

Here is what it says:

Company Overview: Typically, debt elimination isn’t the golden ticket. In order for consumer to have long-term financial success, education is key. The Institute of Consumer Economic Education (ICEE) is focused on empowering consumers with financial knowledge, information, education and action. Through its website, curriculum, classes and orientations, and personalized, one-on-one mentoring, ICEE provides consumers with the tools to live smarter, richer lives. Based in Denver, CO, ICEE is a one-stop information source for tools, tips and community sharing. Visit us at www.iccellc.com.

Mission: Most consumers view mortgages, credit card fees and auto loans as a necessary part of life. Visions of winning the lottery can sometimes seem like the only way out. At the Institute of Consumer Economic Education (ICEE) we take a very different view of personal financial management. Our philosophy is to empower every consumer with knowledge and from there educate and mentor. We provide a content-rich information source focused on educating consumers on a vast array of subjects surrounding consumer financial education. Through our website, proprietary curriculum, classes and orientations, and personalized, one-on-one mentoring, ICEE provides consumers with the tools to live smarter, richer lives. It’s not a one-stop approach to debt elimination but rather a long-term process that empowers and educates.

Products: ICEE takes a holistic, 360-degree view of personal finance. Consumers can access one of many resources to learn, inform or take action.

• At www.iceellccom consumers have a one-stop source for information and knowledge sharing.

• ICEE’s Household Economic Program Orientations are an open, community-building forum where consumers learn tips, tools and gather knowledge about better household financial management.

• ICEE’s Household Economic Program brings a personalized, tailored process to guiding consumer through the financial management process.

• ICEE’s Household Economic Program Classes are in-depth sessions on key financial topics like managing credit cards, mortgages and debt. – Source

Sadly I’d have to say we’ll need to stay tuned for new people with something to say about the ICEE. If you have any information and updates about the ICEE, be sure to post your information in the comments below.

Update: July 7, 2010

As you will see in the comments below, COO Billi Carwile made the statement that Dave Burke will be involved in ICEE and his wife is the owner of ICEE and purchased the assets of Get Real With Dave (Real Talk Network) and that then became the Institute of Consumer Economic Education (ICEE). Carwille says, “Mr. Burke will be contracted by ICEE in a consulting manner to train a new speaker for ICEE as well as continue training for its counseling program.”

Just yesterday a San Diego television station reported the following story about Burke and his business practices. Only time will tell if they become part of the ICEE approach.

Update: July 8, 2010

ICEE Shuttered by Colorado Attorney General

Well it looks like the ICEE ran a short life. Along with the ICEE, Dave Burke’s other enterprises have been hit with a court approved temporary restraining order and all operations have been ordered to cease and web sites to be removed.

See Dave Burke, Erik Sale, Real Talk Network and Institute of Consumer Economic Education All Sued and Hit With TRO by Attorney General of Colorado for complete details.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.

Get Real Dave Burke – Your Real Talk Network is Going to End a Bloody Mess

Steve Rhode — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:05:39 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Readers might think I have had a vendetta against Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network. I truly do not. But in my opinion Burke’s reign of his debt relief enterprise is rapidly nearing an end, and it will be a bloody end.

Dave Burke has been relentless in his bending and breaking of trust and respect in his efforts to sell unsuspecting people thousands of dollars of dubious debt relief help that only landed many in collections and worse off.

What is most disturbing is the dangerous journey he is taking that have left and will leave many financially wrecked as the Real Talk Network spirals in and augers a big hole into the ground.

Like the oil spill hitting the beaches. RTN is going to end in a costly mess.

You’ve got to ask yourself, if Dave Burke’s debt relief approach is above board and honest then why does he have an F rating and 100+ complaints with the BBB (source), numerous lawsuits against him, one investigative television report under his belt (watch here), another in the works and as stated, at least two law enforcement departments actively investigating him?

The people I feel most sorry for are Erik Sale, Matt Pillmore, John Deckys, and the other people that participated in Burke’s enterprise to the detriment of their personal reputations. These men are now all left with attempting to redeem themselves and repair a reputation that was severely damaged when they tied their wagon to Burke’s enterprise.

And then there is Melodie Rose Burke, the wife of David Allen Burke. Melodie plays and has played an active part in the Real Talk Network as an initial director and a registred agent and is leaving a lasting legacy for her family that could unfortunately shame her in the future unless she steps up to take action to stop the Real Talk Network and Dave Burke cold in his tracks to prevent the further abuse of consumers by the Real Talk Network, Real Talk Network Radio Show, and his debt relief enterprise.

On June 1, 2010 I wrote Breaking Down the Misleading and Deceptive Financial Sales Pitch From the Get Real With Dave Burke Radio Show. That article dissected Burke’s recent radio show in San Diego, bit by bit, to show the misinformation and false impressions he was spreading.

By June 12, 2010 he was still at it and just as egregious. You can listen to the June 12 KFMB broadcast in San Diego below.

real_talk_1757

“You Are Gonna Kill Yourself If You Pass This Up.” – Dave Burke

Now I am told that the latest investigative television report is underway in San Diego as I write this.

At some point Burke should have realized that when his own coaches, cohorts, and employees of the enterprise are running for cover, don’t want to be associated with him and are spilling the beans, he has a train wreck on his hands.

There is NO good that can come from the legacy he has and is creating for himself, his coworkers and one that inevitably and sadly, his children will discover at some point in the future.

The only single hope to prevent a tortured end would be for Burke to fall on the sword right now, cease operations, apologize to all injured parties, stop all collections on past clients and issue requested refunds.

Otherwise, I would not be surprised in the least if he isn’t charged criminally in either California or Colorado and winds up doing jail time.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.

Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Attempt to Bar Reporter With Restraining Order

Steve Rhode — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:44:31 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

Recently the ABC television station in Denver, the home of Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network, broadcast an investigative report into the operation of Burke and looked into claims that consumers were being ripped off and scammed.

As a result of that work and the attempted interview by the investigative reporter, rather than talk to the press and address claims of impropriety Burke took out a restraining order against the reporter Tony Kovaleski claiming Kovaleski was physically intimidating, trapping and shoving Burke.

The video footage shot specifically contradicted Burke’s claims and in fact show Burke being restricted exit from an elevator by his own staff members.

After 7News appealed the temporary restraining order issued erroneously against Kovaleski it was lifted. Magistrate Gregory Beacom said, “I can’t find a threat of harm or serious bodily injury nor an ongoing threat of harm.”

Tony Kovaleski has told me that he made repeated requests to sit down and interview Burke and Burke finally agreed to do so but it is now disclosed that Burke then sent a certified letter declining the interview.

It’s my opinion that Burke does not want to be open and transparent about his operation and business as if he has something to hide. Burke attempts to intimidate those that speak up with concern by getting a temporary restraining order against the 7News reporter and having his lawyer send me a letter saying I must cease & desist speaking out about Dave Burke and Real Talk Network or they will sue me.

The irony here is that rather than view reporters as something to avoid, if Dave Burke simply ran his debt relief company in an aboveboard, open and transparent manner and properly addressed the complaints of consumers, BBB and others and issued refunds when requested, there would be nothing to investigate and no unhappy consumers.

Just to let you know how many people are unhappy with what appear to be deceptive and misleading sales practices by Burke and the Real Talk Network, on March 16, 2010 Burke had 80 BBB complaints. It is now June 2, 2010 and Burke now has 105 complaints – Source

I am left with only one impression, Burke’s continued troublesome business practices serve him. Otherwise, it would be a simple matter to clean up the operation, address past transgressions and move forward telling the truth. Certainly his recent radio broadcast in San Diego does not seem as if he is concerned about facts and telling the truth. You can read and listen to a breakdown on that show here.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.

Just In, Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Not Authorized to do Business in Colorado

Steve Rhode — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:40:57 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I just received an email from the State of Colorado which pointed out to me that as of June 1, 2010 the corporate status of Dave Burke’s Real Talk Network has just been changed to noncompliant for failure to file an annual report. See below.

Click image for larger view.

Update: June 2, 2010 – Real Talk Network has filed their annual report now. click here.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Breaking Down the Misleading and Deceptive Financial Sales Pitch From the Get Real With Dave Burke Radio Show

Steve Rhode — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:15:00 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I admit, using the words misleading and deceptive is pretty strong language to use to describe a radio show. In this case it is the “Get Real With Dave” Dave Burke radio show.

Burke has been on the air buying time for at least a couple of years. Until May, 2010 he was pitching his radio shows as “Real Talk Network.” But I am told that because of the rapidly exploding number of BBB complaints, investigative reports on television and now possible State of Colorado fraud investigation, he is changing his branding to try and change his image.

The first of his new radio shows I heard aired May 22, 2010 at 4PM on 760 AM KFMB in San Diego. Remember, this is airtime that was purchased to broadcast this show. It is not a public service of the station.

After listening to the first hour of the show, I heard a number of things in the show that concerned me and made me afraid consumers were being mislead. In my opinion his words create an unfair impression for listeners about what he is pitching. So I thought I’d break the show apart into segments to show you my concerns. At the end of this article you will be able to hear the whole first part of his two part show in its entirety.

And this is only a review of the first hour. There was an entire second hour that I didn’t bother to review for you.

As you listen to the parts I’ve cut out for you below, and then hopefully the entire show, I want you to put his show into context. Dave Burke makes it sound like he has flown in to help residents of certain counties to take advantage of a government program to cancel up to 23 years of their mortgage, get $48,000 to pay off other bills and not have to worry about repaying that money. Now, Dave Burke might say “I never said that.” But listen to the show yourself and see if you don’t think that’s the impression he’s trying to create. That’s sure what it sounded like to me.

He uses traditional impulse marketing tricks of making people believe they must act now or they will miss out. You need to listen to the broadcast not as a public service messages, which it is not, but as the sales pitch to get people to the seminar where they will be sold coaching programs that cost up to $3,000 or more.

These coaching programs have come under a lot of scrutiny and are the focus of investigations by the BBB and the State of Colorado. You can learn more about the history of Dave Burke, the complaints, and his Real Talk Network by visiting Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network (Real Talk Network, Inc.). Is It a Scam? Be sure to read the comments on that article to see what others have said about the coaching program.

In my opinion most of the stuff Dave Burke says has enough truth to it to be believable but much of it makes not much sense.

He makes claims of coast-to-coast broadcast coverage which are not true. My opinion is he does this to fool listeners into giving him credibility.
He makes claims that the seminars he is pitching are the last ones, but I’ve shown they are not. My opinion is he is trying to get people to act impulsively and make a quick decision to attend and once pitched, signup for paid coaching services.
His presentation for the evening orientation says is for specific county residents only and makes it sound as if there is a government program these residents are eligible for since it is a county orientation. He makes it sound official. Yet his own posting on his site makes no mention of limitation or residency requirements. If you think someone from outside the listening area would be turned away, you are mistaken.
He injects urgency by telling listeners that thousands are calling to get in, but constantly has a open phone lines out of the few lines he does have.
He makes wild claims about canceling mortgages and getting free money, but that sounds much like the same old pitches he has made in the past that consumers have complained about. I’ve written about these claims and even some of his past coaches have spoken out they are not true and many people can’t achieve his magic financial tricks.
He makes claims about canceling mortgages that are not true for almost all people that might attend and some of his math he uses as examples just does not numerically add up.
He says his show is about integrity but his quickly growing list of BBB complaints, his threats to sue me unless I stop writing about him, his ex-employees who have disturbing things to say about his operation, his stonewalling consumers that want refunds, his sending consumers to collections when they can’t afford his installment sales contract for debt help, and his misleading sales pitch all seem to not be the actions of a man of integrity that cares about anyone other than filling his own pockets. My opinion, he banters about the fact his show is about integrity to try to convince people he would never mislead or harm them.
His four minute political tirade in this broadcast I listened to seemed nothing more than an artificial tirade to try to connect with a specific demographic of listeners. Why do I say that, because while angry, it just doesn’t make much sense but does use a ot of emotional buzzwords.

Out of all the segments I cut out for you to listen to from the first hour 23, 24, and 25 were the most disturbing and insulting.

Statements of Concern from Broadcast

Claim or Statement: In the opening to show Burke states the AM station that broadcasts his show is the number one radio station in San Diego. Not true according to most April 2010 ratings. – Source
Listen:
KFMB Dave Burke Broadcast
Claim or Statement: Show is heard live coast-to-coast from New York City to San Francisco. According to Burke’s own site the show is only broadcast in San Diego, Denver, and Los Angeles. Source, source, source.
The show is a paid infomercial and not a station sponsored broadcast. If you want to hear this statement directly from a KHOW broadcaster listen to the clip below.

khow brokered show

You can here that entire discussion on KHOW by going here and scroll down to the bottom of the post.

On Burke’s own web site he lists the stations he is on but the stations don’t seem to acknowledge his presence on their schedules.

KCEO 1000 AM (San Diego) does not show Dave Burke’s show in their program lineup. – Source

KRKS 94.7 FM (Denver) Christian Radio only shows paid programming in Burke’s time slot and does not mention his show. – Source

KRKS 990 AM (Denver) lists paid programming in the time slot claimed. – Source

KIMN 100 FM (Denver) has no online schedule I could find.

KXKL 105 FM (Denver) has Classic hits scheduled in the slot Burke claims. – Source

KWOF 92.5 FM (Denver) has no online schedule I could find.

KEPN 1600 AM (Denver) runs The Auto Answerman in the time slot Burke claims. – Source

KNUS 710 AM (Denver) shows special paid programming from 6-10 AM on Saturday.

KTLK 1150 AM (Los Angeles) has a different show scheduled in the slot Burke claims. – Source

KFMB 760 AM (San Diego) does show “Get Real With Dave” at the time Burke claims. – Source

KHOW 630 AM (Denver) does not show Burke’s show on Saturday at all as Burke claims. – Source

Listen:
Coast-to-Coast
Claim or Statement: Dave Burke repeatedly makes a presentation that this is a time and space limited offer for only people in specific counties to attend a special presentation to learn how to cancel their mortgage and have it reported as paid as agreed. He states attendees must be a county resident and in my opinion he makes it sound as if this is a government sponsored program. It is not.
This presentation sounds exactly like Burke’s sales pitch for people to attend a seminar, enroll in his paid coaching service, and then have a counselor assigned to the paying client to go over how to pay your mortgage off early by accelerating payments using extra money on hand over time.

You can see the description of this seminar as shown on the Get Real With Dave Burke site. It’s interesting his own description of the event does not make mention it is only open to specific county residents and his description sounds much different that the time and space limited radio show presentation.

Burke claims there is nothing the banks can do about you canceling your mortgage early. That is simply because the trick is to pay your mortgage off using your money. There is no shortcut or special trick here to forgive mortgage debt. The reason the banks will report the debt paid as agreed is because by paying the mortgage off early using extra money each month the loan will be paid as agreed.

Listen:
Burke Banking Seminar

Click on graphic to enlarge it.

Click on graphic to enlarge it.
Claim or Statement: Burke says all residents that attend the evening sales pitch seminar will have their mortgages eliminated. Burke broadcasts, “they are going to have about 84 months and all those county residents will own their home free and clear regardless of their circumstances.” The reality is that if the consumer can not afford to make accelerated and additional payments on their mortgage they will not be able to eliminate their mortgage early. He fails to mention that.
He reinforces his government sounding pitch since “as a county resident you are eligible to attend a household banking orientation for your county.”

Listen:
regardless of their circumstances
Claim or Statement: Attendees at the seminar will get up to $48,000 to payoff other debt. There will be no payments and less than 1% interest. Neither Dave Burke and any government entity is handing out free money without obligation.
Listen:
48000
Claim or Statement: Burke makes the statement there are only two orientations left in San Diego. Burke makes it sound like there will be no more. But the schedule on his site lists the exact same seminar in San Diego again in June. Listen to the segment of the show below and see if you get the impression if you don’t act now you will miss out. The message about canceling plans if you have any is interesting.

Click on graphic to enlarge it.

Click on graphic to enlarge it.

Listen:
Only Two Presentations
Claim or Statement: Thousands of people are calling in for the few limited spaces to attend sales presentation. That is a gross exaggeration at best. Throughout the show the lines are open and Burke mentions he has four to eight people in the studio answering phones. So if hundreds or thousands of people are calling in how can their be any open lines? In my opinion it seems like an artificial message to create urgency.
Listen:
Thousands Calling
Claim or Statement: The State of Colorado has the program as well and messages about this program are going out on the airwaves across Colorado. It’s not a state sponsored program. This is an advertisement to attend a presentation to purchase coaching services.
Listen:
Colorado Program
Claim or Statement: You’ll be guaranteed a space at the presentation. But if space is really limited how can a caller be guaranteed a space? Hum.
Listen:
Guaranteed a Spot
Claim or Statement: Burke says that if you attend his presentation and have 25 years left on your mortgage you can eliminate 23 years of your mortgage and in 60 to 84 months you’ll be mortgage free. It must be some kind of new math. How can it take 84 months to eliminate the stated 24 months of payments? It makes no sense.
Listen:
60 to 84 months
Claim or Statement: Dave Burke claims his radio show is new, it’s not. He has had a paid radio show for years and it has been a similar approach, to encourage people to attend one of his seminars where they will be sold coaching services. So beside a show name change from Real Talk Network to Get Real With Dave, it’s hard to understand how this can be pitched as a new show.
Listen:
Get Real With Dave New Show
Claim or Statement: Here Burke makes the pitch again about the California counties with residents that can attend but this time he says “as a county resident you are eligible to attend your county’s household banking orientation.” It makes it sound, in my opinion, even more like a government sponsored event.
Listen:
county orientation
Claim or Statement: Burke claims program serves all county residents and then says it does not serve all county residents. Only those who can attend on a first come basis. Bizarre.
Listen:
All County Residents
Claim or Statement: This one is just funny. “If you are a Southern California resident and you live in Southern California. Huh? How could you be a Southern California resident and live someplace else? Last I checked you can only reside in one place at a time.
Listen:
Southern California Resident
Claim or Statement: Burke claims the orientations are all over the airwaves in Los Angeles but his own schedule shows his show broadcast only in Los Angeles on Saturday at 12 pm. If you look above you can see the KTLK, L.A. station does not even list his show on their schedule. So how can it be all over the airwaves?
Listen:
All Over LA Airwaves
Claim or Statement: Burke claims the radio show is about integrity and how we live our lives in relationship to politics. I have no idea what that has to do with a county household banking seminar.
Listen:
Integrity politics
Claim or Statement: Listeners are told if they attend they can spend more time with the people they care about and enjoy the beautiful world created for you by your God.
Listen:
Created by God
Claim or Statement: Act now message is hammered home again when Dave Burke says if you don’t act now the resources will be gone but yet I’ve already shown you he is holding the same orientation in June.
Listen:
Resources Gone
Claim or Statement: If you know someone that is a county resident and you want to register them to attend, listeners are told they can’t “because if you screw it up you will void their eligibility for life.” Eligibility for what, to attend one of the many upcoming sales presentations in LA and San Diego?
Listen:
Void Ther Eligibility For Life
Claim or Statement: Burke goes into a tirade about politics that seems artificially angry and for the most part makes little sense. But I’m at a loss why his household banking orientation program needs to launch into this political tirade unless he is trying to target a specific demographic to attract them to his sales seminar. Burke says, “I was outside my mind when I heard Obama say the constitution is fundamentally flawed.” By the way, if you want to hear the original Obama comment and what he really said, click here. He slams Bush as well. Equal opportunity political bashing. He says he didn’t vote for McCain because McCain was an idiot.
Listen:
Political Rant
Claim or Statement: A lack of integrity abounds and Burke says he has not lived his life with integrity. LOL.
Listen:
Burke Integrity
Claim or Statement: If you are listening to this message and you can’t make it to the presentation tonight you need to cancel your other plans so you can attend. But yet there are already future scheduled seminars for the same area. So this seems to be an artificial call to urgent action.
Listen:
Have Other Plans
Claim or Statement: Burke says if you did not call to schedule for the seminar you are insane and mentally irregular. You need to take a pill.
Listen:
Take a Pill
Claim or Statement: Dave claims to inspire people to live their lives with integrity by listening to his show which is heard coast-to-coast but how does that demonstrate integrity since I already proved his show is not heard cost-to-coast on radio? He makes the statement “if you only have 84 months and this program facilitates canceling 23 years you get to start thinking about doing the things that matter to you.” Huh?
Listen:
inspire with integrity
Claim or Statement: People with ADD and chaos in their brain need to relax and listen to Burke’s important message, aka sales pitch.
Listen:
add

Listen to Entire First Hour of the Broadcast

Here is the entire first hour of the broadcast that I took the cuts above out of.

GetRealWithDave05222010-760KFMB

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

I can always use your help. If you have a tip or information you want to share, you can get it to me confidentially if you click here.

Other Related Articles to Read
- Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Get Put Out of Business by Colorado AG
- Get Real Dave Burke – Your Real Talk Network is Going to End a Bloody Mess
- Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Attempt to Bar Reporter With Restraining Order
- Just In, Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Not Authorized to do Business in Colorado
- Will I Ever Get My Money Back from Real Talk Network? – Marvin
- Dave Burke, Erik Sale, Real Talk Network and Institute of Consumer Economic Education All Sued and Hit With TRO by Attorney General of Colorado
- Get Real With Dave – Problematic Dave Burke Changes His Branding From Real Talk Network
- How to Successfully Get a Refund from Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network By Picketing
- Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network (Real Talk Network, Inc.). Is It a Scam?
- Mortgage Accelerator Plus Software and Australian Loan Reduction Money Merge Scheme
Read the full article at GetOutOfDebt.org, click here: Breaking Down the Misleading and Deceptive Financial Sales Pitch From the Get Real With Dave Burke Radio Show

How to Successfully Get a Refund from Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network By Picketing

Steve Rhode — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:14:28 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I have previously written about Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network and the approach the network takes to providing financial counseling. He seems to have a a bunch of unhappy people that feel they have been ripped off. See the comments on “Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network (Real Talk Network, Inc.). Is It a Scam?”

Here is what one disgruntled RTN customer did in order to get a refund. Bob says:

I made myself a little cardboard sign that said “Talk to me about real talk network and save yourself thousands” and I proceeded to walk the sidewalk in front of the Mission Valley Marriott. After a while real talk sent the first Bozo out to tell me I was not going to get my money back and if I put the sign down and came inside they would resume my counseling, well I told him I wasn’t here to negotiate I came here to cost You as much money as possible and to go inside and tell Dave B. that he ripped off the wrong guy this time.

Well after a few minutes Bozo #2 came out to tell me what I was doing was illegal and pretended to call someone on the phone told them to call the police, at that time I informed him that I had already notified the police of what I was doing and they told me to call them if there was any problems and they would come out and make sure my right to free speech was protected. GOODBYE BOZO #2.

Then You guessed it out comes Bozo #3 and he ask me what they could do to get me to put my sign down. I told him that tonight I’m not leaving until after I scared away as many people as possible but if they gave me a complete refund, an unconditional release from the contract and a written assurance that all collection efforts would cease and any derogatory info. placed on my credit would be removed that I would not show up at any future events, or Dave Burke can come outside and like he promised me “personally handle my business through its satisfactory conclusion”.

Well Dave didn’t show ‘BIG SURPRISE’. but I did get a phone call and email from Jay Sanders the next morning saying that RTN is agreeing to do what I ask and not to come out any more. Well I’ve since received a Check from RTN for 1250.00 ‘which is 250.00 short of what I paid to date’. and a conditional release saying that once I cashed the check I could no longer do anything to disseminate derogatory information about RTN. Well I haven’t cashed the check yet because I’m now talking to RTNs lawyer Berkley Freeman about the 250.00 payment they lost and the fact that they don’t know what an “UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE” is per Jay Sanders.

Does that sound like the financial geniuses they claim? Well thats my story. I will say that I shared this with someone that went out on Fri. but he let them talk him out of walking and got nothing but the promise of more counseling. So my advise is if you do this STAY OUT THERE remember their just trying to get you out of peoples view so the scam can continue, its all about money with them cost them enough and you get their attention. – Source

To date the picketing technique is the most effective. If anyone does this be sure to shoot video of it so I can post it here. I’m sure a lot of people would love to see it.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network (Real Talk Network, Inc.). Is It a Scam?

Steve Rhode — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:00:12 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

This is an in-depth look at the Real Talk Network and Dave Burke coaching programs that are being sold to consumers over the radio and through in-person seminars in a number of states. If you spend a lot of time examining this group you will probably come to the same conclusion as I have, that, in my opinion, while much of what they say sounds deeply intriguing, it is without support or substance.

In fact there is enough of an element of truth in the claims made that make is seem plausible and believable but that’s just, in my opinion, the keystone of a great confidence game played to separate people from their money. And it appears here that is exactly what is happening.

At the end of my investigation and review I am left with a few deep concerns. First, if this is such a legitimate offer then why are people that are sold a program of help and assistance to break free of debt, sent to collections for a program they either did not signup for or did not want? Second, for a program that is supposed to be based on the power of having Dave Burke and his cronies as your coach, why is the actual coaching time so severely limited?

If you peel all the other issues aside I think the collections issue is the true smoking gun here. By sending people that attended one of his seminars to collections that never utilized the services or even arguably did not sign a contract for services it certainly appears, in my opinion, to be the the true motive of this enterprise is for pitchmen to extract money from people without providing much of a benefit.

Even the contract that is signed, in my opinion, seems terribly unconscionable. People are left with bills owing nearly $3000 for a program or service they have remorse signing up for or want out and have not received any benefit from it yet. The contract used by Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network really does nothing more than lock you in to paying even if you never use any of the coaching services and a week latter want out. “All sales are final.” In my opinion this is not a contract from people that want to help. It is a contract from people that want to snare and trap consumers.

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Poll – Vote Now

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

My Investigation

Dave Burke
Real Talk Radio Network, Inc.
(877) 291-8373
(303) 457-8017
1333 W 120th Ave Ste 113
Westminster, CO 80234-2709
Website: www.gortn.com

Original Business Start Date: September 2004
Principal: Mr. David Burke, President & CEO – Dave@gorealtalk.com
Customer Contact: Ms. Billi Sue Carwile, COO/Director of Operations

Source

Real Talk Network, Inc was incorporated in Colorado on August 23, 2008.

Here is how this appears to work. People are hyped on a radio show with limited distribution and can be heard over the Internet that Dave and his current cohort Erik Sale put out on his Real Talk Network. The show is nothing more than a sales pitch to promote getting people to attend their “financial freedom” workshop. In listening to the show below I heard nothing of substance, all hype.

Dave Burke Show 20

In my opinion, the radio spot is a sales pitch to get you to a financial freedom free workshop which is just a sales pitch to get you to signup for future coaching services. In the process you get some purchase Mortgage Accelerator Plus (MAP) software, credit repair services, and a workshop. This coaching program will cost you nearly $3000.

Watch Dave Burke talk about coaching by Matt Pillmore, John Deckys, Dave Burke, and Mark.
He also mentions that he will help people to get lines of credit (HELOC).

Now all of that sounds okay, doesn’t it? Some dude wants to help you with your finances and you sign a coaching agreement to do so. But the majority of complaints I’m getting from people either never committed to coaching or did not realize they were signing up for a two or three thousand dollar package of, well, we’ll call it “coaching.” Those that signed an agreement or just a registration piece of paper are told they can’t cancel the relationship.

How many legit money coaches do you know of that would not let you out of coaching you did not want and then send you to collections? Or how about a money coach that would bind you in an “all sales are final” contract for coaching services not yet delivered?

So What Do You Get for ,000?

What appears to be absent from all the pitch selling videos and radio hype about the Real Talk Network Coaching Program is what you actually get in coaching time. The heart of the hype appears to be that the primary benefit is the coaching by Dave Burke and his cronies. But a close inspection of the agreement and contract one signs shows what you actually get, not much. The fluff parts are a workshop, some software and a spreadsheet that’s been given away for free.

Here is where a real problem is created in the fine print of the coaching deal. And you can read the contract and details towards the bottom of this article.

What people are actually paying the vast bulk of their money for at the new $2997 price is:

Only twelve (12) coaching sessions with Dave Burke or a coach of the Real Talk Network.
Each coaching session may last up to an hour. But feedback from a current client tells me that the sessions on average are about 15 minutes, with half of that time take with the coach reviewing the spreadsheet sent in by the client.
These coaching sessions must occur within every ten days from the previous coaching session.
All coaching must be completed within 120 days, four months, from the signing of the contract.

And That’s All You Get.

So it appears for $3,000 you are getting between 2.5 to 12 hours of total coaching time for your contract price. My vote is the coaching for all students is going to roll in closer to the three hour mark. Meaning that what unsuspecting consumers appear to be actually buying is “coaching” that costs nearly $1,000 an hour from pitchmen.

But by their own admission on the Real Talk website, students won’t get a full 12 hours of coaching.

“Over-the-phone coaching sessions are extremely comprehensive. Students should expect their first few sessions to last about an hour. You can expect shorter sessions after you have these preliminary sessions under your belt. ” – Source

This is even though the sales presentation slides you will see below say the coaching is “One hour weekly for 12 weeks.”

An argument will be made by Burke and RTN that the software they provide students known as Mortgage Accelerator Plus (MAP) has a tremendous value as well. In fact, it doesn’t and it is based on junk science and hype. Don’t believe me, read this. But if his software is so valuable then why do they give it away for free to people that bring a flash drive to a free seminar as claimed in a video below? “Arrive early and bring a flash drive for a copy of our Financial Freedom Software. $3,500 value for FREE!” – Graphic.

But Here is What the Software Developer Has to Say About Dave Burke

Here is what Norm Bour had to say about Dave Burke and his use of the MAPS software.

At one time Burke was a MAP Affiliate but he decided he didn’t need the product/ program itself, and instead created an overpriced package that we never endorsed or promoted. I totally disagree with his claims and his overly aggressive sales tactics. MAP was always designed to be educational first and was promoted as such. – Source

The Real Talk Network Sales Pitch Closer Caught on Video

*Video:video of real talk network closer caught on tape.

The RTN Sales Pitch Close

Here is a shocking video that is actually titled RTN Close0317. In fact this is the closing sales pitch to sign people up for the Real Talk Network. The price on the screen appears to be $1997, an older sales price I’ve heard from others. You’ll see that price mentioned in the complaints below.

And at the very end, before the video stops, the guy (don’t know who he is) seems to be talking about a flexible payment or installment payment plan.

I really had to shake my head 0:32 in when the closer starts talking about his father crying in the bathroom. He also mentioned Dave Burke has been doing this since 1997 and that the product includes unlimited coaching, which seems factually not true.

Consumer Complaints About Dave Burke and Real Talk Network

The complaints below are fairly typical of what I’m hearing from many people:

I went to a free real talk network seminar in May of 2009 with a friend. After the seminar they were putting people into groups according to their situations.

My friend and I decided that this is not really “FREE” because they were asking people for credit card information. We decided it’s time to go, on the way out the door we were approched by one of the workers. I told him that I was not able to make a decision at the moment because I need to get my husband’s permission. He told me to fill out the application and put the best time to call us.

I filled out the application, and he called us that same night. My husband told him that he was not intetrested and we did not have any money to pay someone to get us out of debt. That was the last of the conversation.

On November 27th 09, I received a letter from a collection agency stating that I owed 1997.00, I went crazy.

I called the agency, and told them that I was not going to pay. They said the application that I filled out was a contract. I think I was mislead by the coach of Real Talk. We specifically told him that night that we were not interested, nothing else was said. They did not send me a letter, or told me that I signed a contract. I was not told that I could have written a letter to cancel within three days. – Sophia

This truly is a deceptive practice and as I mentioned, this is not an isolated practice by Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network.

I have read 2 articles by you about people trying to do business with this company and getting sent to collections.

This happened to us also. We were not contacted by RTN, just sent immediately to a collection agency. They refused my husband’s calls and the collection agency representative even told us that we shouldn’t do business with them.

This company is unethical and immoral. They just want to build their own wealth at the expense of others. You had mentioned in one the articles that the writer (Stan, I believe) file a suit in small claims court. Is it possible to to get other people in this situation together to file a class action suit? Kelly – Source

But the complaints keep rolling in.

I went to the Real talk “Free” seminar. At the end of the session they asked us to sign up for the program. I told them that my wife pays the bills and would need her on board, because there is work involved in managing your payables. Dave Burke told me to give him a $200.00 refundable deposit to hold a spot if my wife wanted to participate.

My wife was not interested, So I just forgot about it. approximately a year and a half later I got a letter from a collection agency stating that I owed $1297.00 plus $153.00 in interest. I was not contacted by nor did I recieve any goods or services from Real Talk Network. Real Talk Network says that it is out of their hands. The Collection agency has reported to credit agencys, yet they cannot produce a contract. I would STAY AWAY from Real Talk Network, its easy to become debt free if you charge people for nothing. – Chris

Even people that have been roped in by Dave Burke, Erick Sale, his new partner in crime, or Matt Pillmore and John Deckys, his older partners in crime, have some serious issues and unhappiness about the services being provided by Dave Burke and his coaches. More About Matt Pillmore and John Deckys, latter.

In October 2008, I paid $1494 to join a debt free program call Real Talk Network sponsored by Dave Burke. After 3 sessions, I was told they had done everything possible to reduce my debt, which wasn’t much. I was told I needed more income and to get a job to help pay off my debt. Obviously, I all ready knew that a job would help but who can get a job with the recession? Plus, I’m almost 60 years old.

Since about January 2009 to the present, I have contacted the Corporate Office in Westminster, Colorado by phone many times, have sent certified letters and a demand letter requesting a refund with no results. They even changed the requirements for a refund which is not even in my contract. They made it sound so easy to received a refund if you ended up not being a suitable candidate for the program. What a scam? I feel “somewhat stupid” but then when one is in debt, we “hope” for a solution. I’m not quiting because $1497 is a lot of money for me right now. I live in California and I’m not quite sure what to do at this point but would love to hear from you, if you experienced the same with this corporation. Please write, Joy – Source

Another California resident and former military service member, Elan found himself knee deep in the the Dave Burke scam like business pitch.

My name is Elan and I joined Dave Burke Real Talk Network in October and I’m on a $100 monthly payment plan. I have been taken advantage of and he has not gotten my situation better then when I signed up. if anything I have gotten more in debt because of him. i just paid my bills normally like I know how. I have been personally coached by him and at this point I’m positive this company has ripped me off for what i have paid.

When I went to the seminar [in Ontario, California] with Dave Burke, I summarized my current debt and payments that I new about on a piece of paper for both me and my wife. I told them there was no way I could make a lump sum payment of $3,000 dollars. So then Dave Burke himself came and looked at my paper and said we can work something out and he went on saying that we could wipe this credit card out within a month and both car payments within a 5 months or whatever.

So basically I fell for it and I felt like hey this guy makes since and he can really show me how to do this even faster. So he allowed me to write up a contract for payments of $100 per month for one year. Then after that one year if my personal coach sees that it’s okay that I am stable. Then they would automatically charge the rest of the balance, but on the other hand if I was still struggling to make payments, I would continue on the $100 per month plan.

All in all, the service I am paying for is for them to improve my credit score and to coach me and teach me and advise on things I could do or methods that would allow me to pay off more of my principal debt with the money I currently make. Which would therefore accelerate my debt pay off and increase my monthly cash flow. And Well, up to this day i am still on the same page were I started.

I did ask for a refund or to cancel the contract 3 days after I singed up when i came to my senses. And they pretty much said i would not be able to cancel the contract because it was already singed and I would have to follow trough with it. The only way i could cancel it is if I provided proof that I have been laid off or have filed bankruptcy or hospitalized for whatever reason. – Elan

Elan is a hard working guy that just wants out of the Dave Burke Real Talk Network scam, but can’t get out. He’s asked to get out but told he can’t unless he goes bankrupt or is hospitalized. And we already know what the path is going to be if he stops paying because he is fed up, he’ll get sent to Conrad Credit Corporation for collections.

Others have asked immediately for refunds but also told they are not available.

The answer was the same from all–that all sales were final (which was stated on the contract) and that there was no recourse. The receptionist basically hung up on me when I mentioned seeing them in court. – Source

Decided Ive been frauded for 3000 dollars and opted out of contract before two business days. Had paperwork notorized and certified mailed. They said they honor my opt out and would refund my money. its been 2 months now. Every week I call they say the refund is processed just a couple more days. – Source

We provide a 60 day unconditional guarantee provided that you attend at least one Implementation Workshop. If you feel you made a mistake in your purchase we refund your money, DONE. We have never been asked for a refund after attending our workshop. – Claims rebuttal Real talk Network Poster

After signing up with VIP I find out from one of he working at VIP credit experts Mr. Matthew Pillmore that Real Talk Network, INC only work with people that own a home. He told me he well talk with Mr. Burke about my refund. ( This was in early December ) I personally called and left message at Real Talk Network, inc office about a refund with no [response]. – Source

The number of complaints against Dave Burke and Real Talk Network seem like they are growing rapidly. See the many Dave Burke complaints on the RipoffReport site.

And apparently the lack of being able to get a refund isn’t the only problem. Even if you’ve paid for Dave Burke’s services in full you can still find yourself in collections.

Last April, I went to a pay off your debt seminar by Real Talk Network/Dave Burke. I charged $1997 to my Nordstrom Visa. Burke did not disclose thet his secret system is dependent on a decent FICO score and so he could not help me. No refund was offered and I forgot about it. About 3 weeks ago, I get a letter from their collection firm, Conrad Credit Corporation, saying I never paid Real Talk Network the $1997. I finally found proof that the $1997 was paid to Real Talk. Stan – Source

Now once people go to Conrad Credit Corporation for collections they are basically being extorted to pay their way out of a service they never signed up for to begin with.

It seems that we went to the same type of “free” seminar. I too filled out the application without filling in the credit card info. All they had was my name and address but according to the collection agency this was a contract for the RTN service and I was agreeing to pay them for the service. Nowhere on the application does it state that by signing you are entering into a binding contract for service. I ended up negotiating with the collection agency after receiving zero replies from RTN. I left several voice mails and sent them a letter requesting how this information sheet was in fact a contract for services. In order to keep the collection off my credit report I paid the fee necessary to get off the list of RTN “dead beats”. I still haven’t heard anything from the RTN. I did receive a letter from the collection agency stating that my account with RTN was paid and no other chargers would be pending. It cost me $540.00 dollars that I didn’t have to get them off my back. Jim – Source

Apparently Conrad Credit Corporation, acting as an agent for Dave Burke, knows this is a scam and is collecting the money anyway.

The collection company representative told my husband that they are aware of their practices and wouldn’t recommend we do business with them. Kelly – Source

Potentially Illegal Credit Repair

The Dave Burke Financial Freedom strategy is also said to include activities that appear to be nothing more than fee-for-service illegal credit repair. According to one active client I spoke with, a Robin, at Dave Burke’s Colorado office sends or is responsible for overseeing the process to have knowingly accurate but negative credit report items disputed by sending dispute letters to the credit bureaus as part of the “coaching” fee paid for by the client.

All I know is that they just disputed all my negative items for which I received letters from all three credit bureaus and they did not remove anything or make my credit history better. The only thing that improved my credit score was by may paying down my debt on my own and going to www.optoutprescreen.com were I took mine and wife’s information off to stop receiving pre approved credit offers.

That claim about removing your name from the opt-out lists for credit to improve your credit is one Dave Burke and Erik Sale make in the video below.

Watch video promising to Increase credit score.

I contacted Craig Watts, spokesperson for FICO and he confirmed that opting out of pre-screened credit offers does nothing to increase your credit score. “How would/could opting out be reflected on your credit report? If it doesn’t show up on your credit report then it won’t affect your score,” Watts said.

Dave Burke’s and His Cohorts in the Mafia

I’m not sure who is the chicken or who is the egg here but this hyped bunch of nonsense is not the formula used by Dave Burke alone.

Before Dave teamed up with his current co-host, Erik Sale of his radio show that he claims is heard all across the country, but upon checking, many of the stations he claimed it was on were not airing it, he was working with Matt Pillmore and John Deckys on this enterprise. If you watched the first video then you saw Burke mention these guys as his top coaches.

Matt Pillmore and John Deckys – VIP Debt & Credit Mafia

What I can’t figure out is why two of Dave’s top coaches he brags about in his videos have a separate company, the VIP Debt & Credit Mafia, that provide, in my opinion, essentially the same thing. Did they split? Is it a franchise? Did they steal the idea?

Here are Matt Pillmore and John Deckys all decked out in mafia attire on television in Colorado and giving a very similar pitch for their offer VIP Mafia offer.

VIP Mafia Television Appearence

In the past, John Deckys and Matt Pillmore actually held at least one Real Talk Network seminar and listed Dave as the guy to contact to register. The class is even held in the same building that Burke has his offices. 1333 W. 120th Ave. Westminster, CO 80234 Conference room 112 Source

And at one point the VIP guys and Real Talk Network had a referral relationship.

On October 21, 2008 me and my sister sign up the Real Talk network, INC. service. We made to full payment of $1997.00 each for the membership. that day we was giving instruction that for the next month meeting. On November 11, 2008 the coach looked over my financial statements he told me at I could not get into any of our programs with a low credit score so he told me I needed to call VIP Credit Experts. During that month I call someone from VIP Credit to start working on my credit. That day I called I found out that the cost is $1,000 but for members its only $500.00. – Source

But comments by people online seem to indicate that the lads had a falling out and split or maybe they just franchised the idea.

This is a scam plain and simple! The reason it’s a scam…because they preach this Australian shell game to people that do not have credit, can not get a loan and a looking for a quick fix for their problems. These idiots salesmen of Burkes know this as well but they still sell hard to get their money. Burke has several websites with different names all pitching thier scam. Now one of his diciples John Deckys has created his version of the scam – V.I.P. Mafia…still pitching the same crap! STAY AWAY FROM THESE SCAMMERS!!!!!!!!! – Source

*Video:investigative report into dave burke and his real talk network.

But this video posted by the VIP Mafia on YouYube on November 5, 2009 lists Dave Burke and Real Talk Network in their keywords.

Well the VIP Mafia claims to be part of a company VIP Enterprises, LLC

VIP Debt & Credit Mafia
John Deckys, CEO
Matt Pillmore, President – matt@vipcreditexperts.com, matt@VIPMafia.com
10955 Westmoor Dr., Suite 400
Westminster, CO 80021
phone: (877) 969-2738
fax: (888) 225-3238
CustomerService@DebtAndCreditMafia.com
www.VIPMafia.com

What is interesting about VIP Enterprises is that it was originally organized by Matt Pillmore and a man who I assume is Matt’s father. Poor guy probably isn’t aware of what he’s tied in to here.

John Deckys comes into the picture on VIP Enterprises, LLC in 2006 as the registered agent. The corporate return also lists the principal mailing office as 1202 26th Ave, Greeley, CO 80634, a property that is latter listed as being foreclosed on and associated with Matt Pillmore’s name. Is it just me or does it seem like bad news when the person offering himself as a debt coach for others is recently foreclosed on? – Source

It appears that Dave Burke became associated with Deckys and Pillmore through a real estate background and he even taught a class together with Deckys, “How to Buy Income Properties for Little Down and Cash-Flow Them”, at Your Castle Real Estate which has an office at the same business address where the Real Talk Network corporate offices are located today, 1333 W 120th, Westminster 80234. And coincidently that address is listed as the address of the registered agent for VIP Enterprises, LLC.

The Mafia Continuing the Dave Burke Formula

According to the VIP Mafia Welcome Package the credit repair part of the services sold is probably similar to what Burke is hawking. The VIP material talks specifically about how the VIP Mafia working to improve the credit of clients when they say, “…which identify very clearly the items we are working on to increase your scores quickly.” The material also tells clients they can dispute items on their credit report that may be accurate but where “I do not believe these listings are verifiable.” Now that’s coaching.

Erik Sale – The Apparent New Guy With Burke at Real Talk Network

How to put free cash in your pocket with a credit card. (Sale & Burke)

In this video with Dave Burke and Erik Sale (erik@gortn.com) the pitch is that you can go to one of their workshops and they will show you how to get up to $3,000 of “Free Money” in your pocket. The strategy, in my opinion, is nothing more than putting all of your expenses on a credit card and since the bill won’t be due till the due date after the closing date, you’ll have cash in your pocket that you would have used to pay the bills, now on the credit card. It’s a freaking shell game. It only pushes your obligation out into the future. It is not free money.

Erik Richard Sale comes from a real estate investment background also. He appears to be yet another guy that was involved in buying or flipping distressed properties and when the real estate market went sour he suddenly became a debt elimination coach. He has a company, Salermade Investment Corporation that is a CO & NV corporation and also a site at EZKeyRE.com (erik@ezkeyre.com) that claims to be a real estate investment company.

The guarantee Erik Sale gives or gave at the Financial Freedom Workshop.

Real Talk Network Financial Freedom Workshop Guarantee - Erik Sale

Erik Sale Financial Freedom Workshop Slides

Dave Burke and His Legal Troubles

I did find an interesting lawsuit between Real Talk Network Inc v. Deckys, John Paul Et. Al. It appears that on August 2, 2009 Real Talk Network and Dave Burke sued John Paul Deckys, Matthew Thomas Pillmore and VIP Enterprises, LLC. Colorado case 2009CV001383. It looks like a falling out it is then between them. My assumption, the lads took what they learned from Burke and split to start their own thing and Burke got pissed.

While I was at it there are two other cases against Real Talk Network in Colorado. Jamie L. Wing and Rodney Wylie and Judy Wylie. The Wylie case resulted in an unsatisfied judgment against David Burke and the Real Talk Network for $1,500. You would think that with all the money Burke is taking from others that he could at least pay this judgment off and the Wylie’s back.

As I was searching for the case above I came across another one where Dave Burke and his wife Melodie sued Nick Feldman and Reality Financial. CO 2006S000375. I’m not sure what this was about but it does confirm his real estate and mortgage background. Reality Financial was a site listed on realtalknetwork.blogspot.com.

realtalknetwork.blogspot.com

So What’s This All Mean? What’s The Bottom Line

In my opinion, Dave Burke and his merry band of Mafia guys have created a sales pitch to rope people in with promises of secret tricks or credit repair and to help them become “coached” into doing better financially.

The premise seems plausible. Here is how they describe what they are trying to do.

The Real Talk Network of professionals is dedicated to changing the social economics of our country. We are a coaching network that provides critical financial education to families across the country. What we do: Pay off debt in an average of 5-7 years. Our primary mission is to help families get out of debt rapidly, using advanced financial techniques. We provide ongoing coaching support to ensure our techniques are understood and provide a lifetime of empowerment. How we do it: Nationwide events to educate the public; Group Coaching; One on One Coaching at each event; Ongoing access to our network of coaches via phone coaching and web access. We provide free workshops where our listeners can come and receive valuable information and take the next step in their journey towards becoming debt free and building wealth. Source

In my opinion, where my scam labeler comes out is when a group of guys promotes themselves by saying, “Our primary mission is to help families get out of debt rapidly, using advanced financial techniques.” But in reality they appear to do nothing more than enslave people in debt that are unfortunate enough to attend one of the “Free” seminars and put any pen on any piece of paper.

These attendees are then claimed to have entered into an “All Sales Final” contract for services and subsequently find themselves in collections or unable to escape a contract or payment plan for services they don’t want. Some people have had to pay their way out of collections even though they did not have a contract and at least one collection representative said people should not do business with Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network.

And oh yes, Burke takes payment monthly or in lump-sum on your Visa, MasterCard or American Express, putting you further into debt.

I frankly believe the claims about how fast people actually get out of debt are unfounded and that most of their “advanced financial techniques” are not what they seem to be. In this article I’ve shown the Australia Loan HELOC trick, the opt-out removal to improve your credit score and the free money in your pocket pitches they deliver are simply unfounded hype that do not get out out of debt or increase your credit score.

I understand they are planning to branch out into life insurance or are coaching some wealth building strategy that will encourage people to purchase life insurance. Sure sounds like the same insurance scam that got shut down in the late 1980s. The pitchmen were simply making money from selling insurance, all the rest was a sham to get you to buy the insurance.

According to the Real Talk Network website events schedule it has held seminars in the following states:

Arizona
Colorado
California
Illinois
New York
New Jersey
Nevada
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Washington

There were many cities listed where the seminars were previously held for some of those states above.

If You Feel Like You Have Been Taken Advantage of By Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network

If you feel you have been taken advantage of by Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network and you want to try to get out and/or get your money back then you should contact your State Attorney General Office and file a complaint. In addition you should file a complaint with the Attorney General in Colorado and you should consider finding a local attorney to represent you, give you specific legal advice about what you can to do go after the Real Talk Network and get your money back if you feel you have been defrauded.

The unfortunate reality is that my bet is the money people have paid for future coaching has been taken as income in the month the contract was signed and not escrowed and released as service were performed so funds are not available for refunds.

To File a Consumer Complaint And Try to Try to Get Your Money Back

You can use the links below to file a complaint online or find out how to file a complaint and try to get your money back. I would suggest you do it quickly before Dave Burke files bankruptcy.

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office Consumer Credit Unit has expressed an interest in learning about the activities of Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network. You can send them a fax to 303-866-5474 or send an email to uccc@state.co.us.

More Information About Dave Burke and Real Talk Netowrk

If you want to stay p[osted about information as it is posted in the comments below, then leave a comment below and check the 'Notify me of followup comments via e-mail' to follow this article for future information.

If You Have the Stomach For It. More RTN Videos and Unsubstantiated Claims Are Below

A scare hype commercial to encourage attend a financial freedom workshop.

“We wipe out all their consumer debt in months.” – Dave Burke
“100% of the time when we put on this event and the people are engaged their credit card debts disappear, it gets erased in days and weeks. I mean gone! – Dave Burke
“100% of the time we can wipe out all your consumer debt.” – Dave Burke
“Real Talk is dedicated to keeping families safe” – Female Voiceover
“Why do you have to carry $20,000 in credit card debt when we can show you how to get rid of it in a few weeks?” – Dave Burke

Credit Spike Video with Dave Burke and Erik Sale

“Make your credit score spike 1 to 150 points.” – Dave Burke
Anybody out there that could actually use a spike in your credit score within the next 30 to 45 days? – Erik Sale
“Even if you are paying your credit cards off every single month and you are paying them down to zero there is a good chance your credit score is still taking a punishing blow.” – Erik Sale
Dave Burke responds, “No there’s actually a 100% chance.”
This information is not accurate. Not all creditors report the statement balance. Some report on the last day of the month like HSBC, or third week, last Thursday, etc. You can check when your bank actually reports by looking at the last reported date on your credit report. Some cards don’t report the balance till the middle of the next month.
“We are going to wipe out all of your debt faster than you ever thought possible.” – Erik Scale

Testimonial Video

“When I started here I was upside down about $1,100 a month in income and now I’m positive cash flow.” – Man
“It’s an excellent program and it’s guaranteed so you can’t go wrong.” – Man

Free Money Video with Dave Burke and Erik Sale

This is the video that shows you how to put “Free Money” in your pocket by not paying your bills till the following month.
It certainly seems to fly in the face of their above claims that you need to payoff your debt prior to the due date.
I talked about this video earlier in this article.

Free Money Presentation by A Different Presenter
Who Is This Guy?

“How to Find $2,400 in your OWN bank account” – Graphic
This is a similar presentation by a different presenter, in fact the guy in the close video, who is given the same “Free Money” video Dave Burke and Erik Sale did but this is a video from a workshop.
You will notice a very similar side to one shown in the Erik Sale slide show above.
“Arrive early and bring a flash drive for a copy of our Financial Freedom Software. $3,500 value for FREE!” – Graphic
“You’re listening to Real talk with your host Dave Burke. Real Talk is the number one show in America today totally dedicated to keeping families safe.” – Voiceover, Dave Burke

Credit Tip Video with Dave Burke and Erik Sale

This is the video where they claim you can increase your credit score by opting out of credit card offers. I discussed the fallacy of this above in the article.
“Credit card balances gone in days or weeks, not every time, but certainly months or a couple of short years. And no matter what we are going to put you in the best possible financial situation we can put you in based on everything we know.” – Dave Burke

Real Talk Network Commercial

“We will give you the tools to wipe out your credit card debt in weeks, auto loans in months, eliminate your mortgage in a fraction of the time.” – Dave Burke

Video of Dave Burke Presenting a Sales Pitch at Seminar

By utilizing Real Talk’s Advanced Financial Techniques and Ongoing Coaching and Support – NOW YOU CAN BECOME DEBT FREE!!! – Graphic overlay

What is the Real Talk Network Cooking Up

“And because of that everything rolls up hill. What’s that mean? Well first of all I’ve got all the coaching happening in a place that we can see. I’m not blind anymore. Am I? You call into our corporate office and you are going to get a coach between 12PM and 9PM, Monday thru Thursday. Right? You’re going to get coached over the phone. And guess who’s right behind all those coaches? Matt Pillmore, John Deckys, me.” – Dave Burke
“That coach has someone that works on getting you guys lines of credit, so they can direct you where to go and what to do.” – Dave Burke
“I made you a promise here and I’m going to keep it.” – Dave Burke
“We’re building the most huge call center. I’ve got T-1 lines coming in. We were going to do this over six months, we are doing it in three weeks.” – Dave Burke
“We are going to seven days a week coaching to, 24 hours a day.” – Dave Burke

The Real Talk Network Contract

[This is the text of the agreement people are asked to sign to get in.]

This is a contract for services and materials for you to receive the Real Talk Network Coaching Program. This program is a service of Real Talk Network, Inc. (“RTNI”) of 1333 W. 120th Ave, Suite 113, Westminster, CO 80234 and includes intensive coaching and cash flow planning procedure that uses the most advanced budgeting tools available to assist you on the path to being 100% Debt Free. RTNI workshops provide one-on-one coaching, lectures about cash flow management techniques, and a personalized action plan that RTNI helps you create. RTNI’s Program will teach you how to maximize every one of your dollars to maintain the lowest possible debt balances, which will reduce your interest costs and get you paying your loan principal(s) down instead of paying high interest charges. The RTNI program will teach you how to eliminate debt so you can begin building real wealth. By signing this contract at the place indicated below and providing the required information accurately, you are agreeing to pay for this RTNI Coaching Program and to follow the advice and instructions provided in the Program in order to obtain its described results. RTNI agrees to provide you with all of the elements and materials of the Program and to teach you how to eliminate debt. I also agree that I have received the RTN program software, which provides me with access to my financial freedom. All sales of this Program are final. RTNI does not provide refunds of any payments after the program is purchased. [Now that's interesting since several people have been told they could get back their deposit or first payment if they changed their mind after signing up.]

The Real Talk Network Debt Elimination Program Commitment

[This is a secondary document that buyers are given.]

The Real Talk Network, Inc. (“RTNI”) Coaching Programis an intensive coaching and cash flow planning and management system. The RTNI Coaching Program uses advanced budgeting strategies and techniques that greatly accelerate the elimination of debt. The Programs ultimate goal is to coach its students to obtain complete personal debt elimination.

The Real Talk Network, Inc’s Coaching Program Commitment shall include:

Diligent analysis of its students financial information to determine the best strategies and techniques that can be applied to accelerate the elimination of a particular student’s debt.
Continued RTNI coach training to ensure the highest level of service and satisfaction to each and every RTNI student.
Continued product and strategy development to ensure the relevancy and effectiveness of the strategies and techniques utilized to continue the elimination of the student debt loads.
Eliminating student debt including, but not limited to, credit card debt, auto loan debt, mortgage debt, student loans, collection accounts, charged off accounts, and IRS tax liens.
A professional and straightforward approach to communicating with RTNI students by explaining to them clearly and in detail what they need to understand about the creation and elimination of debt as it applies to them.
The best advice possible in making tough financial decisions and connected lifestyle choices. [Lifestyle choices?]

The Student’s Commitment to the Real Talk Network Coaching Program shall include:

An obligation to himself or herself and RTNI to supply current, accurate and honest financial information to the RTNI to enable RTNI to provide and facilitate successful RTNI coaching.
Following RTNI protocols as outlined in the “Next Steps / Getting Started” form.
Following, as nearly as possible, the advice of the RTNI coaches regarding the techniques, strategies, and processes that each student must implement in order to gain the knowledge and ability to accelerate the eliminations of the student’s debt.
Communicating immediately to RTNI any financial changes or problems that may arise in the student’s life or financial picture to enable RTNI to effectively coach a student through the challenges presented by these changes or problems and continue onward to complete debt elimination.
Making timely and complete payments to RTNI for contract services rendered and honoring any RTNI installment Payment Plan Contract terms that may have been put in place for the financial benefit of the student. [How is trapping a student in an installment plan for future services they don't want considered "for the financial benefit of the student"?]

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION

Date of this Contract: __________

You man CANCEL this contract for services, without any penalty or obligation, within THREE (3) BUSINESS DAYS from the above started date of contract.

If you cancel, any property traded in, any payments made by you under this contract, or any negotiable instrument executed by you will be returned within THIRTY (30) BUSINESS DAYS following receipt by RTNI of your Notice of Cancellation.

If you cancel you must make available to RTNI, at your residence, in substantially as good condition as when received, any materials delivered to you under the contract, or you may, if you wish, comply with the instructions of RTNI regarding the return shipment of the materials at your expense and risk.

If you fail to return the materials available to RTNI, or if you agree to return the materials and fail to do so, then you remain liable for performance and payment of all obligations under the contract.

To cancel this contract, email or deliver a signed and postmarked copy of this Notice of Cancellation or any other written notice, or send an e-mail with the cancellation attached to Real Talk Network, Inc. at 1333 W. 120th Ave, Suite 113, Westminster, CO 80234 (E-Mail: review@gortn.com) not latter than midnight of __________, which is three (3) days after the date of this contract as set forth above.

I HEREBY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT:

(Date): __________

(Buyer’s Signature:) __________

The Real Talk Network, Inc. Coaching Program Includes

One intensive Educational Workshop to be given either in person via a classroom setting, web video, web tutorials, webinars or instructional materials. This Workshop teaches the strategies and techniques used in the Coaching Programs. It prepares the student for beginning a successful journey to elimination of all of his or her debts and increasing their credit scores. [Could this be the credit repair services mentioned previously?]
Twelve (12), One-on-one phone Coaching Sessions of up to 1 hour in length. [One student told me that the coaching sessions were typically about 15 minutes long with half of the session silent as the coach reviewed the spreadsheet sent to the coach before the session. The agreement does not say the sessions will be an hour long, but up to an hour.]
1. All 12 Coaching Sessions are to be completed within 120 days from the execution of the student’s Coaching Program Contract. [So here is what I find odd. The contract says all services must be delivered within 4 months but the installment payment agreement I'm holding in my hand from them for a particular student is for $100 a month for 12 months plus a final payment of $1897 and a plan admin charge of $100. And if the student could not afford the final payment of $1897 then the $10 a month would continue for an additional 19 months.]
2. Each Coaching Session must take place within ten (10) days of the previous Coaching Sessions to insure continuity of the teaching and to maximize success. An extension of this 10 day time frame can only be requested in writing or by email and will be granted only in the event of sickness, vacation, or other reasonable cause. However, in any event, all 12 Coaching Sessions are still to be completed within 120 days of the execution of the student’s Coaching Program contract. [One student told me that his coach Dave Burke routinely cancelled his scheduled appointments and pushed them a week out. I wonder how that impacts the ten day stipulation?]
One (1) customized, written Action Plan that your Real Talk coach(es) will create with student participation to help the student accelerate the elimination of their specific and particular debt. [I think this is the Excel spreadsheet with limited coach notes that is emailed to the student. The copy I saw from a student only had notes like "keep a ledger of all expenses including credit cards and cash", or "have the date of a purchases." That hardly seems like a professional Action Plan.]
If necessary, the RTNI Coaching Program will provide and additional modified, written Action Plan with every one-on-one follow-up Coaching Sessions.
From time to time, RTNI may, but is not obligated to, provide free educational seminars for its students in areas of cash flow management, debt elimination, and credit management. The student will be notified of the times, dates and places of these free seminars as they may be produced and provided by RTNI. [So if RTNI is traveling all over the country and roping students into contracts, are student expected to travel to attend these free classes? How does that improve their financial position?]

Update: March 13, 2010 – Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Respond and Want Me to Take Down This Article Or Say They Will Sue Me

I received the following statement from Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network through their attorney Berkley Freeman, Jr. and I’m more than happy to reprint it and present their side of the story.

The Real Talk Network Statement

Real Talk Network would like to respond to Mr. Steve Rhode and his “Investigative Report” on Real Talk Network and the Financial Coaching Program and Services the company provides. To begin, Mr. Rhode did not contact Real Talk Network, nor has he attended a Real Talk Network Seminar, nor has he attended a financial coaching session, in order to substantiate any claims or complaints against Real Talk Network. Mr. Rhodes claims that Real Talks program is without support or substance, while he has never attended a seminar nor has he been a part of the Real Talk program. The Real Talk Network coaching program shows individuals how to manage their monthly bills and reduce debt by utilizing certain tools that allow for a significant decrease in the amount paid on interest therefore decreasing the length of time on is in debt and by doing so allows them to pay their debt off sooner. The program teaches students how to obtain certain tools, such as zero percent interest credit cards and lines of credit in order to pay off their high interest debt faster. The program also included credit counseling to help students raise their credit scores, in order to obtain these tools faster. Mr. Rhode also claims that our coaching times are severely limited, Real Talk Network has coaches on staff that coach Monday through Friday 9 am to 9 pm MST and Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 6 pm. Real Talk Network coaches roughly fifty students per day and each student is scheduled for a one hour session. Mr. Rhode also claims that people are being sent to collections without ever signing a contract or utilizing the services. The collection agency utilized by Real Talk Network will not accept a collection without a legal signed contract for payment. It also the students responsibility to contact Real Talk Network for their coaching schedule; which it clearly states on the Real Talk Network Contract. The program contract in no way “traps” clients as it clearly states, per law in several states, that clients have a cancellation period. Once the cancellation period has expired, then a client does not have a refund option for the program. Mr. Rhode also points to an old Mortgage program that Real Talk Network has not utilized in over a year. The Mortgage Accelerator Plus program was purchased from Real Talk Network in 2008 and was only utilized during 2008, for which Norm Bour was paid in order for Real Talk Network to utilize.

As for the Real Talk Network contract, Mr. Rhode has posted an outdated contract. The contract for services includes “at least” 12 coaching sessions that are one hour in length and the coaching sessions are to be schedule once a month. Any coaching’s that are less than an hour, as Mr. Rhode points to a fifteen minute coaching, for which we have no record of this ever happening, does not go towards a client initial 12 coaching’s. The new contract also clearly states that a client who needs more coaching, will get more coaching at no additional charge. Most clients, however, will finish their program within a year. The program is designed to teach students during that year, how to budget their money and obtain tools to pay off their consumer debt. While the program may only last a year, the program gives each student the knowledge on how to sustain their monthly budget in order to continue paying off their debt.

All of the video clips Mr. Rhode has obtained are also old clips that are no longer utilized for the program. The company has moved away from “emotional” video and marketing and moved towards educational information that gives people a true sense of what can be accomplished by utilizing the Real Talk Network program.

The complaints that Mr. Rhode has posted are clients who have been coached, or decided after the cancellation period that they did not want to finish the program and requested that their fees be returned. Since the clients had signed a non-refundable contract, for which it clearly states and for which each client signs that they understand this policy, a refund was not given, therefore these clients have become indifferent with Real Talk Network making claims that are false towards the program and the company. The claims that Real Talk Network sends people to collections without a contract or that the company can not produce a contract are unfounded as previously, the company will not accept a collection account without a legal valid contract signed by the client. Any client who wishes for a copy of their contract are permitted to have a copy, if requested. The company will and has also removed people from collections if they can provide proof that they had cancelled the contract prior to be sent to the collection company.

The credit coaching Real Talk Network utilizes is not credit repair, rather it is credit coaching. The Real Talk Network Coaches obtain the clients credit reports to research if there are any negative reporting’s in order to create an action plan on how to boost a client’s score to better help them to obtain a higher score. This same system is utilized by several other credit counseling companies, such as VIP, former associates of Real Talk Network. Mr. Rhode states in his report that VIP is associated with Real Talk Network, for which the two companies parted ways in June of 2009. Any information on VIP in relation to Real Talk Network is not valid or accurate.

There are several other inconsistencies in the investigate report issued by Mr. Rhode. Real Talk Network does not sell life insurance, all videos being utilized in the report are over a year old and no longer being utilized, Real Talk Network is like any other services company that provides contracts for payments prior to services rendered and allows for a payment plan for better financing options for its clients. In no way are Real Talk Networks sales practices any different that other service companies that have prepaid contracts for services.

Mr. Rhode has taken roughly thirty complaints from clients who signed a contract for services and signed the contract stating clearly what their obligations were financially and as a student in the program. These clients did not follow through with their commitment, and decided to become negative about their situation. Real Talk Network is company that provides services for fees and provides a client with those services per a valid, legal contract. Just as with any other service industry, if the client decided within the cancellation period to cancel, they would have received their fee back and the contract would be cancelled. If the client decides after the cancellation period to cancel, any fees paid prior to the cancellation would not be returned, but no further payments would be taken on the contract after cancellation. If a client defaults on their payment plan, as it clearly states on their payment plan contract, for which Mr. Rhode did not post, a client would be sent to collections within thirty days of the defaulted payment date. What Mr. Rhode did not post, was that Real Talk Network has thirty complaints out of 8,000 previous and current clients.

Real Talk Network invite Mr. Rhode to contact the office to finish his investigative report to obtain a response to these allegations he has posted and to obtain current copies of contracts, marketing materials and videos.

My Observations and Response

In my opinion Real Talk Network does a fabulous job on addressing the contract and their policy in retaining funds and going after people through collections. What continues to perplex me is they feel that complaints are the result of clients that are unhappy about the lack of refunds so why don’t they issue refunds? I’m still stuck on the fact that the company relies upon a cancellation policy to retain funds or enforce collections or payments from consumer that were attracted to the program because they had financial problems and debt to begin with. How is that helping the consumer client?

People who signed up for the services possibly believed that the Real Talk Network services would help them do better financially. But once the time limited cancellation period passes the consumer is locked in, even by the Real Talk Network admission. But why would no refund be issued if services were not yet delivered or delivered in part, even if the consumer cancels after the cancellation period. If the agreement is for coaching sessions and the compensation paid is for future coaching sessions and the coaching sessions are not delivered then how is the company out for services not delivered? If they are not then the funds should be still in escrow, waiting to be earned by the company when services are delivered. Those funds should be readily available for refund.

Real Talk Network in their response labels themselves as a credit counseling company. No recognized credit counseling company I know of accepts advanced fees for consumer services for services like a debt management plan which includes free budget help and ongoing as needed coaching from their credit counselor to get out of debt. In fact a consumer can bail from a mainstream credit counseling program at any time without any additional fee commitment.

Although I have not checked to confirm, I suspect Real Talk Network is not a licensed credit counseling provider in any of the states they operate in.

Their statement about the videos is perplexing to me. The videos I included were online at the time I originally wrote the article and are online still right now. – Source. In fact they have published another video since I originally posted the article on January 10, 2010.

Posted January 11, 2010, A look into a Real Talk Network Banking and Credit Event… Learn How to Eliminate all of you Consumer Debt Positively. Live Debt Free…or Die with Your DEBT!!! Your Choice.. – Source

A lot of good people are getting hurt right now, they got blind sided. – Dave Burke from above video.

Real Talk Network claims “All of the video clips Mr. Rhode has obtained are also old clips that are no longer utilized for the program. The company has moved away from “emotional” video and marketing and moved towards educational information that gives people a true sense of what can be accomplished by utilizing the Real Talk Network program.” Do you find that latest video to not be designed to be emotional with the music and message and if they are no longer utilized by the company why are they still online?

Videos Promoted Right on Home Page of Real Talk Network

At the time of the article the contract I used was that given to me by a current client of Real Talk Network.

The Real Talk Network video posted on June 8, 2009 in which Dave Burke stated 24×7 coaching was going to soon be available.

However, my original statement about coaching time being limited was not about the available hours, but about the length of the sessions. If a consumer is supposed to get an hour session then why was the feedback I was getting that “the sessions on average are about 15 minutes, with half of that time take with the coach reviewing the spreadsheet sent in by the client.”

Real Talk Network states in their response “The credit coaching Real Talk Network utilizes is not credit repair, rather it is credit coaching. The Real Talk Network Coaches obtain the clients credit reports to research if there are any negative reporting’s in order to create an action plan on how to boost a client’s score to better help them to obtain a higher score.”

I’m still confused how that does not wander into murky waters with the Credit Repair Organizations Act that says a credit repair organization is:

Credit repair organization. — The term ‘credit repair organization’–

(A) means any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails to sell, provide, or perform (or represent that such person can or will sell, provide, or perform) any service, in return for the payment of money or other valuable consideration, for the express or implied purpose of–

(i) improving any consumer’s credit record, credit history, or credit rating; or

(ii) providing advice or assistance to any consumer with regard to any activity or service described in clause (i) – Source

As for the rest of their statements I’d be happy to respond to anything further but don’t want to drag out my response and make this longer than it needs to be. If you want me to respond to anything else in their statement just post your question in the comments section for me to answer.

By the way, there have been four new posted complaints on RipOffReport.com about Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network since I wrote the original article and this update. You can read the new consumer complaints here.

Update: March 15, 2010 – Real Talk Network BBB Rating Downgraded to D

Yesterday I had looked at the BBB rating for Real Talk Network and it was a C-. Today it has been changed to D. The BBB is publishing the following statement regarding the program.

Your BBB has notice a pattern of complaints concerning this company and the company has failed to address the underlying cause of those complaints. Complaints allege the initial seminar lacks information to reduce, eliminate or consolidate debt. The seminars are tools to have attendees purchase their products for $2000, an up front fee, so as not to incur more debt. Consumers state that the company does provide small tips on debt reduction throughout the initial seminar leading the consumer into the purchase of the program software; such as, compound interest converting to simple interest. Consumers report being told there is a money back guarantee during the seminar. They also express difficulty obtaining a refund after they have paid. Consumers are later told that no money back guarantee is in the contract. Consumers allege that after they pay for the program they are given reasons why they don’t qualify and referred over to another program which has additional cost. – Source

There is also a new complaint today on RipOffReport.com about Real Talk Network and Dave Burke. See Dave Burke, Real Talk, 630 KHOW, Real Talk Radio Network, Real Talk Network Dave Burke, 650 KHOW Credit consulting scam is robbery! Internet, Denver, Colorado.

Update: March 16, 2010 – Another BBB Complaint

Just out of curiosity I check the BBB listing for Real Talk Network today and discovered that since yesterday they have had an additional complaint. This brings their total to 80 in the last 36 months with 79 closed in the last year alone. – Source.

Here is how the complaints breakdown as of today.

8 – regarding Billing or Collection Issues
- 2 – Failure to correct billing errors
- 1 – Improper collection practices
- 4 – None of the Above – Credit, Billing or Collection Complaint Issue
- 1 – Unauthorized credit card charges
19 – regarding Contract Issues
- 5 – Failure to honor a contract or agreement
- 2 – Invalid or false contract
- 11 – None of the Above – Contract Complaint Issue
- 1 – Work performed outside the terms of the contract or agreement
10 – regarding Customer Service Issues
- 4 – Failure to provide promised assistance or support for products or services
- 5 – Failure to respond to phone calls or written requests for assistance or support
- 1 – Inappropriate behavior by customer service personnel
8 – regarding Guarantee or Warranty Issues
- 7 – Failure to honor money-back guarantees
- 1 – Failure to provide promised written warranty or guarantee
1 – regarding Product Issues
- 1 – None of the Above – Product Quality Complaint Issue
14 – regarding Refund or Exchange Issues
- 9 – Failure to honor refund, exchange or credit policies
- 5 – None of the Above – Refund or Exchange Complaint Issue
16 – regarding Sales Practice Issues
- 2 – None of the Above – Sales Complaint Issue
- 12 – Sales presentation misrepresented the service
- 2 – Sales presentation used dishonest sales practices
4 – regarding Service Issues
- 1 – Delayed completion of service
- 1 – Failure to honor service estimate or agreement
- 2 – Improper or inferior service

Update: April 2, 2010 – Real Talk Network Has New BBB Complaint

It had been a while since I went back to check the RTN BBB report and it appears yet another BBB has been filed since I last looked. The current total is at 81 and the new complaint filed was a contract issue. – Source

8 – regarding Billing or Collection Issues
20 – regarding Contract Issues
10 – regarding Customer Service Issues
8 – regarding Guarantee or Warranty Issues
1 – regarding Product Issues
14 – regarding Refund or Exchange Issues
16 – regarding Sales Practice Issues
4 – regarding Service Issues

Update: April 7, 2010 – More BBB Complaints

Current total is 84 complaints. In the last five days three more BBB complaints have been filed.

Here is the current count. – Source

8 – regarding Billing or Collection Issues
22 – regarding Contract Issues
10 – regarding Customer Service Issues
9 – regarding Guarantee or Warranty Issues
1 – regarding Product Issues
14 – regarding Refund or Exchange Issues
16 – regarding Sales Practice Issues
4 – regarding Service Issues

Update May 17, 2010 – TV Investigative Report Airs

WESTMINSTER — The Real Talk Network, owned by Dave Burke, promises to improve your credit and help wipe out your debt in 84 months, on average, if you have a good credit score.

But the CALL7 Investigators have learned a few things about Burke that many of his clients have not been told. And, several former employees and some unhappy former clients of Real Talk Network told 7NEWS the program is not about eliminating your debt, but instead taking your money — at about $3,000 a pop.

“All your debt is going to disappear even if you don’t have any money,” said Burke as part of his radio sales pitch.

Burke buys air time on radio stations in several states, including Colorado. He’s a self-proclaimed financial icon — a guru on the economy.

At seminars, attended by CALL7 Investigators, Real Talk employees promised to improve people’s credit scores. And we were told that if we had a credit score of 680 or above, Real Talk Network would coach us on eliminating all our debt in 7 years. The cost would be $2,000 to $3,000 for coaching sessions.

“I believe they are an unethical company that is taking advantage of people for the economic situation that our country is in right now,” said a former Real Talk Network employee, who asked us not to give his name.

He’s one of half a dozen former employees who contacted CALL7 Investigator Tony Kovaleski, outraged by what they witnessed. He quit Real Talk Network.

“Several clients were encouraged to put the full cost of the program, though not necessary, on to a credit card or pay in cash with the promise that that debt would be eliminated within a short time of coaching.

“However, in my experience, I spoke to several clients that had been through coaching for a year without any results,” said the former employee.

He told 7NEWS, the debt “coaches” underwent minimal training and said the “coaching sessions,” done over the phone, were little more than stringing the client along in order to keep them paying for the service. He also said most “coaching” calls were less than 15 minutes.

“How did that make you feel as an employee?” asked Kovaleski.

“It made me feel dirty and that I was partly responsible for these people’s financial frustration,” said the former employee.

“Has this program saved you any money?” Kovaleski asked Real Talk Network client Ryan McCue.

“Not a dime. Probably cost me more,” said McCue, who had paid more than $2,000 to join the program.

McCue is on a list that now has about 100 clients from 7 states who have formally complained to the Better Business Bureau, with whom the Real Talk Network now has an “F” rating.

“There’s comfort in the fact that I’m not the only one that got taken advantage of. Discomfort that the company’s still getting away with it and still expanding, taking advantage especially in this market,” said McCue.

Many of the complaints accuse the company of overly-aggressive sales tactics. “Was this a high-pressure situation?” asked Kovaleski.

“Absolutely, fast talking, high-pressure and he’s threatening to chase you to your car if you walk out of this seminar and not sign up for it,” said another former client who asked us not to reveal her name because her husband would be mad she paid for the debt elimination counseling.

Other complaints surround a previous contract Burke used with his clients, which promised a money-back guarantee.

McCue told 7NEWS he has not received any money back and doesn’t think he will. The Real Talk Network has revised the contracts to remove the guarantee promise. The contracts previously said “money-back guarantee” but also contained the phrase “all sales final.”

CALL7 Investigators attended a couple of Real Talk Network’s seminars and listened to the sales pitch first-hand and spoke to some of Burke’s employees.

Of Burke, one employee told us, “He’s got finance degrees and economics degrees from USC in California.”

According to records from the University of Southern California, Dave Burke does not have any such degree. USC’s records indicate he attended the school for two years in the 1980s, but did not earn a degree.

Real Talk Network has told 7NEWS the employee who made the statement no longer works for the company, however, an employee of the company made the same claims to us at one of the seminars.

“What’s my hourly rate? $10,000 an hour,” said Burke on one of his radio shows where he claimed to be one of the top financial experts in the country. He’s also told seminar attendees, “Bankruptcy is not an option,” and “Debt is dangerous.”

But public records show Burke filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection in 2000. And records show he has federal tax liens for failing to pay more than $200,000 in income taxes to the Internal Revenue Service and the state of Colorado.

7NEWS wanted to ask Burke about the bankruptcy filing and tax liens and made several requests to interview him about the findings of our investigation.

His company sent a certified letter declining an on-camera interview and explaining that the company replaced two executives, hired more staff, implemented an intensive training program for new coaches and is focusing on fewer states.

Since Burke had refused an interview, the certified letter from the company did not address the issues of his tax liens or his bankruptcy filing (ultimately withdrawn). It is unclear if any of the liens have been paid because 7News could find no public filings on that subject and tax officials declined comment. In a letter, an attorney representing Burke wrote: “Mr. Burke is presently working with his personal tax specialist to address certain tax issues from many years ago.”

Staff from 7NEWS met Burke outside his office in Westminster.

“Your system works right?” asked Kovaleski. “How come you haven’t used your system to get rid of nearly $200,000 in tax liens, sir?”

“We welcome the opportunity to meet you at a later time,” said Burke repeatedly.
“You have given people contracts that say money-back guarantee. They have the contracts and you have not given them their money back. Why not give them their money back, sir?” asked Kovaleski.

Despite promising to meet at a later time, Burke and his staff did not return phone calls seeking the interview.

In a letter, Burke’s attorney confirms the bankruptcy filing and the lack of a degree from USC.

Update: May 18, 2010 – Discussion of Dave Burke and Real Talk Network on KHOW

Here is an interesting slam on Real Talk Network by one of the very stations that has broadcast his radio show. This was a brutal discussion. You can listen to the Burke segments below.

Update: July 7, 2010 – San Diego Television Investigative Report.

As you will see in the comments on my story on the new incarnation of RTN, COO Billi Carwile made the statement that Dave Burke will be involved in ICEE and his wife is the owner of ICEE and purchased the assets of Get Real With Dave (Real Talk Network) and that then became the Institute of Consumer Economic Education (ICEE). Carwille says, “Mr. Burke will be contracted by ICEE in a consulting manner to train a new speaker for ICEE as well as continue training for its counseling program.”

Just yesterday a San Diego television station reported the following story about Burke and his business practices. Only time will tell if they become part of the ICEE approach.

khow05182010

Mortgage Accelerator Plus Software and Australian Loan Reduction Money Merge Scheme

Steve Rhode — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:44:10 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I’ve heard a lot lately about a magical mortgage reduction scheme from Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network hype. The Mortgage Accelerator Plus software Dave Burke hawks was originally created by Norm Bour. But the basis of Burke’s HELOC mortgage reduction scheme seems to come straight from the work of Harj Gill that has been teaching this method since at least 1997.

Software from Norm and Mike, the guys that created the MAP software.
Can you imagine a worse promotional video?

Mortgage Accelerator Plus is nothing more than what most debt reduction calculators, many are available on the web for free, can offer. MAP was created by Norm Bour and for some reason his Mortgage Accelerator Plus site is no longer operational. But his approach was this “Australian mortgage acceleration” HELOC scheme that it looks like Burke took over and uses as part of his magic debt reduction hype. Authorities in Australia cracked down on people promoting this pitch. Source

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has acted to close down loan calculators on more than 100 websites of Australian financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, other lenders and finance brokers.

The calculators suggested that using a line of credit will result in the consumer paying off their home loan more quickly.

‘Most lines of credit charge higher interest rates than standard home loans, so when you stop to think about it, it was extraordinary to suggest that paying higher interest could pay off a loan sooner’, said Mr Greg Tanzer, ASIC’s Executive Director of Consumer Protection and International Relations.

The loan calculators produced a graph, comparing the time taken to pay off a standard loan with the time taken using a line of credit.

However, the way the calculator was designed meant that:

extra repayments were credited to the line of credit but not to the standard loan;
the line of credit was at the same interest rate as the home loan; and
these assumptions were not made clear to the consumer, so that the calculator showed that the line of credit was paid off more quickly than the home loan but it was not clearly stated that this was due to higher repayments by the borrower.

‘The only way to pay off your loan sooner is by moving to a loan with a cheaper interest rate or by making extra repayments. In fact, if you can afford to make extra repayments you will probably save just as much by making those payments on your existing loan, and you can avoid extra costs, such as early repayment penalties and application fees, by not refinancing,’ Mr Tanzer said. – Source

Manage your mortgage by getting a new home equity line of credit (HELOC) which only charges interest on the outstanding monthly balance. Since this is true, one could borrow money on the HELOC to pay down the first mortgage and then manage the HELOC balance through a complex bill paying structure. This leveraging of the way HELOCs versus first mortgages calculate interest could be used to minimize total interest owed with careful management.

As with most scams, a little bit of truth is necessary to sell the mark. But the MMA folks just used up all their truth right there. Yes, a HELOC charges interest a different way. However, can one really conclude an actionable difference exists that is so powerful the average home owner can pay off their mortgage in seven years?

Absolutely not…it’s ridiculous to even suggest it.

Banks are in the business of extracting more money from you, not less. If the banks had a loan product on the shelf (home equity loans) that killed the income from one of their most successful products (first mortgages), they’d pull it off the shelf.

Money Merge Account Software [Like MAPS]

MMA’s require a new HELOC and $4,000 software to “manage” everything. This is just when banks are cancelling Home Equity Lines in record numbers due to dropping home values. An obvious limitation tosses this program out before it ever gets out of the gate.

But even if you can get the HELOC, I would NOT suggest a money merge account to pay your mortgage off early. Who wants to go into more debt to buy their overpriced software (anywhere from $1600 up to $6,000) and be restricted by the system to funneling all bill paying and all income through the new HELOC? There are a ton more requirements for the system to work as advertised most of which the average home owner could never complete.

This money merge account system is ugly and is really just a way for loan starved originators to move into selling overpriced software and HELOC’s since bona fide home buying and refinancing has dried up completely. – Source

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Dave Burke of Real Talk Network – “Say What?” Financial Freedom Workshop

Steve Rhode — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:44:32 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

I’ve written about Dave Burke before and his Real Talk Network show before. I’m intrigued of his offer since I’m getting questions from people that went to the free seminar and wound up in collections as a result of buying into the sales pitch at the seminar.

So I decided to give Dave Burke a shot and spend an hour listening to his latest show. You can listen below.

Dave Burke Show 20

The result of my listening to the show is that I have wasted an hour of my life. At the end of the hour there was not one piece of constructive information offered. The whole radio show is nothing more than a sales pitch and a lot of it just didn’t make any sense. It seems all designed to get you to attend a seminar and then signup to pay a lot of money for services. And of most concern are the questions I’m getting about people that have fallen for the pitch and have now been sent to collections.

My advice, if you or anyone you know wants to go to one of these seminars and pay for these types of services, DON’T!

If you want to see what a sales pitch looks like to separate you from your money, watch this.

Before you fall for the whole gimmick that you can actually raise your score by opting out of credit offers, it’s just not true. My friend Gerri Detweiler wrote about this fiction back in 2007. Here’s what she said:

“I checked with Craig Watts, spokesperson at MyFICO, he told me they have received the same question recently as well. Clearly it’s one of those credit boosting gimmicks that is floating around.

Craig confirmed my understanding, however, that opting out in and of itself will not help your credit score. The FICO score doesn’t even know, much less take into account, the fact that you have opted out.” Source

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

Dave Burke and His Real Talk Network Were Supposed to Help Us But Sent Us to Collections. – Kelly

Steve Rhode — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:52:43 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

“Dear Steve,

I have read 2 articles by you about people trying to do business with this company and getting sent to collections.

This happened to us also. We were not contacted by RTN, just sent immediately to a collection agency. They refused my husband’s calls and the collection agency representative even told us that we shouldn’t do business with them.

This company is unethical and immoral. They just want to build their own wealth at the expense of others. You had mentioned in one the articles that the writer (Stan, I believe) file a suit in small claims court. Is it possible to to get other people in this situation together to file a class action suit?

Kelly”

The Answer:

Dear Kelly,

Can you tell me more about how you became involved with Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network?

How much do they say you owe them and did you pay them anything upfront?

What services were they supposed to give you?

Was it the collection company that told you not to do business with Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network?

Big Hug!

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network Sent Me to Collections. – Stan

Steve Rhode — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:01:38 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

“Dear Steve,

I am a real estate broker of 35 years and have gone without an income for 13 months.

Last April, I went to a pay off your debt seminar by Real Talk Network/Dave Burke.

I charged $1997 to my Nordstrom Visa. Burke did not disclose thet his secret system is dependent on a decent FICO score and so he could not help me. No refund was offered and I forgot about it. About 3 weeks ago, I get a letter from their collection firm, Conrad Credit Corporation, saying I never paid Real Talk Network the $1997. I finally found proof that the $1997 was paid to Real Talk.

But I want to play this game out and let them sue me and take it all the way to the judge. Then I want to ask the judge for damages or countersue for harassment.

Do I have an obligation to show Conrad my proof? Isn’t it their burden to prove the debt? Going to court will cost them time and money. I have the time and I want money.

These collection agencies are assuming these debts are valid. They get no proof of claim from the companies they represent. Just a list of debtors. I think they have an obligation to verify the debt.

What do you think of my strategy? Could I pull them into my lair and score a knockout punch? I’m hoping that I will eventually cost Burke my $1997 or more in collection costs. Thanks.

Stan”

The Answer:

Dear Stan,

I get the sense you feel you got ripped off by Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network and you want to fight back. I’ve written about Dave before and his course concerns me. Maybe a better and more effective way to fight back is to post a long explanation in the comments section below about what the sales pitch was and how you got drawn (suckered) in.

Personally, I think your strategy is a total waste of time. You’ve got the proof the debt was paid and providing it to the collection agency will end that part of the mess right there.

How nice for Dave Burke who has not provided you with services and is promising to help you get out of debt turns around and sends you to collections.

Let’s say you force the hand and let them sue you so you show up in court. The judge is not going to do anything about your other issues. The case will be about an alleged past due debt and everyone will wonder why you just didn’t show the proof you paid it. You won’t get sympathy for letting yourself get harassed.

The proper venue for getting your grievance out would be for you to sue Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network in your local small claims court for a refund of the money you paid. In that case the judge will want to hear about your experience and can make a ruling about the heart of the matter. Use your anger, time, and energy to pursue that and get your wasted $1,997 back.

What do you say?

Big Hug!

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

Dave Burke, the Radio Host Credit Counselor, and the Real Talk Network Send Client to Collections. WTF!

Steve Rhode — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:07:28 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

This comment came in on a previous post of mine, What Do You Think of the Dave Burke Real Talk System of Eliminating Debt? – Stan.

I don’t think I’ve ever created a new post from a comment before but this comment brought to light some very disturbing issues.

I went to the Real talk “Free” seminar. At the end of the session they asked us to sign up for the program. I told them that my wife pays the bills and would need her on board, because there is work involved in managing your payables. Dave Burke told me to give him a $200.00 refundable deposit to hold a spot if my wife wanted to participate.

My wife was not interested, So I just forgot about it. approximately a year and a half later I got a letter from a collection agency stating that I owed $1297.00 plus $153.00 in interest. I was not contacted by nor did I recieve any goods or services from Real Talk Network. Real Talk Network says that it is out of their hands. The Collection agency has reported to credit agencys, yet they cannot produce a contract. I would STAY AWAY from Real Talk Network, its easy to become debt free if you charge people for nothing. – Chris B

Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network hold themselves out to be consumer advocates that help people to break free from debt. If this comment is true, the actions of Dave and his cronies is unconscionable.

So let’s say Chris B signed an agreement for services with his deposit. Still, as a consumer helper, you don’t force the guy to pay for help or services he does not want. The contract, if it existed, should have just been trashed.

Not only was it dead wrong to send the guy to collections in the first place, for services it appears he never received, but to say it is now out of their hands, is ridiculous, they could recall the account. That is, unless they sold the debt to a factor to collect cash against the obligation. If that’s the case, that’s not right either.

And if they recall the account they could update the guys credit report. It can all be fixed.

But I’m left with the concern that the Dave Burke, radio host and Real Talk Network approach is nothing more than making sales, not helping people.

What do you think?

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

What Do You Think of the Dave Burke Real Talk System of Eliminating Debt? – Stan

Steve Rhode — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:53:48 +0000

From How to Get Out of Debt

“Dear Steve,

I am a very underemployed real estate broker of 35 years.

Have you heard of Dave Burke and Real Talk and his secret system of paying off debt for only $1997?

Stan”

The Answer:

Dear Stan,

I had not heard of Dave Burke or his Real Talk show or the $1997 price for some magic debt elimination scheme.

First, even before researching it I have to say that in all my years, no scheme to eliminate debt in some secret or hidden way has ever panned out to be anything more than a hollow trick.

Here are some comments I found about his program.

A friend of mine IS A COACH for this company. What he’s told me is that you take your paycheck and deposit it on the line of credit you have on your house. You use credit cards that have bonus points to buy EVERYTHING during the month and use that line of credit to pay the credit card bill at the end of the month. The idea here is that you disrupt the amortization schedule of the line of credit, thus the interest paid on it decreases, accelerating the principal reduction process. The friend I mention HAS DONE it and he is big time on his way to paying off this second mortgage.

That just doesn’t even make sense. With interest calculated daily on a mortgage, no trick will stop that from happening. If all we are doing is playing due dates, that’s not a viable strategy.

I have not been to the seminar, but I’m pretty sure how the program works – It’s a Home Equity Line of Credit on the house for the entire mortgage (and shouldn’t be a seperate LOC – but in this market…yeah, right) with all credit cards, etc., rolled into the single loan. You take all of your income and apply to the HELOC and use that as your primary checking account. The payments on a HELOC are interest only, which are obviously less than an amortizing payment. The interest rate is substantially less, required payment is much less, thereby reducing the account balance at a much quicker speed. This is commonly referred to as an “Australian Loan” where it is very common. In fact, 25% of loans originated in Australia were of this nature. If you can budget, it’s “bonzer”. If you can’t, you already know that because of the mess you’re in already.

So I found these videos about the system, or at least a bit of it.

In that first video I watched above, the process of instantly putting $2,400 in your bank account is not a secret or anything new. It is simply what is happening now if you are paying off your balance each month. And I went away with the feeling that the money found would not have to be paid back but if you use the process shown in the video you will still get a final bill and you’ll have to pay it.

The the second video, after watching it, my response is huh?

I have not seen anything innovative or revolutionary in the information presented about the program. In fact my alarm bells are going off. I am always concerned when someone wants to charge you nearly $2,000 for access to a secret system or special information.

There are a lot of ways to tackle reducing your debt. You can start by addressing the highest interest rate debts or use the debt snowball approach. At the end of the day the reason that any approach eliminates your debt is because you pay it off. If you pay it off early you save interest. It you double up on payments you save interest and time.

At some point in my research I had to stop watching the online videos. They simply got too painful for me to watch anymore. They are so full of hype and sales pitches that it just leaves me wondering why there is a need for such tactics if the process is straightforward and easy, as claimed.

I did go to his site and looked at the schedule where he says his radio program appears. I then checked the individual stations and not one of the stations I checked listed his show as currently appearing on their station. Some listed the time slot as “infomercial”.

It would be easier for me to list the stations that said they broadcast his show rather than all the ones I could not find from the lists of 60 stations. AM 830 does.

My advice, stay away. My prediction is that when they discover I wrote this post they will engage in attacks and nasty comments in an attempt to deflect from the real apparent reality, it is a bunch of bunk and designed more to get you excited and sell you a big ticket product.

Use the $1,997 to reduce your debt, stop incurring new debt, and payoff all your credit card debt and then apply the money you freed up each month to your mortgage. You’ll be out of debt decades earlier.

Please update me on your progress by posting updates here in the comments section of your question. I’m very interested in how this works out for you.

Big Hug!

@GetOutOfDebtGuy

P.S. Be sure to read ‘The Secret of Surviving Through Difficult Economic Times. What I Learned On My Journey‘.

If you have a credit or debt question you’d like to ask just use the online form. I’m happy to help you totally for free.

How to Get Out of Debt With the Get Out of Debt Guy » dave burke

Dave Burke – DebtEliminator101.com – Consumer Complaint – 4-27-2012

If you are the company named in this report and you want to respond, please read How to Handle a Consumer Complaint Like a Pro And Come Out Smelling Like a Rose

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke, He’s Back Promoting Debt Relief After Being Slammed Shut by Colorado

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Get Put Out of Business by Colorado AG

Other Related Articles to Read

Will I Ever Get My Money Back from Real Talk Network? – Marvin

The Answer:

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke, Erik Sale, Real Talk Network and Institute of Consumer Economic Education All Sued and Hit With TRO by Attorney General of Colorado

Attorney General of Colorado Goes After Burke

Colorado Obtains a Temporary Restraining Order and Shuts Down Operations and Freezes All Funds

Additional Documentation on Real Talk Network Law Suit

Other Related Articles to Read

Institute of Consumer Economic Education (ICEE) – Sadly Dave Burke Appears to Be Back

Update: July 7, 2010

Update: July 8, 2010

Other Related Articles to Read

Get Real Dave Burke – Your Real Talk Network is Going to End a Bloody Mess

“You Are Gonna Kill Yourself If You Pass This Up.” – Dave Burke

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Attempt to Bar Reporter With Restraining Order

Other Related Articles to Read

Just In, Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Not Authorized to do Business in Colorado

Other Related Articles to Read

Breaking Down the Misleading and Deceptive Financial Sales Pitch From the Get Real With Dave Burke Radio Show

Statements of Concern from Broadcast

Listen to Entire First Hour of the Broadcast

Other Related Articles to Read

How to Successfully Get a Refund from Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network By Picketing

Other Related Articles to Read

Investigative Report: Dave Burke and Real Talk Network (Real Talk Network, Inc.). Is It a Scam?

Poll – Vote Now

My Investigation

So What Do You Get for ,000?

And That’s All You Get.

But Here is What the Software Developer Has to Say About Dave Burke

The Real Talk Network Sales Pitch Closer Caught on Video

Consumer Complaints About Dave Burke and Real Talk Network

Potentially Illegal Credit Repair

Dave Burke’s and His Cohorts in the Mafia

Matt Pillmore and John Deckys – VIP Debt & Credit Mafia

Erik Sale – The Apparent New Guy With Burke at Real Talk Network

Dave Burke and His Legal Troubles

So What’s This All Mean? What’s The Bottom Line

If You Feel Like You Have Been Taken Advantage of By Dave Burke and the Real Talk Network

To File a Consumer Complaint And Try to Try to Get Your Money Back

More Information About Dave Burke and Real Talk Netowrk

If You Have the Stomach For It. More RTN Videos and Unsubstantiated Claims Are Below

The Real Talk Network Contract

The Real Talk Network Debt Elimination Program Commitment

Update: March 13, 2010 – Dave Burke and Real Talk Network Respond and Want Me to Take Down This Article Or Say They Will Sue Me

The Real Talk Network Statement

My Observations and Response

Update: March 15, 2010 – Real Talk Network BBB Rating Downgraded to D

Update: March 16, 2010 – Another BBB Complaint

Update: April 2, 2010 – Real Talk Network Has New BBB Complaint

Update: April 7, 2010 – More BBB Complaints

Update May 17, 2010 – TV Investigative Report Airs

Update: May 18, 2010 – Discussion of Dave Burke and Real Talk Network on KHOW

Update: July 7, 2010 – San Diego Television Investigative Report.

Other Related Articles to Read

Mortgage Accelerator Plus Software and Australian Loan Reduction Money Merge Scheme

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke of Real Talk Network – “Say What?” Financial Freedom Workshop

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke and His Real Talk Network Were Supposed to Help Us But Sent Us to Collections. – Kelly

The Answer:

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke and his Real Talk Network Sent Me to Collections. – Stan

The Answer:

Other Related Articles to Read

Dave Burke, the Radio Host Credit Counselor, and the Real Talk Network Send Client to Collections. WTF!

Other Related Articles to Read

What Do You Think of the Dave Burke Real Talk System of Eliminating Debt? – Stan

The Answer:

Other Related Articles to Read