The Balancing Act & BrandStar Entertainment are a Scam!

ComplaintsScamsThe Balancing Act aka BrandStar Entertainment

Complaint

+2
Heath K.
Country: United States
The Balancing Act TV Show and BrandStar Entertainment is a Scam!!!  Mark Alfieri – Shawn Bombaro - Gerald Czarnecki – Ron Secreto – Mike Lambert – Scott Woolley

The Balancing Act TV Show and BrandStar Entertainment is a scam!  These are the same scammers as Incredible Discoveries, Quorum Productions, O2 Media and Five Star Productions.   Some of their new names are InteliBrands Group, BrandStar Entertainment, Innovative Products Network and Smarter Living Products!

It has come to my attention that they use their friends, relatives and employees as third party references.

Don’t let them steal your money!

You can read about their victims @
http://matthewchan.com/incrediblediscoveries-info.htm

State Records
http://www.sunbiz.org  (Florida Department of Corporations Website)

BrandStar Entertainment aka The Balancing Act
6001 Park of Commerce Blvd
Boca Raton, FL 33487
561-279-7827
fax 561-279-4808
http://www.brandstarentertainment.com
http://thebalancingact.com

Here are some of their addresses and aliases

Incredible Discoveries
3850 N. Powerline Road
Deerfield Beach, FL  33073
954-935-3162
fax 954-969-1296
http://www.incrediblediscoveries.com

Quorum Productions
2001 W. Sample Road
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
954-571-5221
fax 954-977-4586
http://www.quorumproductions.tv

O2 Media
2001 W Sample Road, Suite 101
Pompano Beach, Florida 33064
Phone: 954-691-1102
Fax: 954-935-1352
http://o2mediainc.com

InteliBrands Group
2001 W. Sample Road
Pompano Beach, FL 33064
954-691-1102
http://www.intelibrandsgroup.com


Innovative Products Network aka Smarter Living Products
2855 North University Dr. Suite 320
Coral Springs, FL 33065
954-752-1408
fax 954-752-0217
http://www.goipn.net
http://www.innovativeproductsnetwork.tv

Immediate Capital Group
2001 W. Sample Road
Pompano Beach, FL 33064

Comments

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  • +2
    mj245
    The Balancing act claims it's a "morning talkshow," but it's really just an infomercial in disguise.  It has several common characteristics of an infomercial such as:  It airs early in the morning (anywhere between 5 and 7AM), the format isn't like a typical morning talk show, and each segment is pretty much a paid advertisement.

    Not only that, but it can't compete with Good morning america or the today show.  Nobody is going to watch this show when they could watch the today show or GMA.  Plus, most of the shows that air are reruns.  Nobody is going to consistently watch this tv show if most of them are reruns.  I wouldn't go on this show for free, it's beyond me why some people pay to go on it.
  • +1
    Yea they got me too
    | 1 reply
    Bombaro. That guy closed me on the phone and took my money. Guess he didn't learn his lesson but maybe he will the hard way. Hey, if it sounds too good to be true, run in the opposite direction of your bank. Your money will thank you later.
    • +2
      Pam replies to Yea they got me too
      This group tried to scam me, too. I was really excited about the opportunity to share my company's benefit to our aging community. Then, the $9000 bomb was dropped! Oh yes, it would only cost ME this amount to appear on this 'talk show'. No THANK you. What a SCAM!
  • 0
    Chris Hall
    They just contacted me today. The caller claimed not to know if there were any charges involved - my first question to these types of spammers. After hanging up the phone I found this site. Thanks for taking the time to report on this. I declined to speak to the "interviewer." These type of people are getting more and more brazen with their attempts to recruit innocent people into their paid infomercial. Whatever you do, run - don't walk - away from companies like this. You'll regret ever speaking to them.
  • 0
    Maryland Workingmom
    | 1 reply
    I was contacted too and after researching, my neighbor who is a lawyer said I should contact Lifetime television to see what they say about this Company. So far I can't find a truly sound reason to invest almost forty thousand dollars to take part in an infomercial. Something just isn't adding up. That's alot of money and enough to where I could professionally make my own spot and buy decent TV time, better than early in the morning.

    If these people are just trying to con people, can somebody please explain why they aren't put out of business? What is wrong with Florida? I found very bad information that connects the dots in a bad way. You mean to tell me that people who do this for a living couldn't do the same or even better? If they are not legitimate, I hope someone at Lifetime steps in to shut them down!
    • 0
      Austin porra replies to Maryland Workingmom
      This show is working with Davison inventions to scam people with money and take there inventions
  • +1
    Not Stupid
    I was also contacted about appearing on "The Balancing Act". One major red flag is that they kept insisting it was not an infomercial.  Almost $40K for a 3-5 minute "editorial" is absolutely outrageous, and I don't understand how ANYONE could fall for it.  For one, you don't charge for true editorial pieces.

    If you're going to invest that much money in your business, you'd be better off taking that money and going to QVC or HSN. At least you know you'd get a good ROI.  You're going to lose your shirt if you go with a scam like this one.
  • -1
    coffeemom
    I will have to disagree about The Balancing Act being a scam, I've worked with them on several occasions in which I was able to leverage much more than just being on the tv show in the morning.  My company actually got into retail b/c I was part of this national show.  If you think it's a scam then you need to do more research on how much it would cost to even produce a 5minute piece on your own and then have to buy the air time.  I guess I was smart, I used the 3rd party endorsement and ran with it!  I don't want to offend anyone but its really uneducated to say something is a scam that you can turn on every single morning at the same time...and I suggest you do call Lifetime as I did as well and they had nothing but great things to say.  :)
  • -2
    coffeemom
    i'd also suggest finishing your research
    http://www.ripoffreport.com/Attorney-Generals/Brand-Star-Entertain/investigation-brandstar-enter-pdd7c.htm#

    apparently an upset former employee started this whole scam thing.  rip off report investigated it and proved it to come from 1 IP address.  It's really sad to see a show thats actually in business to help educate us women on important topics and give us solutions get drug through the mud over false claims.
  • +2
    jd99
    It is a scam if it is positioned as a TV show planning to do a story about a company and then there is a cost involved.  And apparently that is exactly what this show does.  So while some may think it is "worth" the money, the whole premise is misrepresented by the "producers" who make the sales calls.
  • +2
    Ghost of Victims Past
    More research you suggest? Soitenly! How 'bout let's start with "Rip Off Report" and how ANYONE can pay to have a positive "rebuttal" posted. That's just what happened here. As for the "show that's in business", that show was originated by Scott Woolley of Five Star Productions, and the very purpose of him teaming up with "the Incredibles" of "Incredible Discovery" notoriety, was to continue to produce and air the show, just not in the "pay to play" format they scam today. Actually, the attorney for Woolley needs to get an injunction to have the airings suspended, but that's likely just a matter of time.

    While I'm on the topic of research, how about the Broward County Recorder's Office, Book 45981, Page 1100? On file there is an interesting Security Agreement between Brandstar Entertainment and Gerry Czarnecki. Their agreement is not as Kosher as they'd like it to appear, and my money says that Czarnecki is the next one to sue for breach.

    Gotta stop with the nonsense about a "lone" disgruntled former employee. That's so far off base it doesn't even merit a chuckle.

    "Drug" through the mud? Now, that merits at least a chuckle, if not several, genius.
  • 0
    Blaine
    They just tried to scam me!  They wanted $40,000 for 3 to 5 minutes.  I never fall for this crap but they wasted an hour of my time that I will never get back.
  • +2
    What??
    Coffeemom, it is a scam.  Our company has been on primetime before for free and they losers want $40,000.  They called me and if you paid them that's money lost.
  • +1
    Midwest Man
    Ken Levy just called me.  Don't pay for something that should be free.
  • 0
    just the facts
    Any production, whether a commercial, an infomercial etc to advertise your product is going to cost money.  The amount depends on the production company you find to produce it.  As a smart business owner you try to buy the best production quality, with the farthest reach, to your target audience, that matches your budget.  If this isn't the best method for you and your business that doesn't mean it's a scam, it just means it wasn't right for you.  Yes there are some editorial pieces featured on local and national news that you won't be charged for (if you can get on).  The only reason you aren't charged for these, is because of the FCC regulations on those stations, believe me if they could charge they would. Also the trade off for the news is that they look at this as free programming. Many times there is still a cost to this because the news uses video obtained from the business called a video news release or satellite media tour, that a company pays for, which is also expensive to produce for the business owner.  It's only free to you if you go on and do an interview in person with no additional video. I'm a news producer and these are the facts.
  • +2
    JKFCO
    So glad I found this site! I was just contacted, too. I'm always a bit weary so I googled it. Sure enough, looks like it is a scam. I've been burned in the past. So great you are willing to share to prevent others from being burned, too!
  • +2
    Jackie Levine
    People actually think that "The Balancing Act" is affliated with Lifetime Television. It isn't. The infomercial may air on Lifetime, but that's as far as it goes. In fact, even though "The Balancing Act TV LLC" and "The Balancing Act LLC" are represented as "Florida Corporations", there is no record of either on www.sunbiz.org.

    In fact, most or all of the corporate records shown from the website at the top have been removed.

    What is it they say? People with nothing to hide, hide nothing? Why are these people going to such great lengths to hide information?

    Speaking of which, www.netronline.com - Public Records Search, Broward County, Florida - Recorders Records Online - The Balancing Act has already been sued and has a default judgment recorded against them. Yes, you guessed it, from a Company none to happy about what little they got for their "participation fee."

    Same old, same old...A crook is a crook is a crook. DON'T do business with these people unless you like flushing your money down the toilet.
  • -2
    westy
    Why is it a scam?  Because you have to pay to advertise your product?  That's how it works people!  If you think just because someone calls you up to see if you'd like to take part in their show, it doesn't mean you'll get it for free.  Seems like an extremely fair trade to me, $40k-50k is not a lot of money to show your product on national TV.  Have any of you looked at how much it costs for radio airplay or public television?  It costs at least that much if not more.
  • 0
    westy
    Rip Off Report did it's own investigation after the conflicting reports and said that they found nothing about the show to indicate it's anything other than a legitimate business that airs its program on the national TV channel Lifetime.  

    That was not published by whoever you said paid for a rebuttal.  It was printed out underneath the rebuttal and said, "We here at rip-off report want fairness and accuracy and by being able to investigate this company and ULTIMATELY DISCREDIT THE INITIAL POSTING we feel we are also an advocate for the good companies that are doing what their clients pay them to do."
  • +2
    LMAO
    Ripoff Report? Are you serious? Come on! Everyone knows that Ed Magdeson "bids out" what he publishes on that site! Brandstar paid him and he posted that they were legit.

    "Disgruntled lone ex-employee with singular IP address" my behind!!

    Anyone can check www.netronline.com for Public Records, Broward County, FL and see that Brandstar has already been sued for and along with "The Balancing Act" by an unhappy "vendor."

    These people are not doing much differently from their other scam operations, the long-standing history of which is detailed on Matthew Chan's information page. The slight difference this time, is that they're trying to piggy-back off the credibility of "Lifetime Television Network" for which their affliation ENDS with the fact that this channel just airs the show.

    Other than that, keep in mind that you can wrap dog crap in a mink stole, but it's still dog crap nonetheless.

    Steer clear of these creeps!!
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