Cambridge Who's Who Review

Overall 1.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

AnnaBanana
Oak Park, IL

Who ... ME?

I believe in honesty, concerned about this scam!

Cons

A horrible reputation.

APR

2009

Cambridge Who's Who —

It is really unusual for me to give something I review only one star but Cambridge Who's Who doesn't really deserve that much. I am very concerned about what I consider to be a possible scam which has cost several people money that no one can afford to lose these days.

Who, me?

A few days ago, I was a bit taken aback to receive a letter which informed me that I had been recently appointed as a biographical candidate to represent Oak Park, IL, in the 2009/2010 online Cambridge Who's Who Registry among Executive and Professional Women. My first thought was that it reminded me of the old joke about not wanting to belong to any club which would have ME as a member! As a happily (if a bit frugal) retiree, my barnstorming days are over and even when I was actively employed, I was a skilled Cash Movement clerk but certainly was not what you would consider to be an "executive or professional woman."

The other possibility was that a mistake had been made. Alas, both my screen persona and my real name are exceedingly common (or "classic" as I prefer to think) and for some reason there are a positive rash of distinguished women who share my moniker, including a fashion designer, children's author, and member of Congress. Perhaps some would-be admirer had confused me with one of those illustrious souls although none of them lives in Oak Park.

Google Was Made for Moments Like This

Extensive Internet research proved to be fruitful, yielding many alarming reports about the Cambridge Who's Who, including what may be one of the funniest You Tube videos I have ever watched. It seems that, yes, Cambridge will accept virtually anyone as a member ... but it will cost you, BIG time. Once you make the mistake of registering, they begin hounding you for money and trying to sell you things, apparently using high-pressure tactics.

I am certainly not going to let that happen to me and I felt that I should pass my own warning along about this. In case you were wondering who Cambridge Who's Who are, all evidence points to them being possibly major scam artists -- THAT's who!

Last edited on Apr 04, 2009

Cambridge Who's Who is not recommended by AnnaBanana

Review inappropriate? Copyright violation?

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Comments about AnnaBanana’s Review

In response to TomAnderson's comment from Jul 30, 2009 at 2:31PM:

I cheer for anyone who manages to stay out of this one. It looks like bad news.

Thanks I've been in public saftey for 30 years and they tried to sucker me in while talking to me on the phone and get my cc number I read your review. Thanks. I was going with my gut anyhow.

In response to Fooled's comment from Jul 26, 2009 at 12:37AM:

Thanks so much for reading my review and your vital input. HOLY COW! $600 bucks! They should be ashamed of themselves!

.I was also taken in by their flattery, sales technique and false claims. Similar to so many other complaints I also realized the stupidity of my ways very quickly and demanded a refund the very next day.
I was contacted by their complaint resolution manager and we started on a 3 week circus involving email exchanges, voice mail messages and then listening in to a recording of my call where the words "all sales are final" (which was quickly spoken and even on a 2nd listen barely audible), was interpreted by CWW as NO REFUNDS.
After a lot of hassling they agreed to a refund minus $100 for "costs already incurred". They then sent me a letter to sign that included this text...........:As discussed, this is a letter acknowledging the resolution reached today. Please sign it at the bottom and return it immediately. Upon receipt of your signed letter, absent of editorial adjustments and/or comments, your credit in the amount of $500.00 will be processed and posted to your account within 10-12 business days. This will close your membership. This offer is valid only if returned to our establishment no later than .......

I refused as it was not a full refund.
After a few more less polite emails, voice mail, and phone calls they agreed to a full refund.

I will say one thin in support of CWW, the lady that I was dealing with was always pleasant and DID return my emails and phone calls. I was a little surprised at this.

Anyway, my advice is to have NOTHING to do with them. It is probably NOT a scam in the true sense of the word, but really has NO value and anyone that signs up and is happy with it is NOT worth networking with.

IF you do get caught as I did, be unrelenting in your requests for a refund. EMail via their website EVERY night, leave voice mails EVERY day and do NOT accept NO for an answer. They have NO right to keep your money. Their call recording is for Quality Assurance purposes and NOT a legally binding contract, they are not even allowed to present it as such......

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Apr 3, 2009 at 2:27AM:

Oh, sweet little Vivo! I can't wait to see that little girl again!

In response to Jo's comment from Apr 3, 2009 at 1:32PM:

Oh my GOSH, thanks so much, Jo! I was really asleep at the switch, didn't even get it from your message. I went in and changed it. That's so FUNNY! I thought you were talking about something else. Thanks for reading the review and for your help. Take care!

In response to Jo's comment from Apr 3, 2009 at 1:32PM:

Thanks so much for checking out the review. It's so easy to forget to do that Helpful thing!

I just told Chris this - I do it all the time - forget to hit not recommend:)

Excellent and helpful review. If I had the bucks and the patience I would nominate Vivo for Cambridge Who's Who. (Then SHE could handle the high pressure calls.)

That's mothers for you -- that's a cute story! If you want to have a few laughs, Mike, just take a look at that YouTube video out there about this Cambridge outfit. I swear I laughed so hard I nearly fell out of my chair. This guy could give even Groucho a run for his money as far as humor is concerned. It was just really FUNNY, or so it seemed to me at the time. Well, take care and thanks for reading the review!

That old joke is an old Groucho Marx line, for the record, and you are right...those Who's Who books proliferate everywhere and they are a scam from way back. I got a letter in High School (eons ago) from them and Mom fell for it. Months and dollars later we got a yearbook looking bound book in the mail with my picture...me and mky 2.9 GPA in Who's Who Among American High School Students...RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!

In response to this2shallpass19's comment from Apr 2, 2009 at 3:09PM:

How are you doing, Buddy? I'm getting ready to eat lunch now -- something BAD too.

Get a load of THIS combo -- Healthy Choice Soup, a scoop of cottage cheese and a CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFIN! YAHHHHHHHH!

Catch ya later!