Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of YTB
UPDATE: I have been informed that the Press Release that was scheduled to be released has been postponed until all documentation has been filed with the courts and settlement is final. From my understanding, this should take 5 business days. An 8-K was filed today with YTB’s statement that a tentative agreement has been reached. While critics are still somewhat shell shocked that something like this was even a possibility, the Trade Publications are picking up and running with this story. (I assume after verifying with all parties?)
After all, this is YTB and it’s bound to be newsworthy.
You may now exhale.
It was a day I’ll always remember, it was August, and the day before the National Convention was about to open in St. Louis when news spread of a $25 million lawsuit filed by the California Attorney General with claims that YTB was nothing more that a “gigantic pyramid scheme”. The timing of the release of this suit was impeccable and the strategy in releasing it during the National Convention was meant to deflate the ranks then and there, at the National Convention and an attempt squash the big bad YTB.
Over the last 7 months, we’ve heard all kinds of bogus claims that everyone and their mother wanted in on the action, every state in the Union would be joining in, and a couple of Civil Suits were filed in Illinois to the tune of $100 million each by a number of ambulance chasers. News also came at the beginning of the year that a trial date was set for September 21st, and there would be no way that YTB could last until that date, only to fold long before it ever came to trial.
Just last week, I saw a post from one of the more outspoken critics who laid claim that:
“suffice to say I have it on good authority that there is no impending arbitration or settlement.
YTB has no money for any sizable fine. Your ignorance of the CA SOT laws is evident. The RTAs would never need to pay a monthly fee to California, and quite likely as a result of this, they will get back all of their fees paid to YTB because YTB assured them that they were legally operating.”
The guy simply likes to look like he has all the authority in the world. I had official word that YTB would be in California the very next day, and his post was further clarification that this dolt was simply running his mouth off…again. The guy is a sucker for any rumor that’s started, and has no idea who’s an authority and who isn’t. (Though I hear he likes to play one on his blog.)
Fact is that “official word” right now is the legal counsel of YTB and CEO Scott Tomer are pleased to announce that we have a tentative settlement agreement with the State of California as of today, Monday, April 6, 2009.
YTB will continue to focus on its objectives and move forward with it’s Reps and RTA’s in building a great company.
So much for the Jerry Browns intent to shut YTB down completely. (Although some didn’t understand his authority was limited to California.) In a way, this is very good news for our critics who couldn’t wait until the September because now they don’t have to wait to find out that the suit that they had so much faith in didn’t have the teeth they thought it did. It was very clear to me that the AG didn’t have a clue when a week ago when they were interviewed in a FOX News piece when Deputy Attorney General James Tomas said:
“YTB is an endless chain scheme…a program where someone pays in order to have a chance to make money through the recruitment of additional people.”
Problem with it is, I’ve never paid a dime for a “chance to recruit other people”. I paid for a booking engine so I could sell travel.
I handed my CPA two 1009’s last week, one from YourTravelBiz.com, which I am paid for selling Booking Engines. (Anyone of you could do the same, free of charge.) Another was from YTB Travel Network, which I did pay for a web site to enable me to sell travel. The two separate 1099′s have been that way ever since I’ve been with YTB. (2005) One I paid for, just like I would with any other Host Agency of like services.
The other hasn’t cost me a dime, nor do I make a dime unless I sell a booking engine.
It’s extremely difficult, if not utterly impossible to loose money when there is no money exchanged for a chance to recruit other poeple.
Details of the settlement are still coming in a I type, and an official Press Release will be issued on Tuesday about the settlement. Needless to say, the mood at the Home Office is very upbeat and we can now focus on taking back what we lost during the time when these false and misleading accusations were thrown up against the company.
As for the critics. I’d venture to say they’ll come up with a gazillion questions, reasons why it’s a mistake, question the justice system, and how YTB couldn’t afford a settlement because they have no money. (Or so they think.)
I’ve been waiting seven long months to say this, and those of you who know me best know what I’m about to say to our critics who have been just as obnoxious and condescending as anyone could possibly be, because they were certain that my days with YTB were about to come to an end.
I know it’s unprofessional, and I know I should take that high road on this, but whey their road is so slimy and low to begin with, this IS a step up.
Na – Nah – Na – Nahh – Naahhh – Naahhhhhhh!
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Tags: Anti-MLM, Critics, YTB Travel
April 6th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Oh, how will they sleep tonight? And on John’s blog today someone from Traverus is out there saying that Traverus is the ONLY legal work at home travel busniess. Personally, I can’t wait to see John’s blog tomorrow.
April 6th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
John was one of the biggest proponents that the AG had YTB by the…well you know what. Jerry Brown was in the driver’s seat and the case would go to trial because he (like John) was a better authority in what constitutes an illegal pyramid scheme.
Garbage in – Garbage out.
He’s just spitting out what he’s been told, nothing more.
While this SHOULD give John and our critics a clue that they don’t know what they’re talking about, it reminds me of some of the hard core southerners I run into.
The Civil War has been over for what 140 year now, but the South will still rise again.
April 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
And now I wonder just how long it will be that the other frivilous suits are dropped?
April 6th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Critics appear to be in a state of denial right now Medic.
They honestly thought that the AG had a case and are still thinking it’s going to trial. (Poor, lost, souls.)
The Civil Cases should be next. One of the names in the Civil Suit was never an RTA, only a Rep. Yes, you read that right, they never invested a dime into the company but is a leading name that is asking for $100 million in damages.
An “Official Release” will be out tomorrow concerning the Class Action in California, and a few will catch on eventually that the suit was doomed from the start.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Oh, but here comes all the “what about IATAN, RCL, NCL…”. There is no way that YTB can stay in business! Think of all the lost sleep out there tonight. Those from YTB getting a little poetic justice and those on the naysayer’s side thinking “this can’t be true!”. I know I am not supposed to gloat here but …….
April 6th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Yep, John is certainly scrambling to save some face. Someone said he was the newest member of his own “DD”! I don’t know if I would go that far.
Yes I would!