FRANCHISE WARNING: Mars Venus Coaching

40 thoughts on “FRANCHISE WARNING: Mars Venus Coaching”

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• I was one of the franchisees that invested $80,000AUD+ . I am not on the list and neither is a large handful of other failed franchisee’s. This franchise is the ultimate farce and I recommend anyone to stay away from it. The Australian franchisor Darren Stephens is a crook and when Ross Clenett took him to mediation, he had to do everything in his power to get a settlement otherwise his parents stood to loose their home. Ross got clean however when I went to take on Stephens and Gray, I was informed that they were willing to take me to court to which my legal rep advised me against a lengthy and costly court battle.

  I was in it for 9 months and in that time NOT one single client came through the franchise process, they all came from my lists of individuals that I knew and that were attracted to my style, NOT my franchise. I paid franchise fees for nothing. When I suggested that I wanted my money back for false representation, I was advised to sell the business… “What would I sell?”. There was nothing to sell and besides would I bequeath this disaster upon someone else? I don’t think so.

  John Gray has some good material but it has NOTHING to do with coaching. They made up something, dressed it up and I bit at it. 6 months later I woke up from the slumber and saw what was really happening. I walked away from the investment and called it a loss however I cannot believe that they still persist with this circus of lies and deceptions.

  I send enlightenment to then so that John Gray can be the truth and instead of asking for franchise money, teach people how to coach for one off fee and then let them have the material. John Gray needs to read about the laws of the universe and then practice them (Reciprocity).

  Email me before you dare look into this dangerous franchise.

• As an ex-Mars Venus Franchisee, I can assure you that this company is a SCAM! Rich Bernstein starts off with forcing you to give $20,000 to $40,000 US for training and a b/s Franchise that isn’t actually legal anywhere except in Nevada. Then they give you high financial income expectations, which do not happen!!! In my own case, they stole $20,000 from me, without giving me any Franchise documentation at all. Then they demanded that I pay $1000.00 per month for Franchise Fee’s…for a Business I did not even own!! These people are very good with the SPIN selling techniques, and can spin any story and create lies upon lies, just to take your money. I know, it happened to me. Don’t be the next victim of Rich Bernstein, Jim Taylor and this fake company of Mars Venus Coaching Franchise!!

• I am interested in becoming a franchisee for Mars Venus, if they are in so much trouble and it is a scam how are they still able to operate, how do they still have frnachisees with them.
  Any advice from past and present fanchisees will be appreciated.

• Please don’t buy a Mars Venus Franchise!!! They have a GREAT way of convincing you that the Franchise is a safe secure investment, but the reality is that Rich Bernstein is a crook and steals every penny from his victims. They are only still in business because of the good reputation of Mars Venus, John Grey, and Coaching in general. TRUST me!!! If you are interested in Coaching, the best and cheapest solution is going through another certified coaching school. You will only get burned with buying a Mars Venus Coaching Franchise!!!

• I also was a franchise owner just after Herbie. It put me through the most stressfull time in my life. I was determined to make it work regardless of watching people drop out one by one till there was none.

  I noticed that when someone drops out they just re-sell the books, video, CD’s ect to the next person (after you send them back) for another $7,000 of the next franchise sold. I received Herbies ( his name was in them). When I droped out (after needing to sell three houses) I sent them back also, as the contract says, and they would have keeped selling the same litrature over and over for the same price.

  If anyone lasts 12months their lucky. The whole buisness is not disighned for you, It’s only desighned for them.

  It also is a fact that it has a 100% fail rate. I have watched it for years now and no one ever succeeds, they always drop out within one to two years with a huge debte.

  Rowan.

• Hi everyone,
  hm, i’am wondering for these posts.
  First for everyone: Go to the homepage http://www.masrvenuscoaching.com and look for the countrys and number of coaches. They are there.
  I was speaking with Rich Bernstein personally every week for one year before I decided to become a coach in the MarsVenus System.
  I passed 7 Days in Training in Las Vegas, one Day personally trained by John Gray. The Training and the System is a really great thing… If you follow it.
  I lost my first Client because i did it my way, not the systemised way.
  The next clients I got because I followed the System.
  I have three Coaches who call me every week for getting me focused.
  But I have to stand up in the Morning and to do the work.
  No one will do it for me. And I have to stay with it.
  No client will call me and come from alone.
  So the first year is certainly the foundation of the future years.
  It is the same like computer Problems… in 80% the system is working, but the Mistake is sitting on the chair before the Computer.
  So please: Everyone who wants to know more about my backround, and my experiences, just call or contact me. I am really sorrowful about people who can’t discuss with facts, who are using anonymous insults instead. Poor society.

  I am not hiding behind anonymous posts. I just want to tell the truth.
  So please contact me for getting the right picture of the experience I made.
  Have a nice Day.
  Michael

• Hi everyone,
  hm, i’am wondering for these posts.
  First for everyone: Go to the homepage http://www.marsvenuscoaching.com and look for the countrys and number of coaches. They are there.
  I was speaking with Rich Bernstein personally every week for one year before I decided to become a coach in the MarsVenus System.
  I passed 7 Days in Training in Las Vegas, one Day personally trained by John Gray. The Training and the System is a really great thing… If you follow it.
  I lost my first Client because i did it my way, not the systemised way.
  The next clients I got because I followed the System.
  I have three Coaches who call me every week for getting me focused.
  But I have to stand up in the Morning and to do the work.
  No one will do it for me. And I have to stay with it.
  No client will call me and come from alone.
  So the first year is certainly the foundation of the future years.
  It is the same like computer Problems… in 80% the system is working, but the Mistake is sitting on the chair before the Computer.
  So please: Everyone who wants to know more about my backround, and my experiences, just call or contact me. I am really sorrowful about people who can’t discuss with facts, who are using anonymous insults instead. Poor society.
  I am not hiding behind anonymous posts. I just want to tell the truth.
  So please contact me for getting the right picture of the experience I made.
  Have a nice Day.
  Michael

  Michael Kubina e.K.
  zertifizierter Business & Success Coach
  [contact info redacted]

• I am a certified Mars Venus Success Coach. If you would like to speak with me, just ask Richard Bernstein or Jim Taylor. Both know me, and both coach me on a weekly basis. Either can give you my contact info. You can also contact any one of the certified coaches on the Mars Venus Coaching website. Prospective franchisees who are serious about adding value to the lives of others should demand to hear the truth from actual coaches.

  I have been a Mars Venus coach for about one year. Before joining, I had qualms about the Mars Venus Coaching franchise based on information posted on sites like this one and http://www.ripoffreport.com.

  Nonetheless, I was definitely going to investigate the opportunity to be involved with John Gray’s organization before making a decision. Not taking the steps to learn about the Mars Venus franchise because a few salacious posts throw mud at the organization would be like deciding to never travel to great cities like New York City or Rio de Janeiro because some guide books tell you to be careful of criminal activity there.

  What did I do? I went through the process and held off on making any decision until I met Rich. I wanted to see for myself what the organization was. And I didn’t shy away from the issue. I asked Rich point blank about these allegations, and his responses were more than satisfactory. I also spoke with several Mars Venus coaches about their experience. If you are serious about buying a business, and as a prospective franchisee, this is the minimum due diligence you should be doing.

  It’s important to investigate the statements and promises made by the franchisor. It’s equally important to have a critical eye when reading anything on the web.

  In our new internet world, anyone who has had a bad business experience with a company has the ability to say whatever they want to the whole world. Shared experiences could help you avoid doing business with a bad company, but placing excessive reliance on someone else’s opinions may be imprudent as well. Suppose one customer posts a bad experience at a well-known restaurant that others rave about. Do you try the place out or avoid it altogether?

  Her comments need as much as scrutiny as the investment opportunity.

  Back to my experience. Mars Venus coaching has changed my life, and I am not only a much better person and better coach as a result, I run my own company far more efficiently. I teach successful professionals and CEOs on the very concepts that Rich has been teaching me…EACH WEEK for the past one year.

  There are statements made by people who claim they were wronged by the Mars Venus organization in Australia prior to 2009. Whether those are true or not, I cannot say. I have heard, however, that there were leadership issues, and the dilution of the Mars Venus image and mark was one of the reasons for bringing in a new CEO and moving the operations to the United States.

  From my point of view as current Mars Venus coach, whatever people may have done in Australia several years ago has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the coaching services I deliver to my clients nor the value I get week after week from the coaching I receive from my Mars Venus coaches.

  That leaves Veronica James. That her statements are wildly accusatory is obvious from merely counting the number of exclamation marks she uses. As to the substance, here are some questions you may consider asking yourself when you read her posts:
  – A scam is a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation. What exactly is the scam here?
  – Want to know if the franchise is legal? It’s your choice to rely on Ms. James’s bald assertions or ask Rich for the all important Disclose Document, also called a UFOC. Want to read more on that subject? Check out the Federal Trade Commission website for investigating franchises: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/invest/inv05.shtm#5
  – How a franchisor can steal “every penny” from a franchisee is beyond my understanding. Not getting value for your franchise fee is one thing. Saying that the franchisee took all your money is plain silly. (If you only have about $20,000 to your name, as Ms. James seems to, buying a business that requires you to develop the clients yourself is probably not a smart bet. It’s not too different than having an architectural degree, law degree, or even a medical degree. People don’t start coming to you just because you have a degree or a certification. You need to get out there to let people know who you are and how you can benefit them.)
  – How can someone “force” her to give $20,000? And why would she have given the money without receiving the requisite disclosures? FTC laws prohibit that practice. See the link above.
  – Would you own a business as a Mars Venus Coach? Of course you do. That’s the franchise. How is that Ms. James bought a franchise and didn’t own a business of her own? Think about it. That makes zero sense.

  At the end of the day, one is left to wonder whether Ms. James was ever a part of the Mars Venus organization or if she is simply someone looking to propagate a smear campaign. If Ms. James wants us to trust her, she should provide her contact information and share details as to when she became a franchisee.

  As a prospective franchisee and business owner, you will be faced with the daily challenge of deciding fact from fiction. That process starts now.

• Mars Venus Success Coach wrote “ask Rich for the all important Disclose Document, also called a UFOC”

  FYI The UFOC (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular) hasn’t been used since July, 2008. It’s been replaced by the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document).

  MVSC makes good points about doing thorough due diligence and not taking anyone’s word for anything at face value – whether an anonymous commenter or a company founder or a franchise salesperson or broker. It’s your *ss on the line if you make a mistake so it’s your responsibility to investigate before signing your life away.

  However, if MVSC is implying that the FTC polices its guidelines and compliance rules, think again. No one is policing franchising. Even if they made illegal claims and sold you an unregistered franchise, odds are your only recourse will be to fund a private lawsuit with your own $$$ (which you probably won’t have).

  Don’t go into this thinking there’s anyone policing this or that anyone will help you if you get screwed over – unless you’re paying their hourly rate. Anyone tells you different is a scheming scammer.

• This is classic Rich Bernstein and Mars Venus Coaching Franchise! As soon as they notice that someone is speaking the truth about the SCAM they are selling, they immediately put up long, overly detailed excuses and LIES!!!!!

  This site, and most others will not allow a post with anyones contact details for privacy reasons, otherwise yes, I would supply my email and phone #.

  What I speak is the truth.

  Mars Venus Coaching Franchise is a SCAM and a waste of your hard earned $$$. Richard Bernstein is a liar and a scam artist who will steal as much of your money as possible, as long as you let it happen.

  Don’t be a sheep by following this loser…he is very good at telling lies, making up stories, and getting you to believe the Mars Venus Franchise system works, but it does not work!!!!! You are better off putting the $20,000-$40,000 dollars under your mattress so it will be safe and secure.

  Buying into this company will only make you poor!!! Please trust me…..I know, it happened to me, and it is happening to many others. Rich Bernstein and Jim Taylor of Mars Venus Coaching cannot be trusted, they will steal your money, and you will go broke!!! They use the SPIN selling technique to reel you in and make you feel good and comfortable, then they attack like vipers and force you to send them thousands of dollars. They are cheaters, liars, and scam artists! They should be in jail, but the laws in Las Vegas protect the criminal!

  DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!!

  Mars Venus Coaching Franchise is a SCAM!!!!!

• Veronica James,
  I have been a franchisee in the Mars Venus Coaching system for over a year. And I can tell you that from my perspective it is definitely NOT a scam. Veronica, I take offense that you are disparaging my business and my franchise. Maybe you are a bit confused by what the word the word “scam” actually means, so let me provide you a dictionary definition.
  scam definition:
  [skæm] to swindle someone (to take someone’s money and not provide the agreed-to product or service); to deceive someone (to lie).

  So based on this, I have a few direct questions for you. What was the scam? What did you not receive that you paid for?
  1. Did you not receive the UFOC (now referred to as the FDD)? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.
  2. Did you not receive the training manuals? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.
  3. Did you not receive professional training? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.
  4. Did you not receive the workshop and seminar materials? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.
  5. Did you not receive on-going support and coaching? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.
  6. Did you not receive coaching tools to use? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.
  7. Did you not receive all the materials to do Life, Business and Executive coaching? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.
  8. Did you not receive sales and marketing processes to follow? I did and every other Mars Venus Coaching coach I know did.

  Next on my list…what did Rich or Jim lie to you about? What
  were you told specifically that did not end up being true? The reason I ask, is that I was very attuned throughout my investigative process to anything that smacked of dishonesty or overstatement. And I can tell you that Rich and Jim have been above board and honest in all of my dealings with them. They never once provided revenue or profit claims…after all that would be illegal per the FTC. I speak with both of them every week. They do not miss our appointments. They did not take my money and then abandon me. They truly appear to be vested in my success. Which if you think about it, is just good business. Why would they want coaches to fail? It just makes selling other franchises more difficult. The obvious and only answer is they don’t.

  Buying a franchise does not guarantee anyone success. It just gives you a leg up on an independent operator. It gives you a brand name that has awareness, is recognizable and opens up doors and prompts some curiosity. All of which would take you millions of dollars to do yourself. A franchise gives you sound processes, systems and materials that take you years to
  create yourself. This is what makes the franchise business model work.
  It’s why Subway franchisees usually do better than Bob’s Deli? Do some Subway operators fail? Sure they do… mostly because they run a bad store or picked a bad location. Do some Mars Venus Coaching coaches fail? Sure they do…mostly because they don’t follow the systems or don’t make the prerequisite effort…or how about this…maybe coaching or owning their own business wasn’t right for them. Did you ever consider that this was the case for you?

  This world is full of people who portray themselves as victims…who never take the personal accountability to own the problem. For them, it is always someone else’s fault. Someone else had to be wrong, because their failure couldn’t actually be their fault…their responsibility. It seems to me that you needed coaching before you chose to own your own business. Mars Venus Success Coaching does its best to select franchisees who they think will represent the brand well and who have a strong likelihood of success. But again, it is a judgment call and there are no guarantees for either side. Starting any business has risks. History has shown that buying a franchise reduces those risks…but does not eliminate them entirely.

  I can only speak for myself. If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely buy the Mars Venus Coaching franchise

• My dear Pam,

  I have a copy of a Money Order in the amount of $20,000.00 payable to Mars Venus Coaching, but NEVER recieved Franchise Documentation.

  I paid the $20,000.00 for the Franchise and never got a Franchise!!!!!!!!

  You can ask Rich Bernstein, although surely he would LIE about such things.

  I have no issue with the $13,000.00 that I paid for the training, materials, etc., NOR do I have an issue with the $6000.00 that I paid for monthly support.

  My issue is with the SCAM they run to get a fake Franchise purchased.

  scam definition:
  [skæm] to swindle someone (to take someone’s money and not provide the agreed-to product or service); to deceive someone (to lie).

  Yes, Rich Bernstein and Mars Venus Coaching took my money, $20,000, and did NOT provide any Franchise Documentation. They lied and never returned my money! SCAM!!!!!

  Anymore henchmen Rich??? I will tell the truth for the rest of my days.

• Pam Lippett:

  Since you are so good with definitions, perhaps you can explain the term “Master Franchisee.”

  Doesn’t that mean a person who makes money off the sale of franchises? One who gets a cut of the franchise fee and a portion of the royalties for anyone they get to sign up as a franchisee?

  Pam Lippett, you aren’t a “Master Franchisee” are you? Because if you are really a commissioned salesperson pretending that you’re just a regular franchisee giving a testimonial, wouldn’t that fall under your definition of scam: ” to deceive someone (to lie).”?

  It must be a different Pamela Lippett on LinkedIn because HER profile reads: “Become a Coach — As the Master Franchisee for the state of Colorado for MVC, I am seeking highly qualified professionals who wish to be coaches. ”

  http://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalippittmarsvenus

  btw Pam, what’s the definition of “sleazy”?

• @ Veronica: hm, I think there is a misunderstanding. Pam wrote that she was (!) a franchisee for over a year. So I understand it the way that she is no longer franchisee. But funny that you brought that up.
  If a franchisee is in the MVC System for over a year. And decides that it is so good, that she will be a masterfranchisee, does that not mean that she was successful ? And that she earned so much money with coaching, that she could afford the Masterlicense?
  My plan is to become also a masterfranchisee in 2011. Because since now everything is working better than my expectations.
  I thank you for this post, because it is a great proof that the system works :-)

  By the way: click on my name and you will find my contact-details. It works the way that you put in your homepage and it will guide anyone who clicks on your name to your website and contactinformation. I hope I could help you with this because it seems you did not know that:
  (Veronica James: This site, and most others will not allow a post with anyones contact details for privacy reasons, otherwise yes, I would supply my email and phone #.)
  Just try it. I hope I could help you with that.

  And please answer the questions from Pam for getting this to a less emotional and more factual discussion. I am very interested in knowing what exactly you didn’t got. Thank you for your clarity.

  I wish you a great day.
  Michael Kubina
  MVC Franchisee in Germany

• “Pam wrote that she was (!) a franchisee for over a year. So I understand it the way that she is no longer franchisee.”
  Both Pamela & her husband Scott are currently listed as Master Franchisees for Colorado.

  “If a franchisee is in the MVC System for over a year. And decides that it is so good, that she will be a masterfranchisee, does that not mean that she was successful ?”
  Definitely not. It could mean that he/she realized that the real money is in selling franchises and not operating one. That’s the basis of MLM, pyramid schemes and lots of franchises. The people who make the big money are the ones who reel in suckers, I mean, investors, and that way they get paid whether the concept works on the consumer level or not.

  Michael, don’t you think Pamela was deceptive in not disclosing that she gets compensated for selling franchises and posting as a regular franchisee?

• The responses above from the Mars Venus Coaches fail to address several issues which are instrumental in making an intelligent decision on investing in one of these Mars Venus Coaching Franchises.

  The questions I suggest that one of the above Mars Venus Coaches answer or the corporate office are these.

  1. Isn’t it true there are 2 pending ongoing fraud cases against Mars Venus Coaching and the CEO Rich Bernstein?

  2. Isn’t it true that Bernsteins previous employer Actioncoach (another company selling business coaching franchise) sued him and obtained a judgment against him for theft against the company after he stole franchise fees from the company?

  3. Isn’t is true their are several judgments filed in the state of Nevada against Mars Venus CEO Rich Bernstein?

  4. Isn’t it true several Mars Venus Franchisee’s in the States have walked away from their Franchises after discovering the system does not work and several outside the US have done so as well?

  5. Isn’t it true the Mars Venus disclosure documents have expired in several states and therefore Mars Venus Coaching is not authorized to sell franchises in those states but continues to do so?

  These are 5 simple questions that should be answered along with providing a current Franchise Disclosure Document that has been filed with the required state agencies.Not a bunch of dribble pointing fingers or side stepping the facts.

  Current disclosure document of all franchises are available online at the Caleasi website. Here you can plainly see Mars Venus has not filed a current disclosure document in over a year in which they are not permitted to sell franchises. You can report them at:

  1515 K Street, Suite 200
  Sacramento, CA 95814-4052
  (916) 445-7205

  Rich Bernstein the CEO of this Mars Venus Coaching is all over the internet bragging about how successful he is on websites and in youtube videos:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPirLCLNDdg&NR=1

  http://www.ahbbs.net/play/PV8bkC9ljbY.htm

  http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/bernstein

  Public records available online show numerous judgments against Rich Bernstein that are filed in Nevada with the Clark County Recorders office for everything from Federal Tax Liens to even child support just to name a few.

  This is the core of this establishments value and what they consider success.

  Sorry but no thank you Mars Venus because in my book Reputation, Family, Truth, Values and a good honest clean way of life is success to me not the culture of Mars Venus Coaching that is defined by deception, lawsuits, judgments, and outright lies.

• Hi again, I’m in Australia but I can very well believe that the answere to all those questions would be yes.

  When Darren Stephens was doing it in Australia they had the same low ethical way of operating. They were forced to shut down there operation in Australia after leaving a path of distruction only to move it to the US for the new owners to do the same their. Unfortunatly it looks like the same culture and ethic level has continued with it.

  Rowan.

• JUSTTHEFACTS wrote “Current disclosure document of all franchises are available online at the Caleasi website. Here you can plainly see Mars Venus has not filed a current disclosure document in over a year in which they are not permitted to sell franchises.”

  To clarify, the Caleasi website only includes disclosure documents from franchisors registered in California. If they are not on there that probably means that they are not registered to sell franchises in CA, but doesn’y mean they aren’t able to sell in all other states.

  JUSTTHEFACTS: you should also check under the name of any CA master franchisee because they may be registered under their corporate name.

• Micheal:

  I paid the $20,000.00 for the Franchise and never got a Franchise!!!!!!!!

  This means that I gave Rich Bernstein a payment of $20,000.00 and NEVER got any paperwork to suggest that I owned a Franchise.

  How can one own a business without having the documentation to prove that there is a business?????

  He stole my money and gave me nothing!!!!

  Mars Venus Coaching Franchise is a SCAM!!!

• Amazing!!!

  Now Mars Venus admits above they are not registered to sell franchises in California but attempts to cover this fact by claiming it might secretly be hidden under a Master Franchisee’s name.

  The only Mars Venus Success Coaches listed in California are Jacob Roig and Dheeraj J. Singhal. Neither to my knowledge is a Master Licensee. Regardless the Disclosure document would have to be filed under the Franchise name.

  I only mentioned California because these records can be verified online but truthfully they have not filed current Franchise Disclosure Documents in several states therefore the are violating franchise laws by continuing to sell franchises in those states.

  In response to the above poster Veronica James maybe your money never was recorded with the company as an actual franchise sale and just embezzled by Rich Bernstein personally. I recommend you contact Actioncoach Bernstein’s previous employer who sued him for stealing franchise fees for the sale of a franchise and not reporting it to the company.

  Again I stick to my original request that either the corporate office, Pam Lippitt, Michael Kubina or any of the other Mars Venus Coaching Coaches answer the following five questions which are instrumental to anyone in making a competent decision to invest in a Mars Venus Coaching Franchise:

  1. Isn’t it true there are 2 pending ongoing fraud cases against Mars Venus Coaching and the CEO Rich Bernstein?

  2. Isn’t it true that Bernsteins previous employer Actioncoach (another company selling business coaching franchise) sued him and obtained a judgment against him for theft against the company after he stole franchise fees from the company?

  3. Isn’t is true their are several judgments filed in the state of Nevada against Mars Venus CEO Rich Bernstein?

  4. Isn’t it true several Mars Venus Franchisee’s in the States have walked away from their Franchises after discovering the system does not work and several outside the US have done so as well?

  5. Isn’t it true the Mars Venus disclosure documents have expired in several states and therefore Mars Venus Coaching is not authorized to sell franchises in those states but continues unlawfully to do so?

  LAST OF ALL TO EVERYONE OUT THERE CONSIDERING A MARS VENUS FRANCHISE DEMAND THAT YOU RECEIVE A CURRENT FRANCHISE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE YOU THIS AND MAKE SURE IT IS THE SAME COPY THAT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES GOVERNING THE SALE OF FRANCHISES IN YOUR STATE.

• @ justthefacts:
  To question 1-5: Sorry, i don’t know anything about this, i am a franchisee, but I trust in the lawsystem. If in a business something went wrong and you can’t solve it by discussion, there are the lawyers.
  It is the nature of conflicts that the one side has an other view than the other. The same in private like in business.
  My way would be to search a solution with the opposite and then go to a lawyer for let him get my rights. But if both ways are not succesful perhaps it was me who was not on the right side of law.
  If there are actual fraud cases, it is not important for me (specially by the number of 2). The Result of these cases would be important for me.
  I can’t say anything about the past of MarsVenusCoaching. And I don’t care. I pay attention how i invest my money now and what i get out for it.
  I can only speak for me, and i am really satisfied with the whole MarsVenusCoaching System. And I can say, that my Investment was worth it. I have a disclosure document, I have all the materials for the workshops, coaching, structure and I get all the support they promised me. And becuase I followed the system I got my clients and it feels really good.
  I think it is good to show people the own oppinion and to let people think about their expectations.
  But for me it is not good to blame someone anonymiously.
  Because there are only two possibilities about this anonymious Person:
  1. The person is a concurrent and wants to impact his concurrent by negative posts.
  2. the person is really an ex-franchisee, dissatisfied and lost a lot of money, but wasn’t successfull by the way with the lawyer. So the only way to take revenge is to hide behind anonymous posts.

  In every other case the person would create a website with all the proven evidence and post the link here. Because in this case even MVC could not prevent this person to do so.

  But I thank you a lot for not discussing the emotional way. :-) Have a nice Day
  MIchael Kubina
  MarsVenusCoaching Franchisee in Gremany

• @ Vernoica: Wow, i really can’t imagine this in my world and experience with MVC. But I don’t know anything about your case. But if you have the documentation, it should be an easy way to get your money back by a lawyer.
  So does that really mean you payed 20.000$ without having a contract? How could that happen?
  And you worked how long in the System?
  It is dificult for me to understand that. Perhaps because i am a German and we depend a lot in contracts. We pay nothing without having a contract. A contract which clarifies what I have to pay and what i get for it.
  Please, don’t misunderstand me. This is not a personal attack. I really try to understand you. :-)
  Have a nice Day
  Michael Kubina
  MarsVenusCoaching Franchisee in Germany

• Micheal:

  The contract that was offered to me during training was a USA contract, and because I am not in the USA, it is not valid for me, and Rich Bernstein was not willing to allow me to take the training without having the $20,000 Franchise Fee. After the training, Rich and Mars Venus Coaching did not provide me with Franchise documents for my own country, but they did keep my money!!!

  I do have the coaching license and certificate from Mars Venus Coaching, but no Franchise…..and they stole $20,000.00 from me!!!

  Think about it….you are in Germany….would it cost you more than $20,000.00 out of your own pocket to have a legal case in Las Vegas????????? Probably not!

  This is what Rich Bernstein counts on….he steals money from naive good people, and knows that they can’t afford to launch a lawsuit when things go bad.

• @Veronica: Thank you for your reponse.
  I have a german contract, because it is the same here like for you. And certainly I didn’t pay the franchise fee without having the contract. I even wouldn’t have started a business with an english “USA” contract.
  You wrote that you payed 6.000 $ for monthly support. The first three months are free, so you passed 9 months in the system. Is this right ? And you payed them three months after the training every month 1.000,-$ for another 6 months without getting your document? So why did you do this?
  For the Lawyers: In Germany we can make a success fee with a lawyer. So this case would not cost anything for me in the same Situation and a 50/50 deal is normal for the lawyers here. And in your discribed case it should be easy to find someone who gets your money back. Good old Germany ;-)

  But if I followed it right let me resume:
  – You payed the training, the Franchise fee and the roalty fee for 6 months.
  – You were by the training and you got the monthly support.
  – You got the Traningmaterials.
  – you got an (english) franchise contract. (Before you said that they did not provide any franchise documentation).

  Is this right so far?

  Did you wrote down in the contract that the contract will be changed into a contract in your state when it is finished? I would have done this. Or was it just your expectation that it will be this way?

  Thank you for being honest with me.

  Michael kubina
  MarsVenusCoaching Franchisee in Germany

• Micheal:

  The contract presented to me half way during training was a USA Franchise contract which I refused to sign because it was not legal in my Country.

  Rich Bernstein informed me that I had to pay the $20,000 Franchise Fee in order to complete the training and get my certificate. He said it would only be a few days before they had the proper documents in place for my Franchise, but after waiting 9 months, there was still no documentation and after I spoke to a lawyer, I discovered that without having Franchise documents, I did not own a Franchise. I demanded the funds be returned, but to no avail. Rich Bernstein is a thief who doesn’t care about the people he steals from!!!

  Did you consult with a lawyer from Germany with your Franchise document before you signed? I am 100 percent positive that it is not a legal agreement.

• Michael Kubina didn’t you just open your Mars Venus Coaching office in March? Two months is hardly an authority your still under the ether and have not even started to pay monthly franchise fees.

  To set the record straight the two pending fraud cases were just in the last 12 months. It is my understanding and probably Rowan and Herbie can vouch for this there were lawsuits in Australia and several unhappy franchisees before they moved the office to Las Vegas where they have only been operating a couple years.

  The judgments against Mars Venus CEO Rich Bernstein have already been tried and decided and he has been ordered to pay so no dispute here who was in the right it was already decided by a court of law. ITS A JUDGMENT.

  I suggest anyone looking into this franchise speak to some of the people on the list above that Herbie provided and find out why they left the system not a newbie who appears not to have the facts straight of what is really going on here.

  In addition if you are in the states and have been approached by this organization to buy a franchise I highly recommend you contact the state agency listed in the disclosure document (providing they give you one) that monitors franchises in your area to find out if a current FDD has been filed. If not I recommend you file a complaint to protect others from a situation similar to Ms. James and so many others.

• @ Veronica: Yes I did, and it had to be changed to lokal law because the American Law is really different than the german. But this I knew before. So I did it. But thank you for your advice.

  @ Justthefacts: Certainly i went active since march. But I had access to the documents already before and was speaking with rich Bernstein for over a Year like i wrote in my very first post. Getting every document right takes the time :-) But I could already earn good money from my clients. And everything that was promised I got.This is all I can say about and i did nothing else.

  Where can I see this judgement. Please don’t be angry, but you say one thing and don’t give any proofs. How can i trust you more than an experience for over a year of communication. And how can I trust a person who still rests behind anonymious posts without proofing what is said? It is really hard for me.
  So please. If there is no discussion about a judgement, please give me some evidence. You have my E-Mail :-)

  But i am on your Side in the part that everything has to go legal ways. I personally could not find any illegal sides since now. And i was proofing them by a lawyer. So I think this is the best advice we perhaps both could agree.
  For me it is a normal and natural step before investing so much money.

  Did you go to a lawyer before signing up?

  Michael Kubina
  MarsVenusCoaching Franchisee in Germany

• Did you go to a lawyer before signing up?

  Micheal:

  The lawyer I spoke with told me not to sign anything until the documents were in my Country law. I never signed Franchise Documents, but was forced to give Rich Bernstein the $20,000.00 for a Franchise that he said would be taken care of very quickly. I gave him 9 months to take care of things and he still had not done anything to get the Franchise transfered to my Country!!

  My belief is that the high pressure sales tactic of SPIN selling is used very well by both Rich Bernstein and Jim Taylor, to get you to feel comfortable and trust them well before you are told to hand over the funds.

  Do not trust these people!!! They are liars, and cheaters!!!

• All judgments in Nevada can be viewed online at the Clark County Website

  http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/RECORDER/Pages/default.aspx

  Click on search records on the left, accept conditions, and type in Richard Bernsteins name.

  There you will find judgments and liens against his property for income taxes, child support and lawsuits.

  This info was obtained from other sites online Soulcast & Ripoff report which also direct you to criminal cases against Rich Bernstein as well.

• To all the victims of Mars Venus Coaching and Richard Bernstein:

  Richard Bernstein is scheduled to be arraigned on criminal charges filed against him by the Nevada District Attorney on June 25, 2010 at 10:45 am in the District Court in Clark County Nevada located at 1900 E. Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119.

  In support of all the victims this horrible organization has stomped on, robbed and stolen from show up to rally against these crooks and put a stop to all the hardship and suffering they have caused so many.

  Also Richard Bernstein’s drivers license has been revoked and suspended. Take this low life off the road, if you see him driving his Bentley or any other automobile call 911 and report him for he is breaking the law. If he hits someone or kills them remember because he is not licensed to drive his insurance is no good. Look at all the Chaos this company and their CEO has caused already it’s time we all work together to make the world a better place by putting a stop to scum like Rich Bernstein.

• Richard Bernstein Mars Venus Coaching North America Fraud and Embezzlement Las Vegas, Nevada

  “Rich” Bernstein is a con artist who utilizes the guise of “financial coaching” to ascertain the available wealth of a profitable businessperson or individual to con them into any number of “investments” which are simply schemes to rob them.

  He is a convicted felon, has multiple liens from individuals and the IRS in place and has multiple trial dates approaching.

  He, like the plague, is to be avoided at all costs. One should also beware of his lap-dogs; Bryan Drewes and John Gray, as well.

• Richard Bernstein has been arrested on felony charges. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on 3/24/11. Go to the below link and type in Richard Bernstein to see full details on his arrest.

  http://redrock.co.clark.nv.us/ccdcincustody/inCustodySearch.aspx

• Below is a video of footage of the arraignment of Richard Bernstein the Mars Venus Coaching CEO arrested on felony charges. The news footage shows Bernstein in court dressed in prison attire and shackles in which at one point he smiles for the camera. Later there is no smiling after the judge sets the bail at a quarter of a million dollars. Bernstein faces 20 years in prison.

  http://www.mynews3.com/category.php?id=5404&n=5037

• All those posts above from Michael Kubina & Pam Lippett defending Bernstein actually are quite comical taking into consideration Bernstein has been arrested on felony charges. Below is the correct link to the news story:

  http://www.mynews3.com/story.php?id=39945

  Out on bail and on house arrest Bernstein can be found at the Mars Venus headquarters pushing franchises by day and providing the Mars Venus training with an ankle bracelet on. Shame on John Gray for preying on foreigners and unsuspecting individuals who are not aware the CEO of Mars Venus is awaiting trial on felony theft charges.

  Although innocent till proven guilty the ethical thing to do would be to disclose this info in their franchise documents but I think at this point most would agree there is nothing ethical about Mars Venus Coaching or the people behind this organization.

  Taken from the Mars Venus Coaching website MVC pushes an upcoming training as exciting. Imagine the excitement if or when these individuals find out their paid facilitator is a convicted felon wearing an ankle bracelet under his trousers.

  Las Vegas Coach Induction Training – June 2011

  Monday, June 6, 2011

  Starts June 6 at 7:00 am

  Specific to new licensees, this is an intensive and EXCITING (maximum of 7 days) program to kick start their Mars Venus Coaching business. International speakers and facilitators present and interact with attendees during sessions covering and specific to the Mars Venus Coaching systems, products and services.

  Facilitator: Rich Bernstein Click to email

• THIS IS AN AD RICH BERNSTEIN THE CEO OF MARS VENUS IS RUNNING

  Mars Venus Executive Training Las Vegas
  Scroll down to bottom to Apply For This Position

  We are currently the fastest growing and most successful training company in the world. With 88 offices in 22 countries we provide Gender based training programs to large and small companies around the world
. Our company provides Gender based Sales, Gender based leadership, Gender based customer service solutions to give our clients the competitive edge required to be successful in this economic climate.
  -This is a position that pays you $200 for each sale!
  -One sale a day pays you $4,000 a month!
  -Average producers can earn $1,200 to $3,600 in the first 2 weeks starting off!
  – Average producers earn over $10,000 per month!
  – Top producer can earns over $20,000+ per month!
  
- Pays quickly. Candidates are paid on a daily basis by direct deposit to their paypal account.
  
- Allows you to work remotely part-time or full-time! This is not MLM!
  
- Please review the site http://www.marsvenusexecutivetraining.com
  – Full sales and product training provided.
  Must be a self starter and professional. If you feel that you are qualified for this position, call today :
  Rich 702-271-3677

• OUT ON BAIL JOHN GRAY’S PARTNER RICH BERNSTEIN IS RECRUITING SALESPEOPLE ON CRAIGSLIST AND SELLING MARS VENUS FRANCHISES ON THE INTERNET. THE PHONE NUMBER LISTED IS HIS CELL PHONE WHICH MAKES IT EASIER TO COMMUNICATE WITH PROSPECTS WITH AN ANKLE MONITORING BRACELET ON.

  Mars Venus Executive Training Las Vegas
  Scroll down to bottom to Apply For This Position

  Posted:04/24/2011
  We are currently the fastest growing and most successful training company in the world. With 88 offices in 22 countries we provide Gender based training programs to large and small companies around the world
. Our company provides Gender based Sales, Gender based leadership, Gender based customer service solutions to give our clients the competitive edge required to be successful in this economic climate.
  -This is a position that pays you $200 for each sale!
  -One sale a day pays you $4,000 a month!
  -Average producers can earn $1,200 to $3,600 in the first 2 weeks starting off!
  – Average producers earn over $10,000 per month!
  – Top producer can earns over $20,000+ per month!
  
- Pays quickly. Candidates are paid on a daily basis by direct deposit to their paypal account.
  
- Allows you to work remotely part-time or full-time! This is not MLM!
  
- Please review the site http://www.marsvenusexecutivetraining.com
  – Full sales and product training provided.
  Must be a self starter and professional. If you feel that you are qualified for this position, call today :
  Rich 702-271-3677

  PAM LIPPITT THE HEAD OF THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT FOR MARS VENUS RECENTLY PUT OUT SEVERAL PRESS RELEASES THAT RICH BERNSTEIN HAD STEPPED DOWN. BUT IF YOUR INTESTED IN BUYING A MARS VENUS FRANCHISE THE NUMBER LISTED ON THE MARS VENUS WEBSITE AS SHOWN BELOW IS RICH’S CELL PHONE.

  “To start the process of learning more about Mars Venus
  Success Coaching licensing ownership, contact us either by
  phone at 702-271-3677 or by Completing an Inquiry Form.

  BUT HECK WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE MARS VENUS TEAM OF CAREER CRIMINALS. PAM LIPPITT”S HUSBAND SCOTT LIPPITT IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER IN ADDITION TO BEING A MARS VENUS MASTER FRANCHISEE & SUCCESS COACH.

  SCOTT LIPPITT IS LISTED ON THE MARS VENUS WEBSITE UNDER EXECUTIVE TEAM WHICH SAYS HE ALSO TRAINS FRANCHISEE’S. YOU CAN SEE THE NEWS STORY BELOW ON REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER SCOTT LIPPITT AND THE TRAINING HE PROVIDES TO UNDER AGED GIRLS.

  http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/mars-venus-coaching-does-your-life-coach-wear-an-ankle-monitor/

  I WAS WONDERING WHERE JOHN GRAY WAS DIGGING UP ALL THESE LOSERS AND REPACKAGING THEM AS PILLARS IN THE COMMUNITY BUT IT APPEARS HE MIGHT BE CONNECTING WITH THEM ON CRAIGSLIST.

• Ex Felon Richard Bernstein who is John Gray’s partner in the Mars Venus scam can now add another felony conviction of SECURITIES FRAUD to his resume.

  On March 14, 2012 Bernstein is ordered to be sentenced for “Securities Fraud”. Below are the court minutes.

  11/10/2011 9:00 AM Adriana Escobar and Jeffrey Segal, Dep. A.G.s present on behalf of the State. Information and Guilty Plea Agreement FILED IN OPEN COURT and NEGOTIATIONS are as contained therein.DEFENDANT BERNSTEIN ARRAIGNED AND PLED GUILTY, PURSUANT TO ALFORD, TO COUNT 1 – SECURITIES FRAUD (F).Offer of proof by the State. Following CONFERENCE AT BENCH, COURT ACCEPTED plea and, ORDERED, matter referred to the Division of Parole and Probation (P&P) for a Presentence Investigation Report (PSI Report) and set for STATUS CHECK on sentencing. CONFERENCE AT BENCH. Mr.Brown advised the State agrees to return Defendant’s passport to him
  and presented an Order which was signed by the Court. Court directed Mr. Brown to take the Order to the Clerk’s Office on the third floor to have it filed and to contact the Evidence Vault and present them with the Order for return of Defendant’s passport. BOND 3/14/12 9:00 AM STATUS CHECK: SENTENCING

  Hey John Gray and Mars Venus Coaching 1 Question. Didn’t you put out a press release that Bernstein was going to be exonerated? “Mars Venus Coaching Global President and CEO is Stepping Down to Resolve Legal Challenges”
  http://www.franchisewire.com/article.php?id=5862

  The Mars Venus debauched, double-dealing team of nonprofessionals claims in the above press release the following,“We are confident that once the truth comes out, the charges will be dismissed in their entirety,” says Dheeraj K. Singhal, a Mars Venus Success Coach and California-based litigation attorney. “Rich has been the unfortunate victim of his former business partners, who by misrepresenting information, have persuaded the Attorney General’s to take up a matter that should be handled in civil courts if anywhere.

  Rich Bernstein is a knavish deadbeat with a long history of lawsuits and even a previous felony conviction which the Mars Venus team has hid from investors. Rich is definitely not the poor pitiful victim that John Gray and these other nefarious crooks would like you to believe.

  In regards to the Mars Venus disclosure document discussed above in this thread. None of the lawsuits against Mars Venus Coaching or the previous or current felony convictions against Rich Bernstein are disclosed in this document. This is illegal and just another con perpetrated by John Gray and his organization.

  Imagine if you bought into this mess only to find out that the company has been sued several times for their unethical behavior and the CEO which Gray erroneously is trying to convince individuals has stepped down is still running the company.
  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rich-bernstein/8/113/a85
  http://www.coachrichbernstein.com/

• RICHARD BERNSTEIN’S 2nd FELONY CONVICTION.

  THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HIRE A MARS VENUS COACH. THEY COACH EVERY PENNY OUT OF YOU. LOOKS LIKE NOW THESE MARS VENUS COACHES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS.

  05/14/2012 Sentencing (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Thompson, Charles)

  Minutes
  05/14/2012 9:00 AM
  – By virtue of his plea and by Order of this Court, DEFENDANT BERNSTEIN ADJUDGED GUILTY of SECURITIES FRAUD (F). Statements by Mr. Segal, Defendant and Mr. Brown. COURT ORDERED, in addition to the $25 Administrative Assessment fee and $150 DNA Analysis fee including testing to determine genetic markers, DEFENDANT SENTENCED to the Nevada Department of Corrections for a MAXIMUM term of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) MONTHS with a MINIMUM parole eligibility of FORTY-EIGHT (48) MONTHS and PAY $460,875.70 RESTITUTION; SUSPENDED; placed on PROBATION for an indeterminate period not to exceed FIVE (5) YEARS. CONDITIONS: 1. Complete impulse control counseling. 2. Pay $460,875.70 restitution. Mr. Brown handed a check to Mr. Segal for the remainder of the restitution; now what is owed is $10,875.70 for investigative costs by the State of Nevada. 3. Sign a Civil Confession of Judgment for unpaid restitution. 4. Have no contact whatsoever with the victim or victim’s family. 5. Disclose this conviction to present/potential employers. 6. Submit to full and complete financial disclosure. 7. Comply with an imposed curfew by Parole and Probation as deemed necessary. 8. Submit to genetic markers testing and pay a $150 fee to the Clerk of the Court. 9. May not participate in any securities transaction, but may borrow money from a family member or financial institution. Defendant was directed to report to Parole and Probation today.