TVI Express no relation with RCI

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You may recall that earlier an Indonesia TVI Express member website published a letter allegedly from Tarun Trikha and TeamTVIOz, that claims that:

"We [TVI Express] are a valued travel company having corporate tie ups with RCI, Cambay Resorts, Sarovar Hotels, Fave Hotel and a few other hotels and resorts. "

So I found RCI's website, rci.com, and sent them a question via their contact us page:

Is it possible for you to clarify your "corporate tie up" with TVI Express in a general sense, without revealing any corporate secrets? Will it be possible to find out which resorts have they booked (if any), how many people have they sent to your resorts, and so on?

And this is their reply (from feedback@rci.com):

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.  RCI does not sell timeshare and the activities of this entity have not been authorized by RCI.

 EDIT: I see some people insist on seeing the actual e-mail. So, here's the screenshot.

And my original e-mail, just to show you that I really was asking about TVI Express. Note the same inquiry ID number.

If you see any one else claiming TVI Express has a "corporate tie up" with RCI, RCI wants to know about that guy. Send recordings, pictures, website URLs, videos, and more to RCI. They want to know who is using their name without authorization.

Yet another marketing coach calls TVI Express a scam

Go check this guys website. He'll explain to you why he thinks it's a scam.

http://www.alancosens.com/tvi-express-experience-not-so-good/

BehindMLM also researched TVI Express fraud in China

BehindMLM researched TVI Express fraud in China, and managed to duplicate most of my previous reports.

The conclusion is the same: TVI Express is considered illegal pyramid scheme in China, with members arrested, charged, and convicted of fraud.

Go read it yourself.

TVI Express issues bogus news through proxy

A search of news archives today found something new: a "press release" claiming that TVI Express is NOT a scam. The problems with this sort of "fake news" are plentiful.

First of all, press releases are NOT checked for accuracy. On the bottom of that very page, you can find this disclaimer: 

"We [the press release site] do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information on or available through this site, and we are not responsible for inaccuracies or omissions in that information or for actions taken in reliance on that information."

In other words, this is virtually worthless. There is no logo attached, so this was  FREE press release. This is no more trustworthy than all those "free article submission" sites out there. Do you really trust information that nobody has checked for accuracy? 

Want to Rent TVI Express's office in London?

Less than 200 pounds per month! (That's not much more than your TVI Express membership)

Here's how much it costs to rent an address at TVI Express "Marble Arch Tower" address per month
http://www.officespace4you.co.uk/virtual-offices-space/london/marble-arch/90-virtual-offices-bryanston-street.htm

It's really not that expensive. 

You can rent an address at TVI Express "Stockley Park" address too, really cheap! Be their neighbor!
http://www.regus.co.uk/locations/GB/Heathrow/HeathrowStockleyPark.htm?product=offices

No real office space available at this location, mind you. Just virtual offices.

We now have reports that TVI Express "office" in Indonesia is a month-to-month rental office in Jakarta. This cannot be independently confirmed, but apparently is a well-known fact for those who live in Jakarta. The fact that it seems to be directly across from a hair salon is quite interesting...

TVI Express and TVITeamOz plans strawman defense

TVITeamOz (the team being sued by Australian ACCC and halted operation), allegedly posted a rebuttal on an Indonesia TVI Express website. Instead of replicating it here, just go read it, then I'll show you how lousy their argument is.   http://www.kliktviexpress.com/pengumuman  

(note: the Indonesian site got weasel-itis and erased the copy of the letter. Unfortunately, they kept a copy on facebook under the same name: pengumuman... so you can't hide!  http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=102721546436429&topic=62&post=272)




What they are doing is using the logical fallacy "strawman" for their defense. Let us pick it apart.

"They" (TeamTVIOz) wrote:

"A pyramid scheme is defined by following characteristics:
--> No product
--> Returns for investments
--> People only at the top make money and rest don’t. All late comers lose their money.
As per the WFDSA and any Direct Selling body, above mentioned are the points which define a Pyramid scheme."

 This is already false. A search of WFDSA's website brought up this definition:

Numerous legislatures around the globe have proscribed pyramid selling. The wording of relevant statutes, codes, articles, acts, regulations and the like vary, but all contain the following core concept: A pyramid is a scheme in which a recruit pays (an entry fee) for the opportunity to receive future benefits (money or privileges) which are primarily derived from that recruit's (and/or subsequent recruits') introduction of additional participants in the scheme, rather than from the sale of products to consumers.

Thus, the scheme's rewards effectively come from the addition of new participants and their investments, not from the sale and distribution of real products to persons who actually use or consume them. No real trading in viable goods or services takes place, and the scheme essentially involves an internal redistribution of wealth from new entrants to the promoters. The scheme serves no legitimate commercial function. The only "trade" being carried on is actually in scheme participants' rights, and the redistribution of participants' entry fees or investments.

          -- http://www.wfdsa.org/legal_reg/index.cfm?fa=pyramid
It's clear that TeamTVIOz is citing their imagination of what WFDSA says, instead of reality. They defined a "strawman" of pyramid scheme, defeated that strawman, and claim the argument has been defeated. They picked some characteristics of pyramid scheme that they do NOT have, say "we don't have that", and they conclude they're not a pyramid scheme. If they claim victory based on that, they will lose. It is as easy as that.

TVI Express Critic Website hit by cyberattack

TVI Express critic Ted Nuyten and his website http://www.businessforhome.org/ was hit by a professional level cyber-attack (called DDOS, distributed denial of service) after publishing a full expose of TVI Express, its alleged leader Tarun Trikha, along with links to every known top level TVI Express distributors with pictures. As of publication of this blog entry, his website is STILL down.

The timing of this attack is very suspicious. Who attacks a critics site, except whom he criticizes?

Those of whom seeking information on TVI Express can seek the archives of this website. Alternatively, you can view the Google Cache version of his website here:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:mg6GoDiwyd4J:www.businessforhome.org/tag/tvi-express/+ted+nuyten+tvi+express&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

TVI Express opens office in Indonesia? Really?

But did they register as a legal business under Indonesian law yet?

TVI Express now launches a new office in Indonesia, that supposedly went live May 20th. The announcement is here.

http://www.tviexpress.com/announcement1.php?id=78

(yes, I can link DIRECTLY to their announcements)

The new address given is

Office Address:

PT TVI Express
STC Senayan, 4th Floor # 69
Asia Afrika Pintu IX Gelora Senayan
Jakarta Pusat 10270
Indonesia


Please note that this address is real... it has floor number, room number, etc. Their UK addresses (BOTH OF THEM) did not have it. Their Cyprus address did not have it. 

However, did they actually register with the government, as their law requires, reported by Detiknews?

TeamBuild Feeder bans TVI Express

TeamBuild Feeder, a marketing system, bans TVI Express

http://blogquik.com/2010/05/20/tvi-express-now-banned-in-our-community/

More marketers leaving TVI Express

"Jinger" explains why she left TVI Express

http://www.askjinger.com/internet-marketing-news/why-i-left-tvi-express/