Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/01/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I signed a contract to be a vendor of the *** ******* Bridal Expo on 10/22/23. The cost of the event $1,095 was to include my booth, my logo on their website, and a leads list of the attendees. The leads list was stated to be emailed to me within a few days of the expo, no later than Thursday 10/26/23. I STILL ******************************************************************************************** the leads list unless I agree to additional terms and conditions and sign yet another contract with them. They have now scammed me out of over $1,000 and refuse to provide the list and refuse to provide a refund. I can provide documentation proving that I am correct.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/19/2023

  We have emailed the client multiple times regarding the list letting her know that we are not sending it to her.  All vendors must comply with the terms and conditions of list usage.  This client refuses to comply with the terms and conditions therefore we will not send her the list. The terms are non negotiable.  Additionally she has stated via email that when we do send the list, she will do whatever she wants with the list.  As a result even if she is now willing to agree to the terms of list usage, ACS will not be providing her with the list.  She paid for her booth, and exhibited at the show.  In addition, she registered for the show as multi year.  She has not emailed us to cancel her from the fall '24 show, but she did sign a multi year contract. We have gone ahead and cancelled her contract for the fall '24 show so that she will not be auto enrolled for the next year's show.  Kind regards, American Consumer Shows.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/16/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Signed up with Washington Bridal last year and attended a show. The show was not a good fit for us, and we had until August 1st this year to say we did not want to attend. They have a multi-year contract. I was emailed by one of their reps in February about a spring show, and I stated I did not want to attend. I sent another email in March saying I did not want to attend this year. However, they are not accepting my emails and are sending us to their collections department. We were led to believe a simple email was all that was needed if we did not want to participate. However, they have been very aggressively pursuing another $1000 from us for an upcoming show. I have the emails. I tried to upload them but was having difficulty.

  Business Response

  Date: 11/17/2023

  We were able to locate the vendor's cancel email from our server.  Upon further investigation, the customer is correct.  We sincerely apologize for this error. The customer has been cancelled from their multi year contract.  In the interim, they had made payment for the upcoming show which has been refunded as well.  Kind regards, ACS.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/17/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/26/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  ACS is a corrupt company that preys on vulnerable businesses, trapping them into multi-year contracts. They use coercion and confusing wording to force their clients into contracts and never reach out until the right to cancel a multi year contract has passed. 11/2023, I participated in an expo in ********, ** and received no business from this show due to the disorganization and chaos of having so many brides and vendors in one space. Due to this, I would never participate in another one of their expos as it would not benefit me as a business owner & the cost to participate is too high. When I originally filled out my contract, I did not sign the box stating I wanted to be in a multi year contract. As a new business owner, I would not enter into a multi year contract with a business I hadnt worked with previously. However, after submitting my original contract (which I have on record) with my payment information, I was told I needed to add my initials to that box in order to participate in the show. Knowing they had my payment information and I had already agreed to pay for this show, I was coerced into signing something I didnt want to sign for fear I would be out a large sum of money without being able to participate in the expo I was already paying for. When I was coerced into signing my initials in this box, I was told I had to cancel my contract by 8/1/23. I was under the assumption that since I stated I didnt want to be in a multi year contract, that my verbal cancellation would suffice. In September of 2023, I started receiving emails from an ACS employee stating I owed them over $1000 to participate in a show this year with an invoice from 6/15/23 that I had never previously been sent. This invoice is dated almost two months before my right to cancel and yet no correspondence was made with me to collect funds until three months later, well after the 8/1 deadline. ACS is a corrupt, predatory business and I refuse to be a part of their scheme.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/04/2023

  We responded to a negative review posted by this customer today and are also responding to this BBB complaint.  ACS runs hundreds of shows and has thousands of satisfied vendors and attendees. We are sorry that  DayDreams By ********* & ***** is not of them. Saying that ACS is predatory and corrupt is an opinion, but it is not a factual statement. That is what was posted on ******* The facts are that the vendor has  a contract which has a clear cancel date.  Another fact is that they simply did not cancel prior to the cancel date, or ACS would have cancelled the contract.  Lastly, it is not corrupt for ACS to expect a vendor  to honor your contractual obligation.  Its also very reasonable to expect a business owner to read what they are signing - the multi-year is clearly stated and explained right on the front of the contract in large, visible print.  Fact:we do not contact exhibitors for booth payment until after the cancel date.  Why?  Because we do not contact companies for payment that are not exhibiting.  After the cancel date passes, we remove those vendors that are not exhibiting from the show. Calling after the cancel date ensures that we are ONLY contacting participating vendors. Its very simple, the multi-year contract gives vendors nearly 9 months from the show to work their leads and close business. We understand sometimes a vendor needs to cancel. If a vendor doesnt want to do the next show, all they need to do is email us prior to the cancel date. ACS gives its clients plenty of time to opt out without any penalty, for any reason.  Once the cancel date has passed cancels are not accepted.  ************* will need to pay for their contracted booth space for this years show, but their  account has been noted to cancel the multi-year moving forward.  If they don't want to attend the event we will issue a credit to a future show or give them the registered bride lead list in lieu of attending.  We do offer options to resolve the matter. Until the balance is cleared ACS will still be in touch with this vendor. We do not want their account to be sent to an outside collections agency which is why we reach out multiple times to resolve the situation. Regards, ACS.
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/06/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because: 

  Im unsure who replies to your complaints & reviews, but they need to use grammar/spell check as it was very difficult to follow. Before I go into my response here, I need to point out that my ****** review has nothing to do with my complaint to the BBB. I posted a ****** review to warn others before they get trapped by you. Again, like I said in my review, I knew youd respond with the same comments you leave on every other complaint regarding the same issue.

  Back to the issue at hand, I provided the evidence I needed to prove that your business practices are corrupt. If a business owes x amount of money by a certain date, and the invoice is dated for a day months prior (****: my invoice is dated for 6/15/23) then that invoice needs to be sent to the client the day it is created whether you believe they are participating in the show or not. As stated previously, my original contract, that I have provided for the BBB to review, did not have my signature in the multi-year contract box because I stated verbally I didnt want to be in a multi-year contract & only signed a second contract after being told verbally I had to. I also stated verbally that I didnt want to continue a multi year contract and was under the impression it was canceled after the vendor show last year. So, the **** is, you make those contracts, coerce businesses into signing them, make it nearly impossible to cancel said multi year contract, create invoices months prior to the right to cancel date with your clients name & information on them, and, yet, you dont provide said invoices to your clients, and then, conveniently send the invoices to your clients after that date has passed. That is done on purpose, as evidenced by your many, many, many low/one star reviews on the BBB website & on ******, to ensure clients who may be under the impression they have already canceled their multi year contracts are now roped into owing your corrupt company a large amount of money. You prey on small businesses and dont actually care about the clients you work with. You state you only contact businesses AFTER the right to cancel date to ensure youre only contacting vendors participating in a show but, that negates the fact that youre supposed to be advertising & promoting these businesses for months & months before the shows actually take place, as you state, and thats why you charge such a large sum of money to participate in a show to begin with. Since we are sticking with the ****S, you have 70+ one star ****** reviews, most of which are from vendors, voicing their concerns & disdain for the same issues Im bringing to your attention and to the BBB attention today. You also have a 1/5 star rating based on your BBB reviews to date & you have 44 complaints against your company, 31 complaints within the last 12 months, again, most of which are staying the same concerns that I am voicing her today. You may leave your consumers satisfied with yours shows, but that is because of the vendors that showed up and show cased their work & impressed clients, not because of anything you did as a company yourself. The **** stands, your vendors (clients) are ultimately left unsatisfied because of your predatory business practices as evidenced by your reviews & word of mouth from speaking with other vendor participants. So, Ill end with this. The ****S. I signed an original contract, I did not initial the box for a multi year contract (attached to my complaint), I was contacted stating I needed to initial that box to participate after already providing my payment information, I signed under the false pretense of thinking my contract would be canceled after verbally stating I didnt want to be in a multi year contract, and then an invoice dated 6/15/23 was withheld from me for almost three months, well after my apparent 8/1/23 deadline to cancel my contract in order to financially trap me into participating in another show, which, of course, you were sure to raise the price on, and I will not stand for it. So, no, I am not satisfied with your response & I will NOT be participating in the upcoming show you continue to contact me about.  

  ***************************** (*********)
  
  
  
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/20/2023

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In October 2022, I made a booking with the American Consumer Trade Show for a show in *********, **. Initially, I was informed that I could avail a first-time sign-up fee of $895. I returned the contract without selecting the multi-year plan. I had to agree to "participate in the multi year to attend show" subsequently signing only provided a $50 discount for multi-year plans which I didn't desire. So, I signed up reluctantly feeling forced - Furthermore, I sought clarification regarding the termination procedures, but their two-page contract lacks clear rules and regulations in this regard, and they deem it unnecessary to respond to my inquiries.*****************************, a senior sales associate, helped me with this on August 12, 2022. Later on, she contacted me on January 5, 2023, and February 3, 2023, to discuss participation in the Spring and Fall shows. During those conversations, I told her that it would not be feasible for me within my budget for 2023 due to financial constraints. ******** documented my statement thoroughly. However, on August 24, 2023, I received an email from *************************** invoicing me for $1545. I reiterated that I would not be participating as I had already communicated that it was not financially viable for me. *****************, the Account Executive, followed up on August 2, 2023, and reviewed the notes. She acknowledged that the "not in budget for 2023" note was indeed present and expressed confusion about why this situation had occurred. She escalated the issue to have the date removed and later mentioned that her manager stated the note would not be honored. I strongly assert that this treatment is unjust and misleading. Despite my repeated requests for contract termination, they obstinately refuse to comply. I find myself in a state of captivity, being denied the freedom to terminate the multi-year contract.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/20/2023

  Please see attached contract.  ********'s complaint is incorrect for a number of reasons.1. She clearly signed a multi year contract placing her in the fall '23 show.  2.  Contract is simple to read - cancel date of 7/1 is right on the front page.  3.  Cancellations must be emailed.  4. Customer did not email ACS to cancel her fall booth. 

  In February 2023, ******** did speak with the customer regarding the spring '23 show and customer declined to budget.  ******** did specifically discuss with the client that she was booked for fall '23 but had until July 1 2023 to cancel if she needed to. If the client had wanted to come out of the fall show at that time ******** would have sent her an emailing confirm her cancellation, but the client did not want to be cancelled from the  fall show at that time.  After the cancel date we do not accept cancellations and the customer is responsible for payment of their booth space.  Kind regards, ACS.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/20/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  [Your Answer Here]

  The purpose of this letter is to demand the verification of a notation on my account and to initiate the termination of any existing contractual relationships with your organization, American Consumer Shows (ACS).
  In February 2023, I notified ACS that I would not be able to participate in any further shows for the year 2023 due to budget constraints. I made this notification to ACS representatives, and it was noted on your account. We subsequently requested a copy of this record, which we have yet to receive.
  We understand that providing actual screenshots of internal records may not be feasible, but we kindly request verification of the verbiage contained in the note that was documented by ******** or any other representative present during our communication. We seek written confirmation that ACS acknowledges the verbal notification of our intent to cancel the Spring Show before July 2023.
  It is important to note that when I initially signed up for the show, the cost was $895. At that time, my budget did not accommodate participation in any shows exceeding this amount. This budget constraint was the basis for our communication in February 2023, indicating our inability to participate in additional shows beyond the Spring Show.
  In light of the circumstances and the failure to provide the requested account documentation, this is my formal request for the immediate termination of all existing contractual relationships and multi-year plans with ACS. To facilitate this process, we kindly request ACS to provide written guidelines for the termination of one-time shows and multiyear contracts.
  Furthermore,we seek clarification on ACS's policy regarding verbal communications as a valid form of notification for contract-related matters. Please confirm if verbal calls to ACS are no longer considered acceptable, and if so, provide details regarding the preferred method of communication for such notifications and why such a notification was accepted in February 2023 but no longer acceptable.
  My agency values its business relationships and seeks a fair resolution to this matter.We believe that addressing these requests promptly will help avoid unnecessary disputes and litigation.
  Please provide the requested verification and termination guidelines in writing within [reasonable timeframe, typically ***** days] from the date of this letter.Failure to do so may result in further legal action to protect my rights and interests.
  This letter is not intended as an admission of any liability on our part, It is sent in a good faith effort to resolve this matter amicably.  

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****************************************
  
  
  
  
   
  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/21/2023

  As of 9/20/23 customer has paid their bill in full.  Full credit is available to use in a future show.  Their multi year contract has been terminated.  Email has been sent to the customer confirming termination of multi year agreement this morning.  Yesterday they were emailed the **** show dates should they want their credit applied to one of those events. The customer can reach out when/if they want to use their credit.  Regarding customers question regarding cancellation for one time shows: One time shows are not cancellable as stated on the contract.  If a vendor cannot attend, we allow credit to a future show.  Multi year cancellation is required via email by the date stated on front of contract.    Regards, ACS.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/22/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  [Your Answer Here]

  Vendors Beware.

  Yesterday, ********* reached out to me regarding my email in which I had requested verification of her email attached to it. Based on her email, it seemed that I would have a credit applicable to a future show but would no longer be under contract to participate in any shows. This implied that I would be unable to utilize the credit for the future show. When I confirmed this understanding with her, she acknowledged it and mentioned that I would need to sign a new contract to accept the new show date, but I would not be obligated to sign a multi-year contract. Upon reviewing the contract, which I received after filing a complaint, I noticed several changes, notably the option to "accept or decline" multi-year shows. This change may support my original claim, where I had been told that I had to initial that box in order to participate in the first show in October 2022. Additionally, the cancellation deadline was changed from July 1st to December 1st of each calendar year.
  
  Only after paying for another show did they agree to terminate my multi-year policy, contrary to the contract's requirement for it to be done via email. In reality, they had initially refused to acknowledge my termination request, failing to respond or honor the email. In a complaint-related email from *********, she states, "Your multi-year agreement was cancelled when you paid for your booth space." This confirms that they had received my request, which was sent to their ACS ********************** and *****************. However, they were not going to confirm my release until they received another payment, which is why I felt compelled and obligated to make the payment for a service I had verbally cancelled and expressed my inability to participate in any further shows in 2023. ********* admitted that ACS does not record calls messages and relies on notes entered by their agents. Despite my multiple requests, customers are not given access to these notes. I asked ********* to review the notes from February 2023 and verify if ******** had ever noted that I mentioned "it was not in my budget for 2023." While perusing similar material and intentionally reviewing other dates that had nothing to do with the subject matter, *********'s statement then contradicted the verbatim information previously read by ***************** which prompted **** to request a thorough examination of my account. Based on my assessment, **** doesn't harbor malicious intent. She seems to be the most sincere and rational individual affiliated with this morally compromised institution.

  Additionally, ********* made the implication that she did not intend to be impolite or accuse me of dishonesty. However, based on the records maintained by her employees and her own interpretation of them, it appeared that my statements were inaccurate. Additionally, she conveyed her reluctance to participate in extended exchanges of dialogue with me, as she had her own objectives and predetermined stance prior to our discussion. Subsequently, she attempted to rectify her statement by asserting that she did indeed allocate time for dealings with her vendors. I do not believe her sincerity in this regard. My demeanor turned silent as it became apparent that her intention was not to acknowledge my concern. Instead, she was solely focused on acquiring funds for their upcoming Autumn exhibition, for which I had already made a payment to ensure its unveiling. She mentioned that ******** would have advised me to submit my concerns in writing if I were unable to participate in the aforementioned show. I questioned why ******** had not given me such instructions, as sending an email would have been a straightforward task for me to confirm the standing of my business. In response, ********* claimed that it was simply because I had never informed ******** about my budget constraints or my inability to participate, which is not accurate.

  
  I want to emphasize that this complaint is not intended to damage the business's reputation. Instead, its purpose is to inform you and prevent you from becoming constrained by their contractual obligations. Negative reviews of businesses often stem from unfavorable experiences. I want to acknowledge that the shows are well-organized during setup and teardown, with guidelines that must be followed and vendor tables checked for compliance before consumers enter the show. While it offers an opportunity for exposure and provides the guest list, the contract does not mention that consumers have given consent to having their contact information would shared or sold. Essentially, vendors receive the list by purchasing it. This was the main reason I signed up for the show, since even if consumers did not stop at my table, I would still obtain their information. However, the catch is when contacted vendors are asked to refrain from contacting them, with consumers claiming that they did not authorize the sharing of their information. Based on recurrent occurrences, it has become evident that this particular question warrants inquiry.
  
  It is crucial for future vendors to understand that ALL communication with this company should be in written form. Any conversations held over the phone should be documented, and if they do not send an email summarizing the conversation, you should put it in writing yourself. The contract terms are designed to restrict vendors and require them to mark their calendars to contact the company before December for each prospective year. Despite staff having the ability to reach out to vendors before deadlines to confirm participation via email or phone, they choose not to do so, knowing that after that date, vendors are locked in. This appears to be a strategic tactic. Dealing with ambiguous contract terms that aim to restrict vendors and ensure a continuous stream of income for the company does not directly benefit vendors such as myself.

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****************************************
  
  
  
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/19/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 8/24/22 I was contacted by *********************** from American Consumer Shows regarding the ********* Bridal and Wedding Expo. **** pushed that the show was first come first serve, that space was limited, and we needed to expedite the process to lock in a lower rate. He followed up two days later on 8/26/22 and we agreed to register as a new business looking to get into the wedding industry. **** sent a contract with a red X indicating where to sign. There was also a red box to ************* box was to agree to a multi-year discount. When this was explained to us by **** on the phone, he stated that this locked in the same rate for the next year's show. He did not state that we would be financially obligated and required to participate annually until we formally requested to end our relationship. We then did not hear from American Consumer Shows via email again until 9/18/23 threatening to send us to collections if we didn't pay for the next show. After calling and speaking with them, they claim to have called us in April, but when pressed, admitted that this was only to try to get us to participate in their sprint show. There was never an attempt to contact us to let us know that we would be required to pay again if we did not submit a written request to dissolve the relationship. American Consumer Shows clearly uses deceitful practices to get small businesses to sign on to multi-year financial contracts without being fully transparent about what is being signed. There is a pattern documented by the Better Business Bureau of deceit and shady business practices. They are taking advantage of people and should not be allowed to continue to profit off of such deceit.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/19/2023

  American Consumer Shows runs hundreds of nationwide shows in over 40 states.  We have thousands of satisfied clients.   Our contracts do NOT require a multi year commitment.  This is a choice the vendor makes for himself. The contract specifically pertains to the show the vendor is signing up for -- fall contract for a fall show; spring contract for a spring show. Unless a vendor specifically chooses to select the multi year option, the contract is for only one season, one show.  For vendors that register as multi year for a fall show it will auto renew for fall of the following year. It is their responsibility to cancel by the cancel date clearly stated on the contract if they do not want to do the next fall show. There is no penalty to cancel within the deadline.  This vendor did not exercise his right to cancel by the cancel deadline, which is why payment for the upcoming show is due.  Clear, and simple. NOT deceitful.  We regret that the customer is upset at his obligation to ACS.  We are working with him to clear the open balance and look forward to seeing him at the upcoming show.  Kind regards, American Consumer Shows.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/22/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  *** claims that they are transparent and clear in their contracting, yet this is objectively false which leads businesses like myself to end up in multi-year contracts that were never intended. The following is proof:

  1. The email correspondence attachment: in the email, **** references a phone call where he "negotiated" a lower price for us since we were just getting started and unsure of spending the money to attend. He gave us several "discounts" including paid in full, new client, super saver, and he told us he could take off an additional $50 for multi-year which just meant we were locking in our rate if we decided to attend the following year. In the email you can see that in no way does he mention that if we took all discounts offered that would mean we were contractually bound to the following year's show. He states our "single booth" cost. Not an annual cost. There is also NO mention of needing to cancel within the next 9 months if we only want to attend once.

  2. The *** contract: You will notice that there are only two items in red that indicate required: first, the red box around where initials are needed and second an X to sign your name. There is no indication that initialing is optional. When on the phone with **** he told us to "just initial." At no point did it seem optional to not initial the multi-year box. Also at no point was it emphasized or even mentioned that we would need to cancel in writing to not be financially obligated for another year. If this had been mentioned AT ALL we would have taken that option, but it never was because this is how *** tricks businesses into paying for multiple years. If they intended to be transparent, it would have been reiterated to us.

  3. *** contract copy: When we received a copy of our contract, you will notice that *** conveniently converted all the red on the initial box and the signature line to black despite leaving some red markings on the page. This indicates that they are wanting to downplay that we were lead to believe the items were required. 

  4. *** claims that they don't send many emails or reminders so that is why we never received any reminder of the deadline to cancel. However, you will see in the attachment that we have received AT LEAST one email every month to register and attend a show. However, NOT ONE was to inform us that if we didn't cancel we would have an upcoming charge due. This again points to their desire to deceive and keep businesses unaware. The moment the deadline passed however, we received reminders to pay. This points to their shady practices to keep businesses in the dark and uninformed to then milk them for all they can. If the intention was transparency, we would have gotten at least one warning that we were about to pass the cancellation deadline.

  For all of these reasons, I feel deeply we were mislead, misinformed, and now are being taken advantage of by a large company with legal resources. This is clearly how they make a large percentage of their income. In a recent call, we were informed that 80% of businesses renew for a second year. I can only assume that this is due to force not choice. I would bet the percentage that renew for a 3rd year is dramatically lower.

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************
  
  
  
  
   
  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/04/2023

  1. ACS reps let customers know of the new vendor discounts that are offered. I can't say for sure what conversation took place because I was not on the call. Sales reps are supposed to let the customer know that they need cancel by the cancel date if they dont want the future year's show. However, the customer signed a contract and as a business owner I'm sure reads what they are signing. The multi year is not buried in small type on page 2.  It's big print right on the front. The contract clearly states the multi-year cancel date, and that the multi-year commitment enrolls the vendor into future shows.  Note:  the vendor selects if they want the multi year by initialing the multi -year box. Our contracts are specifically NOT auto renew.  Its only auto renew for those vendors that select the multi-year option.  This vendor selected the multi year option which states:  by initialing the box to the right, exhibitor agrees that this contract shall apply annually to this show in subsequent years and that all terms and conditions contained ***** shall apply to each subsequent yea.  Cancellation of this multi year agreement must be made by August 1st of each year.  Exhibitor agrees to standard annual price increases, if applicable, in each subsequent year.
  
  2./3 Red highlight does not indicate that anything is mandatory. 
  4. We ONLY call clients for payment that are doing the show.  Since a vendor can opt out until the cancel date with no penalty, we specifically wait to call for payment until after the deadline.  Once the cancel date passes, we remove any vendor from the show that has let us know they are not participating. This ensures that we are ONLY calling for payment for vendors registered for the show.  It would make no sense to call for money when no money is due.  After the cancel date, vendors are not removed from their contract.

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/11/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  1. To reiterate, the email correspondence attachment: in the email, **** references a phone call where he "negotiated" a lower price for us since we were just getting started and unsure of spending the money to attend. He gave us several "discounts" including paid in full, new client, super saver, and he told us he could take off an additional $50 for multi-year which just meant we were locking in our rate if we decided to attend the following year. In the email you can see that in no way does he mention that if we took all discounts offered that would mean we were contractually bound to the following year's show. He states our "single booth" cost. Not an annual cost. There is also NO mention of needing to cancel within the next 9 months if we only want to attend once.
  
  

   2. It is patently absurd to state that a initial box outlined in bold red on a contract "is not mandatory", especially if we were told to "just initial" it. We were operating in good faith that our representative was helping us to secure a multi year price, not locking us into a multi year obligation unless we specifically reached out to make sure we cancelled. Upon our first contact with an ACS representative we communicated immediately that we did not intend to attend again. If it had been made clear to us in good faith that we needed to put this in writing we would have done so immediately following the initial show. At this point it seems clear that ACS generally operates by inferring the initialing of the box is both mandatory and initiates a savings so that vendors are obligated to pay them even if they don't intend to return. 

  3. I take this repose as a concession that ACS does not make any effort to notify customers of upcoming charges or bill dates and rather waits until it is too late for a customer to make the choice to opt out. This is predatory behavior and not a transparent business practice.

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************
  
  
  
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/08/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  ********************* signed my company up for a bridal show. I was never told about a multi year contract. I would not do that for 2 reasons. 1) I was contemplating a move out of state. 2) most importantly, I would never sign a contract saying I would do a multi year contract if I did not know it would work for my company and I was told not to worry about it that it was just a formality.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/19/2023

  This vendor is mistaken. A vendor needs to specifically elect to be on a multiyear contract, otherwise the contract is just for the current show/season they are registering for.  The client did sign a multi year contract, so she was aware that she was in the show. It is the vendors responsibility to let us know by the cancel date if they are not planning to do the show.  It's simple.. they just need to email us by the cancel date and we can take them out of the show with no obligation.  After the  cancel date we don't  accept cancellations.  The cancel date is clearly stated on the contract.  Perhaps she forgot, and is now upset at the situation, but is not ACS' responsibility to know if she was contemplating moving out of state or not.  It was the clients responsibility as a business owner to let us know if not exhibiting, as per the her contract.  Best, ACS.

   

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/31/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I've signed up for a Bridal Expo for this upcoming event in ************* in November 2023 for the amount of $1,145.00. I've made three payments already towards it when my business fell through, and I was no longer licensed through my host agency (I've signed up for 4 payments total in 4 months). I've emailed and spoken to *********************** about cancelling and getting a refund at the beginning of this month and was told I couldn't do that as they don't do refunds, only future credits (WHICH WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME WHEN I SIGNED THE CONTRACT! BIG RED FLAG RIGHT THERE). I've then requested charge backs on my credit card which then involved another person from ACS, *************************, to contact me and pretty much told me that if I didn't pay the full amount, they would need to take legal action. This is where my issue is. **** was rude and unprofessional and pretty much told me that if I posted this complaint on here, that this would be a laughable and completely unprofessional matter on MY PART?? I'm sorry, but I've tried to be reasonable and explained to her that what was the point of me attending this event if I was NOT licensed to sell my services? I've pretty much told her that if I went, I would just tell the brides that I was only there because ACS pretty much forced me to be here because they needed my money. I can be *****, sure. I will get my list of all the attendees and bash this ACS business to ALL of them who signed up to attend how unprofessional they've been! I should have read the reviews first of all the complaints that have been filed with this company before signed up. SO BEWARE! DON'T SIGN ANY CONTRACTS WITH THESE PEOPLE. So my only option now is to ask other travel agents from other agencies to come with me which apparently is a BIG NO NO on their part but that's all I can do to cover my lost investment. So, if they want my money, I will be a ***** little ***** back and do things my way.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/31/2023

  This client is mistaken. Our booth space contract clearly states that vendors need to pay for their booth space as contracted and get credit to a future show if they cannot attend.  Because the customer does not want to accept the fact that they are required to honor their contract and are not *********** a refund, they have decided to contact the BBB. There is no refund due, and certainly no reason for the customer to behave in such an unprofessional manner.  Requiring a business to honor their contract is not unprofessional.  Kind regards, ACS.
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/02/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  My complaint was with the unprofessional way your Sales Manager, *************************, handled the call. I already paid the full invoice for the booth, so I don't care about that. I care about the fact that she explicitly stated that somehow my complaint is going to be unprofessional and basically that I should avoid placing this complaint with BBB. If this is how you handle customer service, then shame on you. I don't care how unprofessional I am in your eyes. But she ****** me off and I want to make sure she gets some sort of penalization. 

   

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************
  
  
  
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/29/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  As you can consistently read, the *** business practices are misleading and predatory. I was told when I signed up for the 2022 show that signing up for the multi-year discount just meant I have them permission to contact me to renew the contract next year. I was not aware that the contract I signed was in fact a multi-year contract. I was not informed that I owed any money until a month after their deadline had passed. I was under the assumption that I would receive a new contract and sign that for the upcoming year. That never happened. Instead, out of the blue, I get an email saying I owe money. I called to explain that I no longer have that business and have no intention of attending the show. But, apparently, a $50 discount on a misleading contract is completely unforgivable to these people.I offered to simply pay them the $50 and open that booth space back up for them. Of course, they said that was impossible. I owe them $1500 for a show I wont do and was not properly informed that it was coming.Common courtesy would have been to remind customers that they agreed to this and give them the option to opt out before the deadline. But, this company is predatory. Dont sign anything with these people. Theyre threatening me with litigation. We have no way to pay them and will not attend their show this year. Its merciless.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/19/2023

  The customer signed a contract and specifically elected for the multi year option.  The fall '22 contract placed him in the fall '23 show.  He did not cancel prior to the cancel date and is therefore responsible for paying for the contracted booth space.  As a business owner he is aware of his obligations and responsibilities.  He could have cancelled without any obligation prior to the cancel date but he did not. Payment is due to ACS for their contracted booth space.  Regards, American Consumer Shows.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/21/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I signed up for the Bridal Expo in 2021 with the multi-year discount, which I was told by ************************* would extend to the 2022 year and commit me to those two years. I paid for both the 2021 show and 2022 show. I spoke with ************************* in November 2022 and explained that I did not want to continue with the show, as it is expensive and does not bring in clientele. She told me she was sorry to hear that, but wished me the best. In 2023, she signed me up for another show without my consent (as I assume, she makes a commission from signing me up for shows that I do not want to participate in) and I received an invoice in July from ***************************. I emailed him and told him in July that I did not sign up for another show and that I had met my requirement to participate in two shows per the 2021-2022 agreement that I signed in 2021. I explained that I did not want to continue with any further shows, ever. Now ************************* has sent me to their collections for the 2023 show, which I had already told them I did not want to be apart of and have no contractual obligation to. The company refuses to stop invoicing me, claiming that the contract is active and cannot be canceled, even after calling and emailing them. They continue to sign me up for shows that I do not want to participate in and are threatening me with additional fines and legal fees. In similar cases filed with the BBB, the *** company states that the multi-year discount is for the signing year and the following year, 2021-2022 in this case. The company is not even following their own policies and procedures as they have explained them to the BBB and are illegally signing me up for bridal shows to gain a commission. I want them to stop. Due to their aggressive tactics, refusal to end my contract after multiple attempts to cancel, and failure to follow their own policies, I will be filing a complaint with the state Department of Consumer Affairs and contacting a lawyer.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/21/2023

  Crafted Charm LLC Wedding Expo is on a multi year commitment for the fall ********* bridal and wedding expo. In fall '22 the customer  reached out to cancel their fall '22 participation, but the cancel date had passed. Cancels are not accepted after the cancel date. In trying to work with the customer, ************************* saw that they could qualify for our planner program and offered them the opportunity to upgrade their participation to be part of our event planner program which offers a double booth and additional discount for conducting mini info sessions on wedding planning to the brides.  The client was very happy with the program, paid for the booth and did the show.  This is email from the client:   "The Planner discount is very helpful. Thank you very much. To my understanding, the cost would be $895 total, for two booths? If this is correct, how would I make the payment of $895? ******************************  There was no instruction from this client to cancel their participation from future show, therefore they are placed in the Fall '23 show.  Kind regards, American Consumer Shows.

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/22/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  I wanted to cancel for the 2022 show, but was informed that I was contractually obligated to do the show for 2022, due to signing the contract in 2021.  This should have ended my multi-year contractual obligation, as stated to me by the company.  They did offer me an additional discount in 2022 due to being a planner and I had to offer clinics during the show, which was not ideal.  The company never stated that this would change my contract and I did not sign any amendments to the initial 2021 contract.  I spoke with ************************* after the fall 2022 show and explained that I did not believe the show was successful and did not want to continue with any future shows.  I also emailed *************************** when I received an invoice for the 2023 show and never received a response.  I do not want to continue any relationship with this company and they refuse to follow their own policies and **** signing me up for shows that I did not consent to.  They have done this to multiple businesses as you can see in the BBB complaints.  They refuse to cancel my contract and are now saying that it is continual.  I did not sign a lifetime contract with this company.  I participated in the two shows I was contractually obligated to do and I want no further contact from this company.  What they are doing is illegal.

  
  

   
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  
  
  
  
   
  

  Business Response

  Date: 08/22/2023

  Upon further review and conversation with the client this morning, ACS has removed the client from the show and cancelled their multiyear contract.  The client agrees they were satisfied with the planner program and excited about it for the fall '22 show.  ACS did not cancel the multi year because we thought they wanted the planner program moving forward.  The client wanted it for the fall '22 show only.  The client was sent an official confirmation of cancellation  via email.  This matter is now fully resolved.  Best, ACS. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/22/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/15/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Hello,We received an email on 08/14/2023 and 07/25/2023 stating "The **************** Expo at the ************************ is October 22, 2023. When you get a chance, please email me with your payment arrangements. Your current balance is $1,545.00 and your invoice number is ******."We informed American Consumer Shows, LLC on February 2nd, 2023 that we would not be attending any future events with American Consumer Shows, LLC and we are still being charged.We reviewed the "Contract for Exhibit Space Rental" sent by American Consumer Shows, LLC. According to our legal team this agreement is not an enforceable legally binding agreement under the ***************** law, due to the document having no counter signature.This is written notice that Candid Studios, LLC does not agree into any contractial agreement with American Consumer Shows, LLC.We request that you immediately stop billing Candid Studios, LLC. We will not be issuing any additional payments to theAmerican Consumer Shows, LLC. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in addressing this matter.Thank You,**** - Candid Studios

  Business Response

  Date: 08/19/2023

  Candid Studios Photography & Videography is mistaken.  they do have a valid contract and outstanding bill that needs to be paid.  They contracted for the fall '22 ****** show on multi year which placed them in Fall '23.  Cancel date was on or before July 1 2023 as clearly stated on the front of their contract.  They failed to exercise their right to cancel.  Cancels are accepted with zero obligation as long as it is prior to the cancel date. Please note:  **** did inquire on March 5 2023 regarding exhibiting at our ******* show in June but after reviewing the dates with his wife they were unable to participate.  There is no reason for ACS to place a vendor in a show if they have cancelled.  Had they cancelled from the ****** show, we would have removed them with zero obligation. Kind regards, ACS.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/21/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  I called one of your staff on February 2nd, 2023 to inform them that we would not be participating in this years bridal show and I am still being billed. I paid the invoice, but this is unacceptable. I am not sure who I spoke with, but I attached a screenshot to this message for reference. 

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *******
  
  
  
  
   
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/21/2023

  Hello,

   

  I apologize for the inconvenience. I believe the screenshot is attached this time.

   

  Thank You,

  **** - Candid Studios

  Business Response

  Date: 08/25/2023

  The customer has paid for their booth space because they were contracted for the show and did not exercise their option to cancel prior to their cancel date clearly written on the front of the contract. They will either exhibit at the event or take a credit to a future show. Multi year has been cancelled moving forward as they requested.  We hope they will exhibit at the show and take the opportunity to meet face to face with the brides and ****** needing their services.  Kind regards, ACS.