Ignite and Stream Energy - Is it a Scam?

[jaycc]

No contracts Stream Energy

Heads up gang,
Stream Energy, Ignite, services PA for gas broker. They have been notifying energy companies that there clients are on contract. Actually they are not. Once you have a contract, they state if you do nothing you go on month to month. But actually there is no binding legal contact . The original contract is only binding for 12 months. So hold , the party is over. Stream Energy is going to have to pay back millions.

[lorraineb]

You can't respond because you're wrong. The only ones that wouldn't be interested in an opportunity like this are those who want to be a slave to their desk and work making other people money instead of themselves. Anyone with common sense can see the great opportunity here.

I hope that posts like this convince everyone who reads this thread as to why you don't want to join a company like this.

[falboe]

I guess everyone is so use to the CEO's making the big bucks and have the little guys programmed to make the bare minimum with a few benefits.

[lorraineb]

I guess everyone is so use to the CEO's making the big bucks and have the little guys programmed to make the bare minimum with a few benefits.

MLM are no different than this. Those who get in at the very beginning are the CEOs, and everybody who reads this afterward are the little guys, but it's even worse. They put in all that effort and get nothing in return. Not even a living wage in some benefits.

[sheardesire58]

Is MLM really that bad?

The problem is that many are set up to be more like pyramid schemes. If the company tells you how much you will earn by recruiting rather than by selling, then it is moving closer to a pyramid scheme. People get hooked in because they see all these possible profits from recruiting others. Unless you get in at the beginning, this is not where your earnings will come from. Unless you love sales and are willing to sell to everyone, avoid mlms.

Jeffrey,
I have good news for you. You said you needed to be in on the beginning well here is your chance to get in with Stream Energy by January 1, 2015. We are now expanding to cell phones and we are partnering with AT&T and Sprint. You can get in at 329.00 you can make your money back in 7 days and then some. We are pre-launching right now, so this is your chance. This goes Nationwide on January 24, 2015.
No scam, Stream and Ignite choose to give the promotions and bonuses to us rather than advertising. This is relationship marketing no door to door.
Oh, and you said that we depend on the recruiting, not necessarily true we also depend on the customer, because that customer is the one paying their bill every month. When the customer pays I get paid.

[jeffrey]

Jeffrey,
I have good news for you. You said you needed to be in on the beginning well here is your chance to get in with Stream Energy by January 1, 2015. We are now expanding to cell phones and we are partnering with AT&T and Sprint. You can get in at 329.00 you can make your money back in 7 days and then some. We are pre-launching right now, so this is your chance. This goes Nationwide on January 24, 2015.
No scam, Stream and Ignite choose to give the promotions and bonuses to us rather than advertising. This is relationship marketing no door to door.
Oh, and you said that we depend on the recruiting, not necessarily true we also depend on the customer, because that customer is the one paying their bill every month. When the customer pays I get paid.

You do realize that launching a new product and getting in at the beginning are two completely different things, right?

[Ashcroft]

Quick and easy advice is stay away from MLMs if you don't want to lose money.

[Iarwain_Benadar]

Stream Energy on Docket of US Court of Appeals 3 February 2015

I came across a bit of information that led to my discovery of a pending appeal to class action suit against Stream Energy on the basis of violating RICO. I cannot post links until I have made 15 posts. So I will give you search terms to use in google to find them.

The first RICO case/complaint was dismissed in 2010:
(google "frontburner d magazine clearman smackdown" )

The RICO complaint was amended and refiled by the complainants:

(google "scribd 87476101")

Here is the document, for the class action suit to continue, based on the amended complaint:

(google "Case 4:09-cv-02056 pdf")

Stream et al have appealed:
Here is the docket information showing that the case is continuing. It is being sent to the US Court of Appeals:

(google "docket alarm cv-02056 Torres")

An amicus brief was filed OCTOBER 17, 2014 by AARP in the US Court of Appeals (USCA) Case No. 14-20128 (as stated in the docket link above):

“BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE AARP SUPPORTING PLAINTIFFS/APPELLEES URGING AFFIRMANCE….”
AARP Concludes its brief and argument by stating:

“AARP respectfully urges this Court to uphold the district court’s decision to
certify the class and to remand the case for further proceedings on the merits.”

(google "AARP torres litigation" )
(AARP’s amicus brief makes for deliciously compelling reading, if one understands the issues and what is at stake)

Here is the appellant’s (Strream’s) amicus brief, filed with the Court of Appeals by the National Direct Marketing Association on behalf of Stream Energy:
(google "chamber litigation torres SGE management Direct Selling Association No. 14-20128 pdf" )

Stream Energy’s case is on the US Court of Appeals Docket for 3 February 2015:

(google "ca5 uscourts 3 february 2015 Torres " )

"...TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 – COURT CONVENES AT 9:00 A.M.
...No. 14-20128. Juan Ramon Torres, Et Al. vs. S.G.E. Management, LLC, Et Al., Appellants."


It will be VERY INTERESTING if the appeals court remands the case back to the district court for trial on the merits of the case against Stream Energy. If they do and Stream Energy loses, it could spell big trouble for the business and others similar to it. Hopefully the outcome will be good news for those of us who would like to see reform in the MLM and Direct Marketing industry.

[james.hendrickson]

Look like stream is doing pretty well in court....

From the Dallas Morning News

Stream Energy wins latest round in pyramid scheme lawsuit
Oct 30, 2015, 2:39pm CDT Updated Oct 30, 2015, 3:33pm CDT

Dallas-based Stream Energy has prevailed in the latest round of a lawsuit that alleges the company operates a pyramid scheme in violation of federal racketeering laws.

Stream announced the key appellate victory in the case before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Oct. 29. Stream Energy has prevailed in a lawsuit claiming the company's independent associates operate a pyramid scheme.

Arising out of oral arguments held in February 2015, the Fifth Circuit panel voted to decertify a purported class of plaintiffs whose representatives alleged violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The appellate ruling reversed a prior January 2014 order of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas that erroneously certified a class of plaintiffs consisting of current and former Stream independent associates.

Stream has strongly denied the charges and maintained that the company’s independent associates sell essential services, including energy, mobile and protective services, in a legal and ethical manner.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision and appreciate its careful and considered analysis,” Mark “Bouncer” Schiro, president and CEO of Stream, said in a prepared statement. “There is no doubt that Stream sells real services through a proven and efficient network marketing model that incents our sales force of independent associates to gather customers on our behalf across America. We look forward to the end of this nagging litigation.”

The two remaining plaintiffs have requested a rehearing with the full Fifth Circuit.

The case will be reheard only if a majority of the 15 active justices now sitting on the Fifth Circuit agree to do so.