Streetwise Publications

Richie35 wrote: »

Not really sunshine. Arrived at this from a Google search on something else and signed up. It's not the first negative post, as far as I can see. I've got no axe to grind either way. Just adding my limited experience.

Have to say what's less surprising is that you turned up here with a totally pointless post with nothing of value to contribute. You can't rack up 8,202 posts without having far too much time on your hands and a talent for the tiresome. I can only assume you're being sponsored by Action For Bores or are going for a record. Keep smilin'.

If you want to be taken seriously on these forums you're going to have to change your attitude somewhat. I suggest you dig a bit deeper on here and you will find members with far higher post counts than my mere 8,000 odd. As a 'newbie' you have a lot to learn.....

unluckycustomer wrote: »

It certainly isn't sour grapes. I have been on the Streetwise mailing list for some 20 years since they started. It's because their behaviour is so out of character that it is cause for concern

The person who alleged that Streetwise were having financial difficulties is a businessman in Rotherham. Where Streetwise is based.

On another thread I have read this evening that Streetwise has applied to change it's name.

For Mr Harrison (owner of Streetwise) to promote a high value product and not publish Terms and Conditions but state that there is a 90 day money back guarantee, and then when people apply for a refund they are told that they have to use the system for 90 days before being eligible for a refund, is completely out of character.

That's why it is such a concern. Thankfully I paid by credit card and they have put the transaction "in dispute" and have frozen the payment because Streetwise did not say in the guarantee that customers have to use the system for 90 days. They also failed to publish Terms and Conditions in the sales letter or product manual.

To be frank what Mr Harrison has done is crazy. There are many others who paid for the Ratchet System (which is just a staking system using Arbitration and Dutching) and have applied for a refund to get back their £497. I wouldn't have paid that much to assess the product if I hadn't built up trust that they would honour their guarantee.

So it's far from sour grapes I can assure.:)

Okay thanks. If I can give you a word of warning. I'd be very careful about making allegations about the financial status of companies you don't have first hand knowledge of. A friend of mine put something similar on a forum, and the company forced the site owner to reveal his identity and then gave him all sorts of hassle, claiming damaged reputation. Still, if you're sure I don't suppose you've got much to worry about.

I've just found a really interesting article on Streetwise Publications written by Tony Hetherington of The Mail On Sunday. It was written in 2006 but gives a disconcerting insight in to Mr Harrison.

"STREETWISE Publications is one of those firms that seems to make its money by selling wonderful schemes for getting rich, rather than by actually putting them into practice.

Its new offering is promoted in mailshots by boss John Harrison, who says the scheme is like ripping off the banks every day and getting away with it.

The mailshot says: 'Just imagine the perfect crime. You spend 20 minutes in the evening setting up the sting. In the morning you go off to work, just like normal. And when you get home £300-£500 has 'mysteriously' landed in your bank account'.

Harrison's mailshots are accompanied by an even more dramatic pamphlet, supposedly written by an anonymous 25-year-old who spent a few years working in the City. 'Andy' offers to spill the beans on a 'highly coveted' secret system for trading on the foreign exchange markets.

Andy refers to 'my humble background', and 'my working class origins'. His employers were 'old school-tie fat cats', he says, before hinting that because he was sworn to confidentiality, 'the elite' would be very unhappy with him if they knew his identity.

He even claims to be offering his scheme because of 'my conscience nagging at me'. Then he rather spoils the Robin Hood image by asking you to stump up £2,322, payable to Rotherhambased Streetwise.

I asked Harrison who slapped the secret label on this scheme. I asked who would be upset by Andy's revelations, or is the secrecy a sales ploy. And I asked him whether he intended to use Andy's tips himself, enabling him, according to his own mailshots, to retire within a year.

I did not get a single answer. Instead, Harrison described his mailshot as 'a private customer communication', and gave me copies of letters from unnamed satisfied customers, plus a few from people who had successfully claimed refunds.

Oddly, included with these was a letter Harrison said he received from a private investigator who had taken a Streetwise training course and was offering to reveal my address and other family details. In short, it was an 'I-know-where-you-live letter', though Harrison denied this.

Harrison has at least one associate described in court as a 'real villain'. Last October, I reported that Streetwise was promoting £4,000 seminars on how to make money by setting up a mail order business. The seminars were given by James Sheridan, alias James Edwards, who was condemned by a judge as the man behind a fake arthritis cure scam that cost victims hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Harrison should realise that people really can be judged by the company they keep. Anyone tempted by Anonymous Andy's scheme should ask Harrison the questions I asked and he refused to answer. No answers, no £2,322."

unluckycustomer wrote: »

I've just found a really interesting article on Streetwise Publications written by Tony Hetherington of The Mail On Sunday. It was written in 2006 but gives a disconcerting insight in to Mr Harrison.

"STREETWISE Publications is one of those firms that seems to make its money by selling wonderful schemes for getting rich, rather than by actually putting them into practice.

Its new offering is promoted in mailshots by boss John Harrison, who says the scheme is like ripping off the banks every day and getting away with it.

The mailshot says: 'Just imagine the perfect crime. You spend 20 minutes in the evening setting up the sting. In the morning you go off to work, just like normal. And when you get home £300-£500 has 'mysteriously' landed in your bank account'.

Harrison's mailshots are accompanied by an even more dramatic pamphlet, supposedly written by an anonymous 25-year-old who spent a few years working in the City. 'Andy' offers to spill the beans on a 'highly coveted' secret system for trading on the foreign exchange markets.

Andy refers to 'my humble background', and 'my working class origins'. His employers were 'old school-tie fat cats', he says, before hinting that because he was sworn to confidentiality, 'the elite' would be very unhappy with him if they knew his identity.

He even claims to be offering his scheme because of 'my conscience nagging at me'. Then he rather spoils the Robin Hood image by asking you to stump up £2,322, payable to Rotherhambased Streetwise.

I asked Harrison who slapped the secret label on this scheme. I asked who would be upset by Andy's revelations, or is the secrecy a sales ploy. And I asked him whether he intended to use Andy's tips himself, enabling him, according to his own mailshots, to retire within a year.

I did not get a single answer. Instead, Harrison described his mailshot as 'a private customer communication', and gave me copies of letters from unnamed satisfied customers, plus a few from people who had successfully claimed refunds.

Oddly, included with these was a letter Harrison said he received from a private investigator who had taken a Streetwise training course and was offering to reveal my address and other family details. In short, it was an 'I-know-where-you-live letter', though Harrison denied this.

Harrison has at least one associate described in court as a 'real villain'. Last October, I reported that Streetwise was promoting £4,000 seminars on how to make money by setting up a mail order business. The seminars were given by James Sheridan, alias James Edwards, who was condemned by a judge as the man behind a fake arthritis cure scam that cost victims hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Harrison should realise that people really can be judged by the company they keep. Anyone tempted by Anonymous Andy's scheme should ask Harrison the questions I asked and he refused to answer. No answers, no £2,322."

Can't comment on the specific situation there, (and neither, I suspect can you) however, I do know that it's possible for ANYONE to get stitched up by the media. To get an idea of what I mean, type 'Martin Lewis Channel 4' into Google and then watch on Youtube. Totally unfair, but that's the media for you.

That's why I prefer to make up my own mind on stuff, rather than relying on journalists with space to fill or a show to make more interesting.

unluckycustomer wrote: »

You have completely missed the point again. Mr Harrison of Streetwise has just stitched me up along with many others. I find it very strange how you keep defending such behaviour. I appreciate that you are probably very young and have yet to experience much of the world. I was very naive and trusting when I was young. Unfortunately the world isn't the friendly sincere place that we like to think it is. Or wish that it was.

No, it's you that's missing the point. I'm not defending any 'behaviour'. Where have I defended any behaviour? Simply pointing out that you can't take everything you see, hear or read at face value. Sorry if you find that 'strange'. Maybe it is for a site like this, which seems to attract more than its fair share of people who are prepared to believe any third hand nonesense if it fits in with their jaundiced view of the world. Instead of patronising me because of my age, maybe you should give some thought to applying a bit of critical thinking to what's put in front of you.