Comments on: Poll: What martial arts billing company do you use?

By: Sensei Pichioto

Sensei Pichioto — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:27:56 +0000

Unlike Daryl above, I have only been with SMSWinmars for about 2 years. I also read the posts at complaintsboard.com but took that several steps further. 4 of the people making negative comments are phony and any intelligent person can see that for themselves. I would be happy to tell anyone privately if you give me your email address. In fact, 2 of the latest people posting are factually the same person yet they play games because of separate issues and vindictiveness. I agree with Daryl. SMSWinmars has policies and EVERY school signing up has the option of accepting or declining the contract. Yet the phony posters clearly tried (like Daryl insinuated) to push SMS but failed. 2 of the posters however have issues that are more personal. The last post claiming that they were under investigation by the MD Attorney General so I contacted them personally since I was as a client, concerned. After going through 4 people, I finally spoke to one of the Attorneys who stated that no such investigation is under way and no complaint has ever been received. It is clear that since complaintsboard.com is as Daryl said, only a one way blog, it is safe to assume that the postings are a sham. But I did not stop there. I found out through the California online system that the suit Mr. DiManno initially barely won was later dismissed due to an appeal by SMS. Don’t take my word for it though. Check it out yourself. SMS has always been fair but I agree with Daryl. If you intend to push them around, it will not work. BUT…they are a good company and our school is staying! I am willing to bet that Ed has billing problems and did not like the fact that SMS imposed fees that he as the student or parent agreed to in writing. And the fact is, the fee is not $25 but rather $35. When one of my students gets charged, SMS has always provided proof of the return. Why not try paying your mortgage late or your credit card and see how much you get charged! Ed, why not complain about your bank or how about the rest of the world? Chris, you sound like the person who might have also made a complaint on complaintsboard.com under an assumed name. If a school breaches their contract, I will agree that SMS imposes all fees that the school owner agreed to in their contract! Why then file a negative post when most likely, the poster was wrong? Some of these negative posts in ALL blogs is like the pot calling the kettle black! Sorry but I call them as I see them. I highly and without question, recommend them to any school or other organization.

By: Daryl Kim

Daryl Kim — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:55:06 +0000

Our school has used SMSWinmars for 8 years now and while it is true that they do charge fees for returned debits from students and cc fees, the posting above Ed is not true at all. Our school has 549 students and we depend upon our revenue as do we all. If you bounce a check at the bank, doesn’t the bank charge about $30 regardless of the reason? Of course they do. I will admit that SMSWinmars is a company that is not easily bullied by school owners as “we all” sometimes try to do with our billing companies. But I have never been cheated nor treated unfair. I have seen the blogs at complaintsboard.com and 2 of the people (fact) are one and the same person whop posted. I spoke to the CEO who only said that he was sorry he even wasted his time on the site. I am willing to bet that any school having an issue with SMSWinmars has not followed their simple to follow policies. Just like WE have policies at our schools, so do they. I work with one other billing company and also find them fair and reasonable but if a student is delinquent, that company throws the delinquency back at me which makes me wonder why I use that company in the first place. We should ALL remember, there are always 2 sides to every story and a blog like complaintsboard is ONLY one sided which is why the CEO and his staff stopped replying. When you want to say someone has committed fraud like Mr. DiManno and now Chris, that is wrong since 1st it can get them in trouble and 2nd, extremely unprofessional. Aren’t we supposed to be teaching ethics, honor and integrity? I strongly recommend SMSWinmars but if you believe you will try them out to see if you can control them, please don’t waste your time. If you are fair, you will get that in return. Only my opinion and not looking to make anyone mad but if the 2 above have a problem, I am betting that there are 2 sides to the issue. Best wishes Chris & Ed. I bet you that your problems can still be worked out.

By: Chris Abramson

Chris Abramson — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:24:49 +0000

Ed,

Any update on your school’s status with SMSWinmars? Your comments are eerily similar to the situation I am going through with them, as well as those of Mr DiManno on Complaintsboard.com.

SMSWinmars is the worst! Do not, by any means, use their service. Factual information will be coming out shortly highlighting their unprofessionalism, incompetance, negligence and attempted fraud.

By: Jean Sullivan

Jean Sullivan — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:15:46 +0000

I just started using an awesome new program from Live Martial Arts Professional. I shopped around and got quotes from everyone. Championsway wanted me to sign a 12mo contract, Member Solutions prices were ridiculous, And no one would actually give me a free trial. Why would I buy a car that I never got to test drive? The Rep at liveMapro gave me a demo that I could actually click through with her, They are giving me a 60 day free trial and their rates are incredible! They had me up and running in just minutes. I didn’t have to sign a contract and the system is so easy to use, you don’t even need training. I would recommend LiveMaPro to anyone who wants real service with no gimmicks.

By: Ed Nangle

Ed Nangle — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:12:28 +0000

My family trains at a school that uses SMSWinmars, and they’re absolutely horrible.

They institute ridiculous terms in their student contract and then insist that any question be submitted in writing, with a signature. They charge absurd fees ($25) to students for things like an expired credit card with no warning, and make it virtually impossible to speak to anyone to correct the problem.

My school is trying to separate from using them and as a result I’ve received direct threats of legal action and referral to a collection agent, from the CEO no less. His notes and emails have been long rambling rants (complete with terrible spelling and grammar) where he repeatedly bashes my school and says other highly unprofessional things.

I don’t think that’s the kind of business you want handling your money or being the interface between your students and their money.

By: David Spelding

David Spelding — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:23:43 +0000

After trying the billing companies above, I got nowhere very fast. It seems those companies are in it for the money, not customer satisfaction. For years now, I have been using Strategic Membership Systems, Inc/ SMSWinmars Corporation. Their customer support is supurb and their rates are very reasonable unlike others “claim.” They have everything a school owner needs to grow their school effectively. Their main goal is Billing & Marketing. Let me say, they do an amazing job, with both! Although, I must add they have services the others dont. After a contract becomes delinquent, SMS will go for the full amounts and will NOT pass a contract back to the school, unlike others. THAT shows that they care about my money!

Recently, they actually teamed up with Jackrabbit Dojo and now they have an all new exclusive partnership that was released early this year. Talk about a team!

If you are a struggling school owner, Id definitely refer you to SMS!!!

(sorry for the rant) Lol!

By: Ryan Wheaton

Ryan Wheaton — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:59:48 +0000

Why are so many people not using a billing company?

By: Mike Guercio

Mike Guercio — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:12:52 +0000

I have been using Members Solutions for a few years now and I’m happy with them. My main reason for going with them was for billing. I didn’t want a billing company telling what and how to teach. Years ago while teaching for someone else we joined one of the consulting / billing companies and before you knew it we were teaching Bullshido Kenpo not Ed Parkers Kenpo. I would say watch out for the consulting groups that wants too much control.

By: Ryan Wheaton

Ryan Wheaton — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:03:17 +0000

I’m looking into martial arts billing companies (specifically EFT) for my martial arts school and want to know who to look at and who to avoid. Any suggestions?