| Many ads omit the fact that you may have to work | | | | buy them. For example, you might have to buy a |
| many hours without pay. Or they don't disclose all the | | | | sewing or sign-making machine from the company, or |
| costs you will have to pay. Countless work-at-home | | | | materials to make items like aprons, baby shoes or |
| schemes require you to spend your own money to | | | | plastic signs. However, after you've purchased the |
| place newspaper ads; make photocopies; or buy the | | | | supplies or equipment and performed the work, |
| envelopes, paper, stamps, and other supplies or | | | | fraudulent operators don't pay you. In fact, many |
| equipment you need to do the job. The companies | | | | consumers have had companies refuse to pay for |
| sponsoring the ads also may demand that you pay for | | | | their work because it didn't meet "quality standards." |
| instructions or "tutorial" software. Consumers deceived | | | | Legitimate work-at-home program sponsors should tell |
| by these ads have lost thousands of dollars, in addition | | | | you - in writing - what's involved in the program they |
| to their time and energy. | | | | are selling. Here are some questions you might ask a |
| Medical billing. Ads for pre-packaged businesses - | | | | promoter: |
| known as billing centers - are in newspapers, on | | | | Will I be paid a salary or will my pay be based on |
| television and on the Internet. If you respond, you'll get a | | | | commission? |
| sales pitch that may sound something like this: There's | | | | When will I get my first paycheck? |
| "a crisis" in the health care system, due partly to the | | | | The answers to these questions may help you |
| overwhelming task of processing paper claims. The | | | | determine whether a work-at-home program is |
| solution is electronic claim processing. Because only a | | | | appropriate for your circumstances, and whether it is |
| small percentage of claims are transmitted | | | | legitimate. |
| electronically, the market for billing centers is wide | | | | If you have spent money and time on a work-at-home |
| open. | | | | program and now believe the program may not be |
| The reality: you will have to sell. These promoters | | | | legitimate, contact the company and ask for a refund. |
| rarely provide experienced sales staff or contacts | | | | Let company representatives know that you plan to |
| within the medical community. | | | | notify officials about your experience. If you can't |
| Few consumers who purchase a medical billing | | | | resolve the dispute with the company, file a complaint |
| business opportunity are able to find clients, start a | | | | with these organizations: |
| business and generate revenues - let alone recover | | | | The Attorney General's office in your state or the |
| their investment and earn a substantial income. | | | | state where the company is located. The office will be |
| Competition in the medical billing market is fierce and | | | | able to tell you whether you're protected by any state |
| revolves around a number of large and | | | | law that may regulate work-at-home programs. |
| well-established firms. | | | | Your local Better Business Bureau |
| Assembly or craft work. These programs often | | | | The advertising manager of the publication that ran the |
| require you to invest hundreds of dollars in equipment | | | | ad. The manager may be interested to learn about the |
| or supplies. Or they require you to spend many hours | | | | problems you've had with the company. |
| producing goods for a company that has promised to | | | | |