Is ACN Inc. A Scam? Multi-Service MLM Company Or Ponzi Scheme In Disguise?

Welcome to my ACN Inc. Review!

With today’s era, many online job opportunities are teeming over the business scene and oftentimes they are businesses incorporated with a Multi-level Marketing (MLM) platform. And there are various kinds of niches saturating the industry from health care, cosmetics, name it.

For now, we will be discussing an MLM that is pretty broad, well, in terms of the services that they offer. We will talk about ACN Inc. -- telecommunication, gas and electricity, energy, and merchant services provider.

Well, aside from that they have a couple more services which we will be tackling more in detail in this review. Well probably, you’ve been skeptical if this opportunity is legitimate and not a scam or if it would be worth the compensation. Well, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll know more about this company as you go through this review.

ACN, Inc. aka American Communications Network is a North-American based multi-level marketing (MLM) company that provides a variety of services including telecommunications, energy, merchant services, and many more. 

It was in 1993 when Robert Stevanovski, Greg Provenzano, and the twins Tony and Mike Cupisz founded the American Communications Network, Inc. ANC Inc. is now based in Concord, North Carolina, United States.

ACN opened for business in January 1993 with twenty initial "independent representatives". It was called LCI Communications- a marketing arm for a long-distance reseller was ACN's initial business. This lasted for 5 years until LCI was acquired by Qwest Communications.

Through the subsidiaries ACN Energy and ACN Utility Services, ACN operated as a gas and electricity retailer before its energy assets being acquired by Commerce Energy Group in 2006. As of 2019, ACN is operating in 26 countries and 5 continents. It has international offices located in Montreal, Canada; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Sydney, Australia; Wrocław, Poland; Umeå, Sweden; Seoul, South Korea, and Mexico. 

Being on the run for about 27 years, ACN Inc. was not immune to issues, they have alleged to be a pyramid scheme and have as well involvement with lawsuits. One is in 2018, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Donald Trump and 3 of his children alleging fraud, false advertising, unfair competition, and a now-dismissed allegation of racketeering for their involvement with ACN. As of April 2020, the lawsuit is still ongoing.

ACN Inc. Product Line

ACN offers landline telephone service (local and long-distance), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), high-speed Internet, satellite television, cellular phone through the company's own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Flash Wireless, and home security services, primarily to consumers, and secondarily to small businesses. They partner with authorized retailers that offer such services.

Residential Services

• Bundled Service
  • Home phone
  • Gas and electricity (Xoom Energy)
  • High-speed internet- Providers such as AT&T, frontier, and spectrum
  • Satellite TV- Providers such as DIRECTV & Dish
  • Security and automation (Smart Home Security Systems)
  • Wireless Phone Service Plans
  • Identity theft protection (ID Seal)- protect personal data, maintain privacy and prevent identity theft

Business Services

• Gas & Electricity- (Xoom Energy) Business energy, the ideal solution for office buildings, automotive business, warehouses, franchises, large churches, and restaurants and bars
• Payment Processing Services- simple and affordable merchant payment processing for Independent contractors, retail & shopping, online stores, and hospitality & restaurants
• Identity Theft Protection- IDSeal offers a comprehensive, always-on virtual security perimeter to protect employees' identity, credit, and financial well-being.
• Security and Automation- business security solutions for retail, offices, healthcare, and restaurants.
• Satellite TV - (Dish Network) for lobbies, offices, retail, and restaurants.

However, services may vary from market to market they operate in. Yes, it also depends on which country it runs. Prices will be as well determined by the area the customer resides in.

How To Make Money With ACN Inc.?

Basically, you’ll gain income through commissions from referrals and as well as residual commissions. Compensation is earned at ACN only when customers are acquired.

Customer Points System

With so many third-party services available through ACN, the company has simplified commission calculation by designating point values to services offered:

Phone services – 1 to 9 points

• wireless – 2 to 3 points
• energy – 1 to 5 points
• merchant services – 1 to 3 points
• home security – 1 to 3 points
• TV and high-speed internet (bundle) – 1 point
• TV – 0 to 2 points
• high-speed internet – 1 point
• tech support (charged service) – 1 to 3 points
• Points are allocated per service signed up for by a customer for the life of the service subscription.

Being an MLM itself, ACN has Affiliate Membership Ranks 

1. Qualified Team Trainer – Acquire 5 Customer Points and sell or purchase at least 3 preferred services
2. Executive Team Trainer – Acquire 7 Customer Points, sell or purchase at least 3 preferred services and have a Qualified Team Trainer in two individual unilevel legs (1 each)
3. Executive Team Leader – Acquire 15 Customer Points, sell or purchase at least 4 preferred services and have an Executive Team Trainer in three individual unilevel legs (1 each)
4. Team Coordinator – Acquire at least 200 Customer Points through at least three individual unilevel legs (at least 600 points total)
5. Regional Director – Have a Team Coordinator in at least two individual unilevel legs (1 each) and a third unilevel leg that has generated at least 200 Customer Points
6. Regional Vice-President – Have a Team Coordinator in four individual unilevel legs (1 each) and have a downline generating at least $150,000 a month in customer bills (max $75,000 can be counted from any one individual unilevel leg)
7. Platinum Regional Vice-President – Have a downline generating at least $300,000 a month in customer bills
8. Senior Vice-President – Have a Team Coordinator in at least six individual unilevel legs (2 legs must contain a Regional Vice-President ranked affiliate and one a Regional Director) and have a downline generating at least $500,000 a month in customer bills (max $250,000 can be counted from any one individual unilevel leg)

Direct Subscription Commissions - Paid when affiliates sign up a customer to one of their offered services. This is paid out as a percentage of the bill charged to the customer. 

Unilevel Commissions - Residual commissions in ACN are paid out using a unilevel compensation structure

Generation Bonus - An ACN affiliate can earn on bill volume beyond the first seven unilevel levels via a generation bonus.

Customer Acquisition Bonus - Revolves around recruited affiliates becoming commission qualified within thirty days of joining the company. 

Team Customer Acquisition Bonus - Is an additional bonus paid out when an ACN affiliate hits specified qualified affiliate targets in any given month.

See more about their compensation plan in this video:

Well, ACN Inc. has been operating for more than 2 decades to be considered a scam. Although it has been involved in lawsuits and has been even labeled as a pyramid scheme, they have made up for it and are still now standing. 

It is NOT accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)but it does hold an A+ rating from it.

To join as an ACN Inc Independent Business Owner, you just have to complete the online application form and pay the affiliate membership fee which is $499.That cost covers the costs associated with establishing and servicing a representative's business inside of ACN. The same is true for the ACN annual renewal fee.

PROS

Established Company

Being in the industry for more than 2 decades, 27 years to be exact, surely ACN Inc. is an established company. They had indeed already placed a mark in the business, good or bad it may be. But with the fact that they have already operated quite that long, place them on an edge.

Branded Third-party Providers

Though third-party providers may vary from locations, as to what I see, affiliated company brands are reliable and known. Well, that’s great because as what is campaigned on their site, “Essential services. Excellent Value” goes to show that they opt to give excellent service. Well, even their BBB ratings can attest to that. 

CONS

Involved In Lawsuits

Like most MLMs, ACN was not exempted to lawsuits, aside from the class-action lawsuit that was filed against Donald Trump and 3 of his children alleging fraud, false advertising, unfair competition, and a now-dismissed allegation of racketeering for their involvement with ACN, they have as well been involved to a couple more throughout the years. Well, for me such involvement is already a warning sign to avoid such opportunities.

Alleged Pyramid Scheme

In 2010, issuance of a Cease and Desist Order and Notice of Proposed Agency Action against ACN, Inc. was announced because several of its founders were allegedly operating a pyramid scheme. However, it was moved to vacate in full settlement of the case. 

But with such records, it’s already a major turn-off! They might have closed that time yet they were fortunate enough to reach this far. Well, it’s good that they have made up for their wrongdoings. But still, who can guarantee that such things will not happen again in the future?

Success Not Guaranteed

The income disclosure statement of ACN bears the warning that "not all ACN independent representatives make a profit and no one can be guaranteed success as an ACN independent representative. I commend them for being transparent.

But with such revelations, would you still go? It's good to take risks at times but why go on with a business with no assurance or guarantee of success?

It’s probably intended for those who are skilled in MLM opportunities. Well, it can be a part-time job for those at home. It could be as well for those who are into promoting multiple services and for telecommunications and internet geeks and fond of other services offered by ANC Inc.

ACN Independent Business Owners (IBO) will be provided with a personalized website to sell essential services and share the opportunity. ACN also provides training and support to affiliates. There are as well International training events and conferences as an avenue for IBO's to learn more, share knowledge and success stories.

Overall, I would not recommend joining ACN’s MLM opportunity. Yes, it is already established for the past 27 years it has been operating and it is not a scam. However, success can’t be guaranteed, and not all IBO’s will gain income, they are even transparent about that in their income disclosure statement. 

And also, the company has been involved in a couple of lawsuits and might have been closed when allegedly accused of being a pyramid scheme if things were not settled. So don’t take the gamble of luck and better yet try the alternative I am recommending to you. 

Looking for a risk-free way to make money online? If yes, then feel free to join my top-recommended program that won’t force you to recruit other people. We know how annoying that is!

Sign up now and get ready to have access to the following tools and support that can help you start making money whether you’re a newbie or not:

• Training resources
• Webinars to help you start your business online
• One-on-one coaching
• Comprehensive guide
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I hope you liked my ACN Inc. review and if you have questions or comments, please feel free to drop it down below.

Thank you!