Current and former Life Surge employees told Pablo Torre and Mother Jones that the Christian seminar company uses high-pressure tactics to upsell attendees. Tim Tebow is a regular speaker, on pace to headline more than 20 events this year.
Life Surge events offer a full day of Christian speakers, preaching, worship music and financial advice for as little as $20. Attendees are then offered three-day “impact classes” for $97 and, afterward, a chance to buy SurgeU courses about real estate and trade. SurgeU packages cost about $10,000 to $40,000; Life Surge connects people who need financing with a third-party lender.
One interviewee who said she felt scammed was helped at an event to sign up for a credit card with a $25,000 limit; she said salespeople also encouraged her to use home equity to pay for classes. The article notes high Google ratings, alongside online discussions questioning the company and complaints filed with the FTC and Better Business Bureau.
