Adam
Complaint against Passion Builders…
Complaint against Passion Builders Online / Paul Nowell (Paul the Trombonist) I signed up for Paul Nowell’s “7 Figure Entrepreneurs Club” program in August 2023. The agreement required a payment of $9,800 (discounted from $15,000) for one year of access. After attending only a few sessions, I realized the program was not a good fit for me and requested a refund within the first month. I was shocked to learn that the contract contained a strict no-refund clause, even if very little of the program had been used. This was never clearly explained in my initial call. The contract also required that I pay the full balance whether or not I continued participating. When I asked for a refund, I was reminded that I was legally obligated to pay. Later, I was told I had an outstanding balance of $4,900. Instead of pursuing me for this amount, they offered to waive it as “a gesture of goodwill.” While I appreciate that, it underscores the inflexibility and harshness of their policies. The material I did encounter in the program was concerning. Much of the training promoted manipulative sales tactics, such as creating fake urgency (“limited spots” when there were not), inflating prices to create “scholarships,” and using misleading pitches. While they position these strategies as marketing, I believe they encourage dishonesty with clients. In my opinion, this business operates in a way that may be legally covered by their contract but is not transparent, fair, or ethical. I regret enrolling and would strongly caution others to read the fine print before considering any involvement.
Response from PaulthetrombonistSep 1, 2025
Hi Adam, We’re sorry to hear the program wasn’t the right fit for you. Our goal is to help musicians and music educators build scalable, profitable coaching businesses that give them back their time, their freedom, and their confidence to thrive doing what they love. Our refund and payment policies are clearly outlined in the signed enrollment agreement. Still, we voluntarily waived $4,900 from your balance as a goodwill gesture, even though the terms were agreed upon in writing. As for what you referred to as “urgency,” that’s actually a key part of what we teach, and it’s one of the reasons our clients succeed. Instead of constantly chasing students, they create real demand using structured enrollment periods, clear program caps, and premium positioning that gets them out of the feast-or-famine cycle for good. This isn’t about pressure. It’s about teaching music educators how to lead with confidence, set boundaries, and fill their programs with motivated students who are excited to work with them. It’s not for everyone. But for the right kind of music educator, the one who's tired of trading time for pennies and wants a proven system that works, it can be life-changing. We stand behind our work, and we’re proud of the results our members are creating every single day. Wishing you all the best going forward. — The Passion Builders Team


