Re: maria duval -- Psychic Raylene VanWorth Has anyone heard of her?

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Date Posted: 09:07:11 05/25/08 Sun
Author: brenda (i dont understand my life)
Subject: Re: maria duval
In reply to: nAZARIO mARIN 's message, "Re: maria duval" on 14:55:30 03/08/07 Thu

>>>THE MARIA DUVAL BUSINESS, PART 2 of 2
>>>
>>>MARKETING METHODS
>>>
>>>The firms are eager after new customers. They put out
>>>announcements in papers and coupon leaflets, and
>>>offer a free lucky talisman or a cross of seven
>>>wishes, together with a free horoscope, in the name
>of
>>>Maria Duval. If someone replies, (s)he gets the free
>>>item, but is then bombarded with a slew of offers for
>>>services and goods from Maria Duval and later from
>>>other sources too. Thus the curious usually have
>their
>>>first contact with this business when the free
>>>talisman is send them. This is a sound marketing
>>>practice. The advantages are many:
>>>
>>>One gets a good database of names and addresses of
>>>liable and impulsive people who have interest in
>>>astrology, magic, etc. A gift puts a potential
>>>customer in a happy mood. The actual offer for sale
>of
>>>horoscopes etc can be targeted to potential customers
>>>only. The offer can be very persuasive and one can
>use
>>>suggestions and other powerful but questionable
>>>selling methods, like used in Maria Duval letters
>>>indeed. Undesired publicity of the offer and
>marketing
>>>methods can mainly be avoided, for example from the
>>>side of pro consumer agencies.
>>>
>>>The advertisements sometimes contain a short
>>>questionary. The customer has to mark some questions
>>>with yes/no, write a wish for her/his greatest hope
>>>and another one for the removal of her/his greatest
>>>burden. I think that the firms use the questions in
>>>order to find the most lucrative setup of marketing
>>>letters.
>>>
>>>There is a www.mariaduval.com website, passive in
>>>nature, that gives some background information on
>>>Maria Duval in several languages. The claims there
>are
>>>still claims and not independently verified proof,
>>>journal clippings possibly excluded. Another form of
>>>customer service are contact phone numbers, telefax
>>>numbers and e-mail addresses. It seems that
>somewhere,
>>>like Finland and Sweden, the phone and fax numbers
>are
>>>free, their use don't cost a cent. It seems the
>>>business runs as smoothly as ever!
>>>
>>>I have seen signs and changes in marketing, which to
>>>my mind are direct reactions to criticism in
>internet,
>>>a kind of evolution. In any normal business it would
>>>be called better customer service, giving the
>customer
>>>a better value for her/his money, but here? I have
>an
>>>other opinion...
>>>
>>>The firms sometimes promise to return the money of
>>>dissatisfied customers if the customer returns the
>>>goods. This is required by legislation. It seems that
>>>some get their money back, some don't.
>>>
>>>AN ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING METHODS
>>>
>>>The Maria Duval letters are certainly worth study for
>>>everyone who needs to write oppressive, manipulative,
>>>etc text, that is actually cabable of causing angst
>in
>>>reader. One Heke has made a good analysis on the
>>>contents of Maria Duval's marketing letters. (You
>>>should look what heke means in the Hawaian language.
>)
>>>
>>>WORKING TROUGH EMOTIONS is much more effective than
>>>working through reason in the marketing of this kind
>-
>>>probably any kind - of goods and services, because
>our
>>>emotional systems are open, easy to influence and
>>>defenceless against affectation. Duval feeds solely
>>>your emotional needs, there really isn't much for the
>>>intellect. Furthermore, even after reading,
>>>understanding and accepting this analysis, you are
>>>still susceptible to these methods because of the
>>>disparity of reason and emotion. Remember it!
>>>
>>>THE IMPRESSION OF AUTHORITY AND EXPERTICE that Duval
>>>strives to achieve, is done first by her
>>>self-presentation as the medium and clair-voyant of
>>>the Society for Psychic and Parapsychic Research and
>>>by claiming exact and true predictions and
>appearances
>>>in numerous radio and television broadcasts, and
>>>second by occasional sentences in her letters like
>>>"I can give exact and detailed predictions through
>the
>>>combination of astrology, my supernatural skills and
>>>psychoanalysis. I have proved this countless times in
>>>press and television."
>>>"Do you believe that I would endanger my reputation
>as
>>>a famous clair-voyant only because not being
>>>completely sincere to you?"
>>>
>>>PERSONAL STORIES from her own live - or invented -
>>>have the purpose of creating a friendly and
>>>unsuspecting atmosphere. Duval simply tries to make
>>>you drop your guard.
>>>"Before my uncle died, who was a knowledgeable
>>>clair-voyant and medium too, he gave me three
>>>talismans, one for money, second for love and third
>>>for luck.
>>>(...)
>>>Many years later (...) the man that I loved left me.
>>>(...) I did remember my dear dead uncle and his
>>>talismans. I searched everywhere and finally found
>>>them in the attic, in an old cabinet. I choose the
>>>talisman of love and took it with me.
>>>The next morning I got a call. It was the man who had
>>>left me without even giving me a hope of ever seeing
>>>him again. He told me that some unusual or mystical
>>>power made him miss me and want to meet me.
>>>Two weeks later we were together again."
>>>
>>>THE FOCUSING OF CONSCIOUSNESS at the very beginning
>of
>>>the letter makes you more liable to her suggestions
>>>and increases the efficiency of her manipulations.
>>>Duval focuses your consciousness by direct
>suggestions
>>>like
>>>"I ask you to give me all your attention"
>>>"I ask you, heke, to carefully read the content of
>>>this letter, because if ..."
>>>"It's very important that you read this letter in all
>>>its details"
>>>
>>>THE EMOTIONAL SEESAW simply means the alternation
>>>between promises and warnings, positive and negative
>>>hints, good and doubting suggestions etc. A cool and
>>>detached attitude of the reader is counteractive to
>>>Duval's purposes and with this tool she tries to make
>>>sawdust out of it. The emotional seesaw creates and
>>>increases uncertainty too which comes very handy when
>>>she later takes it up to make you dependent.
>>>
>>>SUGGESTIONS run gamut in Duval's letters. Her
>>>carefully chosen words sprinkle over you like water
>>>from a fountain. Perhaps you enjoy getting soaked
>>>through and trough but don't believe for a single
>>>moment that her letters aren't carefully designed
>>>tools of manipulation. They are certainly not written
>>>spontaneously. Words are her only means to influence
>>>you, that is if you don't believe in magic, and with
>>>words only she weawes the web and effect of every
>>>other means that are discovered is this analysis.
>>>
>>>A PARADE OF CONTENT CUSTOMERS is one of the basic
>>>marketing tools. I have but some doubt, real of
>>>imaginary customers?
>>>"... I gave my talismans of money and happiness to
>one
>>>of my female friends. She had lost her source of
>>>income and was fighting in poverty. A little later
>her
>>>troubles were over. Her bad luck turned into good
>>>luck. She got FIM 10 000, and a while later FIM 19
>000
>>>more. She decided to start a small enterprise, that
>>>soon became a success"
>>>
>>>THE CREATION OF DEPENDENCE is in my mind one of the
>>>ugliest tools that Duval uses. You may have perceived
>>>how Duval starts her letters so that the balance
>>>between good and bad suggestions, or promises and
>>>warnings, is in the positive side. The balance is
>then
>>>gradually shifted to the negative, and at the same
>>>time Duval poses herself as the only possiibility to
>>>ward away all that negativity. In other words, first
>>>Duval feeds you with hope, then snatces it away, and
>>>finally demands your money for giving it back. Cool!
>>>
>>>PROMISES OF NEW LETTERS keep your interest up. Duval
>>>certainly desires that you would become a good,
>paying
>>>and longtime customer. It works to her advantage too
>>>if she can make you wait with expectation and hope
>for
>>>new letters.
>>>
>>>EXTREME FRIENDLINESS feels so very good, but coming
>>>from a total stanger it borders into the
>unbelievable.
>>>Duval's parting words give honey sweet examples:
>>>"Heke, I hope to hear soon of You and I send You my
>>>hearties greetings.
>>>Your trusted friend Maria Duval"
>>>"I send from the deep of my heart my whole love and
>my
>>>whole positive energy to You and your nearest. I wait
>>>impatiently for your message.
>>>With respect Maria Duval"
>>>"I really trust You. I wait for your answer and I
>send
>>>You my heartfelt greetings. Your honest and loyal
>>>friend Maria Duval"
>>>
>>>EXAGGERATED PROMISES serve well in igniting your
>>>enthusiasm and in converting you to a true fan and
>>>believer. You yourself could well use the example
>>>below, in self-hypnosis!
>>>"Heke, If You get succesfully over this considerable
>>>obstacle in your life, a completely new and exciting
>>>live awaits You.
>>>You don't have to stretch the penny at the end of the
>>>month anymore, You don't have to pay back your loans
>>>and credits anymore, because You will have as much
>>>money as You need and even much more. (Yes, I see
>very
>>>much money for You!)
>>>Love and friendship will surround You and You will
>>>never again be lonely. You will allways have someone
>>>nearby whom You can talk to and whom You can trust.
>>>Everything will succeed that you take up. Were You
>shy
>>>and without self-esteem?... You will become a
>>>self-assured person with an irresistible charm, You
>>>will enchant other people and attract them.
>>>Didn't You believe in yourself and in your future?
>You
>>>will see that a shining future awaits You, which will
>>>give You self-confidence and fill your mind with
>>>happiness and hope"
>>>
>>>GIFTS are tokens of friendship. Duval's gifts however
>>>are marketing tools, their purpose to convince and
>>>support you in your decision of accepting Duval as a
>>>do-gooder, even friend. She uses them to awaken your
>>>greed too:
>>>"You will get a unique gift if You answer me. It is a
>>>secret, known only to seers, and my masters have
>>>allowed me to reveal it now to those people who
>>>consult me. (...) It is my destiny here on earth to
>>>help those poeple who long for happiness and want to
>>>share their happiness with other people too. And I
>>>know, that You too Heke belong among the people, and
>I
>>>believe that I can tell You this secret. The secret
>is
>>>a magical object. It supports the effects of the
>>>talisman and gives it even a hundredfold power. You
>>>get not only more lucky in fortune games, but You get
>>>a special protection too. It is like You had an
>>>antenna, connecting You and me, and linking you with
>>>especially spritualistic forces from beyond that
>>>protect us.
>>>(...)
>>>In addition You get that mysterious gift that I told
>>>You a while ago. Decide quickly because I don't have
>>>enough of these objects, not for everybody who writes
>>>to me."
>>>
>>>HINTS are open or indeterminate succestions and a
>very
>>>powerful tool. Closed or determinate suggestions can
>>>only cover a specified area, but hints however work
>>>trough your imagination, and cause you to raise the
>>>particular hopes and fears specific to you. What
>could
>>>be more effective?
>>>"I told at the beginning of my letter that I see some
>>>troubles too. Is there someone in your circle of
>>>friends who wishes ill for You? Have You been cursed?
>>>I can't tell You more about that now, because I
>>>dislike saying out something that is less than 100
>>>percent sure. We can prevent however, with the help
>of
>>>my clair-voyant skills, that You would get trapped."
>>>
>>>ENVY too is within her toolbag. Duval says that
>>>famous, wealthy, happy people are just like you. She
>>>says this seemingly in order to encourage you, but
>>>actually she wants to make you envious of them. It
>>>then so happens, like a miracle, that she is able and
>>>willing to help you too to get and be the same!
>>>Believe that and you are in a trap. Duval really
>>>paints a very simplistic picture about the why and
>how
>>>of our destinies here on earth:
>>>
>>>"You surely know about men and women in your
>>>surroundings, who succeed in allmost anything, even
>>>when there is nothing special about them. They don't
>>>have more diplomas is their pockets, nor are they
>more
>>>intelligent, but still all the success accumulates in
>>>their saldo. It seems allnost like everything in
>their
>>>hands would change to gold!...
>>>This is as difficult to understand as why men run
>>>after certain women. The women have nothing what
>>>others don't have too, yet men svarm around them like
>>>mosquitos around the lamp.
>>>You too might think of succesfull people and wonder:
>>>What do they have that I don't? I assure You that
>>>these people are just like You, and still they
>attract
>>>luck as much as they desire...
>>>Yes, these luckyblessed attract the friendship of
>>>those who can give them what they really want: a nice
>>>and well paid working occupation, a possibility to
>get
>>>rich, and other things like that... They don't lose
>>>one single opportunity which could bring them more
>>>money, more love or more joy in live. One could
>>>allmost believe that they possess a capability to
>>>cause all these enjoyable things to come to them...
>>>These men and women operate like magiciens who find
>>>water and hidden treasures with their wand. They are
>>>like magnets that draw the good things in live to
>>>themselves.
>>>And I see that You are like these people, You have
>the
>>>same power to happiness. And this power, abiding deep
>>>inside you, is fortunately undamaged and only waits
>>>awakening!..."
>>>
>>>WARNINGS that Duval strews here and there are good
>>>food for your imagination. Duval uses very often the
>>>combination of promises and warnings, or in the
>>>language of your emotions, hope and fear.
>>>"Dear Heke, the year 2001 means to You the beginning
>>>of a new life. It will be much better and much richer
>>>live than You now live. I have proofs of it!
>>>But You must be carefull Heke! Allthough the year
>>>2001, first year of the new millenium, seems to be an
>>>especially good year for you, something very strange
>>>did happen in May 2000, and it may diminish your
>>>chances to get succesfull!..."
>>>
>>>FEAR isn't such a nice tool at all. Duval actually
>>>gives you, now and then, strong and straight negative
>>>- and this really is dirty and most ugly use of the
>>>power of suggestions, does she want to derail people
>>>into depression or worse? - suggestions in her
>>>letters. The purpose here is to make her offer of
>help
>>>appear like a release from uncertainty and fear.
>>>Actually you would only lose what you never even had,
>>>and what existed only in the golden clouds of her
>>>promises and your hopes.
>>>"No! You can't beat this remarkable obstacle alone...
>>>Because of all the troubles that You had in the past,
>>>your physical and psychic condition is weak. There is
>>>a great danger that You don't manage this transition
>>>period well without external help, which would be a
>>>real catastrophe.
>>>In addition to that, last May You were influenced by
>a
>>>particular negative influence from the stars, that
>>>befell on earth when the stars, earth, moon and sun
>>>aligned with other five planets. A contribution from
>>>this occasion is that your chances of happiness and
>>>success dropped even lower.
>>>An extraordinary occasion... but in a negative
>>sence."
>>>
>>>COMPANIONSHIP or doing things together characterizes
>>>the behaviour of friends. Like trust, relaxation,
>>>unguardedness etc that go with friedship, your
>>>feelings of companionship makes it so much easier for
>>>Duval to cast her influence upon you. So she tries to
>>>make herself a companionable friend with:
>>>"We'll make it together so, that these capabilities
>>>and even gifts that I peceived in You will become
>your
>>>own. Because I can now tell You that You have the
>rare
>>>gift what I call "real might", it's a great inner
>>>power which can help You to change your destiny"
>>>"Yes, we'll let together this might, your power, to
>>>come out and nobody can avoid perceiving it
>>>We'll change your destiny. We'll win battles that can
>>>remove the obstacles from your way to happiness,
>>>well-being and joy of live".
>>>
>>>PROMISES OF COMPLETE SUPPORT. Yes! You must really be
>>>worth gold if the famous Duval so completely puts
>>>herself to your help. Only remember that she promises
>>>the same to everyone she sends her letters to. You
>may
>>>regognize the following:
>>>"I would like to say to you that you can from now on
>>>trust that I give my help without any limits when it
>>>is the question of how to make the luck step into
>your
>>>live as soon as possible. It really should have been
>>>there beside you since long time back."
>>>"Heke, I know that It'll be difficult for You to
>>>surpass this considerable obstacle in your live
>alone.
>>>Hence I decided to write to You today and offer my
>>>many-sided help for free and without limits"
>>>"I would like to give all my powers to your use in
>>>order to make You a happy and very content man for
>the
>>>rest of your live!"
>>>
>>>FAKE INDIVIDUAL ADDRESSING doesn't only mean the use
>>>of 2. singularis addressing mode in a mass produced
>>>letter. It means too, that Duval in fact lies when
>she
>>>writes statements that appear to be meant just for
>>>you, but actually are found in all her letters of
>that
>>>series.
>>>
>>>THE CREATION OF THE FEELING OF URGENCY is there for
>>>the purpose of making you afraid of missing your
>>>unique opportunity. Again and of cause Duval offers
>to
>>>help you and relieve you from fear...
>>>"Therefore I would like to tell You once more: Act
>>>right now and send me back allready today your coupon
>>>that I enclosed with my letter, and which entitles
>you
>>>to my special help. Act now and don't delay any
>>>longer. It really is extremely important to You and
>>>your future!
>>>Time goes by, Heke, and I'm afraid that soon it'll be
>>>too late if You don't act immediately."
>>>"PS I would like to poin out once more that most
>>>propably You won't ever again get a corresponding
>>>opportunity to change your life. You have the luck to
>>>step into the new millenium. The next occasion will
>>>happen... after one thousand years!
>>>Hence act now, even for your own good."
>>>
>>>MEGALOMANIA alias outswelled ego works well as a kind
>>>of safequard against you coming to other thoughts
>>>about Maria Duval and her activities. The more
>energy,
>>>assosiations, parts of self-image, emotions, habitual
>>>thinking patterns etc that become bound with Duval in
>>>your mind, the stronger the safequard grows, the more
>>>difficult will it be for you to have a free uncolored
>>>understanding about Duval and the more painfull the
>>>eventual ego crash.
>>>" Taking into consideration what I have seen, I can
>>>tell You right now that your case is one of the most
>>>amazing that have came my way for a long time. I can
>>>reveal to You that your case is one of the most
>>>interesting that I have bumped against for a long
>>>time."
>>>"Some of your vibrations indicate to me that there
>are
>>>deep within You latent abilities and powers that can
>>>change your whole life"
>>>
>>>REVEALING AND ENTRUSTING SECRETS characterizes the
>>>behaviour of good, trusting and trusted friends.
>Duval
>>>tries in so many ways, and this way too, to create
>the
>>>appearance of friendship and trust between you and
>>>herseff, which she later utilizes for her own
>>>purposes. Secrets and mystery are rather exciting as
>>>such too.
>>>"In addition I will send You a collection of The
>>>extraordinary secrets of White Macig. I received it
>>>directly from my Great Spiritual Master, who lived a
>>>long time ago. He/She took a telepathic contact with
>>>me, so that I could transmit this message to those
>>>persons whom I guide and protect against the negative
>>>effects of May fifth, and whom I help to find their
>>>happiness. The Spiritual Leaders of the humankind say
>>>that the collection is the best antidote to any
>>>negative forces that lead people to deeper plight."
>>>
>>>DISCOUNT PRICES, apparently offered especially for
>>>you, might make you take her offer. The discount
>>>however is there for all, it's simply one of her many
>>>tools in getting your money. I'll give you some sweet
>>>examples:
>>>"I admit that I charge high prices for my services.
>>>Yet I don't want money to become an obstacle between
>>>us. For this reason I give You a special offer for
>>>your Future Horoscope and your Lucky Calendar"
>>>"The normal price for my help is FIM 400.But because
>I
>>>have seen that You haven't had it very easy in your
>>>live, I'm ready to meet You partway. If You send the
>>>filled coupon within 48 hours, I'ill give You a FIM
>>>100 discount. Yes, You got ir right: You only pay FIM
>>>300 for your secret formulas and not the normal FIM
>>>400. You have to admit that I really do everything in
>>>order to help you."
>>>
>>>RECIPROCAL BEHAVIOR means that if Duval does
>something
>>>for you then you need to do something for her,
>>>otherwise you would self-feel like a despicable
>>>opportunist. You feel that you owe her something for
>>>that free amulet, don't you? Duval also stirs
>>>reciprocal feelings in you with sentences like:
>>>" I will help You. I have allready told the future
>>>from the stars. On my desk I have now a readymade
>>>first aid package for your future."
>>>
>>>The analysis ends here. It loads all upon Maria
>Duval,
>>>but the involved firms are probably more responsible.
>>>Only very intelligent, perceptive and professional
>add
>>>writers (with a sodden moral!) have the skill to
>write
>>>like that!
>>>
>>>GOODS AND SERVICES
>>>
>>>The firms offer at least following goods and
>services:
>>>
>>>- the free lucky talisman. It is a piece of stiff
>>>card, on one side some figures on a golden
>background,
>>>on the other a picture of Maria Duval's face
>>>- a free cross of seven wishes
>>>- six month horoscopes. They are automatic printouts
>>>from a computer program.
>>>- tarot interpretations. They are automatic computer
>>>printouts.
>>>- 90 days personal positive psychomagnetic course
>>>- slim booklets that contain simple magic tutorials,
>>>and instructions of health tonics or drinks
>>>- magical seremonies and other occult actions
>>>- initiation done by Maria Duval
>>>- talismans or amulets for good luck, like.a celtic
>>>circle of life, a talisman with herbs inside, or a
>>>pentagram
>>>- small magical or occult items like a ring designed
>>>by the good people of Atlantis
>>>- bad smelling parfymes
>>>
>>>It is certainly possible that some goods, or rather
>>>the knowledge involved, which is magical lore,
>>>formulas, design of the courses, descriptions for
>>>tonics and potions, instructions, spells etc, come
>>>originally from Maria Duval. The practical
>arrangement
>>>is naturally that the firms get everything out of
>>>their computers and subcontractors.
>>>
>>>LOGISTICS
>>>
>>>Over two million people have got at least that free
>>>amulet and about 10 - 40% seem to actually buy
>>>something too!. Massproduction is necessary perforce.
>>>
>>>The involved firms send their offerings allways in
>the
>>>native language of a potential customer. They have to
>>>use translators which is costly. Individual letters
>>>mean individual translations mean no money flows
>home.
>>>This is one more reason why the Maria Duval letters,
>>>offers, horoscopes, courses, and whatever have to be
>>>massproduced, possibly with a standard body plus
>>>automated variation and personalisation. Some
>messages
>>>confirm that the marketing letters are indeed
>>>identical, newer mind their fake personalized style.
>>>The letters promise individual services, like
>personal
>>>initiations, programming of personal amulets, direct
>>>mental or astral influence fron Maria Duval on behalf
>>>of the customer, etc... The great number of
>customers
>>>make these promises rather untrustworthy.
>>>
>>>Many people have written that nobody ever answers any
>>>personal letters. It is only too easy to understand
>>>why, because first, the number of customers is nearly
>>>two million and second, the customer's personal
>>>letters are not read by Maria Duval, but by some
>>>office clerk employed by the involved firms, and most
>>>often, by nobody. Sometimes the involved firms ask
>>>short desciptions from customers, about how it goes
>>>with them. It seems they use the descriptions in
>order
>>>to get material for the testimonials section of
>>>www.mariaduval.com.
>>>
>>>The reasoning above means that a customer only gets
>>>what unpersonal and massproduced material the firms
>>>send, like computer generated automatic astrological
>>>interpretations, no individually programmed amulets,
>>>no magical seremonies performed for the customer's
>>>personal benefit, no individual occult influences
>from
>>>Maria Duval, etc... When we contrast that with the
>>>personal promises in the marketing letters, we see
>the
>>>lies and cheating that the firms perform.
>>>
>>>AUTHORITIES ARE NOT HAPPY
>>>
>>>It certainly is no big news that this business has
>>>gotten itself in dire staits with authorities. There
>>>have been, there are and will be several complaints
>>>aginst the involved firms. The internet knows the
>>>following cases. There must be more because not
>every
>>>case is reported in internet.
>>>
>>>The International Consumer Protection and Enforcement
>>>Network (ICPEN) decided by autumn 2003 to act in the
>>>case of Maria Duval's marketing methods. ICPEN
>>>characterized the marketing as clearly unbearable,
>>>scaring, oppressing, missleading, threatening and
>>>insulting. It violates marketing legislation and good
>>>business practices as defined by international
>>>organizations of commerce. The Swedish
>>>Konsumentverket, in her role then as the chairman in
>>>ICPEN Europe, initiatiated a coordinated european
>>>action against the marketing practices.
>>>Konsumentverket demanded first that illegal marketing
>>>is stopped. This demand was sent to all addresses
>that
>>>distribute the marketing means. The second stage was
>>>that the authorities in each involved country wrote
>to
>>>the firms and the media was made aware of the illegal
>>>campaigns. The results of these primary actions were
>>>planned to be analysed in the third stage and the
>>>decision was to be made what other actions were
>>>necessary in order to stop this marketing.
>>>
>>>In New York, USA, the BBB (Better Business Bureau)
>>>issued June 1996 a consumer alert regarding the
>>>National Parapsychology Center adverticing the
>>>services of Maria Duval. There were complaints that
>>>consumer expectations were unfullfilled, or that the
>>>consumers didn't get their money back. An
>interesting
>>>sideline is that if a customer wanted to have a more
>>>detailed information than the 8 pages of the initial
>>>contact, she had to send a photo or some hair, plus
>27
>>>to 70 dollars!
>>>
>>>Customers have complained to Italian customer
>>>authorities in September 2000 and November 2000 about
>>>Duval's misleading marketing practices etc. The
>>>complaits were found to be justified.
>>>
>>>The British ASA authority has received and
>adjudicated
>>>on three complaints against Astroforce Ltd t/a Maria
>>>Duval, in December 1999, March 2000 and November
>2000.
>>>The complaints were about misleading marketing, and
>in
>>>main successfull.
>>>
>>>The Harmonie Ltd operated 1999-2002 in Australia
>using
>>>the names Astroforce, Maria Duval and Marie France.
>>>Their scam operation was investigated and then closed
>>>down by Australian authorities when enough customers
>>>complained. The authorities legally intercepted
>>>customer's recent letters and returned their money.
>>>The Harmonie Ltd was ordered to refund all customers
>>>who asked it.
>>>
>>>EVEN IN A BOOK
>>>
>>>Armando Pavese, a researcher on the psychological
>>>motivations relating to magic, spiritism and
>occultism
>>>has authored a book, called The black book of magic,
>>>in which he puts the medium Marie Duval in the same
>>>camp with the wizards, swindlers and quackers of
>>>todays' Italy. The language of the book is italian.
>>>
>>>MARIA DUVAL
>>>
>>>There really is a Maria Duval, a witch, voyant,
>>>business woman, you name it! The involved firms claim
>>>that Maria Duval was born into a family, which
>belongs
>>>to the nobility, and whose members have served the
>>>french kings. She herself is a countess. She made her
>>>first miracle healing at the age of 8 years, etc...
>>>There are such nicely dramatic and emotional elements
>>>in the information what the firms present about Maria
>>>Duval, that it makes one doubt the truthfullness of
>>>the whole lot, especially when we remember how the
>>>firms lie and seek to manipulate the customers in
>>>their marketing. There is no independent information
>>>in internet that confirms these claims.
>>>
>>>Maria Duval is the author of several books, well over
>>>twenty in number. She has used at least her own name
>>>and the alias Anne Cramford. The books are published
>>>in many languages. Some typical titles are The Grand
>>>book of secrets, The Grand secret manual of the
>>>initiates, the Grand consultation of the tarot, How
>to
>>>become a voyant, The Secrets and techniques of
>success
>>>and power, etc.
>>>
>>>Maria Duval was born 1937 as Carolina Maria Gamba in
>>>Milano, Italy. She is now a citicen in France. She
>has
>>>at least some fame outside this business too. It
>seems
>>>her career really lifted when she predicted the
>winner
>>>right in some bygone french presidential elections.
>>>Once she found the lost dog of Brigitte Bardot, and
>>>Ralf Schumacher believes in a bad smelling amulet
>from
>>>Maria Duval. The last two are rather funny bits of
>>>data, but they indicate presense, past fame and
>bygone
>>>reputation in the european sky of magicmakers and
>>>seers. To use that past fame and reputation to start
>>>a business is well understandable. Not so are the
>>>methods, the brutal manipulation and lies, that this
>>>business uses. In my opinion, this whole business is
>>>driven by an insatiable greed.
>>>
>>>Well, at least Maria Duval seems to be rather rich
>>>nowdays, and have three homes: in Argentina, in Swiss
>>>Lausanne and in French Callas. Her Argentina home is
>>>said to be a whole ranch, whose address is but
>>>unknown. The Lausanne address is unknown too. The
>>>Callas address is Quai Quatre Chemins, 83830 Callas,
>>>France.
>>>
>>>In an interview for Danish television, Maria Duval is
>>>reported to have said that she has nothing to do with
>>>this business, neither knows anything about it. This
>>>reminds me about and old proverb, which says that
>even
>>>rats leave a sinking ship. It is hard to believe that
>>>she spoke the truth, because she started this whole
>>>business. She also travels far and wide promoting the
>>>business. By report she appeared in Finland over a
>>>year ago, arranged a press meeting, presented some
>>>horoscope interpretations on their President Halonen,
>>>etc... Soon thereafter there appeared nationwide
>>>advertisements about her and that free talisman
>>offer.
>>>
>>>Maria Duval meets hundreds of clients face to face
>>>too. This her "luck by mail order" business is sure
>to
>>>come up. She herself must have seen the
>advertisements
>>>here and there too. Furthermore our messages exist in
>>>internet since a good time already, and she must have
>>>got lots of questions about if it's true what we say
>>>there.
>>>
>>>Probably nobody but Maria Duval herself is ready to
>>>believe that the involved firms can use her face,
>name
>>>and fame in their marketing like they do, without an
>>>agreement with her. She also owns the Maria duval
>>>trademarks.
>>>
>>>Jacques Mailland explained once in an interview that
>>>"Maria distributes the free talismans in order to
>tell
>>>the world that she exists, and is here to help and
>>>heal those who seek help. Her local agents in foreign
>>>countries take care of the practical business; Maria
>>>does not personally send any letters, nor does she
>see
>>>the answers. The Danish or Scandinavian local agent
>>>Kaj Hvolgaard has now and then invited querysome
>>>journalists to visit France and Maria Duval together
>>>with him, so that they could chat with her personally
>>>
>>>These facts clearly prove Maria Duval's presence and
>>>involvement in this business even today, allthough
>and
>>>for unknown reasons, she has sold this business to
>the
>>>firm Harmonie Ltd. This meant selling your names,
>>>addressess, data on who has bought what, the rights
>to
>>>use her name and face in advertising, the rights to
>>>sell her goods, and an arrangement of some travels
>and
>>>work to promote the firm. She may even get a fixed
>>>percent of the income. It is unknown, if Maria Duval
>>>is one of the owners of the Harmonie Ltd.
>>>
>>>RECOMMENDATIONS
>>>
>>>The internet material make the situation rather
>clear.
>>>This is simply a business, not a helping hand from
>>>Maria Duval. There are very few voices who say
>>>someting else, and they are not very convincing. I
>>>feel that these recommendations, copied from diverse
>>>messages in the German Aerger Forum, are sound
>enough.
>>>
>>>If you really need help, please go and seek it
>>>elsewhere, through a personal contact with a suitable
>>>person. The more you need help, the more prone you
>are
>>>to fall into the lies and manipulation that will be
>>>worked upon you by this business. If you are after
>>>magical help and tools in order to make your life
>>>better, that is all right by me. The internet and
>>>public libraries are full of free material, that you
>>>can experiment with. You will even find in Kevin
>>>Harringtongs site, and for free, some of the Maria
>>>Duval material that the firms send to paying
>>>customers. You can allways pay the firms later if you
>>>find the material useful.
>>>
>>>The people in this business really try very hard to
>>>ignite your enthusiasm and to hook you when they
>>>design the Maria Duval letters, and they are good at
>>>it too. If you allready happen to be in an Astroforce
>>>mailing list, the following few recommendations are
>>>for you. You may simply throw away all letters as
>soon
>>>as you get them, without reading them. This easily
>>>protects you from the manipulation in the letters. If
>>>your curiosity get overhand then show the letters to
>a
>>>friend for a neutral opinion. Compare your letters to
>>>what others have received whenever possible. Wait at
>>>least a week after receiving a letter and let
>yourself
>>>cool down until you decide or do anything. Then
>decide
>>>to do nothing. Don't let the "warnings" or time
>limits
>>>uppset you. One simply tries to hook you with them.
>>>Remember that the letters are massproduction after
>all
>>>and not personal.
>>>
>>>The various european preference services offer
>>>protection for consumers who don't want mailings
>from
>>>direct marketing firms. Most european countries have
>>>preference services for mail, phone and/or fax. An
>>>email preference service has been set up at a global
>>>level, with the ability for national portals.
>>>Preference service means, that you can contact the
>>>national organisation for this service, and tell them
>>>to add your name to the list of people, who don't
>want
>>>to receive any direct marketing mailings. Most
>>>civilized list brokers and direct marketing firms
>>>respect the customer preference, when expressed in
>>>these so called Robinson lists, and filter you out of
>>>their mailing lists. (mind you, only filter, not
>>>remove!) You must inform the preference servises in
>>>every country, where disturbing post is send to you.
>>>
>>>The Federation of European Direct Marketing, FEDMA,
>>>www.fedma.org, knows the existing procedures and
>>>contact points in European countries. However, they
>>>have so far released in internet only a summary with
>>>no useful data to the customer! So you have to
>contact
>>>FEDMA in person, and request the names, addresses,
>etc
>>>of the national preference services, which you need
>to
>>>inform about your preference of NOT wanting any
>direct
>>>marketing mailings. The FEDMA offices are in Belgium
>>>and he person to contact is Margrethe Saxegaard PR
>and
>>>Communications Manager, msaxegaard@fedma.org , phone
>>>32 2 776 03 91
>>>
>>>The www.junkbusters.com site is a very good place to
>>>visit too. It offers good information on your rights,
>>>legal aspects and what to do if you get dissatisfied.

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