Thread: Ziva gibbs scam!

Okay,

So if you search for Ziva Gibbs in this forum, you'll get that one post where she's doing a tour of the US doing workshops, etc.

She canceled at the last minute with a sick excuse and said all participants will be refunded within 2 months.

NEVER refunded my money, even after repeated emails. No responses to any of them.

I contacted the sponsoring studio, who gave me some contact info.

I contacted Chad Gibbs, her husband, who's apparently also manager.
Said he'd refund the money simply because he thinks it's wrong of her to not refund anyone. Nice of him. Apparently they've separated and she's left him in this mess. He said he'd send it to the address provided.

I've been waiting for 2 weeks since then. So I contact him again just to double check. NO RESPONSE.

__________________________________________________ ___________


As far as I'm concerned, this is essentially stealing my money. I paid for a workshop. You cancelled. You promised refund. But instead, you've decided to keep the money.

She's a legitimate professional belly dancer. And this is highly unprofessional.

I'm just extremely frustrated with the whole situation. ,m::

Anybody else having the same problem??

If this is the same person I'm thinking of....she ESCAPED an abusive relationship, with a backpack of clothes, and nothing else. She may be in hiding (seriously) and I'm sure, knowing her, she certainly didn't mean to "steal" from anybody. Hell, she may not even have access to her bank accounts :(
Hang in there....

If it's on your credit card, dispute the charge. Don't wait for a refund, as your time to dispute will run out.

Don't you usually get refunds from the hosting studio and not the w/s instructor? The w/s instructor gets paid upfront by the studio or event host and then the event host takes monies for the workshop so the refund comes from the studio/host right?

The Gibbs were looking to rent studio time as an alternative to sponsorship. In the rental case, the studio would not be responsible. Mad, yes, but not responsible.
'We need to rent a large dance studio space for a day and we would like to know what your rate would be for Saturday 7/24/2010. In addition to your rate we are offering an incentive plan of 15% of the profit of tickets that are referred by you. We would need the space for approx 5-6 hours. We would be taking care of our own promotions and advertising, we just need the space to host the workshop.'

If someone else was managing her affairs, that someone else might have arranged *both* the original booking and the cancellation. Lots of people share their email passwords with their spouses too - an email from "Jill" might actually be written by "Jack". Or "Jack" might steal "Jill"'s password via spyware if they share a computer.

I don't have much sympathy for people who weasel out of their professional obligations, but sometimes safety and sanity are more important than continuing with a bad business partner, or an unhappy marriage.

I'm hoping for the sake of the attendees that this was a $60 workshop, not a $150 one. Thank goodness these kinds of cancellations don't happen too often!

If you check out this thread, you will notice that both Mr and Mrs Gibbs are posting under the same login - but have signed different names.

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/rest-belly...hop-email.html

I don't know about her personal situation. But she really should refund all those students.

And it was only $50. Plus time out of my day to figure all this out. I'm currently in college. aka $50 is a lot! and time is precious as this was occuring during my midterms.

And the studio would not be refunding my money.

All I know is, I'll be watching out for HER and people like her. This really sways me against taking any workshops from lesser known "professional" dancers.

I'm not sure if I can dispute it, as I willfully paid for it. Whether or not I get a refund is under her terms of conditions. I'm not about to start some case concerning such trivial money.

Originally Posted by sandyw239

I'm not sure if I can dispute it, as I willfully paid for it. Whether or not I get a refund is under her terms of conditions. I'm not about to start some case concerning such trivial money.

You can probably fill out a dispute form for the charge online, if you paid by credit card. It's a common practice, when someone does not receive what they have paid for. The card company will investigate, determine that no workshop was forthcoming after you paid for it, and will likely reverse the charge for you.

It certainly doesn't hurt to try.

Originally Posted by sandyw239

I don't know about her personal situation. But she really should refund all those students.

And it was only $50. Plus time out of my day to figure all this out. I'm currently in college. aka $50 is a lot! and time is precious as this was occuring during my midterms.

My point is that Ziva Gibbs might never have seen your money, as her husband and business partner was making many of the arrangements. How much moral obligation does she have to refund fees solicited in her name, if she never had access to the money?

For the sake of argument, let's assume that Ziva was a willing partner in the workshop tour plan, and had access to some or all of the proceeds at some point in time. Then, she has some moral obligation to return the funds. But if she is in fact homeless and jobless due to leaving her husband and "business manager" (as the previous poster suggested), I would expect it to be quite some time before any refund occurs. Her first priority should be to feed and house herself.

Also, Ziva might not have access to the records of who registered and paid. I personally would have a hard time writing a check to "refund" $50 to someone, if I had no record of the sale.

I'm not on the side of anyone who takes $$ without delivering advertised goods and services. It does occur to me that a malicious person can do a great deal of damage to someone else's reputation by promising something in their name. It's like blackmail - the Named person has to follow through, or else their reputation takes a hit.

Originally Posted by sandyw239

I don't know about her personal situation. But she really should refund all those students.

And it was only $50. Plus time out of my day to figure all this out. I'm currently in college. aka $50 is a lot! and time is precious as this was occuring during my midterms.

And the studio would not be refunding my money.

All I know is, I'll be watching out for HER and people like her. This really sways me against taking any workshops from lesser known "professional" dancers.

I'm not sure if I can dispute it, as I willfully paid for it. Whether or not I get a refund is under her terms of conditions. I'm not about to start some case concerning such trivial money.

She should refund your money, BUT if, as another user posted,

If this is the same person I'm thinking of....she ESCAPED an abusive relationship, with a backpack of clothes, and nothing else. She may be in hiding (seriously) and I'm sure, knowing her, she certainly didn't mean to "steal" from anybody. Hell, she may not even have access to her bank accounts :(
Hang in there....

I can't blame her at all for not making refunds a priority. If she is this person, her priority should be herself and her safety right now; I can't imagine what she would be going through: mentally, physically, etc. I hope that you would be understanding of this.

Da_sage brings up an excellent point; I think there was at least one other story about a divorcing couple whose husband ran the business, and the woman lost her website and probably other business aspects that I'm not aware of. For all we know, she doesn't even have control over her own bank accounts and have money to refund.

Cheating people out of money is typically poor practice, but if there were truly extenuating circumstances, compassion is warranted IMO. Also, IMO, I think it's a terrible idea to not take workshops from lesser known dancers; even if Ziva is truly cheating you without reason, she is one person out of so many fantastic teachers who are not well-known.

Patisha posting on David's login here. Does anyone not recognize the name Ziva Gibbs as two characters from a fictional TV show called "NCIS'?
Sounds fishey to me.

Originally Posted by david

Patisha posting on David's login here. Does anyone not recognize the name Ziva Gibbs as two characters from a fictional TV show called "NCIS'?
Sounds fishey to me.

Yes I recognized this too... it did seem odd to me, but could just be a coincidence I guess.

Is there anyone on bhuz who knows this dancer personally and can give us some insight? not details about her personal life/situation, but just attest to the fact that she is known in the area she teaches, has a student following, works for a certain studio... something?

ETA *oops, just read the thread regarding her workshop email and someone there seemed to know her well... I really hope she is ok :(

it seems on her website there is a Fall 2010 schedule, so maybe someone should call the studio number and see what they get...

Originally Posted by david

Patisha posting on David's login here. Does anyone not recognize the name Ziva Gibbs as two characters from a fictional TV show called "NCIS'?
Sounds fishey to me.

I wondered about that too. What about the person who knows her?

I don't know about this dancer, but I know about being in this situation. In fact, I was all excited to spend my birthday in another country celebrating at a belly dance festival 1000s of miles from home. That is, until 3 days before my departure date when I was called and informed that the festival was postponed indefinitely. In my case I had spent thousands of dollars on the airfare, a hotel stay, and festival activities only to have it canceled. I was devastated, but assured that I would get my refund if I didn't want to "reserve" a spot for when the thing actually took place. I told the director I just wanted it back, she said fine and that I'd have it in a couple of weeks.

I kept calling...FOR THREE MONTHS until I finally called up my credit card company crying and telling them the whole story. They let me dispute the charge and after another few months I did get my money back.

Just call your credit card company. They are more than happy to go after anyone to get paid.

Ziva Gibbs the belly dancer is a real person. We used to live in the same state where she had a strong student base. I've also seen/judged her in some belly dance competitions to which I have the dvds. She's even auditioned for SYTYCD so I'm sure there is a clip online.

I don't know about her personal life but I do know that her husband, Chad, was her business manager and can attest that he was difficult to deal with. He always had a list of questions and recommendations for events that she was attending.

She was always pleasant to talk to so I can't imagine her doing this on purpose. She worked really hard to promote herself.

You can dispute this with your credit card company because you never received the service. Do you have the original registration information? Is there a clause about refund in the event of a cancellation? If so that could help you too.

This is Chad Gibbs, Ziva's husband. I will not go into details of our relationship but I will answer your long awaited and frustrated questions.

This was not a scam on any part. We had every intentions of refunding everyones money which was about 6 or 7 students. Some have gotten theres while others there has not been any money. Ziva knows about the refunds and we are both sharing this responsibility as finances allows us too.

We had canceled the tour because at the time Ziva was physically sick with what she was told was cervical cancer. Fortunately that is not the case...for now. As for our personal lives, she did not escape or flee the state. She had decided after years of personal issues between her and I and things from her past, that she needed to seek professional help and I have taken the same route. To sit here and speculate about our personal lives and assume you know either one of us, is a disgrace and merely gossip. I don't care what anyones opinion is of our situation as we all have struggles and I would not judge anyone without first looking at myself.

We all have our own faults and flaws but there is no need to point a finger at anyone, because you are only hearing one side of the story and from select people. As my pastor says if you want to know the truth go to the source. Well I am the source, and truth be told, many have already received a refund. I know there are still people out there that we owe money to, and I have shared those with Ziva and forwarded them to her personal email address. She has a new job now, and I have taken over the old dance studio, so that we can both try to get some kind of income coming in so that we can pay off the people we owe money too. Going through what we are going through as a couple is not exactly an easy thing, especially when I am the one who caused most of the damage and now I have to live with that. So to those that have an ill fated image of Ziva in your head, I only ask that you be kind to her and be respectful of her, as several have said on here, she is in fact the most kind hearted person I have ever met. If you want to be angry at anyone regardless of whos fault or who owes who, please bare that on my shoulders and if she can help me to pay some of you back then she will. We are both dealing with this together as responsible as we can, so please, please be patient with us. We are not trying to scam anyone, we are just having financial issues right now. If we have to pay you back $1/wk for a year than thats what we will do, because its the best we can do right now.

Ziva is doing well for those that know her or of her. She is very happy where she is at right now and has joined several dance companies and studios. She is as she put it "in dancer heaven". I thank you all for your concern for her and please if you can keep us both in your prayers. Whatever happens to us it is God's will, and we can not change that.

Thank you all.

If you would like to personally contact me by email below is my address. If you want to get in touch with Ziva because you know her, please email below and i will put you in contact with her.

Sincerely
Chad Gibbs
gibbsproductions@hotmail.com

Thank you everyone for the input.

Just as closure to this thread -I finally did receive the check.

PS -It took a public forum to get this to happen, as repeated emails were ignored.

Originally Posted by sandyw239

Thank you everyone for the input.

Just as closure to this thread -I finally did receive the check.

PS -It took a public forum to get this to happen, as repeated emails were ignored.

Pss. Obviously emails were not ignored, that's why you got your refund check. The public forum was only noticed a week ago, and responded to. The issues were already being dealt with between Ziva and I and the people like you that emailed us as I had just previously stated. All of the emails were being shared between Ziva and I and properly dealt with to the best of our abilities as time and money aloud us. Thank you yet again for your patients. I hope this will close the verbal & public bashing on both of us, as it has been handled as we promised it would be.

harmoney76;772495]

If this is the same person I'm thinking of....she ESCAPED an abusive relationship, with a backpack of clothes, and nothing else. She may be in hiding (seriously) and I'm sure, knowing her, she certainly didn't mean to "steal" from anybody. Hell, she may not even have access to her bank accounts :(
Hang in there....[

You are correct - that is exactly what she did and she is now in my neck of the woods, safe and doing well. The now ex was hacking into her email accounts, sending out lies, making her life hell. She is only now finally able to go back to PA and get her things.
I know nothing of the workshop that was cancelled as I only knew her after she came to our area, when she was fleeing an abusive situation. She is a dear, sweet person and fabulous dancer and would never intentionally do anything to hurt anyone or be dishonest. That would be the ex's work!

Originally Posted by MellyBelly

Is there anyone on bhuz who knows this dancer personally and can give us some insight? not details about her personal life/situation, but just attest to the fact that she is known in the area she teaches, has a student following, works for a certain studio... something?

Maybe a mute point since the original problem was solved, but I've only known Ziva to be kind, generous, supportive, and genuine. Not to go deeply into personal issues, but she really has had some health trouble, too, so that is definitely not a scam.

Always good to be cautious with sending money over the internet, maybe it is better to pay at the door? but if you can, try not to let it sour you on taking workshops with her. She has a lot to offer and is quite good at explaining technique.

I hope that you're location is not factual Galia, since we know the husband has been on the site and may be able to find her based on your post.

Originally Posted by kina

I hope that you're location is not factual Galia, since we know the husband has been on the site and may be able to find her based on your post.

wow, is this thread still seriously going. People if you want the truth on how our real relationship is by all means email Ziva zivalynn@yahoo.com or feel free to call her. Her phone number is listed on her facebook page or you can visit entertainmentbyziva.com to contact her and find out the real truth.
We still talk, we stay in touch, things have changed immensely. We talk on the phone, we are very civil with each other. Yes we are still separated and working on the divorce. We both have said many bad things about each other some true and some not, but please let it go! Her and I already have. I do know where she lives, she publicly announces where she will be at and exactly what time on facebook all the time, and yet here I am happy in California and having moved on and nothing ever having happened to Ziva since she left almost a YEAR ago, so why don't you all move on?

Chad

Originally Posted by Ghalia

harmoney76;772495]

If this is the same person I'm thinking of....she ESCAPED an abusive relationship, with a backpack of clothes, and nothing else. She may be in hiding (seriously) and I'm sure, knowing her, she certainly didn't mean to "steal" from anybody. Hell, she may not even have access to her bank accounts :(
Hang in there....[

You are correct - that is exactly what she did and she is now in my neck of the woods, safe and doing well. The now ex was hacking into her email accounts, sending out lies, making her life hell. She is only now finally able to go back to PA and get her things.
I know nothing of the workshop that was cancelled as I only knew her after she came to our area, when she was fleeing an abusive situation. She is a dear, sweet person and fabulous dancer and would never intentionally do anything to hurt anyone or be dishonest. That would be the ex's work!

There are 2 sides to every story just remember that before publicly blasting someone. First off, lets clarify that Ziva and I now have a very civil relationship, as we talk on the phone, text and email each other. I never "hacked" her old or new email account for that matter, as I was the one who created it along with her facebook account since I was also her manager and she never had time for that. yes I did some stupid stuff with her facebook page but it was fully handed over to her since Nov. She was never in danger as she has told everyone, and the proof is evident since nothing ever happened and I have known for the last year where she is, and she knows this as well. As far as the "ex's" work, at being dishonest, we both owed people money from the tour...it has been taken care of. As far as her stuff in PA that she is now finally able to go and get....where do you think she got all of the costumes you have been seeing her perform in? I sent them to her a month or 2 after she left, in addition, after packing up our house and paying to store her stuff, I then moved it to our church because I moved to California. I moved it there so her stuff would continue to be safe. Be careful on how you judge people simply from hearing one side of the story, not very christian like... Ziva will tell you the same thing....Thou shall not judge, but accept thy enemy and love thy neighbor. If you are truly a friend of Ziva's you can verify everything I just said. zivalynn@yahoo.com or visit her website at Entertainment by Ziva | Belly Dance Entertainment for Your Event! or maybe you are already her friend on facebook at Ziva Gibbs | Facebook her phone number is published there as well.

Blessings to you
Chad "The Ex"

Originally Posted by _ZIVA_

wow, is this thread still seriously going. People if you want the truth on how our real relationship is by all means email Ziva zivalynn@yahoo.com or feel free to call her. Her phone number is listed on her facebook page or you can visit entertainmentbyziva.com to contact her and find out the real truth.
We still talk, we stay in touch, things have changed immensely. We talk on the phone, we are very civil with each other. Yes we are still separated and working on the divorce. We both have said many bad things about each other some true and some not, but please let it go! Her and I already have. I do know where she lives, she publicly announces where she will be at and exactly what time on facebook all the time, and yet here I am happy in California and having moved on and nothing ever having happened to Ziva since she left almost a YEAR ago, so why don't you all move on?

Chad

Excellent. Happy for the both of you.

Yet you're on bhuz posting under *her* name, not your own.

I don't see a posting from her, although to be fair it's the internet and she could be posting under Chad.

I'm not judging either of you, or holding any of this *over* you.

I would be concerned about ANYONE who was reported to have been stalked with ANYONE reporting on that person's whereabouts.

And since I don't know either of you, in any way shape or form, could give a flying f for the circumstances.

Originally Posted by kina

Excellent. Happy for the both of you.

Yet you're on bhuz posting under *her* name, not your own.

I don't see a posting from her, although to be fair it's the internet and she could be posting under Chad.

I'm not judging either of you, or holding any of this *over* you.

I would be concerned about ANYONE who was reported to have been stalked with ANYONE reporting on that person's whereabouts.

And since I don't know either of you, in any way shape or form, could give a flying f for the circumstances.

Yeah, I know and realize its under her name but again another thing that I created to help manage and publicize her and I really don't want my own account, so I just sign my name at the bottom and she has the password too so when she would post she would sign her name, or when she used to have me post for her then I would sign her name as well because it was dictated by her, but thanks for not Judging like others have, thanks for the concern as well. I spoke to her today actually about this, she said she doesn't even want to pay any attention to it and I shouldn't either, so I will try, but its hard not to take offense and defend yourself to someone writing negative stuff about you...especially from the past. Thanks all and take care.

(the spam this was responding to is gone)