The Relationship School’s Pattern of Legal Threats and Chargeback Intimidation: A Closer Look at the Facts

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In recent months, The Relationship School, founded by Jayson Gaddis, has come under fire for its aggressive tactics toward students and former clients who raise concerns or seek financial recourse. Among the most troubling patterns is the organization’s frequent use of defamation accusations against individuals who speak out about their negative experiences. Equally concerning is the School’s alleged misuse of chargeback systems and reported attempts to undermine consumers’ legal right to dispute unauthorized or misrepresented charges.

Weaponizing Defamation to Silence Dissent

Several former students have reported receiving cease-and-desist letters from The Relationship School or its legal representatives after publicly criticizing the organization. These letters often cite defamation or misrepresentation, but critics argue this is a deliberate attempt to silence valid consumer concerns.

Defamation, by legal definition, requires a false statement of fact that harms someone’s reputation. However, many of the statements being challenged—such as course pricing, accreditation status, or refund policies—are verifiable and based on lived experience. When individuals share their firsthand interactions with a company, especially regarding financial disputes or program dissatisfaction, those statements are generally protected under free speech laws, particularly in Canada and the U.S.

Mischaracterizing Chargebacks as “Fraud”

Even more disturbing is The Relationship School’s apparent tactic of accusing former students of fraud for initiating chargebacks through their banks. A chargeback is a legal consumer protection process intended to reverse unauthorized, deceptive, or undelivered transactions. When a customer feels misled, pressured into a high-cost contract, or is denied a promised refund, they have the right to dispute the charge through their financial institution.

Labeling this legal process as “fraud” is a gross misrepresentation. In fact, falsely accusing someone of fraud when they are exercising a lawful consumer right may itself constitute defamation or harassment. Several individuals have reported being threatened with legal action after initiating chargebacks—even when those disputes resulted from lack of program delivery, misrepresented course value, or unaccredited coaching claims.

Behind Closed Doors: Lack of Transparency and Financial Pressure

The Relationship School has marketed its flagship programs—such as Relationship Mastery and the Relationship Coach Training Program—for prices ranging from $5,000 to $9,000, depending on payment structure. Students have described high-pressure tactics, including contracts that bind them to payment plans with little to no refund flexibility. Others have expressed concern that hardship programs, initially offered as support, later become financial traps with aggressive collections or legal consequences if the student withdraws.

Additionally, there are claims that The Relationship School has attempted to contact clients’ banks directly to interfere with chargeback processes or influence the outcome. This raises serious ethical and possibly legal concerns.

Conclusion: Legal Threats Should Not Be Used to Obscure Truth

Rather than addressing student grievances transparently and ethically, The Relationship School appears to rely on legal threats, intimidation, and payment system manipulation to avoid accountability. Accusing consumers of defamation or fraud when they raise legitimate concerns or seek refunds through legal means is not only unethical—it may itself be unlawful.

Consumers have the right to speak up about their experiences, share reviews, and use established financial protection systems without fear of retaliation. Until there is meaningful change in The Relationship School’s practices, more individuals will likely continue to come forward with similar stories—no matter how many cease-and-desist letters are sent.

Tags: The Relationship School, Jayson Gaddis, defamation, chargebacks, consumer protection, coaching programs, legal threats, student rights, financial manipulation, online education