Feedback sought - Partnering with a 'Guru' and getting screwed...

Hello Warriors,

Although I am newly registered here, I've been aware and about the site for some time now (since early this year), I've just not had anything much to contribute.

I've been working towards my goal of making a living online since January of this year, and apart from a few misguided leaps of faith resulting in the loss of a fair whack of our savings, I've enjoyed the learning experience so far. However I come to you needing some feedback and some advice if anyone has any.

The short version of the story (because oh boy it's a long one), is that in April of this year I got word that one of the so called 'gurus' was looking to take on a select few partners to work directly alongside with. Part of the email stated:

I replied with my story and waited patiently. I was blown away when not only did I get a reply, but a response informing me that we should get on Skype because it sounded like I was what he was looking for. So I did... we got on skype, talked about it and I handed over $2500 US which at the time converted to $3400 Australian. It was the last of my savings...

The deal was that I would be working alongside this guy, creating a product from scratch on something I knew, and then these huge emails lists into the hundreds of thousands owned by all the partners involved would be used to promote it. There were approx 10 people involved with this, all with their own lists and customers.

At the end of people purchasing my product, there would be a recommendation for one of these other 10 people's products. At the end of their products, would be mine. (basically OTO's / back end sales) It would be (as I understood it) a random product promoted at the end of a sale by all 10 of these people.

This meant that not only would I make my sale profits, but also affiliate sales for any second buys. All good.

That was in April. My product was completed in June and since then I have been trying to get it online ready for sales. At the start I got replies to all my emails, but then it started taking 2...3 or even 4 follow ups to get a response. Questions went completely ignored and the 'working closely with' was complete BS. I ended up having to do everything myself, even when I out and out asked for feedback on my sales letter, price point etc.

Finally, after yet another string of emails, on the 8th of December I was informed that they would email out a test run (so not the big email lists I was promised) that weekend. Which would make it the 12th and 13th of December. I sat and watched Clickbank all weekend. Nothing.

I followed up on the 15th of December asking what was happening... I've never received a response.

On the 19th of December I wrote a lengthy email stating all the problems to date, the fact that next to nothing that was originally agreed to has been honored on their side (I've done everything I was asked and more... all alone too) and now, they aren't promoting my product as agreed so I want my $2500 back.

As one would expect... no response.

My question to you all is... is there anything I can do? This was all handled by Paypal, but since it was back in April there's no way for me to request a refund that I can see. While there was no signed agreement, the payment was for 'services' of which I've received none. And now, any and all emails are being completely ignored.

What can do I?