The Irish News has today confirmed that over 50 former students of Darren Campbell’s FBA Brand Builder (FBABB) are now taking legal action against him. The group lawsuit, led by Phoenix Law, claims the programme misled participants, led to serious financial losses, and even provided unqualified financial advice.
Some former students say they’ve lost over £30,000, with one person even losing their home after following FBABB’s business model. The case is also set to be referred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for further investigation.
One of the most shocking allegations in the lawsuit is that Darren encouraged clients to exaggerate their income on credit card applications to secure more borrowing. The report also mentions video footage where he allegedly told clients to treat investing in their business like paying a ransom for a kidnapped child—a high-pressure sales tactic designed to push people into even greater financial risk.
Phoenix Law has confirmed that they are still accepting new plaintiffs, so any former or current FBABB student who feels they were misled can still join the case.
Full Irish News Report – Group Lawsuit Against FBABB
FBA Brand Builder: Legal action launched against Darren Campbell after more than 50 students say they were left in ‘financial ruin’
Darren Campbell of ‘FBA Brand Builder’, based in Ballymena, is the target of the civil action which claims a number of participants in his online course were left tens of thousands of pounds in debt.
A group legal case is to be launched against an online business guru from Northern Ireland who is alleged to have left more than 50 students on his programme in “financial ruin”.
Darren Campbell of the ‘FBA Brand Builder’, based in Ballymena, is the target of the civil action which claims multiple participants in his online course were left tens of thousands of pounds in debt after being encouraged to go “all in” regardless of financial profitability through his “brand building” programme.
The entrepreneur has denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
The FBA Brand Builder was established off the back of Mr Campbell’s own stated success using Fulfilled by Amazon, a system which allows entrepreneurs to set up a business and have Amazon take care of the logistics of packaging and delivering the products.
Prices to get on to the mentoring programme established by Mr Campbell start at £6,500, but some participants spoken to by The Irish News say they have been left in debt of more than £30,000 and one person said they lost their home.
The group legal action is being brought by Phoenix Law, who say they represent more than 50 former participants in the programme and are seeking others to come forward with evidence.
The legal action alleges that the programme misled participants, caused significant financial losses, and provided unethical and potentially unlawful advice to participants.
Allegations against the FBA Brand Builder include misleading claims of profitability and success, failure to disclose hidden costs of the programme, misrepresentation of expertise, deceptive practices and unqualified financial advice.
In the pre-action correspondence issued to Mr Campbell, it is claimed that he and the company “used fabricated or unverifiable client testimonials and failed to disclose the true financial commitments required”.
Allegations of improper financial advice in the claim include “advising clients to use credit cards without warning of associated risk” and “persistently encouraging further investments regardless of plaintiffs' financial situations”, as well as tax evasion.
Videos seen by The Irish News appear to show Mr Campbell encouraging clients to inflate their income on credit card applications and equating investing in their business to what they would do if their children were kidnapped.
The lead plaintiff in the case has claimed a loss of £30,000 as a result of the company’s actions and is seeking damages, while it’s understood 56 others have engaged with Phoenix Law as part of the group action.
The law firm says it will be bringing the case to the attention of the PSNI and the Financial Conduct Authority.
It’s understood the company has been brought to the attention of the PSNI previously, who said “no criminal offences” were identified.
A solicitor for Mr Campbell and the FBA Brand Builder told the Irish News that pre-action correspondence has been launched against their clients, but formal legal proceedings and any group action have not yet been issued.
The representative said the claims were “without merit and baseless”.
“Both Darren Campbell and The FBA Brand Builder denies the claims set out in Phoenix Law’s pre-action protocol letter and will robustly defend any proceedings should they be issued,” a statement said.
“The claims are without merit and baseless.”
Our Response – What This Means for FBABB Clients
For months, former FBABB students have been speaking out about the programme’s misleading sales tactics, hidden costs, and intense financial pressure.
This group lawsuit now confirms what many have already claimed:
- Darren misrepresented the financial success of FBABB students.
- The true cost of the programme is far higher than £6,500.
- Students were pressured into taking out credit cards and loans without a full understanding of the risks.
- Many lost significant amounts of money, with some facing serious financial hardship.
- The legal case against FBABB is growing, and new plaintiffs are still being accepted.
If you were affected by FBA Brand Builder, contact Phoenix Law to discuss your options.
Client Reactions – Current and Former Students Speak Out
Since The Irish News published its report, both current and former FBABB students have spoken out about their experiences.
A Current FBABB Student Speaks Out – £10,000 Spent and Too Scared to Ask Questions
“I am a current FBA student who has attended all the calls and am so scared now to speak in case I get kicked out. I have already spent £10,000 on this ‘course’—not that we can call it a course, it’s a programme apparently.”
“I have watched his meltdowns on the calls, and then when they’re uploaded, those clips are missing.”
“The new program was supposed to launch on January 6th, then delayed to the 20th, then 24th, 25th… then Darren blamed the storm. Finally, at 12:30 AM on the 28th, it came out. There are no differences.”
Former FBABB Clients React to the Legal Case
Another former student reacted to the news of the lawsuit, stating:
“Darren Campbell, you are the lowest of the low. Personally (and I think I speak for many of us), I want this to go to court so that when we win (and believe me we will), we can watch you hang your head in shame and lose everything! So Darren, bring it on because when that day comes we will stand together and celebrate at your downfall.”
These statements reflect the growing frustration among FBABB students—both past and present—who feel misled, pressured into financial risk, and silenced whenever they tried to raise concerns.
The Walls Are Closing in on Darren Campbell
With The Irish News, The Belfast Telegraph, and Phoenix Law now involved, concerns about FBA Brand Builder are gaining mainstream attention.
Darren Campbell and his team can deny the allegations all they like, but the growing number of clients speaking out—and the scale of financial losses reported—tells a very different story.
For those still in the programme, this is a crucial moment. If you’re questioning your involvement with FBABB, you’re not alone. There are now legal options available for those who feel they were misled.
If you’ve been affected by FBABB and want to take part in the legal action, you’ll need to contact Phoenix Law directly.
Phoenix Law Contact Information:
- Complete the Client Questionnaire Here
- Call: 028 9032 8383
- Email: [email protected]
Our website is not affiliated with Phoenix Law—we’re simply informing past and current FBABB clients about their legal options.
For those who once believed in FBABB, the truth is becoming increasingly clear. Darren Campbell’s high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic promises have left many in financial hardship. Now, as this legal case moves forward, former clients are taking a stand.