Logo
Login
Sign Up

Our Warning
About Blue Castle
Agency & Curtis
Key - A Real Case
Study of Payment
Disputes

Our Warning About Blue Castle Agency & Curtis Key A Real Case Study of Payment Disputes

Learn what happened when our agency worked with Blue Castle Agency.

A real case study of payment disputes, reversed charges, and what other businesses should be aware of before working with them.

Introduction

In early 2025, our company — Newson.io, a global marketing and sales fulfillment agency — entered into a multi-month service contract with Blue Castle Agency, led by Curtis Key.

Despite successfully delivering high-volume lead generation, outreach, and appointment-setting services (including one confirmed client win on his side), we were left with over $5,000 USD in reversed payments through Stripe disputes and suffered a significant breach of trust and financial harm.

This article shares our first-hand experience so that others can make informed decisions when evaluating whether to work with Blue Castle Agency or Curtis Key.

About Blue Castle Agency

Blue Castle Agency is a recruitment company focused on real
estate and property management hiring, operating publicly through:

Key Issues We Experienced

  • Curtis confirmed his happiness with the campaign only one week before filing disputes
  • He won a client through our campaign (we have proof)
  • He asked us to enable recurring billing, then reversed all charges, claiming no consent
  • We submitted full campaign logs, recordings, Slack messages, and proof of delivery
  • The disputes claimed fraudulent charges, despite full knowledge and approval

The Financial Team Impact

  • $5,000+ USD in refunds and chargebacks were processed by Stripe, pulled from our account
  • 12+ team members were affected, who had worked full-time across 3+ months
  • The financial and emotional burden has been real, and we felt a duty to speak out

Timeline of Events

Dec 2024 – Feb 2025

We engaged in a multi-month project with Blue Castle Agency, delivering services for lead generation, SDR outreach, campaign management, and client acquisition. Over 12 full-time team members worked on the campaign.

Jan - March 2025​

Automatic monthly billing was enabled and agreed upon by the client. Curtis explicitly confirmed recurring payments via Stripe and even thanked us for a successful campaign that brought him a confirmed client.

March 2025​

Curtis Key reversed all payments via fraudulent chargebacks, totaling over $5,000, across :

  • $400 dispute
  • $1,200 dispute
  • Additional transactions disputed, despite approved work

We had even issued partial refunds upfront for weeks of unused time (as a gesture of goodwill) before the disputes — yet Curtis filed full chargebacks on top of that, effectively receiving more money back than he paid.

The Financial Team Impact
We have submitted the following to Stripe :
  • Campaign reports
  • Confirmation of recurring billing consent
  • Slack/Email proof of client satisfaction
  • Payment records and timelines.
Screenshoot (Redacted for Privacy)
  • Stripe Chargeback Notifications
  • Payment Approval
  • Messages Confirming Satisfaction
  • Alt tags included for search visibility: "Blue Castle Agency payment dispute", "Curtis Key Stripe chargeback", etc.

Why We’re Publishing This

This is not intended as an attack it is a warning to other vendors, agencies, and freelancers to do their due diligence before working with Blue Castle Agency or Curtis Key. We believe transparency is a responsibility in the business world.

For Those Searching

If you’re considering working with this company and landed here searching for :
  • Blue Castle Agency reviews
  • Is Blue Castle Agency legit?
  • Blue Castle Agency complaint
  • Curtis Key Blue Castle
  • Blue Castle recruitment scam

If you’re considering working with this company and landed here searching for :

For Those Searching

If you’re another vendor or agency that’s had a similar experience, or want to
collaborate on a joint legal case, please reach out.

Disclaimer

This article is based on our direct experience and supporting evidence. It does not constitute legal advice or an accusation of criminal behavior. All individuals mentioned have the opportunity to share their side or clarify. This content is protected by freedom of expression and transparency laws. All statements are true to the best of our knowledge and backed by internal documentation.

Final Note

We’ve worked with hundreds of clients globally, with verified testimonials and 5-star reviews. This is a rare case, and we felt it necessary to speak up. If you’re ever unsure about a new client, trust your gut and ask for payment guarantees upfront.
Login
Sign Up