Complaint Review: SYNERGY PRO CONSULTING

On April 26 of 2006 I was contacted by Synergy initiated by a internet search.
I explained that I was on a fixed disability income and was looking for a way to get a grant for a buisness idea.

Being very ignorant at the time of granting procedures and Synergy being "PROS" I listened intently.

I explained the project to them and they said it would be no problem they would guarranty the results.

Their program consisted of 12 coaching sessions with a "Grant Coach", That coach would "guide us through the application process and the preparation of the formal procedures". Also the coach would match us with the correct grants that were avaliable. The reason it would be a gurrantee is that the coaching staff had a 97% success rate. It was also said that when we were finished we would have a complete buisness plan.

At this point we disscused the price which would be 5950 dollars. When I mentioned that sounded like too much they said it would not be a problem as it would be written into a grant and being we would probably have the grant money within 90 dayswe would only have to make a couple of minimun payments on the credit card.

We signed up and about 2 weeks later we had our first "coaching session".
the genleman that called was quite arrogant and proceeded to tell us for the half hour how great he was but did tell us it would be much easier to get a grant to publish a book . end of session. The only thing we got out of the next two sessions was that we needed to be a non-profit to recieve a grant
The time came for the next session but no call. I called the next day and was informed the coach took a long weekend because of the Memorial Day holiday ok.

During the next 2 sessions all we recieved was info on how to get on grants .gov and guide star. If you are new to such a thing its like shouting fish in a river.

At that time I called in and said we wanted a refund but was told that wasn't possible but they would assign a new coach. Which they did.

The first thing the new coach did was ask us for our buisness plan of which we had no idea what that consisted of so he sent us a copy of one he had used however it made no sense to us for our project.

After three sessions with our new coach we were informed that it was the last session. We still knew exactly nothing about applying for a grant.

I called the company and they were absolutely rude and told me basicaly that was it. They counted the two sessions that the first coach was't there for.

I have made attempts by e-mail and phone calls but have gotten no replys.

Now after much research of my own I know it was impossible for them to do what they claimed they could. The only thing they did that they said was take my money.

In my opinion it is a complete fraud

Dave
waukon, Iowa
U.S.A.