Complaint Review: The College Funding Center

In April of 2003 we received an invitation to attend a seminar at the University of Charleston in WV regarding our sons financial needs for college. Us, as parents desparately seeking a way to afford sending our child to college, and believing that it was a trust worthy business that helped people out, we went to this seminar.

We assumed that the college wouldnt invite a company in without checking them out first so we were sold on the product. We put a total cost of $995.00 on our credit card and went about our way thinking that we wouldnt have to worry much about getting him into college.

The company sent a newsletter that included scholarship information in which we sent back requesting scholorship applications. We received a few back in the mail and filled them out and sent them in as requested. We called requesting ACT study materials, which we got in the mail also.

The next thing we knew we received an email stating that they were forced out of business after 19 years. We assumed that they filed bankruptcy.

Our next step was to call the college to see what all the funding center had taken care of and were informed that they had not been in contact at all and that we were not the only ones who had been taken.

After having moved and calling the college to change our address and take care of some business, I called the Federal Trade Commission and filed a complaint. They told me to go to their website and read the press releases, etc. I did this to find that we are not alone, that's for sure.

My next step was to call an attorney to see if there was anything that we could do to get our money back from the college funding center. We are waiting on a return call at this point.

Good Luck All!!!

Cynthia
bloomingrose, West Virginia
U.S.A.