Complaint Review: National Small Business Alliance - National Small Business Association) - Washington District of Columbia

I am an exemployee, of a marketing place for them in worcester mass.... UNfortunatly, there wording that they had me read to people on the phone is legal. BUT it still tricks people. Most normal people think when they here a line of credit is a credit card, but if you do not ask the questions on the phone, you get scamed. I personaly am not proud of scaming people, I was one of there top scamers, but i did not like what and how people were getting scamed, so the few i did scam in the 2 weeks i was at the job, i apoligize.... Just a word of advice, NEVER EVER by any thing over the phone, Never Ever give out your checking info or credit card info Over the Phone. You will get scamed and loose out on more money in the end run. Now with NSBA, in one year they will send you a little yellow post card and it will say we are going to renew you "membership" and you have so many days to call and dispute it. Just thought i would also give you the heads up on that. I personaly do not know who Denis is, not the owner. I have met the owner of NSBA, and he is an African guy with a name i do not dare to try to spell. Good luck with you quest, and I will try to answer any questions that you have, or give you suggestion, but my best one right now it to call and keep calling 20 times a day if need be every day till you get you money back, also write down the times and with whom you spoke to.

First of all my name is really Dennis Mario, my home number is listed and I do supply my direct cell phone number in each response. Second of all, all complaints have been answered by me personally and all my numbers do work and everyone is called back. Those of you who say differently have obviously gotten caught up in the fervor of this site and are either fabricating or embellishing just to get your 15 minutes of fame. SHAME ON YOU! Third, let's get real; if you do not tell me your name how in God's name can I help you?! The person who wrote this really needs to take a closer look at how he wants to be perceived by the rest of us. Regarding not ACHing back refunds; too many members had received refunds through ACH twice; once through us and once through the bank through complaining. Only one member ever returned the double payment. This forced us to go to a paper system because too too many people were not forthright. Here are the real facts: 1. NSBA is headquartered in Washington DC, NOT in Ohio. 2. NSBA prides itself on maintaining industry best practices by only selecting and solicitation businesses, scrubbing all calls through Federal, State and In-house DNC files. 3. All NSBA's scripts and materials are closely scrutinized by the same attorneys that are used by the Direct Marketing Association. 4. NSBA does not condone any misrepresentation or deviation from any attorney approved scripting 5. ALL sales verified through a third party verification company. 6. Further all sales are recorded and the member is played a pre-recorded disclosure that recaps exactly what the member is receiving and how the payments work and specifically asks if the member was offered anything else then what was just recapped in the recorded verification. 7. NSBA Trains Outsourced call centers to stick to script, monitors and has no tolerance for deviation. 8. Each outsourced call center is responsible to do quality assurance and listen to each and every recorded verification and cancel any not meeting NSBA's strict guidelines. 9. As a second level of quality control, NSBA also does its own quality assurance on each verification and cancels any that do not meet guidelines. 10. NSBA only benefits from having happy members. We take complaints very seriously. Finally, we have one of the best retention and renewal and lowest complaint rates in the industry. Dennis Mario NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC Direct: (760) 322-5572 X 100 Cell: (760) 902-8415 eFax: (760) 406-6035 [email protected]

I agree with the last poster "Blatant". I used to manage a Blockbuster in Gilbert, AZ. Now, this was a coporate run store, and at the time Blockbuster was owned by Viacom, the largest entertainment company in the world. In the 5 months I worked there, I would get a call from the NSBA at least once a week. A few times I held on the line long enough to tell them to remove my number from their list as we were definitely NOT a small business. Eventually, I would just hang up once I heard the recording start. But it was damned irritating having to run to answer the phone, only for it to be this stupid company calling. Had it been my own business, I would have filed harassment charges against them.

Niether of the phone numbers listed by Dennis Mario provide any relief for those frustrated by NSBA calls to their home/business phone numbers. DO NOT CALL DENNIS MARIO, OR YOU WILL GIVE UP EVEN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF TO HIM, WHICH MAKES HIS BUSINESS STRONGER. explanation: both of his numbers are not answered by him, OR any human being, but offer a recorded message where he asks for your name and phone number and additional information. IF the man who calls himself DENNIS MARIO WANTED TO TRULY MAKE A PERFECT SYSTEM FOR HIS BUSINESS TO STOP CALLING, HE WOULD SIMPLY NEED YOUR PHONE NUMBER (which he already has) AND THAT IS ALL. His database can be accessed and your phone number looked-up, and removed from his automatic calling system. This is not difficult. I REPEAT: DO NOT CALL DENNIS MARIO AND GIVE HIM ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN YOUR PHONE NUMBER. That should be enough, and the fact that he asks for your name, is confirmation that he is INDEED coaxing more information from you. He is using every single "legal" method to improve his database, and since his business is pretty unscrupulous in the first place, as evidenced by all these postings on NSBA, you can't trust him PERIOD. The only recourse to stop him is to either call your lawyer, or put your name onto the national do-not-call database and hope NSBA can't find a "legal" way to get around that law/system. and... To Dennis Mario First of all "Dennis", I doubt this is your real name, or else we'd all look you up in the phone book and crank call your home number-- same as you do to us. You say in each rebuttal you are trying to help, and then point out the ways in which your business doesn't violate the law. This website itsn't about whether you have violated the law, I'm sure you don't directly violate law but look for ways around the spirit of the laws. For instance, it is clear that many people do not wish to recieve multiple solicitations from your company, and EVEN MORE do not wish to give you any additional information about themselves. You run a bad business, which irritates plenty of people, plenty of people that don't even know how to go about battling you. Dennis Mario, prove to us you have given us your real name. We don't believe you, we don't trust you, you are a bad person, running a bad business which takes advantage of people's innocence-- Katrina victims no less! I dare you to rebutt this with REAL phone number to call or your real name-- you will not use a real name because you are afraid of all the people you piss off on a daily basis. Show yourself Dennis, give us your real name, and list yourself in the phonebook, plenty of us do, without fear. We don't want your address, just your home phone number, then you can recieve calls from people that don't want you to call them-- this is how crank calling has worked ever since star 69 was invented. If we have to live with it as a deterrent to unwanted calls, then so should you.

I answered the phone for a client this morning and Surprise, Surprise! I got a recorded NSBA "approval" call. I was busy but, thanks to Rip Off Report, I knew what those initials were. I simply disconnected the call. I will be sending you an email and advising you that this client's number is to be placed on your Do Not Call list. I will now make sure that everyone who answers the phone knows to hang up should it happen again.

First question: How do we get people's checking account numbers? Answer: The person provides it. One can clearly hear them doing so in the recording we do for each and every sale. That is the only way we can obtain this information. Second question: Credit misrepresentation issues Answer: We don't. 180,000 people have been through the process and less than of 1% (one-quarter of one percent) have complained. Third question: Location Answer: When I first started NSBA I had planned to move to DC. I moved to Palm Springs, CA instead. NSBA is housed in a 5500 Sq Ft facility in Palm Springs with offices in San Diego. Dennis Mario NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. 760-322-5572 Main 760-902-8415 Cell 760-406-6035 eFax [email protected]

He signed his rebuttal Dennis- Washington, District of Columbia yet all 3 phone numbers are in California. The main number is listed as Mario Consulting Group 180 N Luring Dr, Palm Springs, CA 760-322-5572. The LABBB issues the National Small Business Alliance a grade of 'F'. The credit lines offered are $5000 credit towards a vacation through a package deal where additional deposits are required before booking, and dates and itinerary are set by the company. Another credit line of $3000 has been offered for a computer, where 20-30% of the financed amount is requested as a deposit. The company has issued full refunds to most complaints, however has never addressed the accusations of credit misrepresentation. The Washington DC address listed is a "virtual office", where for about $113 per month, you can maintain a mailbox.

how did they get your account #? Did you give it to them? And if so...why?

how did they get your account #? Did you give it to them? And if so...why?

how did they get your account #? Did you give it to them? And if so...why?

how did they get your account #? Did you give it to them? And if so...why?

Because most banks allow 60-90 days for disputes, so these assholes are stringing this person along until that time runs out and then she will never get her money back. You need to get to your bank now before it's too late, they will never refund you. They are crooks.

I don't understand why a company can "debit" your account by $339.35, but they can't "credit" the money back to you. They have to mail you a refund and it may take months to do so. I don't really understand why they have to do it this way? Could someone please explain this to me.

Blanche I feel for your situation, I can't even imagine the turmoil you have been through. Regarding your refund, I am investigating to make sure we have your most recent and correct address and if the check hasn't been sent, to make sure it goes out this week. Blanche, I believe that there may have been misinterpretations on your side given the emotionally confused state that any victim losing every thing they own and having to relocate to a new area probably experiences. First of all, we would NEVER pose as the National Small Business Association, I personally don't like their tactics or reporting methods and really hate when people confuse the two organization. Second, we never say credit card, we always tell people that it is a line of credit. In fact, we can play back the recording so that you can rehear it and hear yourself agreeing to it. Lastly, we do NOT say we have any affiliation with FEMA nor does FEMA provide us with any information. Someone from our Member Escalation Team will be contacting you today. Dennis Mario NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. 760-322-5572 Main 760-902-8415 Cell 760-406-6035 eFax [email protected]

Blanche I feel for your situation, I can't even imagine the turmoil you have been through. Regarding your refund, I am investigating to make sure we have your most recent and correct address and if the check hasn't been sent, to make sure it goes out this week. Blanche, I believe that there may have been misinterpretations on your side given the emotionally confused state that any victim losing every thing they own and having to relocate to a new area probably experiences. First of all, we would NEVER pose as the National Small Business Association, I personally don't like their tactics or reporting methods and really hate when people confuse the two organization. Second, we never say credit card, we always tell people that it is a line of credit. In fact, we can play back the recording so that you can rehear it and hear yourself agreeing to it. Lastly, we do NOT say we have any affiliation with FEMA nor does FEMA provide us with any information. Someone from our Member Escalation Team will be contacting you today. Dennis Mario NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. 760-322-5572 Main 760-902-8415 Cell 760-406-6035 eFax [email protected]

Blanche I feel for your situation, I can't even imagine the turmoil you have been through. Regarding your refund, I am investigating to make sure we have your most recent and correct address and if the check hasn't been sent, to make sure it goes out this week. Blanche, I believe that there may have been misinterpretations on your side given the emotionally confused state that any victim losing every thing they own and having to relocate to a new area probably experiences. First of all, we would NEVER pose as the National Small Business Association, I personally don't like their tactics or reporting methods and really hate when people confuse the two organization. Second, we never say credit card, we always tell people that it is a line of credit. In fact, we can play back the recording so that you can rehear it and hear yourself agreeing to it. Lastly, we do NOT say we have any affiliation with FEMA nor does FEMA provide us with any information. Someone from our Member Escalation Team will be contacting you today. Dennis Mario NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. 760-322-5572 Main 760-902-8415 Cell 760-406-6035 eFax [email protected]

Blanche I feel for your situation, I can't even imagine the turmoil you have been through. Regarding your refund, I am investigating to make sure we have your most recent and correct address and if the check hasn't been sent, to make sure it goes out this week. Blanche, I believe that there may have been misinterpretations on your side given the emotionally confused state that any victim losing every thing they own and having to relocate to a new area probably experiences. First of all, we would NEVER pose as the National Small Business Association, I personally don't like their tactics or reporting methods and really hate when people confuse the two organization. Second, we never say credit card, we always tell people that it is a line of credit. In fact, we can play back the recording so that you can rehear it and hear yourself agreeing to it. Lastly, we do NOT say we have any affiliation with FEMA nor does FEMA provide us with any information. Someone from our Member Escalation Team will be contacting you today. Dennis Mario NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ALLIANCE, INC. 760-322-5572 Main 760-902-8415 Cell 760-406-6035 eFax [email protected]