- Report: #83431
Complaint Review: National Small Business Alliance - Washington District of Columbia
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Author Not Confirmed
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National Small Business Alliance
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 300 Washington, 20004 District of Columbia, U.S.A.
Phone:
800-963-6722
Web:
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National Small Business Alliance ripoff Fraudulent, Deceptive, and Unfair trade Practices Washington District of Columbia
I'm writing to you about fraudulent and deceptive trade practices by the National Small Business Alliance, based in Washington DC.
Late last year, they contacted us via phone with an offer of an $8,000 line of credit. We signed up for the service, for which we paid an initial fee (I believe it was around $100) and had 30 days to review the material to see if it was for us or not.
Turns out the $8,000 line of credit could ONLY be used for travel or for a computer store through their own stores and was not a true line of credit as it had been presented to us. They instead said it could be used for "such things as" computers, travel, etc. Also, rather than waiting for the 30-day review period to end, they debited our bank account within 10 days for the full year's subscription-- not the monthly fee that they'd said it would be-- directly from our bank account without our prior knowledge or consent, making our total payout of $339.35 without any beneficial services.
I called and cancelled the service within the 30-day period and also sent them an e-mail to confirm this. I was told I would receive a refund within 30 days. I called after the 30 days expired and they said that it was 30 business days and not 30 calendar days and that the check was scheduled to be cut at that time.
I just called today and was told that they had not received our "welcome packet" that supposedly was to have been returned to them. This was the first I'd heard of any such thing even though I'd contacted them twice by phone and once by e-mail. The woman I spoke with, Denise, claims it's in verbal contract and in the welcome letter that the packet's return was part of the conditions for a refund. I doubt either of these are true but, like any normal and reasonable person, I am sure I threw out their material after it was clear it was not for us.
So far, they continue to refuse to refund the money or to connect me with any other supervisor or provide me with the name of their corporate attorney.
I'd like to spread the word about these people and if you'd like to look into them, I am sure there are 100s of other small businesses that went through the same thing.
Mark
Sublimity, Oregon
U.S.A.
Late last year, they contacted us via phone with an offer of an $8,000 line of credit. We signed up for the service, for which we paid an initial fee (I believe it was around $100) and had 30 days to review the material to see if it was for us or not.
Turns out the $8,000 line of credit could ONLY be used for travel or for a computer store through their own stores and was not a true line of credit as it had been presented to us. They instead said it could be used for "such things as" computers, travel, etc. Also, rather than waiting for the 30-day review period to end, they debited our bank account within 10 days for the full year's subscription-- not the monthly fee that they'd said it would be-- directly from our bank account without our prior knowledge or consent, making our total payout of $339.35 without any beneficial services.
I called and cancelled the service within the 30-day period and also sent them an e-mail to confirm this. I was told I would receive a refund within 30 days. I called after the 30 days expired and they said that it was 30 business days and not 30 calendar days and that the check was scheduled to be cut at that time.
I just called today and was told that they had not received our "welcome packet" that supposedly was to have been returned to them. This was the first I'd heard of any such thing even though I'd contacted them twice by phone and once by e-mail. The woman I spoke with, Denise, claims it's in verbal contract and in the welcome letter that the packet's return was part of the conditions for a refund. I doubt either of these are true but, like any normal and reasonable person, I am sure I threw out their material after it was clear it was not for us.
So far, they continue to refuse to refund the money or to connect me with any other supervisor or provide me with the name of their corporate attorney.
I'd like to spread the word about these people and if you'd like to look into them, I am sure there are 100s of other small businesses that went through the same thing.
Mark
Sublimity, Oregon
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Mark
Sublimity,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Have Placed Numerous Calls
#2Author of original report
Thu, March 18, 2004
Dennis, I HAVE placed numerous calls to your office. I have left four messages and sent two e-mails, none of which have received responses. If you'll take a moment, you'll see there are two other reports filed against your company with the same complaints. Most people would consider this cause to re-evaluate their approach instead of trying to blame the consumer. You still cling to your little claim that you recorded phone calls--well hurray for you. You still don't and won't address the facts that you: * snatched money quickly--even before the 30-day evaluation was up * made things difficult to obtain refunds by creating hoops for people to jump through * violate the spirit of your "money-back, satisfaction guaranteed" policy * never gave the $200 in free offers you said you would * do not reply to numerous phone calls or e-mails, despite claims on your company's website you'll reply within 24 hours Don't you think it's time you re-evaluated your policies? I think anyone reading this would agree.
Dennis
Washington,District of Columbia,
U.S.A.
WHY WON'T YOU CALL ME?
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, March 17, 2004
Mark, I have asked you to call me directly. Why won't you? If ANYONE wants to here Mark's recording, please call me directly and you will see where he is mistaken. Mark, just call me.
Mark
Sublimity,Oregon,
U.S.A.
Still no response, all the hoops one has to jump through
#4Author of original report
Tue, March 16, 2004
It is not a matter of making things clear or my supposed misunderstanding. The point is all the hoops one has to jump through. I have an e-mail that states I talked with a "Denise" at their office and--gee!--there was never any mention of having to return any package of information. I forgot to mention, too, that there were supposedly $100 gift certifcates for free gas and long distance that were ours just for trying out the membership regardless whether we stayed or not. Those were sent in but I have never recieved those services either. Or did I have to send those in while facing East with one eye closed? Regardless of what Dennis says, one would think that he would gladly refund the money to avoid the appearance of impropriety. Isn't the SPIRIT of his "policy" to refund money to people who decide his services are not for them? Or is it his intent to withhold monies by making it nearly impossible to obtain refunds unless you jump through numerous hoops? First my refund would be issued within 30 days, then the next time I called it was 30 business days, now it's I have to send back a standard information package that contained no information that could be considered proprietary. Come on! Anyone with any sense can see what is happening. He grabbed money and now wants to hang on to it. I do notice that people at his office have suddenly disappeared. I have tried three times since this report was filed a week or so ago and have not been able to get a response. I have left two messages and an e-mail. Nothing. I do notice their line for accepting new business has no trouble though.
Dennis
Washington,District of Columbia,
U.S.A.
WE RECORD EACH AND EVERY SALE
#5REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, March 15, 2004
Mark is sadly mistaken. We tape each and every sale. Mark, please call me directly and I will play back the recording of your voice giving us permission to debit the funds. In addition, the tape recording clearly states how the monies will be coming out of the account and what the refund process is. Further, we tell people that the lines of credit are being offered by two of our benefit providers to generate sales for their business. This is just a case of someone who didn't understand wehat was clearly stated.
