Menu
For Business Write a review File a complaint
National Grants Conferences

National Grants Conferences review: Bait and switch scam! 12

N
Author of the review
9:39 am EDT
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

Attended seminar which told us they guaranteed we would get a grant. High pressure selling, manipulative tactics. Made it sound like they would do your business plan or at least walk you through it. When paying for two day workshop. They gave me a statement saying I could cancel in 3 days no questions asked. However, the workshop was not for 5 days after the seminar. It was only at the workshop did we find out they were really selling their software and more "Help" to get your grant. This was not what they salesman was saying in the seminar. The additional software which supposedly would make it impossible for anyone to be denied a grant with all their assistance cost up to $19,000. For all you were promised you would get for the initial $1000/ + tax we had already paid. Some people (with more money than sense) actually bought into this on the second day when the so called teacher kept
on with his sales program. Assuring everyone it was a write off, business expense...

But if you are trying to get a grant for a business? Anyway, this 2 day workshop turned out to be little more than common sense and a sales platform for their PRO 2000 package.

We LEFT!

12 comments
Add a comment
D
D
Denver
Loveland, US
May 13, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

I went to the seminar in the Denver area on May 2, 2009. I bought into it as we are looking to buy a home and do not qualify for the first time homebuyer credits or assistance. I asked a couple questions as the speaker said his people were qualified to answer. They told me there were many grants that we would qualify for such as the Ameridream and Nehemiah grants. He told me to check them out. Upon returning from the seminar, after paying my $999, I started researching these grants. Found out they were no longer available! I also started reading all the complaints about National Grants Conference. The Better Business Bureau gives them a rating of F stating: "This company is not an accredited business." It also shows a lawsuit filed by the Vermont Attorney General's Office and as of December 3, 2008, Proven Method Seminars, LLC (d/b/a National Grants Conference) has filed Chapter 11.
I called within the 3 days to cancel, was given a Return Authorizaton # and told to send the material back to Boca Raton. The Notice of Cancellation paperwork states the return could be at their risk and expense. They did issue a pickup at my residence by UPS. Per the tracking notice, it has had a slight delay in delivery. At this point, I am still waiting for my refund to be issued.
Which I had seen your posting before I attended the seminar. They at no time mentioned needing to purchase anything additional, including software. They also are not clear on the success rate of those that do apply for these grants. I also found their claims on mortgage interest subsidy misleading. All this turns out to be is a deduction on your itemized Schedule A when filing your taxes. Here is a link if you are interested in the BBB rating. http://www.seflorida.bbb.org/BusinessReport.aspx?CompanyID=26001441
Thanks for the posting! Beware they are very misleading!

M
M
mark cruz
brooklyn, US
May 27, 2009 6:19 pm EDT

This company helped me to acheive alot of my goals. If you didn't want to invest in Real Estate you don't have to but I rather pay for some help instead of paying much much more through trail and error. Success is a choice and I guess you made yours when you left. As for me and the rest of the members of National Grants Conferences we are getting our money's worth.

H
H
Heather E.
US
Jun 23, 2009 1:24 pm EDT

I found the staff at National Grants Conferences to be very caring and informative. They assisted me in getting my home repaired. I am a single mother of two and just completed my degree. Money has been tight while I have been in school and the things around my house that needed repair were being neglected. I applied for an owner rehabilitation loan through the city and because of my low income; I qualified to have over $15, 000.00 of repairs completed. Best of all, I don’t have to make any payments on the loan until my income increases. When that occurs, my loan will only accrue at 3% interest. They were very proactive about showing me the various programs that are available to help those of us who are struggling to live from paycheck to paycheck. Thank you guy's for all you do!

H
H
Heather E.
US
Jun 23, 2009 2:35 pm EDT

I went to the conference with my mother and learned a lot. The workbooks and CD’s were powerful and opened my eyes to the possibilities of what a little determination and hard work coupled with the education and support of National Grants Conferences could do. I was able to receive a $25, 000 first time home buyer loan. It’s only a 700 sq. ft. condo, but after 40 years of living in America, I can finally say that I finally have a place of my own. NGC may not be for everyone, but it was certainly for me!

S
S
Sanat Ghil
Chicago, US
Jun 25, 2009 2:40 pm EDT

I learned how to search and apply for rehab grants with National Grants Conferences. We were able to install a new furnace, air-conditioning coils, water heater, a brand new front entrance way door, new kitchen sink, and had all new insulation blown into the attic along with remodeling the roof and new shingles. The seminars were very informative and the staff was polite and supportive. They really care! I can't image why more people don't use this program.

S
S
Sanat Ghil
Chicago, US
Jun 25, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

Sorry for double posts

T
T
Thurge
Atlanta, US
Jul 30, 2009 5:11 pm EDT

Looks like the folks at National Grants are spamming this thread with positive reviews...

A
A
Ang506
Philadelphia, US
Aug 30, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

How come Rita and Heather said the same exact thing? lol

Its a scam and they forgot to change the dialog!

S
S
Sarah2
Greencastle, US
Feb 02, 2010 11:00 am EST

So who wrote the positive remarks? NGC? I have yet to meet one person who has attended any of the NGC meetings that has received one day of assistance from them. You are introduced to persons who claim to be from NGC and they will give you more misleading information with no actual guidance to complete one transaction. They do not reply to the phone messages, email messages, send you reviews of your applications for grants or any other type of funding. We are seeking a refund and will look into a class action suit here in Indiana. Standing before us claiming to be a Christian and want to do all they can in a Christian manner is so shameful.
Our books are outdated and useless, the software does not work in Indiana, although we were assured this would be corrected and new software would be issued. That has NOT happened. Anyone interested in joining us please post here and we will continue to get this scammer stopped.

J
J
Janet M Dodson
Bedford, US
Feb 17, 2010 2:54 pm EST

I attended a National Grants seminar in Arlington, TX one year ago. We sent receipts all 2009 to claim your merchandise.com for 500.00. Instead we received nothing. Called the National Grants ph# and could not reach a real person. If there is a way to get the $500, please tell us. chfan1@

D
D
dumbdumb
Downers Grove, US
Feb 20, 2010 5:39 pm EST

we too went and got scammed. not only did they scam us out of this the "introduced" Auction teacher who also scammed us.

Y
Y
yomanx
US
May 05, 2010 5:33 pm EDT

People please listen to me... Auction Teacher, Unimweb, Ihost, NGC are all a SCAM!
Do not do business with them.
If you already have a store with them and are having issues just go to the BBB, they do respond to them.

More National Grants Conferences reviews & complaints

National Grants Conferences - 500.00 Claim Your Merchandise Voucher
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.