Contact: Jackie De Haan |
18 W. Michigan Avenue |
GUARDIAN FINANCE AND ADVOCACY SERVICES |
Get Free Money!
By: Jackie De Haan, Guardian Finance and Advocacy Services
Also published in the West Michigan Senior Times and the Battle Creek Shopper |
Over two hundred and fifty foundations are interested in giving you money, said the telephone caller. “How much do you need?”
A friend, who has a small home based business, told me this story. He was called by a company in Nevada who claimed to provide the service of obtaining grants for people.
“Only one in twenty businesses is a good candidate for grants,” said the very nice caller. My friend answered her questions and the caller promised to consult her research department to determine if it is worth his time to apply. She would call him back in about two hours.
This is when she asked how much he needed? They settled on $180,000 for a business car and marketing expenses to expand his customer base.
Guess what? Two hours later he received the call advising that he was indeed a good candidate. In fact “over two hundred and fifty foundations already indicated an interest” in giving him money.
Furthermore, he should increase his request to $300,000, since his chances were that good.
They would handle everything for $7,500. (Pretty good return on investment, eh, a quarter million dollars for a measly $7,500?) Furthermore, they only needed half in advance. After he received the grant money, he could pay the balance.
Too Good to Be True
“I was amazed how professional and matter of fact she was,” said my friend. “She wasn’t pushy, she even faxed me information about their business and also a contract to read and sign.” She also didn’t ask for his credit card number. When he didn’t respond back she left a couple of messages on his machine and that was the end of it.
“I guess they figured that I was a low percentage prospect at that point and moved on to other suckers.”
It was a “too good to be true” offer and he did the right thing by dropping the matter and later reporting it to the Better Business Bureau. At least one BBB office has posted a warning about this business already, and further warning about any callers that promise you free money.
If you have a complaint about a business you can reach the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan through their web site www.grandrapids.bbb.org or call (616) 774-8236.
“Safeguarding At-Risk Adults,” Guardian Finance and Advocacy Services is a nonprofit organization with forty-four years of trusted service to the people of Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties. Their services range from helping people balance their checkbook to serving in court appointed roles.
Jackie can be reached at Jdehaan@yourguardian.org. More information is available at www.yourguardian.org or tel. (866) 344-0688 ext. 453.
Guardian is a United Way organization.