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Buttercup13
- Original Poster
- #3
To my knowledge i bought a service for specialist help with seeking business grants. This is what was sold to me for £179. On receiving just an email payment receipt and nothing, I started in-depth search about the organisation. Unfortunately, contacting Federation of Small Businesses, Britain Is Great, Chamber Of Commerce, my bank and other sources, haven't heard of them and are not recognised body for business grants assistance. They appear not to be a registered business - I could be wrong. Asking what I'd bought from them confirmed it was just online tools for a writing a business plan in a format suitable for applying for unlimited number of government grants over a period of 12-months. Not what I wanted. Asking to cancel and refund within my legal rights did not go well. Finally received by email they will refund. Now have to wait and see if this does happen. But just in case I am wrong about them, I thought I'd ask if anyone has experience of this organisation so I'm not unjust to them.
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Just had a look at the website. In fairness to them; if their business plan tool is any good, it could be well worth £179.
On the other hand, there is quite a lot of ambiguity in their presentation, and - the big turn off for me - I couldn't find the legal business details (required by law). Possibly they are buried in script somewhere, like the truth about what they offer?
Overall you did well to get your money back!
On the other hand, there is quite a lot of ambiguity in their presentation, and - the big turn off for me - I couldn't find the legal business details (required by law). Possibly they are buried in script somewhere, like the truth about what they offer?
Overall you did well to get your money back!
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In you first post you talk about paying for an online business plan and in your second you say you bought a specialist service to help with grants.
Which was it - 2 completely different things.
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Buttercup13
- Original Poster
- #8
In first post I mention in summary what they eventually confirmed provide. Not what I agreed to buy and discussed in length at time of signing up. Two very different things. I'd made clear I already have a business plan that helped me raise finance ie equipment lease etc. But needed help with product testing and recruit additional staff by way of accessing business grants. They don't provide access to business grants, only self-help resources to writing business plan with online help. Had requested their TCs, etc, received not too polite response in return.
Q) How can the phone number and email advertised on the website provide secure communication for one to one advise only with the assigned adviser?
I have to wait roughly 14-days from today to see if have received the refund.
Just in case they may not be genuine, please research, request TCs before agreeing to anything. I always do, but on this occasion my guard was pulled down.
Q) How can the phone number and email advertised on the website provide secure communication for one to one advise only with the assigned adviser?
I have to wait roughly 14-days from today to see if have received the refund.
Just in case they may not be genuine, please research, request TCs before agreeing to anything. I always do, but on this occasion my guard was pulled down.
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Hi all
Just wanted to share my experience joining.
They definitely have a lot of info on their site but it's hard ti determine what it is they do and offer in their platform which they sell. But if you email or call in, it's very simple.
I registred for the business plan tool and the funding database and it worked very well for me. They were helpful and guided me through it all step by step.
To be honest for 179, it's a rip off to not pay it.
The terms, from what I see does protect them against thieves which is those people who think they can do it on their own "for free". While there is a lot of free info on the web, its not info your paying for here, it's help and it all in one place
Just wanted to share my experience joining.
They definitely have a lot of info on their site but it's hard ti determine what it is they do and offer in their platform which they sell. But if you email or call in, it's very simple.
I registred for the business plan tool and the funding database and it worked very well for me. They were helpful and guided me through it all step by step.
To be honest for 179, it's a rip off to not pay it.
The terms, from what I see does protect them against thieves which is those people who think they can do it on their own "for free". While there is a lot of free info on the web, its not info your paying for here, it's help and it all in one place
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Hey, i bought the platform for a funding search and thats what they did for me. Was this not what was done for you?
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Hmmm brand new account. 1st and 2nd post promoting a service. I guess you must have just been wandering past this forum and saw the OPs post through the window and just had to register in order to tell us of your great experience.
Why is it that companies still think that obvious sock puppeteering is gonna work?
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Should also point out that @DustinCeko is posting from Canada. Which suggests he is lying about paying £179.
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I contacted them a few months ago out of curiosity, frequently been emailing and calling ever since, quite hard sell.
I too have not been able to see who is behind the website as they don't appear to have a company registered on companies house. Any UK business would be upfront about who they are, this one isn't upfront which is enough for me and anyone with any business knowledge will say the same.
It's worth considering that the company is most likely registered abroad or just a couple of people working behind a website In either case if there are any legal issues or repercussions they won't be covered under the UK legal system or more importantly be paying taxes into the UK economy, furthermore it could be funding something illegal.
Trust that helps.
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Sure, An LLP would still be listed on companies house and if it's simply backed by another business that business should be listed on their website.
Responsible businesses are always transparent about who they are, strange that they have omitted such important information.
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I guess you got me!
I work for them and decided to come, create an account from Canada and lie to you about paying their fee so that I can prove somebody wrong :S
Or more likely, long time visitors without an account and decided to share after seeing this
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