Today I received a call from someone facing foreclosure. They were not employed, had difficulty finding work, but told me that they had “applied for a grant” and if they received the “grant”, they would be able to cover their mortgage deficiency.
This heightened my interest since I do not know about any grants available – and that’s information I can pass on to other people in the same situation. So I asked about it.
The caller told me “I paid them $299.97 and they will get back to me.” I was then told that the payment was not in the form of a check, but bank account information (routing and account number) as well as the social security number were given over the phone. The red flags went up in my head.
While I had the caller on the phone, I did an internet search. The search results were not positive.
Rip Off Report.com listed at least two separate complaints about Kensington.
Scam.com also had a posting from someone who was almost swindled by these clowns.
The local Better Business Bureau has an unsatisfactory record from Kensington Consulting Group which has the same address as the “Assistance Agency."
It comes as no surprise to me that folks in debt might want to try getting a grant before even calling a bankruptcy lawyer. While I might be friendly, personable and an otherwise nice guy, I think many people would rather make a long over due appointment with a dentist than to sit down with me and talk about filing bankruptcy.
But relying on parasites like Kensington is only going to make financial problems worse. Not only had the caller paid $299.97 to them, but they were planning on paying another $299.97 for a “reapplication.” Now someone who is facing losing their home is out $299.97 (possibly more), and has to close bank accounts. Injury, meet insult. Insult, let me introduce you to injury.
The bottom line: No grant application should be costing a consumer almost $300. And no invitation to apply for a grant application should arrive on a mass-mailed postcard. In most cases, the adage that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…” proves itself to be accurate.
Unfortunately, there are other scumbag companies like Kensington out there. When I learn about scams, less than honorable companies and just plain ol’dirtbags that are preying on people struggling with debt, I am going to make sure I talk about it here. So check back often.
Of course, all is fair. If those companies want to respond, I encourage them to do so. Send me a letter, and I’ll be sure to scan it in and post it on the site.
Until we hear from them, Kensington Assistance Agency has a McLeod Law Offices Rip Off Alert!
Comments
Thanks to your site I did not give any real personal information to the Kensington Assistance Agency! I was on the phone with them and when they started to ask if I had a checking or savings account I started to question why they would need the information. Once they asked for my social or drivier's license I told them I would rather look at their website first before giving them that info. I researched their name on the internet and found your website - thank God that I did! Now I know what they were all about! Many thanks!
Posted by: Erica | April 20, 2006 01:13 PM
Thank you for posting this information about Kensington Rip Off. I also received a post card from them, when I called they asked me a lot of questions. I asked for their website and looked them up. I was still skeptical so I searched the internet and found this site. Thankyou very much, it is a shame that people who need help cannot get it, or worse get ripped in the process of looking for it. Again thankyou for your honesty and integrity. I really think the law should protect its citizens from things like this, someone should really do something about it.
Posted by: ana | May 2, 2006 04:39 PM
I've already called this number and applied. I've already called to cancel, but I'm curious what else can be done?
Posted by: Justin Ball | May 17, 2006 08:05 PM
I am so glad I found this site. My husband got a postcard in the mail and decided to call. From the moment he told me he would have to pay a $299.97 fee, I was suspicious, but he didn't think anything of it and gave them our info. I decided to do a little research on the company and read the report that the BBB has on them and then also came across this site. Thanks for the information you have provided. Hopefully he can cancel before it's too late.
Posted by: Kristen | May 22, 2006 11:27 AM
Unfortunately my husband and I both paid the fee and have been waiting for months to hear about the grants we've been approved for. A friend told me abou this site and my stomach is in knots reading about Kensington. What can I do to get my money back? I will be closing my checking account tomorrow! I pray that nobody else goes through this. Thanks for your postings.
Posted by: Cassie | May 22, 2006 05:31 PM
Thank you for the information on Kensington Assistance Agency. I received their card in the mail today, and since my daughter is about to attend college soon, I was tempted to call. Instead I did a little research and found your this site. Needlessly to say, the card went into the shredder. Enough said. Thanks.
Posted by: yvonne | May 30, 2006 10:00 PM
I have made a huge mistake. Back in March I recieved this yellow postcard in the mail telling me I have been qualified to recieve government grants. I figured since my wife and I just had our first baby, we could use some money to pay medical bills.
So I jumped through all the hoops with these people (Kensington). I had to postpone the due dates for my $299.97 "free" application fee, and finally tried to cancel it a week before the money was to be out of my checking account.
Canceling did no good, on June 16 they took the money anyway. I called about it and they guy on the phone told me they couldn't cancel because my information was already in the system. I'll admit my mistakes, and I have made a huge one which my family is going to pay for.
Now I need to cancel my bank account and set up a new one after reading the horror stories on the internet about these folks. If anyone reading this has any information on how I can get my money back, please let me know.
Posted by: Taylor Funkhouser | June 25, 2006 11:11 AM
I am writing because i got hooked to the scam and gave them my information, but i posted it for a later date. I am going to try to catch it at the bank before they draft it out of my account. Now i know it isn't all it meant to be because now i can't get through the line when i dial the number.
Posted by: Ebony Wilson | July 7, 2006 10:13 AM
On June 1, 2006 I paid Kensington Assistance Agency $299.97 by check to apply for the service they were supposed to supply. After about a week I called them and said I had changed my mind and would like them to refund my money. I was told I could not stop anything until I received their "kit" containing various forms I needed to fill out. The kit never did arrive. So I called them again. They told me that no one was there who had the information I was seeking and that I was to call back on July 11. I tried several times yesterday, July 11th, but their line was always busy. I've tried several times today, as well, and the line is always busy. I began to think something was amiss at the time of my first call back to them. I was right. What a fool I've been!
Posted by: Diane Gomez | July 12, 2006 11:30 AM
I just found this web site, And I did everything they told me too do. I filed for this grant from them in Feb. Of this year, and they told me about the fee, I paid that and I am Still waiting.. I also gave them a screening questionarie about myself. It is now July 12,2006 and I talked too someone June 27,2006 and they told me that i should recieve my grant package in the mail no later then July 3,2006 If not for me too call back which I did!!! Now I just keep getting this beeping sound every time I call.. What Or Who can I contact or call?? Please help me a Single Mother trying too make ends meet...
Posted by: Laurie Smith | July 12, 2006 06:32 PM
I have been stiffed also. I gave them all my info and I have tried to call this company back because I never received my grant. I just happened to go on the internet and find out a new number for them since I am not able to contact with the numbers that I have. To my supprise I am not able to contact these clowns. The numbers I have are 866-314-3912 customer service number, 866-316-7146 Program review dept. And their toll free number that they have you call at the begining 866-314-3910. If someone knows how to get my money back please let me know.
Posted by: Barbara | August 2, 2006 04:40 PM
I just wish I would have check Kensington out on the web BEFORE my daughter sent the money to them. I guess she will have to close her account and hope that her SS# is not being used without her knowledge. I am unemployed, she is a student, my mother is on social security - we really need the money back! Since this is a law firm website - can we begin a class action lawsuit? Power to the People!
Certainly, I think it's a good idea for everyone to consult with a local attorney who can advise them of their legal options. However, right now, your first priority is to make sure that your daughter's social security number and bank information is not compromised.
It's important to remember that with this information, one's identity can be stolen.
Posted by: Lisa | August 14, 2006 02:51 PM
I have this problem too. I didn't give them my bank info but they sent me a application in the mail and I filled it out and sent it in. I called like two weeks later and the guy Anthony told me it takes 8 to 12 weeks to process. It has been 12 weeks. Now I'm looking at this website. I can believe these people. I am a single mother of 3 and in December I was going to move out my apt and put a down payment on a house but...
Posted by: shawana | August 30, 2006 10:56 AM
I got ripped off too! I am disabled and wanted to go back to school...they told me they would get me grant $...Isn't there ANYTHING else we can do about this?????
Posted by: julie a banks | August 31, 2006 03:58 PM
Yesterday I received a phone call from a William Blake with Grant Educational Resources. He told me that I qualified for a gvt grant.l Since I am disabled and my home is not "handicapped friendy", I thought this grant would help me fix my home. He spoke with a heavy "Indian" accent. I had to repeat back part of the information because of some of this. He said their computer gave my bank numbers as ********* and without thinking I gave him mine because the information he had was inaccurate.
To finish the story, I got his web address, which was www.granteducationalresources.com. I went there and it threw me to your web site, thank God. I called my bank to see if I had any unauthorized drafts, and they said NO, but to check my computer daily. I just didn't want another disabled person to have to worry with this.
PS-I called the number he gave me [1-866-849-0599] and left message not to call me again. He called me this afternoon and I told him I was NOT interested and hung up on him.
Posted by: Marcia W. Studdard | August 31, 2006 06:05 PM
I was told the same thing and I did not get any thing
Posted by: larry | September 2, 2006 01:39 PM
we payed G.E.R.298.00
any help or info.contact
at email nanacrystal@earthlink.net
thank you
Posted by: Lawrence Smith | October 27, 2006 02:13 PM
I am wondering if anyone knows if anything can be done to help people recover the almost $300.00. I should have known better, but I am a single mother and I needed the money so I took a chance. Now I am out money that could have been put towards necessities for my little girl. There are so many people out there scammed by Kennsington. There has to be something we can all do.
Posted by: Maegann | October 30, 2006 02:22 PM
I fell for the scam, and I got a little application packet, so I filled out the packet and sent it back to the sender, They said it might take a couple of months, it now has been 4 months> Anyhow everytime I call the given number I end up talking to a mentally challenged human being (NOT VERY SMART) who has NO enthusiasm about answering any of my questions honestly. This person also says they are an agency that takes all of the incoming calls for "Kensington" so I asked why can't I talk to "Kensington" directly. He said that there is a security reason...YAH Right...
Also when ever I call I use the same phone and everytime they ask for my phone number...Anyway I want the Grant or my Money Back ASAP...Thank You..!
Posted by: Nathan A. Moy | November 8, 2006 05:11 PM
Easton Consuting Group. It's a scam. They will send you a yellow card in the mail. They need your savings or checking account number. They need a fee of 349.00.
martinvinnie@bellsouth.net
11/13/2006.
Posted by: vinnie martin | November 13, 2006 02:01 PM
I also almost fell for this scam. A man with a heavy foreign accent from Grant Educational Resources offered me $5,000 towards my college tuition. I gave them the last 4 digits of my ss# and the name of my bank but when they asked me for my account number the red flag went up. That told me. It was a scam.
Posted by: jeanette cooper | November 16, 2006 12:58 PM
They called me today and received the same comments that other people have had already. They are calling from India from this number 307-459-0038.
Thanks to this site and ripoffreport.com a scam was stopped. I reported this to the BBB. Hopefully they will be stopped.
Bill adds:
Alex also provided a link to this website:
www.granteducationalresources.com
On its site, Grant Educational Resources claims that everyone - including me - can get free personal, business, educational or health grants. Apparently, there is even a special progam for women. Here's what else they claim:
"All U.S. citizens and some legal residents aliens may be eligible to receive U.S. Federal Government, State Government and Private Foundation-funded grants and loans. Residency is the primary requirement. This grant money requires no special qualifications, no repayment, no collateral, no credit checks and is available to you NOW! You as a tax payer and U.S. citizen or resident, are entitled to receive this money!"
Stay away from this outfit!
Posted by: alex | December 1, 2006 03:11 PM
I just found this site.I also have been duped. Just wondering if there is anyway to get our money back or at least prosecute dirt bags?Any imformation would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by: daniel messinger | December 12, 2006 08:42 PM
Easton C.G. must have raised the bar. we were going to be charged 349.97 for at least a 5000 grant for home use, same old story I'm handicapped and needed to have work done at the home. We called the bank today after reading the website thanks, RJD
Posted by: Robert Devine | December 19, 2006 01:14 PM
Surely, someone can do something about this. I find it hard to believe that this company can continue to brazenly take honest people's money. Okay, Prosecuters, Attorney Generals, BBB, somebody put a stop to this. And do it quick.
Posted by: Les | December 19, 2006 03:58 PM
Well I fell for it too, I'm a single widowed, recently, mother of 2 teenage boys and am in need of assistance with fixing my house, paying off old debts, etc. When I called and inquired about the complaints and fraud alerts online I am told to go and look at McDonalds.com and see how many complaints they receive daily. This is the second time I was told this. I called back at the first of Dec and was told the same thing, thought about this deduction coming at this time of year, xmas and all, and decided against it and when I called back to cancel, of course they show now record of it so therefore it was deducted from my account and I do plan on filing on them and also doing anything and everything I can to these scammers. Not fair to people who really need this money again at this time of year.
Posted by: Sharon B | January 3, 2007 03:36 PM