Associated Community Services review: Fundraising for Found. for American Veterans 34

They play the buddy system, usually, you're harder to get a hold of then _____. Fill in blank

For cancer, usually breast cancer, they keep 85%.

For veterans, ususally wounded vets, they keep 88%.

I keep getting calls, two years now.

Foundation for American Veterans out of Orlando, FL This company has been told to remove me from the call list 8 times in 3 months. They still call me daily. Too bad we can not sue them for calling. I am on the do not call list as well. It wreaks of scam.

I have been victimized by this organization by receiving badgering calls late at night, as many others have been. This organization reportedly keeps approx 90% of the funds it receives and should be shut down. If you wish to contact the Foundation of American Veterans program director, Robert G McDonald, please be my guest. Make sure your call is very early in the morning or late at night Mich time so he might realize how it feels….

Robert G Mc Donald
Program director Foundation American Veterans
Amelia A Mc Donald
7473 Wilshire
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Tel [protected]

[protected]. They call me over and over and over and over... Im a disabled Desert Storm vet and all i get are lies broken promises and other lies. So Screw YOU and the horse you rode on.

Have recently been inundated with phone calls from "Found. Amer. Vets." Apparently my number has been on the DO NOT CALL list
since its inception and this organization has chosen to ignore that fact. There also have been calls from other, shall we say, "scammers" who think little old ladies and other retired folk are easy pickings. And receiving these calls on Sat. & Sun. makes me want to (fill in the blank.)
I am a daughter of a WW 2 Navy veteran, and the niece of Army Air Corps & USMC veterans. My brother is a Vietnam-Era Navy veteran and my late husband was a Vietnam Army combat veteran who drove a tank in the Central Highlands. He along with other Vietnam vets brought that war home with them in their minds and continued to suffer many forms of mental & physical illnesses.
PTSD and Agent Orange are at the top of the list.
Unfortunately my husband chose to end his life by jumping off a freeway bridge in the early morning hours of March 28, 2002. He was 54 years old and we had been married for 12 years.Thirteen years have not dulled my pain. I know I'm not the only widow who has experienced this type of loss.
Please have my number removed from your data base. Thank you.

I am sure its a few guys at the top that are getting filthy rich and they are paying their hard working employees minimum wage...

So I gave to this organization a few times. who could say no to breast cancer research and children's hospitals. Then before you knew it they were calling me every other day on behalf of every other charity. I beat them off for a while as times were tough, but they just called again. I agreed to a pledge but this time asked them to give me a list of every donation I gave them last year because after all it is tax season. They said they couldn't.. hmmmmm. That peaked my curiosity. I asked if they had a website so I could red about their company and see how much of my donation actually went to the charity. They tried giving me the charities website. I said NO I want to review your company not the company your working for. I ask for information percentages went to charity and the verifier said oh sure Ill transfer you and just hung up. I guess it is a business decision not to waste time on those seeking information and just move on to the easy targets. It is a game of numbers after all. I highly believe that even less of what they collect goes to charity. $1.2 million in a year seems like a very untruthful number. I would like to see their tax returns or if non-profit a "certified financial statement". Lets not be foolish and let these guys that stay up at night thinking of scams get the better of us. If they are legit than they should be able to show this on a website.

Ultimately, Americans should consider what causes they care about, then contact them directly to volunteer their time, talents, services, and donations. So, yeah, ACS may make some scratch for, say, the Breast Cancer Society (the administration of which demonstrates nepotism gone wild). Still, with millions in profits from each group they beg for, ACS defenders shouldn't defend the decision about not joining the BBB "because it cost money to be on their list.." I realize that you TSRs don't have much respect for your marks' intelligence, but give those of us wise to you a little credit! For concerned citizens, just hang up. If you don't give, ACS won't exist. Just. Hang. Up.

From 2007 to 2011 the Foundation for American Veterans has raised over $31, 500, 00 in donations. With 6% going to veterans, that is some $1, 890, 000 over 4 years going to our men and women in the military in need. Imagine that almost $30, 000, 000 going to salary, expenses for hiring telemarketers, fundraising groups, and other expenses. I am a veteran and this upsets me greatly. I have an envelope in front of me and was going to send a check to them tomorrow. For some reason I decided to check them out. I will not say they are running a Scam but something smells fishy in Denmark.

SOOOO, I happen to work for ACS..i may not agree with the percentage, but like others have stated, nobody is going to do it for free and if we didn't call people to ask, not many would think to give.so at the end of the day people are getting help that they wouldn't receive otherwise. As far as the calls, I dont agree that we should call people as many times as we do. And the easy way to handle it, is, just be honest, If you made a pledge and changed your mind, just say so. the way it works is, you say yes to the pledge we send you to a verifier to make sure we have the correct address and correct amount. you have the OPTION of using a credit card if you say no, we simply tell you that its easier and faster for you.If you still don't feel comfortable we go on and mail it to you.A week later we call and simply say "thank you for your pledge, and did you receive your information?" If no, we resend it. If yes, its just "thank you again, Have a great day.
and by us having and automatic dialer we have to code the system based on what you say when we call. If you say "call back later he/she not here", that's what we do.Everytime. if you pick up and hang up without saying anything, we code it as a disconnect and try again. so in a nut shell just be honest.. if you tell us to take you off the calling list. that what we do. the catch is, we only take you off the list for that particular charity..UNLESS you say ALL charities we fundraise for.
The most crazy thing is when someone pledges and don't inform the spouse and they get all bent out of shape making accusation and what not.The funny part is when said person happens to hear the conversation and be like" oh yea honey, I did make a pledge"..lol
last but not least, whatever your reason for reneging, we not going hold it against you(some people be embarrassed to say why) we make soooo many call and talk to soooo many people.we not going remember your reason..P.S we are not listed with the BBB, because it cost money to be on their list.But you can find us by checking with your sate attorney general office.
A NEUTRAL TSR

http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search_detail_cfr.aspx?cfr_id=364

Check out this link for all of you who think these people do not have a legitimate complaint...

I would rather donate DIRECTLY to the charities that they are calling on behalf of. I donate all the time and frankly, I was extremely upset to find out the charities see so little of my money... I WORK HARD FOR THAT MONEY SO WHEN I AM GIVING IT TO A GOOD CAUSE, I EXPECT IT TO GO TO THAT CAUSE, NOT TO CUSHION GREEDY PERSONS PAYCHECK. There is know way it costs AC Services half a billion dollars to do what they do...

I used to work for ACS. I quit. I couldn't take it anymore. I used to be upset when people downgraded the work we did but I found it hard to separate myself from the overall "mind" of the company. There are/were a small number of us who felt so strongly about helping but at the end of the day... to ACS... these are just "SALES" I even had a weekly quota which I rarely hit because I wasn't about to rebut men & women who fear more about their lack of SSI than anything else. I could write a book about this. Don't give to ACS. They DO keep 80% even though the national average given to help is 11-13% and ACS gave (about) 20%. I wouldn't trust half the people on the phones with my unborn child. Classless trashy individuals who frequently use terms like "swindle" and "gimme my money old lady". People who are on parole & dress like common street trash... even though organizations like Susan Komen who spend millions of donated dollars to run TV commercials & deck out the NFL in pink gear are commonly defended. If you really want to help... HELP A PERSON DIRECTLY.

I too continue to receive several calls daily from ACS. I never answer their calls directly, but have called them back via my caller ID. They never answer the call but always ask for you to leave a message. I have call blocking on my phone and have entered their number to avoid getting future calls. However, the bad thing is they change the number they are calling from, so todate I have 7 numbers from them that I have blocked. I'm beginning to think this is a losing battle for me. As mentioned in earlier posts people have said they have tried to get ACS to remove thier number from the call list, but still continue to get calls. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop their calls?

Don't give these jokers a penny. If you do, they'll put you on their hotlist and pound your phone day and night for every 'non-profit' they work with. And they will NOT remove you from their call lists. They also keep 70% of what you send them which is a joke. If you want to help, go online and contribute via the org's website.

The news video in the below link says it all. The local ABC news affiliate investigated AC Services regarding their aggressive "sales" tactics and the small amount of money that flows through to their client charities. Shameful. As others have already suggested, I'll be sure to donate directly to a charity via their website and will NOT donate to any charity mis-managing their funds by hiring for profit companies like AC Services.
http://blog.charitynavigator.org/2011/02/mondays-movie-associated-community.html

Hey Jbbj, could you be any more obvious about being an employee of Associated Community Services?
Did you guys know that companies like this have people who find things like this on the internet, and type in something positive about their own company?
BTW If we weren't invading another country every other week we wouldn't need to send troops anything.

l)

To Sneider39 :
Breast Cancer Society, which is under investigation by at least five state attorney generals.

In my opinion people should not speak what they do not know and just because you may THINK something is fraudulent, you shouldn't internet bash until your facts are straight and accurate. when dealing with ACS and any other telemarketer you should be tell them to remove them from ALL their list considering that they collect for MANY reputable companies. And let's be realistic, how many of you were actually going to donate before ACS called?! If you choose to do it the direct way that's fine because after all the numbers, they're still working toward a cause! And by the way, the representative on the phone informs you that all of their contracts and reports are on file with your State Attorney Generals Office and each call is recorded and verified so I'm assuming the "foreigner" was only trying to verify a pledge that your wife supposedly didn't make! The representatives are working Americans just as yourselves so how bout giving them a break and doing your research people! An ACS rep called me and although i wasn't able to help at 1st, she gave me a direct resource to The Breast Cancer Society after telling her I was battling my own fight with Breast Cancer. If your $20 pays someone and still helps save a life, isn't it worth it?

On Friday night, 4-8-11, my wife got three calls from a number [protected]. She didn't answer, but noticed the number on caller ID. On Saturday, 4-9-11, I picked up a call from the same number at 12:30 central time. It was a "foreign speaking" individual saying he represented you. He said my wife had made a pledge to your organization for $20. This sounded fishy because I didn't think my wife would make a pledge to an organization with your name without first asking for information to be mailed. It was very hard to understand the man. I asked for a phone number to call him back, and he kept saying he'd call back later. Finally he hung up on me. That call was at 12:30 central time. Someone from that same number called back at 1:07 and 1:37 p.m. central time, but I didn't pick up. I called the number on caller ID, and it was the [protected], a telemarketing company called Associated Community Services. I told them of the fraudulent activity (lying about my wife's pledge) and harassing activity- calling 6 times in two days. I told them I'd be reporting them and your organization to my state's attorney general. I talked to my wife, and she said she never talked with a telemarketer from representing you, and never gave any pledge. You might want to contact Associated Community Services and report their actions. Also, please do not call our house again unless it is to discuss this email.

Respectfully,
...

They have been calling my house constantly. They do not respond to the request to simply "take me off the lis".. Here's a link to a news video about ACS: http://blog.charitynavigator.org/2011/02/mondays-movie-associated-community.html

It KEEPS 80% of donated funds to Cancer Fund of America, 55% of donated funds to Foundation for American Veterans, 82% of donated funds to Children with Hairloss. These charities only get 18%- 45% of the funds.
They are being investigated by the new york attorney general for manipulative high pressure fundraising. I understand the cost of overhead, but this is absolutely ridiculous, how can you rationalize charities receiving only 18% of donated funds?

If you don't want calls from ACS take your phone number off of their list. Nobody said you have to let them keep calling you. Also, if you hadn't received the phone call in the first place, you would have never donated the money at all. Let's be honest, you are more likely to give to the girl scouts when they are at your door with cookies, right? You are more likely to give to Knights of Columbus or AmVets when they are standing in the middle of an intersection with their flowers, right? So why not keep an open mind and stop berating people who are just trying to do their part to raise money for charities that they believe in.

I made the mistake of donating through ACS six years ago, now I constantly get phone calls from them. I don't care if a small fraction of their revenue goes to a charitable cause. Their tactics are constant hassling and pressure, and way they portray themselves when they call you borders on deception. When I ask them to tell me point blank how much of the money I donate directly goes to the charity, they either lie, change the subject, or hang up the phone. I will never, ever, donate over the phone again. Ever.

Does anyone have a link to ACS website or contact information for them? I find it is strange that I can't locate a way to contact them easily. We too have received an inordinate amount of phone calls and hang ups from them in the last month especially. Last night, I asked two different operators that called to be removed from their calling list and both times the operator simply hung up without so much as saying good-bye. I am seriously annoyed.

I made a donation to the VA's via ACS and now ACS calls my house constantly (7 days a week) and hangs up when no one answers - just yesterday 7 times! In 2009 only 41% of what ACS collected went to the orgnaizations they collect for - click on link for report. (http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search_detail_cfr.aspx?cfr_id=364 - ). I don't mind donating just wish all of it would go to the cause. I've left two messages on their 866# to take me off the call list and to date nothing has happened.

Actually 30% is pretty generous, most charities by law only have to use 2% of the funds collected for the actual cause. The vast majority of charities donate somewhere between 5-13% of the funds they collect. Non-profits do have operating expenses like any regular company; salaries, overhead, attorneys, etc, and they do make a profit as well. There are slim to non charities that donate 100% of the funds they collect.
Don't blame ACS for you never seeing a care package, they turn over the money to whomever they are contracted to solicit for and thus, they that organization is who you should question. Feel free to donate to Foundation for American Veterans directly or any other charity, but I doubt they are donating 30% to the cause.
Bottom line is they do donate, people don't work for free 40 hours a week (not even the wealthy), and if you do not wish to donate then simply don't. Or start your own charity work for free and donate 100% of the funds you collect.

I would prefer to have 100% of my donation go to the cause. I will contact the Foundation for American Veterans directly. There are many many charities that receive a lot more than 30% of your donation. Why are we being paranoid if we don't feel comfortable giving money to this organization.

You know it people would stop being selfish this world would be a better place. ACS give 33% of the money to these charities. what is really mind boggoling is that people would rather go see a ball game and pay these already millionares more mone but conplain about a $10 donation to save a life. Give me a break!

Why would you question a csr person rechecking your address or if you are comfortable w/a donation? At least they care enough to ask you if you are comfortable w/that amount, instead of just assuming you are...The national average for "percent" of donations actually going to the charity is 3-5%...really? Are you so naive that you think people actually spend hours and hours being polite to you on the phone while you curse & scream at them would do it for free? With out companies like ACS there would be many charities in the US unable to help the sick and suffering or our soldiers in need...If you don't want to give, the please say so in a polite manner and just hang up. Not everyone in the world is trying to rip you off of your incredibly genrous support of $20.00. Wow, little paranoid?

I received a call at my home about a week ago from the Foundation For American Veterans. At first, I thought they were OK. The guy on the phone asked how much I could donate to this worthy cause. He suggested $25.00 or more. I told him I would consider $20.00 if they mailed me a form. Then when the guy said he was going to transfer me to an operator who will verify my address I got a funny vibe. So After the operator verified my address she asked if I was comfortable with $25.00 or would I like to donate less. I actually told her that $10.00 would be easier for me. When the mailing arrived and I opened the envelope I immidiately knew this was a scam. The entire mailing just did not look right nor did the logos. Needless to say, I am not going to donate any money. I will spend the cost of a stamp though to let them know what I found out about their little scam by googling the name. I'm going to suggest they do the same to see what is being said about them.

They called me too and claimed they wanted to increase the amount of care packages they are sending to Afghanistan to the soldiers and hoped I could "help them to take care of our soldiers in Afghanistan." I just got back from there and no one ever got a care package in any of the many locations/bases I was at throughout Afghanistan. They pulled in $1.4 million in contributions and paid out only 38% of it ($480k) to their charities, so the real question is... where did that other money go! Someone is getting fat and rich off of this scam. Dont do it.

Acs may give only 30% to the charity, but they raise a whole lot of money. Money that those vets would not have recieved without them. Do u think all of the thousands that give have the time or energy to go down to there local VA's to help out, NO. So for those who do go to there VA's to help out, that's great. For those who don't, which is over 90% of Americans who don't, it's a great way to help out.