Menu
CB Loans Small Business Finance Centre

The good, the bad, and the ugly - discover what customers are saying about Small Business Finance Centre

Welcome to our customer reviews and complaints page for Small Business Finance Centre. We understand that making informed decisions about where to invest your time and money can be challenging, which is why we've created this platform for our community to share their honest feedback about their experiences with Small Business Finance Centre.

On this page, you'll find a comprehensive collection of reviews and complaints from real customers who have used Small Business Finance Centre's products or services. Our reviews are authentic and unbiased, providing you with a complete picture of the company, its products or services, and their customer service.

Whether you're considering doing business with Small Business Finance Centre, or you've already had an experience with them, our community's reviews and complaints will give you a valuable perspective on what to expect. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about where to invest your time and money, and we hope that our platform will be a valuable resource for you.

Please feel free to browse our reviews and complaints and share your own experience with Small Business Finance Centre. Your feedback is an important part of our community and will help others make informed decisions.

ComplaintsBoard
D
12:37 am EST

Small Business Finance Centre Fraud

SCAM ALERT! These guys don't offer any services and are misleading the public to give you the impression their are acting as a government agency. They will tell you they are giving you access to a "data-base", but really it's a bunch of listings that are all free and searchable with Google. They will charge you over $600 as an "access fee" to their data base and get you to give them your banking information over the phone. DON'T DO IT! They've had numerous complaints about them:

http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/loans-small-business/centre-for-small-business-financing-in-toronto-on-1272916

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/small-business-finance-centre-fraud-994069/

Read full review of Small Business Finance Centre
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
B
8:05 pm EST
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Small Business Finance Centre FRAUD to the max

People! Listen! Do not waste your money on this product. Go to your local job resource centre and tell them that you are looking for funding for your small business. They will point you in the direction of everything you need to know to apply for the grants that are useful to your particular business and it will cost you absolutely nothing!

This business is a fraud, no matter how they try and defend themselves. Legally, they have done everything they can to protect themselves with disclaimers, etc. But the truth of it is, the value of the information that they are trying to sell you is absolutely $0. It is all free information and VERY EASY TO FIND ON YOUR OWN.

Here is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my disappointment with this company:

#1. I was NEVER TOLD THAT MY CONVERSATION WAS BEING RECORDED. I truly doubt that it was, although they will try to threaten you with this, saying that you agreed on record to their scam. If you are persistent enough, you CAN get your money back. Others have.

#2. It doesn't bother them AT ALL that so many people are extremely disappointed with their product. When I called to politely request a refund, the person at SBFC didn't even ask why I wanted a refund. That's because he already knew why. It's because the product is obviously worthless and there are hundreds if not thousands of people who have been disappointed by it and requested refunds.

#3The vast majority of my calls have never been returned. Sometimes I'm put on hold until the connection goes dead, no one ever answers to speak to me. No one has ever emailed me a receipt of confirmation as requested the last time I actually managed to get someone on the phone. I have never in my life had such bad service from a company. Guaranteed "Steven Trustrum" is going to post a rebuttal directly below my comment here, denying this. I promise you, you will not get any help from them as soon as they have your money.

#4. Despite their disclaimers, they are obviously making efforts to mimic the Service Canada website (www.servicecanada.com) because without that association, no one would fall for their scam. They rely on association with the government of Canada to make their business appear legit. See screenshots of the two websites below. They are the same down to the details of the colors of the buttons, etc. The logo is purposefully almost identical to the government logo and the use of 4 people's faces at the top is just too similar to be a coincidence. These people are sick.

They also started to operate as www.canada-grants-loans.com because they were obviously having so many complaints about their terrible product, so watch out for that as well. They are continuing to swindle well-meaning business owners out of their hard-earned start up cash. Spread the word and maybe one day we'll actually get these guys shut down. Don't let your friends and business owners be fooled by this SCAM ( I wish I could write that in bigger letters).

Read full review of Small Business Finance Centre
View 0 more photos
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
M
12:04 pm EDT
Resolved
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Small Business Finance Centre Misrepresentation

I have an unopened package that I wish to return, but their response is non-existent. Contrary to the statement below they did not mention they were non-government affiliated nor did they mention their refund policy. The company operates on the border of mimicking a government website and I am sure they catch people out all the time, such as myself. Their business practices are less than transparent, If such was not the case they not would behave as they do when seeking a refund.

Read full review of Small Business Finance Centre and 12 comments
Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

Hide full review
12 comments
Add a comment
C
C
Christina Kim
, US
Jul 25, 2016 3:14 pm EDT

This organization uses virtual office in First Canada Place in downtown Toronto. There is no physical office address I could find out. Once you enter information in their site, they will call millions of times to sell their services. However, they will not answer properly after the transaction is done. Called me several times to charge my credit card before the credit card transaction and don't answer my phone call or don't call me back after the transaction. Ironically, I called many times and left few voice mails to reach them out as they did to me before. I tried to get more information about the procedure at the first time, but now I would like to get my money back. Please be careful when you are dealing with this organization or people.

K
K
KM86
, CA
Jan 14, 2015 8:14 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

So many red flags went off it wasn't even funny. First they kept calling me.. and when I didn't pick up they sent me a few emails stating that I have missed their calls and if I want to take advantage of "government " funding to call back immediately. The sense of urgency and the pressure tactics were one of the first few red flags I had noticed.
First off .. if they are so in demand and so busy, why are they taking their time and calling me everyday? When I spoke to the guy he cut me off, just read his script like a robot and kept mentioning "government money" .There was a point where it got silent and awkward because he wanted me to go downstairs to grab my visa/debit card .. I said.. "yeah let me think about it" then he told me to call back in one hour so I won't miss out. Thankfully I have dealt with the actual government before and they never have told me to call back and take advantage of this offer ..bla bla bla. I do remember hearing an automated voice stating that the call will be recorded.. but who knows if that actually happened or not. The scary thing is.. their website is way easier to find on google, than the legit government website. Be careful guys!

G
G
Gord Travis
Hamilton, CA
Nov 04, 2011 10:50 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

This company is a total scam. I am kicking myself in the butt. Luckily I have established myself well enough with my credit card company that they indicated they would protect me.

G
G
Gord Travis
Hamilton, CA
Nov 04, 2011 10:46 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I am another scam victim. I believe these people call in the early morning primarily to catch you off guard. I totally agree with the complaints logged here . These people should be ashamed of themselves.

M
M
mikesnickname
Toronto, CA
Aug 06, 2011 7:19 pm EDT

Small Business Financial Centre or Small Business Centre however they want to portray themselves is a complete fraudulent scam!

What the customer service representative failed to mention is that the sales representatives usually offer to call you back from their personal cellular devices. There is no way these conversations are being recorded.

I called in to get some information and was immediately told that they could not discuss anything with me without my business partner also on the line. I was given a cellular number to call back and was told to call anytime (my first inclination that something was very off, why would a respectable consulting agency give out cellular numbers and work outside of business hours). Having both deciding parties present is a lesson from sales 101, how to close a deal on the spot.

When I did call back with my business partner, the first question we were asked, is if we have any established credit such as visa or mastercard (i could immediately tell the sales rep was trying to plant a seed to obtain our credit information later in the sale).

later in the sale he told me that will be 600 dollars and change and asked for my credit card over the phone! LMAO! He actually expected me to give it to him without asking any questions.

I told him I wanted to see the terms and conditions of the offer before giving him my credit card, he said he has never been asked that before, and he couldn't see why I just don't trust him and ask whatever I would like to know.

I was persistent in telling him I will not divulge payment information without seeing the terms of the sale. He explained to me that they do not have any. I responded that that violates his agreements with VISA and MASTERCARD! All services charged over the phone must provide terms and conditions for VISA and MASTERCARD clients.

He shrugged it off and offered me a package for half price around 300 dollars.

I'm sorry for those of you who have fallen victim to this scam. The website did look like a government website to me. BUT THE SALES PERSON WAS SO TRANSPARENTLY A SCAM ARTIST, I'M NOT SURE HOW OTHERS HAVE FALLEN VICTIM.

D
D
Dwayne W
, US
Feb 06, 2018 1:37 pm EST

If you are interested in applying for grants each month or need a sponsorship package, trademark application, investment proposal or a business plan! They write, research and submit grants for clients. Check out www.1stplan.ca to find out more!

H
H
hometendingsucks
, US
Mar 27, 2011 2:18 am EDT

Home staging Home Tending Scam Alert! Fraud. Google Teresa Cwik, Valerie Splain. Google Joy Sizemore. 3rd degree felons involved. Get Insurance on your stuff. Scam Alert...

[http://complaintsbbb.com/2010/05/11/showoff-and-sell-owner-and-houston-home-metamorphosis-joy-sizemore-3rd-degree-felon/showoff and sell; houston home metamorphosis HOME TENDING—-My advice is DON’T DO IT! Now let me back that statement up. First of all I hired one of these home tending business’s and from day I had issue’s. No-one did weekly, monthly inspections had they –they would of noticed one of their employee’s -renters-tenants-home tenders whichever was indeed breaking the rules…in several ways! Model home furniture was not placed in my home ( I heard this from a realtor who showed my house to a potential buyer AND Which Whom did not make an offer on my house) Curb appeal –my yard is trashed. Weeds 5 feet high, leaves from last fall, dead grass overgrown trees and shrubs. Again all verified by my neighbors. Utilities, well this might be the only plus but make sure that YOU are not responsible one dime. But think about how much those utilities really cost you if you left your home vacant. Minor repair & maintenance—never happened. Things were in worse working condition than when I signed a contract. Repair of property damage. This only applies IF the tending company A) tells you and/or B) if the employee’s -renters-tenants-home tenders report it to the tending company. Once you sign a contract YOU are not allowed on the property without being escorted by the tending company it’s self. Once you sign a contract you are basically giving that employee’s -renters-tenants-home tenders more rights to your place than you the owner. Please please please read up about the home tending company you intend to use. Check with BBB of your community. Do internet research.Ask friends and neighbors. We went against all our friends pleas. We thought we were being crafty and utilizing a ‘new’ service. Trust me Scamming has been around a long time and I fell prey. I only hope my story saves the next family from destruction. Not only did my house NOT sell, but you should see the nasty mess they left for me, smell the stench within my home, view the destroyed yard(from the pet), and lets not forget the stolen items from my property as well as unpaid utility bills. No proof of insurance was provided to us and the tending company has the contract written so tight that they are NOT responsible for anything that happens to your place. You must sue the employee’s -renters-tenants-home tenders which of whom you will never get their name and/or phone number much less forwarding address. This post was submitted by george w..]

B
B
babyblue
Camrose, CA
Mar 07, 2011 7:37 pm EST

I was NEVER TOLD THAT MY CONVERSATION WAS BEING RECORDED. I truly doubt that it was. You guys are full of it. Doesn't it bother you that so many people are extremely disappointed with your product?
Another interesting tidbit, to quote from your website's FAQ page:
Despite your disclaimers, you are obviously making efforts to mimic the Service Canada website (www.servicecanada.com) and without that association, no one would fall for your scam. You rely on association with the government of Canada to make your business appear legit. See screenshots of the two websites below. The same down to the details of the colors of the buttons, etc. Logo is almost identical and the use of 4 people's faces at the top is just too similar to be a coincidence. You peolpe are sick.

You also started to operate as www.canada-grants-loans.com Is this because you have had so many complaints about your terrible product?

People! Listen! Do not waste your money on this product. Go to your local job resource centre and tell them that you are looking for funding for your small business. They will point you in the direction of everything you need to know to apply for the grants that are useful to your particular business and it will cost you absolutely nothing!

Shame on you all. I will get my money back and I won't stop until I do.

View 0 more photos
K
K
kristyd6
Abbotsford, CA
Mar 07, 2011 7:18 pm EST

Ok, then what is the basic price, please? I would like a breakdown of the charges.
Priya

S
S
Small Business Finance Centre
Toronto, CA
Oct 04, 2010 3:08 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hello, I'd like to address the points of both Mytwocents12 and Quickzeebs.

Mytwocents12: below you will find information on our returns policy and how to proceed based on your circumstances.

Quickzeebs: The amount is explained to you up front. It is in your hands to decide to carry out the transaction. If you are not satisfied with the contents and the price you paid for it, please consider your own words presented above: "I didn't do enough research." As with any transaction, it is the consumer's responsibility to know what they are buying before making a purchase, ensuring it is a good fit for their needs before making a purchase and in this case, as you admit, YOU did not do the required research to see if the product was what you were looking for. We believe the product has great value to entrepreneurs and small business owners, and that it is offered at a price that fairly represents that worth. You clearly disagree. However, you'll find links below of previous clients outright crediting this very same package provided by our Centre for helping them get funding by offering them the same services you decry. While your circumstances may not have been a good fit for what we offer, your claims that our Centre is running a scam is not at all accurate. As for returns, please see the information to follow regarding returns.

Both of you will also find the matter of trade dress (your claim we try to present ourselves as a government site) is also addressed in detail.

Regarding Government Affiliation

The Small Business Finance Centre makes no claim to any government affiliation. Every page on our site states “The Small Business Finance Centre is an independent research organization not affiliated with any government agency” in an easy to read font in white text on a black background so that it stands out. Also, our website uses the .org domain name, which is used by professional and non-profit organizations. We do not have the .gc (Government of Canada) or .gov domain indicators used by government sites, nor do we so much as have the .ca (Canada) domain name as part of our web address.

Our site does use white and red, along with a stylized maple leaf, because the Small Business Finance Centre is a Canadian company. It is a stylistic choice for our Canadian firm's professional trade dress and nothing more. We do not use the Canadian flag or the official maple leaf symbol, both of which are found on government sites and are trademarks of the Canadian government. Neither the flag nor the official maple leaf images are allowed to be used by independent, professional organizations such as ours. These two elements clearly set government sites apart from professional organizations such as ours.

If you claim a Centre employee you spoke with indicated we were affiliated with the government, please call our client service number (see below) and provide information that will allow us to investigate the incident. Your call would have been recorded and an investigation will take place.

Regarding Refunds

All prospective clients are informed that the Centre does not provide refunds, especially once materials have been delivered. All employees are instructed to specifically state there are no refunds during the phone call. If you do not believe you were informed of this no refund policy during your phone conversation with our employee, please call our client service number (provided below) and provide information that will allow us to investigate the incident. Your call would have been recorded and an investigation will take place.

Small Business Finance Centre Site Links to Government Programs

The following page on the Small Business Finance Centre website provides a list of dozens of government programs merely by clicking on “view all programs.” This list can be used by people browsing our site to find these government programs without contacting us for our services, cutting the Small Business Finance Centre out of the process entirely and allowing a website visitor to pursue funding via their own diligence. We do not bury, hide, or obscure this information on our site. Indeed, we do not even need to list it on our site. The information is easily found and available with a few simple clicks, starting from our site’s main menu.
http://www.grants-loans.org/programs.php

Small Business Finance Centre Client Success Story Videos

The following links are of Small Business Finance Centre clients explaining how the Small Business Finance Centre directly helped them get funding for their business. These are not commercials scripted by us, but actual client experiences. All links are easily found and accessed on our website. We are continuing to expand the number of videos we offer.

BUSS Financial Group: http://www.grants-loans.org/video.php?id=95

Safe Tech Alarm Systems: http://www.grants-loans.org/video.php?id=2

Sell-IT! Online Depot: http://www.grants-loans.org/video.php?id=3

Canada’s Diaper Ladies: http://www.grants-loans.org/video.php?id=10

Aziz-Ghawi Mohammad Alhusainy, sculptor: http://www.grants-loans.org/video.php?id=20

Our site does also include video experiences from non-clients, but these are provided to explain how the funding process occurs in the words of actual successful applicants as a means of reassuring prospective applicants. In such cases, the Small Business Finance Centre makes no attempt to obscure this fact or lay claim to being the facilitator of the successful funding. This is why each video is accompanied by the information “These videos will show you what kind of businesses may apply to government grant and loans programs, how to create a winning application, and much more.”

Small Business Finance Centre Client Success Story Articles

The following links are of Small Business Finance Centre clients who used our services to help them get funding for their business. All articles are easily found and accessed on our site. We continue to expand the number of Small Business Finance Centre client articles we offer.

Halls Kitchen: http://www.grants-loans.org/blog/?p=383

Rosemary Smyth and Associates: http://www.grants-loans.org/blog/?p=348

Chips & Kerry Home Staging: http://www.grants-loans.org/blog/?p=292

Puppy Luv: http://www.grants-loans.org/blog/?p=261

Spectacle Lake Lodge: http://www.grants-loans.org/blog/?p=223

Mistystix : http://www.grants-loans.org/articleview.php?id=556

Our site does also include articles from non-clients, but these are provided to explain how the funding process occurs as a means of reassuring prospective applicants. In such cases, the Small Business Finance Centre makes no attempt to obscure this fact or lay claim to being the facilitator of the successful funding.

Regards,

Steven Trustrum

Content Manager, Small Business Finance Centre

steve@fundinghq.org

Small Business Finance Centre Client Service: 1.800.663.8525

Q
Q
Quickzeebs
Burnaby, CA
Aug 10, 2010 9:51 am EDT

Hello Small Business Finance Centre.
Your business is a total scam. The package you send out is no where near worth the price. $750 is a massive amount for a small business. 99% of the funding that is available won't pertain to any one business anyway and the information is best sought out from an institution. The complaint above is spot on. The site and approach is meant to closely mimmick the government and this is how I was taken. I didn't do enough research and was excited by the prospect of getting funding, which, after doing some research I know is not going to be available for a business like mine.
SCAM SCAM SCAM. If you really wanted to help small business you would offer WAY WAY more value, for WAY WAY less $.

I'm totally pissed off that your company exists taking advantage of small entrepreneurs trying to make their own way in the world... And, you scam them for $750. Pity on you. I would like to know how you recommend I approach getting my money back. Your package has been a total waste of time and I want my money back.

Elevating the Voice of the Consumer

Empowering Real Complaints

At ComplaintsBoard, we understand the impact of genuine consumer grievances. Our platform is a dedicated space for authentic voices, where complaints, both positive and negative, are shared with honesty and transparency.

Dedicated to Validating Complaints

We are committed to ensuring the authenticity of every complaint. Our team uses rigorous verification methods to confirm that each complaint stems from a real customer experience, maintaining the integrity of our platform.

Encouraging Detailed Complaint Narratives

We value complaints accompanied by concrete evidence. Be it a photo, a detailed narrative, or additional documentation, such substantiation lends credibility to your complaint, aiding others in making informed decisions.

Balanced and Constructive Dialogue

ComplaintsBoard is more than a platform for airing grievances; it's a community where balanced dialogue is encouraged. We welcome complaints that not only point out issues but also recognize any positive interactions, promoting a fair and comprehensive perspective.

A Free and Impartial Platform for Complaints

Our unwavering commitment is to provide a free and unbiased platform for all complaints. Every complaint is given equal importance, ensuring your concerns are heard and respected, irrespective of their nature.