International Association of Healthcare Professionals

Review: When I joined this organization I felt like they expected payment right away over the phone and they were not clear about the fact that a refund would not be an option. If I had know that I would not be able to get a refund then I would have taken more time to think about it. I feel like this whole organiztion is a scam to get money out of unsuspecting good citizens that want to be involved in professional organizations. As a member of other professional organizations I think they need to be clear and considerate and transperent with their members/potential members ragarding costs and expectations of payments. I felt pressured to make payments right away over the phone with no option of a refund. I don't really even know what these "dues" are going towards. I have been called randomly and expected to pay large sums of money for things that I didn't want, but there was "nothing" that the person on the line could do about the cost and I had no choice but to pay it!!!Desired Settlement: I would like a refund of all the money that I have payed to this organization. I would also like them to be very clear with prospective members about the costs and the fact that a refund of money payed in not an option.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted],

In response to this complaint filed by [redacted], please note the following:

[redacted] was informed at the point-of-sale that since we work on publishing deadlines payment is required upon inclusion. We proceed and process the order based upon the level of membership chosen at the point-of-sale.

The cost of the membership was properly quoted on two occasions at the point-of-sale then was processed based upon [redacted]'s authorization and provision of her credit card information.

[redacted] was also informed of our cancellation policy that "due to the fact that all products and services are personalized, all sales are final". [redacted] did not object to this policy at any time.

[redacted] mentions that we called her "randomly'' and expected her to pay "large sums of money". Yes, we do contact our members when additional products and services are available such as the book she purchased in December 2012. As with membership (purchased in September 2012), the book was offered to her without obligation to buy.

The dues [redacted] mentions in this complaint have been waived.

It should be noted that prior to receiving this complaint we show no record of [redacted] contacting us via telephone, fax, mail or e-mail regarding this transaction. Our contact information was provided at the point-of-sale and was also stated on documentation she received from us. It should also be noted that [redacted] has made no attempt to return any of the merchandise she has received from us (she has retained this merchandise since 2012).

Upon receiving this complaint we attempted to contact [redacted] in an effort to resolve this matter. She has not returned our calls. As customer service is our top priority we urge [redacted] to contact [redacted], Customer Service Manager, at [redacted]

In the meantime, [redacted] will continue to receive full benefits and privileges of her membership and it is our hope that she utilizes it to its fullest extent. Our staff is always here to assist her.

Sincerely yours,

Review: I received a flattering phone call regarding my professional standing in the nursing community as exemplary. The representative asked me to be interviewed for their partner organization's magazine the International Nursing Association (INA). We set a time to be interviewed, then after the interview I was solicited to join the INA professional membership for a lifetime membership of $389. I agreed to the membership as described on the phone and specifically stated that I could not afford any higher package. I specifically said on recorded conversation that I won't accept their diamond and gold memberships or other additional services. Approximately Nov. [redacted] I received a package with my membership information and an invoice charging me for $589 and a monthly fee of $34.95 with an item description the "Gold" membership. Wrote them a letter, sent back their package, had my husband made contact to cancel and request my money back for the obvious reasons (wrong membership charge type and additional revolving charges for services declined). The CSR manager explained that the membership was $389 and a later charge of $199 the following month, but she also mentioned that they did have a $389 membership without any of their "perks". So we declined and asked for it all to be returned, as our trust in this organization is gone. CSR manager spent 30 minutes soliciting us on the bonus features we should review and respect as a bargain for the extra money and monthly fees. We declined it all and told them we would not log-on to their special website because that would constitute our accepting of the services. We further declined the membership as it all seemed to be a big bait and switch. CSR manager declined our requests and relented that she would "remove" the $199 and $34.95 monthly fees but we are stuck with the $389, because of a no refund policy. The first I learned of the new refund policy was the invoice post-acceptance of the $389 membership package that they switched to a Gold. I was accepting of recognition and becoming a part of what I thought was a professional organization in good standing and instead received little but an award letter with a glossy intro booklet about online sources that I never asked for or could find using [redacted]. Anyone who receives a solicitation to be interviewed from the International Nurses Association be aware of the following (1) they are soliciting you for money; (2) they believe in no 30-day review of their product and no refunds regardless (even if they make mistakes and you returned their materials timely); (3) with or without your knowledge they will record your conversation and still negate the content of the message and still order and charge you whatever they want. Their business tactics are shameful be aware health care professionals.Desired Settlement: I desire a refund of our hard-earned money of $389. We also wish to educate others through Revdex.com, that any written info or calls from the International Association of Healthcare Professionals or their subsidiary the International Nurses Association is nothing more than a solicitation for a professional product that is on par to receiving a Who's Who posting on a website. Outside their internal marketing web-page their is little evidence of their journalistic or social support as they described in their marketing booklet especially in my arena of nursing. I should have investigated them a lot further before accepting a blindside offer.

Business

Response:

Please be advised that the complainant, [redacted] disputed the charge with her credit card company. We will respond accordingly and the

resolution to this matter will ultimately be decided by [redacted].Sincerely yours,[redacted]Dispute Resolution SpecialistThe International Nurses Association

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been or will be resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: I received a letter from the International Association of Healthcare Professionals informing me that I had been selected as a top professional in my field in El Paso, TX. They offered to spotlight my professional career among the world wide leaders in healthcare as providers of excellence. I returned a self-addressed card accepting my candidacy, which according to the card would be free of charge.On July **, 2013 I received a phone call from [redacted], one of their representatives who interviewed me about my professional career and accomplishments. At the end of my interview she offered two packages of nice books including the biography of professionals leaders in excellence and saying that mine will be spotlighted there. She also offered some discounts in different business and a free companion airplane ticket to be used on my next trip. This package would cost $ 818.95 and another without this last offer for $ 589.00. For either package a credit card charge of $ 199.00 would be made to my credit card and a deferred payment of $ 34.95 would be done each month thereafter. I accepted the $ 818.95 under this agreement, however, immediately after I hung the phone I called my bank and my credit card had been charged with $ 818.95.I request the Revdex.com support my cancellation of business with this association as I suspect they are not a serious organization given the present circumstances. Your support in this matter is highly appreciated.Thank you very much,Desired Settlement: I would like the whole amount of $ 818.95 to be refunded to my credit card and my agreement with this association to be dissolved.Thank you very much.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted],

Please be advised that the complainant, [redacted], reached an amicable resolution with us on 7/**/13. It was agreed that she would remain a member and we in turn would credit her account in the amount of $600.00. A letter was sent to and returned back signed by [redacted] in confirmation of this agreement and we credited her account as a greed (see signed letter and receipt for proof of credit).

After signing the letter in good faith and after receiving the agreed upon $600.00 credit, [redacted] then initiated a chargeback with her credit card company for the $218.95 balance of her original $818.95 transaction.

In an effort to resolve this complaint expeditiously we advised Visa to return the $218.95 back to her account. [redacted] will now be credited by Visa directly when the chargeback process has been completed.

There will be no further contact or billing to her account and we have deactivated her membership with us.

Sincerely yours,

Review: Approximately one year ago, I purchased a single time advertisement with this company. About four months after the purchase, they attempted to sell me a series of directories for a signifcantly inflated price. I informed them that I was uninterested in the purchase ant to remove me from their customer list. Then then proceeded to charge my credit card $34.95 per month and have done fo for the past year. It was only recently discovered when I did a detailed audit of my account. I have since contacted the business and requested that the charges stop immediately. this type of hidden billing is nothing short of theft.Desired Settlement: refund of all credit card charges

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted],

Please be advised that upon receiving this com plaint several attempts were made to contact [redacted] in order to resolve this matter.

Several voicemail messages were left for him dating from 9/** to present. He has not returned our calls.

[redacted] mentions the $34.95 monthly membership dues were not authorized by him. In response, it should be noted that our representatives work under strict, script guidelines. [redacted] was, in fact, informed of this charge at the point-of-sale when he became a member with us. These dues were waived when we received this complaint.

As it is our wish to further resolve this matter we urge [redacted] to return our call to [redacted], Director of Member Services at ###-###-#### Ext: [redacted].

Sincerely yours,

Review: I received a letter from this company about 2 weeks ago saying I was a standout dental hygienist in my area and that I was going to receive an award for my achievements. Then a couple of days ago I received a phone call at work from one of the service directors asking me to do a 15 minute interview because I was going to be published in a national magazine with a complete biography of myself. She told me I was either nominated by a patient of mine or I was chosen by their research team based on my credientals; the thing is, I only have been practicing for a couple of years and I don't have many credientals, so that right there was weird to me. Then she told me that being a part of this association, I would have access of communication with other healthcare professionals and their research and then asked me if I was open to doing new research. Then she asked me if I wanted to be a platnium card memeber or a diamond member. Each type would receive different perks and had a different initation fee. I was very hesitant on the cost because since they contacted me telling me I won an award, I didn't think there should be a fee. She verbally forced me to pay for a membership card and told me that fee was a one time fee all transactions were final after I had purchased the membership, if I knew that I would have never went along with this whole situation. I feel this entire package is not worth the price I paid which was $598.95 and she also gave me a plane ticket voucher worth $550 that I could use at anytime and that my companion can travel with me for free.Desired Settlement: Since I gave them my card, I want a refund back and I want to prevent any further scamming by this company

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

My name is [redacted].... I had a complaint against the international association of healthcare professionals.... This is my response email in regards that the company and I came to an agreement and I want to stop my complaint. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Review: This company is harassing. They are a marketing company who try and get health care professionals to do advertising with them. They come across as an Accredited company who only choses the best of the best doctors to be associated with their group. They call relentlessly trying to trick the person who answers the phone that the Dr. is going to be published into their advertising and is missing information. They have called 3 times in 1 day before, even though I have asked repeatedly to stop and to be removed from their list. I have spoken to [redacted] on 4-*-15 and asked to be removed, claiming she is a manger. It is July 2015 and I am still getting the harassing phone calls.Desired Settlement: To be removed from their contact list

Business

Response:

We confirm that no further or future contact will be made to the complainant, [redacted].Thank you,[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: This company gets doctors on the phone during business hours when they are in with clinic patients and pressures them to buy a level of membership. After they say one ceharge, they quickly run thru another list of charges that doubles the price of membership. I did this unfortunately on 1/*/2015. The company did not mention any of the next charges which is another doubling of the price of the membership. All told, my [redacted] have been charges a total of $1076.85 when I was originally told that a membership was $389. I called tonight and was told on the phone by a man that "we did not deceive you and we are a reputable organization". He refused to refund these charges. I can see online---yes I should have checked--that this company has done similar things to other doctors.Desired Settlement: cancel my membership and refund my monies on the credit card.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted],Please be advised that we reached an amicable resolution with the complainant, [redacted], on 5/*/15. A letter in confirmation of this agreement was sent to [redacted] where he was advised that upon signing and sending it back to us all adjustments would be made. To date we are waiting to received the signed letter back. Sincerely,[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved. Letter has been sent back signed. Please withdraw my complaint.

Sincerely,