National American Miss

Revdex.com Complaint # ***
The initial training session was held on 4/and the training session was held one month later on 5/14. The first session is free and the second session is scheduled one month later to give everyone time to decide about
participating and to make any necessary arrangements. The dates of the pageant are stated and are available on our website at ***. The sponsor fee paid at the training session is refundable on-site after the session if someone decides the experience is not for them or if there is a conflict. If the custody issue is not a new one I do not understand why she paid sponsor fees knowing that her daughter would not be available during the dates for the pageant. We will transfer her paid fees to the state where she resides during the summer so she can participate there
Our policy of sponsor fees non-refundable without exception because our company makes commitments to venues, vendors and staff based on commitments made to us by contestants

In January of 2013, my daughter received an invitation in the mail for a National American Miss open call in *** My husband and I decided to take our daughter to the open callWe were a bit skeptical at first but decided to let our daughter try the pageant after she was chosen as a state finalist
A few weeks later my daughter and I attended a practice sessionShe loved itWe spent the next couple of months preparing for the competition
Pageant weekend was busy, but funMy daughter made many friends and tried things she never did beforeShe was a very shy girl, hiding behind my leg anytime someone would try talking to her
My daughter has competed in the state pageant four timesMy husband and I are extremely happy with the amount of confidence she has gained by competing in this pageant
Although the price does seem a bit steep, we believe it's worth every centThe staff and directors we have met are friendly, amazing and helpfulThe pageant is very well organized, from cheto competitions to finaleEvery competitor is learning life long skillsI highly recommend National American Miss to any parent wanting to instill valuable lifelong skills in their daughterGive it a tryYou'll love it! We do :-)

This people like to scam people especially parents that want their children to succeed, my father paid 275 dollars because I went to visit Mexico when I came back I got a package in the mail that I had to pay the rest which I was aware of the 550 program fee which I dont even understand where do they apply it because they charge you 20 dollars extra for registration fee, 35 dollars for socks and a tshirt, 25 dollars per person for the entrance including family what company does that? So I called and I said I dont want my daughter to participate because is too much money and I couldn't afford it, the lady said is not refundable that's their policy and I said what policy that I didn't get, she said it was on the application for the open call. There is a difference between a application and a contract they have your daughter do this application and you sign at the bottom like she did it and that's how they get you, they steal from poor family's that's why they have money living on people's money. They didn't spend time teaching my daughter and they just assume to keep the money like that, that's a scam, poor people that get tricked by this company. I want my 275.00 back

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  
I feel this matter will not be resolved until I have my money back! I don't care of the rules the policy or their trained staff! I was told by their people that since my family didn't compete I was entitled to a refund!!! what gives this company the right to just keep someones money??? they say they will keep it on file and we can use it again NO! I want nothing ever to do with this scam of a business!!! they steal peoples money they rip people off and they have false advertisement!!! I have read numerous complaints such as mine and its awful people are like this and do this to innocent families... I have been speaking with an attorney and I have my records and receipts revolving this case and I have a case I was just hoping after 2 years I would have my money back! so I came to the Revdex.com to see what action needs to be taken next. I notice im not the only one this has happened to! it has been done to a lot of people from NAM:(
[Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]
Regards,

We are sorry that Ms. [redacted] does not agree with the written rules and regulations.  We fully train our staff of presenters and administrative helpers for the Open Call and Training Sessions.  These are people that have been with us for several years, most of whom competed with NAM until they aged out of competition.  They know personally what the rules and regulations are and they are trained by our National Office before they begin presenting at Open Calls.I cannot address the items that Ms. [redacted] stated as I was not there but we do know our staff and how they are trained. Sincerely,Fidelia G[redacted]National Office ManagerNational American Miss

My 10 year old daughter competed in the preteen division with NAM for the first time this year and it was a wonderful experience. We were informed of the cost of the entry fees during her very first interview with the program and were also informed that there are additional optional competitions for an additional fee if we were interested in those as well. I was a little surprise by some of the additional things for sale during the competition during pageant weekend like the cost of the roses, DVDs, and group photos but who wouldn't want those things to take home and keep for special memories. We also assumed that there would be the added cost for hotel and food for the weekend so we where not to surprised in the cost there. She really started to gain confidence from the very beginning just by going to local businesses and asking for sponsorship to help with her entry fees. We loved watching her go from a shy girl that would fidget, look at her feet, was very nervous to talk to people and could not keep eye contact so save her life to an amazing spokes person that now speaks clearly, uses proper posture, will not break eye contact while speaking, and does it with a ton of self confidence. We did enter a few of the optional competitions not because we thought that it would increase her chances of winning but because she thought that she would enjoy doing them. She did not win any of the optional paid for competitions but she received ribbons for each one she entered and a spirt trophy for entering them so she feels like she did win in a way. She also chose to enter some of the free additional competitions and won first place in the Thank You Card competition and received a trophy for that which was a huge high light to top off the weekend. She did not place in the top ten but did get a trophy for competing and is so happy for the sweet, caring girl who did end up winning the title. She had a wonderful time during the entire weekend and met lots of very sweet girls that she is planning on keeping in contact with. I personally have loved watching her grow and blosom since we first received the invitation in the mail and she has already started talking about the things that she needs to practice with to get better and wants to start saving now so that she can pay for everything herself next year. We are very please with National Ameican Miss and can not wait to do it again!

Review: June 2012 my two daughters entered into NAM pageant. My younger daughter worked hard and went out to businesses to solicit for money for ads in the pageant book. She collected $180 for 3ads which would have earned her a trophy. The day of the pageant she noticed her name was not listed to receive a trophy and was very hurt. I went to the State Director, owner [redacted] and his father and explained the situation. [redacted] then asked me to come back at the end of the pageant and he will settle things if I can show proof of payment. I did just that. I put my children to bed and went back to the area where he advised me to meet him and he was not there. A few of his counter parts was calling for him and I waited until he returned. He then said he can not do anything at that time it will have to wait until he returned to New Jersey. After months of calling, back and forth conversations, I sent copies of the cancelled checks I was able to receive from the businesses that gave to have their businesses in the book. He then said he never got the copies by mail or by fax. This information was sent Aug 5 via mail and Aug 16, 2012 via fax. I then received a letter that they received my information but not all checks. I explained why and due to the business accounting system could not get the cancelled check. But in their response, Aug 20, 2012, the office manager [redacted] agreed my daughter have a credit of $90.00. This organization refuse to send the credit that is showing in their system. I have reached out numerous times asking if they will not reimburse any of the $180 to at least send back the credit of $90.00. My daughter is so hurt and dissatisfied by the entire pageant, she explained, she worked hard and they did not do what they said they would do and honor her a trophy. I have asked to remove her name and our information from their system and stop sending out Pageant info and they are still sending NAM correspondence.Desired Settlement: We want a full refund or at least the credit they have on file in their own words. An apology letter addressed directly to my daughter who is now 13yrs old. And for all correspondence of any kind w NAM name on it to be sent to our home and to remove our telephone numbers from their contact list.

Review: I talked with someone awhile ago about my daughters money that we already put down. After putting the $240.00 down to attend the first prep session in [redacted] a few weeks I received the paperwork about the dates for the [redacted] pagent. Unfortunately, my daughter won't be able to attend. So that is when I called the office to let you know. I was told that they would make arrangments for my situation before I put the money down. That is why I put the money down because they told me in person they would work with me. Later to find out from [redacted] that they lied. I would like my money back.

The reason is that I have custody of my daughter only for the school year - September to June. During the summer - July and August my daughter spends it with her father in another state. I have a court order since 2008 from the judge to show you if you need proof so that you don't think I am trying to scam you or something.

My daughter is truely heartbroken over this. I am asking for the money that I put down just so that the people who gave my daughter sponsor money can get it back.

I think it would be really respectful and responsible of you to return the money to me just so that I can return the money to the people who donated to my daughter. It is the right think to do.

I had to reimburse everyone for their sponsor money since I have not received the money back from NAM.Desired Settlement: The money returned to me.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Complaint # [redacted]

The initial training session was held on 4/16 and the training session was held one month later on 5/14. The first session is free and the second session is scheduled one month later to give everyone time to decide about participating and to make any necessary arrangements. The dates of the pageant are stated and are available on our website at [redacted]. The sponsor fee paid at the training session is refundable on-site after the session if someone decides the experience is not for them or if there is a conflict. If the custody issue is not a new one I do not understand why she paid sponsor fees knowing that her daughter would not be available during the dates for the pageant. We will transfer her paid fees to the state where she resides during the summer so she can participate there.

Our policy of sponsor fees non-refundable without exception because our company makes commitments to venues, vendors and staff based on commitments made to us by contestants.