National Association of Professional Women

Review: On 3/*/14, I received a call from ###-###-#### and spoke with a woman named [redacted] who represented herself as an NAPW Account Coordinator, regarding membership with NAPW; she stated that I could reach her personally at ###-###-####. She stated the membership cost as "nine eighty nine", which I understood that to mean "$9.89". After the conversation I went to check my bank account and saw that I had a pending charge of "$1,188.00". I immediately called [redacted]'s phone number at ###-###-####, in addition to two (2) contact numbers provided on their website (###-###-#### and ###-###-####) and I sent an email to two (2) email addresses also provided on the [redacted] website ([redacted]). While leaving two (2) voicemail messages and sending an email, I requested that my membership be cancelled immediately. When I called each contact number for NAPW, I received a recorded (phone) message that the office was closed and that I should call back during normal business hours: however, the call I initially received from [redacted] came at 4:22pm CST. Per two (2) automated email responses I received, each stated that the "normal business hours are from 8:00am - 5:00pm EST". I immediately called my bank (PNC) and asked if this charge could be reversed. They stated that they wouldn't be able to take any immediate action since the charge is pending and that I should call the organization again and ask them to reverse the charge by cancelling the membership in the hope that NAPW will refund the $1,188.00

I feel as though I have been taken advantage of by being unfairly solicited (i.e. I was called outside of their normal business hours) to sign up for a membership, in addition to the fact that when I called back within 5-10 minutes to cancel my membership, suddenly no one is available to take my call and being told their business "is now closed". Also, I later went online and discovered several complaints regarding this organization and how they've scammed individuals into signing up for memberships either stating it's "free" or stating various membership prices ranging from $99-$1200, then later refusing to cancel their membership or charging individuals' credit cards unknowingly for the purpose of renewing their membership.Desired Settlement: I want the $1188.00 refunded/returned to my credit card immediately. I made the request for membership cancellation within a matter of 5-10 minutes after they charged my credit card (and during the timeframe that they states their "business is closed"); therefore, there should not be any "certain fees and/or restrictions" (per NAPW's FAQ page on membership cancellation)" that would apply in this case or hinder me from receiving my full refund.

Business

Response:

Per [redacted]'s request, a full refund for this membership was issued 3/*/2014. Generally a refund reflects on the credit card account within 2-3 business days, pursuant to the policies of the credit card issuer. The membership was cancelled and refunded in full on 3/*/2014.

Review: I applied to be considered for membership to the NAPW and received a call back shortly thereafter. After telling me I had been accepted, the representative then told me I would have to pay $989.00 for an annual membership or $789.00 for an annual membership with less service offerings. I went ahead with the transaction for $789.00.

More recently I was contacted again by the NAPW stating that I had been selected as 2013 Executive Woman of the Year. With this title, they told me my profile would be featured on the NAPW website and that I would receive an award plaque in the mail indicating this prestigious honor. Only after I thanked the representative for this recognition did she tell me that the NAPW would require me to pay nearly $1,000.00 to receive all of the benefits associated with this honor. I told the representative I was not able to pay that amount, and she then offered to lower the price to around $500.00. I continued to tell the representative that I did not want to pay anything and that I was not authorizing a charge to my credit card, which they had kept on file without my permission from my original membership transaction.

After I ended the more recent phone call with the NAPW representative, I began to do more research about this organization. To my surprise I found that many other women had warned of NAPW’s practices and many have had similar experiences as what I have endured. I also discovered that the NAPW is wrongfully stating that they have a Revdex.com rating of “A”. Initially believing this rating to be accurate is what made me think the cost of NAPW membership might be worth it. However, learning what I now know, I found that NAPW is NOT approved by the Revdex.com and that they have a history of inappropriately using the Revdex.com’s seal of approval. This is false advertising and I want a refund. I do not want to own a membership with an organization that cannot even be truthful about their Revdex.com rating. I would not have been interested in having a NAPW membership if I had known they lied on their webpage about this rating.Desired Settlement: I would like my $789 refunded back to my credit card.

Business

Response:

Review: Over charged for a full years membership to the National Association of Professional Women.

I understand NAPW's terms and conditions to read you must discontinue membership in writing 30 days prior to the renewal date or else you will automatically be charged for the same membership dues from the previous year. However, since NAPW chose to charge me double for renewal at a fee of $199.00 without authorization from me, I feel their organization is taking advantage of my finances. I joined the membership 1 year ago at a 99$ rate. I find their business lacks service, and now lacks financial responsibility. I was granted a 100$ refund after I called and pursued this issue with their renewals department. However, I am seeking a full refund for their bad business practice of double charging their customers without authorization.Desired Settlement: Full refund for a total amount of $199.00, plus the 30$ I accumulated in overdraft fees due to their bad business practice of double charging customers.

I was told by NAPW that I will receive a 100$ credit within 14 business days, however, I am seeking the remaining $99 in membership dues, plus the 30$ I accumulated in overdraft fees. My account was NAPW was severed this morning, so I am unclear why I should pay for a year of service when my account is discontinued. I do not want it reactivated, I am seeking full refund.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by National Association of Professional Women regarding complaint ID [redacted].

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

In March of 2013 NAPW increased its renewal dues rates. At that time, it communicated the change via an email blast to all affected members and noted the change in its Terms & Conditions. NAPW then re-set its networking portal login so that all members had to acknowledge the new Terms & Conditions. Subsequently, in the month prior to the member’s renewal date, NAPW sent two reminder emails, with the thought that members who elected not to renew could contact our Customer Service and opt out. In this case, NAPW issued a refund to [redacted] of half her fee on October **, 2013 and the other half on November **, 2013. Should [redacted] have any questions, she should feel free to contact me directly at [redacted]

Review: I was duped into joining this organization, by only paying their "discounted" rate of $99 for the year, with NO obligation beyond that.. so I did it.

I never did anything with the membership and honestly, forgot about it, until I saw a debit/charge from my checking account for $199, of which I did not authorize.

I have contacted them, requesting that they reverse the charge, as I never authorized this continuation of the membership, nor do I want it.. I think this organization is a complete scam.. and after reading their horrible reviews, I feel bad for the people that have joined in the manner that I did... it's not fair.Desired Settlement: I would like my $199 returned to me, along with any charges that were made the previous year..

Business

Response:

[redacted] has been an NAPW member since November of 2010. At that time, she purchased a Trial Membership which was priced at $99 and which entitled her to access to discounted continuing education materials, participation in local chapters of her choosing (including our highly successful Chicago chapter), additional discounts through shopping partners and participation in our National Networking Conference. At the time of her purchase [redacted] was told that her membership would automatically renew each year. This was communicated during her initial sales call, in her welcome kit sent to her after joining, and in a reminder email sent the month prior to her auto-renewal each year. [redacted]'s membership was auto-renewed in November of 2011 and 2012. In early 2013, NAPW's renewal rates changed and [redacted] was sent several notices of the change, including links to our new Terms & Conditions outlining the changes.

Review: There was a banner on [redacted] for free membership into this organization, so I filled out the form so I could get more information. They called me and took detailed personal information, then said I was eligible for membership, which cost $900. When I said I would have to check with my boss, they started calling me incessantly under all sorts of blocked or toll free numbers. They call both my work and my prviate cell phone. It is abusive and underhanded, and I have read a lot about this organizaiton from others online. I can't believe their rating with the Revdex.com is so high.Desired Settlement: They need to stop harassing me, particularly at work. They were very pushy on the phone and now won't leave me alone.

Business

Response:

We deeply regret this misunderstanding. We have a record that this individual had expressed interest in membership. To ensure best practices and best service, a membership coordinator attempted to contact this individual in an effort to assist this individual in joining NAPW. This individual has been removed from all future contact from NAPW. Should you have any further questions, you may contact me at ###-###-####.

Regards,

NAPW charged $989 on my [redacted] card without my permission on October *, 2015. Last and only time I had signed up with them was in late 2012/early 2013. I never renewed. Asked them to stop calling me.

I found this organization on Linked-In so I submitted to join. I was sent a letter saying I was approved and to register on-line. Then I was contacted via phone and asked another series of questions before they could approve my registration. After being approved, again, on the phone I was then given the sales pitch and cost. Each time I said I couldn't afford that large of a one time payment they kept offering me different deals. I finally asked if they could send me the different levels in writing so I could present to my employer (as they will cover professional organizations).. I was then pitched another "deal" at which time I finally declined and hung the phone up on them.

I responded to a free membership ad on [redacted] and received a phone call a few months later. They said they needed to conduct a phone interview to see if I was suitable for the organization. The lady then congratulated me that I was accepted and then proceeded to tell me the cost of the membership. She made it sound like the fee was $9.89, so I provided my cc information. Upon billing confirmation, I discovered she was actually about to charge me $989.00!!!, to which I said no. At this point the sales lady began to get pushy and offer me other membership packages, none of which were less than 99.00. I declined all other offers. The whole experience was very fishy, and I am probably going to cancel that cc

Review: Last year I decided to try out membership with NAPW on trial basis with a caveat that membership will not be automatically renewed.

This year, membership was billed automatically without my consent and at double of the price from last year.

NAPW website doesn't have a way to view/modify membership other than submitting request for NAPW sales people to contact you.

I initiated dispute with Credit Card ** provider since I didn't have the option of cancelling or modifying membership.

24 hours later, I received a call from NAPW representative and let them know that

Rep was rather unresponsive and advised me that I was responsible for the charges and that NAPW will not support dispute with [redacted] and I will end up paying anyway.

I did indicate that no approval was given and charge should have not be done in a first place.

I requested cancellation of the membership and advised that I will be reportingDesired Settlement: Cancelled membership.

Refunded membership fee, as it was not approved by card holder.

NAWP needs to have an option of cancelling accounts/viewing membership invoices other than emails from the company.

NAWP needs to have an option to opt out for autorenewals. During initial sign up, sales rep didn't indicate that my request not to be auto-renewed can not be accommodated.

Business

Response:

[redacted] - this member was refunded in full as our investigation showed that she, while not directly asking to cancel her membership, did indicate that she did not wish to move forward.

I agree with all the complaints here about NAPW. I just received a paper stating and I quote, "There is no cost or obligation to be included. Your membership is confirmed! They call you after you put your application in and need more information. I didn't like that fact that I thought I didn't have to pay anything. If I knew I had to pay, I wouldn't have given them my personal information. I'm upset about that

Review: I have been a member of the NAPW since 2012, I was contacted in October 2013 and told I was selected as a "Women of the year". At that time I was talked into paying over $400.00 to upgrade my membership to the VIP level. I was informed that I would get a lot feedback from other great women in my industry etc. I was also informed that I would get a package in the mail in about 2 weeks. Well December rolls around and I get another phone call saying I won the same thing, I told the lady on the phone I already paid $400 and she apologized, and said they would get my packet shipped right away. I received a packet over 4 months later with all the info needed to log into the cite, etc. I never participated in ANY of the discussions from 2012 to 2013 or 2013 to 2014. I work 60 plus hours a week and [redacted] over 200 employees and at the end if the day NAPW is the last thing on my mind. I understand I am out that money because I was the one who neglected to participate in the discussions, I willing gave my card number to them etc. However, my husband asked me a couple weeks ago why NAPW drafted over $470.00 from his account? I was confused by this because I didn't sign up for anything else, I was never contacted about a membership upgrade, etc. When I called NAPW they indicated my account was in "auto renewal". I deal with auto renewal on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, so I am fully aware how it works, and I NEVER signed up for auto renewal. I explained this to the lady I called and she indicated that all the accounts are set up to auto renewal and I have to give a 30 day notice if I want to cancel the auto renewal- but of course this is before it drafts.

I explained to her I never used the membership last year and that she can check my history. I also asked if I could see where I signed this "Auto Renewal", She indicated there is nothing in writing but when I went onto the website to set up my user name and password I click a box (of 10 pages mind you) agreeing that I know about the auto renewal- even though this was never told to me.

I asked about a refund and she said there was nothing she could do on the refund end, until I was persistent she said she could refund 270$ back to the card it was drafted from.

She said she could not refund the whole amount because the future "discussions" were already paid for.

At this point in time, I would tell anyone who asked me about NAPW that its a great service as long as you don't let them rope you into any sort of membership or upgrade you have to pay for because you will never get your money back and they will drafted your account without notice. It would be one thing if this charge was 20 or 30 a month or year, but to have over 400$ drafted right before the holidays with no notice, and no proof of signage. is just bad business practice.Desired Settlement: I would like a FULL refund back to my credit card, I would like my credit card on file removed, the auto renewal removed and my NAPW account cancelled out with no further calls.

Business

Response:

We are sorry that[redacted]’s experience with the NAPW has been less than ideal – we do strive toprovide our members with resources and benefits to enhance and improve theirlives, both personal and professional. We encourage and expect ourmembers to avail themselves of those benefits and to contact us with anyquestions or problems regarding their memberships. Members who do take the timeto explore and take advantage of the myriad resources available will findtremendous value in being a member of the NAPW. Our members are entitled to betreated with utmost respect and empathy, and every person on the NAPW team istrained to work with our members to resolve any issues; however, there areprotocols and policies which must be followed. These policies are companywideand all of our team members are required to follow them. [redacted] authorized the October *, 2014 charge reflecting her annual membershipdues. During her initial enrollmentinterview, our representative went over the membership, beginning with the mostcomprehensive package – part of the goal of the interview is to determine thebest package to fit the member’s goals and budget. We want them to get themaximum benefits for the money, which is why they offer the options in theorder they do. [redacted] selected the Introductory membership. Ourrepresentative also explained that NAPW uses an automatic renewal process,designed to protect [redacted]’s enrollment in and uninterrupted access to thebenefits provided by NAPW and its business partners. Prior to concluding the interview, ourrepresentative specifically informed [redacted] that her annual membership wouldautomatically renew. [redacted] had theopportunity to opt out of our automatic renewal program at that time. NAPWemploys a comprehensive call recording and auditing function. Our staff reviews the recording of eachcompleted interview for multiple compliance points, including that therepresentative explained the automatic renewal process as described above. Duringthe initial enrollment interview, our representative explained that [redacted]would receive an email (within 24 hours) containing login information foraccess to our members’ portal. Ourrepresentative further explained that [redacted] should review our Terms &Conditions. Subsequent to logging in butprior to accessing her benefits, she was required to review and accept thoseTerms & Conditions. Therein, she wasprovided with the details of our automatic renewal policy, which was previouslyexplained during the initial enrollment interview. NAPW’s Terms &Conditions are available at [redacted] had been selected for consideration by our VIP membershipcommittee and was contacted on October *, 2014. This is the call to which shealludes in her complaint. During thissecond interview, it was explained to her thatwith this selection, she would receive additional benefits, which are why thereis a fee for the upgrade. [redacted] chose at the time to upgrade hermembership. She was also sent thepackage with the commemorative plaque, which should have been delivered to herby the end of November. Our VIP membersare also invited to participate in our annual Legacy Registry, which is thesecond call to which she refers in her complaint. NAPWmade available to [redacted] a comprehensive membership services staff, which isqualified to field all inquiries and would have been able to work with her hadshe elected to opt out of her automatic renewal (or any other questions she mayhave had). NAPW publicizes theavailability of this staff through multiple dedicated pages. See [redacted]. Each of these pages publishes the contacttelephone numbers and email addresses, and provides a convenient form whichthis member could have submitted at any time if she wished to engage our staff forany reason, including opting out of her automatic membership renewal. From dayone of [redacted]’s enrollment with NAPW, we communicated via email using theaddress she provided: [redacted]. Email was clearly the primary communicationchannel, by which [redacted] received her monthly newsletters and numerous otherorganizational announcements. We cannotcompel our members to utilize the benefits; we do remind them vie regular emailmessages and personal messages sent to the message center which is part of eachmember’s profile. Wechanged our terms and conditions, including our renewal policies in March 2013,advising our members. This was also posted prominently on our website. A postcard reminder was mailed at the end of July to the address provided byher at the time of enrollment, which is the same as the one provided here.Additionally, well before it was processed, NAPW sent [redacted] a courtesyreminder of her upcoming renewal transaction via email, and another reminder aweek later. We havereviewed all of our records. [redacted]did not contact us to cancel her scheduled renewal prior to processing, asrequired by our Terms & Conditions, so her renewal was processed as shepreviously authorized. Had she contactedus in response to any of these reminders, we could have prevented the renewal.We do ask our members the courtesy of advising us if they do not want to renew– this is because once a renewal is processed, we also renew and pay for someof the benefits which are provided by our partners. These fees are notrefundable to us.[redacted] did contact us on October *, 2014 – aweek after her renewal was processed. As per her conversation with ourmembership services representative, during which all of this information wasprovided, we have issued a credit to [redacted]’s account and wehave also deactivated the automatic renewal function of her membership, so thatit will not renew We take the claim that a charge was unauthorized veryseriously. We send three reminders specific to the renewal inaddition to all of the other correspondence we send. These topics are alsodiscussed in meetings and the information is permanently available on our website.NAPW provides an amazingvalue for the membership fee. Included in ALL memberships levels arewebinars, seminars, discounts, perks, online networking access and in-personchapter affiliation as well as a myriad of other benefits. Ourorganization is growing, expanding and moving forward through numerousinitiatives, strategic alliances and corporate affiliations; offering membersadditional avenues to ASPIRE, ACHIEVE and CONNECT. Every member of NAPW's management team works diligently todeliver maximum value to our members, and any claim that someone was"scammed" is demonstrably false. We currently have almosta half-million satisfied members, all of whom are free to use our onlinenetworking portal, which gives our members more connectivity optionsand far more ability to promote themselves than other networking sites. We have over 300 local chapters across America, in which tens of thousands ofour members get together to take their online experience into the real worldand create incredible connections with other professional women. These localchapters are constantly implementing new ways for the local members to interact. We encourage of our members to join allof the chapters in their area - this gives them more opportunities to attendevents that fit their busy schedules and widens the circle of local women withwhom to network. Moreover, we host an annual National Networking Conferencewhere almost two thousand members where members from all over the country enjoyan unforgettable day of networking, panel discussions, workshops andpresentations from extraordinary women like Sara Blakeley, Arianna Huffington,Star Jones, Martha Stewart, Ivanka Trump, Randy Zuckerburg, Barbara Corcoranand Robin Roberts. Additionally, we are constantly providing and working toupgrade the secondary benefits such as free or discounted continuingeducation through leading providers like [redacted] and [redacted]; shopping and other discounts through a number of partnerships,including exclusive sponsors like Lenovo, one of the world's largest computersuppliers; and interesting topical content provided through our social mediaand other outlets. Again, our entire team is working hard every singleday to build these partnerships, identify and create content, and make greaterbenefits available to our members. As an additional courtesy, we have credited her account so herrenewal fee is the lowest fee charged, but we are keeping all of her benefitsintact at the VIP level. We also inviteher to contact us so that we can guide her in using the resources and benefitsof her membership with the constraints of her busy schedule.

Review: I was contacted by NAPW, immediately asking me questions about my background and where I wanted to be in 5 years. As soon as I answered the questions I was told that I was accepted as a member and that I would be able to take advantage of all of these wonderful perks. Then I was asked which membership I wanted starting with $989 membership. I immediately began to [redacted] the company while on the phone with the representative. In seeing 200 plus complaints I decided not to go further. I informed the woman of my decision not to move forward and she contindue to harass me and pressuring me to give her my credit card information. I let her know I was not comfortable with that and she asked me if I was having money problems, which was wholly inappropriate. I let her know I would be hanging the phone up at that time and that I wanted to research the company more and she could give me a call back the next day or I could call her back. She continued to talk and asked me if it was a money problem again and I finally hung the phone up.Desired Settlement: I would like for ALL of my information removed from their database, as this company is a scam and there is an OBVIOUS problem with ethics. Why are they allowed to continue to operate?

Business

Response:

information was removed from our database and this person will not be contacted again.

Review: This organization is not anything like I was lead to believe by the advertising campaign currently in place.

As a matter of fact my opinion is that NAPW is marketed in a way that is cleverly misleading. To top things off this campaign does very little to make it initially clear that there is an exorbitant fee for membership. In my mind it does not fall short of the illegal bait and switch scheme.

On June ** I received a notice that my membership application was received and someone would contact me shortly. A month later, July **, I received a call NAPW to congratulate me and say that I was accepted! Let me begin by asking one to visualize my delighted response at finally receiving a call that the application I had submitted was 'reviewed' and then 'accepted'. Please then imagine my confusion upon learning that this free 'acceptance' was contingent upon a fee of over a thousand dollars and that payment was demanded in advance of having access to the 'real' website. Naturally I balked so they said if I paid the $99 the $989 could be deferred for a year.

I obliged and disclosed my payment information because NAPW appeared to be the vehicle in which mentoring would be readily and plentifully available. That turned out to be false.

The same day I received the call, an email arrived. There was no information regarding the level of tiers and what they consisted of as I had requested and they promised. Also there was no immediate access because the membership card and password wouldn’t arrive later for half a month later. All I could do was set up my profile and add a photo. They told me to do so immediately or I would forfeit being “featured” on some special category. Now I realized they just wanted to claim I used the site.

The sole purpose of my request to join NAPW was to connect with a mentor in the field in which I am currently employed. The problem is that there are none. The mentor 'search' tool is cumbersome and realized zero results in every search that was initiated. To say the least I was extremely disappointed.

On August * I called, got an answering service and left a message for a callback. No reply. I called again on August ** and left a detailed message requesting a refund. Same result. After I left that message about the refund I began receiving emails from miscellaneous individuals wanting to go over the benefits of the membership. I replied each time stating that while I understood their trying to retain my membership by pointing out the benefits of it, they also must understand that these benefits are not beneficial to me if they are not in line with my expectations based on how they were communicated to me.

On September [redacted] I received my bank statement and BOTH charges were taken from my account. I notified my bank and part of the process is to attempt to work it out with the merchant. That is what I have been attempting to do.

I have called, written and emailed to no avail. I have been yelled at numerous times by their customer service team and also verbally degraded. My last conversation with them resulted in asking for a [redacted]. She was so rude and kept repeating they offered a networking service. I explained that I was already a member of [redacted] and signed up for NAPW for mentoring. She kept saying it was just too late now. I said that I've utilized none of the membership, made no contact with other members and have not attended any meetings.

She said I was simply playing a hoax to get a refund and it wasn’t going to happen. The best she would do is not charge me the AUTOMATIC RENEWAL FEE of $989 NEXT year so it would be like getting two years for the price of one. There was never any indication that this was set up as an automatic renewal.

They rudely talked over me and basically said there was nothing that could be done. They said there was over 6000 happy members and couldn’t understand what my problem was. They kept saying sorry about the mentoring but there were other benefits like discounts and podcasts. But I am not interested in those. I asked her if she had 6000 delighted customers why would she want to upset ONE that wasn’t happy? No reply. Just a laugh in my face.

I was advised to report them to the Revdex.com. Incidentally they boasted affiliation with the Revdex.com on the initial call. That was another reason I thought they were legitimate. Complaints from others say the same thing. They use a lot of word spin to confuse consumers.

Upon researching this company I found 227 complaints lodged against them on the Revdex.com site and a dozen or more on the [redacted]. On the latter it appears that they have a canned response that negates any wrongdoing on their part. In essence everyone who requests a refund is an it that doesn’t understand what they offer. The bottom line is that NAPW did not meet the expectations I had based on what they told me.

I am now being forced to close my bank accounts due to fraud by this merchant and have to begin the tedious process of updating payment accounts with the new number. I am requesting a check refund in the amount of $1088.00 Thank you.Desired Settlement: My bank closed my account due to fraud so I am requesting a refund in the amount of $1088.00.

Business

Response:

This member was fully-refunded by NAPW company check in the amount of $1,088 sent on January [redacted]2014.

Review: Hello,

I was interested in the National Association of Professional Women organization based upon links (apparently advertisements) on the professional networking site, [redacted], and reached out for information, online. I subsequently received a call from one of the NAPW representatives. She was lovely, sounded professional and…quite persistent, although a bit less than forthcoming.

After answering many questions, she extended an invitation to me to join the association. She explained that the membership was $989. I explained that as a grad student in a career transition, I could not afford that at this time. She proceeded to lower the membership cost, for differing levels, one at a time, with each expression of reluctance on my part. Down to $799…then down to $499…then down to $199…then an extended trial membership of $99 as a special deal. When I expressed concern that I had JUST accepted a new job last week and that perhaps this was bad timing and that I should revisit membership after the 1st of the new year, the representative explained that the invitation to join was only good for today. She explained that NAPW could not “go back and forth” with invitees, which I perfectly understood. I mentioned that I felt pressured and that I had just spend over $900 yesterday for my national board registry exam. I asked for a few days to discuss the membership costs with my husband. I was again told that the offer was only valid when it was extended today and during the phone conversation.

I reluctantly agreed, believing that these professional women knew who I was on [redacted] and that failing to follow through on my part, after the company had already "processed" and "verified" my application, could result in social networking backlash . As soon as the payment information was exchanged, she suddenly informed me that the processing could not be reversed. I received a welcome email, outlining the terms of the organization, and immediately discovered in the fine print, hat the National Association for Professional Women in fact offers COMPLIMENTARY BASIC MEMBERSHIPS! This is a fact that she NEVER mentioned once on the phone, but one that was advertised online. As a recent graduate, I sought membership in the organization largely for the online networking. Granted, a basic membership limits full networking options, but it would have been a perfect start for me over the next few months, as I establish myself in my brand new position. I am disheartened to realize that the NAPW is more interested in selling services, than introducing new professionals to the advantages of professional networking. They misrepresent themselves.

Two hours into my membership, I am disappointed. I believed that that NAPW was a support organization, but it seems now to be a typical for profit business, guided more by self interest than by community enrichment. Had I been offered a complimentary basic membership for a few months, until I had at least received my first paycheck in my new position, I might have felt considerably more comfortable, branching out. I am the first employee hired for a [redacted]area expansion, and would have sought your resources whole heartedly. I’m afraid though, that I feel a little manipulated. The company offers a level of complimentary service in letter correspondence and on the web, but then lies on the phone, insisting that there an immediate payment is due.

Respectfully,

[redacted]Desired Settlement: I would like a refund. I would like the business to be required to honestly disclose during phone contact, the same information that they send in letters and publish on web advertisements.

Business

Response:

First, I would like to apologize for the misunderstandings between NAPW and [redacted]. NAPW is a support organization, and I was personally moved by her complaint. We have very successful local chapters near [redacted]'s town of [redacted], in both [redacted] and [redacted] See [redacted]. I have spoken with so many of our members and hears such wonderful stories of the support they have gained through local chapter participation. As a transitioning graduate student, it seems that [redacted] would benefit from and find support within our organization. As such, I would like to extend the offer for her to contact me at [redacted], and allow me to connect her with a representative who, at no charge, can provide her with a full membership so that she can at least try to experience all NAPW has to offer.

At the same time, I have directed our Finance Department to issue a full refund in the amount of $99. That credit has been confirmed, and should appear in [redacted]'s account within 3-5 business days depending on her bank's policies.

[redacted] | [redacted]

National Association of Professional Women

Consumer

Response:

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

Sincerely,

Review: While looking at healthcare organizations on my [redacted] profile I came across the "National Association of Professional Women." This association stated they had an "A" rating from the Revdex.com and that they were free to join through [redacted]. I submitted an application to sign up for the organization. Upon the first phone call, I informed them that I was at the hospital and they would have to call me back at a later date. I continued to receive multiple phone calls from a "blocked" phone number over the next 2 weeks, which I did not identify as this organization. This morning, I answered the phone call as I was running from one hospital to the next, to discover it was this organization calling about my interview. I was clearly disheveled and in a hurry running to the other clinic in my car, but I figured I would take the interview. After stumbling through a few questions, the lady on the phone informed me that I am clearly what they are looking for and told me I am accepted into the membership.

After the acceptance, the lady began to describe to me the users of my membership and how valuable it would be to me.

In the phone conversation to complete my membership, I was quoted 3 membership levels. The first choice was the highest level costs $999.00/yr. The next level below that was $789/$799, something like that. After I realized they were talking in the hundred dollar ranges, not $9.99 or $7.99 I realized there is no way I would pay such a large amount for a service I know nothing about and I even stated this to the representative on the phone. I was promptly asked if there was a financial concern, to which I stated "Yes."

Next, the lady told me there was a basic membership for only $489 for the year. I told her I was not in a position to get out my credit card, because I was in my car driving. The lady said I had once change to get my membership or else I wouldn't be allowed into the organization. I informed the lady I was close to the hospital and that she could tell me more about the basic membership before I made a decision. After explaining to me what the membership included, which contained materials to webinars, mentor/mentee services, etc. I figured the value could be beneficial for the educational value. As soon as I arrived at my destination I foolishly handed over my credit card. After the credit card was received, I was then informed that there would be an additional $100 added to the account for the services offered by this lady on the phone. Due to the need to be in the ER immediately, I promptly got off the phone with an icky feeling in my stomach.

After doing some more research I realized just how much I had been scammed.

1. The Linkedin profile is intentionally misrepresentative of the company and the membership is NOT free.

2. The Rating of an A from the Revdex.com does not mean that they are affiliated with the Revdex.com.

3. The more concern you showed for the cost would enable an individual to get a membership for as low as $99 dollars for the same basic service for 6 months.

4. I was told I would be charged a $100 service fee for the lady's "Services" when no other individual through my research has paid this amount for the phone initiation

Every part of this phone calls feels intentionally devious the more I think back on the situation. I feel like this company is falsely advertising based on the information above and is taking advantage of individuals with aggressive selling tactics to get as much money out of them as possible.

I am very disappointed that this organization turned out to be what they were -- I was looking forward to the benefits of being part of an organization that valued education and commitment to women, but feel that I was not only taken advantage of and based on my research was not eligible to receive the webinars that I was looking forward to. I will not be logging into the account to activate it and will wait patiently to see how this company who values women and professionalism handles this claim.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund to my credit card in the two amounts charged by the lady on the phone -- one for her "services" and the second for the "membership." I will closely watch my credit card statement.

Business

Response:

We deeply regret this misunderstanding.

NAPW offers member several tiers of membership; this is an effort to ensure that members are joining at a level that is most advantageous to their needs as a professional. Frankly, we don;t see anything unacceptable about providing our members options.

NAPW advertises that we maintain an "A" rating with the Revdex.com; again, I do not see anything misleading or unacceptable about this. We are proud to provide benefits to our members, and proud to serve our members by assisting them in creating professional opportunities. Members are charged a Registration Profile Setup fee of $99 five (5) days after their inception; this is a fee that covers all profile revisions and maintence as well as and Customer Service needs throughout the duration of the membership. This was something that was clearly explained upon purchase. If there were any confusion in regards to the benefits and/or fees, our Customer Service Department would have been more than happy to assist this member. We do not have any record of this member's attempted communication with NAPW.

I have requested that the Billing Department issue a full credit for the membership and profile setup fee in the amount of $588.00. From my understanding, this typically takes 2-5 business days for the funds to reflect in the account. I trust that this resolves this matter. Should you have any additional questions, you may contact me at ###-###-####.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

On 9/**/13 I received a response from the organization stating that they would reimburse my bank account for $588.00 and that it usually takes about 2-5 business days.

"I have requested that the Billing Department issue a full credit for the membership and profile setup fee in the amount of $588.00. From my understanding, this typically takes 2-5 business days for the funds to reflect in the account. I trust that this resolves this matter. Should you have any additional questions, you may contact me at ###-###-####."

As of 9/**/13 I still have yet to receive a refund to my account.

The NAPW did try to contact me last week, but due to working the night shift the prior evening, I was not available to discuss the case. I will try and contact the number listed above, but I wanted to reiterate that this complaint has not been resolved.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We'll ask that the member consult her bank or institution, as the credit has been issued. Should you have any further questions, please contact us.

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. The money was credited to my account roughly 3-5 days after the complaint was re-opened.

Sincerely,

Review: I was job serchining on [redacted] and filled out a Free Membership serveral weeks ago. I received a call from this company thinking that my credentials qualified because they were interviewing me. At the end of the interview they asked for a credit card to join , I asked if I could think about it and was told NO. I of course didn't want to lose the oppurtunity of being associated with a Real company, but when I eventually came home and had access to a computer I did check [redacted] and was correct it was advertised as a Free Service. I went one step further and searched reviews and found out that this company is a SCAM. I went to this site (Revdex.com) and found out they had several complaints filed against them. I e mailed and left a message that I wanted to cancel. I called my credit card company which can not do anything because I actually authorized the charges. And I'm turning to you for help as I feel I will not receive a credit or phone call from the company.Desired Settlement: Company should be taken off [redacted] as advertising as FREE to Sign Up for the membership.

Business

Response:

According to our records, this member contacted our Finance Department on June [redacted] to cancel her membership, at which point she received a full refund. From my understanding, this typically takes 3-5 business days for the funds to appear.

To clarify, any individual that applies to NAPW is entitled to a complimentary listing, and must complete a brief interview. However, in order to engage and participate in the benefits and resources that NAPW provides, including but not limited to the local Chapter meetings, access to conferences, seminars, webinars, podcasts, online networking, business resources, mentorship program, discount programs, etc., members are required to pay dues and fees. NAPW prides itself in bringing value to the professional woman through the vast networking and educational platforms available to members. We deeply regret the member's misconception that NAPW is anything other than the aforementioned; if the member had contacted our Customer Service department, we would have been more than pleased to ensure that she had a clear understanding of the NAPW mission.

I trust that this resolves the issue. Please contact me with any additional questions at ###-###-####.

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,

Classic bait and switch, with hard selling, and manipulative tactics thrown in. As soon as I said I needed to do my due diligence and would not be signing up / paying for anything over the phone, the representative's tone changed to condescension. The LinkedIn ad clearly said it was a free professional organization; the Revdex.com's D rating and 1-star on Yelp were very illuminating.

Review: I clicked on "free" membership on [redacted] -- I received a phone call and was offered a membership at a high price. Price was lowered but still high. When I discovered that my company would not reimburse -- I tried to cancel the membership in good faith. I had used absolutely no services -- did not attend any meetings -- did not fill out profiles -- nothing. I was told that I was liable and that I was told it was non refundable -- this is not true. I would not have agreed if I knew that. So far I have had to dispute monthly charges in my credit account for services I have not used. I will not use any of those services -- they charge me and I get nothing -- not ethical.Desired Settlement: I would like a full cancellation of membership -- with a full refund.

Business

Response:

We are sorry that

[redacted] experience with the NAPW has been less than ideal – we do strive

to provide our applicants with resources and benefits to enhance and improve

their lives, both personal and professional. We encourage and expect our

members to avail themselves of those benefits and to contact us with any

questions or problems regarding their memberships. Members who do take the time

to explore and take advantage of the myriad resources available will find

tremendous value in being a member of the NAPW.Invitations to apply for

membership are sent to select professional women who are referred to us through

professional associations, industry and charity events, subscriptions to

professional publications and services and other members. Invitees are free to respond with an

application or not – we do not make cold calls to potential members. Applicants for membership are

entitled to be treated with utmost respect and empathy, and every person on the

NAPW team is trained to work with applicants to explain the benefits and costs

associated with membership and to resolve any issues; however, there are

protocols and policies which must be followed. These policies are companywide

and all of our team members are required to follow them.As our material states, there is no fee to apply

for membership. However, a password is required to access benefits like

seminars, local chapter meetings, other events and resources, which is issued

when an applicant purchases a membership. With thousands of applicants to interview and consider, we do require

that applicants make their decisions at the time of the interview. We prefer to

allocate our resources to providing better benefits and services to our

members. Applicants are then required to go through an initial

enrollment interview. [redacted] completed an application for membership in NAPW. On August **, 2015, NAPW contacted her and

conducted its initial enrollment interview. During this telephone call our representative explained the annual costs

and benefits associated with membership. One of the purposes of these

enrollment interviews is to determine what it is the applicant hopes to gain

from her membership. Our most comprehensive levels of membership, which include

myriad benefits like unlimited live seminars and webinars, discounts on courses

for continuing education requirements, networking, conferences, discounts and

other resources, are offered to each applicant and those who do wish to access

these things can choose to purchase that package. However, some applicants are

not interested in the educational benefits – which are the most costly

component of membership. Some of them are at different stages of life and have

budgetary concerns. We work with these applicants to find a level of membership

which provides them access to the resources they seek, while remaining within

their budgets. Applicants

who choose not to join as paid members are provided with an Initial Membership,

which allows them to have a listing on our website, attend a local meeting,

undergo a resumé review and analysis and receipt of our monthly newsletter. It

is our hope that by getting a chance to experience some of the benefits, they

will opt for full membership in the future. Because

NAPW is a membership-based networking organization, the primary benefits at all

levels are found through our membership portal ([redacted]) as well as through our

face-to-face networking at our over 300 Local Chapters nationwide,and our

virtual eChapter, which meets via a live meeting over the Internet. Additionally, through our online portal,

members are able to access ancillary benefits provided by our business

partners. [redacted] chose to purchase a membership and a total of $ 588.00 was billed to

her card. All of the benefits for that

level were explained to her, as well as the fact that our membership sales are

final. Her login information was dispatched to her by e-mail, which is the one

for her business, not this one. Additionally, our Membership Services Team

called her the next day to give her a tour of the website and instructions on

how to access her online benefits and render any other assistance she might

need to make the most of her membership. As she was not available to answer

that call, a message was left on her voicemail and a detailed email with

contact information for her Membership Services Team member was provided. [redacted] did contact us on September *, 2015, complaining that her company would

not reimburse her for the membership. We assume that anyone who submits an application for

membership has explored the NAPW to see what we are about and they

are ready to make a decision about joining the organization, including

determining if her company will sponsor her membership. Our representative did

explain to her that as all sales were final a full refund was not possible, but

as we understand her situation, we would refund all of her fee, less the

services for which we had already paid, which is the minimum Basic Membership

fee, but that we would leave all of benefits for her original membership fully

intact. She seemed to be satisfied with

this resolution. She filed this

complaint on October **, 2015, claiming that she was still looking for a refund

of $1176.00. The only conclusion

we can come to is that [redacted] added the credits we issued, for a

total of $489.00 to the amount billed, which was $588.00 – however that only

totals $1077.00, not $1176.00. The net

amount charged to her card is only $99.00 We

consider this case resolved.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

This was supposed to be a free trial -- not a huge fee before I even knew about it. I will not use any of the services offered -- I will never recommend them to anyone else -- I have continued to receive charges to my credit card. This is not reputable -- I was not invited -- I clicked on an ad. Now I know better.Not only was my experience bad -- but I can not believe that without using any services or filling out any profile, I have been charged so much money! This is highly unethical. I am happy to pay for services -- but not for no service. Do not claim it to be a free trial when it is anything but.I will not read a single email from this organization -- I will not join anything or attend any conferences -- I have not used anything at all -- and asked for this refund the following business day once I realized my company would not reimburse and that I cold not afford it. Also -- I do not remember hearing anything about it being non refundable -- please check that your employees say that very clearly in the future.I would still like some sort of an apology -- and a refund.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

I was not accepting any membership. I expected a free trial which I never received. I was charged way too much money -- then additional charges of $99 for absolutely nothing. I did not fill in a profile -- I did not accept this membership -- and it was never made clear that anything was non-refundable. If it were I would have declined immediately. I not only had called in good faith only days after this initial charging call -- but have not opened one single email nor filled out any profiles. I am systematically deleting any emails that come from NAPW without opening them. Also, I have the original membership pack -- unopened! And I will return it to the sender unopened. I am still expecting the correct fair business response of a full refund. Anything less is simply not ethical or a good business practice -- and I'm afraid I cannot support that - nor can I ever recommend this organization to anyone.Thank you.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

Again, we are sorry that [redacted] is unhappy with the situation; however, as we hav demonstrated, she chose to apply for membership, she was advised very clearly that there were fees involved for access to all but basic benefits, and she called to cancel only after she was informed by her company that they would not reimburse her. It was her responsibility to make sure that her company would sponsor her membership and under the circumstances, we did refund a substantial portion of her fee. We are responsible to other members and shareholders and cannot simply issue complete refunds without cause.

Review: In February 2013 I became a member of NAPW. I signed up over the phone and was told that the sign-up fee was $989 and renewed automatically every year for only $99. Unfortunately, as I said all of this took place over the phone and I do not have written documentation. On February *, 2014 I noticed a charge to my credit card for $989 made on February *, 2014. I immediately filed a dispute with my credit card company saying that my renewal was to be $99. My credit card company issued me a temporary credit of $890 and then reached out to NAPW. On February *, I also emailed NAPW stating that I did not authorize a $989 charge to my card, my renewal was supposed to be $99, and since this occurred, I wish to cancel my membership and I demanded a full refund. NAPW acknowledges that email is my primary method of contact but they never attempted to contact me this way, refusing to provide me anything in writing. I will not speak to them over the phone again, as that's how I ended up in this situation, all my communication will be writing.

NAPW responded to my credit card company stating that I must opt out of the renewal before the transaction takes place and they also said they emailed me in January regarding the new renewal terms. I never received these emails. I did not opt out before the transaction because I was expecting my renewal to be $99. I have told my credit card company that I am still disputing the charge and that I would also be filing a complaint with Revdex.com. Since I lack written documentation regarding my membership, I sent my credit card company several similar examples of the complaints submitted to Revdex.com to help support my case.Desired Settlement: I wish to be refunded the full $989 and I want to receive written documentation that my membership has been canceled and I will not receive any future charges from NAPW.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have been contacted directly by National Association of Professional Women regarding complaint ID [redacted], however my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]

I received a voicemail from [redacted] with NAPW on Friday 4/** at 4:34pm. The voicemail stated that they were submitting a check request in the amount of $890. She stated that the check would be cut in their next check run next week, I was not given a specific date. I did request a FULL refund, which $99 would still be owed. I also requested that I receive in writing that my membership has been cancelled and that there will be no future charges to my card. I will not consider this case resolved until: A) I receive the check and it clears the bank and B) I receive written documentation that my membership has been cancelled.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

MEMBER FULLY REFUNDED BY CHECK

Business

Response:

We are awaiting specifics from our accounting department. As soon as they are received, we will send the information in a message sent to the email used in this complaint, unless you request otherwise.

It may take up to ten business days before you actually receive your check as the request might not have made a check run deadline.

We sent you an email with a more detailed explanation and a confirmation that your requests have been met. This was sent to the email you provided at enrollment - [redacted] and to [redacted]. Please check your spam folder if you cannot find it in your inbox.

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: I received a letter from this company stating that if I returned the letter signed in 10 days that I would be listed as a part of their company as a Professional Business Woman for free. I returned the letter signed within the time limit. I received a welcome email letter congratulating me for becoming noticed with and a part of their organization. Meanwhile, a representative began to call me on numerous occasions asking me to pay a membership fee. On the fourth call, I explained that I only desired the free recognition aspect of their company for being known as a professional business woman. I did not need any products or services. I was told that I could not use their name in affiliation with me if I didn't pay a fee even though that's what the advertisement letter said. I was told to have a nice day, and hung up on. This is false advertisement to get new people to respond, but eventually must pay.Desired Settlement: I should be listed as a member of their organization as promised in the letter without paying an additional fee, and I should also be able to list myself publically as part of the organization without paying an additional fee.

Business

Response:

We are sorry that[redacted]’s experience with the NAPW has been less than ideal – we do strive toprovide our members with resources and benefits to enhance and improve theirlives, both personal and professional. We encourage and expect ourmembers to avail themselves of those benefits and to contact us with anyquestions or problems regarding their memberships. Members who do take the timeto explore and take advantage of the myriad resources available will findtremendous value in being a member of the NAPW. Our members and potentialmembers are entitled to be treated with utmost respect and empathy, and everyperson on the NAPW team is trained to work with them to resolve any issues;however, there are protocols and policies which must be followed. Thesepolicies are companywide and all of our team members are required to followthem. [redacted] completed an application for membership in NAPW. As our material states, there is no fee toapply for membership, and we do offer a free listing for those applicants whochoose not to purchase a full membership, as well as email delivery of ourmonthly newsletter. However, a password is required to access benefits likeseminars, local chapter meetings, other events and resources, which is issuedwhen an applicant purchases a membership. All members are required to complete the enrollment interview if theywish to be listed. On October**, 2014, NAPW contacted her to conduct its initial enrollment interview. During this telephone call our representativeasked [redacted] if she was familiar with the organization. When [redacted]replied that she was not, our representative offered to call her back after shetook the opportunity to learn more about the NAPW. Wecalled her back on October **, 2014 to attempt to conduct the interview. However,all [redacted] kept saying was that she had responded to the “ad” because it wasfree. She did not allow therepresentative to even begin the interview or to complete the explanation aboutthe free listing; she just replied that she did not want our products andservices. If [redacted] had simply visited our website to have a better idea ofwhat the NAPW is, instead of just filling something out to get something forfree, she would have understood that we simply do not hand out free listings toanyone who asks. Nor can we post alisting without confirming the information which will appear. We understand that not every professional woman has the ability tojoin as a paid member, even at the most basic level, which allows access tothese benefits. However, we do provide an Initial Membership at no cost. Thisis the membership which provides a listing on our website, the receipt of ourmonthly newsletter and an invitation to attend one local chapter meeting. If [redacted] contacts us to complete the interview, we can then post her listing;until then, we are unable to do so. We take the claim that anyone was misled very seriously. Weare attaching the invitation to which [redacted] responded and we can certainlyplay the recordings of her conversations if she or the Revdex.com contacts us to makearrangements to do so. NAPW provides an amazingvalue for the membership fee. Included in ALL memberships levels are webinars,seminars, discounts, perks, online networking access and in-person chapteraffiliation as well as a myriad of other benefits. Our organization isgrowing, expanding and moving forward through numerous initiatives, strategicalliances and corporate affiliations; offering members additional avenues toASPIRE, ACHIEVE and CONNECT. Every member of NAPW's management team works diligently todeliver maximum value to our members, and any claim that someone was"scammed" is demonstrably false. We currently have almosta half-million satisfied members, all of whom are free to use our onlinenetworking portal, which gives our members more connectivity optionsand far more ability to promote themselves than other networking sites. We have over 300 local chapters across America, in which tens of thousands ofour members get together to take their online experience into the real worldand create incredible connections with other professional women. These localchapters are constantly implementing new ways for the local members tointeract. We encourage of our members tojoin all of the chapters in their area - this gives them more opportunities toattend events that fit their busy schedules and widens the circle of localwomen with whom to network. Moreover, we host an annual National Networking Conferencewhere almost two thousand members where members from all over the country enjoyan unforgettable day of networking, panel discussions, workshops andpresentations from extraordinary women like Sara Blakeley, Arianna Huffington,Star Jones, Martha Stewart, Ivanka Trump, Randy Zuckerburg, Barbara Corcoranand Robin Roberts. Click here for more information. Additionally, we are constantly providing and working toupgrade the secondary benefits such as free or discounted continuingeducation through leading providers like Lorman Education and NationalSeminars Group; shopping and other discounts through a number of partnerships,including exclusive sponsors like Lenovo, one of the world's largest computersuppliers; and interesting topical content provided through our social mediaand other outlets. Again, our entire team is working hard every singleday to build these partnerships, identify and create content, and make greaterbenefits available to our members.