2 people found this review helpful
DISABLED VETERANS SERVICES INC
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March 5, 2013
2 people found this review helpful
"Disabled Veterans Services, Inc."
Envelope address is a UPS Store, Google this zip code "53211-2042"
According to one report, 35% of funds collected goes to vets, half goes to fund raising (telemarketing scam?)
HQ is in Pompano Beach, FL. Found more than four other addresses for this organization. Something is very fishy about this. You can find many better vets organizations.
See http://www.military-money-matters.com/questions-about-veterans-charities.html
And especially
http://www.military-money-matters.com/veterans-charities.html
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A little
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
3 people found this review helpful
January 14, 2013
3 people found this review helpful
Received a phone solicitation from this group, the woman claimed that she was Laura Lipinsky( sure it is Laura) and that she had talked with my mother earlier. She also claimed that my mother had pledged $15.00 and Laura wondered where it was. I told Laura, as my mother's Power of Attorney, we will not be giving to her group. She insisted that Joan gave many times in the last year which was total "trash". You see my Mom has Alzheimer's Disease, & I now handle all my elderly Mom's finances. I asked "Laura" to put us on her "do not call list" and that seemed to be a problem for her. She was very pushy about my reason to request this and it really started to irritate me. Because my Mom has Alzheimer's Disease and was given money to every group out there, it has been an up hill battle getting these "charities" to stop pestering us via the phone calls & the mail.
Finally in totally exasperating, I went outside & at the "top of my lungs"screamed at her in colorful language and hung up. All I can say is that felt good, even though I know they will still be pestering us!
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
9 people found this review helpful
August 28, 2012
9 people found this review helpful
Like others in the reviews, I had not made a contribution to this organization. Although the phone call was friendly, I still had my reservations. When I received the bill, I felt unease, especially since they spelled our name wrong, so I started an investigation. I was able to find the finicial report of 2010 on New Jersey records. The contributions were 49.6 % to fund raising, 47.5% to services, and 2.8% to management and general expenses. We did not like the percentages and will not be contributing to the organization. We sent the bill and decal back with a letter of explanation and request to be removed from any further contacts.
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
8 people found this review helpful
May 30, 2012
8 people found this review helpful
Like other reviewers, I received a cold call from them asking that I renew last year's pledge (hmmmm...... I don't recall any such donation). I waited to receive the invioce in the mail which asked that I fulfill my promised pledge of $35, and they had a number to call for further inquiries. When I called the number however, I was prompted to leave a message for someone called Patty Baynet(?), and then when I attempted to do so, I was SHOCKED (not) to hear that her mailbox is full! There's obviously something very fishy going on here, so they won't be seeing a penny from me! Now, if I only knew whom to report them to for further investigation...
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
No
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
6 people found this review helpful
May 28, 2012
6 people found this review helpful
Got a "statement" from them thanking Peggy for making a $25 pledge when they called her May 12, 2012, and asking her to remit payment by May 24. Hmmmmm - Peggy has been dead since 2008, so I don't think she pledged anything in 2012. I have a family member who didn't pledge but continues to get "past due" notices that her pledge has not been paid. DISHONEST, UNETHICAL SCAM! This so-called charity should have no stars at all on the rating, but I clicked on one because I couldn't post without it.
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
8 people found this review helpful
April 30, 2012
8 people found this review helpful
I got a phone call from them thanking me for my donation of last year (which I knew I had not made) and asked me to donate again this year. Told them I don't donate over the phone but they could send me the information and I would check them out on the internet and if they were a good charity I would donate at least $10. Everything I have found about them is negative and I will not be making any donation to them.
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
None
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
5 people found this review helpful
April 14, 2012
5 people found this review helpful
Got a cold call too and was asked to send in my check right away (after I demurred from using my credit card). Decided to look up this organization after getting my pledge 'bill' in the mail. Glad I did. I really want to help veteran's, not organizations making money off of them. Did not donate the $50 I said I would.
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
No
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
4 people found this review helpful
August 15, 2011
4 people found this review helpful
My experience is the same as the previous two reviewers, I just wanted to add my voice to the growing chorus. They will not be receiving a donation from me either.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
no experience
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make it more transparent
11 people found this review helpful
June 11, 2011
11 people found this review helpful
As with the previous reviewer, I was solicited by this charity via a cold call and asked to make a pledge. I do not make decisions on charitable giving over the phone, so they said they'd put me down for the minimum and then send me information by mail. Upon receipt of the pledge card, I was skeptical because of the shoddiness of the whole thing. After searching their Web site (very unprofessional) and GuideStar (with limited data and none since 2008), I'm no more confident in this group. It may not be a scam, but they certainly have not convinced me that the organization delivers value (however great the cause). Needless to say, I will not be returning a donation.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
n/a
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Invest in a more professional presence online and add more transparency as to details and activities of the organization. Maintain IRS listings and filings (even if not required by law given size of the organization) and other activities that bolster the organization's legitimacy on paper.
More feedback...
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A little
How did you learn about this organization?
Phone solicitation
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
April 27, 2011
17 people found this review helpful
This charity approached me for a donation through an unsolicited phone call from their paid professional fundraiser, Courtesy Call Inc., in April 2011. After receiving the pledge card they mailed me, I was concerned enough by the vagueness of the 'services' they claim to provide to disabled veterans, and by the fact that their mailing address for donations is in a different state from where their office address is, that I did some detective work. Turns out that this charity is not listed at all by the Better Business Bureau Charity site (gift.org), nor is it mentioned by any watchdog site, e.g. charitynavigator.org. The last mention of this charity on Guidestar is dated 2008, with their address in TN, with not much detail, while the address on their corporate website is in FL. I could find no testimonials from veterans themselves or any business that had used their employment services for disabled veterans. Since it is way too difficult to get any information about the workings of this charity, and I highly value transparency from charities, I will not be sending a donation.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
finding that I could not locate any results, at least on the internet.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
institute greater transparency with financial reports, e.g. how much of the money this charity takes in does it actually use to provide veteran's services. I would also provide actual testimonials from veterans being served as well as reports from business who have used the employment services provided by the charity to hire disabled veterans.
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