Scheduled a pick-up with VA (took about a month). Site says they take practically everything. Downsizing so I organized and put out lots of items: clothing, tools, small tables, books, portable ac units, chairs, house hold items, small appliances etc etc. (all in good condition) in garage for pick-up. I already gave away or sold many items but thought it would be good to donate remaining items for a good cause. I didn’t expect everything to be taken but put out just in case they could use. They literally took only clothing and absolutely nothing else. I could have taken that month to give away , donate, or sell remaining items to someplace else - now I’m under the gun to get rid of rest items as I need to be out of house. Waste of effort and time.
The scam called 'Veterans Action Network', is RELENTLESS!
So much so, that they use software to bypass the block that I have on their number.
Usually getting 3 to 6 calls per day, the con-artists are superb in pulling on your emotions; 'aren't you a patriot', don't you care about disabled veterans', etc.
When will the FCC go after these scammers!!!
The most important of all of these gifts is hope. Living life without hope is debilitating and the joy that I feel on a daily basis now is a gift all the people have given me.
The program VAN helped to guide me as a homeless soldier with little hope–allowed me to see a greater purpose. This was done through fair and reasonable guidance with a program that empowers people to reach for greater heights in their self-efficacy.
My name is Michael, and I am 26 years old.
I served in the Army active duty from 2009-2011, with the National Guard from 2011 – 2012, and had one tour in Afghanistan. After coming home I was living with my brother, who also served in the Army and completed a tour in Iraq. I was having trouble finding employment, so I starting using drugs and drinking. I decided I didn’t want to waste my life by drinking and just hanging out.
Thanks to VAN for sticking up for me and helping me a have a slick transition home from the battlefield into a productive life as a citizen for myself, my family, and my country.
They keep asking for my wife by name. We DO NOT contribute to any charity that uses the telephone to solicit funds (Give your Credit Card info to a stranger). They keep calling and calling at all times and even once asking me if I was holding my wife hostage! When we block them they use different numbers. Disgusting.
These people lie about what they use the money for, and tell me I donated previously when I did not. They said they promised to call me only once per campaign, but they call me multiple times per month even though I have asked them at least 20 times to stop calling me and to remove my number from their database. This organization is a scam!
I donate all I can. I love this organization they are so gracious & they love the veterans.
I pray more people will give to them today.
im a veteran myself and i donate a lot because of the great things they do.
This Veterans Action Network is definitely a scam organization.
Lie # 1. They called today and told me that they would “honor my previous request” and only “call me once a year” if I would make a donation today. I have never made such a request of any organization. And I have never heard of this organization before. When I asked what they do they said they “help out homeless veterans”.
2. I only ever mail a check; I never use a credit card for a donation to any organization soliciting on the phone. The Veterans Action Network said they had a record of my $25 credit card donation from May 5, 2016 (last year). Not true.
I did not use a credit card, and I never mailed them a check. They are lying. I told them I checked my records while we were on the phone to verify that I never sent them a donation.
At this point, as he knew I was seeing through his scam, the telemarketer guy became snippy and said, “Oh, you just now had time to check your card statement to prove you didn’t make a donation?” When I said I was looking at it while we talked he became more hostile and accused me of lying!
At this point I hung up.
Later, I called the same number back, and I heard the exact same words from the telemarketers.
The first girl says she wants to put me down for that “same $25 amount that you donated last year” and then asks “how’s the weather down there”, says she’s in Wisconsin and then says “they’re just wrapping up another call” and she’s going to transfer me to her supervisor. While we wait she talks about the weather more, and then a different guy from before gets on the line.
Up to this point this was exactly the way it went when they called me initially. Obviously reading a script.
When I told the guy I couldn’t use a credit card he just said, “Good-bye” and hung up.
Blocked that number.
I have had calls before and said I couldn't give at this time as my husband is a disabled vet. and they said they take me off the list for a year if I gave I offered to give if they sent me a letter I'd sent a check back and they insisted I used a card before and to not waste their time and I feel they hung up on me. I hope they don't use my card from before, I feel uneasy about the call.
These guys are scammers. They have been calling me five or six times a day and either hanging up when I answer or asking for people I don't know. The caller always sounds pretty drunk when they call. I asked three times to be removed from their list and they still keep calling.
Today, I got fed up and called them back. The drunk guy answered and had me talk to his supervisor, who said that he would remove my number from his list. They said that before, then kept calling.
I am filing reports with my state's Attorney General's Office and the FTC.
They said the name of their scam is "Veteran's Action Network" and that they are physically located in Milwaukee. I looked them up, and they have had complaints from the Better Business Bureau.
Just Google "Veteran's Action Network" and read all of the complaints about them. They harass and scam people, especially the elderly, nationwide.
These scammers need to be shut down. Preying upon the elderly is unacceptable.
If I could give zero stars I would! This is a scam. They call and call and call. I had donated and 3 weeks later they called and asked for a yearly donation. I explained I already donated 3 weeks ago and they argued that I hadn't donated since the previous year, I never donated BEFORE the 3 weeks previous!
After asking politely, yelling, and multiple hang ups, they have not removed me from their list as requested... Over a year later!
After further investigation I have found that I am not alone. They are a scam and the money doesn't go to Veterans. Do your homework, don't get taken like I did. There are way better "charities" than this.
Veterans Action Network has called me 4 times asking for donations from "patriots such as yourself". I told them to remove my name and phone number from their contact list twice. They still keep calling me. I filed a complaint with the FCC. This is a scam "charity" organization. Don't give these scam artists any money.
Veterans Action Network called me for a donation. I asked the percentage of donations going to overhead expenses and the percentage going to their program. The telemarketer put me on hold then told me 98% of donations goes to veterans programs. That's untrue. Even the best charities have 10%-25% overhead expenses. It appears the IRS revoked Veteran's Action Network for three years, at least for the year 2012. Veterans Action Network doesn't even appear on any of the charity evaluation sites I could find. Beware.
Received a call from this organization. Nice website, nice facebook page, but guess what, after checking with Guide Star -it was noted that this organization is not listed with the IRS. The Better Business Bureau's Give.org site and Charity Navigator does not list this organization. This organization is listed on the IRS Charity Revocation List. Donor beware!