Beware These Grant Offers:FIRST NATIONAL BENEFITS and GRANT ASSISTANCE CORP.
Date: August 3, 2005

Two Grant Schemes Deceptive and Misleading:
Beware Doing Business with These Groups!

Spokane, WA - August 3, 2005 - TheLocalBBB has been receiving inquiries and concerns from consumers in our service area after having receiving calls from two distinct outfits or seeing their ads in local papers: First National Benefits aka First National Government Grant Benefits and Grant Assistance Corporation. Please read further about these companies' pitches and claims and pay heed to this warning: If someone cold calls you about receiving a grant, ANY grant, PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION FIRST AND FOREMOST and DO NOT GIVE IT OUT FOR ANY REASON to unsolicited telemarketing calls. Why? Because, yes, it's that deceptive a scheme.

FIRST NATIONAL GOVERNMENT GRANT BENEFITS aka TITAN FINANCIAL, FIRST NATIONAL GRANT, and FIRST NATIONAL BENEFITS

The Local BBB has been receiving calls from consumers in our entire service area regarding First National Benefits (with locations in Beverly Hills, CA, Miami, FL and Charlotte, NC) aka Titan Financial (located in Dallas, TX), all with a phone number of: 800-410-1682. This company and its affiliates all have unsatisfactory records with the BBB Serving West Palm Beach, BBB Dallas, and BBB of Charlotte for patterns of complaints, unanswered complaints, and unresolved complaints. The LA BBB has given this group a "C" rating.

According to information supplied by consumers calling TheLocalBBB, this company is soliciting by phone offering government grants ranging from $1,200 to $12,500 for a fee of $29.95. Consumers received correspondence from the company stating that they offer a discount health care plan called First National Health Care Plan. In addition to the health care benefits, the package includes a Government Grant Information Guide and a payday loan offer provided by a company that is not affiliated with First National Benefits. Consumers have 7 days to review the materials and/or cancel the offer; otherwise they will be charged a fee of $299.95. A person calling from Hayden Lake, ID reported that the company said it was sending a check for $500 first...and then the bigger grant check would be coming shortly thereafter. The $29.95 is a start-up fee, and the $299 is a "lifetime membership fee." There would also be $500 worth of coupons thrown in for good measure.

It has been further reported that this company is offering various products and/or services for an initial fee of $29.95. Consumers are being asked to provide credit card or bank account numbers for payment of the initial fee. However, it has been reported that minimal or no product/service is being provided and an additional amount of $299.95 is being charged against the consumer's credit card or removed from his/her bank account.

The Better Business Bureau has recently received complaints alleging that consumers did not receive the government grant that this company offered by phone for a fee of $29.95.

Full reports at: www.charlotte.bbb.org, www.bbbsoutheastflorida.org, www.labbb.org and www.dallas.bbb.org

GRANT ASSISTANCE CORPORATION
Location: PO Box 4280, Woodland Hills, CA, 91365, phone (800) 785-6360 or (818) 610-1136, also PO Box 647, Poway, CA, 92064. TheLocalBBB has received some disturbing reports about this company's misrepresentation on the phone about affiliation with the Better Business Bureau, not to mention their "F" rating with the LA BBB.

A few weeks ago, it was brought to our attention that this company was calling Tri Cities area small businesses stating, "The Better Business Bureau is a BIG joke paid by big businesses in this country to do what they want them to do..." (which is FAR from any truth...)

This week, we have received calls from consumers from other parts of Eastern Washington reporting that when asking this very same company if they are a member with the BBB, they are stating, "Well, yes, of course we are!"

This company's nature of business is providing government grant information for an advanced fee of $169.90. Company states there is a fund of taxpayer's money which is unclaimed and available.

It was reported to TheLocalBBB by a Tri Cities business that "they asked for my credit card number for an application for FREE grant money, which they guaranteed me at least $25,000 or my money ($179.95) back in 90 days." Full report at: www.labbb.org and www.sandiego.bbb.org

http://www.spokane.bbb.org/alerts/al...680&newstype=1