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I am looking for information on Edifi. Anyone use this company for grant/scollarship assistance? Any other recommendations?

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 12:37 am: Edit

This is what our school sent out.
ATtention Parents: We have become aware of a number of Leigh students who have received a letter from an organization called Edifi College Financial Aid Services and asked to attend an informational meeting regarding financial aid and college scholarships. At the end of the presentation, the organization offers to fill out financial aid forms and secure scholarships for students if the student/family pays an $800 fee. Please be aware that financial aid assistance is required to be provided to students FREE of charge and there are many FREE resources available to students as they are filling out financial aid applications and applying for scholarships. If you should receive this letter, please DO NOT respond - it is a scam

go to www.fastweb.com
or www.finaid.org
instead

By Colres (Colres) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 03:51 pm: Edit

... Anyway, filling out the FAFSA does not take long and does not require advanced training. Looking for scholarships is easy and free, the tough part being to get them.

<edited to remove commercial link and flame -Admin>

By Jbraat (Jbraat) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:18 am: Edit

<promotional content and comparison to other services deleted -Admin>

By Jbraat (Jbraat) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 09:51 am: Edit

If you go to <link deleted -Admin> you will see College Confidential's price list for services. Free? If you want QUALITY services, you pay for them.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 11:40 am: Edit

Certainly if you want to pay someone to do work that you can do yourself, you will be able to find them providing the price is right.
However no one can guarentee grants scholarships or awards, unless they are administering it themselves.

Unless you have difficulty filling out the college applications,( In which case I would ask- are you really ready for college?) you shouldn't have any problem handing your own financial aid research

By Jbraat (Jbraat) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 02:05 pm: Edit

Unfortunately EmeraldKity, that is the attitude of many high school guidance counselors and college financial aid officers.
I find it very sad when just because Mom or Dad have not attended college and have little understanding of the system and how to get the best package for their student, they don't seek professional help and Jr. ends up attending class at a second or third choice school (if he goes to school at all) because the financial aid was bungled.
Just because someone doesn't understand a complicated system we should not judge them unfit for college.
54% of Americans pay to have someone fill out their taxes and we do that every year. We pay people to mow our grass, fix our cars, even to care for our children. We are capable of doing all those things ourselves too. Using your line of thought, if someone is incapable of repairing their own car, perhaps they shouldn't be driving.
When someone is considering an investment of $30K to $180K for anything, it would seem prudent to contract the help of a professional working in their best interest.
I respect your right to your opinion, but tens of thousands of families have benefited by getting fee based help both here at College Confidential and through other valuable services.
You said "it is required" that financial aid info be given for free. What of services? Do you work for free?
You also called Edifi a "Scam". Those are pretty harsh words and completely unjustified. Again, you are welcome to an opinion but please heed this advise, calling a company a scam is liable and unless you are prepared to document and defend such a carelessly written accusation, I would be a bit more careful. Is this website a scam because they offer services for a fee?

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 02:56 pm: Edit

If you read my post you will see that I reposted information that the high schools are sending out about EDIFI-
I realize that they have reorganized and have new owners and perhaps the new owners are more honorable, I don't know. You might want to research some of the information from the various Better business bureaus where EDIFI has done business( just do a search for edif consumer college)

However to imply to parents that they must pay almost $1000. to a company that will help them fillout financial aid forms, that are self explanatory, and when there are clinics and schools and libraries to fill out those forms for free, does seem unscrupulous.


You imply that parents who have not attended college are not savvy enough to do research and must pay for the priviledge of having someone do it for them.

Its one thing to pay somebody to do it for you if you have the extra money and don't want to take the time, but to prey upon people who don't have the extra money and by their naivete exploit their fear that unless they pay $$ their child will suffer, is unethical

Incidentally there is free help to do your taxes- not to mention very helpful low cost software programs.
Despite not having a high school diploma- I have done our taxes myself for years- helped to get my child into a college where she recieves over $25,000 aid every year ( which is incidentally one of the top schools in the country), without spending anymore money aside from getting a couple college guides I couldn't find at the library

By Jbraat (Jbraat) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 03:13 pm: Edit

Yes, but can you repair your own car? :-)

I only cited a real life example I am acutely aware of re: the parents without a college education. Frankly, there are many with educations that bungle the form, miss the deadlines and accept below average offers too.

You reinforced my point. Yes there are software programs for taxes and yes there are toll free numbers you can call for help in filling out taxes. So why do over 50% of us have a professional do the work for us?

And again, you think that because a company provides services for a fee they are "exploiting" someone. With the inflationary rates of college tuition and fees, the subjectivity involved in the administration of financial aid, and the hours and hours of research necessary to truly understand the system, it appears the system itself is somewhat guilty of exploitation, not fee based services.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 07:54 pm: Edit

I don't know why 54% of people hire someone to do their taxes. I imagine it is because they buy the perception that it is too complicated to do it themselves and they are at risk of audit if they do, not to mention that they think a tax preparer knows some "secret" that will save them thousands of dollars.
Not only is there free help on the phone for taxes but libraries and colleges often have clinics staffed by professionals to help with taxes. But the more money you have, the more likely that your taxes are a bit complicated, no money and it is likely that they are not.
It is tedious to be sure, but it really doesn't take that long, and I am of the belief if you want something done right, you do it yourself. Anyone can put out a shingle and say they prepare taxes.

And yes I can fix my own car.
I have replaced the muffler, the tensioner and belt and helped with the transmission. My husband has completely rebuilt his engine on his 1992 Thunderbird, just for the pleasure of it I think. ( He likes to polish every bit)

We don't really hire out much, I do go to the doctor for a check up, but I read a lot and keep myself in good shape which prevents alot.

I mistrust any company who solicits customers by telling them they have been ' specially selected" to attend a free seminar on how to obtain financial aid, that is actually one big sales pitch. Anytime I am going to be spending money I do research to see if they are a reliable company with a good track record. I also don't like companies that require both my husband and I to be present at the sales pitch. Our time is valuable, and if one of us is in charge of that decision, why does the other need to be there?

I have also found that college financial aid offices are actually very helpful once the student has been accepted.
Yes tuition and fees increase yearly in most cases, but the process isn't getting any more difficult, just the numbers are bigger.

By Mkd256 (Mkd256) on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 12:04 pm: Edit

We also received a letter from EDIFI inviting us to a "free" seminar. We did a search on the Better Business Bureau website www.bbb.org for edifi and the following is an excerpt is from their report:

"According to the company, College Financial Aid Services is a national company that assists clients in planning for college. Prospective college students are mailed a letter advising them they have been selected for a personal interview.

Students who call for their interview are scheduled for a financial aid seminar along with other students and parents. At the seminar parents are given the option to purchase services at a charge of approximately $900. Their primary service is assistance filling out financial aid forms.

College Financial Aid Services has an unsatisfactory report with the Bureau due to a pattern of complaints from consumers who report misleading sales practices and dissatisfaction with the service. The company responds to complaints by offering a refund or an explanation of their services."

By Rammstein (Rammstein) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 01:20 pm: Edit

Was doing a search on the BBB and stumbled upon this site.

I saw that the above company have about 50 complaints in three years.

But how many clients does this company have?

How large is this company?

I mean, if they have about 50 complaints in three years, and they have been around since 1991 (going by the BBB web site), then 50 may actually be a *very* small percentage of complaints to their number of clients.

Don't know this company from Adam, but have dealt with the BBB and feel compelled to defend. My company has tens of thousands of clients and about 100 BBB complaints on file. Percentage-wise, that's not so bad!

It's almost like a viable company that has been around for a number of years cannot go without a bad BBB report, unless they want to pay those BBB membership fees! LOL

Do you know that WALT DISNEY WORLD CO (DISNEY BEACH CLUB RESORT) has an unsatisfactory report with the BBB?

Lia

By Jbraat (Jbraat) on Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 01:04 pm: Edit

Edifi has served over 50,000 clients since 1991.

IBM had a dissatisfactory record with the BBB for years.

The BBB makes judgements on a "pattern of complaints." For a very long time, the BBB had posted on the Edifi site a link to fastweb.com and listed Edifi as a "Scholarship Search Service." Edifi has never performed a single scholarship search. That is not what their service is about. There exists on the web a Scholarship Search Service that charges a fee and they proudly display their BBB online emblem. Their BBB report does not direct the reader to the free scholarship search sites. Of course no one ever said life is fair.

One must question the quality of the complaints that the BBB counts but will not post for all to see. A client from Florida complained that Edifi did nothing for him and demanded a full refund. He was correct, the company did not do anything for him because his check bounced. Another client complained because Edifi had not performed scholarship searches for them... Those complaints count as two of the 50!

When Guidance Counselors and Financial Aid Officers tell clients that a company is a "scam" they tend to believe them regardless of their personal experiences, especially if they think a refund is possible. The advice typically given by well meaning but misinformed advisors; "you should complain to the BBB and demand your money back." One should ask; with that level of opposition, why aren't there more complaints?

Why would the Financial Aid Officers like Edifi? Edifi writes appeal letters for their clients and ultimately cost the college more for a student to whom they gave a substandard offer.

Edifi currently uses the Seminar format for marketing their seminars. Their invitation states that the student was "selected" not "specially selected" as written above. The students are selected based on specific criteria. Student list companies are not able to meet all of Edifi's criteria because of thier limitations in collecting data.

Edifi asks (not demands) that both parents attend simply out of courtesy. Most families like to make decisions about thier investments and their children's education together.

Edifi continues to develop new programs, websites, and other helpful if not essential services for their clients.

My opinion... Edified students will have a leg up on other students that are less prepared, less supported and less guided.

By Mkd256 (Mkd256) on Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 01:57 pm: Edit

Jbraat - You seem to have more insight about Edifi than the others contributing to this forum, such as the details of the complaints filed with BBB. Are you connected somehow to Edifi? Please don't take this the wrong way. You just seem to be very knowledgeable about Edifi.

By Jbraat (Jbraat) on Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 06:14 pm: Edit

Yes Mkd256, I am closely connected with Edifi. I perform web searches regularly to find what comments are being made about the company and post my opinions, facts about Edifi and correct untruths. Far too long Edifi let those who market on the web cast dispersions and spread rumors about the company. It saddens me that so many in this industry have little if any scruples and use Edifi's name to drive clients to their own sites. Not only do they violate trademarks by doing so, but they distroy the credibility of the entire industry by slinging mud. I don't think you should build a company by that type of behavior. We should leave the mud slinging to the politicians.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 07:37 pm: Edit

Better work faster m'dear

FTC Consumer Alert


Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection Office of Consumer and Business Education



Ouch! Students Getting Stung
Trying to Find $$$ for College


Washington, D.C. Need money for college? Doesn't everybody? With tuition bills skyrocketing and room and board going through the roof, students and their families are looking for creative ways to finance a college education. Unfortunately, in their efforts to pay the bills, many of them are falling prey to scholarship and financial aid scams.


According to the Federal Trade Commission, unscrupulous companies guarantee or promise scholarships, grants or fantastic financial aid packages. Many use high pressure sales pitches at seminars where you're required to pay immediately or risk losing out on the "opportunity."


Some unscrupulous companies guarantee that they get scholarships on behalf of students or award them "scholarships" in exchange for an advance fee. Most offer a "money back guarantee" but, attach conditions that make it impossible to get the refund. Others provide nothing for the student's advance fee not even a list of potential sources; still others tell students they've been selected as "finalists" for awards that require an up-front fee. Sometimes, these companies ask for a student's checking account to "confirm eligibility," then debit the account without the student's consent. Other companies quote only a relatively small "monthly" or "weekly" fee and then ask for authorization to debit your checking account for an undetermined length of time.


The FTC caution students to look and listen for these tell-tale lines:



"The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back."
"You can't get this information anywhere else."
"I just need your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship."
"We'll do all the work."
"The scholarship will cost some money."
"You've been selected" by a "national foundation" to receive a scholarship- or " You're a finalist" in a contest you never entered.


If you attend a seminar on financial aid or scholarships, follow these steps:



Take your time. Don't be rushed into paying at the seminar. Avoid high-pressure sales pitches that require you to buy now or risk losing out on the opportunity. Solid opportunities are not sold through nerve-racking tactics.
Investigate the organization you're considering paying for help. Talk to a guidance counselor or financial aid advisor before spending your money. You may be able to get the same help for free.
Be wary of "success stories" or testimonials of extraordinary success-the seminar operation may have paid "shills" to give glowing stories. Instead, ask for a list of at least three local families who've used the services in the last year. Ask each if they're satisfied with the products and services received.
Be cautious about purchasing from seminar representatives who are reluctant to answer questions or who give evasive answers to your questions. Legitimate business people are more than willing to give you information about their service.
Ask how much money is charged for the service, the services that will be performed and the company's refund policy. Get this information in writing. Keep in mind that you may never recoup the money you give to an unscrupulous operator, despite stated refund policies.


The FTC says many legitimate companies advertise that they can get students access to lists of scholarship in exchange for an advance fee. Other legitimate services charge an advance fee to compare a student's profile with a database of scholarship search engines on the World Wide Web. The difference: Legitimate companies never guarantee or promise scholarships or grants.


For more information on scholarship fraud or for a complete list of free publications, visit the FTC online at www.ftc.gov. click on Consumer Protection. Or write to Best Sellers, Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580; or call the Consumer Response Center toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) ; TDD 202-326-2502.


If you want to file a complaint, you can do it online at www.ftc.gov-click on Complaint Form. Or you can file a complaint by writing or calling the FTC's Consumer Response Center. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if it sees a pattern of possible law violations.


This publication was produced in operation with the College Parents of America. CPA is a resource, advisor and advocate working on behalf of the millions of parents of current and future college students throughout the United States. For more information about CPA, call toll free 1-888-256-4627 or visit CPA online at www.collegeparents.org

By Jbraat (Jbraat) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 08:46 am: Edit

Dear E Kity:

Your comment "better work faster m'dear" means what? More innuendo? Because Edifi chooses to market it's services by seminar format you imply it must be guilty of the wrongs listed by the FTC?
...
I agree with each and every word of the article. It is impossible to make guarantees re: Financial Aid. Edifi makes no guarantees other than to perform the tasks contracted to perform.

Edifi mails thousands of potential clients each and every week ... their web presence is limited to their client services (they do not yet market on the web).

< edited for flames directed at posters and site -Admin >