I wrote a letter of complaint to the better Business Bureau because we have been having so many problems with USC that they are impossible to count! Our consultant was dishonest with us (Pat Gallant) on several different occasions, and she tried to pressure us to contribute large sums of money that we could not afford. USC refused to take any responsibility on the matter and after contributing about $ 500+ we managed to get 150.00 back. We were extremely concerned when our consultant had us sign papers to have our date of withdrawl changed (that is what we were told) but she actually created a new plan that took out another $100 per month. She told us we were signing the same agreement so of course the papers did not look like we were signing a new plan. Also, the company did not get our government grant and did not contact us. They spelt our son's name wrong and that is why we never got a grant. And believe me there is more.
As you can tell I was not happy with them, however we did not lose a large sum of money (thankfully) so we didn't sue them. However we are very interested in reporting them to their regulatory board because they did not notify us when they were unable to obtain a Government grant because of an error on their end. Do you know what that may be?
(They are so professional that they even tried to blame me for not getting the government grant, saying that I must have gave them incorrect information!).
I was told that USC did not have any fees unlike banks. She made it sound as though the banks had large fees. When I told the rep. At USC that she basically said "You can't get something for nothing." Well I guess I got nothing for something so why should that matter? The bank fees are nothing compared to what USC charges. I just think what would I do in 18 years when I go to put my son through school. I was terrified to think of that. I had an awful time trying to transfer my funds too. They just don't know how to treat a customer at all. I don't really know if it is the Rep. Who misinforms the customer, or if the company misinforms the Reps.. Whatever the case, this is not an ethical way to conduct business no matter who is misinformed because in the end USC takes our money based on lies and in my eyes that is a form of fraud, and the customer should not be held accountable. Not only that collecting all the money up front is wrong. Monies should be collected on a completion of contract basis. Considering the contract spans over 18 years, I would hardly consider 2 years considered completion. Can you believe that our rep had the nerve to enter our house and point out objects we should sell to put at least $200 per month into the RESP because we couldn't afford more?
I was going to contact ATV on your side but I didn't, instead I just wrote the letter to the Better Business Bureau. I am glad that you are giving them bad publicity. USC is not a company that should have a right to be in business in Canada. By the way I think that the regulatory board is the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, but I am not sure. They are managing government money so I think a government entity should regulate it. Things have gone upside down lately and I put the USC garbage aside until I sort a few other things out, but I still fully intend to report them.
Regards,
Sonia