is CGFNS scamming people?

messageinabox · May 1, 2009

I think CGFNS would not be in the industry of verification of credentials,etc if they would be "scamming" people. Your situation, the way I see it, is a case between CGFNS word against the word of your nursing school secretary. IMHO, CGFNS has nothing to gain by requesting your papers again (that is, they don't charge another fee for this right?).

I understand your frustration but I think "scam" is just too strong a word for it, without just basis too. If I were you, I would just comply to the request. After all, they are the authority to which you credentials will be verfied and if they find something contrary to what was submitted, it still going to be their call.

cryssa28 · May 1, 2009

I know I'm not the only one who goes through the same experience with CGFNS. There are many ways of scamming people.I'll never understand why they ask for the same papers 2-3-4 times(there were cases).

Probably they do it because they can.

If I'd need to do it again, I'll never choose this company again.The customer service gives you standard answers, not answers regarding your case.

I'm still waiting for more experiences with them.

allnurses Guide · May 2, 2009

CGFNS probably has the worst service of any company I've ever had to deal with. The fact that they have a monopoly means that people have to put up with it, and have to pay a premium to do it.

RN2009Belarus · May 2, 2009

HI! My experience with CGFNS was very stressful as well.... Calls and waiting, lost in the mail letters ... I heard that they changed rules recently---now they probably would do reevaluation each time you ask to sent something somewhere... If it is true--well, it is just frustrating because it takes long time....

bubon · May 3, 2009

i received my CGFNS certificate about 11 months after 1 passed the exam

so much for the wait & calls

good thing they have this office somewhere in mandaluyong which helped me a lot with the "lost cert"

cryssa28 · May 4, 2009

There are 2 weeks and the school didn't receive anything. I'll wait one more week and if they'll not receive anything I've have to change my plans.

The ideea is that I'll not let them to fool me and play with my nerves and money like they do with others. If I must have authorities involved I'll do it.

Good luck!

pirataRN · May 5, 2009

I agree that yes, "scamming" is too harsh a word..but i also believe there is something fishy that is going on at the CGFNS...i dont know if it's the blanket policy or just a case-to-case basis or "evaluator-to-evaluator" basis.

While we know that it is a non-profit org, non profit orgs still rely on donations or from 'surpluses' to sustain their operations. A few years back, when CG was still required for all States, they had a steady source of revenue but ever since lots of States changed their requirements, I guess this revenue stream has been crippled a bit, so to speak. I bet people working here had good perks before since surpluses are supposed to be spent in improving the system and its services. Now, its understandable some of them might be doing some stuff to a least maintain this.

Yes, RN2009-Belarus is right..they are charging a lot for re-evaluation in case you need to send something somewhere else. For example, i have a friend who availed of the CES. She chose 2 State BONs as her recipient for the CES report. After those reports were already sent, she decided to have another copy sent to another State BON and tried to avail the service for forwarding transcripts or license to that State or forwarding another copy of the CES report to that new State but she was told she was gonna pay $238 for this "Reevaluation of a CES Full Education Course-by-Course Report"..???

Man, I'm far from being a genius but are you telling me that CGFNS is gonna re-evaluate that stuff she just sent a weeks ago, whose report was just sent so recently like the previous week??--'wade' or go through all the papers in detail so that she can send it to this new State. They have this service of getting another copy of the CES Report for yourself and this costs $50, why isn't this allowed for those who want to send a copy to another State?

IF YOU CAN STAY AWAY FROM THE CGFNS AS LONG AS YOU CAN (until the VisaScreen report), please do so.

cryssa28 · May 6, 2009

Scamming, fishing or however you want to name it, my gut is telling me they are taking advantage of people, they are playing a dirty game, and all this is not right, guys.

cryssa28 · May 7, 2009

just in case others are interested, look what i found:

bbb reliability report for

cgfns international, incorporated

this is not a bbb accredited business.

bbb rating

ratings explanation...

bbb issues reliability reports on all businesses, whether or not they are bbb accredited. if a business is a bbb accredited business, it is stated in this report.

find out more about this business:

reported on thursday, may 7, 2009 8:45 am

bbb accreditation

back to top this business has not been accredited by bbb.

businesses are under no obligation to seek bbb accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought bbb accreditation.

to be accredited by bbb, a business must apply for accreditation and bbb must determine that the business meets bbb accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. bbb accredited businesses must pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of bbb services to the public.

bbb rating

back to top based on bbb files, this business has a bbb rating of d-

click here for an explanation of bbb ratings.

number of complaints filed against business
number of complaints filed against business that were unresolved
bbb does not have sufficient background information on this business

business contact and profile

back to top name:

cgfns international, incorporated

phone:

(800) 266-0402, x3

address:

3600 market street, suite 400 science center building, philadelphia, pa 19104-2657

business category:

schools-business & vocational, nurses schools

bbb file opened:

december 20, 1991

business started:

january 1976

business started locally:

january 1977

other contacts:

mrs. donna rae richardson, jd (rn director of operation/govt)

mr. amos sidnor

alternate business names

back to top

cgfns

commission on graduates of foreign nursing

additional locations and phone numbers

back to top (215) 222-8454

(215) 349-9767

(215) 599-6200

licensing

back to top this company is in an industry that may require licensing, bonding or registration in order to lawfully do business. the bbb encourages you to check with the appropriate agency to be certain any requirements are currently being met.

customer complaint history

back to top

the company's size, volume of business and number of transactions may have a bearing on the number of complaints received by the bbb. the complaints filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints, and how the company has handled them. the bbb generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed.

number of complaints processed by the bbb

in the last 36 months: 20

in the last 12 months: 4 complaints concerned: service issues (16 complaints)13resolved3unresolved credit or billing disputes (1 complaints)1resolved refund practices (3 complaints)3resolved

government actions

back to top the bbb has no information regarding government actions at this time.

advertising review

back to top the bbb has no information regarding ad reviews at this time.

as a matter of policy, the bbb does not endorse any product, service or business.

bbb reliability reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. information in this bbb reliability report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy.

bbb reliability reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. bbb reliability reports are subject to change at any time.

if you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the bbb for a bbb reliability report.

id: 80006780

report as of: 5/7/2009 8:45 am

AZ hopeful · May 7, 2009

I had problems with CGFNS but I certainly didn't feel I was being scammed, I was just frustrated with their mistakes. It can be a pain but they have to make sure everything is correct I guess.

untamable07 · May 8, 2009

Oh well, i'm wondering why there aren't so many people frustrated with other evaluation agencies....I have friends who had to deal with a bunch and they didn't have this kind of problems and delays.

Thanks everyone.