ComplaintsforThe National Society Of Collegiate Scholars

• Initial Complaint

  06/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May 24, 2022 I received three communications from the National Society of Scholastic Scholars (NSCS) 1) An email from Ms. Courtney P******* falsely alleging the National office was reaching out to me “again” (I had never been contacted about community concerns) about my aggressive interactions thru email correspondence & on the Scholar Central Community Portal, and the email further alleged that I had posted an exclusive membership benefit and promotional codes on ******** for the public to utilize. In my own defense, I posted information about a membership benefit on “private” member only ******** pages, with a link to the membership discount benefit page…additional, anyone reading the post would have to have been granted access to the ******** page by Administrators approved by the NSCS National Office; and would only be able to actually access the benefit page by logging in with their personal membership password. 2) A second email received on the same day from the NSCS National Office (No signature) advised that I would no longer have access to the Scholar Central portal; my profile was being removed, and to contact the National Office if I had questions. 3) The final emails were from the National Office from Mr. Evan W********* cc Liz A****** & Courtney P******* advising me that my “lifetime membership” was being terminated (without due process), apparently his decision due to me allegedly repeatedly violating member guidelines by allegedly providing false, inaccurate, or members-only information to non-members. Furthermore, Mr. W********* reasoned that my membership never should have been approved because I am a Graduate student & they only admit undergrads. Again please note the National Office has monitors on the portal continuously 24/7, no one at anytime has ever advised me that any of my daily posts were inappropriate - in fact I had been rewarded a “golden shield” as acknowledgment of frequent & interesting posts. See details in docs atch

  

  Business response

  06/24/2022

  ******************** submitted information to join our organization and in doing so, clicked a checkbox that indicated she met the eligibility requirements to become a member. The eligibility requirements displayed on the page clearly state that students must be in their first or second year of undergraduate education to be eligible. ******************** was not eligible at the time she requested membership and was dishonest in her attempt to join. Her membership was approved mistakenly by a student intern who was confused as to how to read the supplied transcript. Once we became aware that ******************** was not actually eligible, her membership was terminated and a refund check was sent. While we understand ******************** would like us to reinstate her membership, we are unable to do so as our Bylaws only allow students to join who meet the eligibility requirements. ******************** is not disputing that she lied about her eligibility - she believes an exception was made. Unfortunately, exceptions cannot be made and her membership was approved mistakenly. We have taken steps to ensure student interns are no longer the people who approve requests to join and believe we have handled the situation professionally and appropriately, including checking with legal counsel. ******************** behavior, while inappropriate, had nothing to do with the decision to cancel the membership to which she was not technically eligible. 

  

  Business response

  06/30/2022

  We are sorry ******************** is still unhappy and doesn't agree with our assessment of the situation. ******************** initial application for membership (a self-nomination) was very clear on the eligibility requirements to become a member. ******************** clicked the checkbox that indicated she was in agreement that she met the eligibility requirements when in fact, she did not. It doesn't matter that ******************** sent a subsequent email about her membership application where she admitted she was a graduate student and not technically eligible. The student intern that reviewed and approved her membership did so in error.
  
  ******************** cannot be given something to which she was not originally eligible. The failure of a student intern to recognize her status as a graduate student when she applied does not negate the Bylaws that require students to be undergraduate students who have completed between 12 -59 credits towards their undergraduate degree. ******************** is looking for the organization to make an exception however nowhere in the Bylaws (https://nscs.org/bylaws/) does it allow for exceptions to the eligibility criteria. Whether or not ******************** inappropriately or incorrectly indicated she met the eligibility requirements by clicking the checkbox that stated that she did in fact meet the requirements, the fact is ******************** did not and does not meet the eligibility. Therefore, the organization is unable to reverse the decision to grant ******************** membership.

  Customer response

  07/01/2022

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  The response provided by the NSCS is the worst kind of abuse of power and administrative malpractice;  You ask how so?

  First of all, I am almost 100% sure that the National Society of Collegiate Scholars has access to a legal advisor they can consult. 

  That person would confirm beyond a doubt that they entered into a "contractual obligation" that must be respected and upheld. 

  Secondly, you cannot just say "never mind". 

  You had full knowledge of my academic status prior (more than two months prior) to induction, and with that knowledge fully disclosed and known by all copied on this communication, inclusive of the founder ***************************, you chose to make an exception to your own bylaws and enter into a contract with full knowledge of all material facts. You must allow me all the rights and privileges specified in your bylaws because it would be unlawful NOT to do so - nothing in your bylaws "forbids" you to make exceptions or amendments - and since you have technically already AMENDED the bylaws in real time circumstance - the bylaws are required to be AMENDED to accommodate your "real time" legal obligation. 
  
  Finally, and conclusively, CONTRACTS can ONLY be voided if there is fraud by one of the parties...there was no fraud.

  
  Please restore all my rights and privileges today.

  P.S. The only recourse you have for exclusion is legal 'DUE PROCESS' - but unless and until you have legal mandate you must honor the lifetime membership contract
  
  *************************** ***** *** Alumni,
  ******** ************* ****
  
  Lifetime Member - National Society of Collegiate Scholars
  

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