Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/27/2025

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am a teacher. A student at my school reached out to me to say that I had nominated her to become a member of NSHSS. She then told me that she was going to buy the graduation cord from this site if I thought it was necessary. I have never heard of NSHSS. I have never recommended that anyone sign up for NSHSS. The cord they are selling is not one that my school would allow students to wear at gradution.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/29/2025

  Dear Ms. **************** hope you are doing well. I would like to follow up regarding your BBB complaint filed on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, as well as the email sent to you on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, and the phone call made to you on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
  
  In the email from my colleague, ****** ********, dated January 28, 2025, it was indicated that you were nominated as an Educator of Distinction by NSHSS in January 2020 by a student named **** **********. As part of our initiative to honor and recognize Educators of Distinction, a welcome email is sent to the address provided by the nominating student. This is followed by an official NSHSS Welcome Kit, which includes a press release, a welcome letter, an NSHSS Educator of Distinction Certificate, an NSHSS Educator of Distinction bumper sticker, and materials describing the benefits available to you as an Educator of Distinction. You should have received this package in January 2020.  We celebrate the accomplishments of exceptional educators by offering them the opportunity to apply for grants that can help fund classroom projects.  For more information, please visit our educational resources at *************************************************.
  
  Please note that the invitation letter sent to students at your high school indicates that you are recognized as an Educator of Distinction by NSHSS. However, it does not state that you nominated a student for NSHSS membership.  Additionally, our Graduation Merchandise Policy,which can be found on the NSHSS website, highlights the importance of consulting with the Graduation Coordinator before purchasing any graduation merchandise intended for the ceremony. While some schools allow students to wear NSHSS graduation regalia, we strongly encourage students to verify their schools policy by contacting the Graduation Coordinator.  While some schools permit students to wear NSHSS graduation regalia, we strongly encourage students to confirm their schools policy by contacting their Graduation Coordinator.
  
  We have removed your name from future invitations to students, which we hope clarifies the previous misunderstanding regarding NSHSS invitations.  We value open communication and are dedicated to addressing any issues promptly. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly at **************.
  
  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to address your concerns and I hope to hear from you soon.
  
  With warm regards,  
  
  ****** *****
  Member Services Manager
  O: **************
  ******************************
  
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/29/2025

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/02/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  The company seeks out honor roll students with the representation that they are NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, but they are the NATIONAL SOCIETY OF high school scholars. I would like a refund.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/06/2025

  Dear Ms. **************** hope you are doing well. I would like to follow up on your BBB complaint filed on Thursday, January 2, 2025, and my phone call and email sent to you today, January 6, 2025.
  Thank you for speaking with me today and sharing your concerns. You stated that the representative that you spoke with on Thursday,January 2, 2025, had informed you that a refund could not be processed due to the time to request a refund had expired and was over 60 days. **** ******** joined NSHSS August 16, 2024. You also mentioned the invitation was misleading as you thought the membership was *** (National Honor Society).
  
  I explained that the invitation **** received was from NSHSS (National Society of High School Scholars). I shared with you information about NSHSS and reassured you that we are a reputable academic honor society with over 22 years of experience. I explained that **** was nominated to join NSHSS because she met one of our eight academic criteria as noted on our website at ******************************. I highlighted the benefits of NSHSS, including lifetime membership, no recurring membership fees, and no cost associated with applying for scholarships, internship opportunities, leadership programs, and registering for webinars. I informed you that a refund was processed today in the amount of $90 and a refund receipt was emailed to you.

  
  Thank you for your feedback and giving us the opportunity to address your concerns.  I hope this issue has been resolved to your satisfaction. Please feel free to contact me directly if you need further assistance at **************, Monday Friday, 8AM to 5PM EST.
  
  Best Regards,

  ****** *****

  NSHSS, *************** Manager

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/07/2025

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* *******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/19/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On June 12, 2024 my daughter received a letter naming a teacher and a student at her school in the content while inviting her to join what was presented to be a National Honor Society. We had been told by the school that she was invited to join the national honor society so we had no reason to think that this was not that. I gave my daughter the check for $128 to be sent off. Which they have cashed. Yesterday my daughter started trying to log into the National Honor Society website unsuccessfully. We find out that she paid for this useless site under false pretenses. She has missed her window to accept the correct National Honor Society. I have no clue how this company gets away with this. I just got off the phone with a representative that has refused to refund my money, I basically got an oh, well from them. I then requested to speak to a supervisor and was told one was unavailable. I have a senior upset she was scammed by this company and she is now not a member of the correct National honor society. Her school has confirmed this NSHSS to be a scam and stated they do not and will not acknowledge this at her graduation in May. I wasted additional money purchasing the tassel and extras from this company.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/22/2024

  Dear Ms. *******  
  
  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We are committed to ensuring every member and their families feel supported and heard. I want to provide a summary of the steps we have taken to address your concerns and clarify our commitment to resolving this matter.  
  
  On Tuesday, November 19, after you spoke with my colleague from **************** I returned your call and discussed your concerns directly. During our conversation, I confirmed that we would issue you a full refund of $128 and took the opportunity to clarify the benefits and mission of NSHSS.  
  
  Following that conversation, we received notification of your BBB complaint. I promptly called you back and left a voicemail on Wednesday, November 20, to address your concerns further. On Friday, November 22, I reached out again and was able to speak with you directly. At that time, you expressed your understanding that NSHSS is not a scam and confirmed your satisfaction with the refund we offered.  
  
  We hope this resolution has addressed your concerns fully, and we value the opportunity to improve our processes through your feedback. Should you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact us directly at **************.  
  
  Thank you again for your time and for allowing us to address this matter.  
  
  Sincerely,  
  ****** ***************************************************** Specialist 
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/22/2024

  After a conversation with ******, the NSHSS representative,  she offered a refund for the $128 that we paid the company. I will update once the refund has been received on my end.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/25/2024

  Ms. ******* The refund checks have been mailed totaling $128 for $90 (Membership fee) and $38 (Merchandise order).  Happy Thanksgiving!

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/28/2024

  My refund has been received. Thank you for your help in this situation. I will research companies before sending them payment to prevent this happening in the future.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/14/2024

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Before Oct 24th I was looking for scholarships to pay for college because my family is **********. I found a website that promised to provide scholarship opportunities. I signed up, however I later found out from my friend and high school counselor that it is not required to pay for scholarships. The organization is now charging me $128. I stopped payment on my check when I realized that it was a scam. The mail that we received appeared to be coming from my high school - it said "Petaluma High" on the outside so my mom thought it was legitimate - however it is from **. They are now sending my family letters threatening legal action to collect funds. We want to cancel the relationship and have the billing adjusted to $0.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 11/19/2024

  Dear ******,  
  
  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We take all feedback seriously and are committed to addressing any issues in a fair and transparent manner. After reviewing your account, we would like to clarify the facts of this situation:  
  
  You joined NSHSS on August 1, 2024, and paid the membership fee by check. On the same day, you purchased an honor stole and honor cord.  
  On August 7, 2024, we received notice of a stop payment on check #*** for $128. As a result, your membership account was disabled on the same day. The honor stole and honor cord were delivered on August 12, 2024, as the package was already in transit before the stop payment was processed. 
  
  In cases like this, when merchandise is delivered but payment is canceled, we follow up with a letter requesting either the return of the merchandise or payment. We sent letters on August 15, 2024, and again on October 24, 2024, but we have not received a response. To date, we have no record of you contacting us via phone, email, or chat to address this matter. Instead, we received your BBB complaint.  
  
  We want to work with you to resolve this situation amicably. Please contact us directly at ************** or via email at *************************************** so that we can discuss how to move forward.  
  
  Additionally, we would like to address some general misconceptions:  
  
  NSHSS offers fee waivers for students with financial needs, including those participating in programs such as the free lunch program, SNAP, and ********* As a ********** student, you are eligible to apply for a fee waiver, ensuring accessibility for all deserving scholars. We also provide scholarships to the public and additional scholarships exclusively for our members.  
  
  NSHSS is not a scam. Since 2002, we have been a legitimate organization dedicated to recognizing academic excellence and supporting high-achieving students. Members gain access to scholarships, college resources, and opportunities to connect with a global network of peers and leaders.  
  
  We hope this clears up any misunderstandings and look forward to resolving this matter directly with you.  
  
  Sincerely,  
  ****** *****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 11/26/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** Bermudez ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/06/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I signed up for membership for my child with NSHSS on July 30, 2024. I asked for a refund on August 1, 2024, because the school advised they don't honor this program nor will my child be able to wear the medallion I purchased. I was told on yesterday August 5th a refund of $90 was sent to my account. My bank doesn't show any pending transactions. I was not refunded. WHAT A SCAM

  

  Business Response

  Date: 08/14/2024

  Hi *****, As our published graduation policy states "We encourage you to check with the Graduation Coordinator at your school before purchasing any graduation merchandise to wear at graduation. If you need to return graduation items, it must be within thirty (30) days of purchase and in the same condition it was received for a refund or an exchange." This is also noted on the same page as the graduation regalia as a reminder prior to ordering since some schools are uniformed in terms of what they will allow students to wear during the graduation ceremonies. You accepted your son's invitation on July 30 and requested a refund on the evening of July 31; you were told that the refund would be processed within three (3) business days. Your refund for the one-time, lifetime membership fee of $90 was processed on August 5 (3 business days). You called on August 6 and requested a refund receipt in which you were emailed the same day, so there is closure there. We regret that your son wasn't able to wear his honor medallion but more importantly regret that he wasn't able to enjoy the lifetime benefits of his membership. We are so much more than our graduation regalia.  Per the **** tracking number **********************. the honor medallion was delivered to your home.  In order to receive a refund for the honor medallion of $15, please return the item in the condition it was delivered in for further processing.  Attached is the refund transaction receipt that you were emailed, the **** tracking # for the order delivered, and our interactions with you since July 31.

  Lastly, in terms of your scam statement, and at your convenience, please review this great and factual information about NSHSS and how our amazing members and families are enjoying their membership, ***************************************************************************. Wishing you all the Best,

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/13/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  National Society of High School Honors sent me a letter informing me that my daughter was invited to become a member because of her good grades. By becoming a member she could have access to scholorships etc.I emailed the school counselor and she confirmed that this was a scam, however, by that time I had already paid. I would like a refund and to warn other parents.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 07/17/2024

  Dear ****************,

  Thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak to you further regarding your complaint.  Our goal is to always provide clarity to clear up any **** of ********* as it relates to the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), our mission and commitment to our members and families.

  As requested, the refund for the one-time, lifetime membership fee has been processed and I've attached the refund transaction receipt for your records.  Should you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

  Wishing you and Londyn all the very Best,

  **************************

  Director of Member Services

  ************

  www.nshss.org

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/16/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This company is not real It made of manipulation and deceit It is not at all what it is saying it is Many people have showed me online of complaints the more I read the more I know its a scam I want my money back This is not the honor society and not recognized by any one I should hope people find this and read

  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/18/2024

  Dear Ms. **************** attached documents reflect the fact that we had an interaction with you via email on June 17 about a refund and we shared with you what the published refund policy is.  You called us today, June 18 and your refund was processed for the full amount of $111.00 ($90 one-time, lifetime membership fee and the $21 College Admissions book that you haven't returned yet), although you're only requesting a refund for the $90. So, there has been closure since you called today, June 18, 2024.

  NSHSS was established in 2002 by *************************, member of the Nobel Prize family,and *********************.   NSHSS and its growing number of highly respected partners such as the *************************** ****** Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. **************** College Advisor and ************************************ (to name a few) have been committed to supporting the academic advancement of young people as they transition from high school to college to career- Please see a complete list of our government, educational, corporate and non-profit partners on our website at nshss.org, but these reputable partners would not be associated with NSHSS if we weren't a legitimate organization. 
  
  Scholars are nominated by Educators or recommended by our educational partners if they meet at least one of our eight academic criteria as follows:
  3.5 Cumulative GPA (4.0 Scale) or higher (or equivalent such as 88 on a 100-point scale)
  * 1280 SAT score or higher
  * 1150 PSAT score or higher 
  * *************** higher
  * Score 4 or higher on any AP exam
  * Total combined IB test scores of 36 or higher
  * IGCSE Grade A or higher
  * Top 10% rank in class
  

  Some of the benefits of the lifetime membership are:
  
  * More than $2.5 million in scholarship opportunities
  * Member events and college fairs at our in-person member events
  * Discounts on test prep, resume building, and tutoring services
  * Leadership programs and service opportunities
  * Free webinars and virtual events
  * Study abroad opportunities, internships and much more
  
  There is a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $90 which goes towards the cost of member communications, technology support, and member dashboard maintenance; we do extend fee waivers to those families that experience financial hardships.  Please visit our website at www.nshss.org for further information about our distinguished, academic honor society.  *******'s membership has been disabled, and we truly wish him all the best throughout his academic journey and beyond!

  Warm Regards,

  **************************/Director, Member Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/29/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On febuary 29 i paid this company for a membership and some merchandise. They refunded me the member ship and overcharged me for shipping. They returned on shipping charge but have not refunded the money for the stoles and the two lions which is 45 dollars. They keep saying they have and to talk to my bank. I even sent them my bank statement showing the 8 dollar refund. They even stated that they got my merchandise for 2 weeks before even refunding the 8 dollars. They keep telling me they refunded it and tell me to call my bank. I need help to get my money back.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 05/03/2024

  Hi ******,

  Unfortunately, we couldn't have a conversation to review the proof that the refunds have been properly issued - before you submitted this complaint, there was closure.  The appropriate credits have settled in our system and your account should reflect that.  I offered to be on the phone with you to ensure your bank recognized the same, but you wouldn't allow that, nor would you allow me to speak without yelling.  This case has been closed and the account for ***** has been disabled and there will be no further communications regarding this matter.  We wish you all the very best!

  Best Regards,

  **************************

  Director, Member Services

  Attachments include all logged interactions we've encountered, and the transactions (purchases) and refunds issued.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/14/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  This organization exists to create confusion. I thought it was The National Honor Society, which is reputable organization that is useful for students. And it worked. It wasnt until after I paid and spoke to a school counselor that I realized it was not the same organization. Upon examination, this organization does nothing to help students. Most scholarships did not pertain to my son and we due the day we paid. They appear to exist to prey upon the parents of students preparing to enter college and students that have worked hard for their academic achievements and are trying to work towards scholarships without giving any benefits.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/15/2024

  Good afternoon ************,

  Per my voicemail and follow-up email, as attached, please give myself a call so we can resolve this issue for you and to your satisfaction.  Per the attached and published refund policy and as noted on our BBB profile, all requests for a refund must be addressed with us directly.  We haven't had an interaction with you since ******* became a lifetime member of NSHSS!!  I would also like the opportunity to clear up any confusion based upon your complaint since you haven't shared an experience with NSHSS since ******* recently became a member on March 13, 2024.  I look forward to speaking with you so we can move forward with understanding and closure.  Thanks so much!

  **************************

  ************

  www.nshss.org

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/11/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I believed this institution would be helpful and believed it to be one that was recognized by the school. However, that is not the case and the membership fee and merchandise was paid. I believed I could not receive a refund for the purchases as its not listed in the website from my knowledge. I did not receive the merchandise until March 11, 2024 due to the wrong address being used. I believed I had to return the item with part of the money that was spent, but reading the cases of others I see a full refund could be given. I would like to receive a full refund due to the vague information about the institution.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/15/2024

  Hi *** and *******,

  Per my voicemail and the attached log of interactions we've had with ***, once he realized he entered the wrong mailing address, he reached out to us on 11/30/23.  We asked to confirm the mailing address again, but no response until you all followed up on March 5, 2024.  The order has been confirmed as shipped and received per **** tracking - *********************************************************************************; Additionally, the NSHSS Refund/Exchange policy is attached as listed on our website.  It is also listed on our BBB business profile.  You all reached out to us on March 5, and we haven't had another interaction because the order did deliver successfully.  I look forward to you returning my call to assist you further and for closure to this complaint at ************, Monday-Friday, 8a-5p EST.

  All the Best,

  **************************

  www.nshss.org

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/15/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************