Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Kids First Media, Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Kids First Media, Inc.

  308 S. Main St. Suite A Peoria, IL 61604

• 

  Kids First Media, Inc.

  2817 W. Nebraska Peoria, IL 61604

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:02/26/2024

  Type:Customer Service 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.

  Since Jan. 2022, we have been trying to cancel our partnership with Kids First Community. We have received negative feedback from our community businesses about high-pressures sales tactics used during solicitation. When they are using our school name with these tactics, it damages our community reputation. Despite requesting to end this partnership for 2 years, the company claims they haven’t received the requests to end participation, and the employees become verbally combative and accusatory. We have requested they no longer use our name or logo to solicit funds for their business to produce folders, but have not received confirmation that they will do so.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/27/2024

  We provide folders to schools free of charge. In this case, the school has received our folders for many years and during that time we've established relationships in the community that are pleased to provide their support year over year. I've spoken with school leadership over the previous years and have never been advised they are concerned about high pressure or damaging their community relationships. Frankly, that is not how we operate. Moreover, we wouldn't still be doing business with our original clients after 13 years if we used high-pressure sales methods. I have personally reviewed the written communications between us and school management, and all our responses are polite albeit we don't always agree. We have renewed the school's product each year because we have clients who appreciate the opportunity to market their businesses while also providing the school with a useful product that reinforces positive behaviors. The school pays nothing for our folders so they are out nothing while gaining a valuable resourse. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/01/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:  All we are asking for is confirmation that Kids First Community will stop using our school name and logo when they solicit advertising or create folders.  We no longer authorize the use of our name or logo.  We would like to professionally part ways and want confirmation that no solicitation will take place stating that you are providing a service to our school, as we no longer want the folders that you have sent to us.  People that have signed up should have their monies returned, as we are rejecting future partnership, and have been requesting that since January 2022.  We request no additional folders be sent to us, and will reject any future mailings.
  
  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/03/2024

  We don't use any school's name or logo. We ship folders at no charge to schools after they have requested them. Those folders do feature the school information on them for personalization. As much as we try to be resonable and fair, we can't always please everyone. In this case, we have received mixed messages from this admin since 2021. In fact, they have renewed since then.

   In this case, the renewal for 2024 has already been completed and that is information this school admin has been aware of for some time. Hopefully, this admin does not return a free resource that is valuable to local families and businesses. I sincerely hope they enjoy them as they have for many years.    

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/05/2024

   I am rejecting this response because: I am the school admin.  There are no mixed messages.  I have been attempting to cancel since January 2021.  There are no signed agreements.  We revoke the authorization to use our school name, information and logo.  Do not send folders.
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/28/2023

  Type:Customer Service 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 called asking our company to sponsor homework folders for a local school. They sent me an invoice 1 hour later and we decided that something was fishy about the call. They pushed me for a credit card by phone which I thankfully declined. I contacted the school principal today and they no nothing of this company or it’s fundraising efforts. I proceeded to inform the company that we were going to not proceed when they got pushy about the contract can not be canceled which was not disclosed by phone on the original call, and was not disclosed until the email arrived later. No terms and conditions were ever agreed to by phone with this company.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/28/2023

  This client is out nothing according to their message so this complaint has no merit. Additionally, our client's information is incorrect. We are working a renewal for the school in question. Meaning, we've already delivered an order to them and are working on their renewal of that order. Clearly, our client has spoken to an uninformed person associated with our school.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/28/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:

  The individuals I spoke to are the school principles so whom ever you are speaking to in below them in rank. I have also spoken to the central office to warn them.

  I have sent a letter to your company today with signature required requesting the cancelation of this contract.

  This contract states it is not cancelable,  however Alabama law allows cancelation of any contract within 7 days.

  2022 Code of Alabama Title 35 Chapter 8 A Article 4 Section 35-8A-401

   

  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 08/29/2023

  Our agreement is with ****** **** of *********** ** ****. It dates to 2020 and provides for a 5-year renewal term. We delivered their folders for the 2021/2022 school year. Now, we're working on their renewal. Rather than wasting time creating complaints and sending letters (actions that will not accomplish the result you want), how about letting us know you can't afford to honor your agreement and work something out? 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/30/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Please cancel the agreement per previous request.   I will relay the name of your contact to the *********** Principle

  Business Response

  Date: 09/04/2023

  Hello:

  We expect you to honor the financial commitment you made, but we're happy to work with you. Please call your representative to work out details.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/09/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising 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 was contacted by ****** **** **** ***** on July 8th, 2022 in the afternoon! ****** represented he was with ****** ***** ******* ****** down the street from me. They were looking for local sponsors to help the children with free nice lamented folders for free! He was very convincing. I agreed to sponser an ad to help the school. I looked up Kids First and discovered they are not affiliated with the school at all! Not only that they have complaints filed on them for not providing the promised advertising and folders. I was shocked! I immediately called and left ****** a message to please cancel my ad. After checking into it, it was not a good fit for me. I also emailed him 2 times also on the 8th in the evening asking him to please cancel my ad. I also called on Sat. morning July 9th and left ****** a message and emailed again to the **************t email to cancel my ad. I didnot have all the facts and it was not a good fit for me. No response from ****** although he told me he would be working on Saturday if I needed help with putting my ad together! No ad was taken nor did I sign anything. I was to speak to his graphic designer on Tuesday to set it up. So no work or expense had been provided. I have received 3 emails from ***** ******* today. Telling me canceling my ad is not an option! Also telling me he will send it to collections and it will cost me more money? I am shocked and disappointed at the reponses I have received today. I told ***** I have contacted my credit card company and blocked this transaction. He continued to try to bully me. I feel this company is not providing an honest service. They are misrepresenting that they are working for the school. Earning peoples trust to want to help the school and children. When I found out differently, ***** Hamrick turned into a bully threatening me. I did tell him he should be ashamed taking advantage of honest hard working people. Please can you help me? *** ******

  Business Response

  Date: 07/11/2022

  Ann:

   

  I'm very sorry you feel this way. We spent 40 minutes on the phone with you and answered all of your questions. As I explained to you on Saturday, the contract states agreement is binding and cannot be cancelled. Regardless of the contract, I asked you why you wanted to cancel. You explained 1. your Mom is sick and 2. you thought the money was going to the school. Again, I am very sorry about your Mom and hope she recovers soon. You and your family are in my prayers. Everything we say is carefully presented so people know we are working for the school but we don't work at the school. *******s conversation with you was no different than any of our conversations. While our schools don't receive the money, they do get financial benefit from our folders. Our folders are free to the school so the money they save can be used for student education. And all of our schools clients are contracted with us. We couldn't have an A rating with the BBB and excellent Google reviews if we bullied our clients. You made a purchase and paid for it. Not getting your way when you change your mind isn't bullying; it's expecting you to honor your end of the agreement. However, I wish you didn't feel bullied. And I haven't threatened you at all. While I believe your erratic behavior is due to the stress from you're Mom's illness, I still expect you to be honest. I wish your Mom a speedy recovery and your family peace. 

  *****