Veterans Advantage |
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Consumer reviews about Veterans Advantage |
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Dixidude
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Jan 1, 2012
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Credit card charges
Appreciate all of the comments. Hard for me to see enough of an advantage to shell out $60 a year. Maybe if VA provided
specific info on what discounts to expect from each corporate member (or the prominent ones at least), I'd listen more carefully to their pitch.
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Member Services
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Jan 17, 2012
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Credit card charges
Veterans Advantage has been a membership fee supported benefits program for over 10 years, founded by U.S. military veterans and represented by a board of distinguished and highly decorated veterans. The member fee model has long been in existence for other veteran and military organizations, even those chartered by the U.S. government. See more details at member fees on our public web site: http://bit.ly/jOUqzX
We wanted to address your questions below, as we continue to monitor these boards, reminding members that we do have web, email and toll-free support to answer your questions on all subjects directly and promptly:
1. Companion airline certificate: This is a benefit provided free with your membership which has an average value of more than $200, good for travel throughout the Continental United States. We are sorry that you somehow never received yours, since this is a very popular benefit. We encourage you to call our toll-free call center: 1-866-VET-ASSIST (1-866-838-2774) to review your account history and resolve your issues promptly. Unfortunately, because this forum allows anonymous postings, we cannot respond to you regarding your issues, even though you acknowledge it is a two-year old case that may not have been brought to our attention. You should also have received your membership Welcome Kit with printed color Benefit Directory, which fully details how to contact us to get support on any of your membership questions by toll free phone, by email or by mail as well as contact information for all our benefit partners.
2. Free benefits: We agree that there are benefits you should be receiving because you earned them from government supported programs. We want our members to fully understand them and take advantage of what they deserve to get. Our program delivers information services to inform you what you are entitled to receive in Federal, State and Local benefits, and unique editorial content of interest to our members. We also provide regular updates on your benefits from Washington, and information on charitable programs that have established their own unique benefits to help military and veteran families.
3. Benefits of a paid Veterans Advantage Card: Our card members save much more than they pay in annual member fees. We offer the opportunity for 30-day trial of the program, which allows new members to test the benefits and get savings over a full month from all our benefit partners. We have highlighted some of these valuable benefits below:
* Included with membership: Over $800 in Bonus Benefits that do not require members to make an additional purchase --$55, 000 in travel and accident insurance coverage, prescription discount plan, complimentary financial planning, free Club O membership which provides free shipping and 5% savings from Overstock ($20 Club O fee savings annually) which are described on the home page of our website, www.VeteransAdvantage.com.
* Leading providers that give back: Our benefit partners provide discounts that are special thanks for serving the country and are easily accessible everyday savings on the web, via toll free phone or in store locations. For example, Continental/United Airlines, the world’s largest airline, is a benefit partner providing 5% off on an unlimited number of tickets annually with no blackout dates, and Verizon Wireless service discounts for voice and data -- for a smartphone user, that saves a minimum of $125 a year – far in excess of the annual member fee. There are many other valuable discounts from the nation’s top patriotic companies including Dell, Apple, Greyhound, Amtrak, Foot Locker, Overstock, Orvis, Target.com and Wendy’s among others, across categories that include travel, entertainment, shopping, health, and financial, and more than cover the member fee, often with a single purchase.
* Savings newsletter: In addition to full Welcome Kit containing instructions on how to access our benefits, we also find specific discounts for you and highlight them in our regular “Benefits Alert” e-newsletter, another benefit of membership to remind members of the tremendous savings their membership benefits afford. Listed below is but a handful of the valuable discounts we’ve recently highlighted in our newsletter, or heard have benefited our members:
$243.23 on a Dell XPS 15z Laptop
$50.00 on a round-trip Amtrak ticket, Stamford, CT to Lynchburg, VA
$30 on your tax preparation with Jackson Hewitt $100.20 on four ski lift tickets, Canyon Resort, Park City, Utah
$40 on Eight AMC Gold Experience Movie Tickets at AMC Movie Theaters
$35 on a $300 purchase from Sears.com
$60 on an EXO Hardside 2-piece Luggage Set
$90 on a Set of Taylor Made Burner Irons, Graphite Shaft, from The Golf Warehouse
$30 XM Onyx Vehicle Satellite Radio Kit $29.80 A Pair of Men’s Hunting Boots from Orvis.com
$230 On a MacBook Pro 15” notebook computer from Apple with Apple Care plan
$33 On a pair of 6-inch Timberland Scuff-proof Boots from Foot Locker
As you can see, the program provides the opportunity to save hundreds of dollars annually. Once again, please contact us at 1-866-VET-ASSIST. We look forward to helping you and delivering the respect, recognition and rewards you have earned with your service to our country.
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seanseansean
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Jan 31, 2012
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Credit card charges
Hi, I am thinking of getting a Veterans Advantage card. I live in Europe (stationed here), but going to the states in July for a belated honeymoon. I have been reading and rereading about the services and it seems to me that the 200 dollar purchase for five years is worth it - because a 15% discount on my one-week hotel stay would make up for the membership fee right away! Also I figure I will travel back to US at least three more times in the next five years and this would give me savings on rental cars, and hotels. I realize I am a little different than most on this site because they probably have family they can stay with - I actually don't have family or friends I would feel comfortable spending more than two-days with because I am big on not imposing. I have read the complaints here. I don't care about the $5 processing fee complaint or DVD. The complaint that this is a "glorified book of discounts" pointing you to specials that already exist may be true - but that was refuted by another person that said looking for all those discounts takes time and like them I am not a person that can dedicate hours on hours to coupon hunting! Someone said they get more benefits from the American Legion (but did not elaborate - please do if you think the Legion offers better benefits - I want to know about them)! I see no one has refuted the free accident and death insurance - those sound good to me, not exactly chump change! Anyhow I would just like someone who is dissatisfied to really give a credible complaint that makes me think twice before buying this card. Convince me this would be a mistake! I plan to purchase this card soon if not. Sincerely - Sean. ps- No, I am not an employee of Veterans Advantage (lol) - just very interested in purchasing this card because the deals sound good - but I don't want to have buyers remorse. Also, if you are like me, comfort me in making my potential decision to buy it. Cheers.
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dwill
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May 21, 2013
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Veterans Advantage Card
A friend told me about Veterans Advantage so I looked into it. What attracted me was the "Free Companion Airline Ticket" pitch. I called and inquired and my understanding was that on my enrollment I would receive a "FREE" companion airline ticket that would be honored by United Airlines. So far so goo. . . family was planning to travel so everything was falling into place. I received a voucher for a "discounted" airline ticket instead of free but based on where we were travelling from and headed to they had a fee of $500 for two tickets so I decided to still work with it. When I called the airline to make the reservations they said that the discounted seats were all sold and that I would have to purchase a regular seat and they would apply a percentage off the second seat. So I told them if I delayed the trip for another month would the discounted seats be available and they said NO. That told me that Veterans Advantage was a JOKE. They got my membership fee by lying about the "FREE COMPANION AIRLINE TICKET". I called and cancelled the membership and told them that I need to be re-funded my money for the fee but I know that it will be a tough one to pull off but I will try. BE AWARE PEOPLE. . . . . VETERANS ADVANTAGE IS A SCAM !!!!!
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Veterans Advantage
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Dec 10, 2013
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Response from Veterans Advantage
Veterans Advantage has an outstanding record since its founding in 2000 of delivering real benefits and military discounts from top companies to both our military and veterans. We are rated A+ by the BBB and take your concerns seriously. If you are having difficulty understanding any partner discounts or our offers, you should contact us immediately us with your specific details at our US-based Veteran Call Center at 1-866-VET-ASSIST (838-2774).
This member is clearly confused about two separate partner benefits and has posted a mistaken allegation. We are clear during enrollment that the Companion Certificate is included free with the Veterans Advantage membership, which means we do not charge an additional price for the certificate. The certificate is issued from a separate partner company, not United Airlines. The fact he called United directly for this benefit, and that the phone agents from United provided information about only their services, may have confused the writer of this post, who has mistakenly combined two separate and distinct partner offers that are not combinable:
1) United Airlines offers a 5% discount for Veterans Advantage members, which include spouses and next of kin family. This discount is offered directly on United.com for flights originating from the U.S. and combinable with Mileage Plus, has no blackouts, and no limits on number of tickets purchased. The 5% discount is not combinable with any other discount or partner offer.
2) The "Companion Certificate," is a separate partner offer, which is a voucher that provides "2 tickets for one low price" and is included free with membership. It is not combinable with any other offer.
The Companion Certificate price for 2 tickets will be lower than the price for two tickets purchased directly through other airlines (with the exception of Southwest, which is not part of this program). This voucher can only be redeemed with the Companion Certificate partner, not with the airline, which explains why the member's experience calling United was not fruitful. The voucher explains all the redemption instructions. Our member feedback is that they have been generally pleased with the benefit, which typically saves around $100 or more for the two tickets.
Please note that Veterans Advantage plan fees support a host of benefit resources for its members, including escalated Veteran benefit phone support. We strongly encourage you to use these services at 1-866-VET-ASSIST if you need us to explain or compare different partner benefit features, or assist you with access. We would appreciate you doing this to avoid misunderstandings such as those contained in this post, and before posting erroneous complaints that can be damaging to a outstanding program that for more than a decade has delivered valuable benefits to so many deserving military and veterans who have served our nation.
FINAL NOTE: We have noticed that the original content of these postings -- including our earlier response listed above dated January 2012 -- was duplicated from another website. We are calling into doubt the legitimacy of a website which, in doing so, creates the impression of more complaints than there actually are. Is this a new website, knocking off content from another, which we note is registered in Riga, Latvia? We are a US-based company founded in 2000 and run by United State Military Veterans. We caution other veterans to please note site origins and, once again consider the consequences of their actions on these questionable sites that may benefit from their posts with advertising dollars or by data grabs.
Thank you.
The Veterans Advantage Team
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TriumphTim
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Jul 15, 2014
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Scam alert!
I have been a member for 3 years of Veterans Advantage because the discount I received on Amtrak easily paid for the yearly fee. I was just charged $4.95 in June 2014 in anticipation of my renewal in July for 59.95. They plan on automatically renewing my membership and I told them NO in 5 different emails and they keep "sweetening" the deal instead of just refunding my $4.95 and canceling my membership. There is no way to cancel auto renewal on their website even though the help balloon says you can when you click on update credit card info. They have done everything they can to get your credit card and make it all but impossible to cancel without a phone call and of course the hard sell. I am out of the country for 6 months so cannot easily call. I sent them the sixth and last e-mail this morning all in caps shouting at them to just cancel. I will give them another 3 days to respond and if I don't see the appropriate response then I'll just have AMEX refund my money and I'll post negative reviews warning of this scam of Veterans on every website I can find! These people are the worst I have ever dealt with! Don't give them a penny of your money or you'll go through all heck trying to get them to not bill you in the future. Disgusting organization!
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mhat
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Nov 6, 2015
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Scam
Be very aware that this is not an advantage to veterans, but a way to take money out of our pockets. I cancelled my first year membership to expire on 11/12/15 on 10/27/15 and was charged a fee because they had already sent out the new automatic renewal that must have been in the fine print with the first membership. The fee was only $4.95, but it is the principle of it that made me want to warn others. The so called discounts offered by this scam organization are not even as good as what the average person can find on the internet with no fees or memberships. I see I am not the only person to be charged the scam fee and would advise everyone to file a complaint with better business bureau as I am doing. I will also email any and all veterans organizations I can find and you should do the same. This organization is a scam and buyer beware. The only benefit is to their profits until someone comes along and sues them.
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Dotti
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Apr 25, 2016
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RIP OFF!
I purchased the Veteran's Advantage membership last year. As I did not use it, and there are specific directions as how to cancel, I used their listed e-mail addess to request cancellation when my due date arrived. You are required to cancel 31 days in advance of renewal. I was unable to send an email and received an "invalid" notice when I attempted to use the e-addess listed on their wesite. I promptly sent a letter through the mail requesting my membership not be renewed at the renewal date. Because their e-mail did not appear to be legitimate, and the complaints I read online, I telephoned this morning, (31 days before end of term) and after waiting on hold for 10 minutes was told by "Keisha" my membership was cancelled on April 20th. Now how can a membership, paid in advance, be cancelled prior to its term? My membership was to expire on May 28th, but was terminated on April 20th. That is 38 days left on a prepaid membership that I could not use if I chose to. It seems the 31 days ahead to request cancellation is a way of cheating Veterans out of a month of prepaid membership. What a SCAM! I should receive a refund for those 38 days.
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plibpilot
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Jul 2, 2016
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Shame on United, what a scam
Hey United thanks for taking advantage of veterans through this program.
I love how United disguises this as a program designed by distinguished military vets, yeah right. Distinguished vets who now work at United and thought of a brilliant way to scam more folks. You know, I don't expect a discount for being in the military, and anytime a company offers one I try to go out of my way to thank them and patronize their business more. That said, if your going to offer a discount then just offer one, don't attached bull$hit to it. Oh and by the way, the A+ rating from the BBB is horse$shit also, the BBB is not a very reputable agency either, at least in my opinion. I've turned legitimate complaints into them only to have them take no action. For example, I filed one five years ago when a travel agency in Texas was asking military members to photocopy their DoD CaC and mail it in, all to verify military membership in order to receive a discount. This was right when DoD came out and said that its illegal to photocopy CaC other than very specific circumstances and by specific individuals (i.e. medical facility to follow up on Tricare billing, etc). I turned that one into AF IG who I believe forwarded it to OSI. It wasn't the case of the century or anything but needless to say, that company stopped asking members to photocopy their CaC for a discount. My point was that I obviously turned in a legit complaint to BBB but they did NOTHING to stop an illegal practice. I know BBB cannot take enforcement actions, but they can give bad ratings and refer cases to agencies who can take action. So my point is that the United BBB A+ rating is total BS. Go pound sand United and take advantage of someone else.....scumbags. Oh by the way, "up to" 5% flight discount is almost completely worthless. Lets see, I buy a $1k ticket and get "up to" $50 bucks off? Wow, not even worth my time.
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Koren55
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Jan 14, 2017
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Free Companion Fare SCAM
Many companies are adding this benefit when you join, that you'll get a free companion ticket. I received a certificate and when I knew we'd be booking flights I examined the certificate carefully. It said to enjoy the discount I'd have to go through their number. That's right, you have to book through their company. That sent up a red flag immediately.
Before I called their number I went to various online travel websites first. I found the flights I wanted for Dulles to LA and back. One way fares were approximately $279 each. Okay, about $558 for each ticket. Total cost would be $1118 for both of us.
On other airlines, the rates ranged from $1120 to $1500+. With that info in my hands, I called the Free Companion Fare number. The Rep asked me for my info and then asked when and where I wanted to go. I gave him the dates unwanted to go and where. I could hear him typing, then he told me that there weren't any discount seats available. Now I had checked before I called, the flight I wanted had plenty of seats open. I questioned him. He said there were limited seats for a free companion fare. Since I had plenty of leeway with my dates, I asked him to check flights around the general day we wanted to go. He said he found two flights, both a week after my date. I said Great, and asked for more specific info. The price per ticket was $1400. - that's right, $1400! He said my total cost would've been $2800, but with the Free Companion Fare, I'd save $1400.
I asked why the price was so high. He said it wasn't high, that fares are that high. Then I told him I checked fares and without discount I could get two tickets for only $1120. So going through the Free Companion center would cost me over r $200 more.
I asked him why, he wouldn't explain, but then he said he found a lower price, $1300 for the one ticket plus a free o n e. It was still higher then directly booking. I said good day.
I called once more - I wanted to speak with a different rep. I gave her call the information. She found flights on my original dates. The price of a single ticket - $1500!!!! She said I would save $1500 by booking through them.
This is a SCAM. Be sure to go online first to determine the prices for tickets. You'll find out that it costs substantially more through them.
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tom smart
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Jun 6, 2017
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Wast of money
Tried to get a discount with Fios but months of back and forth then told had to have signed up when I signed up with Fios. Told them Fios told me to contact Veterans Advantage. When I talked to Veterans Advantage the girl hung up on me. The card seems to have no more of an advantage than your ID card. Rip off! Don't give them your money!
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bwright2
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Jul 17, 2017
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Don't waste your money
Was a member but canceled when I found out that all the benefits I was getting because of this card are the exact same benefits I can get with just my veterans ID. I try to support companies that support veterans because I appreciate them but veterans advantage is nothing more than a scam but they try to make it look so pretty as if they are doing so much for you. Dude if you need $ to keep our discounts updated and what not just say that. Don't make it seem like you are doing something that we can not do on our owns for free and like what you are doing is so grand. Shame on you. I can't wait until this company fails completely.
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Robert444
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Oct 7, 2017
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United Airlines has a history of scamming
Several years ago United Airlines offered their "senior plus" discount club. I joined for over $200. I never found a discount lower than those available to everyone. Then after a few years they cancelled the program never refunding any of the membership fee. It is my impression that United Airlines excels in defrauding people, and my suspicion is that "birds of a feather flock together." Be wary of this so called veterans discount organization.
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tdhclueless50
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Nov 22, 2017
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Not recognize your VA card!
S Ryan
to Veterans
27 minutes agoDetails
Do you know Home Depot and Lowes won't take your card???? "They don't recognize it as a Veteran's card"!!! Now I know it's only 10% discount but you state they should and if they are indeed correct refund the rest of my membership.
Sincerely
Steve Ryan
815 Chadwick Shores Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Member ID RYA3836048
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bobotherobo
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Jun 29, 2018
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veterans advantage virtue signal
Just want to put my 2 cents in. I too did the free intro and then kept paying monthly. These guys should be ashamed. They claim to be veterans and want to help veterans, but compare these two scenarios:
1. a place like Home Depot doesn't require any middleman (i.e. Veterans Advantage) to "vouch" for your service, they just look at a government issued id like a dd2 and give you the discount. Never had a problem.
2. another place, there are many and I won't name names, but they offer veteran's discounts ONLY for veterans who pay a monthly fee to Veterans Advantage. YOUR SERVICE IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU HAVE TO PAY THESE OTHER PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THEY ARE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS, or you don't get the discount. I have been told many times "nope, we only work with veterans through Veterans Advantage." Working with Veterans advantage give the company the ability to virtue signal their "appreciation" of your service.
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gyoschak
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Aug 16, 2018
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Dell discount - Don't be fooled
I signed up for veteran's advantage to get the "up to 30% discount" at Dell. Well, it's actually a penalty/disadvantage on the price if you use their discount code. Using Dell's normal everyday code for anyone at any time on the web, the prices are cheaper. I should have known veteran's advantage was a sham--they don't ask for any proof or verification of military service, nothing at all, so anyone can pay for "veteran's disadvantage."
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BlueEyesSD84
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Sep 5, 2018
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SCAM!
These guys are a total scam artists! They offer veterans a deal to get you to 80 90 or 100% disability and the prices they charge if you get to 100% is $4,000. The hundred percent all they do is have you do a video interview with a doctor who doesn't actually examine you at all then they fill out two pieces of paper that you got to upload to the VA and if you get your hundred percent approved you have to pay them $4,000. They refused to provide the credentials of the doctor that is doing the video exam and they threaten to send you to collections if you don't provide them with a letter showing that you were denied or approved. They try to threaten you with the fact that if you go to collections it will be reported on your credit report. These people take advantage of veterans everyday. It's a damn shame and they have no honor.
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AmberJean
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Feb 10, 2020
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Never Worked
Got a Veteran's Advantage card a few years ago when it was cheaper. Never worked for me not once. DD214 and disabled vet card worked better. Most places even the ones that they are partnered with have no idea what the card even is. Maybe I don't live in a state where they recognize the card but Seattle and Portland do use it. I have never had a problem with my vet card getting a discount. Works for Choice and Wyndham hotels and Southwest and Alaskan Airlines.
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