Reviews

This profile includes reviews for Embark's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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Embark has 8 locations, listed below.

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  Embark

  1000 - 50 Burnhamthorpe Rd W Mississauga, ON L5B 4A5

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  Embark

  201 8185 120A St Surrey, BC V3W 3P2

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  Knowledge First Financial Inc.

  250 Charbonneau Crescent Winnipeg, MB R2X 1E2

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  USC Education Savings Plans

  203 10240 124 St Edmonton, AB T5N 3W6

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  Embark

  2220-10123 99 St Edmonton, AB T5J 3H1

Review Details

• Review fromHoward M

  Date: 04/07/2022

  I purchased a plan in 2000..
  After a few years, communication dropped off, their sales agent left, and my plan (flex for any of my kids to access) was switched to a single student version. I eventually caught up with this, and started another plan for each other child.
  Fast forward to today - withdrawals are not unreasonably complex, but I have never been clear about how volatile it would be or when it would be more constrained.
  
  We withdrew principal on a second agreement last fall, and have a statement from year end.
  While in school, only one of the plans has apparently lost 60% of its market value. No notice, no warning, just when we went to withdraw money for tuition this summer, the money isn't there. The previous plan for the other student was unaffected.
  
  40+ minutes on hold, to be told the markets are volatile.
  I know the markets move, but this is the only one of my investments that lost 60% in this 6 months period.
  
  Other RESP at another institution, no change in current value.
  *************************************************************** ******************************************************

  Embark

  Date: 15/07/2022

  Thank you for expressing your concerns. We're sorry to hear of your less-than-satisfactory experience with Knowledge First Financial and hope you will accept our sincerest apologies and would like to make things right. We value our customers' opinions and would like to thank you for bringing this to our attention.
  
  We will be reaching out to you directly and you should get an email from us to determine how we can provide a solution for you.
  
  If you prefer, you can also contact our Customer Care team at ********@***********.ca.

  Howard M

  Date: 15/07/2022

  KFF reached out via email in response, and reviewed my account state. The agent I spoke to on the phone missed some detail that cleared up the exchange - withdrawal of principal that I'd not accounted for. Mostly my error, compounded by poor communication and an error by the person on the phone at their end. The volatility is similar to the other plan I have at KFF, after all.
  
  Overall, I stand by my experience over the last 20 years, and I think they could do better at providing visibility into the current state. I have given them that feedback directly as well.

• Review fromKirsten T

  Date: 08/06/2022

  *************************************************************** I signed up for a plan in 2000 for my son. The company was making automatic withdrawals from my account for many years until they changed their name and randomly stopped making withdrawals. They never informed me that they were doing that and terminated my plan without any kind of notification. Fast forward 18 years and wanting to use the funds that should have been accumulating interest for all these years and they tell me there is no money and the plan was terminated. So, not only did they keep my money for 18 + years collecting the very least interest on it, they also terminated my policy without informing me of same and never returning any of the money that they were withdrawing for many years until they terminated the policy. Now they are saying that all the money that they withdrew went towards many, many made up fees which was never mentioned on any contract that I had with them. So, at the end of the day there is $0 for my son's education. Thank you USC/Knowledge First Financial. I would have been better off putting the money in a GIC. At least I would have gotten some interest. Also, customer service is absolutely useless. They read from a script of answers **********************************************************. I have another plan with ***************** which thankfully I used for my other 2 children and have had no issues with them.

  Embark

  Date: 20/06/2022

  Thank you for expressing your concerns, at Knowledge First Financial, we strive to provide professional and efficient service to all our customers and take all complaints very seriously.
  
  We have responded to the customer's complaint and provided the next steps.
  
  If there are any further concerns, please connect back with the Customer Care team at ********@***********.ca

  Embark

  Date: 16/06/2022

  Thank you for expressing your concerns, at Knowledge First Financial, we strive to provide professional and efficient service to all our customers and take all complaints very seriously.
  
  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this situation has caused you. As agreed, upon during our telephone discussion on June X XXXX, a cheque representing your outstanding net principal will be sent to your current address.
  
  If there are any further concerns, please connect back with the Customer Care team at ********@***********.ca

  Kirsten T

  Date: 17/06/2022

  *************************************************************** *************************************************************** *********** During our useless telephone conversation the company mentioned that there are no funds available so therefore there was no interest to accrue. Now they are saying there is approx. $200 which is thousands of dollars less than I should have gotten. Not to mention that no cheque has been received as of yet. And furthermore, why was this money not returned when the plan was supposedly terminated more than 16 years ago by your company? You kept all the money and interest on the money all this time. *********************************************************** Their hidden fees will take away all your hard earned money and they may randomly cancel your plan without any notification and keep whatever money is leftover after all their hidden fees. In the original plan you are supposed to get some of your fees returned upon payout of the plan but, of course, they will make sure to terminate the plan before payout so that they can keep those fees as well. I don't know how these people sleep at night knowing that they are taking away money that is supposed to go towards children's education.