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FOX 17 Investigaton: Solicitation Calls Exposed

675 views · Published 10 February 2015 · 4:56 · Indexed 12 October 2026

Channel: FOX NASHVILLE · 2015 · News & Politics

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- If you've been on the receiving end of constant solicitation calls, you're not alone.

Erika Kurre exposes the organization fined by the TN Secretary of State's office for "soliciting contributions, using false and misleading practices".

Though the church organization says it's done nothing illegal.

Flint Adam, a former FOX 17 employee, sometimes gets more than a dozen phone calls per day, coming to his house as late as 9pm, all from the same source.

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett says an organization called Nspire is making these calls, which appear in caller ID either as the same number with a 615 area code or just the word "HOPE".

Secretary Hargett says, "In December, we issued several penalties against a group called Nspire that was using the name of Hope House to raise money."

According to the Secretary of State's office, Nspire also goes by the name "Hope House" and "Hope for Domestic Violence".

Nspire's website explains it's an outreach organization that helps homeless men and women get off the streets.

FOX 17 found the Secretary of State's office slammed Nspire with a 45-thousand dollar fine in December 2014.

Secretary Hargett says it's for two reasons: Nspire "has falsely represented that it works with other organizations with which it has no affiliation" and numerous people filed complaints with his office because they said they continued to receive calls despite asking to be removed from the group's call list.

"There were four complaints we wound up using in the issuing of the civil penalties. But it was far more than that."

FOX 17 obtained a copy of the letter sent to Nspire's leader, Greg Kinnard, from the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming in the Tennessee Secretary of State's office.

It accuses Nspire of violating Tennessee law, saying it's "soliciting contributions using unfair, false, misleading or deceptive acts and practices"..."by engaging in harassing and abusive solicitations practices."

Secretary Hargett says his agency is where this activity should be reported and he knows they haven't heard from everyone receiving these calls.

"I personally got a phone call but I didn't think it was appropriate for me to file a complaint with my own division. So there's people out there like me who got the calls from a so- called Hope House that didn't file complaints."

Online forums like callcenter.com and 800notes.com show people posting similar complaints about Nspire, saying sometimes the call is disconnected once the phone is answered.

In January, Adam says 24 of these calls came to his home in an eight day period.

Adam didn't report them to the state though last year, he asked the group to take his home off of their call list.

He says the most recent calls came to his home just last month.

Bill west, an attorney representing Nspire says over the phone that Nspire's legal team denies it's in violation of the state's Charitable Solicitations Act.

A petition for a contested case hearing filed by Nspire's legal team asserts Nspire is exempt from the application of law because it's a church.

According to the petition, Nspire is a religious mission, serving homeless women or women who are victims of domestic violence and it solicits used clothing donations.

The organization's website states it is operating in full compliance and integrity.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of State's office investigation continues.

And, some advice from Secretary Hargett:

"If you're getting the same call from a group over and over and over, then you need to let us know about that."

The only way a charity is allowed to call you is if you have a previous relationship with that organization -- like donating.

Tennessee's Charitable Solicitations and Gaming Division wants to hear from you as it continues its investigation into Nspire.

If you've received their calls or have any information on the organization, call (615) 741-2555.

FOX 17 Investigaton: Solicitation Calls Exposed

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