Association For Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences

Complaint: I am rejecting this response because: In reference to AABTS e-mailIt stated I purchased my examine material February My account was activated on 07/20/(per-aabts)In September when I opened my examine material for studyingI have fore stated in previous e-mail, when I purchased examine material I stated MrH [redacted] I was busy & I don’t know when I will begin studying for my testI said I want to purchase my examine while it was on saleMrH [redacted] stated that will be fineHe said I can start studying whenever I choose too As I fore stated in previous e-mail MrH [redacted] did say counselors will be available to meHe never said it was criteria that I had to speak with counselor, sit for my exam and take some many exams (etc) to qualify for the past guaranteeThe customer in question purchased a package from The Association for Advanced Training in February 2013, then in September decided to use the preparation material to study for the exam after she failed the exam in June I reviewed my material prior to taking my exam what I said to aabts staff, I think it was June when I took my test/exam is what said to them However contacted NASW /NCSWCLB to confirmed date as when I took my testI took my test unsuccessful on October I have e-mail from Social Work Board to support when exam was taken Therefore, packet had to have been open before September So, aabts appears to have their year wrong as to when I opened my exam packet However, In reference to AABTS e-mailI purchased my examine material February My account was activated on 07/20/(per-aabts)So, therefore it had to have been In September when I opened my examine material for studyingI recalled studying material prior to taking my exam I have fore stated in previous e-mail, when I purchased my examine material , I stated to MrH [redacted] I was busy & I don’t know when I will begin studying for my test But, I said want to purchase my examine while it was on saleMrH [redacted] stated that will be fineHe said I can start studying whenever I choose too As I fore stated in previous e-mail MrH [redacted] did say counselors will be available to meHe never said it was criteria that I had to speak with counselor, sit for my exam and take some many exams to qualify for the past guarantee (etc)#1: The exam keeps changing so we are constantly revising our materialsThe customer called and asked us to help in activating her online program and we didWe also informed the customer that even though we gave her the most current exam questions when we activated her online program, that she still needed to purchase the revisions books since in all of Behavior Sciences program DSM-was replaced by DSM-and this was a major revisionThe customer refused to upgrade her books(See Highlighted item below) Yes, I called Testmaster and asked to activate my accountThis is what they were supposed to doIt wasn’t liked they were doing me a special favorAfter all, I spent money with the company and purchased their material So, rightly, they were supposed to activate my online program AABTS staff inform me I needed to purchase the revision book due to DSM -! V-TRhave been replaced with DSM- I declined their offer to purchase new books because I said to AABTS staff I had already purchased my own DSM- book; In which I am currently studying from #2: While we have a Pass Guarantee, the guarantee can only be supported if both parties agree to do their partOur pass guarantee spells out that the customer must do the following in order to meet their pass guarantee requirements: I ‘m willing to do my part, but their criteria should have been explained to me as part AATBS criteria, but it was notMrH [redacted] never provided me these criteria /guidelines for their pass guarantee promise Complete the online Assessment Exam, plus all TestMASTER exams in numerical order, a minimum of three (3) times for each exam, with the last three scores being 75% or higher Complete the last round of TestMASTER within the last days of taking the exam Have purchased your study package to months prior to taking your board licensing exam Therefore, given I purchased my exam in 2013, and then this criteria was met Consult with one of our Educational Consultants no fewer than two times to evaluate your progress, with at least one consultation held within the last days before taking the board licensing exam #3: Our Pass Guarantee by no way extends over a lifetimeWe advertise our pass guarantee as follows: Pass the Exam the First time or we will give you your money backThis customer appears to be looking for a lifetime guarantee with no restrictionsWe sold the customer Days in the program with the option to purchase more time IT NOT THAT I’M LOOKING FOR NO RESTRICTION WITH THIS COMPANY, HOWEVER, THERE ARE COMPANIES OUT HERE WITHOUT THESE RESTRICTION BUT, I WAS TOLD THE PASS GUARANTEE MATERIAL WILL BE EXTENDED AS LONG AS I NEEDED IT TO BE EXTENDED, SO , THEREFORE, WITH THAT SAID BY MRH*** IT APPEARS THAT IT COULD BE A LIFETIME OF COURSE , I’M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LIFETIME SITTING FOR AN EXAM , WHEN IT COST OVER $TO SIT FOR THIS EXAM EACH TIME IT IS TAKENI DON’T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO SPEND ON TAKING EXAM (S.) I SAID TO MRH [redacted] I CAN’T AFFORD SPEND TO OVER $DOLLARS FOR THIS MATERIAL AND NOT PASS MY EXAMMRH [redacted] SAID WE HAVE A PASS GUARANTEE, MEANING WILL CONTINUE TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM UNTIL YOU PASS YOUR EXAM #4: Customer failed the exam in June but only activated her exam program and started taking exams in September (Highlighted below)Customer is currently using outdated materialsOur Pass Guarantee is only available for customers that buy and use our program and fail the examWe can’t be held responsible if a customer purchases our Exam Prep program and never uses the program before taking the examOur Pass Guarantee is based on us building a great program that will help the user pass their licensing exam and the customer doing their part in getting prepared by following a few easy to measure steps before they take the examStatus of customer’s current Pass Guarantee (since the customer only started using our program after she failed her exam in June 2015): I’M DOING MY PART TO STUDY FOR MY EXAMAS FOR STATED, I HAVE MY DSM-5- I’M USING FOR STUDYING ALONG WITH AABTS ONLINE STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONSTHEREFORE, I’M NOT USING OUTDATED MATERIALI NEVER FOUND THE BOOKS TO HELPFUL TO MEHOWEVER, I WENT TO SEVERAL PAID W/SHOP THAT IDENTIFIED AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF ALL THE BOOKLETS THAT I RECEIVED FROM AABTSI HAVE STUDY GUIDE MATERIAL FROM VARIOUS W/SHOP THAT I ATTENDED THAT IS INCLUSIVE TO ALL OF THEIR BOOKS MATERIAL WHY DON’T THEY SEND THIS INFORMATION TO EACH PERSON BY E-MAIL OR PLACE INFORMATION IN PERSON EXAM BOOKLET /PACKET TO ENSURE PERSON(S) RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION SINCE THEIR POLICY IS MORE STRINGENT THAN OTHER COMPANIES THAT SELLS THESE STUDY GUIDE MATERIAL Take Assessment Exam – Completed Take all of the exams at least three times – Only took exam #four timesThere are five exams for the customer to take(see Exam Results below) Take the exams in numerical order – Took Exam #four times before taking Exam #Never took Exam 3, 4, or Must have purchased the study package to months prior to taking the board licensing examPurchased package in & took exam for first time June Complete Last round of exams within days before taking the exam– Did not take all of the exams Score the last three exams in the percentile– Her best score was 61% and that was after she took Exam #the fourth time Consult with one of our Education Consultants – Customer never talked to any of our consultantsThis customer’s online program account has expiredThe last day was February 11, The customer had access to the online program for over monthsExam Results: As I fore stated, none of the above criteria wasn’t explained to me when I purchased my exam material I will never sit for an exam without reviewing material prior to taking an exam When I gave AABTS June is when I took my test; I said I wasn’t sure as the exact time I took this exam; but I clarify with NASW board when my exam was taken(10/28/14)It stated customer had access to the online program for over monthsFive months it not enough time to study for this exam; the board recommends months or longer before taking the exam So, therefore, AABTS is saying I paid them $for month review , instead of my pass guarantee that I was promiseMy exam was set to expire on FEBRUARY 2, I went online January 29, my material had been removed I called AABTS over the weekend on Saturday I explained to Sabrina my Teastmaster wasn’t set to expire until FEBRUARY 2, I said to Sabrina I was calling to have my Testmaster extended as part the past guarantee promiseSabrina stated she didn’t why my program was removed but she would give me days courtesy sessions until she can talk with MrH [redacted] to see what was going with my account AABTS stated I hung the phone up on themThat is not trueWhat happen was MsHaley & MrH [redacted] continued to tell that they couldn’t my pass guarantee We were unable to reach an agreement we continued talking about same thing over and overI said we unable to agree on the pass guaranteeI said there is no use in us continuing this conversationI said them have a day and hung up my phoneUpon receiving this complaint we have inquired with MsD [redacted] as to when she is planning to take her licensing examMsD [redacted] is asking us to extend her limited time subscription i.e“TestMASTER” the online mock exams MsD [redacted] stated she will be testing in June As a courtesy and an exception we have extended MsD***’ access to TestMASTER until 6/30/MsD [redacted] is not satisfied She has indicated that she feels we should we extend our services in perpetuity with no limit This is not something we cannot ethically do in consideration of our other candidates who must follow the same protocolYes, the above statement is correct; I’m not satisfied with AABTS decision I said to MsHaley my subscription should be extended until I pass my exam as I was promised this by MrH*** For AABTS do less than what they promised me and the money they received from me I’m dissatisfiedStated they’re doing a courtesy to me to extend my program is not a courtesy ; it’s what I paid them forI’m not asking them to extend their program for life time/perpetuity; but according to MrH [redacted] it could be life time as he stated he will continue to extend my program until I pass my test They also stated, ethically this is something they can’t do in consideration of other candidates who must follow the same protocolI agree with AABTS statement that if all candidates were/given the correction information about their company policyHowever, I wasn’t given the information / company policy as they’ve identified in their document In closing, AABTS should support the agreement that was made with me I said to MsHaley, what if I don’t pass my exam in June 2016, she stated hopefully you will and if not that will be something we will have to talk about in June I don’t want have wait until June for them to consider another extension I want them to give me what I paid for which is as pass guarantee Also, enclosed Social Work Board e-mail regarding when I sat for my exam Regards, [redacted] D***

Complaint: 11143232
I am rejecting this response because:
In reference to AABTS e-mail. It stated I purchased my examine material February 2013.  My account was activated on 07/20/15 (per-aabts). In September 2015 when I opened my examine material for studying. I  have fore stated in previous e-mail, when I  purchased  examine material  I stated Mr. H[redacted] I was busy &  I don’t know when I will begin studying for my test. I said I want to purchase my examine while it was on sale. Mr. H[redacted] stated that will be fine. He said I can start studying whenever I choose too.   As I fore stated in previous e-mail Mr. H[redacted] did say counselors will be available to me. He never said it was criteria that I had to speak with counselor, sit for my exam and take some many exams (etc) to qualify for the past guarantee.
The customer in question purchased a package from The Association for Advanced Training in February 2013, then in September 2015 decided to use the preparation material to study for the exam after she failed the exam in June 2015.
I reviewed my material prior to taking my exam.  what I said to aabts staff, I think it was June 2015 when I took my test/exam is what said to them.   However contacted NASW /NCSWCLB to confirmed date as when I took my test. I took my test unsuccessful on October 2014.  I have e-mail from Social Work Board to support when exam was taken.  Therefore, packet had to have been open before September 2015. So, aabts appears to have their year wrong as to when I opened my exam packet.  However, In reference to AABTS e-mail. I purchased my examine material February 2013.  My account was activated on 07/20/15 (per-aabts). So, therefore it had to have been In September 2014 when I opened my examine material for studying. I recalled studying material prior to taking my exam.  I  have fore stated in previous e-mail, when I  purchased  my examine material , I stated  to Mr. H[redacted] I was busy &  I don’t know when I will begin studying for my test.  But, I said want to purchase my examine while it was on sale. Mr. H[redacted] stated that will be fine. He said I can start studying whenever I choose too.   As I fore stated in previous e-mail Mr. H[redacted] did say counselors will be available to me. He never said it was criteria that I had to speak with counselor, sit for my exam and take some many exams to qualify for the past guarantee (etc).
#1: The exam keeps changing so we are constantly revising our materials. The customer called and asked us to help in activating her online program and we did. We also informed the customer that even though we gave her the most current exam questions when we activated her online program, that she still needed to purchase the revisions books since in all of Behavior Sciences program DSM-IV-TR was replaced by DSM-5 and this was a major revision. The customer refused to upgrade her books. (See Highlighted item below)
Yes, I called Testmaster and asked to activate my account. This is what they were supposed to do. It wasn’t liked they were doing me a special favor. After all, I spent money with the company and purchased their material.  So, rightly, they were supposed to activate my online program.
 AABTS staff inform me I needed to purchase the revision book due to DSM -! V-TR. have been replaced with DSM-5.  I declined their offer to purchase new books because I said to AABTS staff  I had already  purchased my own DSM-5  book; In which I am currently studying from.
#2: While we have a Pass Guarantee, the guarantee can only be supported if both parties agree to do their part. Our pass guarantee spells out that the customer must do the following in order to meet their pass guarantee requirements: 
I ‘m willing to do my part, but their criteria should have been explained to me as part AATBS criteria, but it was not. Mr. H[redacted] never provided me these criteria /guidelines for their pass guarantee promise.
1.       Complete the online Assessment Exam, plus all TestMASTER exams in numerical order, a minimum of three (3) times for each exam, with the last three scores being 75% or higher.
2.       Complete the last round of TestMASTER within the last 30 days of taking the exam.
3.       Have purchased your study package 3 to 12 months prior to taking your board licensing exam.
          Therefore, given I purchased my exam in 2013, and then this criteria was met.
4.       Consult with one of our Educational Consultants no fewer than two times to evaluate your progress, with at least one consultation held within the last 30 days before taking the board licensing exam
#3: Our Pass Guarantee by no way extends over a lifetime. We advertise our pass guarantee as follows: Pass the Exam the First time or we will give you your money back. This customer appears to be looking for a lifetime guarantee with no restrictions. We sold the customer 120 Days in the program with the option to purchase more time.
 IT NOT THAT I’M LOOKING FOR NO RESTRICTION WITH THIS COMPANY, HOWEVER, THERE ARE COMPANIES OUT HERE WITHOUT THESE RESTRICTION.  BUT,  I WAS  TOLD THE PASS GUARANTEE  MATERIAL WILL BE EXTENDED AS LONG  AS I NEEDED  IT TO BE EXTENDED, SO , THEREFORE, WITH THAT SAID BY MR. H[redacted]  IT APPEARS THAT  IT COULD BE A LIFETIME.  OF COURSE , I’M NOT   GOING TO SPEND A LIFETIME  SITTING FOR  AN EXAM  , WHEN IT COST OVER $300.00 TO SIT  FOR THIS EXAM EACH TIME IT IS TAKEN. I DON’T HAVE EXTRA MONEY TO SPEND ON TAKING EXAM (S.)  I SAID TO MR. H[redacted] I CAN’T AFFORD SPEND TO OVER $200.00 DOLLARS FOR THIS MATERIAL AND NOT PASS MY EXAM. MR. H[redacted] SAID WE HAVE A PASS GUARANTEE, MEANING WILL CONTINUE TO EXTEND THE PROGRAM UNTIL YOU PASS YOUR EXAM.  
#4: Customer failed the exam in June 2015 but only activated her exam program and started taking exams in September 2015. (Highlighted below). Customer is currently using outdated materials. Our Pass Guarantee is only available for customers that buy and use our program and fail the exam. We can’t be held responsible if a customer purchases our Exam Prep program and never uses the program before taking the exam. Our Pass Guarantee is based on us building a great program that will help the user pass their licensing exam and the customer doing their part in getting prepared by following a few easy to measure steps before they take the exam.
Status of customer’s current Pass Guarantee (since the customer only started using our program after she failed her exam in June 2015):
I’M DOING MY PART TO STUDY FOR MY EXAM. AS FOR STATED, I HAVE MY DSM-5- I’M USING FOR STUDYING ALONG WITH AABTS ONLINE STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS. THEREFORE, I’M NOT USING OUTDATED MATERIAL. I NEVER FOUND THE BOOKS TO HELPFUL TO ME. HOWEVER, I WENT TO SEVERAL PAID W/SHOP THAT IDENTIFIED AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF ALL THE BOOKLETS THAT I RECEIVED FROM AABTS. I HAVE STUDY GUIDE MATERIAL FROM VARIOUS W/SHOP THAT I ATTENDED THAT IS INCLUSIVE TO ALL OF THEIR BOOKS MATERIAL.  WHY DON’T THEY  SEND THIS INFORMATION  TO  EACH PERSON  BY E-MAIL OR PLACE  INFORMATION IN  PERSON EXAM BOOKLET /PACKET TO ENSURE PERSON(S) RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION  SINCE THEIR POLICY IS MORE  STRINGENT  THAN OTHER COMPANIES THAT SELLS THESE STUDY GUIDE MATERIAL .
1.       Take Assessment Exam – Completed
2.       Take all of the exams at least three times – Only took exam #1 four times. There are five exams for the customer to take. (see Exam Results below)
3.       Take the exams in numerical order – Took Exam #1 four times before taking Exam #2. Never took Exam 3, 4, or 5.
4.       Must have purchased the study package 3 to 12 months prior to taking the board licensing exam. Purchased package in 2013 & took exam for first time June 2015.
5.       Complete Last round of exams within 30 days before taking the exam. – Did not take all of the exams
6.       Score the last three exams in the 75 percentile. – Her best score was 61% and that was after she took Exam #1 the fourth time.
7.       Consult with one of our Education Consultants – Customer never talked to any of our consultants.
This customer’s online program account has expired. The last day was February 11, 2016. The customer had access to the online program for over 5 months.
Exam Results:
As I fore stated, none of the above criteria wasn’t explained to me when I purchased my exam material.  I   will never sit for an exam without reviewing material prior to taking an exam.   When  I gave AABTS June 2015  is when I took my test; I said   I  wasn’t sure  as the exact  time I took this exam; but I clarify   with NASW board when my exam was taken(10/28/14).
It stated customer had access to the online program for over 5 months. Five months it not enough time to study for this exam; the board recommends 6 months or longer before taking the exam.   So, therefore,  AABTS is saying  I paid them $231.20 for  5 month review , instead  of my pass guarantee  that I was promise. My exam was set to expire on FEBRUARY 2, 2013.  I went online January 29, 2016 my material had been removed.   I called AABTS over the weekend on Saturday.  I explained to Sabrina my Teastmaster wasn’t set to expire until FEBRUARY 2, 2016. I said to Sabrina I was calling to have my Testmaster extended as part the past guarantee promise. Sabrina stated she didn’t why my program was removed but she would give me 11 days courtesy sessions until she can talk with Mr. H[redacted] to see what was going with my account. 
AABTS stated I hung the phone up on them. That is not true. What happen was Ms. Haley & Mr. H[redacted] continued to tell that they couldn’t my pass guarantee.  We were unable to reach an agreement we continued talking about same thing over and over. I said we unable to agree on the pass guarantee. I said there is no use in us continuing this conversation. I said them have a day and hung up my phone.
Upon receiving this complaint we have inquired with Ms. D[redacted] as to when she is planning to take her licensing exam. Ms. D[redacted] is asking us to extend her limited time subscription i.e. “TestMASTER” the online mock exams.  Ms. D[redacted] stated she will be testing in June 2016.
As a courtesy and an exception we have extended Ms. D[redacted]’ access to TestMASTER until 6/30/2016.
Ms. D[redacted] is not satisfied.  She has indicated that she feels we should we extend our services in perpetuity with no limit.  This is not something we cannot ethically do in consideration of our other candidates who must follow the same protocol.
Yes, the above statement is correct; I’m not satisfied with AABTS decision.   I said to Ms. Haley my subscription should be extended until I pass my exam as I was promised this by Mr. H[redacted].  For AABTS do less than what they promised me and the money they received from me I’m dissatisfied. Stated  they’re doing  a courtesy  to  me to  extend my program  is  not a  courtesy ; it’s  what I paid them for. I’m  not asking them  to extend their  program  for life time/perpetuity; but according  to Mr. H[redacted] it could be life time as he stated he will continue to extend my program until I pass my test.
They also stated, ethically this is something they can’t do in consideration of other candidates who must follow the same protocol. I agree with AABTS statement that if all candidates were/given the correction information about their company policy. However, I wasn’t given the information / company policy as they’ve identified in their document.
In closing, AABTS should support the agreement that was made with me.    I said to Ms. Haley, what if I don’t pass my exam in June 2016, she stated hopefully you will and if not that will be something we will have to talk about in June 2016.  I don’t want have wait until June 2016 for them to consider another extension.  I want them to give me what I paid for which is as pass guarantee.  Also, enclosed Social Work Board e-mail regarding when I sat for my exam.
Regards,
[redacted] D[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 11143232, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
if Association Advance Training & Behavioral Science, do as they stated in their  e-mail with a refund  to me  in the amount  of $231.20 & continue my Testmaster through June 30, 2016 I will be satisfied with their decision.
Regards,
[redacted]