College of Extended Studies - S D S U

Review: To whom this may concern,

The Institute of Reading Development that you have “partnered with” for a reading program sends me U.S. mail (several times over the years) under the mask of being SDSU Extended Studies. Nowhere in the literature does it tell me how much the reading program costs, nor this third party company’s name.

One of the pamphlets in the literature asks me to call an 800 number (revealing my name and number to them) to register or receive more information. A website address is not offered in this literature. Upon searching online, I find the same program under the SDSU CES website where unbeknownst to me I am asked to follow a link away from the university website to this third party company website: sdsu.readingprograms.org “for information, or to enroll.” I proceed to this website for more information (the cost). Again, once at this website, no where can I see the price. Instead, I am forced to start registration by placing the program I want into a “shopping cart” based on grade of child and checkout. During checkout, I am asked to give my name, address, phone number, email address, CHILDs NAME, etc. to continue to register, even though I am still trying just to get more information on the cost. The price and other charges are not revealed to me until the very last page where I am asked for my credit card info for payment as if I was buying a TV from BestBuy. At this point the “Institute of Reading Development” has already gathered my personal info from the previous page, including my minor child(ren) name even though I have not registered or paid for anything. Once I see the price, I close the webpage and don't continue with registration. Within seconds I receive two duplicate SPAM messages (I never opted-in to receive contact) from the company to my (masked) email address I provided.

These advertising and sales tactics I find appalling. To gather personal information, including minor children's names, is alarming, especially since this is under the guise of several colleges and universities, including SDSU.Desired Settlement: Ask them to change their literature to be more transparent and forthright of who they are and what they charge for their service in their mailed literature. Most importantly, please change your CES website notifying me that I am leaving SDSU’s website and going to the other company’s website AND ask this company to change their website tactics to not gather personal information until the final checkout step. They should also completely remove the name gathering of minor children until AFTER purchase.

Business

Response:

Dear Revdex.com,

I am responding to the complaint, received today, June 13, regarding the Institute of Reading Development programs offered by several universities. Since this program is offered through a third-party vendor, we would encourage you to contact IRD directly at 1-800-964-2030 regarding their business practices.

While we wanted to respond to you immediately, we also will take the necessary time to research this issue independently and contact the customer directly. We will determine which actions are necessary to ensure customers receive preliminary information without jeopardizing their personal information.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

The SDSU website still directs people away from their website to the third party vendor's website without disclosure or consent. This has not been addressed in their response of "we'll get back to you."

Regards,