National Academy of Sports Medicine

When it came time to submit continuing education credits ($300), as well as CPR/AED class ($100), I am confused why NASM wants $100? My initial $900 investment (book/backpack/1 test) was acceptable, but $100 for no added benefit or contribution is pure scam. You are cornered into an ultimatum: pay the fee because you have 0 leverage or don't pay and lose $1400 over 2 years ($900 initial purchase, $300 continuing education credits, first $100 CPR/AED class for test, second $100 CPR/AED class for re-cert).

I am writing this review after waiting 36 minutes to speak with a human employee on the phone. When a girl eventually answered, I asked her what the reason is behind the re-cert fee, and what your company does for people that can not afford this cost? She responded with "hmm great question I have no idea! Let me ask someone else! Can I put you on a brief hold!?" Funny right? Incredible that my $100 goes to paying her salary when she giggled excitedly before placing me on hold for a question she must receive regularly. She returned and stated "its like a membership" and "it's our company policy." No response was ever given to what NASM does for those that cannot afford this fee. Nor was that question answered when I asked it again later in our conversation. I did not feel respected by this employee as her tone changed from pleasant to defensive and rude as our conversation progressed.

I am submitting a negative review due to this entire transaction. Making money by forcing customers into fees with membership/company policy justifications is wrong. Painfully long call hold times, untrained/impolite employees, and no option for financial assistance to complete recertification only a "Proceed to checkout" button for $99. NASM does not care about their "members" at all, they are only interested in taking our money.

I purchase the NASM your website and it didn't work correctly. I am asking for a refund because of this. I'm upset, because I purchased the eTeach on 9/22/2015 very excited to start. I started the first unit on 9/28/2015 with eTeach because the eTeach start on Mondays and I didn't get my book until a couple days later. Like a lot of people during the weekday, I'm busy and can only study on nights and weekends not knowing the website was not going to work. On Friday, 10/2/2015 when I logged in my computer recognized NASM website as a THREAT. It did not recognize NASM website as a THREAT early in the week. I downloaded FIREFOX never needing to do this for any other website on that Sunday to take the quiz. I was using Chrome previously. I took the quiz and scored 60% because I couldn't get on the website Friday and Saturday when I needed it. Also tech support isn't available on weeknights and weekends when I needed them. On 10/6/2015 I had to pay $35 to start the class over. I started the class over again 10/12/2015. I opened the website in Chrome because this is what I use all the time. The website worked fine. I didn't do anything differently on my end; however, somehow it worked. It worked fine until I took the first entrance quiz . It asked me if I was sure I wanted to start I clicked yes. The THREAT screen came up again. I clicked allow because of the time starting. After I took the this quiz, I watched the videos for the chapters. When playing the video, a pop-up asking what speed I wanted kept popping up. This was very distracting, because every time I clicked something it would stop the video and the pop-up would return. This never happened before or after with any other website. I had the answers for the quiz from the first time I attempted it. So, I just took the quiz and got 100% over the weekend. Just for the heck of it...I played the videos. Sure enough...they worked fine on Sunday after the quiz. Since then I've been doing everything in my power to get a refund. The website doesn't work. There's no Tech support when needed. I took the e Teach to help. It's been almost a month and nothing but technical issues that magically fixes itself after I needed it. I have been asking for a refund. I no longer want to continue at all with NASM because it has been wasting my time since 9/22/2015. I now need to wait up to 30 days for NASM to decide yes or no for the refund after calling customer service several times getting nowhere because of a 15 day return policy that is absurd when it comes to a product like this if it's not working. This product is career changing and not just something that broke like a TV. I would like the full refund of $852.15 for the package plus $35 I spent to reset the class for the following week. I will use this money to get certified somewhere else to start my career as a personal trainer.

I have no complaints about Nasm, The staff was very helpful and polite on the phone, I thought they prepared me very well for my Cpt test, I thought E teach was very helpful. Iam now taking more courses from NASM and am very satisfied with the program. THANK YOU NASM

Student purchased on 10/12/14 on an auto-draft which cannot be paused due to the functionality of our system.  Therefore, NASM agreed to the member's second option and has released him from his financial obligation for his order.  Student may keep the book which came with his purchase and...

all future installments will be stopped.  Member will not owe any money to NASM for this order which has been closed out. Member could not be reached by telephone regarding this resolution therefore, an email was sent to him notifying him of the action taking place.

It is my understanding that I have already paid lifetime certification fees and thus should not pay any additional certification fees.  I did submit all paper work over the two year period and made several attempts through email and phone calls before my original certification expired to get approval on various classes but did not get a response.  Then through a move, my certification lapsed and then after 3 months someone called me back to give me the details of having to retest to get my certification back up to date.  Someone finally emailed me back and told me the paperwork to send in for re-certification and then I never heard back from anyone through email or phone calls and many attempts were made on my behalf to contact people.  I have taken several classes over the last couple of years and I will be glad to submit all paperwork so that my certification can be brought up to date.  Because I paid all of the lifetime certification fees, now additional fees should need to be paid.

Student purchased a CPT  package on 5/15/15.  NASM has a 15 day return policy which is stated on our website, terms and conditions, and the loan contract signed by our customers.  Student called and spoke with our accounting department on 8/14/15 and on 8/17/15 and our customer...

service department twice on 8/14/15 where it was explained that the member was well outside of the return window.  Because our exam is accredited it must expire and all customers must be treated equally.  NASM does have two options for our customers for exam extensions - $109 for a 90 day extension or $199 for a 180 day extension.  In addition, NASM also has an option for people with dire circumstances where they can write into our Certification Appeals Committee and explain their circumstance as well as provide supportive documentation which could potentially provide them with a waiver of fees.  Our billing system for loans is an automated recurring system and therefore payments cannot be paused.  This is not because we do not want to pause the payments but because of the type of system we use, they cannot be paused and turned back on.  For customer satisfaction, NASM has refunded the customer the amount paid towards the course and will not ask for the book to be returned.  MS Manager.

After further review it was identified that Mr. [redacted] submitted his petition payment, petition application and course descriptions to NASM on 11/25/2015; 9 months past the expiration date of his NASM CPT of 2/13/2014.  We do recognize there was no further communication provided to Mr. [redacted]...

once these forms were received and apologize for not communicating, at that time, he was outside the recertification period.  Even though Mr. [redacted] was beyond the expiration date plus 90-day grace period, NASM is willing to waive any associated fees and reinstate his certificate for the 2-year period of 2/13/2014 – 2/13/2016.  If Mr. [redacted] would like to complete his recertification and become valid through 2/13/2018, he would have to provide the following: •    Recertification application. •    Proof of his CEUs were completed between 2/13/2014 –  5/13/2016 (which includes the 90-day grace period). o    Courses completed outside this timeframe will not be accepted. •    Provide current CPR/AED certification.•    Pay associated late fees on or before 2/13/2017. All documentation and questions can be directed to [redacted] and payment can be collected at [redacted] option 2.

I can not believe the NASM said both parties agreed to a resolution.  I never agreed to their offer as a final solution.  Not even close.  At first I was stunned at...

their response to my Revdex.com complaint.  Then I realized their response was consistent with the intimidation, bully tactics, and the railroading power of a big company with many people all over the country via online complaints.  I posted a more detailed complaint then the one given to the Revdex.com on their [redacted] page prior to reaching out to the Revdex.com.  Their response and mine followed: National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Hi Brian. Thank you for your feedback. It appears that management has emailed you with a resolution regarding your request. We are sorry for any inconvenience and frustration. We wish you the best in the future. Brian Palmer Thank you for the response. I appreciate what was offered. However the resolution offered did not cover my complaint in whole, and didn't address the most fundamental part. As a result, I have forwarded my complaint to the Revdex.com for further resolution. The nature and debth of my complaint was not addressed in the partial refund they sent me.  I made that very clear.  I was then told I needed to return a text book.  I will return the text book when and only if the remaining 148.33 hidden (free trial) charge is refunded.  No where is it written that I own them a textbook.  Today, only $256.19 was refunded.  Their is a remaining balance of $148.33.  It is my responsibility as a consumer to warn others about this company if they choose to continue this kind of communication.  My complaint will stop when the remaining balance is returned.

Student purchased on 10/12/14 on an auto-draft which cannot be paused due to the functionality of our system.  Therefore, NASM agreed to the member's second option and has released him from his financial obligation for his order.  Student may keep the book which came with his purchase and...

all future installments will be stopped.  Member will not owe any money to NASM for this order which has been closed out. Member could not be reached by telephone regarding this resolution therefore, an email was sent to him notifying him of the action taking place.

Resolution: NASM has made an exception to the Return policy, as stated in the Terms & Conditions, on 1/28/16. The member’s contractual agreement and program have been cancelled. A refund of $144.26 was provided to Mr. [redacted] on 2/3/2016.

I purchase the NASM your website and it didn't work correctly. I am asking for a refund because of this. I'm upset, because I purchased the eTeach on 9/22/2015 very excited to start. I started the first unit on 9/28/2015 with eTeach because the eTeach start on Mondays and I didn't get my book until a couple days later. Like a lot of people during the weekday, I'm busy and can only study on nights and weekends not knowing the website was not going to work. On Friday, 10/2/2015 when I logged in my computer recognized NASM website as a THREAT. It did not recognize NASM website as a THREAT early in the week. I downloaded FIREFOX never needing to do this for any other website on that Sunday to take the quiz. I was using Chrome previously. I took the quiz and scored 60% because I couldn't get on the website Friday and Saturday when I needed it. Also tech support isn't available on weeknights and weekends when I needed them. On 10/6/2015 I had to pay $35 to start the class over. I started the class over again 10/12/2015. I opened the website in Chrome because this is what I use all the time. The website worked fine. I didn't do anything differently on my end; however, somehow it worked. It worked fine until I took the first entrance quiz . It asked me if I was sure I wanted to start I clicked yes. The THREAT screen came up again. I clicked allow because of the time starting. After I took the this quiz, I watched the videos for the chapters. When playing the video, a pop-up asking what speed I wanted kept popping up. This was very distracting, because every time I clicked something it would stop the video and the pop-up would return. This never happened before or after with any other website. I had the answers for the quiz from the first time I attempted it. So, I just took the quiz and got 100% over the weekend. Just for the heck of it...I played the videos. Sure enough...they worked fine on Sunday after the quiz. Since then I've been doing everything in my power to get a refund. The website doesn't work. There's no Tech support when needed. I took the e Teach to help. It's been almost a month and nothing but technical issues that magically fixes itself after I needed it. I have been asking for a refund. I no longer want to continue at all with NASM because it has been wasting my time since 9/22/2015. I now need to wait up to 30 days for NASM to decide yes or no for the refund after calling customer service several times getting nowhere because of a 15 day return policy that is absurd when it comes to a product like this if it's not working. This product is career changing and not just something that broke like a TV. I would like the full refund of $852.15 for the package plus $35 I spent to reset the class for the following week. I will use this money to get certified somewhere else to start my career as a personal trainer.

I can not believe the NASM said both parties agreed to a resolution.  I never agreed to their offer as a final solution.  Not even close.  At first I was stunned at...

their response to my Revdex.com complaint.  Then I realized their response was consistent with the intimidation, bully tactics, and the railroading power of a big company with many people all over the country via online complaints.  I posted a more detailed complaint then the one given to the Revdex.com on their [redacted] page prior to reaching out to the Revdex.com.  Their response and mine followed: National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Hi Brian. Thank you for your feedback. It appears that management has emailed you with a resolution regarding your request. We are sorry for any inconvenience and frustration. We wish you the best in the future. Brian Palmer Thank you for the response. I appreciate what was offered. However the resolution offered did not cover my complaint in whole, and didn't address the most fundamental part. As a result, I have forwarded my complaint to the Revdex.com for further resolution. The nature and debth of my complaint was not addressed in the partial refund they sent me.  I made that very clear.  I was then told I needed to return a text book.  I will return the text book when and only if the remaining 148.33 hidden (free trial) charge is refunded.  No where is it written that I own them a textbook.  Today, only $256.19 was refunded.  Their is a remaining balance of $148.33.  It is my responsibility as a consumer to warn others about this company if they choose to continue this kind of communication.  My complaint will stop when the remaining balance is returned.

Good afternoon-

We are writing in response to the complaint that was filed on behalf of the member, [redacted].  We have agreed to refund the member in full.   We have submitted a refund case for the amount of $1296.50.

A voice message was left for the...

member advising that the refund would be processed today, July 11, 2014, and request that 3-7 business day are allowed for the bank to process.

This complaint has been resolved.

Thank you,

NASM has honored the student's second option for resolution and has released them of their financial contract.  For security purposes, NASM's accounting system is limited in changing financial information.  Member signed up for our auto-draft installment plan which cannot be...

"paused."  We were unable to reach the member via telephone and therefore followed up by email letting them know although they are outside our 15 day return policy, their future installment payments have been turned off, and they have been released of their financial contract.  In addition, we requested they keep the book which came with their purchase.

At this time, NASM has agreed to make a goodwill adjustment and grant Mr. [redacted] a return and refund of the monies paid into the program less a $50 administrative fee.    We wish Mr. [redacted] the best with his health and thank him for his service to our country.

This student purchased their order on 12/10/2014 and requested a return of their course on 3/3/2015, outside of NASM's return policy.  NASM did let the student know how they could submit approved supportive documentation for review of the student's request for return of which most of the...

requested information provided to NASM from the student was missing.  At that point, NASM did offer the student a complimentary exam extension.  Upon the member's therapist calling into the customer service department, that call should have been transferred to the department manager and treated as an escalated appeal to the original letter of denial for return.  For this, NASM does apologize and has issued a refund to the student for the amount paid in for the course and has released them of their financial obligation.

Again, regardless of what the contract says and what was signed it is being ignored that I was lied to upon signing up AND the fact that the lie still continues that I was contacted on Monday when I was not. There was no message or anything showing that there was a call and the only response I received was a generic message YESTERDAY that was from "No Reply NASM". This is unacceptable. I am unable to afford the course and obviously if I could I would continue but I can't. However after reading over the contract it states that default of the contract would happen under NASM and THEIR determination. AGAIN unacceptable. You people are NOT God and never will be. I want my contract terminated along with the ACH payments. If this does not stop I will continue into legal matters. You have let people out of their contracts for this matter and I have read the reviews on them and you cannot deny that.
Upon cancellation of my contract I also will not be held responsible for the remaining portion of it. You were quick to respond to me on the Revdex.com website but could not call or even send a real email. You are lying about your contact with me as well as your sals rep has lied. I want this resolved immediately.

I have no complaints about Nasm, The staff was very helpful and polite on the phone, I thought they prepared me very well for my Cpt test, I thought E teach was very helpful. Iam now taking more courses from NASM and am very satisfied with the program. THANK YOU NASM

I signed up for the NASM eteach course for about $1500. After completing the course and passing the test I went to apply for a personal training position at [redacted]. I completed my test the 22nd of December and it is now the 6th of January. The supervisor at [redacted] said they could not confirm my certification because they could not get in contact with NASM. I called nasm several times only to be put on hold by an automated system for an HOUR!! I did this for 4 consecutive days with the same result!! When I call and press the option to buy a program someone answer immediately. They did not accept my application and someone else got the job at [redacted]. $1500 down the drain because I could not get someone to answer. DO NOT CHOOSE NASM! !

We have reviewed Mr. [redacted]’s complaint and refunded him $308.34 on 4/21/14 for the amount paid to NASM and let him keep the book that was sent to him.  He paid an initial deposit amount of $154.18 at the time of purchase on 11/17/13 and all of his other payments declined with the exception of...

his 2/18/14 payment of $154.16.  Therefore, he paid in a total of $308.34 to NASM. 

 

Mr. [redacted] did sign our installment payment contract which clearly lists all of his payment amounts and due dates as well as our terms and conditions for refunds and returns and the fact that NASM is not responsible for any bank or overdraft fees.  I did leave him a voice message this morning letting him know that we issued him credit of $308.34 and that he should see this on his account within the next 3-5 business days.  I also let him know that we are not asking for his book to be returned.  In addition, I let him know that per his contract and our credit card processor, we are unable to refund any bank fees for overdraft fees on his account. I suggested that he contact his bank to see if they will waive any fees for him as we are unable to do so. 

 

Please let me know if you need any additional information.