Penn Foster Career School

Review: Some time ago I enrolled in an educational program with Penn Fosters. I paid my initial start up fee but I never received any materials there for I was not able to start or complete the course. I now have a charge off on my credit of almost $1500.00 that should not be there. I have contacted the company several times about this issue but have gotten no where.Desired Settlement: I would like for this charge off to be completely removed from my credit report. I should not have to pay for services that I never was able to use.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I have spoken with Penn Foster to discontinue taking correspondence classes. I was told that I cannot stop or I will have to pay the entire tuition amount, which is $1,400. So, I can't stop taking classes, or I will be charged the full amount of all the classes? This is underhanded.Desired Settlement: I would like to be able to stop taking classes and start again when I am ready without being billed the total amount of all classes.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: Payments were made to this establishment in hopes of completing a High School Diploma as advertised on their web-site. When I log into the web-site there is no work for me to complete, the homework that they said they would send to me via US Postal mail never arrived. They just took my money and did not provide the service that they said they would.Desired Settlement: I would like all of my money returned to me and possibly the web-site shut down so that this does not happen to anyone.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Student Name: [redacted]

Student Number: [redacted]

To Whom It May Concern:

I welcome the opportunity to address **. [redacted]’ concerns. **. [redacted] enrolled in our High School Diploma Program on January 6, 2014 by submitting a down payment and a signed enrollment agreement.

I had a phone conference with **. [redacted] on March 3, 2014 and explained how to create a login so she is able to sign on and start her program.

As a courtesy, I have removed a late fee and deferred one month’s payment, making the next payment due March 20, 2014.

Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at ###-###-####.

Sincerely,

Student Care

Review: When I signed up for the class, I was receiving written documents, but now that they "went green" those documents were stopped. I can still get them on-line if I print them out, but when I paid for the course I wasn't told they may run out and I wouldn't get them all. Also - I asked the VA rep to submit my paperwork to the VA so I could get funded by them, and the VA rep refuses. I called the VA and several people told me they would pay for the course, but the school had to be the one to submit the paperwork. The people at the school keep saying it isn't certified so they will NOT submit the paperwork. I asked them to just submit it anyway, and if the VA says no, then no harm done, but they said they will NOT even submit the paperwork so I had to pay the entire course out of pocket.Desired Settlement: I would like the written material delivered or a partial refund for the portions I'll have to print out myself and I would like them to submit the paperwork to the VA.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Student Name: [redacted]

Student Number: [redacted]

To Whom It May Concern:

I welcome the opportunity to address **. [redacted]’s concerns. **. [redacted] enrolled in our Dog Grooming Certificate on May 21, 2013 by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and paying in full. This program is not VA approved as it is a certificate program. Only Degrees and Career Diplomas are VA approved.

On April 12, 2013 we started transitioning our study guide delivery to a fully digital format. As we make this transition we will continue to ship out our current stock of printed study guides to students. As these stocks are depleted, shipments of study guides will cease. Students will, however, still receive all textbooks and any pertinent materials to their course. **. [redacted] did receive five shipments so far. **. [redacted] was not charged a shipping fee, as it was waived as a discount due to paying in full.

On **. [redacted]’s signed enrollment agreement states that we reserve the right to update or substitute course materials. Due to the fact that the study units are available to her online, she is not entitled to any refund.

Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at ###-###-####.

Sincerely,

Student Care

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

Review: Been trying to get my proctor form approved so I can take my last exam so I can send the score into the Marine Corps. If I don't get the grade sent into the marine corps they will charge me 750 dollars. I sent the form in and didn't hear anything about it a week and a half later I call to ask about it and they put me on hold for fourty minutes no answer so I hang up call back thinking they forgot about me. Talk to another representative and he explains to me the guys for proctors are currently in a meeting and won't be out till 1330. So I would have been on hold for an hour and a half without a pick up and no one told me anything about them being in a meeting just that they were going to transfer me. That is VERY unproffessional in my opinion would have been alot easier to ask me to call back at a certain time because they were in a meeting but they decided to put me on hold and expected me to wait an hour and a half to talk to somebody!!! Not to mention having to wait a week and a half to see about my proctor when they told me it would take 24 hours to complete the acceptance of the Proctor and send out my material!

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: My credit report reflects an unpaid balance of $ 1010.00 from the Penn foster company and was sent to a collection agency.

I have never been a customer or purchased any products from Penn foster also I was denied numerous times a copy of the contract or a sales receipt

with my signature for the products that I have been accused of buying. This company may have obtained my social security number

and personnel information from unknown sources without my consent.Desired Settlement: Remove immediately from my credit report.

Business

Response:

Review: I started looking for the right school in august 2012, the purpose was to receive training in the private investigator field. I spoke to Penn Foster and many other on line schools for about 5 months. My decision to attend Penn Foster was based on the there reps information he gave me in February 2013 ie: no need for internet , all training materials shipped to my door , mail in exams and mostly they had training module that pertained to arson and I could work at my own schedule and pace. I agreed to pay them 49.00 per month for 13 months and @ no time was that a problem, so I was holding up my end of our agreement. Over approx.: the first 60 days I did not get any exams completed for personal reasons which to me was not problem because the rep said "at my own pace" I started receiving e-mails from them asking if I needed help with my classes and I should catch up in so many words. this became aggravating so I called them and asked them to stop sending me e mails I would get to my studies as soon as I could,they responded with we will stop sending emails but I needed to get moving on my exams because my program was over march 2014 "never had that been told to me until the 1st phone conversation". I started my 1st course and reviewed the exam before I started reading "note the exams are in the back of each learning book and when readings completed you take your exam" When I was reviewing the questions I noticed the materials had been long out dated. I contacted Penn Foster and asked them why i'm receiving out dated materials about floppy disks and the future use of cell phones, we all carry cell phones today and the statements made in these books are from the early 90s. The staff had no idea and asked if I wanted to close my school with them and I stated no as long as my materials in the future where more up to date. I had several conversations with them of the same nature over the past 3 months and nothing had improved. last week I received my new package of training materials but this package only contained 1 book in lieu of three training books I called penn foster and they stated the other 2 books where being mailed to me asap. Today june 24, 2013 I contacted them to find out when my books where shipped and they informed me that a mistake had been made, I would not be receiving any more books due to the fact they where out in the wearhouse and in could be months before they come in and that I should not rely on training books download my materials from the internet. I explained to her that i'm building a new home on a mountain and cell and internet service is not easy to get here that's why I was relying on my shipments to do my learning. I also advised her that I purchased a hotspot with 3 gb per month for the sole purpose of taking my exams on line and that I would not buy more every month so I could download my materials. the rep told me I would receive my training materials by mail, she apologized for the misunderstanding again. I have heard this over and over again from these people and I understand they are working under someones protocol but they have not held up to anything they said. I found out that Penn Foster was Education direct at one time years ago " the old name was on the training materials I hve received from them" and I got my motorcycle tech from them and the program was fine, never once did I have a bad phone conversation with them. I do understand that Penn Foster is not a college like [redacted] where I first attended but I do expect to walk out with a little more knowledge then what I went in with!Desired Settlement: I would like a full refund of $192.00 along with a letter of apology from Penn Foster for misleading me from the start. I would also like to see them give a full refund to the past students who attended this class in the past 5 to 7 yrs.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: There is a collection from a collection agency for Penn Foster on my credit reports. I have never attended school or classes there.Desired Settlement: All charges and collection account needs to be removed from all credit reporting agencies. Cease and desist all current and future collection attempts for alleged debt as well as instructing them not to discuss, transfer, sell debt to any person, entity, or business.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Student Name: [redacted]

Student Number: [redacted]

To Whom It May Concern:

I welcome the opportunity to address **. [redacted]’s concerns. According to our records, **. [redacted] enrolled in our Medical Coding and Billing Career Diploma Program on December 1, 2007 by submitting a down payment and a signed enrollment agreement.

Our enrollment dispute policy states individuals who indicate they have never enrolled with us would need to provide a notarized letter confirming this along with a copy of their driver’s license and social security card. According to our records, **. [redacted] never contacted us in regards to this account; therefore, we were unable to advise her of this policy. **. [redacted] would need to send the above information and we would process an investigation and determine whether she enrolled with us.

Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at ###-###-####.

Sincerely,

Student Care

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because

Review: I canceled my legal transcription program. I received a letter from the school stating I canceled. [redacted] the Advisor ext [redacted] called me in Sept and asked why I canceled I told her financial reasons. She said she could reinstate the class and lower the payment. I said I needed to think about this and would call her back. I called her back and left a message saying I would reinstate the class. I thought about it over night decided I did not want to reinstate the class. I called [redacted] the next day and left a message on her voice mail not to reinstate the class. I left my number, my student ID and repeated several time on the message that I had chosen not to reinstate the class. I thought it had been take care of. In Oct I received an email that my payments for the class were being taken out. I called the school and told them I did not reinstate the class I had called [redacted] and left a message on her voice mail 1 to 2 days later. They did not even check this. I called [redacted] and left a message with her explaining this. The school sent me a bill for 487.75. They did not have authorization to take the payment of 74.00 out of the credit card on Oct 14. This was an unauthorized payment. I do not owe 487.75 for a class that I canceled days later via voice mail to Advisor [redacted]. I did not cancel 1 month later. It was a day. If they check her voice mail that there is a message that I did not reinstate the class. I want them to take this payment off my account and stop charging the credit card that they had to authoration to charge this. They cannot charge a credit card for payment that was not authorized and the 74.00 on Oct 14 was not. I canceled the class via voice mail to advisor [redacted]. I want the charges taken off my account and the money they charged illegal credited to the credit card.Desired Settlement: I would like the charges taken off my account and I want the unauthorized credit card charge credited the charge card. These payments were not authorized. I do not owe 487.75 when I canceled with in a day.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I am being charged for a class that was not written well for me to understand and very difficult for me to complete, this class they offer is 18 month long and I opted out within the first month because of this, so not to waste any of there time or money with the school materials. I understand if I need to pay for the materials that where sent to me already and shipping cost, but not for half of the course. Also the instructors do not even teach anything they just send you material to ready yourself, with review questions and you take the exam, there are no instructional videos half the time, just you teach yourself. if you need help then you have to make an appointment with one for them to see if the can help over the phone. Unfortunately I cannot learn this way, so I wanted out and they bill me for half the course when all I got was a text book, and a booklet telling me what to read and take the the exams when ready.Desired Settlement: I am willing to pay of the text book or even sent it back, I know people use used school books, and the shipping and maybe a cancellation fee but not for half the course. This school needs to have a opt out time for people who cannot learn this way, I didnt know this is how they feel that everyone can learn this way and if you cannot you should be penalized for it. If I knew that I had to teach myself why would I go to school then. I feel there are about just money and not really teaching or caring out their students. the text book sells for $70 online and maybe 25 shipping and handling, and say $75 for canceling willing to settle for $170 total, but I have paid $98 since I started with them so I should only owe $72.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I enrolled in Penn Foster in July of 2013. To date, Penn Foster is unable to provide me the ability to attend class because they are not approved in the state I reside. They are refusing to allow me to move forward through my classes and wait until the approval clears. They are also incorrect in their facts. I have documentation from [redacted] and AVMA stating that Penn Foster is incorrect. They are purposely keeping me from continuing my education.

The enrolled me in their program knowing they would not be able to provide me the entire education! I have been waiting to move forward since October 20th when I completed the semester. They took over two months to grade my assignments and my finals. They are extremely unprofessional and unable to provide the education they advertise!Desired Settlement: I would either like all of my tuition refunded so I can apply it to a school that can provide the education, or for Penn Foster to allow me to complete Semester 3 and 4 regardless of the Practicum and allow me to do the practicum hours after the semesters are finished. Or to approve [redacted] University as a place for me to move forward to do my practicu**.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: Per Penn Foster's agreement to the students is that we are being charge a shipment fee for the material that is being sent to our home, but we were just notified that our study guides will no longer being send and instead a digital copy will be available online. We will still be charge with a shipment fee because we "might" be receiving extra material by mail, but it turns out some of the diploma courses do not receive any other material only the study guides that are taken away. So, we are paying for a shipment fee that doesn't exist.Desired Settlement: If I am not giving the option to receive the hard copy of the study guides than I would like the shipment fee to be discounted on my tuition.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: My STUDENT NO# [redacted] completed a Diploma in Paralegal Studies in January 2014 under the name of [redacted] ([redacted]). I am a gay male who got married and then decided to take my husband last name [redacted]. I called the college and was advised by a female in records to submit proof that my name has changed. She wanted a copy of my marriage license and ID with my new last name. I submitted these to Penn Foster. I called sometime last month after not hearing from them and spoke with a young man who refused to give me his name and permit me to speak with a Supervisor. He then stated, they do not recognize gay marriages and will not changed my records to reflect my last name. All subsequent efforts to contact Penn Foster has proven futile. I got my name changed at my two other Colleges with no problems after I submitted proof. Penn Foster is discriminating against me. Nothing in its policy states that my name cannot be changed on my records once I submit proof of a legal name change. I submitted all proof first required and the college has not been able to articulate under what policy is my request being denied when every other college honors a name change so long as their is legal proof of one.Desired Settlement: That the college change my name in the records to reflect on my transcripts or tell me what policy requires them NOT to honor this request.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I was contacting your department because, for some time now I have been dissatisfied with Penn Foster Services. I decided to attend and take a two-year, associates program at Penn Foster in the march of 2010. In November of 2011, I decided to withdraw from Penn Foster because, I was first told in the year of 2010 I will graduate from this two-year program in 2013 and then I was told in 2014. I was a faithful student and turn all my assignments in on time according to my pace. Even though I withdrawn from the program, I still paid $40 a month faithfully to the school. Then I became disgusted with Penn Foster and stop paying them for a few months. Then a few months later my account was turned over to a collection agency and I start making payments of $40 in February 2012. My amount due was around a thousand dollars at that time. I was paying my all of my payments monthly, on time. I was cut a deal to pay off my account with just $400 in March of 2014. I decline the offer to pay $ 400 because, I didn't have the money to pay at the moment. At the time, I had a balance of $600. I continue to pay them faithfully. If I would miss a payment due to an emergency, I would inform them I will pay them as soon as possible and they would let be late as long as I make the payment eventually. I then became frustrated and I wanted to know what amount I had left to pay. I then was told I own them about $900. I told the agent that is not possible because, I own that amount when I first start paying them. Then she told me she will look into my file and call me back.She never did. I ended up calling the debt collector back ([redacted]) and told her no one from her company never called me back. I was then directed to the manager of [redacted] and she pulled my account, and seen I already paid up to $1000 to Penn foster and I have a balance of $274 left. I then was relieved and continue to pay my payments due. Then in August 01,2014, I decided to call [redacted]s to see how much I have left to pay. The agent directed me to her manager, the manager told me. Penn Foster pulled my account from them and all the payments I was sending them was returned back to my account at the bank. I had no clue of this. I thought my payments were being received the whole time because, the company would give me a conformation number once I had submitted the payments. No one from [redacted] or Penn Foster never mail me a letter, emailed me, or contact me by phone to inform me of this information. I am highly upset, tired,and disgusted with both companies. I think these companies are both frauds that steal people money and needs to be investigated. I feel it is very unethical and unprofessional the way I was treated and left in the dark. I am writing you to seek justice for the bad service I have been receiving from these two companies.Desired Settlement: I will like to have a partial refund because, I feel the company did not meet the expectations of their service they advertised and provided. I feel I was mislead, deceived, and rip-offed.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I paid for the program and I completed the program. I am supposed to receive my certificate and vouchure to take a national exam. I have not received it and everytime I call I am transferred to a voice mail and no one returns my calls. This is for the fitness trainer program. I have not gotten what I paid for.Desired Settlement: My certification and vouchure

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Student Name: [redacted]

Student Number: [redacted]

To Whom It May Concern:

I welcome the opportunity to address **. [redacted] concerns. **. [redacted] enrolled in our Certified Personal Trainer Career Diploma Program on June 17, 2012 by submitting a down payment and a signed enrollment agreement.

Students who neglect to make their monthly payments are placed in an outside agency. The last payment we received from **. [redacted] was on April 20, 2013; as a result, she was placed in the outside agency.

According to our records, **. [redacted] paid the account in full with the outside agency on February 24, 2014. Once the agency receives full payment, they send the information on a weekly report that show us what accounts are paid in full. On March 6, 2014 **. [redacted] was removed from the outside agency. At that time, her last shipment with the NCSF Certification Testing information was mailed Friday, March 7, 2014. We ask to allow ten business days to receive and **. [redacted] should receive by March 21, 2014.

Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at ###-###-####.

Sincerely,

Student Care

Review: Penn Foster told me that by taking their Substance Abuse Counselor course I could obtain cetification as a counselor by completing 300 hours of apprenticeship at an accredited agency. I gave Penn Foster over $1000.00. After completing the classroom portion of the course I spent almost 6 months searching for a site at which to complete the 300 hours only to find out that I needed a Masters or Bachelors Degree to do the job. Penn Foster lied about the requirements needed to work in this field, and took my money knowing it would do me no good in the end.Desired Settlement: Total refund of all monies

Paid to Penn Foster

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I am a student of pennfoster high school. When I joined pennfoster I was told that when I completed my courses my diploma would be mailed to me as long as I had an automatic debit set up however when I completed my classes they told me I would not receive my diploma or transcript until I finished paying my tuition.Desired Settlement: For me to receive my diploma and/or transcript without finishing my tuition payment.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: Well is attended this school twice before in the past the first time I attended I did not attend long because I was paying out my pocket on a payment plan and once I lost my job I could not pay anymore so I dropped out. Maybe a year later I gave it a try again, but the same thing I could no longer pay out my pocket so I dropped out. Just recently I checked my credit report and I noticed that Penn foster have a collection for me my question is how is this and why when I was on a payment plan not a tution plan I was paying out my pocket I did not borrow from them I need this taking care of because it is ruining my credit.Desired Settlement: I would like for this issue to be resolved and give me some type of explanation for the collection charges

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I signed my daughter up for Penn Foster on 9/3/2014. I called on 10/2/2014 to cancel my account because I was sending my daughter to public school. I talked to a very nice lady who told me to just think about it more and it wouldn't affect what I would pay, as long as we didn't complete any more lessons and to call before my next billing date. I called again on 10/20/2014 at 9am well before my next billing date and cancelled. I spoke to a nice man who said that I could have gotten all my money back if I had called within 30 days, but now I had to pay an additional $95 to cancel. (I had called within 30 days) Anyway, I felt it was really ridiculous that I was expected to pay $344 for less than 2 months of a program that cost a total of $945.

I reread the cancellation policy and have found that I am actually due all my money back, according to their own cancellation and refund policy. I called back on October 20th, 2014 and reread the paragraph from their policy. "If you cancel within five days after midnight of the day you sign the enrollment agreement, you will receive a refund of all monies paid to Penn Foster". I never signed an enrollment agreement. The representative agreed and put me on hold and came back and said "Well....it can also be within 5 days of just joining." This is not anywhere in their cancellation policy however and even the rep agreed and told me that I can always write a letter of complaint. I EVEN offered to pay a reasonable fee during this conversation, but not $249. Just because I DECIDED to put more down then asked and paid a $200 down payment, does not mean this company gets to keep all of it including the first month of $49. This is not acceptable.

They are CLEARLY going against their own cancellation policy. I have dated proof of print outs on my online account that as of 10/21/2014 I have never signed their enrollment agreement. I faxed this company with this letter asking them to respond by 10/27/2014 or I would be filing complaints. I have proof of fax delivery of this letter. It was faxed successfully twice. I would be happy to supply any proof needed.Desired Settlement: I want the amount refunded. I couldn't get anywhere with this company and the hassle for this has been ridiculous considering that its in black and white. I just filed charge backs and I want them to agree to them. I clearly told them that I would be doing charge backs and filing complaints.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I saw an advertisement on the internet about Penn Foster's Teacher Aide program. I signed up on July 20, 2014, I took my 1st test on July 24, 2014 than on July 29, 2014 after I noticed that all of their material was dated from 2001 or before I became even more concerned about Penn Foster Accreditation so I called the Illinois State Board of Education and found out that their Teacher Aide program is not a Accredited program and that ISBE will have nothing to do with them. I called up on August 4, 2014 and told Jeff, Sam and Jessica that their program is not Accredited here with ISBE and that their Materials are ( Over 14 years old) I told them their Teacher Aide program is a Sham and that I Cancel everything. Please do not let Penn Foster Willfully Defraud anymore Illinois Citizens.Desired Settlement: I want Penn Foster to Honor my Cancellation and Void everything, the Program they offer is Worthless to me. Do Not try and Collect anything , I owe them Nothing.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]