Penn Foster Career School

Review: I enrolled in the Floral Design program in March, 2014. I previously finished the Wedding Planner program through PennFoster. I started my program and noticed that the study guides are only available online and not in print edition. I called the school around April 19th to request the study guides in print. They advised me that they only have them digitally. I spoke to several representatives both on the phone and online and advised them I need them in print because of my learning style disability. They advised me that I would have to complete their disability form. I then heard back from [redacted], supervisor, who advised me I was told wrong by the representatives and she would see to it that the printed study guides are sent to me. I was satisfied with that answer and was waiting for the books to arrive. On May 19th, I called the school again to ask where my study guides are and if they have the tracking number. I have received the extracurricular materials but not the guides. [redacted] called my cell and advised they were shipped on 5/19 and I should give it a couple more days. There were no tracking numbers on my student page to indicate they were shipped.

Today is June 3rd. I still have not received my study guides. [redacted] left me another voice message stating that they were being printed. I called and spoke to student care and asked for my tracking number. They could not give me my tracking number. [redacted] was supposed to call me back today and I have not received a phone call. Due to the runaround I have received, I told them I have frozen the account the monthly payments come out from and I will be un-enrolling from the program. I consider this a failure to deliver on goods and services as promised, when promised. This is unacceptable business practices.Desired Settlement: I would like to be unenrolled from the program and would like all payments I made be refunded back to me in the form of a check to my mailing address within 10 business days of PennFoster receiving this complaint.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: The school failed to deliver learning materials to me. As stated in their brochure pu[redacted] under the heading of It Pays to Continue Your Education: the learning materials you need are sent directly to you for your convenience.

Thus, it caused my failure to pursue a locksmith career.Desired Settlement: The apologies and refunds $800.00 to my debit card.

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 Professional Locksmithing Career Diploma on August 8, 2012 by submitting a down payment and a signed enrollment agreement.

Students who complete more than twenty-five percent and up to fifty percent of their exams owe fifty percent of the tuition including the registration, administration and shipping fee. This is stated on **. [redacted]’s signed enrollment agreement. **. [redacted] completed fifty percent of his exams; therefore, he owes fifty percent of the tuition including the fees previously mentioned. **. [redacted]’s enrollment agreement also states no refund will be made after twelve months.

In our efforts to keep up with the growing online demand, we have transitioned over to a fully digital format. As our stocks have depleted, shipments of study guides have ceased. Students will however, still receive all textbooks and any pertinent materials to their course. **. [redacted] did receive four shipments so far. Our records indicate **. [redacted] called on February 11, 2014 and we advised him of this. We also ordered the remaining materials for **. [redacted]’s program which was equipment; no study guides were available for mailing.

If **. [redacted] has a disability which would prevent him from reading the study guides online, he would need to submit medical documentation of that disability. Once received, we will review for the best possible outcome for **. [redacted].

As a courtesy, I have update **. [redacted]’s study time until August 20, 2014, giving him a courtesy six month extension to complete his program.

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 recently enrolled in Penn Foster Career School on September 21st. I have since completed the course but found course material to be very outdated. There is no direct date printed on the material but I have found it to have been produced in the early 90s. Indications of this are throughout the text. One example is:

--------------------------------

Refrigeration Section-Page 4

In recent times, however, Freon has been linked to some environmental problems,?and it has been entirely replaced by environ- mentally safe propellants in spray cans. Currently, manufacturers are scrambling to re- place Freon as a refrigerant in refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.

Freon has been proven to cause the Earth’s ozone layer to dissipate. Because of this effect, Freon will become an illegal refrigerant around the year 2000. Presently, Freon is being recycled by means of specialized equipment. An appliance technician must now be either licensed or certified to purchase Freon. However, to be licensed or certified, the appliance technician must purchase and use a Freon recycler.

------------------------------

The statement of "Freon will become an illegal refrigerant around the year 2000" shows this course is at least 14 years old. That is unacceptable course material. It also in unfair to not only myself but any other person that enrolls in this course expecting to get up to date information.

Penn Foster should be able to provide you with a proof of date in which the course work was originally written. Here is the original letter that I have sent to Penn Foster.

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Appliance Repair

I have 5 years experience in the Appliance Repair field. I have gained a lot of hands on experience over the years. I signed up for the Appliance Repair program to gain the knowledge that can only be obtained by book.

One of the first things that I noticed in the material of this course is that it is very outdated. Most material is 25+ years old. Very little information applies to any modern appliance. I was thinking as the course went on that the material age would as well. I found this not to be the case. The appliances from the 60s,70s, 80s-Very early 90s are drastically different from Appliances manufactured today and even over the past 10 years. Appliances addressed in this course work are being replaced with new appliances at a drastic pace and will be obsolete very soon if not already.

This course does not prepare any person to even begin to troubleshoot and repair an appliance from today.

I did find some material to still pertain to current appliances. The following sections I thought were still relevant and provided useful information.

-Electric Appliance Tools & Testers

-Testing Electric Appliances

-Solenoids, Motors, and Relays

-Your Career In Appliance Repair

Taking into account the Testing Meter that was sent to me, along with Materials shipped, and Relevant course material to todays appliances I am asking for a partial refund of $459.00.

I feel like I received $200.00 worth of knowledge and Test Equipment.

My Penn Foster experience was great as far as my online support. The site worked flawless. I would recommend Penn Foster to a friend but not the Appliance Repair course. My only problem is with outdated course Material.

I feel I am being very fair and making Penn Foster aware of a current issue.

I Thank You For Your Time

Sincerely

----------------------------------------

Here is our email conversation.

From: [redacted] < >

Subject:

Knowledgebase Inquiry Escalation

Please read attached file. The attached file is a letter explaining my disappointment in the course material for Appliance Repair. If there are any issues with the attached file being opened please let me know. Thank you and I look forward to resolving this issue.

------------------------------

Dear [redacted],

Good Afternoon. I want to thank you for your feedback regarding the Appliance Repair Course. I understand your frustration with the course materials. Your email regarding your concerns with the outdated materials will be sent to our Product Development Department. Unfortunately, since you have successfully completed the course, I would not be eligible to issue you a refund on the course. However, I would be more then happy to give you a discount on a new course, should you choose to enroll into another program with us. Is there a course you would be interested in ?

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Sincerely, [redacted]

Student CARE

-----------------------

From: [redacted] < >

Subject:

Re: Knowledgebase Inquiry Escalation ([redacted])

Thank you for your prompt response. The only course I would like to enroll in is The Accounting Essentials Certificate. I am not wanting to spend any additional money on another course due to the fact the first and only course I have taken was out of date and mostly irrelevant. If you are not able to accommodate me with my request I will be contacting the Revdex.com.

Thank you

--------------

Dear [redacted],

I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I have sent a request to my supervisor to see what I can do for you if you enroll into the course. Once I have more information, I will let you know.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

Student CARE

---------------------------

--------------------------

Dear [redacted],

Good Afternoon. I spoke to my supervisor regarding your email. Unfortunately, I cannot give you the course for free, however I can offer you a 30% discount off of the total course for Accounting Essentials. If you would like to enroll with this offer, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Jennifer

Student CARE

-------------------------

From: [redacted] < >

Subject:

Re: Knowledgebase Inquiry Escalation ([redacted])

I am not willing to pay more money for another program when I just spent a good amount of money on a outdated course. I have no confidence that the accounting course is any better or more current. I will accept a 30% refund of my Appliance Course Tuition which equals $197.70.

--------------------------

Dear [redacted]ley,

Thank you for contacting Penn Foster. We are not able to refund any of the tuition on a completed course. We can only offer the 30% discount on the new enrollment. We appreciate your feedback, and will be reviewed.

Best of luck on your studies and be sure to connect with other students on the Penn Foster Community.

Learn More. Do More. Be More.

Sincerely,

[redacted] Student CAREDesired Settlement: I feel like I have been very fair with my requests in trying to resolve this issue. My disappointment is backed up by facts and not just my opinion of the course material. The material is outdated. I will return my diploma to Penn Foster if thats what it takes to receive a refund. I signed up for this course for knowledge and not a piece of paper. A diploma is not going to help me fix a washer or a refrigerator. I expected course material to do that.

I thought later in the course material would be more up to date. You have to complete a section before another section will be available. There was no way for me to know the entire course material was out of date until the end.

I would like a refund of $459 like I previously stated in my original letter. I am not being unreasonable with this request.

Thank you very much for your time.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: in the past I set up payment plans with penn foster on school toward a certificate in automotive transmissions, well in 2009 I was laid off work and due to hardships I had to file Chapter 7 Bankeruptcy. Penn Foster was included in it. Since then I thought it had been taking care of, but come to find out, Penn Foster has been selling my information to numerous outside collection agencys to collect this debt I have been taking negative hits on my credit from these numerous collection agencys. Im mean 4 years since my bankeruptcy and I had intensions on rebuilding my credit but cannot due to all these collection agencys trying to collect the little 395 dollars, one of the agencys contacted me, I told them about the bankeruptcy, they told me they would need to talk to my lawyer, well I agreed at as I went for my wallet to get my attorneys buisness card out to give them the number, they hung up the phone on me. Penn Foster has harrased me and gave me the run around on this issue.Desired Settlement: I want Penn Foster to remove any and every negative impact they have caused for me on my credit report, including them selfs and every single one of the collection agencies they have sold my information to collect the debt. Along with completely deleting any information they have on me and clearing the debt that should had been cleared 4 years ago, I want a letter of every one of the agencies that my information was sold to and a conformation that they clear the debts up on my credit report, until this is met what I described, I will continue to do what they are doing, the more I will pursue through the Revdex.com.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: On April 17th 2014 I was browsing Penn Foster's website since I was considering enrolling in online school, I browsed their website for some time and decided to give it a try.

I made my first payment of $50 via [redacted] and filled out the student enrollment forms, A few days later after evaluating their online courses and seeing there student panel was rather confusing and I struggled; I decided not to pay for the next month and instead opt-out of Penn Foster. Months later I notice that I continue to receive bills for the amounts of $300-500 so once again I attempt to call them and there system asks me for my student id which I provide but it never transfers the call to a live agent so I write several emails to Penn Foster and I never receive any response.

This month I received a bill from an debt collection agency in the amount of $950, This is not right because I did not use their service for more than 3-days.

I do not want my credit to be affected by this company and would like to resolve this misunderstanding as soon as possible.

Email: [redacted]

Student ID# [redacted]Desired Settlement: All I want is for this debt to be clear from my name, I paid $50 for the first month of Penn Foster and only studied for 3-days before determining that it wasn't something I was comfortable with and it didn't provide me with the right learning environment since the panel was confusing.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I signed up for high school diploma in 2005 with Penn Foster. I completed my course in 2006. Monthly payments were made in a timely fashion until my mother became unemployed. We have gone through an unfortunate financial situation and still am but came up with the balance due of $250 to finish my payment. I called to make final payment of $250 to get my high school diploma and was told Penn Foster has new rules and my account was closed years ago so now I must start all over again and pay the new price in order to get my diploma. I asked the rep([redacted]) what happened to the monies I paid back then when I completed to course? I don't have monies to throw away. She said they have new prices now and I can't get my diploma without paying the new price. I find this unjust. I did pay when I had to monies and had only a balance of $250 to pay. When I called and was in contact with the school only two months prior. I was told that I needed to pay the $250 balance to get my diploma. Is Penn Foster changing the rules as they go? All the communication I had with the school no one EVER mentioned this new situation. I am still unemployed in this economy and just can't pay all over again and let the monies I did invest go to waste. Please help me settle this dispute.Desired Settlement: I would like for Penn Foster to accept my payment of the balance due $250 and reward me with my diploma and ring as promised when I signed up in 2005. It was never in the contract that I had to pay more. They say "0" financing I would like them to stay with that policy without charging me more for new services not rendered. My desired outcome is to be able to receive my diploma, my ring as promised then and to be able to get my transcript so I can attend college.

Consumer

Response:

Review: My husband and I are currently in the process of buying our first home. When our credit report was pulled by our lender, they discovered a negative item reported to [redacted] by Penn-Foster against my husband. My husband has never been a student of Penn-Foster, and in fact, we had never even heard of it before. The credit report shows a past due amount of $1,103, opened in 01/13. It shows it as being reported in 03/13 and being in collections. There was also an account number referenced. We were alerted by our lender about this and began attempting to contact Penn-Foster, so that we could get verification for our lender that my husband was never enrolled there. Right away it was extremely difficult to even speak with anyone. The automated system that you immediately get when calling will not let you through to anyone until you enter a student ID number. Of course, my husband does not have a student ID number. When he finally got through to a live person after several attempts, he was given a hard time about the fact that he could not provide a student ID number even after he explained the situation. The person tried to look him up in their system using his social security number, date of birth, and address, and of course, he could not be found. He was told that even though he could not be found anywhere in their system, they would not give verbal confirmation that he was never enrolled there. He was told that he had to provide a notarized document stating the information that was incorrectly reported on his credit report. After receiving it, they would have it reviewed, and then contact him at a later date. He said that was not an option due to the situation and because this error was not something that he had caused. He ended up speaking with someone there a couple more times, and he was either told the same thing (send in a notarized letter), or he was told that verbal confirmation to the credit service our lender uses would not be provided, but they might confirm via fax. The credit service faxed two inquiries to the fax number that my husband was provided, and neither one was ever responded to. After almost three weeks of this not being resolved, I contacted Penn-Foster. After waiting on hold for almost twenty minutes, I said that I needed to speak to a supervisor. A gentleman named Andrew got on the line with me after several minutes stating that he was a supervisor. I explained the problem and the fact that their refusal to cooperate regarding a mistake that they made was now delaying the process of closing on our new home. He looked up my husband's information and stated that he could not find any record, but that he could not confirm anything because there was a final step in the "research" process and the person that needed to do that was gone for the day. This had already been told to my husband in one of the many previous phone conversations. I was not able to provide the exact detail that was listed on the credit report because I was in my vehicle. He told me to call back before he left for the evening and provide the information, and he would make sure that it was resolved the following day. When I called back about an hour later, I was told that Andrew could not come to the phone and to give the person that I was speaking with the information. I did. The next day I heard nothing. For the next several days, I called multiple times and kept getting put into generic voicemails where I left detailed messages for Andrew. Finally after multiple attempts at reaching Andrew and no returned calls, I left another message threatening to report the situation. I left my phone number where I could be reached that day. I returned to work the next day and had a voicemail on my work phone number which I had given Andrew in a previous conversation saying that he tried to call me on the number I provided, and I didn't answer. I had my phone all day and never received a call or a voicemail. He asked me to call him back because he needed more information. When I called back, he would not come to the phone again, and I was asked to provide all of the same information that I had previously provided. I also reiterated that I needed a fax number for the credit service to fax to that someone would actually respond to. I was told that Andrew would call me back with confirmation if my husband was indeed never enrolled there. I explained yet again, that it would not do me any good because the credit service needed Penn-Foster to provide them with confirmation. It could not come from me. I was given a different fax number and told to have the credit service send it to Andrew's attention. I immediately called the credit service and provided them with the information. I received a voicemail from Andrew later that day stating that he received the fax, and he would get it to the appropriate person, have them fill it out, and return it right away. That was last Friday, 8/8. I have been informed as of this morning, 8/13, that the credit service has still not received anything. Our closing is still currently held up due to an error by Penn-Foster that we have nothing to do with. Their horrific lack of service, complete disregard for the situation or their responsibility in the situation, and continual lying about doing anything, is affecting us, the mortgage company, the credit service, and everyone involved in the transaction of us purchasing our new home. Between my husband and I, we have spent hours over the past several weeks trying to get this resolved.Desired Settlement: Penn-Foster MUST provide the credit service with confirmation that my husband was never enrolled there. They either need to do this over the phone by calling ###-###-#### and referencing [redacted] and [redacted], or via fax as soon as possible by filling out and returning the fax that Andrew confirmed he received. In addition, they need to take the necessary actions required to get this collections record off of my husband's credit report immediately.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: In 2010(not sure of dates) I enrolled for Penn Foster's High School diploma program. I paid a monthly fee of $45. I received the material once a month...if I didn't pay I did not get the books for the next course. I decided that Penn foster was not a good progam for me and the cost was extremly expensive so I stopped payment. Months later I recied a bill telling me I owed $1300 for a program I did not want to complete and for materials I only got if I paid the $45 every month. I want Penn Forster to take that $1300.00 off my credit because I was under the impression you pay as you go and if you finish the program paid in full you will get a high school diploma.Desired Settlement: I want the 1300 taken off my credit report. I can't pay for some materials I never received

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern:

I welcome the opportunity to

address [redacted]’ concerns. [redacted] enrolled in our High School Diploma on June

15, 2011 by submitting a down payment and a signed enrollment agreement.

Students who complete more

than ten percent and up to twenty-five percent of their exams owe twenty-five

percent of the tuition including the registration, admissions and shipping

fees. This is stated on [redacted]’ signed enrollment agreement. [redacted] completed

over ten percent of her exams; therefore, she owes twenty-five percent of the

tuition including the fees previously mentioned. In addition, students who neglect to make

their monthly payments are placed in an outside agency. The last payment we

received from [redacted] was on November 15, 2011; as a result, she was placed in

the outside agency. According to our records, [redacted] never contacted us to cancel her account or we would have advised her of

our cancellation policy.

I had a phone conference with

[redacted] on March 12, 2013. [redacted]

offered to pay $50.00 to settle which I accepted. [redacted] made a $50.00 payment on March 13,

2013. She will be removed from the

agency and her credit report will be amended within thirty days.

Penn Foster is devoted to the

educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any

further questions, please contact me at [redacted].

Sincerely,

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Regards,

Review: I was enrolled in Penn Foster program and I contacted them and advised them that I could not afford to take classes for now that I'm a mother of 5 and only one income and they advised me that I had to continue paying the remaining balance of semester balance which is $1000.00. And they refused to late me drop out of the program until I pay them for something that I cant afford. After speaking with them they still continue with taking there FEE out of my checking account which now has gave me a Negative Balance In my checking account.Desired Settlement: I would like Penn Foster to Refund my checking account where its not a negative balance against me and drop me out of there program considering I have not taken or been doing in school work in several mouths now due to not being able to afford it.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I enrolled in a course at Penn Foster around 2006 and never completed the course or any exam, test, etc for the course. The total tuition was placed on my credit report in 2008 and I disputed it because Penn Foster never reached out to me about why I did not complete the course or about the fact that I owed any money towards the program. After several times of disputing it with 2 of the credit bureaus it finally came off my reports and I thought I was done with it. After over a year of it being off it appeared back on my credit reports again in the amount of $1272 with no communication from Penn Foster about the debt. I called and spoke with someone to cancel the program even before the class started and I was told that because the books were shipped there was nothing they could do to cancel my enrollment making me feel obligated to start the course since I paid the enrollment fee and did not want to waste my money.Desired Settlement: I would like this debt in the amount of $1272 to be waived and for this to be removed once and for all from credit reports.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I SIGNED UP FOR A BUSINESS COURSE WITH PENN FOSTER. AFTER RECEIVING THE FIRST PACKET. I DECIDED I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THE COURSE. ALL I DID WAS SET UP AN ONLINE STUDENT ACCOUNT. BUT, I DID NOT TAKE ANY COURSES. I PUT THE ITEMS BACK IN THE PACKET AND MAILED THEM BACK TO PENN FOSTER. MY MISTAKE WAS NOT SENDING IT RETURN RECEIPT.

I RECEIVED A BILL AND I WROTE BACK THAT I RETURNED THE PACKET TO CANCEL MY COURSE. I KEPT GETTING BILLS AND I CONTINUED TO WRITE ON THE BILL TO CANCEL AND ALL MATERIALS WERE RETUNED.

TODAY ON 8/8/14 I GET A LETTER SAYING IF I DON'T WANT TO HARM MY CREDIT I OWE THEM. $1033. WHEN I CALLED THE GUY STATED THEY DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING AND IF I WANTED TO CANCEL I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $270.00. I RETURNED EVERYTHING. HE STATED DO I HAVE A RETURN RECEIPT. I SAID NO AND HE STATED WELL YOU HAVE TO PDesired Settlement: TO STOP STOP BILLLING ME FOR A COURSE I HAVE NOT TAKEN AND FOR A ITEMS I SENT BACK.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: This company has not updated my account and it is affecting my credit score negatively.Desired Settlement: I would like the collection item removed from all three of the report credit bureaus. I would like it removed promptly from my credit report all three of them.

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 Child Day Care Management Career Diploma on September 30, 2009 by submitting a down payment and a signed enrollment agreement.

Students completing more than fifty percent of their exams owe the full tuition balance, which is stated on **. [redacted]’ signed enrollment agreement. **. [redacted] completed sixty-nine percent of her exams; therefore, she owes the full tuition balance. **. [redacted] never contacted us to cancel her account or we would have advised her of this. Also, students who neglect to make their monthly payments are placed in an outside agency. **. [redacted] was placed with the outside agency on July 8, 2011 then returned back to us on April 9, 2013. Since **. [redacted] is still past due, this will stay on her credit report as unpaid.

As a courtesy, I have cancelled **. [redacted]’ account charging only the percent of tuition completed along with the other fees mentioned. **. [redacted] liability went from $618.60 to her new balance $480.60. She may contact Student Care at ###-###-#### Monday-Friday 9am-7pm EST to make payment arrangements.

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: I made a payment in the amount of $618 to [redacted].

Check # [redacted] from your MYACCESS CHECKING-[redacted] account was mailed to[redacted] on 09/13/2013. The check has been cashed and has cleared my bank account.

Regards,

Review: I have went to Penn Foster high school and paid a pretty good amount of money. I decided to go back and take Medical And Billing course but later changed mind. I didn't want to leave Penn Foster, I just wanted to switch courses. Reasons being the course I was taking had outdated material and plus I wanted a course of helping and protecting children. I took 8 test out of 51 courses and they won't let me transfer classes until almost 300 dollars is paid. I am low income and cannot afford 49.00 for a course that I won't complete. I would have to pay that amount before They transfer me to another program, mean while I have to waste more time not completing the classes that I am interested to take. I ask them to work with me. THE ANSWER WAS NO! I ask them to transfer the cost to my class that I would be transferred to, NO, I began to cry, because I had faith in Penn Foster, I had changes in high school and it wasn't a problem. I ask the Customer Service Rep to at least lower the price of the payments so I can afford them, NO! She told me there is no way we can help you.Desired Settlement: I would like Penn Foster to lower my payments so I can pay this money, at this point of distrust I don't want to go back to Penn Foster

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I signed my daughter up for a trail of her 10th grade year at Penn Foster High School. Upon signing up they informed me I could cancel at anytime before her high school completion. She has done from October 2013 to April 2014 in this school and I have been dissatisfied. Her father and I called today 4/8/14 to cancel the program and gain a copy of her transcripts so that she may take any summer classes needed to complete her 10th grade year and hopefully start her 11th grade year at the normal high school. However when calling Penn Foster informed me I would need to pay the balance of the program before they would release her transcripts. I informed them she hasn't even been there a year yet and they stated that she has complete almost 80% of the program. I stated but she has over 2 years left. They stated that she is 80% of completing high school altogether. I find this unrealistic that in 7 months she could complete 3 years of high school. She is not even 16 years old. Not to mention the amount of courses she has done do not equal the amount that a student would take in order to receive their diploma. Because I cant write a check out to this school for the balance that I do not feel I owe, they are depriving my 15 year old of her transcripts so that she can properly get an education. I am also going through a bankruptcy where as this balance would be dischargeable. So there is really no reason to hold the transcripts ransom. Penn Foster is not clear upon signing up as to exactly how the program runs. I feel they use false advertising to get you in the door and get your money at the expense of your child's future.Desired Settlement: My desired outcome is for Penn Foster to mail me my daughters transcripts for what she has completed. So she can go on and get a proper education. I would like Penn Foster to cancel the balance owed as I am in the middle of a bankruptcy and the fact that I feel their program is misrepresented and uses false advertising as to provide a good high school education. Mainly I just want the transcripts so my daughter can have a future.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: We paid in full, $1,245.00 on 12-28-12 for the program which included study unit books (that my son needs to properly accomplish his work) that are now not being distributed by the company. My son, wife and I have documented our communication with the company that we paid for the books that the company is not providing anymore, (they have now gone digital), to no avail. I have asked for a telephone call, to no avail. It is unjust not to provide a product we paid for. We are hard working parents that provide for a family of five and now the same program costs $995.00 without those books. We have had another son already go through this program with those books and we signed up under the same understanding and after receiving them all this while the company has changed their policy.

We appreciate any assistance you could provide. Thank you,Desired Settlement: Send the books we paid for as scheduled or refund the difference in what we paid for the books and what they now charge without the books, $250.00.

Thank you,

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I've never attended this school, only inquired about their educational programs a few times. I have an outstanding balance on my credit report from them. I never attended school with Penn Foster and would like the derogatory item removed from my credit. I spoke with someone, and was told they couldn't help me. I've sent emails as well with no response.Desired Settlement: I just want the derogatory items off of my credit.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: On 11/20/13 I signed up with PENNFOSTER HIGH SCHOOL ONLINE. You are advised to do "Monthly automatic payments" of $49. Supposedly, whatever you put down, will count as double off your full tuition Balance per "[redacted]". I paid $75 for a deposit. When I logged onto "Student Homepage", then "My Courses", I saw my previous tests and grades from "2010". Via email, I was advised to take the "Starting your Program" exam online. The "Exam" consisted of "5 questions" BUT only "1 box to mark off, meaning no choices to "Select". Then I also noticed, that on the "My Courses" page, it was saying that they were shipping me out study guides for tests I previously did, and paid for in "2010". This really started to bother me. It made absolutely no sense. I tried to look up whatever information I could about this school. I was extremely busy with my daughters birthday, and Thanksgiving preparations. On 11/27/13, I called PENNFOSTER HIGH SCHOOL to cancel, and spoke to "[redacted]" who then transferred my to "[redacted]". "[redacted]" stated that for me to cancel, that I would have to either pay "$253.20 upfront, or do it in $49 automatic payments!". Pay for what?!? She said that I took 2 tests. NOT!! 1 so called test was from 2010, which I paid "in 2010". The other was the 5 questions with no "choices!". Everyone would get "100!". I was so Livid! I paid the money over the phone, because I wanted to end it! I didn't study anything or take any "Valid tests". I didn't receive any study assistance, or anything that I should be "charged" for! This is an abuse to anyone whom is just trying to "better the**elves". Not that it would change anything, but they didn't even email/mail me a Receipt. They sure did get their money right away. In total I paid $328.20 for absolutely nothing!Desired Settlement: I didn't receive any services after I paid the Deposit of $75. To cancel enrollment, I was charged an additional $253.20 within that same week. I would like my monies refunded to me. I want to put this nightmare to rest.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: Penn Foster, and their collection company [redacted] have placed me in collections and reported a debt to credit agencies. This debt is not mine as I had never contacted them for their services (they say I signed up for an online high school course, I graduated high school in 2000). They are requesting me to send copies of my drivers license and social security card.Desired Settlement: Removal of derogatory billing information from all major credit reporting agencies. Ceasing of attempts to collect some one else's debt from me.

Business

Response:

Review: In 2010, I saw an advertisement for correspondence courses for an Event Planning certificate. As a stay-at-home mother with a small wedding planning business (at the time), I saw this as a good opportunity to enhance my business credentials. I paid an enrollment fee (which I believe was $149) and was told my materials would arrive via US mail in 2-4 weeks. After 6 weeks, I phoned Penn Foster to inquire about the status of my materials and ask if there had perhaps been a mistake in my shipping address. I was told that my materials should be arriving any day, and in the meantime I was invited to sign in to their website to take my "Welcome Exam". The exam was approximately 10 questions based on a short paragraph of reading. I was extremely disheartened that the so-called curriculum seemed so "cheap" and uninformative. There were even misspellings! But I hoped that this rudimentary webpage was not indicative of the quality of the textbooks and materials I was expecting in the mail. I decided to sign off the webpage and wait for the arrival of the materials. Weeks passed, and they never arrived. I placed several calls to Penn Foster, and was usually met with line transfers and long wait times or voicemails. Finally I was able to contact someone, who told me that my materials had already been sent long ago and I must have received them. I politely assured her that I had not, and asked that they be resent with Delivery Confirmation. The representative was rude and quick to disconnect. I again waited several weeks, and still, nothing arrived. I called Penn Foster at that point and asked the representative to cancel my membership and refund my enrollment fee. I figured it was a scam and chalked it up as a loss. However, I soon began to receive phone calls from Penn Foster as late as 11PM and as early as 6AM demanding full tuition payment. I thought surely this had to be some misunderstanding, as I felt they owed ME money for not delivering on the materials I had paid for. I was told by this woman that the moment I took my "first exam" (the 10-question pre-test wrought with misspellings and poor grammar), I became liable for the full program tuition. I had never signed any such contract (indeed, I had never signed anything at all, as my enrollment was done over the phone) and I was shocked and angered at this blatant scam and I asked for a supervisor, and was refused. I placed several calls over the next few weeks trying to get some answers, but was hung up on and even laughed at by the supposed supervisor, who literally giggled and SANG "see you in court". I couldn't believe I had been so ignorant to have believed this was a legitimate school, and became quite embarrassed at the situation. I told the woman I'd be placing a complaint with the Revdex.com, but I never did, as I became busy enrolling as a real student at a real university and soon forgot the ordeal and my $150 loss. However, it is now 2 years later, and I recently applied for credit with a student lender that was denied. Puzzled, I obtained a copy of my credit report, and there is a Collections listing from Penn Foster Career School in the amount of $393 - which was more than the initial course was supposed to cost even if I had received the goods I paid for, which of course I never had! If this debt was legitimate, I would simply pay it and have it removed from my report, but I cannot bear to allow this scam to go unspoken for and give my hard-earned money to a company who never provided me with a single thing they promised! My recent calls to Penn Foster have been futile, as they tell me I am in collections and they no longer have any business to discuss with me. This cannot be legal. They brag about their Revdex.com rating, which I trusted in, but scam websites around the web show they are doing this to hundreds of other people. They are making money on goods they do not deliver and taking consumers to collections with their claims of invalid "debts".Desired Settlement: Billing adjustment and immediate removal of this illegitimate stain on my credit report. I believe wholeheartedly that I am owed a full refund of the enrollment for the materials I never received, but if they claim that I owe something in return for taking a 10-question pretest online that took all of 3 minutes, my enrollment fee more than sufficiently covers that.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]

Review: I enrolled my daughter in Penn Foster High School with the understanding that It was paid in full. She had 8 high school credits which they will take off $40 for each credit. Plus I paid $635.00 up front. This equals $955.00 which is the first option. Now they are wanting to charge me $1495.00 and for me to make payments. Jose is the enrollment specialist I have dealt with. I emailed him and called him telling him about the problem. He will not do anything to fix this. He will not email me or return my calls. I have not signed any of their agreements and my daughter has not done any of the lessons. Jose did email one time said it was all set up and she could start. I went on her website and it still showed I owed the money. He told her in the email to electronically sign the agreement. She is only 17 and not old enough to sign any agreement. He called me the first time and said to go ahead and sign the agreement anyway. I refuse to since it says I will make the payments.Desired Settlement: They can send me my money back. I had to cancel my credit card because of this. I did not want any other charges charged to it from them.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com Case Number: [redacted]