Writer's Institute Inc

Review: Good afternoon,In response to the letter noted below, I have received a notice 'allowing' me to remain as a student IF I could submit my next assignment by April 10. 2013.Please believe me when I tell you, that I could not have been more disappointed or exasperated at what appears to me, to be the typical bureaucratic guidelines that paints us all with the same brush.I have poured my heart out to this 'institution' and all I get in return is a cold hard DATE. Why am I surprised, IS the question I should be asking myself and NOT, why are people so cold and unfeeling and wrapped up in rules?I am not ignorant enough to expect some sort of compassion or human element from a 'institute' however, you have been PAID for your services and I have been unable to conform to your guidelines, due to circumstances beyond my control. What I cannot comprehend, is that all I received in response to my heartfelt letter, noted below, is this:[redacted], Thanks for your message. Your account was closed because the last time we heard from you was in August 2012; we sent you three emails regarding the late lesson since then and then a letter in January explaining that your account would be closed if we didnt receive a response from you. If you can submit your lesson by April 10 we will reactivate your account and you will resume with [redacted]. Otherwise you are welcome to resume in the future, but there [redacted] be a reinstatement fee. Do you think you will be able to send your lesson by April 10? Take care,[redacted]Student Services How am I supposed to respond to such a cold, heartless response as noted? Why is [redacted] responding to me, when I have been so personal and sincere? Perhaps your staff should be taking some courses regarding the 'human' element. I am appalled at the lack of personal attention that, as far as I'm concerned, should have been available to me. I have offered you personal, intimate information regarding my personal situation and all I get in return is this blatant, "too bad, so sad" response? Why would anyone want to be a part of this? I realize that dead lines are integral part of 'writing' for a living, but, as stated below, I work with deadlines every day of my life. I have just returned from taking care of my mother for several days, as other members of my family were incapable of doing so. I have been very ill and have missed some work and could ill afford to do so, but it was my mother that needed the help.I have reached out to this institute for the SAME kind of compassion and help, and what do I get? A pathetic, unfeeling, cold hearted response from someone who couldn't care less, if my mother was even alive, never mind taken care of. I have never felt so disappointed or disgruntled with a purchase, in my entire life.I have every intent of taking this issue to my lawyer and having him request a FULL refund of my monies. I am completely disheartened with this whole business of writing and your institution has only served to smash my dreams and NOT realize them. This whole situation has caused me inconsolable grief, disillusionment and considerable stress. NO response from my instructor, no response from [redacted], just a simple ridiculous little note that had the power to unhinge me, from [redacted]. Who in the world is [redacted] and why is she handling this highly personal situation? Why on earth would I even endeavour to call "Student Services" for ANY reason, when all I could possibly anticipate, would be yet another line of impersonal bureaucratic rules and regulations.We can settle this now, by giving me an name and address to send BACK this material too and I will move on, without experiencing any further grief. OR, you can wait until you hear from my lawyer. I am incensed with this lack of compassion or consideration and I do not want any further dealings with this institution. I DO expect a refund; this whole experience has caused me undo stress and upset.As IF you care,[redacted] CusackAW9939----- Original Message ----- From: [redacted] To: [redacted]@InstituteChildrensLit.com Cc: [redacted] Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 6:19 PMSubject: Re: We haven't received a lesson from youDear [redacted],I have appreciated your efforts, however, I was not able to offer you a date as to when I COULD get back to my writing and quite frankly, I have been up to my eyeballs in issues that I am dealing with, and here is an example of just a few:- my mother has been hospitalized several times due to her poor health; Parkinson's Disease, strokes, diabetes, arthritis and severe loss of memory;- my father's inability to cope as her caregiver and his refusal to accept help;- my parents live several hours from my home and my sister is having difficulty in dealing with the issues on her own;- two family interventions out of town so far, in order to get their affairs in order;- my part time position as a buyer, turning in to a full time position, with no respite in sight;- my inability to concentrate on writing when I have family members, theatre and work, pulling me in several directions;These are not excuses, this is my life right now and I don't see it changing until there is some resolution to dealing with our aging parents. This has been my focus lately. I am very upset that you have cancelled my student file, and if you DID advise me, I am afraid that I have not seen it. However, the Writer's Book Store did manage to send me a book that I did NOT order? How does that happen?I do intend on finishing my course; I just can't say when. My plate is full and I am very prone to depression, for which I take medicine. My last assignment had put me off, as it required me to write about a childhood memory; I do NOT have any that I wish to write about. I haven't resolved that issue as of yet and no, I did not bother to write to my instructor as I did not wish to expose my family skeletons. However, now I

Desired Settlement: DesiredSettlementID: Refund

I would like a more personal view of my student file and at this point, I am so disgruntled, I wish a FULL refund of monies paid to this institution. They have NOT been professional and I do not wish to deal with this upset any further.

Business

Response:

Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2013/03/26) */

Contact Name and Title: [redacted]

Contact Phone: XXX-XXX-XXXX

Contact Email: [redacted]@writersinstituteinc.com

I reviewed Ms. [redacted]'s student record in response to her complaint. She was withdrawn from the course in February 2013 due to lesson inactivity. We did attempt to rectify Ms. [redacted]'s complaint and our response can be found below. We did not receive a reply. There is no refund due to Ms. [redacted]. We would certainly welcome her back to her studies at any time at no additional cost to her.

From: Counselor Services

Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 12:25 PM

To: '[redacted]'

Subject: RE: We haven't received a lesson from you AWV9939

Hello [redacted],

Thank you for your reply. My sincere apologies for any concern our previous emails have caused. I am sorry you and your family are going through a difficult time, and I wish you only the best. Please be assured that Student Services is here to help, and I would like to offer you an option that might be of help. You mentioned that you might be able to send your next lesson in the summer. I would be happy to reopen your student status now and put you on a three or six month leave (to either July or October). Would this work for you?

To help with your third lesson, I can suggest that you use another person's childhood memory and just inform your instructor that you did so. That would help you move forward with your lessons when you have the time to work on them.

Please let me know if you would like me to reopen your file and put you on a leave of absence and if you have any other questions or concerns please don't hesitate to ask.

Take care,

Cheri

Student Services

________________________________________

From: [redacted] mailto:[redacted].ca

Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 4:38 PM

To: [redacted]

Cc: Student Services - Email #1; [redacted]

Subject: Fw: We haven't received a lesson from you

Importance: High

Good afternoon,

In response to the letter noted below, I have received a notice 'allowing' me to remain as a student IF I could submit my next assignment by April 10. 2013.

Please believe me when I tell you, that I could not have been more disappointed or exasperated at what appears to me, to be the typical bureaucratic guidelines that paints us all with the same brush.

I have poured my heart out to this 'institution' and all I get in return is a cold hard DATE. Why am I surprised, IS the question I should be asking myself and NOT, why are people so cold and unfeeling and wrapped up in rules?

I am not ignorant enough to expect some sort of compassion or human element from a 'institute' however, you have been PAID for your services and I have been unable to conform to your guidelines, due to circumstances beyond my control. What I cannot comprehend, is that all I received in response to my heartfelt letter, noted below, is this:

[redacted],

Thanks for your message. Your account was closed because the last time we heard from you was in August 2012; we sent you three emails regarding the late lesson since then and then a letter in January explaining that your account would be closed if we didn't receive a response from you. If you can submit your lesson by April 10 we will reactivate your account and you will resume with [redacted]. Otherwise you are welcome to resume in the future, but there [redacted] be a reinstatement fee. Do you think you will be able to send your lesson by April 10?

Take care,

Student Services

How am I supposed to respond to such a cold, heartless response as noted? Why is [redacted] responding to me, when I have been so personal and sincere? Perhaps your staff should be taking some courses regarding the 'human' element. I am appalled at the lack of personal attention that, as far as I'm concerned, should have been available to me.

I have offered you personal, intimate information regarding my personal situation and all I get in return is this blatant, "too bad, so sad" response? Why would anyone want to be a part of this? I realize that dead lines are integral part of 'writing' for a living, but, as stated below, I work with deadlines every day of my life. I have just returned from taking care of my mother for several days, as other members of my family were incapable of doing so. I have been very ill and have missed some work and could ill afford to do so, but it was my mother that needed the help.

I have reached out to this institute for the SAME kind of compassion and help, and what do I get? A pathetic, unfeeling, cold hearted response from someone who couldn't care less, if my mother was even alive, never mind taken care of. I have never felt so disappointed or disgruntled with a purchase, in my entire life.

I have every intent of taking this issue to my lawyer and having him request a FULL refund of my monies. I am completely disheartened with this whole business of writing and your institution has only served to smash my dreams and NOT realize them. This whole situation has caused me inconsolable grief, disillusionment and considerable stress. NO response from my instructor, no response from [redacted], just a simple ridiculous little note that had the power to unhinge me, from [redacted]. Who in the world is [redacted] and why is she handling this highly personal situation? Why on earth would I even endeavour to call "Student Services" for ANY reason, when all I could possibly anticipate, would be yet another line of impersonal bureaucratic rules and regulations.

We can settle this now, by giving me an name and address to send BACK this material too and I will move on, without experiencing any further grief. OR, you can wait until you hear from my lawyer. I am incensed with this lack of compassion or consideration and I do not want any further dealings with this institution. I DO expect a refund; this whole experience has caused me undo stress and upset.

As IF you care,

AW9939

----- Original Message -----

From: [redacted]

To: [redacted]@InstituteChildrensLit.com

Cc: [redacted]

Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 6:19 PM

Subject: Re: We haven't received a lesson from you

Dear [redacted],

I have appreciated your efforts, however, I was not able to offer you a date as to when I COULD get back to my writing and quite frankly, I have been up to my eyeballs in issues that I am dealing with, and here is an example of just a few:

- my mother has been hospitalized several times due to her poor health; Parkinson's Disease, strokes, diabetes, arthritis and severe loss of memory;

- my father's inability to cope as her caregiver and his refusal to accept help;

- my parents live several hours from my home and my sister is having difficulty in dealing with the issues on her own;

- two family interventions out of town so far, in order to get their affairs in order;

- my part time position as a buyer, turning in to a full time position, with no respite in sight;

- my inability to concentrate on writing when I have family members, theatre and work, pulling me in several directions;

These are not excuses, this is my life right now and I don't see it changing until there is some resolution to dealing with our aging parents. This has been my focus lately. I am very upset that you have cancelled my student file, and if you DID advise me, I am afraid that I have not seen it. However, the Writer's Book Store did manage to send me a book that I did NOT order? How does that happen?

I do intend on finishing my course; I just can't say when. My plate is full and I am very prone to depression, for which I take medicine. My last assignment had put me off, as it required me to write about a childhood memory; I do NOT have any that I wish to write about. I haven't resolved that issue as of yet and no, I did not bother to write to my instructor as I did not wish to expose my family skeletons. However, now I feel like I've been shunned and it comes down to my inability to respond in a more timely manner.

I do NOT have a problem with deadlines in my everyday life, as a matter of fact, my day is FULL of them, especially at work and some at home. Maybe that is why I am having difficulties with this course. I am exhausted and when I do manage to have a free evening, the last thing I want to deal with, is yet another deadline.

I am very disappointed, especially as I have paid all dues. You have your money; I want my course - it's that simple. Why is leaving me on the books so difficult? I didn't realize that there was a time limit and it was intimated that some people take years to finish this course. How am I any different?

I hope that you will reconsider my position, but I cannot promise to submit anything before the end of the summer. I have positions to fill at work this summer and I don't know how my mother is going to fare.

I would appreciate it if you could forward this note on to [redacted], as I don't even have time to try and find her email address, as I must run to a rehearsal and haven't even

Review: I renewed my subscription to [redacted] and was to receive updated issues electronically, but this has not happened. So, I decided it would be better to receive the issues via postal mail. I've tried to contact the publisher to confirm how the subscription was going to be processed. I've written via email to them several times with no response. I have called repeatedly to the 800 number. There is no answer and no way to leave a voice message. I would like the [redacted] delivered by postal mail but cannot get that message through to anyone. Maybe they are no longer in business? I have no way of knowing except there is NO response to the contact I've tried to make either via email or by phone. The webpage for accepting renewal and your credit card information seems to work.Desired Settlement: I would like someone from [redacted] (if they're still in business) to contact me and advise what copies are available (if any). If they are not in business, I would like a refund of the renewal for the newsletter that I just made with them via their website.If they are not in business, the website should be removed.Information on how to contact them should be made public. What is there, does not work. No one responds to email messages or the phone.

Business

Response:

I am in receipt of the complaint you mailed to us from [redacted]. I am very sorry [redacted] has been having problems reaching us. We are under new management and we just recently moved our offices. However, the [redacted] newsletter stopped being published over a year ago. All of our subscribers were notified and received a subscription from another very reputable children’s newsletter Children’s Book Insider. All subscribers also received a subscription extension from [redacted] at no additional cost. [redacted] request to renew her subscription to [redacted] was not done and we did not charge her credit card. We will be updating our websites and will remove [redacted] from our offerings.I apologize for the lack of communication, but we’ve had many changes and we will be up to speed very soon.[redacted]Writer’s Bookstore

Review: I applied via online application to the Institute. The application said to wait 3 weeks so I did. Since I hadn't received a response, I contacted them via email. The response I got:Thanks for contacting us and for your interest in The Institute of Childrens Literature. Were sorry, but we are not evaluating the writing tests at this time. Our school is operating above capacity and all of our courses are full. We are in the process of removing the test from our website. Were sorry you were caught in the interim. We wish you well with your writing.I followed up by asking if applications would be read at a future date (ie should I keep applying) or if I didn't get accepted on merit and there was no response. To me, they are fraudulently advertising services. Their whole website is geared towards encouraging people to apply - it is not just based on online applications. If I didn't get accepted because it was not a worthy application in their opinion, fine. Just say so. However, I didn't even get a letter from a dept head or instructor. The email came because I requested a follow up and it came from a woman in information services. It's not clear what role she has in the evaluating process - but then, my application apparently didn't even get evaluated. Fraudulent advertising in my opinion.Desired Settlement: I would like the Institute to respond with an announcement on their website that they are not currently accepting applications because they are at capacity and to give a deadline when applications will again be accepted, or give me a more in depth explanation why my application was not evaluated and explain when my work might be considered.

Business

Response:

First, I would like to apologize to [redacted] for not providing her with the most up-to-date information about the school’s current enrollment policies.

Review: I enrolled in a correspondence course with the Institute of Children's Literature. At the time I enrolled, I was promised that if I was not satisfied with the course upon it's completion, I would receive a full refund. The promise is made in writing. I was told most students finish the course in about two years, although no mention was made of that deadline as mandatory. During my time in the course I was forced to ask for a leave of absence for cataract surgery, a matter of some months, treatment for bi-polar depression, and later to leave town and assist with my Mother who was passing with Alzheimer's disease. At NO time did my requests for leave meet with any warning of lost time, or failure of completion. At this point my account for tuition was paid in full. Upon my return from settling my Mother's affairs, I contacted the school in response to an e-mail sent to me while I was away with my Mother. I explained my absence and lossand asked to resume my studies. I was told that while they were sorry for my loss they would not allow me to resume my work. Although I was paid in full, they explained I owed the money and my "bad behavior was well documented". I remember no mention of behavior at any time in my studies, or in the advertising or contract. I am being PREVENTED from finishing the course and denied my "100% refund guarantee upon completion if not satisfied" by virtue of the school's refusal to allow me to finish my course. Again no mention of a deadline for completion, nor a secret "bad behavior" clause in the advertisements or contract. Nor have I ever been warned of, or made aware of my "bad behavior" until now when I would obviously request my work to be allowed or a refund since the school's refusal to allow me to finish makes my course completion a fact, and an unsatisfactory one at that. This refusal to allow me to finish is simply designed to avoid a refund that was promised in all advertising and in our sales agreement.Desired Settlement: Barring my being allowed to finish my work, which I assume would only be sham on the part of the school at this point, having been brought this complaint, I would like to be refunded my tuition, as promised. I was told I could request a refund at course completion. Since the school REFUSES to allow me to complete the course, they are in violation of our agreement, and should refund my tuition as promised.

Business

Response:

[redacted] enrolled in our Writing for Children and Teenagers course on March 31, 2011. Prior to enrolling we mailed him an enrollment package which provided [redacted] with an introduction to his instructor [redacted], cost of the course, our refund/withdrawal policy, the approximate time it takes to complete the course, plus many more important facts about taking a course with us.