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Letters can now be viewed below with the most recent letters first.
If you would like to share your frustrations and want to post
your letter just click here and send your letter or send to penncotechscam@yahoo.com to let us know what you think of Pennco Tech and the scams they provide. Your letter will help. (all letters are confidential,
your identity will not be shown or provided) Letters and comments are shown below, the most recent are posted at the bottom.
115+ Letters from victims and COUNTING......
Thank You! Together We Can Make A Difference.
Keep in mind there are thousands of victims all over the country from all different scam schools.
To read more about a scam school in another state please go to www.RipoffReport.com .
I used to teach at Education America in Fort Worth, Tx, Hq in Little Rock, Arkansas. The name was changed to Remington College
about ten years ago. We were told to expect a graduation rate of 95% from the student body, regardless of their performance
in Medical
Assisting classes. Local employers were very reluctant to hire our graduates as they were poor performers. Anyone borrowing
money for their Medical Assisting program would have been better off to go to LVN school.
That's all I have for now.
Posted: 9/10/2014
We live in the UAE. We got a call offering us a chance to get a degree with a "scholarship" that would pay up to
80% of school fees. We thought he said "Houston University" but then he directed us to their Gibson University website.
From there we were directed to click on various links on the website that "proved" Gibson university is an award
winning accredited institution. He wanted us to see all the glossy stamps of approval and official seals showing us this site
is "legit". It says it won an award and CNN reported about it so it must be true...NOT! He was vague and dropped
various American city names. His last and big mistake was pretending to be in the USA but then slipped up when he asked us
how long we have been living "here" (like us, he too is in the UAE).
Posted: 9/10/2014
I went to Pennco Tech on May 11,2012. My representative was Steve Tulio. Me and my grandmother went to get information on
the Medical Assistant class. After going through a slideshow and information packets I told him I would think it over and
give him a call when I made up my mind. He advised me to leave a $100 deposit to hold my seat in the class if I decided to
attend the September 2012 class. I asked him numerous times if the money was refundableand if I needed to let him know my
decision by a certain end date because if not then I wasnt going to leave the $100, he told me yes it was 100% refundable
if I changed my mind and decided not to go there, and to "take my time to go through all the paperwork " I wrote
a $100 check to Pennco Tech with the mindset if I would be securing my seat if I attended and I would get refund if I didnt
attend. He made me an appointment with financial aid on May 22,2012. Me and my mom attended that appointment togetherbeecause
they said they needed her info since I have no children or dependents. My mom was uncomfortable with providing her information
to them so she asked if we could do the financial aid through the FAFSA website ourselves. The financial aid advisor Millie
and Steve both said yes thats fine and gave us packets on student loans as well. I told Steve I did not want to take out thousands
of dollars in students loans so I would go through the financial aid process and look into the different fees and options
for student loans. She asked Steve about the deposit being refundable at that time and he said yes I told your daughtr as
well when she came in with her grandmother it was refundable if she changed her mind. We went home and went through the financial
aid paperwork and student loan paperwork and I decided not to go because I didnt want 5,000$ in student loans. My course was
roughly 7500$ total and then $900 for books. I called back June 5th or 6th and spoke to Steve and told him I wouldnt attend
due to the reason I didnt want that much in student loans and I asked about the refund. He tells me that Im past the refund
deadline of 3 days from the day I first went. I then told him when I asked you about any deadlines you told me there were
none, to take my time since its May/June and the class doesnt start until September and the money was absolutely refundable,
furthermore you made me a financial aid appointment a week after my initial walk in date so how can anybody know in 3 days
if they will attend the school without knowing what financial aid will cover for the costs of the course. He told me there
was nothing he could do about it and I pretty much lost my $100.
After I researched Pennco Tech I came across your website and I learned all of the scams and deceptions they pull on people
trying to get a education. I have considered filing a class action lawsuit against this school but I cant do it myself, I
need everyone to come together with their stories about the lies and tricks they pull to get your money so we can put an end
to this scamming school. Please email me back to let me know if you will help.
Posted 9/10/2014
I had the misfortune some years back (1995-ish) of going to this school and signing my life away to the US Department of Education
all to have the school not only give me a raw deal on the education it provided, but never found work nor did I get any work
that they promised.
To boot, I had to take a medical leave of absence at one point in the course of the program and these asshole violated
HIPAA! The program was a computer generated arts program in which they seemingly made the bulk of their money from workman's
comp people and dumb asses like me who actually trusted them on the basis of them being governmentally funded!
The government really needs to stop giving funding to these "schools" immediately right after less than a dozen
complaints surface! No wonder the damned government is broke! They give money to these assholes not paying attention to the
fact that these schools will NEVER live up to ANY of their promises that unsuspecting students will find work.
Credit ruined, most jobs won't even touch someone like me who owes the government to at least be able to start paying
the government back for the mistake.
Thanks for reading my rant if you read it all of the way through.
Posted: 9/10/2014
I send this to both email addresses at https://penncotechscam.tripod.com/id7.html to ensure my story gets told and encourage
the publication of this to the Internet.
I allowed Pennco Tech in Blackwood, NJ, to charge my Visa credit card a $100 tuition deposit. I then realized I couldn't
attend at the time, but because I had already signed on a dotted line that the window to get a refund was only three days,
it was too late to get my deposit credited to my Visa. Even a supervisor I had at the time, Tara, said the same thing happened
to her: she enrolled in a career school, made a deposit there, decided she didn't want to attend, and by the time they gave
her the runaround, it was too late to get her money back; Tara later graduated from a Medical Assistant program at another
career-institute and now works at a major university hospital. Another former boss told me she was going to enroll at Pennco
for its Microsoft A+ Certification program, circa 2002, "but $11,000 did seem like a lot for a seven-month course."
My story took place around the time of my twenty-first birthday. I inquired with Pennco Tech and subsequently received
a form letter thanking me for doing so. Then an admissions representative, Michael C., began calling me, almost incessantly,
though I don't recall ever having given him my family's landline phone number. He basically pressured me into visiting the
school. My late grandmother -- with whom I was very close, and who accompanied me -- noticed that seemingly very few students
were attending Pennco Tech, and she said it was because, in her opinion, the place was too expensive. During a phone conversation
with Mike, I asked if the day and evening programs for computer programming were the same, and he replied that they were not
because the evening one (in which I planned to enroll) had two fewer languages. (By the way, Michael's calls continued until
I successfully convinced him that I couldn't attend for financial reasons.)
I contemplated having Pennco Tech put my deposit toward a scholarship for another student, but who would want to attend
there if they provide such lousy educations (here, I use that word loosely) for such high prices?
I submit this true story so that hopefully, others learn from my naïveté. Thanks for reading.
Posted: 9/10/2014
I just recently found your page and I so wish I would have found it back in 92 before I started making the Pennco Tech mistake!
The only problem I see with this site is a lot of people complaining and nobody doing anything! Lets ban together and get
a class action going or something! My problem started in 92 when I started for auto body repair and paint. I had already been
in the field for 7 years as a helper but thought getting an education would give me the upper hand and become an actually
body man. After 4 months of being made fun of and being picked on by the instructors and having my 4000 dollar tool box stolen,
I dropped out. In 1999, I was going through a very hard time in my life and was being pushed into making a change. I went
and got my GED and was kinda leaned towards Pennco again for computer programming. I disagreed stating what happened in 92.
I was basically swayed by people in my family who thought since computers were more professional, I wouldn't have any problems.
They were right and I didn't! I graduated with honors in 15 months! A few weeks after we got out, I went back to the school
to see the career counselor and was shocked to see 3 of my classmates in class still! One of the outdated programs was cancelled
and updated and their salesman offered them the class free! No such offer was made to me! When I asked a salesman, I was told
it wasn't his problem! When I went to career svcs, I was told since I was moving in less than a year, there was no sense helping
me! They were right on that as I was moving to the western end of the state! I moved back to the Bristol area 9 years later
and went to career svcs. I was told they hadn't offerred computer programming since like 02 and couldn't help me but offered
another coarse. I talked it over with my family and they thought it might be a good idea so I went back for pharmacy tech.
The instructor was a real winner! She came to class and slept on the floor 2 times in the term I went! When I asked when she
was going to teach what she slept through, she said I could learn it on my own and there'd be no sense saying anything because
nothing would happen to her! I ended up dropping out for medical reasons with an agreement to come back after I healed from
a surgery. When I tried to go back, my "salesman" no longer worked there and neither did the directors who had made
the agreement. When I tried to go back, I was told they no longer worked there and any agreement I had was now null and void!
I haven't been bothered by the school since! But for those less fortunate, why don't we get a class action going and put these
low lifes out of business? Where's everybody at here?
Posted 9/10/2014
Hello, I'm a current student of the following school - a private school of nursing. I and others were not satisfied with this
school. The teaching skills is very poor. The majority of us the students were failing because of that
matter. We have to pay $6,000 to repeater the program. We have no other place to voice our anger about this school because
the dean is the owner and we have no other people to address our problems. We feel that their teaching skills is a plan so
that we may fail and repeat the program. The school name is california career college in canoga park, ca. you can also see
of their rating which is very bad.
Posted 9/10/2014
Santa Barbara Business College- AKA SBBC
LEGAL SCAM_ SHUT THEIR SHIT DOWN! TAKING MONEY
FROM POOR PEOPLE WHO CANT EVEN SPELL THEIR OWN NAME!!
Art Institute of Charlotte. I worked in the Accounting and Financial
Aid Departments and I felt like a heel taking those kids that it would be
$90K to get a BA there. The jobs once they left the Culinary (for example) would be working in the kitchen of some restaurant.
This is a job that no education is needed.
Posted: 12/7/10
Hello,
I just sent you an email
telling you my sad story about this scam school: Beijing International Art Shool at www.beijing-art.com.
I just wanted to add this
page from the program I thought I was going to. This is what attracted me when I was at home in the United States. When
I got there this training schedule was non-existent ! The only acrobatic
classes available to the foreign students was an hour, or so, general level
class with some basic skills, with teachers who made fun of our low level and just told us we were bad. These classes
were only offered three to four days a week contrary to what it says in their info and the extensive hours listed are also
a lie. The manager told me that the rest of the time I would be taken out to a bar to drink on a regular basis ! I
do not drink. I wanted to learn ! When you see the deplorable conditions, the filthy freezing rooms, and the lack of
any real classes to take, it would drive you to drink. Many of the foreign students were sick and the manger would not
even supply medical care ! I feel very insulted that this amazing program listed below was offered as a seduction yet
after I made the long trip to China it was non-existent !
ACROBATICS
 The courses of acrobatic major focus on the circus skills of flexibility,
tumbling and handstanding, based on which students will master the advanced skills of controlling bodies and apparatuses,
including aerial tissue, tightrope walking, hoops, cycling, bowl/cup balancing, poles, equilibrium, contortion, pyramids,
German wheels, Russian bars, ... all those you can find in a modern circus.
acrobatics training classes
play video (18 MB)Performers graduated from the school
accomplished great achievements. They have won over 20 golden prizes from international and national circus festivals, and
have been performing in over 50 countries across the world. Many students from north America, south America and Europe have
graduated from the School and became professional performers as well as golden prize winners.
The Acrobatic Major has six days of
study in every week, including four days of specialty training and two days of academic study. The daily schedule for each
of the four training days is:
6:30am - 7:30am, early morning exercises
8:30am
- 12pm, morning classes
2:30pm - 5pm, afternoon classes
6:30pm - 8:30pm, evening
classes (optional for international students)
Domestic students need to attend the
academic classes for two days a week. International students are not required to attend. Meanwhile, you can choose to attend
Chinese language class or classes offered by other departments as the minor
during those two days if you would like to.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Hello,
A Dream turned into a Nightmare.
The school I am reporting is Beijing International Art School. The website is www.beijing-art.com and the contact for foreign students is office@beijing-art.com
I found their website online. I am a dancer and performer and it is my dream to study acrobatics so I applied to
the school and I was admitted. Before I left the U.S. I was in regular contact with the overseas office, and the
school, which gave me advice and told me about the school. When I got to Beijing
the trouble started. It took three weeks to take and get cleared by their medical exam and I had to pay all my expenses
in a hotel all this time. Also, once I was in Beijing the school did not answer my emails, anymore, to help me with
anything and the overseas office stopped answering me in any consistent way. I was all alone. Finally, the manager
of the school came in a car to pick me up at my hotel and I was driven to a remote, out-of-the-way place on the outskirts
of Beijing, a business district with no stores, no city life, no way to get away. I was given a filthy room with a black
film of soot covering everything; roaches running around, a toilet which leaks and overflows onto the floor below the dirty
shower head; and it got so cold at night that I could not sleep, the walls felt like a refrigerator and I could not stand
it even with all my thermals, winter coat, snow boots, winter hat, gloves and scarves, even my teeth froze. Not only
did their website have photos of, and words about, clean dormitory rooms where the linens are changed regularly, but rather
than changing linens ( there were none in the room ) they completely changed their website between the time I left the U.S.
to go to China and the time I arrived in China ! The new website admits
that this is a secondary school. When I met the other foreign students they were all living under similar conditions
and were counting their days there and many of them were sick and unable to get medical care. The school forces you
to sign a contract which says you are forbidden to leave until u have finished your term of study. The instructors made
fun of the poor abilities of the foreigners and we were separated from the Chinese students who were walking around with identical
baskets that had all the supplies and toiletries that we were denied and told to go off and buy somewhere even though there
were no stores close to the school. The education of the foreigners was not taken seriously and we were told to spend
our weekends at a bar drinking. I told the manager I do not drink and would prefer to practice acrobatics every day.
He said "why don't you drink ? You will go to the bars on the weekends or u will stay alone, nobody will teach
you ." We were separated from the Chinese students on a different floor and could not even watch them train never mind
take their classes.
I am appalled at these circumstances. I was totally mislead both by their suspiciously changing website and the
person who answers emails at their overseas office in Canada. I was
lucky to escape from the school. I bribed a driver to take me to the airport. She resisted at first, but took
my money and even as she was driving she kept saying she was afraid, that she was not a legal driver and was only working
for the school. She feared we would get stopped and she would get in trouble but my money made her take a chance. I
feel sorry for the other foreign students who did not get out. Also, the only reason I could make and receive emails,
or have any outside contact was because I brought my laptop and a wireless modem. The Internet connection line in the
room was conveniently broken ! When I asked the room master how to use a public phone he sent me to my room. I
kept my laptop hidden. Thank goodness I had my own wireless modem ! Otherwise, I would have felt as helpless and
stranded as the others. Emailing people at home gave me the inner strength to find a way out.
Thank you
Posted: 12/7/10
BELOW IS THE LETTER WRITTEN TO THE NJ ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE OF COMPLAINTS (NO RESPONSE FROM THEM YET)I
FILED THIS COMPLAINT ON THEIR WEBSITE AND ALSO MAILED A FOLLOW UP COMPLANT ON 7/6/05:
June 2, 2005
To
Whom It May Concern:
RE: Leona
I am writing this letter in regards to Pennco Technical Institute. I attended
Pennco Tech from the time spanning from around March 1992 to September 1993
I would like to place a complaint for fraudulent
activity. How is a school allowed to operate in the State of New Jersey when the following activities are happening?:
Ø
I earned an Associates Degree, which I believe is invalid because the degree has the Bristol, Pennsylvania campus on it. I
only was there for the last two weeks of the 18 months I attended. When asked Pennco Tech why was this, I was informed because
the Blackwood, New Jersey campus was not an accredited school and they cannot legally give degrees. I received a diploma also
at that time, which had the Blackwood campus on it, which is Blackwood could offer me. The course had to take place the last
two weeks in Bristol to make the degree ‘good'. I paid 18 months for a two-week degree.
Ø Licensed teachers did
not teach the courses that were taught. When we traveled to Bristol the same teachers were sent to teach us. Now there is
a case of unlicensed teachers teaching in an accredited school.
Ø The courses that were taught were on outdated computer
languages that no one was using.
Ø I was just informed by Pennco Tech when I called to get the figures that I paid
that the Computer Programming course that I studied was discontinued a few years back due to poor job placement for perspective
employees in that field.
Following is a break down on the funds that were required for me to attend this course:
Student
Loans $ 6345.00
Cash Payment $ 2314.60
Books $ 545.00 - Total amount I am responsible for $9204.60
Grants $6673.00
I
am still in process of repaying the student loan. The student loan is now on my credit report listed as a judgment and my
wages are currently being garnished. I am seeking to have these funds recouped and the judgment to be dropped and cleared
from my credit history. Anything that can be possible done to help rectify this matter would be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Leona
I am writing this letter to report a fraudulent misrepresentation
made by Pennco Tech in Blackwood, NJ. Senior Admissions Representative Karl Mancuso "Guaranteed" lifetime job placements for
the Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration (HVAC) class with a starting salary of $15-28 dollars an hour.
He also said if I had good attendance, kept good grades, and participated in class my chance of earing the highest salary
of $28 an hour would be more likely.
To date, after 8 months in the program, I have a 100% class average, and perfect
attendance. I am top in my class. During our meeting with Mr. Mancuso, we had discussed how much of a financial burden this
class would take on our family, but he said that of the last graduating class, everyone had earned a position with a company
paying over $20 an hour to start. We believed Mr. Mancuso spoke as a knowledgeable representative of Pennco Tech, and took
his word as the truth. It was these beliefs that made the decision for me to sign the contract enrolling me in Pennco Tech.
After
speaking with Donna the Career counselor we were told there are NO jobs for ANY class in the salary range quoted to us by
Mr. Mancuso. The actual starting salary is only $9.50 an hour. With a slim possibility, Donna may be able to find me a job
paying up to $13. She said she had never heard of an entry level position paying as high as $28 an hour. Donna also stated
that because of equal opportunity employment, everyones resume must be sent to prospective employers, not just the people
in the top of the class. Everyone must be given the same employment options for every paying job available.
I believed
at the signing of my enrollment contract with Pennco Tech that I would be earing a full time starting salary of over $20 dollars
an hour. I would have never given up my $14 dollar an hour plus commission position, take out $15,000(plus interest) in student
loans, and sacrificed my families(we have 3 kids)future for a job only paying $9.50 an hour. We were lied to and taken advantage
of and I would like the school, and Mr. Karl Mancuso held firmly responsible! We relied on him to factually represented Pennco
Tech, and it was his lies that we put our future on the line for and enrolled with this school.
James & Stacy
Glassboro,
New Jersey
U.S.A.
Have Your Voice Heard Here!
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Computertraining.com Money Making Scam, From President down to Instructor all
Scam Artists Wilmington Delaware *UPDATE Employee ..inside information ..You are Correct ..a company that is filled with greed
especially from the owner
We have all heard the radio advertisements for Computertraining.com. You
know the one that says the average salary for a Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) is still over $50,000 a year.
While
this may be true what they don't tell you is that an employer is only paying those salaries to a qualified individual who
is a MCSE and has years of actual hands on experience. The truth is that after your $20,000+ investment the only thing you
have learned how to do is memorize a bunch of exam questions and answers.
That's right for $20,000+ your tuition is divided
into 2 protions. Half of your tuition goes toward 6 or 7 text books, 2 three ring binders with Xeroxed copies of lab excerises
and access to Mastermind.com. Mastermind.com is an online tool designed to prepare the students for the Microsoft exams by
giving you the questions and answers. The other half of tuition goes toward hours spent in the classroom. This is the only
part that is refundable if you decide to withdrawl within the first 8 weeks.
Although the course is represented as
a 6 month program it is actually a 4 month MCSE program and a 2 month Cisco program. So basically they charge you $10,000
for books and material and $10,000 for class lectures. Plus at a cost of $125 each there are 9 total exams to obtain the MCSE,CCNA
& CCDA certifications. If you fail any of these the money is lost and has to be paid again to retake it.
Computertraining.com
claims that they have a %97 pass rate and why shouldn't they if they are giving the students the questions and answers.
However
this has really devalued the certifications in the IT industry forcing Microsoft to change the tests and employers requiring
hands on experience. They actually goes as far as to give the students other websites to visit that have more up top date
exam questions and answers.
Computertraining.com has no interest in training people for a skilled career in the IT
industry. All they are interested in doing is to scam hard working people out of money that they have saved or borrowed to
try and make a better life for themselves and their families.
When it is all said and done all you have to show for yor
efforts are a few peices of paper that say Microsoft on it, no actual experience and a $20,000+ debt that you probably won't
be able to pay off with an IT job if you can get one.
Certified Scam Artists
Wilmington, Delaware
U.S.A.
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Name: Shawn
School: Chubb Institute
Same scam as penco tech. They have an amazingly easy
enterance test, and they promise great job placement.
The programs are taught
by computer techs, not real teachers. The schedule promised at sign up
changes all the
time. I absolutely hate this school. of the origonal
35 people in my class, more than half have dropped out.
Hi This my story about pennco tech bristol,pa campus. I am looking at about ten grand in student loans that i will have
to pay back six months from now. I basically feel i like i overpaid for skills i could have learned at bucks county community
college for far less money. With a teacher who would rather kill three and a half hours then to teach you anything you
might need to know to get hired by a company. If your thinking about attending Pennco Tech for Computers head to
a four year college instead. You will need a real degree to find a good job in computers. You don't actually earn a degree
but certifications at pennco tech. My problems first started when i noticed there were only five people in the class. Then
from day one reality hit around term 1 when my first teacher left for a better job and then i had teacher after
teacher until i wound up with the one i have now. When he shows up two days out of the week he was late all the
time with his car breaking down constantly and going as far as having the students constantly repairing his lemon. When i
complained about his lateness and the course not having up to date computer parts. I was told it would be taken care of. I
have never seen one new computer part in the course. They pass the buck and blame it on the teacher not ordering the parts. We
are working with outdated junk pentium2's. If you don't believe me take a walk through into term 3's computer closets and
ask the guy selling the course to show you what junk they have. Notice there is only a few decent computers which the
students own. When i was new to the course i didn't know what i was in store for. I only heard complaints from another
student in term 3 while i was still in term 1.The minute i got into term 2 i was happy to get my own computer which of course
you pay for with the high tuition. Then reality sets in and your realize this is it. Some nights i'm the only student in the
course. They put more money into the auto repair part of the school then they care about computer students. In fact my
teacher was more interested in fixing his laptop then teaching the course. What do they do to him for
not teaching? Do they fire him? Do they replace him with a better teacher? No, they tell him to use the book
more and keep him on the job. He has to be the worst teacher i ever had. He is only mad that he has to make attempt
to try and teach now and for that i'm facing his wrath. The other students don't care because they realize
they won't be working in that field so they have given up. I'm the only one outraged at my plight. I want to find a job in
the computer field. But that doesn't stop Pennco Tech from getting you to buying outdated books which
you will only use half in the course. I pray that i find a job somewhere. But days are turning into weeks and weeks into months. I
wasted my money on a course i could have learned somewhere else in much faster time. Please don't bother with this cheap school
they care nothing the course and will pass the buck and make every excuse in the book to keep getting money from
students that don't know any better but wanting to better themselves!
Name: John Doe
School: Pennco Tech(Bristol, PA)
DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT attend ANY "schools" that advertise
wildly on TV day in and day out. Those being ones
like PenncoTech,
Chubb, ITT, Gibbs, CLC, and DeVry. These "schools" are scams from the word
"go". They
DO NOT hold genuine accredations that community and 4-year
colleges and universities have. You cannot transfer ANY
credits to a
community or 4-year college. Save your money and heartache, start with
a community college if need
be. It may take a little longer, but it's
definately worth the wait and the education you receive is far more
superior.
sitecomments:
Great site! I hope anyone wishing to attend some junk
school such as this does some research first and comes across
this
website and learns the truth about these fly-by-night operations.
Roger
I am currently a student at the Chubb Institute in Cherry Hill, NJ. I am in my second term,
and have seen nothing but a poor education. Sadly enough, things felt funny from day 1. Many teachers suffer from severe incompetence,
and dont thoroughly teach the material. The employees are creepy as hell, and they are very unfriendly.
When i went
to get information regarding enrollment, the recruiters were over-bearing, and very similar to used-car salesmen. Once you
are actually enrolled, the atmosphere is completely different.
The tuition is outrageous, considering the poor and
out-dated equiptment at the facility. When i went to enroll, i was told that chubb is a difficult school, with an enrollment
board, and enterance exam. It was a joke. A monkey could take and pass the enterance exam. Ive seen complete and utterly incompetent
people good well on that exam, which "qualifies" them to take any course at the school. It's scary.
Their multimedia
program is the only decent program in the school. The multimedia teachers and equiptment are superior to that of the technical
department.
Chubb claims to be able to help with job placement, and that they have high placement percentages. The
fact is, most companies want a formal education (BA, MA) plus certifications and experience.
Chubb is falling extremely
short of my expectations, and falling short of the many promises and guidelines promised by the school itself. Im afraid for
my future. I dont know what to do at this point.
M
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
U.S.A.
Name: Patrick
I Went to Pennco Tech in Bristol, Pa for Computer Programming. I Graduated in 1993 with 94%Honors. It
cost me about $13,000 to
attend Pennco Tech. I still don't have a job in computer programming.
Name: Jason
comment: I was a student st pennco bristol campus to about 2 days ago
when i found this site adn
made me realize that the program i was in
(hvac/r) was bull i went through the basics class listening to mr. grey
talk
about his days in ww2 and his days living in florida instead of
learning anything....then continued on to commercial ref.
and all we did
was hang outside the back door to the lab playing quarters and eatin
icee-pops with the teacher mr.
haus i m now going to be roughly $15000 in
debt for nothin and i would really like to know how to get in touch with
the
people who have pending lawsuits against them or the lawers being
used so i also can file a lawsuit....not only where
the classes bull but
the people in financial aide screwed up my loans by putting the loans
for my classes which were
supposed to be student loans on the loan that
my mom took out (direct/plus loan) for dorms,books,and tools.....i
would
really like someone to steer me in the right direction on what!
to do legaly about this cause neither me or my mom know
what to
do.....so if someone could please contact me via e-mail at.....
it would be appreciated
Jason
sitecomments: very helpful and informative
otherschool: Chubb Institute
name: Shawn
comment: Same scam as penco tech. They have an amazingly easy enterance test, and they promise great
job placement. The programs are taught by computer techs, not real teachers. The schedule promised at sign up changes all
the time. I absolutely hate this school. of the origonal 35 people in my class, more than half have dropped out.
sitecomments: good site!
Please be warned that pennco tech is truly a ripoff.
For students
of all ages, dont go to pennco tech, why, I'll Tell you what they did to me.
When I first walked into pennco tech.
i had this funny feeling that something wasnt right with this school. Just by the way the sales reps for the school approached
me.
When I met the teachers and staff of the shcool NO one seemed happy or polite, but I brushed all of that off,
thinking everything with this school would be ok.
I was wrong, goin into pennco tech. that day was the worst descion
I could have made.
My first Day at pennco tech. wasnt very bright. It was dark and miserable. No one greeted me happily,
no one smiled, no one appreciated that I was attending there school.
One thing I found really weird, was that when
I went to talk to the career guide in the school. I found that she was the only career guide in the shcool of over 600 students.
I again thought, there is no way this woman can find jobs and great careers for all these students, that pennco tech so much
as to promised me and the others.
I tell you NOW when I graduated I had NO CONFIDENCE in the pennco tech to find me
a job, and NO CONFIDENCE in myself for I have made a horrible decision, going to pennco tech.
Now a year later after
graduating, I am here to announce that I still have no career, no money, and no hope. The day i graduated was the last day
I ever Heard From Pennco Tech.
What they did to me and others is illegal, playing with people hearts, minds, &
souls, as well as stealing my time & money.
I say money because, I have no money . All my money I get from a cashier
job at a super market goes straight to the student loans and went to all the books and supplies and charges I payed pennco
tech for my false education. They flat out STOLE my money out of my pocket. Gave me great Dark dreams and lied visions, in
a successful attempt to steal money.
Sara
Deptford, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I am concerned because we heard all the enticing things that
Pennco Tech had to say and now I am concerned for my
son. He is a
student there and has really taught himself since he was there. The
teachers don't show up
or sleep during class. When I reported they seemed to
take it out on him. Is there a way to retrieve what
they have taken
from him and keep him from as the site says having to repay these
$10000.00 in student loans that
will come his way if all this is true.
Wendy
I attended the Chubb Institute in Cherry Hill, NJ. Their career-placement
center was an all-around JOKE. I first must say that the educators were all above-average and some were better than I had
in university. But the woman who ran the career placement center was ridiculous.
This big-haired Jersey girl got me
a crappy TEMP job at a Compaq WAREHOUSE putting computers into boxes with high-school drop-outs. When I told the temp agency
that I would not be returning, the career placement woman called me and told me that I basically had to take any opportunity
offered to me and that I was lucky to get in on the ground floor at Compaq.
Here I was, with a BA and a certificate
for networking (which I realize now doesn't mean anything in the real world... especially from a second-rate for-profit "school"
like Chubb) and I was working in a warehouse. And this woman from Chubb actually told me she was doing me a favor by getting
me this position and implied that by rejecting it I was jeopardizing her standing with the temp agency. PUH-LEEZE.
I
couldn't give two @#$% about her OR the "school". I then realized that I had been DUPED and that all she wanted to do was
boost her placement numbers so that they can advertise a high placement percentage. I wonder how many more of the people the
career department "placed" were working at Wal-Mart type jobs. Chubb was probably the biggest rip-off of my life and I'll
be paying for it for a long time.
Scott
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
My mom used to work for Pennco Tech as a computer teacher for over 12
years. I forwarded your email to her
and she wholeheartedly agrees with
you! She hopes you get this message out to enough people to shut them
down!
Good luck to you :-)
Sonya
Pennco Tech is the worst school ever! Not only do they charge you insane amounts of money for your education,
but the education is worthless. I went through the computer networking program with amazing grades, followed with certifications
in the right field, and never found a job! I worked countless hours putting in resumes everywhere I could and I still remain
unemployed! Thanks Pennco Tech for WASTING MY TIME AND MONEY!
Wendy
Williamstown, New Jersey
Have Your Voice Heard Here!
Pennco tech. is a local school that brings young people in to start careers in auto, information
technology, etc. They ( karl, bob, doug, and all other pennco tech. salesman) promise you the world when you get in like most
schools do, like work, the "lots" of money you will make, and "all" the job opportunities, but you get nothing except bills
in the mail.
They at Pennco Tech. have only ONE woman runing the career services for the whole school. They rip you
off. I graduated in may '03 and still no work no job no nothing except bill for the ripoff school. I have put in massive amounts
of time searching for a career but with NO help from Pennco tech, my chances are slim to none of ever finding a career they
promised me or paying off the tuition and fees. Please notify others about this school and others like it. It hurts people
like me when you fall for a scam like this one, its hard to turn around. Thanks.
Paul
Erial, New Jersey
U.S.A.
Have Your Voice Heard Here!
Pennco tech. has ripped off many many young adults and adults. They do it by selling you into
there school and when you pay for your books thinking its ok cause your "Career Starts Here" then when you graduate, pennco
lets you go with no help no assistance and when you go to career services they tell you to look in the newspaper, im sorry
but isnt career services supposed help you.
I dont want anyone else falling for there false dreams they drill in your
head. DONT GO TO PENNCO TECH, go to a community college your worth it. There a scam to get your money.
Ron
Winslow, New Jersey
Have Your Voice Heard Here!
Hi I too have had a whole lot of trouble with pennco tech. That shcool is wrong in alot of ways
and i recommend NO ONE attends that shcool, unless you want to waste your time and money. Let me begin, I graduated pennco
tech 3 years ago at the britol campus and since then i have been on several interviews that i had to obtain with out pennco
tech help on my own behalf, anyway
i still have not found a career i am in now still pumping gas, the same reason
i went to that school to get away from pumping gas. So if anyone is trying to get a new professional career and trying to
better your life, going to pennco tech is not the way to do it they basically rob you of your money and im still furious after
3 years with an education i paid for to a school that just threw me out in the trash. Pennco tech. is truly a ripoff school
and i feel really bad for anyone attending that shcool now i wish i could help them, Thanks to pennco tech I am $15,000 in
dept and pumping gas:(
Jamal
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
Have Your Voice Heard Here!
Pennco Tech taught the rudimentary details needed for a programming school.
The teachers were sub-par and were many times unable to perform complex programming functions. Any motivated student could
easily surpass the skill of the instructors within this school in a manner of weeks. They teach some outdated software such
as Cobol, and do not upgrade to the most up to date technologies such as .NET technologies and remain with older versions
of software suites.
The school I went to was not useful to me at all. Every single job I possessed I had to learn
languages and systems that weren't even mentioned. Any student wishing to be a programmer should go to a 4 year school under
a computer science major. If a tech school is in your future do a lot of research and don't listen to the recruiters. Try
to get real data about where their students end up and the qualifications of their instructors.
Mike
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Have Your Voice Heard Here!
I am a recent graduate of the chubb programming cirriculum and am now realizing
my education is next to worthless.
My complaints are numerous,from dishonest recruiters(who told us that chubb had
a 96% "job success" rate)to incompetent teachers,to a staff that is more concerned with keeping students quiet than making
sure they get a good education.
Oh and I forgot about the career services department.It turns out that the "96% success"
rate includes "related fields" like telemarketing,data entry(that pays about $10.00 an hour)and basically any job that uses
a computer(we found this out about a month before graduation).
Any real programming jobs are looking for either real
world experience or a computer science degree.
I am trying to contact any other chubb grads with similar complaints
that want to take action.If interested contact me below
D
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
I interviewed at Chubb institute in Cherry Hill New Jersey...I came in...as an
instructor w/ 5 years experience...I was A+ certified...a Certified Novell Engineer...in both 4 and 5...and a certified Microsot
Professional...w/ 2 years teaching just MS2000. My interview for the instructors was a joke...their Novell instructor...was
this miserable fat little woman...who didn't have a CNE...and made snottie and hostile comments during my presentation...the
programming instructor...was this anemic and equally rude cunt...who made no attempt to hide her hostility...and then...there
other instructor...looked like 60's hippie...who's still getting over the fall of the soviet union The three of these jokes...wrote
me a horrible review...and told the school head...that I wasn't technically proficient! When I had more certifications and
more experience than the 3 of them combined! Also...this was 2001...and they still didn't have a MS 2000 curriculum...they
were still teaching NT4.0...what a joke! In a word...Chubb is an insular little place...w/ a silly little click...who's curriculum
is hopelessly out of date...and yes...their programming department is a joke...what programming are you going to learn from
that gaunt c*nt...who's never done any programming anywhere...except in a classroom situation for students...
Andrew - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
I attended gibbs college for one year. Then I got out because I was going now
where. All the students were paying 23,000 for no teachers. I had three teachers for one class, one after the other. 1st teacher
assigned work, 2weeks later another is in and does not count the hard work we did with the 1st teacher. 50% of one semester
a teacher would be absent.
Some teachers are good there but your moneys worth, no way, plus in the commercial they
say that they will help you find a job, well I think that 20% of the student body gets a job from gibbs. And they do not teach
you everything you need to know about graphic design. Hands on training--yeah right! Now I have to pay a major price for going
there. And to top it off, they want me to go back so that I can pay the full $23,000. Heck no. I'm pay half though, they say
they want me to go to court because I haven't paid, but now they changed they're minds for wanting me back. I wish you luck
to all, do not fall for this.
Student body: 100% enters 12% Graduates.
JJ
Kearny, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I went to chubb in 98 and was told of their job placement program. The course
material was not certified by Microsoft at that time that I was attending and the instructor told us that the material that
they were using was just as good as that certified by microsoft.
And so after completing the course no one in my class
was placed in a job by the school. We complained to the school and even the main office but our complaints fell on deaf ears.
Therefore if you are reading this and are planning on attending or know someone that is please advice the person not
to attend. If they insist that they will be able to place you or your friend in a job get them to not only put it in writing
but also a full refund in writing with interest in writing as well.
Do not make the same mistake as I have made.
Blane
jersey
city, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I have been struggling for help for several years regarding my dealings with The
Computer Learning Center of Philadelphia (Market Street location to be precise) to no avail.
It all began in May of
1995 I was working two jobs and desperate to get my family a decent way of life. I saw/heard the commercials for CLC and decided
to check it out.
I called and set an appointment. Upon arriving I was greeted by my counselor Greg Person who proceeded
to tell me that I could be starting out in a new field with a new salary of $45-50,000 a year.
I told him that I have
NO computer background; in fact, I have never even taken a computer class! That was No problem Greg said, We give you all
the experience you need I was then told that the tuition was going to be about $12,500 but they would make it affordable through
student loans. Mr. Person said everything was covered with the $12,500 even testing for certification! He said that was how
they ensured their program was the best because if their instructors were inferior the school would pay far too much in testing
fees to stay in business.
I then asked about the type of class I should take Mr. Person had only one answer, of course,
the most expensive class in the school LAN, when I asked how a person with such limited experience would do in such a course
he said that most of the students in the class had little or no computer training and that if I had any problems the teachers
would make themselves available and the school had an extensive tutoring program.
I began classes on August 8th 1995
and the start went well I seemed to be doing satisfactorily but at the end of the first section the instructor started to
review the course in general including the idea we should start saving our money for the first battery of tests for certification.
When in absolute dismay I approached Mr. Barlow and told him what Greg Person had told me that those costs were included
he said You too huh, Maybe you should go speak to your counselor I stormed off only to find out that my counselor mysteriously
left the day I started classes. I then sought to make an appointment With the Dean but was told it would be at least a week
before I could speak to him.
When I finally was able to speak to him he told me it was my word against the schools
and that if I wished to sign a non-disclosure waiver absolving the school of any wrongdoing he could arrange to have a third
of my student loans discharged leaving me to pay the last two-thirds!
I said that was absurd but knowing I was stuck
one way or the other I continued to try. As the material turned to the hard-core networking I fell behind quickly not understanding
much of what was taught.
I approached the teacher but was told he was far too busy helping the other students. I then
sought a tutor well I tried to anyway. I was told the extensive tutoring program was full but put my name on a list, after
several weeks I was given a tutor from the programming class who had no networking experience and in fact had never passed
a single certification test (all of this for $12,500).
I returned to the Dean who, after offering me the gag order
deal again thought a different teacher might help. I was just as lost there and thereafter had a nervous breakdown leading
to my divorce and six months of Prozac rehabilitation.
I then tried over the next few years to work out something
with CLC but was stonewalled at every turn. At one point they would not even acknowledge that Greg person ever even worked
there! I now have physical evidence that he in fact signed off on paperwork that was in my folder! I have yet to find one
agency that can help me with this situation. I attend a school for 4 months and now owe $16,000 with interest!
I hope
these CLC scum bags die a slow and painful death.
Chris
Turnersville, New Jersey
I had attended this school from september of 01 to march of 02. During this whole time i attended
the school, i was NEVER asked if i needed further help on the subject except by Peg leg ( i wont use his real name) PegLeg
was always ready to help, yet we only had his class for 1 week. Not to mention we had 2 teachers fired midstream, CONTINUOUS
schedule changes.
Also a year later i was billed for about 100$ due to wrong paperwork by the financial aid office,
lets just say, they wont see my money, I have already started a class action lawsuit with 13 other former students who have
had nothing but bills and NOT ONE BIT OF HELP FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES dept.
They are all one dumber than the
other, yet the refund policy is for the first 3 days, lo and behold the first 3 dcays u r doing "windows basics" therefore
STICKING you with the loan. I personally will never pay this loan and would consider declaring bankruptcy before ever giving
another penny to these conniving scamming fools.
WHATEVER YOU DO, DONT GO THERE, The teachers are flunks, the staff
is spiteful, the parking lot is all broken, and i have still yet to be repaid for my flat tire i got there, not to mention
the theft on my vehicle, they refused to show me the tape that was from the camera of the parking lot, I believe this place
is a crock of sh*t, not to mention, the Son now owns the place, so im sure he's a little easier to work something out with.
SAVE YOURSELF 16 K
Rob Hates BCSI - Wall Twp, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I know from experience of attending a trade school with so called "placement
guarantees" that the only thing these schools do are nothing more than what the student can do themselves, read the newspaper
and use temp agencies. As far as the education they provide, yes it is cheaper compared to a larger university, and that is
exactly what employers look at, spend the money for a higher education, it pays off in the end. I am now attending Davenport
University, and we have instructors at my school that work in corporations that it is their company way to throw trade school
resumes in the trash!! Yes, i pay more for my education now but nothing beats the backing of a larger university on your resume.
Sorry you had such a bad experience.
Trish - Grand Rapids, Michigan
U.S.A.
I was a student of The Chubb Institute in Parsippany NJ. I graduated
at the top of my class with an A average. After a moth a half Chubb finally found me a job. I worked at the company for a
month and half and my psoition was desolved and they wanted to make me Administrative Assistant with a paycut and I obviously
declined. When I told Chubb of this they were mad I left the job and refused to place me in another job because they said
that they only will help you find your first job. None of this was in the contract they had me sign. I also know that out
of the 14 people in my class 6 of them do not have jobs yet. They say they have a 89% job placement and I don't think 8 out
14 is 89%.
Andrew
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
It should be called the "Chubby Institute", because they get fat off
of our money. The Chubb Institute, Parsippany campus makes $150,000 a month signing up applicants. They promise that their
Job Placement service has successfully placed candidates at corporate job sites. I graduated from there in 1991 with a "diploma"
in mainframe computer operations, just when PCs were becoming the mainstay of technology. Then in 1999, I, (being the glutton
for punishment that I am), took a network engineering course which never panned out because every time I sat down at my desk
my computer, or a certain component was gone. After complaining to the Night Manager a few times, I just called it quits.
They say that they keep up to date with the latest technology, but, they don't. Also, some of their instructors just do not
know how to teach. Just my two cents. Thanks for reading.
George - Morris Plains, New Jersey
I enrolled in this accredited school in Dec, 2000 and 'graduated' in
Feb 2002 with 'degree/diploma' in computer programming and web development w/a 3.5 GPA.
My complaint is just about identical
to the one placed 9/3/2002 by 'D' in Cherry Hill, NJ regarding The Chubb Institute.
He/she is correct about the inflated
'success rates'. Many jobs they get are low-paying - not good if you're an adult with responsibilities. I found no complaints
re; Cittone but I noticed most people will just shrug it off because they think there's nothing they can do so no one says
anything. most of those whom I graduated with are still not working in the field. Like the person in Cherry Hill, I, too feel
that my education is worthless - all to the tune of about $14,000!!!
If one buys a car and cannot drive it, the matter
is usually taken care of in a very short time. Well, I've paid for an education that has proved worthless. Most employers
seek extensive experience or a compter degree. Cittone has now added another new course relating to the health field - probably
because they see that the IT field is sinking fast. To this day I have not received one good lead. This is really a rotten
shame! I've made an expensive mistake!!
Dan
Maplewood, New Jersey
U.S.A.
This company is in vocational training business. They do SAP training.
The President of the company made false claims and collected $3,500 dollars from me. It was not worth one penny. He hired
a guy whose H-1 VISA is not legal to work in his company. The instructor could not speak English continuously. I am an IT
Professional who spent 8 years working for Major Corporations and I could not believe I got ripped off like this. I have filed
a complaint againt him in the Division of COnsumer affairs. They transfered my papers to the Division of education and I have
not heard from them yet. I am thinking of contacting an attorney. I have already lost tremendous amount of money. I saw your
ad and decided to file a compalaint here.
If the media wants to contact me, I am willing to share the story with them.
This kind of fraud does not belong to the usual category. This can warn other people who are victims of this kind of crime.
Credit card companies are not willing to help. They go by the contract. This business man uses his personal emails and threaten
to sue me after eating my 3,500 dollars. I would be more than willing to share my story if the media is willing to help me.
thank
you very much
Sudha
farmingdale, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I had been out of work for about 6 months when I went to visit HPG. I
was told that they only take on a certain number of clients at one time and that they definitely could help me.
Their
"secret" was by-passing Human Resources and putting you directly in front of the real decision makers. They claimed to have
the contacts. They also said they had a couple of positions in mind for me already.
Then came the cost... $6,000.
I got them to agree to take 50% up front and the balance if they placed me within 30 days. Needless to say, they never placed.
What
you get for you money is nothing you can't do on your own. First off, my counselor knew little about my field so I basically
wrote my resume by myself. Next they gave me a huge list of companies based on specific Standard Indistrial Classification
(SIC) Indexes that I could've gotten myself from the Internet. Then they printed out hundreds of copies of my resume and told
me to go mail them out. Their list is not very up to date either, as many of my resumes got returned as undeliverable.
The
other advice I got was to call friends, family and past assocites to begin "networking." Who doesn't know that? There were
no meetings with decision makers and no coaching sessions. Just a lot of false promises.
Being unemployed is difficult
but don't get desperate and fall for these scams. You can do all the work yourself and keep your money in the bank.
Robert
SCOTCH
PLAINS, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I attended Brick Computer back in 2000. After a year of hearing
nothing from them I recieved a letter saying that they messed up the refund process and I now owe then 3400+ dollars. This
report is now on my credit report. I tried to contact brick computer directly and it has come to my attention that they are
now closed for good.
However, I still have this problem that I dont believe that I should be responsible for. If when
I decided to leave the school they told me that I would have been 3400 in the whole I most likely would have stuck out the
school. So I am stuck. Does anyone out there have any advise for me.
David
08723, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I would like to inform ANY person who may be interested in taking
classes at the Katharine Gibbs School to obtain information and then proceed with caution.
I signed up for their new
Medical Assistant program, attended for 15 days and I am now responsible to pay a Stafford Loan in the amount of around $800.00
and $1,725.10 to the school.
First of all I gained absolutely NOTHING in those 15 days, as a matter of fact it was
the biggest waste of my time.
When you are interested in going to the school, you get all of the attention in the world.
There are people constantly calling you or answering your calls. As soon as I decided to drop, I could not get a person to
call me back for almost 3 weeks.
They push you and hurry you to sign you up. They do not make you fully aware of their
policies. Sure I got this big pamphlet but NOT ONE person made me aware of the print on the back of the enrollment agreement,
which just so happen to be signed and shoved into my folder quicker than I could wink.
This is an email response I
got when I asked for the amount that I am supposed to pay these people to be reviewed:
Patricia,
I am sorry that
circumstances led you to have to withdraw from school and create this problem for you. Unfortunately, when you enrolled you
signed an enrollment agreement and the tuition refund policy was described on the back of that document. This situation is
much different than going to the store to buy a gallon of milk. You are purchasing an education and financing your future.
It is a big investment and again, I regret that it did not work out for you.
I would be more than happy to look at
the lab fee that was charged but unfortunately there is not much we can do regarding the tuition charge.
Greg Salter
Oh yeah they charged me a lab fee and all of the classes that I had were lecture. They are also extremely over priced.
I am going to be attending a school offering the same degree for a fourth of the cost. And they tried to tell me that the
education I would be getting there is not good and I would have trouble finding employment after graduating.
I checked
the credentials of the other school, which has been teaching Allied Health programs for over 40 years, and they are just as
good as Gibbs and they provide employment assistance upon graduation.
I could go on and on, but bottom line, I feel
totally RIPPED OFF!
Patricia
Lebanon, New Jersey
U.S.A.
School: STAR
Name: JOE
Comment: I have been a student at Pennco Tech Bristol since
13 January
2005. I am in their HVAC program. The only reason I chose the school
was it offered HVAC as a 10 month program. Wheareas, If I had went to a
local community college...it would've taken me longer to graduate. Since
I have been at the school, I was hurried through financial aid and the
classroom instruction is less than satisfactory...some days students
pass the time by pitching quarters. Even though I do have EPA
certifications etc. I am not confident in anything I am doing. As of now, my
student status is in question over a $1,300 dorm bill because the schools
financial aid department forgot to file my VA benefits for which they
have had on file since I started. In fact, I was ridiculed by the school
director Mr. Parcells for "pissing on his flat rock" when I questioned
him about the matter.
Sitecomments: Very informative! I wish I had found it before I signed
my life away to the quack administration at Pennco's Bristol, PA site
(ie Parcells & Davidson)
They (pennco tech.) dont teach us, they just charge us. We never have the materials to work with, and we have
had many teachers who have been hired and fired.
School: Gibbs
name: Colleen
comment: Katharine Gibbs School is a nasty
school and I would like my
money back. My Credits cannot be transferable and I am banned from
going into the
school ever again. I was promised a job instead I was told
to find my own job myself and no one cared. The
dean, assistant dean
and her secreatary are all nasty people and were the ones that banned me
from the school.
I would like my money back since I did not get a good
education from the school instead I got harassed by teachers and
nasty
staff memebers. I want money back and I was struggling to find a job
and has to pay a job agency.
sitecomments:
Excellent Site
Star Technical Institute is also a scam
Harrison Career Institute which you have listed is also a scam.I worked at both and they tried to get you to lie to the
students.
Below are news articles on Harrison Career Institute, in the missle of a Federal Investigation. Hopefully they
will all get hit a Sanford Brown and CSC Institute in Philadelphia are also being investigated. Some stories I just have the
link, others I Pasted the link and article.You should also go to a website for Rippoffreports.com. Scam articles below
U.S.: School mishandled loans
GET HELP
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
will take calls from HCI students at (609) 984-5262.
The state also plans to set up a Web site for student comments.
Watch for the feedback section coming to www.njtrainingsystems.org
The U.S. Department of Education is planning to
use part of its Web site for information for HCI students. The department's home page is www.ed.gov.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
By JEANNE RIDGWAY
Courier-Post Staff
VOORHEES
Thousands of students in New Jersey and neighboring states have been coerced and cheated, according to federal
allegations that a vocational school based in Voorhees mishandled student loan money and failed to deliver on contracted courses.
The president of Harrison Career Institute, also known as HCI, vigorously denies the accusations detailed in a Department
of Education "emergency action letter" and says the school will appeal by the Sept. 8 deadline.
The U.S. Department of
Education plans to fine HCI $3.64 million on findings of fraud and improprieties involving the school's participation in federal
student loan programs.
Harrison Commisso, owner and CEO of Voorhees-based HCI, was notified about the department's intentions
in an Aug. 18 letter from the department. The 15-campus institute has schools in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Allentown, Pa.,
Wilmington, Del., Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
The Courier-Post obtained a copy late Wednesday.
HCI has filed an
appeal of the department's actions, including the termination of HCI's eligibility for student loan programs, according to
Jim Mannion, HCI president. He called the department's findings "distorted and out of context."
"We believe the government
is 100 percent absolutely wrong," said Mannion. "I absolutely, without a doubt in my mind, think we will prevail. It's unfortunate
I can't give you more information."Mannion insisted that the school would not close, despite student rumors to the contrary.
HCI's actions have hit students hard, according to Mary E. Gust, author of the Aug. 18 letter. Gust listed the department's
case against the post-secondary vocational school, including findings that the school coerced students to sign up for loans
that they did not need, sold them computers for double their actual value, and failed to deliver on courses as contracted.
The letter alleges the school mishandled student loan money dating back to 2001.
"Harrison's conduct is extremely egregious
considering the underprivileged nature of much of the student population attending the institution," wrote Gust, director
of the federal student aid section at the Education Department. The document also alleges the school: Falsified the school's
Title IV loan eligibility records and student eligibility documents. Illegally retained federal tuition money that students
did not earn.
Did not release "in a timely manner" credit balances that students were permitted to use for critical needs,
such as child care and transportation.
The department also claims HCI enticed students to obtain loans from Access Financial
Group, another company owned by HCI's Commisso. The loans were written to replace federal loans that students had already
received, the letter alleges.
"In some cases, the students were not told that their accounts were already paid in full,"
Gust wrote. In business since 1979, HCI opened with one school in Cinnaminson. Today, the company has grown to 15 schools.
In South Jersey, HCI operates campuses in Deptford, Delran and Vineland. HCI opened a new corporate office on Evesham Road
in Voorhees within the past year.
Students train for a variety of business and health careers such as small-business management,
paralegal, medical and dental assistant and practical nursing.
About 1,800 students are enrolled, said Mannion. Federal records show nearly 4,000 students enrolled in the past academic
year.
On the Vineland campus, student rumor has it that HCI will close for good, said Millville student Christine Lugo,
21. The school is on summer recess until Sept. 12, said Mannion.
"The worst thing that could happen for me is them not
reopening," said Lugo, who has taken $10,000 in student loans and is studying dialysis. "I put eight months into my education
here, and it's like eight months down the drain."
Another student said she is worried about finding a job and paying back
the money she owes for her education.
"If they do shut down, then I'm stuck with $5,000 worth of loans," said Keyanna
Jones, 26, of Gouldtown, Cumberland County. The U.S. Department of Education is still developing a Web site that will provide
students with information about the situation and what they may do. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
will conduct its own assessment of HCI and its training, said department spokesman Kevin Smith. "We will work with local work
force investment boards and other training providers to make sure our clients have other places where they can complete the
training they have started at HCI," said Smith. Lindenwold resident Naomi Silver, 30, who graduated from HCI in 2002, said
she thinks the school deserves to be fined. Silver couldn't find a job because, she said, HCI failed to come through with
a promised externship. Silver said she is still paying back $6,000 in student loans. "They cheated a lot of us out of a lot
of money. I think it's justified. They didn't follow through on their end of the contract," said Silver. Gannett New Jersey
contributed to this report. Reach Jeanne Ridgway at (856) 486-2479 or jridgwayat courierpostonline.com
More oversight needed for vocational schools
http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050829/OPINION/508290301/1006
RELATED STORIES
Harrison to reopen Aug. 31
U.S.: School mishandled loans
Monday, August 29, 2005
Federal and state regulators rely too much on self-reporting by schools, but some can't be trusted to tell the truth. Private
vocational schools thrive off taxpayer-backed student loans. More than half of their students depend on the loan programs
to pay for their education, which can sometimes cost more than a four-year program at a public university. These schools serve
a useful purpose, as not all students go to college. But some private vocational schools seem to put more effort into getting
loan payments than educating students. Usually, federal and state regulators are the last to learn when schools aren't delivering
promised job training or opportunities. Regulators rely too heavily on the honor system as schools tell regulators whether
they are complying with federal loan and state education requirements. There is too much opportunity for lax compliance or
outright cheating. Voorhees-based Harrison Career Institute, a private vocational school, is facing allegations that it mishandled
student loans and didn't offer contracted courses. The owner, Harrison Commisso, vigorously denies the allegations and is
fighting a proposed $3.6 million fine the U.S. Department of Education plans to impose. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California
and other states are reviewing business practices at vocational schools owned by Career Education Corp., including the Sanford
Brown Institute in Iselin, Middlesex County. In April, a CBS 60 Minutes report claimed Career Education
schools routinely pressured unqualified students to enroll and grossly overstated its graduation and job placement rates.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development said it is closely reviewing Sanford Brown's application for
renewal. Still, it is rare for the state to go beyond looking over the paperwork when schools renew operating licenses each
year as required, a spokesman said. Usually, it takes complaints from several students or school staff to initiate an investigation
of business practices.
Oversight must be tightened. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., has tried for 15 years to get Congress to impose more stringent
regulation. Waters told 60 Minutes some congressional members protect the schools. As a group, private vocational schools
have contributed more than $1 million in campaign contributions to federal officials during the past two years, 60 Minutes
found. Half of that money was given to House Education Committee Chairman John Boehner, R-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Howard P. McKeon,
R-Calif. Taxpayers and vocational students need leaders who will protect them. Our elected federal and state officials must
hold these schools more accountable for educating students and complying with federal loan regulations. That will happen if
voters start holding elected officials accountable for how well vocational schools operate.
School: Pennco Tech
You think Pennco Tech is bad as a student try working there.
The man who runs
the admission department, a fat stocky bald headed man
fires employees like it's going out of style. In fact he relishes
it!
For example one day in his office filled with Yankees memorablia which
by the way he didn't become a Yankees fan
until his original team was so
bad he felt the need to become a front runner, anyway he showed us
employees a stack
of admission representatives cards he kept of all the
employees he fired, it was a joke to him. Little did he know the
only joke
was how big a loser he was. Safe to say everybody in that room knew
there time there would be short lived.
There mantra is enroll anybody, no
matter who it is, if he doesn't speak english no big deal get his
money, if he
fails the enrollment test so what change the student's score so
they pass, all they want is these poor saps money. The
place is a joke,
but the only joke is on these poor kids who waste there time w!
ith a degree and certificate that
gets them nothing once they enter the
real world. For anybody who reads this, don't apply for a job at Pennco
Tech,
they'll treat you like garbage and fire you within three months
so they don't have to pay you medical benefits.
School: CHUBB
Name: Daniel
comment: i got out of chubb in the summer of 05 now its the winter lol what gives
i have no job no money so what gives i got maybe one or two calls from the school then nothing and all the interviews i setup
myself out of the newspaper so i ask chubb wuts give i left the school with a 4.0 top ranked out of my class and still no
job what gives?
sitecomments: i love this site bring thoses ass-holes down a peg or two
This site is excellent and informative, I
worked at Pennco Tech in the admissions
department and the
school is a rip off believe me. If a student couldn't pass the entrance test we
would change the grade to ensure they did because all that mattered was getting
money. If a
student wanted to attend the so called school they would pay 20 dollars to fill out the application, if for
some reason the student couldn't attend the school at a later date they weren't reimbursed, which was embarrassing if you
were a rep. The staff and management at Pennco Tech care
nothing about the students and there well being, in fact they
care about nobody but themselves. I say this to anybody thinking of attending that dump avoid it at all costs, take it from
me I saw the inner workings of this place and it's not pretty.
BY: John Doe
School: STAR
Name: Robert
I am in class right now and we are watching a movie about
networking...the
teacher isn't teaching cause he honestly does'nt care in my opinion..he rarely teaches.He lectures but his lectures are bad
and I don't ever feel informed or that i am learning. I paid all this money to read my book in class and take the tests that
come with the book! i could have just bought the book. the only thing that helped is when we
built a computer in class
i'll admit i leaned something on that day; yeah one day, only one day can i say i learned something new from an actual teacher.
sitecomments:
i wish i found it before i enrolled
School: ALL
Once again, I reiterate: DO NOT ATTEND ANY OF THESE "FOR PROFIT" SCHOOLS!
This includes Pennco Tech, Chubb, CHI, HCI, you name it. They do not provide you with a viable education. You
cannot transfer ANY credits to an accredited 2 or 4-year college/university. When the heat gets too hot with investigations
by the government or the media,
they shut down, move down the road, and reopen under a new name. Don't be fooled
by ANY of these tactics. Steer clear. Make informed decisions. You will be thankful in the end.
sitecomments:
Great, informative site. I'm glad to see more and more postings appearing.
School: STAR
Name: Chris
YEP WENT TO THIS SCHOOL IN HOPES OF ETTING A BETTER EDUCATION AND GETTING A JOB
THAT PAYS WELL. I GRADUATED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001 AND
CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT JOBS AND NONE AVAILABLE. THIS IS AFTER
THEY SAID THEY HAD A 96% CHANCE OF EMPLOYMENT. I WAS A+ CERTIFIED AND STILL
CAN NOT FIND A JOB IN THE FIELD AFTER THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS DOWN THE DRAIN I AM WORSE OFF THAN I STARTED.
In February 2005 I was called by a Mr Davidson to be interviewed for a teaching position in Bristol, PA. I traveled
twice from Philadelphia to be interviewed for a position which he said had not yet been approved by Pennsylvania. As time
went by the program still had not been set and I was becoming rather concerned. Then, abruptly, in the summer, Mr Davidson
left Pennco Tech. Why, I do not know. Was he fired or did he leave voluntarily? I had a lingering 'bad taste' for the whole
situation and NO ONE had the courtesy to inform me of anything, including the director 'Frank'. I was simply left in the lurch
and have no idea what is what. At least I am not out dollars like you guys. At 56 I have found that there is still much to
learn in life. My resume and transcript are enclosed as attachments.I have sent a copy of this message to Pennco Tech.
Student: Yes
Comment: I went to pennco for computer networking and graduated in april 2004 and pennco has yet to help get me a job,
i work in automotive now!
Site Comments: Get the word out!!
Pennco Tech's Desperate "Attempt"
Below is a comment left by an employee by the name of Fred who apparently works for Pennco Tech. I
have copied and pasted the entire comment below for all, word for word. Please read on to see his desperate attempt
to take PenncoTechScam off the web.
Name: Fred
Comment: "Your skills are very high and should be getting put to better use and pay than this site!"
Site Comments: "Your site is so one sided, which is your right. But, if you really want help, assistants
or how ever you want to call it, come to the school and i will get your skills placed with a company. You should be
working rather than wasting your time here! 215.785.0111 call soon!"
PenncoTechScam's Response:
Fred,
Thanks for your inquiry and as a loyal employee
to your school thanks for taking the time to check out PenncoTechScam.tripod.com. I
want you to know that this site is NOT a waste of time. PenncoTechScam.tripod.com has helped and reached out to many young adults and adults alike. PenncoTechScam has listened and heard all complaints and continues to give the most extreme attention to
all issues and complaints regarding scam schools such as yours truly Pennco Tech. I
want to inform you I do indeed have a job and am doing well for myself thank you. However
I wasn’t always in a stable position and when I needed your school the most they offered nothing that was
promised. This site will still be the driving force for leading would be students
away from Pennco Tech and other scam schools. So to call this site a waste of
time, you are in fact insulting me and all of your current students and alumni, who have been cheated and scammed by Pennco
Tech, for viewing the PenncoTechScam website. I wish you luck in your future
scams, because PenncoTechScam.tripod.com is here to stay!
No promises but you kinda inspired me with your website to make a website to help people make the right decisions with
their life and stay away from these predatory tech schools.
If you want to collaborate, let me know.
http://www.scamschool.tk/ is the domain. Right now I just have a placeholder. I'm going to section it off, have a forum, and all sorts of good stuff.
I am alumni of Pennco tech. I faced the same BS with the "career services". I was told the same thing (did you look in
the newspaper?) A majority of the jobs posted for HVAC/R required years of experience
and some had NOTHING TO DO WITH
THE FIELD I WAS STUDYING!!! I then went on to graduate without ANY direction or help from "career services"
like promised,
and went on to become a forklift operator.
| Pennco Tech Doug Johnson, Carl Mancuso RIPOFF HARDLY TAUGHT HALF OF
CURRICULUM TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL FIRED WITHIN 6 MONTHS Blackwood New Jersey |
I attend Pennco Tech in Blackwood, New Jersey. I am in ther Marine
Mechanic Program. Since I started there I have been told constant lies. I am now at my last draw.
From the beginning
I was told by the recruiter what was in the curriculum. He told me that fiberglass repair, Jet ski repair, welding and marine
heating and cooling were in this class. This was also on my curriculum documents given to each classmate.
I am not
there with two months left with hardly anything more than I started with. These topics mentioned in the previous paragraph
have not been covered. The topics covered were hardly covered and most time at this school is spent with nothing to do which
is wasting my time and money.
Also during only six months there I have had one teacher fired and the principal fired
Jared
Del
Haven, New Jersey
U.S.A.
|
comment: I attended ITT Tech from 2002 till 2004. I would say that it is the one thing that I regret the most in my life.
I do have a very good job, and ITT may have helped me in some strange way, but I would never recomend this so called school
to anyone. They prepare you for the future, a future of debt that you can barely pay. I can never see my loans being payed
off. I was very lucky out of 35 people only 5 graduated, and I was the only one that had a descent job. I would go as far
as saying that this huge financial burden may have even broken up some families. My final quarter the dean of the school up
and left. They could not find him, he just never came back. Maybe his conscience would not let him steal money from inocent
hard working people, maybe he was tired of the lies. I was a victim, only trying to improve the quality of life for my family.
Dont be the next victim.
comment: This school is a total rip off. They promised I would make X amount of dollars when in fact it was much less.
I received no assistance from career services because she was upset with me. Childish and unprofessional? Yes, I think so.
And to top it off, I am paying back a student loan and not even working in that career because it can't pay the bills....not
in NJ. Which was not an impression I was given. Screw Pennco Tech. They suck. Never let your kids go to this school. I served
my country in the Army for 5 years protecting the right of stupid idiots to scam innocent people who just want a better life.
Other School: Gibbs
Name: John Doe
Comment: Please be careful everyone. I just came out of high school ready to enter college, set to go for my career, little
did I know about many other colleges availible in my area (NJ). So I saw the commercial from Gibbs and it said Muiltimedia
and Filmmaking. I said great! I wanted to become a filmmaker. So I called. They told me to come in and I did. I told them
that I wanted to become a filmmaker and they told me that they had programs for filmmaking. I got excited and I said OK. I
started the semester and yet nothing about filmming. I told the director, when are we going to do hand on training, and they
told me that we will get to it. We never did. The Students knew more things than the director which was also my professor.
I had one class that had 4 professors in one semester. There were many times that they had to cancel classes because we did
not have a room. I got sick of tired of gibbs with all these stupid changes and yet no filmmaking. Now I am stuck payi! ng
$12,000, my credit has gone bad, and theres nothing I can do. Not even the state can help me. Is there anything else I can
so. I'm stuck paying this and I can not attend another school. Thank you for reading.
Site Comments: Love this site, keep it up
How is it considered justice to pay back a 6,000 plus loan to a school that has decieved with shallow promises / statements.
You are striving to created a better & more secure future , but Harrison Career Institute has blanantly chose not to perform
its duty in a professional manner towards the students they have given their word to in order to recieve the "proper" education
with the "proper" tools needed to succeed.
Pennco Tech Ripoff Throwing money away!
Bristol
Pennsylvania
My son attended Pennco Tech for Auto body in Bristol
Pa. We checked out other schools prior to Pennco tech but due to the location
we decided on Pennco Tech.
From the first time we saw the school I should have known that it was not right. The rooms
were worse than anything I’ve ever seen (and I did 20 years in the Marine Corps) and the staff was less than concerned.
My son had some prior body word experience but I was under the impression with formal training it would better his chances
in the market.
We would talk and he would tell us how he was bored and the instructors rarely gave them things to do.
Of course you can take that with either here or there.
So I decided to go to Pennco Tech myself and check it out. Over
a two day period I observed numerous students not just in the Auto Body school but Auto Mechanic school also just standing
around, smoking, talking and doing whatever. Apparently if you don't have "your own" vehicle there to work on there is not
much to do.
They do not bring vehicles in from dealerships or outside sources to work on. So unless someone lets you
help on their own vehicle you are out of luck.
The instructor did basically nothing except wonder around the area and
said nothing, and gave no input to anyone.
Talked to my son on the eve of the second day and we ended up going in the next
day and him disenrolling from the school.
So now we owe about 6k for the time he spent there and learned less than
he already knew prior to going.
What
is so bad about the whole experience is a trade like that demands an education and unfortunately Pennco Tech is just more
concerned with getting students and money.
John Doe
Fredericksburg, Virginia
U.S.A.
Brick Computer Science Institute steals your money Brick New Jersey
I attended BCSI for three months starting in Oct 2001. I officially dropped out
four months later in February 2002. I was refunded a portion of my deposit and the government (Sallie Mae) was refunded their
entire educational loan. I even have a credit report showing that Sallie Mae is paid in full.
However, I recently
received a letter from a shady collection agency stating that I still owe BCSI $6,000.00!! The bill they sent me shows that
BSCI may have been charging my account even 2 years after I had officially left. If everyone has received their money, how
can I still owe??? The school is closed and I can not reach anyone to release my records and the Agency claims that the school
is still operational.
This school is a scam and is now working with a collection agency with the same reputation. If
anyone has any advice on who to contact or the steps to take to clear this up, please let me know!!
William
Toms
River, New Jersey
U.S.A.
The Chubb Institute, High-Tech Institute SCAM, Poor Education, Lack of Supplies, Outdated Material,
New Teachers.
I am currently a student at The Chubb Institute in Parsippany enrolled in the Computer Networking and
Security course (CNS). Below is my two cents:
I took the tour and as we passed Chubb's server room I was in awe, but
sure enough Tony Williamson (my Admissions Representative) said 'Oh yes those servers right there, you'll be working with
those.' I said that was great and I can't wait! Since then I've found out that we DO NOT work with those servers or anything
remotely close to them.
Chubb has an amazingly easy
entrance exam. - The same day I took the campus tour I was
pressured into taking the entrance exam. Upon completion (left half of it blank due to time limit) I handed it to the woman
and within 10 seconds she says "you aced it!" I thought that was bull because I did not see her do anything with the test...
but I did not argue, after all I was interested in the school.
The Orientation was a joke. I came to school dressed
in a shirt / tie / dress pants / nice shoes, expecting Chubb to be a professional environment. "Business Attire": I was the
only one dressed even remotely close to professional. Most people wore black shirts, ripped pants, the works. The guy that
spoke the most during Orientation apparently left the following day, after telling us all the stuff he's planning on doing.
I haven't seen the man since.
The first course taught was A+ Hardware. My first rude awakening was when we found out
that there are only 5 working computers for the class of slightly over 25(?) WHAT? I thought this was a tech school - and
they don't have enough computers for students to practice on? Hmm... Groups of 3-5 worked on each computer, removing the parts
and putting it back together. That's as hard as the class got.
So the next course was A+ Software and we had the same
teacher. Hmm ok whatever, Fred Cruz taught us well in A+ Hardware so that's cool... Well Fred, (who is now the Manager because
the other clown Rich was fired), doesn't know too much besides the basics. The main thing that stood out to me is that he
attempted to teach us how to do an unattended install. Well, he could not figure it out and assigned us "homework" to print
out information on unattended installs. Only about 5 of the students completed the assignment (myself included) but everyone
was given an A - why? Anyways, Fred still could not get it working and obviously we the students cannot figure it out. So
Fred gave up. Nice.
Every time I sat down at my desk - my computer, or a certain component was gone. After complaining
to the Manager (Rick Harley) a few times, I just called it quits. They say that they keep up to date with the latest technology,
but, they don't. Period.
Now we're at Computer Forensics. I'm outraged over how lame this class was. It was a complete
joke! A complete waste of 4 weeks, a complete waste of gas, a complete waste of money... A COMPLETE WASTE. James Howard taught
us, well sort of. Our book was half "computer forensics" and half "law and order" ha-ha. I don't even remember what we were
taught besides Drive Spy and a few other nifty programs, all of which you have to pay big bucks to license these programs.
Anyways, the first week and a half went well, I suppose we learned a little bit those weeks. But then suddenly James stopped
teaching. We would review for Friday's exam the first hour, then the next 3 1/2 hours we played Starcraft, Sim City, Warcraft,
Delta Force, Emulated Games online... the list goes on and on. I have a picture on my cell phone of our teacher playing SIM
CITY. IN SCHOOL?!?!?! You have to be kidding me.
Networking Concepts was our next course and it went fairly well. Much
better than forensics for sure. Guess who our teacher was? FRED CRUZ, yes, the same guy who taught us both A+ classes. Well
this time around Fred tried to teach us IP Subnetting, but pretty much failed. I went privately to James Howard and he was
actually able to teach it to me much better. I'm grateful to James for his extra help.
--My only other concern with
this course is that Fred was considerably late to class about 7 times in the 25 day course. I'm talking 30-45 minutes late.
One guy in my class wrote down in log form all the times Fred was late, it's pretty gross. The same guy wrote a letter and
gave it to AJ, the Big Cheese at Chubb. I don't know his exact position but he's a step below the campus president. About
10 students signed the letter. We'll AJ's famous words which we've heard a lot is "I'll address the issue". Of course nothing
gets done. To credit him where credit is due, he and the Campus President did come into class one day and apologize because
it turns out Fred was at staff meetings PLANNED DURING CLASS TIME. Outrageous. Incredible. But thanks for the apology; I learned
a lot from it. Really. Ha-ha.
So the next two classes we took were Windows Administration and Advanced Windows Administration.
I'm actually satisfied with those classes, not because I was taught well, but because I taught myself well. FRED CRUZ was
again my teacher for BOTH of these classes. (For those of you counting, Fred has been my teacher 5/6 classes, in college...)
Up
next was Exchange Server 2003. James Howard was again my teacher. (Now its 2 teachers - 7 classes). James taught us a thing
or two about Exchange but he began to admit himself that A) he doesn't know a whole lot about exchange and B) the course materials
weren't too great. Whatever. He basically did his own made up drills which were challenging I'll admit. Month 7 into tech
school I finally had actually understood DNS for the first time (keep in mind I have a 4.0 GPA – I'm not clowning around...)
-After
this course James left Chubb for a better job- Good move James, I wish you luck.
Linux was next - Finally a new teacher.
Going into the class I had never used Linux before - so I learned a lot when the class was taught, the first 3 weeks. Then
our teacher gave up on us. I've failed to mention until now that the entire class is VERY Immature with a few exceptions.
A bunch of punks who curse 300x a day IN CLASS, smoke Pot in the parking lot during breaks, or drink on breaks. No one cares,
and they're not hurting anyone so who would I be to say anything more of the matter. Basically I'm just saying the Drug Policy
is Non-Existent. And trust me, each and every teacher is well aware of the situation.Advanced Linux started out VERY ROUGH.
Mike was out a week because of his knee so we did nothing and left 3 hours early each day. The next week Mike did nothing,
because he was catching up on stuff. So more of the same. Then we had 2 weeks of education! Yay. Mike screwed up my report
card though, and it's been 3 weeks now that I've been asking for it to be adjusted and he keeps telling me tomorrow. I've
gone to Fred (the new manager) and to AJ (the big cheese, head manager?) and both have said they'll get on top of it. Of course
I still don't have my report card.
Now I'm in week three of CISCO as I write this. I still have two more courses left
at Chubb (to this day, 10 more weeks before I graduate). We have a new FIRST TIME teacher, Rich something, I don't know. I
won't write his name on here anyways because he seems like he's trying really hard and is meeting the students' needs. I don't
know how he got scammed into teaching at Chubb, especially since on his resume he has experience working for Novell and NASA...
I
just can't wait to see what the next two courses have to offer...
I should also mention that Chubb never gave us Student
ID's, but rather door key-cards with out names typed up on a sticker. LAME.
Summary:
The programs are taught
by computer techs, not real teachers. I absolutely hate this school. Of the original
25 people in my class, more than half
have dropped out. We've merged with another class now. The tuition is outrageous, considering the poor and out-dated equipment
at the facility. When I went to enroll, I was told that Chubb is a difficult school, with an enrollment board, and entrance
exam. It was a joke. A monkey could take and pass the entrance exam. I've seen complete and utterly incompetent people do
well on that exam, which "qualifies" them to take any course at the school. It's scary.
Chubb claims to be able to
help with job placement, and that they have high placement percentages. I'm beginning to hear horror stories of the placement.
Such as CompUSA jobs and such.
I also need to bring up that Chubb does not enforce many rules - if any. I mentioned
the drugs, the classroom gaming and clowning around... There is no business environment.
Chubb is falling extremely
short of my expectations, and falling short of the many promises and guidelines promised by the school itself. I'm afraid
for my future. I don't know what to do at this point.
I should have saved $17,000.00+ and gone to my local book store
for an education.
Suggestion:
-If you're serious about learning, stay FAR away from Chubb.
-If you barely
made it through high school (or not at all and acquired a GED) and are very young, immature and are not very serious about
success then Chubb is for you.
(I think I'll just leave Chubb off my resume)
John Doe
Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
Katherine Gibbs, piscataway, nj overpriced unorganized and a rip off *UPDATE EX-employee responds ..
As students all you are to the school is just a number.
Thinking of entering the grafic design . Don't make the mistake I did, stay away from Katherine Gibbs(piscataway).
I
attended katherine gibbs to obtain a degree in visual communications . After talking with the counsler, I was brain washed
to think that spending over $16,000+ on a one year certificate in visual communications would earn me top dollar and choice
of work in the industry.
Do not fall for this for the following reasons:
You can get a better and thorough education
from one of the community colleges for a fraction of the price.
The counslers and teachers were and at times disorganized
and unable to answer questions asked by students.
Programs used are out of date or not taught properly
Once a teacher
left in the fourth week in a eleven week semester and was not replaced till the eight week.
Our web design class was taught
by a teacher who knew nothing about the program she was teaching (adobe golive)
Was told would be using computers from
the first day did not touch one till the third semester,after two semesters of arts and crafts.
Be smart, go to a community
college for these type of jobs. They too offer convenient day and evening programs to fit your schedule. Or just throw your
sixteen grand in a river it will get you farther than gibbs will.
Employee Respons:
As students all you are to the school is just a number.
was an Admissions Rep with Katherine Gibbs Montclair and New York City. As students all you are
to the school is just a number. As a rep you needed to enroll a certain number per week, month per term. Those who met their
number were fine and were required to enroll even more students. Those who did not, lives were misable and then fired.
If
you like ask some questions and I will respond below....
Michelle - Amissions Rep. - Parsippany, New
Jersey
U.S.A.
The Chubb Institute Ripoff dishonest fraudulent unprofessional scam unlawful Parsippany New Jersey.
I attended a 10 month long .NET programming course. I am no newbie to the IT field, I have been working
in it for approx 10 years now. Anyway, during the 3rd month, our instructor left in the middle of the 2 courses she taught.
They had no one who really new the material well, so they supplied us with instructors who were learning with us and doing
barely enough to get by, basically. It was horrible.
During the next semester, another instructor decided to go on
vacation for 2 weeks...near the end of our course with no proper support for our case studies. This is when we learned that
a company called High tech (maybe different spelling) just purchased chubb institute. Our instructors then told us that other
instructors knew about this for some time which is why some left, their pay checks have been cut, lost their offices and other
things.
Our last semester was a real joke, one class the instructor spent most of the time venting and handing out
A's on projects that weren't even completed. Our business ethics instructor (online) didn't show for 3/4 of the classes either.
They
no longer offer programming or DBA courses of any type (under it's new management). It's no wonder since it actually takes
some intelligence to learn. Now they only offer the usual so called networking, pc, low end numb medical classes.
We
saw the difference in the students as our course was ending also. No longer professional if very few. It's alot like high
school now.
Suggestion:
-If your serious about learning, stay far away from Chubb.
-If you barely made it
through high school (or not at all and aquired a GED) and are very young, immature and are not very serious about success
then Chubb is for you.
Upset
Northern, New Jersey
U.S.A.
Employee Response:
Chubb Institute/Hi-Tech/Banner Institute/Banner College.
have worked for 2 of these schools. They ARE A DEFINATE RIP-OFF. WITHDRAW FROM THIS SCHOOL. As long
as you are a student there this practice will continue. YOU generate their revenue, YOU provide them with their paycheck.
Why pay $10,00 to be mistreated. Take your moneu and RUN
You would do much better going to a city collge or adult continiung
education classes.
I agree with all of the complaints.
The teacher's salary SUCKS that is why their is no loyalty form
the staff. Things change with out warning ...like the name of the school, policies,test requirements, etc.
The departments
heads do NOT know much more than the student or instructors and MOST are NOT DEGREED IN ANYWAY!
If you are a current student
of one of these schools:
1. Go to the schools main website where they ask you for your information to begin your "new career",in
the comments section please voice your opinion, it will be forwarded to the appropriate people. This may cause a little stir
but little will change.
2)Contact your state board of education and file a complaint.
3)Start a petition and send the
results to your local attorney General's Office
4)Contact your loan office and WITHDRAW FROM THIS SCHOOL. Let then KNOW
Your last date of class. The school will try and keep as much money as possible.
The Certificate alone is not worth much.
Especially if you have been lacking in classroom education. Many high-paying jobs will require you take an exam. Also, in
order to pass certification you NEED the classroom lectures to be thorough, Not word for word off of a few sheets of paper.
Sheila - Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
Computertraning.com ripoff Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
They are scamers dont even bother calling them I want to suie please contact me if you would like to
do the same
Vincent
philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
If you would like to share your frustrations and want to post your letter just click here and send your letter or send to penncotechscam@yahoo.com to let us know what you think of Pennco Tech and the scams they provide. Your letter will help. (all letters are confidential,
your identity will not be shown or provided)
59 Letters from victims and COUNTING......
Thank You! Together We Can Make A Difference.
Keep in mind there are thousands of victims all over the country from all different scam schools.
To read more about a scam school in another state please go to www.RipoffReport.com .
Sallie Mae - Allentown Business School - Lehigh Valley College rushed scam ripoff Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania.
I decided to go back to school to better myself in September 2001. I joined up with Allentown Business
School (ABS) aka Lehigh Valley College. I was rushed through the financial paperwork and was told if I didn't sign right away,
I wouldn't be able to stay in school (every time I had to fill out financial papers, I was told this). I needed a co-signer
for Sallie Mae loans, so I got one. Now I have this tremendous pressure to pay back the loans that keep going up, no matter
how much I pay them. My original loan started out as $4258.00. I paid so far, $666.54 and I still owe $5,343.89.
Seems
weird that when I pay them , my amount that I owe goes up instead of down. One time I paid the amount due plus all the capitalized
interest. The very next day, the capitalized interest was over $20 already. And the capitalized interest goes up every single
day.
I was never informed of any of this type of interest when I was rushed to sign the loan papers. I was told to
sign them quickly so I could stay in school. My dream was to better myself. Big joke!! I work for $7.50 an hour and am struggling
more now than I ever was before!! Can anything be done to stop this company??? Also, My interest rate is 15.25%!!!!!
Linetta
Northampton,
Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
Harrison Career Institute ripoff South Orange New Jersey.
began at HCI in So Orange in March 2005, after going through all the trial and tribulations the
school closed while going through there law suit. The school enrolled students under fake pretenses they knew at the time
in which I enrolled that they were going through a lawsuit.
After coming back to school after the school closed in
August/September we were told that we were given a leave of abscence to get our kids ready for school instead of the truth.
When we return from our so call leave our teacher resigned and went to another school. We were then left without an instructor
so we wasted more time, the school then brought the director of education to teach the class CVT cardiovascular technology
she was not educated enough to teach this course due to the fact that her medical background or education had nothing to do
with the course in which I had enrolled for.
After not being comfortable with the instructor all of the students withdraw
from the school except me I requested a leave of absence due to medical reasons. On the day I came in I spoke to Mr Delgado
and was told that instead of my leave being approved I would be assigned as a withdraw per advisement of Mr Minnin the president
of HCI.
Now I'm stuck with student loans from direct loan as well as loans from Access which belongs to HCI in which
was not disclosed at the time when signing up for the school. I reported everything to all of the state channels in which
we were given to this date nothing has been done to help resolve this issue. Also not only do I have a loan for myself I also
have one for my daughter that is a student at the same school and on Wednesday the school senthome more paper work for her
stating that I have to take out another pell grant for $1850.00 and she graduates next month. All of her funds were secured
when she first enrolled at the school so why would another grant have o be applied for under the so call crossover student
rule that they just made up. And then she found out today that the school is closing on Wednesday February 8, 2006 one month
before she gradutes.
Patricella
newark, New Jersey
U.S.A.
I really like your site and wanted to share my displeasure with
computertraining.com
I heard the radio commercial and thought, why not take the online test? So. I did and aced both parts. A couple weeks later
a pleasant representative calls me back and sets up an informational orientation. When I found out that the 24 week course
was $24,500.00 I couldn't believe it!!! If I took the courses directly through Microsoft it would be cheaper. When I politely
mentioned I chose not to pursue this opportunity I received the e-mail below. I think it is hilarious the way she throws around
the word baby-step. I also enjoyed the condescending tone of the letter as a whole. I never knew there was such a thing as
a $24,500 baby step. Instead I purchased Skillsoft software online, I figured I would't be as upset dropping $200 on an MCSE
certification prep course.
T from Chicago, IL
Subject: Response from Computertraining.com
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 09:32:38 -0400
What is holding you back from calling and getting information about furthering your education? Is it that you are not sure
what Microsoft Certifications provide income and stability wise? Are you unsure of the Job Placement program we offer? Do
you not want to take a baby-step to increase your knowledge in the IT field? Or, do you love what you are doing currently
and making exactly what you have been dreaming all of your life? You came onto our website, took the time to take an admissions
test, and knew we would be calling you for the results and to provide you additional information to further your education.
So my only question to you is, "What are you waiting for?"I have updated your file and it will be closed on the 27th of July.
You are welcome to give me a call to answer any questions or concerns. I am generally in my office from Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm.
If not however, please refrain from using our website. This is only for serious candidates that are looking for doors to
open and someone to lend a hand in providing them all they deserve.*You're file will remain open until the 14th if you decide
to at the least see how you can further your education.*
Warm Regards,
Admissions Representative
1-800-733-5641 EXT 3832
student: Yes
otherschool: STAR
name: Paul
comment: I took CAD Drafting for the year and past the 4 terms. I decided to add two more terms for the Architecture
program. I missed a good amount of time but made up time cause your aloud to make up 5 percent of your time. Instead they
kicked me out. Since i completed the CAD Drafting program shouldn't i be able to recieve my certificate. NO, was the answer,
and now i'm fucked and don't know what to do. Don't go to this school. You'll wind up getting fucked over. Think about
it, think of how much the owner is making, back in the day going to this school didn't cost as much, maybe a few grand. My
program was 17,000 and to add my other program was a total of 28,000. I've seen the owner and
heard that he lives in a huge mansion and buys a new corvette every year. So don't go to this school because your helping
them out more than your helping yourself out.
I love your site. I attended Pennco from Oct. 04 to November 05. Was told I would learn multiple painting techniques, and
actually have a degree, and learn to run a body shop. Over the coarse of the year the teachers were hardly there, or didn't
want to be there, never learned anything about a shop other than filling out a work order. Learned nothing about appraisals,
the only painting I learned were base coat clear coat, and as for a degree...none. Due to it was the night classes and it
wasn't a full two year program. Rat bastards. And yes as many I am stuck paying for a loan with a variable rate, and as we
all know intrest keeps on rising.
Name: Former Pennco Tech Employee
I wholehartedly agree with the statements in regard to Pennco Tech. I truely feel terrible for those who were scammed
and will have to pay off their debt for a long time. I was not a student at PenncoTech, however. I was salesman......uh, ehm,
Admissions Representative in Blackwood. At the time I thought it was going to be a good job. I had left a job with non-traditional
hours and was looking forward to working a "regular schedule" close to home for what I thought was a reputable company....I
thought that since they've been around for a while, not knowing they've been thieves the whole time.
Someone earlier
eluded to the head theif, Glenn Slater who heads the admissions department. When my time to be fired came, after 6 weeks,
he didnt even have the courage to tell me himself, he did it through Karl Mancusso. Karl, by the way may be the biggest scumbag
around. Those of you who are former students know of which I speak. I would like to take this time to breakdown how the Admissions
Department works.
First off, the Admissions Department is a sales department. Throughout the day the amount of students
enrolling is tallied on a board, similar to what you would find at a car dealership to track new car sales. When someone first
inquires about enrolling, they are known as a lead. The leads are all forwarded to Karl, the senior admissions rep. The leads
are all forwarded to him, but he is basically a salesman like everyone else, fighting to reach the same sales goal as the
other salesmen. That was my first clue that something wasnt right. If anyone reading this has worked in a sales environment,
especially a retail environment, you know what I mean. He would take all the leads that looked good, and the ones he didnt
like were handed off to the rest of us. We would normally have a goal of approximately 5 to 6 enrollments per week, while
receiving less than 5 leads! And, those leads which were handed to us by Karl would be the reject leads. This would include
the postcards filled out by children and the listed name would be their dog's name, emails from the relatives of prison convicts,
leads written by those who dont know English, or my personal favorites were the ones that didnt include a phone number....which
made the initial phone call impossible. If you complained about not getting enough leads to reach your goal, you were told
to go back through the old leads!. This list would go back 2 to 3 years, listing names of people who had already decided against
enrolling, or even decided against coming in for an initial visit. Unless you had someone come in for an interview/tour,
your whole day consisted of calling the leads, the same leads over and over and over and over again. WARNING - if you have
ever sent in one of those postcards or requested email you are on their list and if they havent gotten to you yet, they will.
We were worse and more annoying than telemarketers. We were instructed to call as many times as necessary until we hear yes.
"Do not call again" meant we're still thinking about it and please call back soon. The best part is when you fail to reach
your unobtainable goal, you are required to work a sixth day, Saturday and harass more people on the phone. I didnt know about
this until after I started. In my initial interview I informed Karl that I had prior commitments on Saturdays and he said
that wouldnt be a problem. Yeah, it wasnt a problem until I started. Karl is truely a walking piece of human trash.
You
may ask yourself why would the sales department be set up in way where no one can suceed. Basically other salespeople are
there to babysit the bad leads while Karl gets to sell the qualified leads and collect his big bonus money. If one of the
other salespeople sign up a person or two, thats icing on the cake for the school's bank account. If you start out hot and
sell a few of the "unqualified leads" - like I did one week - you will see all of your leads dissapear. No matter what, they
will fire you before you are eligible for benefits. Meanwhile, Karl calls himself "The King", because he claims to be so good
at selling. What a crock! Before working there he worked in his family's hair replacement business. He sold wigs to bald people,
yeah thats tough.
Oh, and by the way, you are all right that the school doesnt care about you. The common belief
among the PenncoTech staff is that they are babysitting the future criminal convicts of America. They will sit around and
laugh about who is the dumbest in their classes. Also to any females reading this, Pennco Tech plans to come after you. There
has been talk that the school wants to add more classes in "girl areas", like pharmacy tech. They want to enroll more females,
not so they can give you a proper education, but because they think more males will enroll with some "eye candy and hopefully
they're hot". If that isnt professional education, I dont know what is....lol.
Sorry for taking up so much space,
but I felt like I needed to vent, and hopefully someday these scumbags will have to face a judge and jury in defense of themselves.
ADDED: 11/12/2006
ITS 06 GOING ON 07 PENNCO TECH HAS CHANGED FOR THE WORST IAM IN A CLASS OF GUYS WHO DONT EVEN DONT WANT TO DO BE IN THE FIELD
WE HAVE FOR MOST COME TO LOVE ALL DREAMS OF BEING SOMETHING ARE SLOWLY BEING CRUSHED BY THE 90% OF THE STAFF FIRST OFALL WE
ARE WORKING WITH OLD ENGINES DATED FROM THE 70 AND EARLY 80S WHERE OFFERED JOBS AT PEPBOYS AND JIFFY LUBE WICH I COULD HAVE
ABTAINED MY SELF WITH NO EXPERINCE WHEN I ENROLLED WITH KARL I WAS PROMISED TOOLS AND BOOKS
IN MY LOAN I NEVER SEEN THEM HE WAS ACTING TO BE MY FREIND BUT 1 MONTH LATER WHEN I SEEN HIM AGAIN I SAID HI HE DID NOT
KNOW WHO THATS WHEN I KNOW THIS SCHOOL DID NOT CARE FOR STUDNETS I WILL BE BRIEF WITH THE REST IF I CAN I FELL AS IF IAM
JUST TURNED LOSE WITHIN THE SCHOOL TO LEARN ON MY OWN I WAS WORKING ON A SUSPENSION FOR A HEAVY ENGINE THE INSTRUCTOR WAS
THERE TO HELP THE 3 OF US OUT FOR 30% OF THE PROJECT
AND BECAUSE OF THIS A PROBLEM HAD ACURED WHERE A LARGE UNIT OF THE SUSPENSION HAD SLIPPED AND FELL ON MY WAIST I WAS PINNED
DOWN AND COULD NOT GET FREE LUCKY FOR ME OTHER STUDENTS WHO HAD NO TRAINING INTHE CARRER THEY HAD CHOOSEN FIGURED OUT HOW
TO SAVE ME
WHILE THE INSTRUCTOR FUMBLED AROUND LOOKING FOR THE CORRECT TOOLS WE NEED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPING AFTER IT HAD ALL
READY HAPPENED
FOR A WEEK I WAS IN PAIN BUT I SUCKED IT UP A PUSHED ON I WAS TOLD BY KARL THE SENIOR REP. THAT THE SCHOOL ONLY BRINGS
IN PEOPLE THAT HE THINKS SHOULD BE HERE IF THATS SO WHY WAS I ALMOST STABBED IN THE SCHOOL ALSO CAN NAME 2 HOOKERS WHO WORK
THE SCHOOL NOW AS STUDNETS PENNCO TECH WILL ENROLL ANY ONE THE CAN FOR THE DOLLAR BILL SO FAR THE SCHOOL IS A ZOO WITH DRAG
RACES IN THE PARKING LOTS AND DRUG DEALERS IN EVERY HALLWAYS.
TIME LETS TALK ABOUT TIME MISSED TIME MADE UP AND THAT TIME WHEN U SAY
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON
FIRST I FEEL IF U MISS TIME AND GET THE BOOT THATS ON U I MEAN COME ON IAM PAYING FOR THIS TIME ITS MY TIME NOT PENNCO
TECHS IF I COME IN 1 MIN LATE BACK FROM LUNCH I HAVE TO GET A WRITE UP AND THEN THEY DOCK U TIME FOR BEING LATE SO FOR EVERY
ONE MIN. LATE U GET FIVE NO WHERE IN THE RULE BOOK DOES IT SAY THAT THE INSTRUCTOR CAN DO THAT BUT IT STILL IS IN EFFECT
THEN WHEN U MAKE UP TIME IT IS NOT COUNTED RIGHT AWAY DO TO HOW SLOW THE PAPER WORK GETS AROUND TO CAUSE THEY ARE UNDER STAFFED
AT THE SCHOOL BY THIS IS AROUND THE TIME U SAY WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON BECAUSE BY NOW YOU ARE PULLED AWAY FROM YOUR CLASS
AND CHEWED OUT ABOUT YOUR TIME MISSED THEN AS THE MEETING GOES ON ABOUT YOUR TIME THEY SEE U MADE UP MOST OF YOUR TIME THAT
SOUND LIKE UR WASTING MY TIME I SOULD DOCK THEM FOR TIME ALSO WHEN ASKED FOR HELP ON A PROJECT ONE OF TWO THINGS WILL HAPPEN
OR BOTH MIGHT HAPPEN AT ONCE IF U HAVE A PROBLEM AND U ASK FOR HELP U MIGHT BE TOLD THATS WHY YOU ARE HERE TO FIGURE THE PROBLEM
OUT YOUR SELF AND IF YOU DO GET HELP AND THE INSTRUCTOR GET ANGER OR CAN NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM
HE WILL GET UP AND WALK AWAY LEAVING U TO DO IT UR SELF I WENT ON TWO JOB INTERVIEWS FOR MY CARRER AND DID NOT GET THE
JOB DO TO THE FACT THATENGINES IAM LEARNING ON ARE SO OUT OF DATE THAT MAKES ME NO GOOD FOR THE FEILD I HAVE CHOOSEN I HAVE
BEEN LIED TO AND PUNISHED FOR THINGS I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH TO SUM THIS UP I COULD OF JUST BOUGHT THE BOOKS AND BOUGHT A
ENGINE FROM A JUNK YARD AND LEARNED MORE AND STILL HAD 30THOUSAND STILL IN MY POCKET SO NOW I WALK AROUND WITH A RECORDER
AT ALL TIME TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS FROM OUR GREAT PENCO TECH STAFF
P.S. I JUST WANNA THANK PENNCO TECH FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY DO FOR ALL ITS STUDENTS LOL / THE INSTRUCTORS ARE THER TO
BABY SIT U WHILE PENNCO TECH TAKES UR MONEY
ADDED: 12/27/2006
Please include UTI, Universal Technical Institute, or as the students know it (Useless Technical
Information) to your list of scam schools. I was an instructor at UTI Exton for two years. The school has absolutely know interest in the students education. It is all
about the $30,000 + that each student is paying for less than 1 year of so called education. The students are belittled and
badgered about hair length, ID badges, bathroom breaks, wearing hats in the building, having shirt tails out, ear rings, wrong
colored work boots, and being seconds late for class due to whether or traffic conditions. The name of the game is get
their money and get them the hell out and if they learn something, so be it! The drop out rate for instructors, staff
and students is extremely high, however, UTI's administration could care less.
I knew of an excellent student who complained of an instructor not knowing the information
and having trouble reading. The student brought his concerns to an Education Manager. The Education Manager told the student
that if he didn't like it then leave. So the student left!
When you walk into the Exton facility and see all the state of the art equipment your mouth will drop. Unfortunately, that's where
the education stops. Chances of students using that state of the art equipment is slim and none. As tours are given around
the campus, many students have been expelled for telling the tours that the school sucks and don't waste your money. I know
of a least 4 students within two years, that have died at UTI for various reasons. 1) suicide 2) reckless driving etc.
The moral of the story: don't waste your time, money, or life at UTI.
Added 2/26/2007
I saw this site and figured I should add a warning to folks in the DC Metro area about a similar school.
I am glad that somebody is trying to warn potential students and employees, as it appears that none of the proper institutions
are doing so.
Banner College, formerly Chubb Institute, currently owned by High Tech Institute, is worse than a used car dealership
in all respects.
I saw them ruin the lives of students and employees constantly and without remorse. I saw unqualified staff teaching
every course, and a sick, drawn out, methodical system remains in place to turn the poorest people in the city's hopes and
dreams into a pile of useless debt, very low job placement rates, and so on.
I was once asked by the campus president to have a student sign a sword affidavit stating that he had graduated from High
School after she had discovered that he had not. This was to cover themselves if ACCET (the accrediting body) ever found
out about it. The A+ instructor told us himself that he failed the A+ exam. It was not uncommon for students to come to
us complaining that their teacher had not shown up.
The Admissions people are not guidance counselors or even admissions counselors, they are salespeople. They are cannon
fodder for the administration to blame if the numbers are down, because mathematically 1 in 4 leads is supposed to turn into
an enrollment - RIGHT! Lucky if 1 in 4 leads is a real lead! Due to this requirement, I as an admissions representative
was forced to lower my own quality standards and work ethics. I accepted people who would not be accepted into a community
college; people who had trouble reading; people who had FAKE high school diplomas! All with my Admissions Manager's blessings
- yes, I double checked each of my enrollments with her, and she was always happy to make a sale, no matter who was enrolling
in what.
Oh and yes, the entrance exam IS a joke! WE DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT!!
It IS graded, but the "qualifying" score is probably about 10-15%, which is why they use their own grading system
(so people don't realize how bad their 'qualifying' score was).
When ACCET, the accrediting body, came to do their annual review, we were suddenly in a different workplace for a couple
days. Corporate had flown in all sorts of people to stand in for the people who are usually there. Walk into Financial Aid
- whoops, its not our usual FA Director - someone from corporate decided to stand in. And so on for all of the other departments.
God forbid they see how we function on a day-to-day basis.
I saw no less than 15 of my co-workers fired during my 6 months at this hell hole. 15 in 6 months! After 6 months of
selling my soul for their attractive starting salary, I had had enough and I walked out in the middle of the day, never to
return. I couldn't live with myself anymore in that line of work.
I had something new in less than a month with comprable pay. Anybody with a decent education and some work experience
can make what they offer, and for how the place is run and what the job entails, it makes one wonder why some people in admissions
want to stay. It is because they can not get hired anywhere else and they are sufficiently sleazy to last a few months at
Banner.
I could go on with this for hours; Banner College had every problem listed in the other letters and more. And now they
are withholding my W-2! Can't wait to talk to the IRS about this one. And I don't really care if they see this and know
that ****** ***** wrote this. ******* ***** has an education from a REAL school and does not have to deal with such a hostile,
unethical work environment every day to make ends meet. For the uneducated, unskilled and morally deficient, such as the
Director of Admissions Jaida Pervis and the Campus President Deanna West of Banner College, this is a great place to work,
because it is the only place that would ever consider paying you what you currently make. I wouldn't have either of you as
an assistant at my new job, and I'm dead serious. No organization, no ethics, no nothing.
Thanks for reading and regards.
Added: 5/9/07
I attend The Berean Institute in philadelphia..... they to me are a scam......we dont get books although they are part of
our tuition......in 3 semesters they have bought us 3 books, everything else we have had to buy ourselves. i dont know if
you will list this on your site but i think they are a scam and i know some of the other students do also.....they promise
the world and give nothing!
Added: 5/9/07
Well, unfortunately, my son attended PENNCO TECH a year ago andis still looking for a job. I have been told by auto body businesses
that PENNCO TECH student graduates do not have the skills to keep a job and that the teachers have reputations in the auto
body business as being bad at auto body when they were working in the field. I believe it as when my son was painting his
car at the school, my husband and I came by to watch. The instructor for no know reason decided that he was going to help
my son paint his car. He suited up and took the air brush from my son. He ended up ruining the paint job as he did not wait
for the clear coat to dry. Now my son is driving around with his car that has bubbles all over from the paint job where his
instructor ruined the paint job.The part of the car that my son painted was fine. The areas where the instructor painted were
full of bubbles. Also an intructor told my son to "go fuck yourself" when my son had asked if this guys engine class
could work on the engine that my son had just bought from a friend. My son was really upset by the way the teacher had spoken
to him. The teacher had also called a bunch of students over to listen to him when he spoke to my son this way.When I went
to the school to complain to the director about the way the teacher had spoken to my son, he did not apologize or agree that
what the teacher said was inappropriate. He only defended the teacher and said that he was one of the best teachers that they
had at the school for the past 30 years. One auto body business owner told me that PENNCO TECH is known for not training there
students well in auto body work. He said that he had hired one kid recently and had to let him go as "he was lost-he
didn't know what to do." My son is blaming himself for his inability to find or hold a job, but I guess from after reading
this cite, it is that the school did a lousy job of educating kids.
Added: 2/15/08
Western Culinary Institute needs to be added to the list of scam schools. I was a chef for 6 years before attending their
Hospitality and Restaurant management program. I graduated with a 3.5 GPA and I now have a job as a catering chef making
11.00$$ and hour...NOT the career OR the salary that was mentioned when I enrolled. I now have 500.00$ a month in a student
loan payments - where I don't have an education sufficient enough to acquire a wage with the ability to pay my loans. So
not only am I poor but my credit is ruined to.
Added 2/15/08
Please check out Contech Institute (columbus, Indiana)... They are in the process of duping my nephew with the glowing promises
of some sort of "certificate" or degree in HVAC which is only going to take 4 weeks and yet cost $10,000 (which
includes his food, transportation, boarding in a motel)... etc... (they facilitate the loan application... The testimonials
on their website are BS.. Their promise of high paying jobs just waiting for anyone who completes the course are equally
bogus.. They are taking advantage of the poor, the gullible,.. the desperate... who are going to end up with nothing but
a relatively worthless piece of paper,.. prospective employers who will laugh in their face.. and a debt or $10,000 for
all of their trouble...
Added: 2/15/08
Mcintosh College is a school that should be added. i attended Mcintosh for 2 years and after coming across information online
I decided to remove myself.
You should investigate this school.
Added: 2/15/08
Lehigh Valley College. They have been ripping students off and scamming them since CEC took them over a few years back.
Added: 2/15/08
School: The Cittone Institute *now LINCOLN TECH,
I was a student at the Cittone Institute I was taken in by the nice advertisement, So i took out the student loans to
get this fast education and a certificate that is worth as much as toilet paper.
I went for the ECT course, in a nutshell it was real bad, Electronics and computer repair, to make a long story short
there is not a lot of jobs for ECT students and your really cant get anywhere unless you havesome kind of college degree or
in my case i focused on the computer end, only to find out that i needed more certifications. Back in 1998 an A+ certification
(which gets you little more than an help desk job) which after you spend all that money you have to pay to take the test and
if you fail you lose your money. so what am i left with. A TON OF DEPT! and still no job! Only after i took my A+ which i
payed for out of pocket, was informed that Microsoft was offering other certification MCP, MCSE, etc...
I had no where to complain about this until i saw this web sight, right now I'm a 41 year old nothing with nothing, it
makes me sick to my stomach that i can't pay back my student loan, and i had absolutely no help from Lincoln Tech or the Cittone
institute, they still thrive but thousand of student that went there to get ahead in life got ripped by these predators.
The Classes except for one were a complete mess, they changed teachers so often, in one class i had 5 different teachers,
at one point there was a teacher who, changed what we were leaning right in the middle of the class. There was no teacher
for my communications class at the end, and i graduated with honers but where did that get me?
The financial aid lady at the Edison Campus, would call people stupid for not filling out their student aid packages properly
and giving us crap if we decided not to enroll in some kind of loan, it was crazy. I went to college, and never finished
because i got too expensive but if i knew how much money they got from student aid i could have use it and got my BA by now.
It was all so crazy i thought leaving there with a 3.8 GPA would be enough to transfer to my local college and they told
me none of those credits were transferable WFT.
I know I'm not the sharpest tack on the chair, but after all is said and done i feel as though we were taken for our money
and not given a proper education.
To add a note of crap to more crap they sent me on a job as a bench tech, soldering antennas into beepers and cell phones,
and i never even got paid.
Take it from me Don't bother with any of those promises of getting a good job and making more money etc... Go to a local
collage.
Cittone Institute Sucks & Lincoln tech sucks too.
Added: 2/15/08
Brooks College and Brooks Institution should be listed on this site.
They have ripped many students off and many
law suits have currently been in the courts in relation to this school.
CEC owns many of these schools. Possibly place
CEC on here.
Added: 2/15/08
A year ago i went to computer training.com, i bought it hook line and sinker and here i am a
year later with a certificate that is worthless and a huge student loan that i can't pay because i can't seem to get a job
in the field that i went to school for. and the career consolers that they have are worthless. and all i get is a run around
when i talk to them. please put this letter out to warn others of the computer training.com scam. It's too late for me but
others might learn from this.
Added: 8/08/08
Lots of talk but no relief for victims of student loan farming
WOW, The daily news from google, shows that government wants to offer more student loan amnesty programs
for more and more professions. The new ones include federal prosecutors, and people who work in charity organizations.
Also, lots of talk about people in default, and the subject is always the same (unfortinatly); its about
how to squeeze money out of them so they can rehabilitate their loans.
NOTHING, repeat, NOTHING is being done about the victims of the student loan farming that went on in
the 70's and 80's.
And what really pisses me off, is the new owner of the school that suckered me, is now doing the very
same thing here, that they have been sued for in the past: targeting minorites and women.
Thats right. Everest schools, formaly Olympia, formaly National Education Centers, now owned by Corinthinan
schools out of California, are running TONS of ads on the cable channels here.. Not one white boy in the bunch. All minorities
or women.
This is the same school system that claims it does not target minorities! To that I say BULL COOKIES!
Beware Everest schools. Beware any of those so called "trade schools". Save your money and your future
by going to a local commuinity college.
And in the mean time, I will keep fighting for relief for those of us victimized in the 70's and 80's.
Hi,
I just found your website on google, and wanted to tip you off to another
scam school that I had the misfortune of attending: The RETS technical center in Charlestown, MA. I spent over $13,000 and
attended five nights a week for 13 months to get a "certificate" in HVAC, that left me woefully unprepared for even the most
basic, entry-level job in that rather complex field.
Eveything you described i your website: getting
contacted by a school salesperson who sits in the front office, admitting students who have no chance of making it in this
field, classroom instruction that is a total joke (we had a teacher who would just DISSAPEAR for up to an hour at time), it
was really amazing.
I've run into a few of my former classmates and they all say the same thing:
I wasn't able to land a job after I graduated. Whats really disgusting about the place is that they deliberatley-in
my opinion- mislead people who come out of bad public inner city schools, who are immigrants, adults with very few skills(
basically all the folks who can least afford to have a huge albatross of a student loan around their necks)and prey on their
very real fears of having very few marketable employment skills and sell people on this idea that you are "garunteed" to have
a good paying job with benefits when you graduate: when the reality out there is a lot dicier, and you actually HAVE TO KNOW
what you are doing, which they didn't teach us.
I'd be happy to share more information with you about
this place. Part of me wants to get in touch with all my former classmates, file a lawsuit to get all of our money back, and
have the place SHUT DOWN.
I would like to see the "Institute of Allied Medical Professions" all locations
but The Florida and Atlanta campuses are the worst. There are fake doctors running some of the programs along with a
campus director in Florida and Georgia who sleeps with the parents of the students. Students are asked to take out huge loans
to cover courses that are not transferable to real colleges. No funding and taking money from students who are
not qualified to enter the programs. Campus director enforces admissions to lie on applications just to get students
to ruin their credit by taking out private loans. Get the word out!
Do not go to Netcom Information Technology. I attended the Netcom campus in New York City for
their Help Desk career path and completed the program. The program consisted of 7 crash courses which were 2 weeks each
and then they expected me to take the certification test after the completion of each class. That's very difficult
to do because there's no break, classes start right after each other. I did manage to certify in two classes and then
asked Netcom for job placement, which they promised if you completed the career path. What a joke. Netcom
sent me one job announcement via email and that's all the help I got for them regardless of how many times I went to their
so called job placement center.
Netcom is not a good school to learn Information Technology just because
they offer many courses. Many of the instructors there had heavy accent making it hard to understand them and the courses
are very expensive. Netcom is founded in New York and I noticed they have expanded to other states, do get ripped off
like me. I'm in debt for $22,000
Attended Katharine Gibbs School in New York and graduated in 2003. I owe them around $17,000
in student loans and just recently when I ve been trying to apply to another school, a mysterious $4000 just appeared and
they are saying that I owe this amount from out of pocket money, but I was never told this ever. And if financial aid didn't
cover at the time, that wasn't my mistake, cuse at the time everything was taking care with my student loans.. It is unbelievable
how these people just rip us off. Now I've been trying to explain them over and over and also dealing with the other school
from another state, which are connected through their corporate offices, and I have also attended for a short period
of time, so one tells me how to deal with one another and I am sooooooo upset, cuse they knew from the beginning how they
were making me waste my time and getting my hopes of going back to school, so now im left to defend for
myself with these two schools and my supposedly balance. The second school wants to charge me an outrages amount that I don't
owe them.... I have tried to fix it, but I was dealing with the wrong people. I wish there was a way to sue them and get out
of this mess, so I can move on, cuse its been a few years of the same stories.
Do Not Go To Anthem Institute
This school is formerly Chubb Institute they changed their name because of law suites and lost of accreditation.
(posted 04/25/09)
From a Former Pencco Tech Employee,
I was a former salesman at Pencco Tech in Blackwood, NJ.
If you
were a student you knew me as an Admissions Representative. Everything
that
has been said by former employees is totally accurate about the way
they run their "school". It
is a complete joke and a scam to get your
money. The teachers couldn't care less about the students
and it's true
they see the students as deadbeats, drop outs, losers and criminals. I
had
several conversations in the short time I worked there with a number
of teachers who would, after class,
joke about how dumb their students
are. Hell, the boss who runs the sales department, Glenn, would
constantly refer to prospective students as losers.
Once I got your $100 deposit and quickly rushed
you into the
financial aid office,
my job was basically done and I would go out of my
way to avoid running into you after that. All
I cared about was getting
my quota of sales for the week. Best scenario for me was to get you to
sign up, start class and then never come back. I got credit for the
sale, you
got stuck with a huge loan to pay back. Don't get me started
on the call lists. If you have
ever filled out an info card online or
mailed one in, you name goes on a call list and stays there.....FOREVER!
I can't tell you how many people I called who told me they asked to be
removed
from the list 100 times. And if you get rude with one of the
salesmen on the phone, you get called
twice as much then before. And
the entrance "test" you have to pass to see if your qualified to
get
into the program......HA! That is used as a ploy to get you thinking
you
are going to an actual school that is worth a damn. The sales staff
are instructed to tell you
you passed the test regardless of your score.
If you are or
if you know anyone who is thinking about signing
up at Pencco Tech.....DON'T!!!!!!!!! It is a
joke, a scam and a farce.
If you are someone reading this who has gone through the program and has
nothing to show for it except a big loan to pay off, my prayers are with
you.
(posted 04/25/09)
Interactive Learning Systems Peachtree. Georgia and Houston, Texas @ Hillcroft are scam schools for
greedy corporate trade that exploit minorities.
(posted 04/25/09)
Remington College is a scam school that overcharges students and is listed on a ripoff report website
(posted 04/25/09)
My son started the electrician progran in August of 2008 full time day. (3 terms all together) He
is expected to graduate on Aril 17th (9 days). He had some time he missed for court and illness throughout
his time there which he had no control over. We showed proper documentation all along. during his second term
they said because of their attendance policy they were going to have to remove him from the program because of time missed.
He wanted to make it up but they told him he could not because they only allow you to make of a certain amount of time. Now
he passed his forst term with great grades. Labs in the high 90's and tests about 80. They told him his only option
was to re-take the 2nd term and they would erase all of his time out from his record and start over. (this was about
one week before the 2nd term was over). We had no choice but to agree to this. We were then told that it would cost
us close to another $5,000.00 on top of the $10,000.00 plus...they had alreadd received! We had no choice and had to
agree on it or the first $10,000.00 would have went down the drain. He went to the 2nd term and again passed with good
grades! Now come third term, my son was a witness in a trial that had lasted 5 days plus a few days here and there
for status conference meetings before the trial. Notes were given to the school from the Judges chambers each time.
The trial ended on a Thursday and my son returned to school on Friday. My son also went to school for an hour or so
each day after the trial. My son continued in school for 5 more days. Then the director, Mr. Emme called my son down
to the office five days after he came back from the trial and told him they were going to have terminate him because of the
time missed from trial. I went to school immediately and raised hell and got into argument. I couldnt understand
why they would wait untill the following week to decidethey had to terminate him. Then I found out that they waith a
week later because our loan payment went through the DAY BEFORE my son got called to the office to be terminated. They
waited for that!!! I got a letter from judge and fought it because my son was supbuena to go to court and he had no choice.
Well, they overturned their decision after the battle and let him stay but they made him sign an agreement that he would make
up every hour and not miss one day until graduation or he would be removed. They werent happy about me winning the battle
but thet had no choice because we had documentation. They told him that they didnt want to hear one more problem from
him. Ever since then, the director and his instructor
(in which the instructor and my son NEVER got along and the instructor always had a grudge against my son), had in it for
my son. My son attended EVERY day and made up EVERY hour as agreed upon. My son never came left and was
on his best behavior. Now, on Thursday April 2, 2009, this same instructor evidently claims my son fell asleep in class
while reading the chapter. My son told me he may have nodded, but he was not sure. SO WHAT!! He did take his allergy
meds so it could be possible. Anyway, the instructor gives them a chapter to read and then goes and smokes his cigareettes
and bullshits. The instructor must have saw my son nod off and went to the director and told him that "he could not
teach his class properly with Nick (my son) sleeping and that it was a distraction and he wanted him to be sent home."
Then the director called my son to the office and was told he was terminated from the program because he was being sent home
and he had an agreement to not miss any more days. My son argued the point with them and refused to leave so they had
him escorted out by their security like he was a criminal!! I came to school immediately with my Dad and they were very
arrogant, some guy named Mark was such a arogant jerk. Mr. Emme the directot his in his office and refused to see us.
I was told he was busy for the next 2 days. I demanded to see him and told them I wanted an explanation for why
he was being removed. Mr. Emme would not see us. We were asked to leave. All Mark would say was "he fell
asleep in class and was sent home and that broke the agreement". I am furious!! My son passed both terms with
good grades. They received over $15,000.00 for my son to attend there and now 9 days before he is expected to graduate
and get his certificate they come up with this BOGUS bullshit. They told me his 8 and 1/2 months there from 7:00am til
2:30 and sometimes until 10:30pm to make up time DID NOT COUNT!!! They told me they are not entitled to give me a refund!!!
They got paid for my son to go there. If he is passing, what do they care if he "nodded" off in class! Its a personal
vendetta that his instructor has with us because of the argument we had during the 2nd term. I tried calling Mr. Emme
all that day and the next and he would not take my calls. I even got a hold of the NJ dept. of Labor, who regulate their
license. They paid a surprise visit to Mr. Emme the next day and requested Nick's records and wanted to know why he
was being terminated. Mr. Emme said he did not have the paperwork ready at the time and she would have to come back
on Monday. I went Monday and picked up Nick's records. I cant beleive what I saw. Let me explain, each time
you have a discipline issue they make up a student advisory report, they call u to the office and they sign the form, the
instructor signs the form and then the student signs it. They actually made up 4 to 5 reports about my son "nodding"
in class and put it in his file as if it was a continued problem!! AND there was no signature on any of them from
my son!! They lied their asses off and covered themselves up because of the bad decision they made! If my son
had discipline problems why did they give him a satisfactory score on his last conduct report? Also I have a report
that says from three weeks before that"Nicholas has came a long way" and has "done a complete turn around" and "Is trying
to make the most out of this". I cant beleive they LIED like this! They all stuck together and covered each others
asses! That is why they would not allow me or the state to see his records on Friday...they had to wait until they added
their false reports in there!!! Now we are out of over $15,000..00 with nothing to show for it, ( 9 DAYS BEFORE
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GRADUATE AND GET HIS DIPLOMA!! He was supposed to start am apprenticeship and everything and now
we're screwed. I have contacted the NJ Dept. Of Labor and they are reviewing it. I called Consumer affairs. I
am in the process of contacting legal services if The State cant get no where. I also have a call to the Congressman
Rob Andrews. Do u or anyone u know have any other suggestions or advice to
give me??? I cant beleive they did this!!!!
(posted 04/25/09)
STRATFORD CAREER INSTITUE IS
A CROOKED SCHOOL. THEY CHEAT YOU BEFORE YOU START. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINST WITH THE BBB OF VT AND
THE FAIR TRADE COMMISSION. WHEN YOU CANCEL THE COURSE WITHIN THE TWO
WEEK TIME
PERIOD THEY REFUSE TO RETURN YOUR MONEY. THEN THEY START SENDING LETTERS DEMANDING MORE
MONEY FOR NOTHING. I WENT ONLINE TO RIPOFF
AND THERE IS A LONG LINE OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS SCHOOL. THEY HAVE NO INTEGRITY. THEY ARE NOT ACCREDITED AND THE
DEGREE YOU GET FROM THEM IS WORTHLESS.
(posted 07/18/09)
My name is --------- and I recently heard from a friend
about a school for medical assisting. I'm not really a college girl, I'd rather learn the things I need and get on with my
job so I looked online and everything to see if it was legit. The website is ssticareers.com and it all sounds good on there so I called them to set up an appointment to find out more information.
I called them today and they told me to come on in
so I went. The guy kept stuttering and had like a script in front of him. When I told him I wasn't really feeling college
and I struggled alot in math he said: we dont take students that dont give a 100%, and I had to break it down to him on what
I meant.
He gave me a tour and I know institutes are smaller classes,
they had like 3 different rooms. One with computers, a couple offices and a room that looked like a doctors rooms, so I'm
like ok, looks good. My sister in law had an appointment also, we wanted to go to school together to keep motivation going
because its hard when you have kids and we were excited.
On the website it said they had grants available, and it's
accredited through the state and all that. My mom said she would pay for me so thats no problem, but for my sister in law
it would help. I told them my mom would pay and they told me they had "scholarships" and nobody had been denied ever. I called
my sister in law after her appointment and she said they told her that financial aid was not available!
Here's the worst part, I had to ask them questions. They
didn't give me all the information like what days the classes were, the times and I asked them how much the uniforms and books
were and they said $7.75 each....I find that hard to believe. That guy made me feel so uncomfortable, he said he would waive
the application fee and I could pay the hundred dollars for registration. I was getting ready to leave and he asked me for
the hundred...he made me feel like I owed it to him. So bad that I called my mom and she told me I better talk it with my
husband and she knocked some sense into me. I told them I would ahve to talk it over and decide what to do. I only thought
I was going over there to get more information not pay them $100!!!
But it gets worse my sister in law Lori told me that they
kept getting on her for the $100, so bad she was about to cry. They even asked her if she had any family memebers that could
pay for it. The economys bad right now, which is the reason we would like to go to school but the last thing you think when
your going to get information is that you have to put up $100, they shouldn't expect that. They even told her they take post-dated
checks!!!! I'm calling them tomorrow and act like someone who just wants information and see what they say. I swear if they
say another thing from what they told me I'm going to flip, they already did that today with the whole financial aid thing
saying they have it for me when I said my mom was going to pay for it and say they dont for someone who needs it.
ITS RIDICULOUS!!! THINK ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
THERE NOW THINKING ITS OK WHEN IT'S NOT! THESE SCAMMERS NEED TO GET SHUT DOWN BECAUSE ITS NOT RIGHT!!! I'm about to call the
news station.
DO NOT ATTEND SUNSHINE STATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
(posted 7-18-09)
I noticed your website regarding scam schools. I am not entirely sure if this school is a scam, but
they do admit that they don't help the students find a job after graduation and they seemed to want to enroll me rather quickly.... TESST Technical College in Maryland and Virginia. Ripoffreport.com as the school listed with past student's posts. Thanks (posted 07-18-09)
I do not go to any of these colleges, but I have heard of people who were scammed by them.
-ASA College for Excellence
-Metropolitan College of New York
-Sanford Brown Institute
(posted 07-18-09)
Anthem Institute also use to be known as Chubb Institute (All Locations) they are still doing the same
thing to people as when they were Chubb institute! I hope there is justice still left in our Country to shut them down for
good and others just like them! this really needs to stop!
(posted 07-18-09)
Chubb institute changed there name to Anthem Institute (all locations) and are still scamming people
to please post this on there site. thank you all for your help much appreicated
(posted 07-18-09)
Chubb Institute is still
scamming under there new name Anthem Institute (all location)! Please post this on your site so others know, I'm currently
in the process of a lawsuit against them! Details of there scamming methods are as follows: False
Advertising, Staff Harassment, under qualified Reps., False promises of careers you can acquire upon graduation, entry level exams that you pass regardless if you fail it! Equipment
that is outdated or not functioning to complete the assignments, No Instructors for some of the classes and they pass you
on with an A for doing nothing! Please review this and Post it on your site. Thank you
(posted 07-18-09)
Ohio Center For Broadcasting
Just do a google search and add "scam" and "ripoff" to the name
of the school. You will see complaints.
(posted 07-18-09)
I totally agree that Pennco Tech is a HUGE scam. I loved my teacher's and did learn a lot. I
went there to be a Medical
Administrative Assistant. Graduating with honors and meeting a lot of great
people. But this school is all talk and no game. They say they will help you find a job and have job fairs for us and they
did none of this. Our teacher's helped us more with finding a
job then the career person did, and they are only there to teach us not help us with jobs. Even with there help I got
nowhere in this field. Doctor's wouldn't even give me a chance because I had no clinical experience and was not certified,
because Pennco Tech didn't offer it, but for the money I spent they could've clinically train us. Had I known more about the
medical field I would've NEVER went to Pennco Tech. I used all of my savings bonds from the time I was a baby to pay for this scam of a
school. I have a 2 year old and this was close to home and it worked with my schedule for the baby. I studied so hard, kept
my grades high and put my all into school. Now I have a diploma from this school that means NOTHING!!!! If I could take anything
back in life it would be going to this school. All the thousands of dollars I spent on this school, for a couple more thousand
I could've went to another school that clinically trains you and prepares you for your state certification test. Now I have
nothing, NO MONEY AND NO CAREER!!! To anyone looking at Pennco Tech, Don't make the same mistake I did.
(posted 2/09/10)
Scaaaaam... in other words the biggest cold hearted people in the
world. How can you scam people like this?? I can't believe you haven't been shutdown yet from the state of New Jersey. I
went to Pennco Tech in Blackwood. I loved my teacher's and they did all they could and more for us then anyone in that
school. They say they will help you find a job yeeeeah right our teacher's did all they could in helping us find a job.
But that's not there job they are there to teach us not teach us and help us find jobs, so the teacher's did
go above and beyond for us. But everyone else they should be the ones OUT OF A JOB. I can't believe with the way our economy
is today and all the people getting laid off that Pennco Tech is still up and running. The state really needs to step
in and do something. I went there to be a Medical Administrative Assistant in 2008, I had very high grades and graduated
with honors and a diploma that mean NOTHING.
These admissions people are a bunch of scumbags and liars. I can't believe you can do this to people. I used all of my savings
bonds from the time I was a baby to pay for this scam of a school and now I'm out money and a career. If I knew how to go
about all of this believe me I would get my money back. I have a 2 year old, and Pennco Tech was close to home and worked with
my schedule for the baby, but now me and my son have to suffer. Did it ever cross your mind that we have kids and families
we have to provide for too? Here we are trying to go to school studying to get a legitimate job and your still
scamming people. GET A REAL JOB LOSERS!!! I
can't stand you people and hope one day you will be out of a job too!!!
(posted 2/09/10)
hi i am a victim of one of these fuck face shit ass schools what are my options i can't any
help from the higher
education authority i attented and graduated from Katherine Gibbs College of Montclair NJ i never receieved anything but a big ass
student loan bill well over 35,000 and have no idea what
to do i attended and supposedly gratuated in 2003
(posted 2/09/10)
You really need to add penn foster and vatterott college
to your list, I almost enrolled in both and came to find that they were both scams. People need to be aware!!!
Thank You
(posted 2/09/10)
Hello I couldn't help but to notice that you do not have Westwood college on your website as well.
I will not explain much but there is a video that I would like for you to see that will explain everything for you:
Let's get the masses warned!
(posted 2/09/10)
Centura Institute in Orlando FL. This school is a big scam. I would appreciated if you would please add
them on your list.
thank you
(posted 2/9/10)
Hi! My name is, and I was a student at The Airline Academy
down in Daytona Beach, Florida just this year. It is a flight attendant/customer service school located at the Daytona
Beach International Airport. In July 2008, I was visited at my home by
a recruiter from that academy. He claimed that over 60 airlines were hiring students shortly after graduation, and that graduates
would have one whole lifetime of job placement. Another one of his claims was that the academy had a 90% job placement. Then
he spiced all those details up with the "You can work anywhere!" statement. That man made it sound so easy! He also said that
I could be hired even though I am not 21 yet. So then I signed on and soon received
an acceptance letter at least a week later. Now there was a catch. Near the end of the interview, there was a down payment of at least 243.00 per month
from the academy, up until a total fee of somewhere around $5000-$6000 in cash. Then there were other fees asked, like $700.00
for the dorms. Then at least a $50.00 deposit, which I did not get back. When
I finished my distance learning, I traveled to the school and stayed at The Seascape Inn, where the dorms were located. There
were cockroaches, ants, and possibly mice (squeaks and tiny little footsteps could be heard from the ceiling). Then the kitchens
were incomplete, and the bathrooms were molded. When I attended the flight school
on the first day, the entire class met with the school's president, vice president, and other notable people. They were telling
us that not many airlines would hire 18-year-old people with no prior experience- almost entirely different from what I was
told when I first signed. At that very moment, I felt that I had been scammed. It
was not until I dropped out of the school when I found evidence on airliners.net and answers.yahoo.com about The Airline Academy being a scam. You can Google the keywords "The Airline Academy Scam", and there will
be a line of results pertaining to a few questions on answers.yahoo.com, and one forum post on www.airliners.net.Please let everyone know about this school. Thank you! (posted 2/09/10)
new england institute of technology
this school robbed me blind
(posted 2/09/10)
Hello:
We need any and all information to help
stop Prism Career Institute from scamming minority students. Prism's Philadelphia
's campus is
located at 8040 Roosevelt
Blvd.
Admissions and Financial Aid use deceptive practices to entice
students to enroll in their school. PC's are not up to working standard, students do not receive the books as stated
on the contract and book list. Career services either is not in place or grossly under qualified.
Instructors should have drug screening and criminal background checks.
Many lack the work
experience and or education to teach. Campus director's eyes are bloody red clearly after he's taken his hit
of marijuana sometime around noon everyday. Medical instructor admitted to another co-worker that she uses meth...she
has constant nervous movements, always anxious, wears dirty attire, dirty sneakers, picks her nose and eats an excessive amount
of sweets.
The lead medical instructor comes to work with hickeys
on her neck, non-business casual dress attire. You'll find her eating in the office constantly. Students wait
at least 45 mins or more for her to come and unlock the doors in the morning. She'll send her son who is not a staff
member on occasion. It's not unusual to find the neighborhood homeless man sleeping on the bench.
Night paralegal instructors who is a small practicing attorney can be found not in the classroom but in
the back office on the phone, making excessive copies for her practice or in the classroom eating. The staff on board
had been recruited by a network of cronies.
There is absolutely nothing
in place for the Paralegal Program which is a far cry from the advertising seen on television. Not a single student
has began any type of certification required for mid-sized to large law firms. There's 0 networking with the legal world
outside of the PAP Association which as had a history of not having anything in place for the minority population of legal
professionals.
Medical students intern at adult daycare centers, far
from the advertisements seen on television. You'll find outdated resumes on the wall which states references available
upon request at the bottom, clearly not used format in 2010.
This school
is criminal to say the least!
These technical schools are the worst civil
rights violation unleashed on the poor community I've ever seen. Students will find themselves in debt without
a degree or even certifications in hand.
The staff
meetings only discuss attendance. Academics is not a priority!
Students
are told to take a leave
of absence until the class comes aback around on the wheel. Clearly this is violation regarding federal aid.
Classes are cramped and not well maintained. The list goes on and on!!!
Again, Please add PRISM CAREER TECHNICAL INSTITUTE to your list of scam schools....
Less than 44%passing, Just got off probation....
(posted 2/09/10)
This list is wonderful! I have changed many minds with this link and I hope to change many more. CEC schools should be
listed. CEC Career Educational Corporation owns many institutions and they are notorious for cheating thousands of students
for billions of dollars.
AIU
IADT
Sanford-Brown
Brooks College
Collins College
Gibbs
College
Katherine Gibbs
LeHigh College
McIntosh College
Missouri College
All these
colleges are degree mills and they all should be posted. I'm doing my best to get the word out.
Here is a link to
my groups which are trying to expose the truth about CEC degree mills and many reports from prior CEC students and faculty.
Please help us out. If you could link my groups onto your site or whatever. I can't have anymore students get ripped
off like myself and many of my friends.
Facebook group: http://academy.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5604847490
Myspace
group:
http://groups.myspace.com/Theiadttruthadvocate
Added: 2/15/08
I actually already went to Gibbs and they screwd me alot how do I get back at them?
Reply: First by telling as many people as you know about this site and advise them to leave comments as well. Second check
out the 'links' section of this site to see some sites can help you.
Added: 2/15/08
All have a history of misreprensentation to get you into signing up for Government student loans, and leaving you with a
useless education, big debt and no way out of it.
National Education Center Campus, Also known as
National Institute of Technlogy and
Olympia college, and
Everest Collage,
Corinthian colleges (parent holding company for all of the above).
Signed, Victims of Predatory Schools.
http://voptsslf.blogspot.com/
Added: 2/15/08
Akron Institute is mishandling federal monies allicated for the use of tution and books for students. The excess monies that
left over is not being dispursed to the students correctly some students are not receiving refund checks those that are are
not being dispurse the correct amount , I'm not talking about processing fees Im talking thousands per student that if they
receive a refund at all. Basically they are stealing loan money from the students and the government will force the students
to pay back monies that they never recieved these are monies outside of books and tution. Akron Institute Akron Ohio
Added: 2/15/08
A year ago i went to computer training.com, i bought it hook line and sinker and here i am a
year later with a certificate that is worthless and a huge student loan that i can't pay because i can't seem to get a job
in the field that i went to school for. and the career consolers that they have are worthless. and all i get is a run around
when i talk to them. please put this letter out to warn others of the computer training.com scam. It's too late for me but
others might learn from this.
Added: 8/08/08
Lots of talk but no relief for victims of student loan farming
WOW, The daily news from google, shows that government wants to offer more student loan amnesty programs
for more and more professions. The new ones include federal prosecutors, and people who work in charity organizations.
Also, lots of talk about people in default, and the subject is always the same (unfortinatly); its about
how to squeeze money out of them so they can rehabilitate their loans.
NOTHING, repeat, NOTHING is being done about the victims of the student loan farming that went on in
the 70's and 80's.
And what really pisses me off, is the new owner of the school that suckered me, is now doing the very
same thing here, that they have been sued for in the past: targeting minorites and women.
Thats right. Everest schools, formaly Olympia, formaly National Education Centers, now owned by Corinthinan
schools out of California, are running TONS of ads on the cable channels here.. Not one white boy in the bunch. All minorities
or women.
This is the same school system that claims it does not target minorities! To that I say BULL COOKIES!
Beware Everest schools. Beware any of those so called "trade schools". Save your money and your future
by going to a local commuinity college.
And in the mean time, I will keep fighting for relief for those of us victimized in the 70's and 80's.
Hi,
I just found your website on google, and wanted to tip you off to another
scam school that I had the misfortune of attending: The RETS technical center in Charlestown, MA. I spent over $13,000 and
attended five nights a week for 13 months to get a "certificate" in HVAC, that left me woefully unprepared for even the most
basic, entry-level job in that rather complex field.
Eveything you described i your website: getting
contacted by a school salesperson who sits in the front office, admitting students who have no chance of making it in this
field, classroom instruction that is a total joke (we had a teacher who would just DISSAPEAR for up to an hour at time), it
was really amazing.
I've run into a few of my former classmates and they all say the same thing:
I wasn't able to land a job after I graduated. Whats really disgusting about the place is that they deliberatley-in
my opinion- mislead people who come out of bad public inner city schools, who are immigrants, adults with very few skills(
basically all the folks who can least afford to have a huge albatross of a student loan around their necks)and prey on their
very real fears of having very few marketable employment skills and sell people on this idea that you are "garunteed" to have
a good paying job with benefits when you graduate: when the reality out there is a lot dicier, and you actually HAVE TO KNOW
what you are doing, which they didn't teach us.
I'd be happy to share more information with you about
this place. Part of me wants to get in touch with all my former classmates, file a lawsuit to get all of our money back, and
have the place SHUT DOWN.
I would like to see the "Institute of Allied Medical Professions" all locations
but The Florida and Atlanta campuses are the worst. There are fake doctors running some of the programs along with a
campus director in Florida and Georgia who sleeps with the parents of the students. Students are asked to take out huge loans
to cover courses that are not transferable to real colleges. No funding and taking money from students who are
not qualified to enter the programs. Campus director enforces admissions to lie on applications just to get students
to ruin their credit by taking out private loans. Get the word out!
Do not go to Netcom Information Technology. I attended the Netcom campus in New York City for
their Help Desk career path and completed the program. The program consisted of 7 crash courses which were 2 weeks each
and then they expected me to take the certification test after the completion of each class. That's very difficult
to do because there's no break, classes start right after each other. I did manage to certify in two classes and then
asked Netcom for job placement, which they promised if you completed the career path. What a joke. Netcom
sent me one job announcement via email and that's all the help I got for them regardless of how many times I went to their
so called job placement center.
Netcom is not a good school to learn Information Technology just because
they offer many courses. Many of the instructors there had heavy accent making it hard to understand them and the courses
are very expensive. Netcom is founded in New York and I noticed they have expanded to other states, do get ripped off
like me. I'm in debt for $22,000
Attended Katharine Gibbs School in New York and graduated in 2003. I owe them around $17,000
in student loans and just recently when I ve been trying to apply to another school, a mysterious $4000 just appeared and
they are saying that I owe this amount from out of pocket money, but I was never told this ever. And if financial aid didn't
cover at the time, that wasn't my mistake, cuse at the time everything was taking care with my student loans.. It is unbelievable
how these people just rip us off. Now I've been trying to explain them over and over and also dealing with the other school
from another state, which are connected through their corporate offices, and I have also attended for a short period
of time, so one tells me how to deal with one another and I am sooooooo upset, cuse they knew from the beginning how they
were making me waste my time and getting my hopes of going back to school, so now im left to defend for
myself with these two schools and my supposedly balance. The second school wants to charge me an outrages amount that I don't
owe them.... I have tried to fix it, but I was dealing with the wrong people. I wish there was a way to sue them and get out
of this mess, so I can move on, cuse its been a few years of the same stories.
Do Not Go To Anthem Institute
This school is formerly Chubb Institute they changed their name because of law suites and lost of accreditation.
(posted 04/25/09)
From a Former Pencco Tech Employee,
I was a former salesman at Pencco Tech in Blackwood, NJ.
If you
were a student you knew me as an Admissions Representative. Everything
that
has been said by former employees is totally accurate about the way
they run their "school". It
is a complete joke and a scam to get your
money. The teachers couldn't care less about the students
and it's true
they see the students as deadbeats, drop outs, losers and criminals. I
had
several conversations in the short time I worked there with a number
of teachers who would, after class,
joke about how dumb their students
are. Hell, the boss who runs the sales department, Glenn, would
constantly refer to prospective students as losers.
Once I got your $100 deposit and quickly rushed
you into the
financial aid office,
my job was basically done and I would go out of my
way to avoid running into you after that. All
I cared about was getting
my quota of sales for the week. Best scenario for me was to get you to
sign up, start class and then never come back. I got credit for the
sale, you
got stuck with a huge loan to pay back. Don't get me started
on the call lists. If you have
ever filled out an info card online or
mailed one in, you name goes on a call list and stays there.....FOREVER!
I can't tell you how many people I called who told me they asked to be
removed
from the list 100 times. And if you get rude with one of the
salesmen on the phone, you get called
twice as much then before. And
the entrance "test" you have to pass to see if your qualified to
get
into the program......HA! That is used as a ploy to get you thinking
you
are going to an actual school that is worth a damn. The sales staff
are instructed to tell you
you passed the test regardless of your score.
If you are or
if you know anyone who is thinking about signing
up at Pencco Tech.....DON'T!!!!!!!!! It is a
joke, a scam and a farce.
If you are someone reading this who has gone through the program and has
nothing to show for it except a big loan to pay off, my prayers are with
you.
(posted 04/25/09)
Interactive Learning Systems Peachtree. Georgia and Houston, Texas @ Hillcroft are scam schools for
greedy corporate trade that exploit minorities.
(posted 04/25/09)
Remington College is a scam school that overcharges students and is listed on a ripoff report website
(posted 04/25/09)
My son started the electrician progran in August of 2008 full time day. (3 terms all together) He
is expected to graduate on Aril 17th (9 days). He had some time he missed for court and illness throughout
his time there which he had no control over. We showed proper documentation all along. during his second term
they said because of their attendance policy they were going to have to remove him from the program because of time missed.
He wanted to make it up but they told him he could not because they only allow you to make of a certain amount of time. Now
he passed his forst term with great grades. Labs in the high 90's and tests about 80. They told him his only option
was to re-take the 2nd term and they would erase all of his time out from his record and start over. (this was about
one week before the 2nd term was over). We had no choice but to agree to this. We were then told that it would cost
us close to another $5,000.00 on top of the $10,000.00 plus...they had alreadd received! We had no choice and had to
agree on it or the first $10,000.00 would have went down the drain. He went to the 2nd term and again passed with good
grades! Now come third term, my son was a witness in a trial that had lasted 5 days plus a few days here and there
for status conference meetings before the trial. Notes were given to the school from the Judges chambers each time.
The trial ended on a Thursday and my son returned to school on Friday. My son also went to school for an hour or so
each day after the trial. My son continued in school for 5 more days. Then the director, Mr. Emme called my son down
to the office five days after he came back from the trial and told him they were going to have terminate him because of the
time missed from trial. I went to school immediately and raised hell and got into argument. I couldnt understand
why they would wait untill the following week to decidethey had to terminate him. Then I found out that they waith a
week later because our loan payment went through the DAY BEFORE my son got called to the office to be terminated. They
waited for that!!! I got a letter from judge and fought it because my son was supbuena to go to court and he had no choice.
Well, they overturned their decision after the battle and let him stay but they made him sign an agreement that he would make
up every hour and not miss one day until graduation or he would be removed. They werent happy about me winning the battle
but thet had no choice because we had documentation. They told him that they didnt want to hear one more problem from
him. Ever since then, the director and his instructor
(in which the instructor and my son NEVER got along and the instructor always had a grudge against my son), had in it for
my son. My son attended EVERY day and made up EVERY hour as agreed upon. My son never came left and was
on his best behavior. Now, on Thursday April 2, 2009, this same instructor evidently claims my son fell asleep in class
while reading the chapter. My son told me he may have nodded, but he was not sure. SO WHAT!! He did take his allergy
meds so it could be possible. Anyway, the instructor gives them a chapter to read and then goes and smokes his cigareettes
and bullshits. The instructor must have saw my son nod off and went to the director and told him that "he could not
teach his class properly with Nick (my son) sleeping and that it was a distraction and he wanted him to be sent home."
Then the director called my son to the office and was told he was terminated from the program because he was being sent home
and he had an agreement to not miss any more days. My son argued the point with them and refused to leave so they had
him escorted out by their security like he was a criminal!! I came to school immediately with my Dad and they were very
arrogant, some guy named Mark was such a arogant jerk. Mr. Emme the directot his in his office and refused to see us.
I was told he was busy for the next 2 days. I demanded to see him and told them I wanted an explanation for why
he was being removed. Mr. Emme would not see us. We were asked to leave. All Mark would say was "he fell
asleep in class and was sent home and that broke the agreement". I am furious!! My son passed both terms with
good grades. They received over $15,000.00 for my son to attend there and now 9 days before he is expected to graduate
and get his certificate they come up with this BOGUS bullshit. They told me his 8 and 1/2 months there from 7:00am til
2:30 and sometimes until 10:30pm to make up time DID NOT COUNT!!! They told me they are not entitled to give me a refund!!!
They got paid for my son to go there. If he is passing, what do they care if he "nodded" off in class! Its a personal
vendetta that his instructor has with us because of the argument we had during the 2nd term. I tried calling Mr. Emme
all that day and the next and he would not take my calls. I even got a hold of the NJ dept. of Labor, who regulate their
license. They paid a surprise visit to Mr. Emme the next day and requested Nick's records and wanted to know why he
was being terminated. Mr. Emme said he did not have the paperwork ready at the time and she would have to come back
on Monday. I went Monday and picked up Nick's records. I cant beleive what I saw. Let me explain, each time
you have a discipline issue they make up a student advisory report, they call u to the office and they sign the form, the
instructor signs the form and then the student signs it. They actually made up 4 to 5 reports about my son "nodding"
in class and put it in his file as if it was a continued problem!! AND there was no signature on any of them from
my son!! They lied their asses off and covered themselves up because of the bad decision they made! If my son
had discipline problems why did they give him a satisfactory score on his last conduct report? Also I have a report
that says from three weeks before that"Nicholas has came a long way" and has "done a complete turn around" and "Is trying
to make the most out of this". I cant beleive they LIED like this! They all stuck together and covered each others
asses! That is why they would not allow me or the state to see his records on Friday...they had to wait until they added
their false reports in there!!! Now we are out of over $15,000..00 with nothing to show for it, ( 9 DAYS BEFORE
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO GRADUATE AND GET HIS DIPLOMA!! He was supposed to start am apprenticeship and everything and now
we're screwed. I have contacted the NJ Dept. Of Labor and they are reviewing it. I called Consumer affairs. I
am in the process of contacting legal services if The State cant get no where. I also have a call to the Congressman
Rob Andrews. Do u or anyone u know have any other suggestions or advice to
give me??? I cant beleive they did this!!!!
(posted 04/25/09)
STRATFORD CAREER INSTITUE IS
A CROOKED SCHOOL. THEY CHEAT YOU BEFORE YOU START. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINST WITH THE BBB OF VT AND
THE FAIR TRADE COMMISSION. WHEN YOU CANCEL THE COURSE WITHIN THE TWO
WEEK TIME
PERIOD THEY REFUSE TO RETURN YOUR MONEY. THEN THEY START SENDING LETTERS DEMANDING MORE
MONEY FOR NOTHING. I WENT ONLINE TO RIPOFF
AND THERE IS A LONG LINE OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS SCHOOL. THEY HAVE NO INTEGRITY. THEY ARE NOT ACCREDITED AND THE
DEGREE YOU GET FROM THEM IS WORTHLESS.
(posted 07/18/09)
My name is --------- and I recently heard from a friend
about a school for medical assisting. I'm not really a college girl, I'd rather learn the things I need and get on with my
job so I looked online and everything to see if it was legit. The website is ssticareers.com and it all sounds good on there so I called them to set up an appointment to find out more information.
I called them today and they told me to come on in
so I went. The guy kept stuttering and had like a script in front of him. When I told him I wasn't really feeling college
and I struggled alot in math he said: we dont take students that dont give a 100%, and I had to break it down to him on what
I meant.
He gave me a tour and I know institutes are smaller classes,
they had like 3 different rooms. One with computers, a couple offices and a room that looked like a doctors rooms, so I'm
like ok, looks good. My sister in law had an appointment also, we wanted to go to school together to keep motivation going
because its hard when you have kids and we were excited.
On the website it said they had grants available, and it's
accredited through the state and all that. My mom said she would pay for me so thats no problem, but for my sister in law
it would help. I told them my mom would pay and they told me they had "scholarships" and nobody had been denied ever. I called
my sister in law after her appointment and she said they told her that financial aid was not available!
Here's the worst part, I had to ask them questions. They
didn't give me all the information like what days the classes were, the times and I asked them how much the uniforms and books
were and they said $7.75 each....I find that hard to believe. That guy made me feel so uncomfortable, he said he would waive
the application fee and I could pay the hundred dollars for registration. I was getting ready to leave and he asked me for
the hundred...he made me feel like I owed it to him. So bad that I called my mom and she told me I better talk it with my
husband and she knocked some sense into me. I told them I would ahve to talk it over and decide what to do. I only thought
I was going over there to get more information not pay them $100!!!
But it gets worse my sister in law Lori told me that they
kept getting on her for the $100, so bad she was about to cry. They even asked her if she had any family memebers that could
pay for it. The economys bad right now, which is the reason we would like to go to school but the last thing you think when
your going to get information is that you have to put up $100, they shouldn't expect that. They even told her they take post-dated
checks!!!! I'm calling them tomorrow and act like someone who just wants information and see what they say. I swear if they
say another thing from what they told me I'm going to flip, they already did that today with the whole financial aid thing
saying they have it for me when I said my mom was going to pay for it and say they dont for someone who needs it.
ITS RIDICULOUS!!! THINK ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING
THERE NOW THINKING ITS OK WHEN IT'S NOT! THESE SCAMMERS NEED TO GET SHUT DOWN BECAUSE ITS NOT RIGHT!!! I'm about to call the
news station.
DO NOT ATTEND SUNSHINE STATE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
(posted 7-18-09)
I noticed your website regarding scam schools. I am not entirely sure if this school is a scam, but
they do admit that they don't help the students find a job after graduation and they seemed to want to enroll me rather quickly.... TESST Technical College in Maryland and Virginia. Ripoffreport.com as the school listed with past student's posts. Thanks (posted 07-18-09)
I do not go to any of these colleges, but I have heard of people who were scammed by them.
-ASA College for Excellence
-Metropolitan College of New York
-Sanford Brown Institute
(posted 07-18-09)
Anthem Institute also use to be known as Chubb Institute (All Locations) they are still doing the same
thing to people as when they were Chubb institute! I hope there is justice still left in our Country to shut them down for
good and others just like them! this really needs to stop!
(posted 07-18-09)
Chubb institute changed there name to Anthem Institute (all locations) and are still scamming people
to please post this on there site. thank you all for your help much appreicated
(posted 07-18-09)
Chubb Institute is still
scamming under there new name Anthem Institute (all location)! Please post this on your site so others know, I'm currently
in the process of a lawsuit against them! Details of there scamming methods are as follows: False
Advertising, Staff Harassment, under qualified Reps., False promises of careers you can acquire upon graduation, entry level exams that you pass regardless if you fail it! Equipment
that is outdated or not functioning to complete the assignments, No Instructors for some of the classes and they pass you
on with an A for doing nothing! Please review this and Post it on your site. Thank you
(posted 07-18-09)
Ohio Center For Broadcasting
Just do a google search and add "scam" and "ripoff" to the name
of the school. You will see complaints.
(posted 07-18-09)
I totally agree that Pennco Tech is a HUGE scam. I loved my teacher's and did learn a lot. I
went there to be a Medical
Administrative Assistant. Graduating with honors and meeting a lot of great
people. But this school is all talk and no game. They say they will help you find a job and have job fairs for us and they
did none of this. Our teacher's helped us more with finding a
job then the career person did, and they are only there to teach us not help us with jobs. Even with there help I got
nowhere in this field. Doctor's wouldn't even give me a chance because I had no clinical experience and was not certified,
because Pennco Tech didn't offer it, but for the money I spent they could've clinically train us. Had I known more about the
medical field I would've NEVER went to Pennco Tech. I used all of my savings bonds from the time I was a baby to pay for this scam of a
school. I have a 2 year old and this was close to home and it worked with my schedule for the baby. I studied so hard, kept
my grades high and put my all into school. Now I have a diploma from this school that means NOTHING!!!! If I could take anything
back in life it would be going to this school. All the thousands of dollars I spent on this school, for a couple more thousand
I could've went to another school that clinically trains you and prepares you for your state certification test. Now I have
nothing, NO MONEY AND NO CAREER!!! To anyone looking at Pennco Tech, Don't make the same mistake I did.
(posted 2/09/10)
Scaaaaam... in other words the biggest cold hearted people in the
world. How can you scam people like this?? I can't believe you haven't been shutdown yet from the state of New Jersey. I
went to Pennco Tech in Blackwood. I loved my teacher's and they did all they could and more for us then anyone in that
school. They say they will help you find a job yeeeeah right our teacher's did all they could in helping us find a job.
But that's not there job they are there to teach us not teach us and help us find jobs, so the teacher's did
go above and beyond for us. But everyone else they should be the ones OUT OF A JOB. I can't believe with the way our economy
is today and all the people getting laid off that Pennco Tech is still up and running. The state really needs to step
in and do something. I went there to be a Medical Administrative Assistant in 2008, I had very high grades and graduated
with honors and a diploma that mean NOTHING.
These admissions people are a bunch of scumbags and liars. I can't believe you can do this to people. I used all of my savings
bonds from the time I was a baby to pay for this scam of a school and now I'm out money and a career. If I knew how to go
about all of this believe me I would get my money back. I have a 2 year old, and Pennco Tech was close to home and worked with
my schedule for the baby, but now me and my son have to suffer. Did it ever cross your mind that we have kids and families
we have to provide for too? Here we are trying to go to school studying to get a legitimate job and your still
scamming people. GET A REAL JOB LOSERS!!! I
can't stand you people and hope one day you will be out of a job too!!!
(posted 2/09/10)
hi i am a victim of one of these fuck face shit ass schools what are my options i can't any
help from the higher
education authority i attented and graduated from Katherine Gibbs College of Montclair NJ i never receieved anything but a big ass
student loan bill well over 35,000 and have no idea what
to do i attended and supposedly gratuated in 2003
(posted 2/09/10)
You really need to add penn foster and vatterott college
to your list, I almost enrolled in both and came to find that they were both scams. People need to be aware!!!
Thank You
(posted 2/09/10)
Hello I couldn't help but to notice that you do not have Westwood college on your website as well.
I will not explain much but there is a video that I would like for you to see that will explain everything for you:
Let's get the masses warned!
(posted 2/09/10)
Centura Institute in Orlando FL. This school is a big scam. I would appreciated if you would please add
them on your list.
thank you
(posted 2/9/10)
Hi! My name is, and I was a student at The Airline Academy
down in Daytona Beach, Florida just this year. It is a flight attendant/customer service school located at the Daytona
Beach International Airport. In July 2008, I was visited at my home by
a recruiter from that academy. He claimed that over 60 airlines were hiring students shortly after graduation, and that graduates
would have one whole lifetime of job placement. Another one of his claims was that the academy had a 90% job placement. Then
he spiced all those details up with the "You can work anywhere!" statement. That man made it sound so easy! He also said that
I could be hired even though I am not 21 yet. So then I signed on and soon received
an acceptance letter at least a week later. Now there was a catch. Near the end of the interview, there was a down payment of at least 243.00 per month
from the academy, up until a total fee of somewhere around $5000-$6000 in cash. Then there were other fees asked, like $700.00
for the dorms. Then at least a $50.00 deposit, which I did not get back. When
I finished my distance learning, I traveled to the school and stayed at The Seascape Inn, where the dorms were located. There
were cockroaches, ants, and possibly mice (squeaks and tiny little footsteps could be heard from the ceiling). Then the kitchens
were incomplete, and the bathrooms were molded. When I attended the flight school
on the first day, the entire class met with the school's president, vice president, and other notable people. They were telling
us that not many airlines would hire 18-year-old people with no prior experience- almost entirely different from what I was
told when I first signed. At that very moment, I felt that I had been scammed. It
was not until I dropped out of the school when I found evidence on airliners.net and answers.yahoo.com about The Airline Academy being a scam. You can Google the keywords "The Airline Academy Scam", and there will
be a line of results pertaining to a few questions on answers.yahoo.com, and one forum post on www.airliners.net.Please let everyone know about this school. Thank you! (posted 2/09/10)
new england institute of technology
this school robbed me blind
(posted 2/09/10)
Hello:
We need any and all information to help
stop Prism Career Institute from scamming minority students. Prism's Philadelphia
's campus is
located at 8040 Roosevelt
Blvd.
Admissions and Financial Aid use deceptive practices to entice
students to enroll in their school. PC's are not up to working standard, students do not receive the books as stated
on the contract and book list. Career services either is not in place or grossly under qualified.
Instructors should have drug screening and criminal background checks.
Many lack the work
experience and or education to teach. Campus director's eyes are bloody red clearly after he's taken his hit
of marijuana sometime around noon everyday. Medical instructor admitted to another co-worker that she uses meth...she
has constant nervous movements, always anxious, wears dirty attire, dirty sneakers, picks her nose and eats an excessive amount
of sweets.
The lead medical instructor comes to work with hickeys
on her neck, non-business casual dress attire. You'll find her eating in the office constantly. Students wait
at least 45 mins or more for her to come and unlock the doors in the morning. She'll send her son who is not a staff
member on occasion. It's not unusual to find the neighborhood homeless man sleeping on the bench.
Night paralegal instructors who is a small practicing attorney can be found not in the classroom but in
the back office on the phone, making excessive copies for her practice or in the classroom eating. The staff on board
had been recruited by a network of cronies.
There is absolutely nothing
in place for the Paralegal Program which is a far cry from the advertising seen on television. Not a single student
has began any type of certification required for mid-sized to large law firms. There's 0 networking with the legal world
outside of the PAP Association which as had a history of not having anything in place for the minority population of legal
professionals.
Medical students intern at adult daycare centers, far
from the advertisements seen on television. You'll find outdated resumes on the wall which states references available
upon request at the bottom, clearly not used format in 2010.
This school
is criminal to say the least!
These technical schools are the worst civil
rights violation unleashed on the poor community I've ever seen. Students will find themselves in debt without
a degree or even certifications in hand.
The staff
meetings only discuss attendance. Academics is not a priority!
Students
are told to take a leave
of absence until the class comes aback around on the wheel. Clearly this is violation regarding federal aid.
Classes are cramped and not well maintained. The list goes on and on!!!
Again, Please add PRISM CAREER TECHNICAL INSTITUTE to your list of scam schools....
Less than 44%passing, Just got off probation....
(posted 2/09/10)
I have a few scam schools for you to add to the list
Colorado Technical University
National American University
Kaplan University
CTU used to be Sanford Brown College in Kansas City but
their scams caught up to them so they had to change their name to stay in business
Posted 9/29/10
Hi,
I just found
your site; you should add WTI Joplin, Mo. campus.
I don't know about
all their other "schools" they have but the one in
Joplin was a joke!
When the electronics technology school opened they promised
us all kinds of B*S
and didn't follow thru with anything. They didn't have
experienced instructors,
they didn't have ANY of the equipment we were suppose
to be getting "hands-on"
experience with. Ok, we had multimeters and we got to
team up and share
4 or 5 oscilloscopes. We did get solder irons, and basic
equipment (that we
paid for) and later computers and a small TV to "learn" on
and we paid for those
too. They didn't do a geographical research to check
out the job possibilities;
even though they said they did (yea, thats why there
were so many high
paying jobs). LOL!!
I could go on and
on with all the crap, but I'll spare you.
To be fair, they did
have one guy there that was a good instructor and really tried
to teach us stuff
with what little he had to work with.
Anyway, it's kind
of ironic that allot of the schools you list as scams are advertising on
your web site. You
might check into that; maybe get some different affiliates to advertise
on your site.
POSTED 3/26/11
you need to add harrison career institute, to your scam list..... they have hurt thousands of students,
i being one of them... we r all to poor to, obtain legal help and, r stuck with loans .... they got me for 10,000 dollars....
just check the rip off reports... thanks
POSTED 3/26/11
I attended the Computer Training Academy
in San Jose, CA in
1998 and had applied for a school loan now 13 years later I have nothing to show for it. Do you know any information
on this School or could you lead me in the direction of how to find info for the School. I tried researching on line
and have only found an address and phone numbers that are no longer valid. I just found out the school loan I owe is
$8000. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.
POSTED 3/26/11
Cascade Business College Lynwood Wa, They
are a Scam, they are fraudulent and they falsely certify people to steal money from the government and ultimately you who
will be paying for it for the rest of your life.
POSTED 3/26/11
Many people feel the Le Cordon Bleu culinary schools in the United
States (operated by CEC, who also operates other schools including some on your list) are a scam. See the attached lawsuit
as one example, and this article http://www.sfweekly.com/2007-06-06/dining/burnt-chefs
Posted 10/6/2011
FULLSAIL UNIVERSITY WILL OFFER YOU THE SKY. AFTER 3 WEEKS I LEFT DUE TO
MEDICAL REASONS.
THEY DROPPED ME INSTEAD
AND CHARGED ME $10,000.00 DOLLARS ONLY AFTER 3 WEEKS AND HAVE SINCED DROPED ME FROM SCHOOL SO MY 10 GRAND DOES NOT EVEN ALLOW
ME TO COMPLETE THE 1ST SEMESTER AND YOU END UP ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND TALKING TO VOICE MAILS AND CAN'T EVEN GET YOUR STUDENT
SUPERVISOR TO RETURN YOUR CALLS!
Posted 10/6/2011
I really think that Computer Career Center, now known as Computer
Career Center a Division of Vista College, should be on this list. I feel that they have not be recognized for their
poor treatment of students and their money sucking "Financial Aid Program." I know I'm not the only person who has gotten
screwed over buy this so called "college," but I don't want to see anyone else get screwed.
Just to show what a scam school this
is . The priciple or school director Robert Emme is a high school dropout with no college or documents or schooling
to do this job. I think they got him cheap. He is an old grumpy nasty guy who has less of an education then most of there
pupils in the school.
He is also an extreme racist
constantly making racial comments and jokes about black and spanish people.
I was a student 40 y/o and white. when i had a time out problem he put me on a pedistal over and
above the blacks and spanish that take the school bus.
He said i am not a lozer like them so i should get to school on time. They will end up in jail he
said.
Posted: 10/6/2011
I in 2002 - 3 attended the chubb institute school
in springfield pa. I can remember before this I had a job at the airport in philadelphialoading cargo
planes. I got this job through a career fair at a local hotel. I started at 14:50 an hour. After two weeks working there I
along with several others were brought into the office and told that they made a mistake in "dallas" and we were on the wrong
pay scale and were offered the same job at 8:25 an hour. I can remember that night walking home in the rain and crying to
myself in desperation saying "you will be putting up with this kind of stuff for the rest of your life unless you get an education". After
watching a tv ad for chubb institute, considering my natural interest in computers (i had a vic 20 so i go way back i
am now 40 then was 32-3), I went to enroll. I was told by my (what id like to call a sleazy used car salesman) intake guy
when i asked about what i would recieve for this money and time, i was told a diploma....i asked if microsoft certification
was neccessary to get the jobs described in the heavily inflated job placement program, and was told that they were looking
for a diploma. At the time i can remember thinking that was kind of funny, but as desperate as i was i believed him. the class
i enrolled in was information technology. tuition around 18,000 when it was all done. the classes were a joke. the intstructors
were ignorant. one stating that we would be lucky to get a job at wawa (a local convenience store). I also remember
being told that the credits would be transferable to another institution or college wich was a lie. I never got one call from
the job placement person. no one in my class at all ever got a job in a related field. I have not payed one penny to
these people. another thing. after all the hard work and studying at the final test in the end - the instructor offered
the whole class a chance to opt out of the test and be given a guarenteed 85 on the test. I can never remember a time in my
life when i felt so insulted. I cant describe how i felt after i left realising how much i was ripped of and taken advantage
of. I feel the people who perpetrate such harm and hurt to so many who are looking to better thier lives should be put and
front of a firing squad and shot on site. furthermore if it were legal i would pull the trigger myself. i would have no moral
issue with that. this is not a threat - i could not hurt a fly. just a wish list. i cant imagine the thousands of poor unfortunate
souls who's lives, hopes and dreams were dashed like mine was by these sharks. people like that should be exterminated from
the face of this earth. I only hope my letter comforts someone else who may have been abused like this. if there are any class
action suits currently pending please post so i can join.
Posted: 10/6/2011
Institute of Technology in Tampa off Waters Ave. They are not accredited, the teachers are unqualified
and they do not have working computers. It's in a store front strip mall and they are highly disorganized.
Posted:
11/1/10 |
I in 2002 - 3 attended the chubb institute school
in springfield pa.
I can remember before this I had a job at the airport in philadelphialoading
cargo planes. I got this job through a career fair at a local hotel. I started at 14:50 an hour. After two weeks working there
I along with several others were brought into the office and told that they made a mistake in "dallas"
and we were on the wrong pay scale and were offered the same job at 8:25 an hour. I can remember that night walking home in
the rain and crying to myself in desperation saying "you will be putting up with this kind of stuff for the rest of your life
unless you get an education". After watching a tv ad for chubb institute, considering my natural interest in computers
(i had a vic 20 so i go way back i am now 40 then was 32-3),
I went to enroll. I was told by my (what id like to
call a sleazy used car salesman) intake guy when i asked about what i would recieve for this money and time, i was told a
diploma....i asked if microsoft certification was neccessary to get the jobs described in the heavily inflated job placement
program, and was told that they were looking for a diploma. At the time i can remember thinking that was kind of funny, but
as desperate as i was i believed him. the class i enrolled in was information technology. tuition around 18,000 when it was
all done. the classes were a joke. the intstructors were ignorant. one stating that we would be lucky to get a job at wawa (a local
convenience store). I also remember being told that the credits would be transferable to another institution or college
wich was a lie. I never got one call from the job placement person. no one in my class at all ever got a job in a related
field. I have not payed one penny to these people. another thing. after all the hard work and studying at the final test in
the end - the instructor offered the whole class a chance to opt out of the test and be given a guarenteed 85 on the
test. I can never remember a time in my life when i felt so insulted. I cant describe how i felt after i left realising how
much i was ripped of and taken advantage of. I feel the people who perpetrate such harm and hurt to so many who are looking
to better thier lives should be put and front of a firing squad and shot on site. furthermore if it were legal i would pull
the trigger myself. i would have no moral issue with that. this is not a threat - i could not hurt a fly. just a wish list.
i cant imagine the thousands of poor unfortunate souls who's lives, hopes and dreams were dashed like mine was by these sharks.
people like that should be exterminated from the face of this earth. I only hope my letter comforts someone else who may have
been abused like this. if there are any class action suits currently pending please post so i can join.
Posted 10/6/2011
I
graduated in June 2008 with a Master's Degree in Education. I might as well
use
"that" degree t Mop the Damn floor with. $40,000 in debt and I cannot even
get
a job as a teacher. TO PAY THE LOAN BACK!
Posted
10/6/2011
I want to report Grand Canyon is a Big SCAM!!!!
I shouldve knew when I saw the graduation rate of the students being less than 35% Do not go there!!!!
Posted: 10/6/2011
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