Dashed college dreams
Originally published June 07, 2009
According to parents of high school students who planned to take the SAT and ACT college admissions tests, one test preparation service did not deliver.Since August 2008, there have been 67 complaints from families across the U.S. on The SAT and ACT Prep Center out of Coppell, Texas. In the complaints, parents of high school students allege misleading telephone sales and difficulties with refunds for test preparation materials offered by the business. Because of the nature of the complaints and the lack of response from the company, the Better Business Bureau referred information on the business to the Texas Attorney General's office. The Trap Complaints allege that telephone sales for The SAT and ACT Prep Center misrepresented that their son or daughter had asked to get test preparation software for the college admission tests through the local high school. After buying the software for $119.99, parents discovered that their children had not requested the study materials, and their local high school was not involved with the offer. The complaints against The SAT and ACT Prep Center include Maryland victims and allege dissatisfaction with the software; nondelivery of the materials; unauthorized charges of $49.95 for monthly service; and difficulties in obtaining cancellations or refunds. One parent complained, "We received a call. É She said that my daughter expressed interest in the high school that she would like getting her ACT, SAT, and PSAT scores up. É After we got the program I found out I can get the same program at Best Buy for under $10. We got the CD and called them and returned the program. É When I was paying my bills online I found that the charge was still on my account. I called them, they said the software had been opened and there will be no refund issued to my account. É I'm out $119.99." "I went to their website trying to contact them with the information she gave me and none of it works," lamented another parent. "They have not given my money back and have now started debiting my account an additional $49.95 per month. I have tried calling them and I get a recording saying that due to high volume, they can't accept my call and I am to leave a message. When they transfer me to the voicemail, I get a recording saying the mailbox is full and then they disconnect. They won't respond to my e-mails that I have been sending either." Tips for Finding Admissions Prep Help The Better Business Bureau provides free reports on organizations across North America, so go to www.bbb.org to find for a business you can trust. Watch the sales pitch. Do the results sound reasonable? Rememberb hard work is imperative to success. There are no quick fixes or miracle cures for admissions tests or anything. What kind of student is your child? Some need personal instruction, while others enjoy self-directed study. Check out your local library first. Why pay when you can find study guides for free? Been the victim of a scam -- or nearly one? E-mail us at scamALERT@greatermd.bbb.org and tell us if you think you've identified a suspect company, website, or tactic and we'll investigate. We may even share our findings with other readers here at scamALERT. BBB | Greater MD is a 501 (c) 6, not-for-profit organization serving Baltimore City and 18 counties including Frederick County, Md. For information, visit www.bbb.org.
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