National Academy Of Sports Medicine
Fraudulent, unfair & deceptive internet trade practices, failure of full disclosure of policies ripoff

Re: Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) study/test package/Exam Extension Fee of $75 in contention

Re: Purchase Order xx55/NASM Member xx89

I ordered online from NASM their Course CD131 "Certified Personal Trainer II" on 4 May for $573.54. NO CONTRACT OR ANY OTHER WRITTEN AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BY EITHER PARTIES.

I took and passed the course final examination on 14 December.

I was permitted to take the final examination test only after paying an extorted fee of $75 for a so-called "exam extension fee."

By NASM's "certification candidate handbook" guidelines, WHICH ARE NOT DISCLOSED OR SUPPLIED UNTIL AFTER THE COURSE IS PURCHASED, ARBITRARY exam attempt date deadlines are set at 120 days from the initial course registration and every 90 days thereafter—at the end of each deadline a $75 "administrative fee" for exam deadline date EXTENSIONS imposed for each and every missed deadline.

No good or service is supplied by NASM for this $75 fee. Nor is the imposition of this fee—or for that matter ANY exam deadline dates—disclosed BEFORE purchase of course study/test materials.

To me this is a type of fee EXTORTION. Therefore a refund from NASM of $75 is duly requested.

In her outright dishonest rebuttals to this complaint thus far NASM "Manager" Jessica Carey has made the following patently false claims:

1)"PRIOR to enrolling online (I) was required to agree to our 'Terms and Conditions.' By agreeing to those terms (I) entered into a contract to abide by those policies."

This is an outright LIE. I agreed to no such terms and conditions. Nor did I sign ANY contract with NASM agreeing to same. NOR were ANY such terms and conditions made known "PRIOR, " as falsely claimed, to online enrollment.

2)"Lasergrade (testing facility contacted for testing schedule) informed Mr. C that they could schedule (my) examination but that (I) would need to pay for the examination extension with NASM to receive (my) certification."

Another outright LIE. Quite the contrary, my first Lasergrade contact duly informed me that I was indeed completely CLEAR to schedule a test appointment of my own preference and MADE ABSOLUTELY NO STATEMENTS TO ME, EITHER VERBALLY OR IN WRITING, OF ANY REQUIREMENT TO PAY NASM FOR ANY EXAMINATION EXTENSION.

3)"It was explained that the extension fee is put in place to encourage our members to complete their exam in a timely manner and to help ensure that they take their exam under materials that are still current.in addition, the testing facility will not keep a member's enrollment open indefinitely, which makes it necessary to require an exam deadline."

Another outright LIE. No such explanation, either verbally or in writing, was ever given as a PRETEXT for examination DEADLINE, which is really IRRELEVANT anyway.

AT ISSUE is NASM's pretext for excessive, extortionate and PUNITIVE EXAMINATION DEADLINE FEES, for which it has most ineffectually presented NOTHING JUSTIFIABLE—except as a pretext to fee-GOUGE its members.

4)"Therefore, in order to uphold the integrity of our business we will remain steadfast in our decision and no refund will be offered."

It's remarkably specious indeed for this representative to speak of upholding "integrity" whilst simultaneously mis-stating multiple facts of the matter with multiple falsehoods and outright LIES, none of which it can legitimately DOCUMENT.

5) Carey presumes to lecture that "it would have been advisable to contact one of our education advisors directly" to consult with to clarify so-called "terms and conditions" which this shyster company most conveniently FAILS TO DISCLOSE until AFTER—NOT before or "Prior to" online internet enrollment—and AFTER materials ordered are purchased.

No, what would've been most ethically "advisable" would be FULL AND PRIOR DISCLOSURE—IN AN HONEST AND FORTHRIGHT MANNER—OF ALL SAID "TERMS&CONDITIONS" BEFORE (NOT AFTER) ONLINE INTERNET PURCHASING OF MATERIALS IS ACCOMPLISHED. Such is most assuredly not the case.

This complainant therefore shall remain as equally "steadfast" in his pursuit of his rightful refund as the respondent may remain in her wrongful refund refusal. We trust she shall relish the time and effort required to continue responding as further complaints shall be forthcoming filed with every conceivable regulatory agency for as long as it takes to procure said refund.

Footnote: After paying NASM's extorted examination fee of $75 I did indeed test and PASS their examination of their material manual—the lamest and piss-poorest, incidentially, of ANY other earned thus far—and this outfit pretends that its practices are naturally superior to all others. Such is most assuredly not the case either—I should know as I'm FOUR-TIME fitness trainer certified, including NASM.

American Council On Exercise
International Sports Sciences Association
National Federation of Personal Trainers

NONE of these truly REPUTABLE fitness trainer certifying boards GOUGE their members with such PUNITIVE & EXTORTIONATE & PROFITEERING FEES.

Company: National Academy Of Sports Medicine
Country: USA
State: California
City: Calabasas
Address: 26632 Agoura Road
Phone: 8004606276

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