I paid for a new online prelicensing course at the request of a company with whom I'd interviewed for a job. If hired, I'd be reimbursed. I would appreciate any assistance re: whether anyone else experienced problems with this online company or what recourse I might have after what this company did.
I paid $250 $60 for an optional textbook so I could limit my online time (we live in the country and don't have high speed high tech access). I never spoke to any instructor. I called the company once re: a technical prob but got someone in India. The entirety of my contact with them were 2 responses to their 4 emails from anonymous Instructor indicating a problem with the time I was spending online when reviewing. (see emails below) which somehow led to a huge overreaction. I spent the past two weeks studying the textbook, online chapters, glossaries and legal listings in order. Then 48 hours retaking practice quizzes—listed as unlimited practice. I had not yet entered into the Exam practice section (where the STudy Regiment is). The practices do not indicate which sections need review. According to the materials, you enter the separate section for that. I was still in the chapter reviews; I didn't want to go there until I had demonstrated consistency.
I am hesitant to try to complete this now that they:
1. Sent this email to me and copied in the company headquarters & boss with whom I interviewed but have not yet been hired, (& likely won't be now)
2.indicated I have not "endeared myself to them". If they are biased: How could I contact them for help now after this? This course requires an evaluation from them before I could become licensed. What kind of educational program is this?
3. They affected my potential future job and even if I hired, my reputation within the company would be tarnished, as this was sent to my potential boss and people I never met accusing me of venemous attacks when I have never had more than these 2 contacts with them,
4. I won't be reimbursed for the costs and I am honestly too distraught to take the exam at the company now.
I don't understand. I have only had the 2 email contact with them. They were bombarding me with emails and I was trying to explain what they were seeing online. I've taken online courses from other companie and never experienced this. I am hurt, humiliated and want a refund. I assume I've lost the job. At this point I am afraid to contact them again since they contacted a potential employer with whom I had hoped to work who then called me. I feel I have been slandered and treated unfairly but have no recourse! There is no info on the company or its business practices except for their own website and press releases.
This is the email sent to the corporate headquarters where I was interviewing and believe it or not these are the entire communications that took place:
This one was from the CEO and was sent to the employer's headquarters with whom I had hoped to be hired (contact info they had due to the licensing application)!
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 16:07: 31 -0400
From:
Subject: Re: Chapter Quiz Guidelines
To:
CC:
You are entitled to do whatever you want... And that includes refusing
help from us if you so choose. I can appreciate your frustration but you
claiming you were called a liar is not going to help you pass nor endear
any instructor to assist you. The emails and print do not lie either
We have a structured system and those who can work the structure reap
the rewards. We send our emails to people to help them plug into a
"proven system". Those who do pass the exam on their first attempt 90%
of the time... Those who do not 50/50
You took 3 100 question practice final exams today:
Exam 1:11: 44:09
Exam 2:12: 53:51
Exam 3:1: 54:19
Based upon the reading assignments contained in the Study Regiment and
the Results of your Score Report it appears you would have done the
following between Exam 1 and 2:
*Quiz the following Tier 1 and Tier 2 chapters:*
Life provisions, Options, Riders
*Read the following Tier 1 and Tier 2 chapters: *
Disability
Government
Group Health & Blanket
Health Taxation
Long Term Care
Private Insurance for Seniors & Special Needs
The time frame and the score of your second exam does not indicate this
to be so. *People who attempt to memorize questions fail their exams*.
We have mechanisms in place to deter people from that tactic as soon as
we detect it happening
We do not deserve nor warrant your hostility.
We get 90% of the people to pass their exam on the 1st attempt who
"buy-in" to our *proven system*. Those who feel they have a better or
equal system represent about a 50% passing ratio... Half do and half
don't. Our net first time passing ratio is 77% for the first quarter of
2008. The statewide passing ratio is about 40%... Another fact to consider
If you want to do this on your own that's fine.
However, I strongly suggest you control your venomous attacks upon those
trying to help. My instructors do what they are instructed to do from
me. I too do evaluations and reports.
If you have the need to communicate with this organization again you
shall do so with me directly and exclusively. I own this company, wrote
the books and designed the system. If you have a problem anything at our
organization I am the person to speak to.
MY explanation of why I was quizzing so much:
No sir. The system doesn't lie—but with all due respect, the system
doesn't reflect that I am reading from the course textbook which I
purchased so I could highlight and take notes. I took the past two
weeks off from my current job to do this and have been
studying day/night since last Tuesday. I reviewed by reading the
online chaper and take each quiz.
Only the past 48 hours did I begin taking quizzes repeatedly to
practice for the final exam. I am a former teacher with a masters
degree—I am practicing my interpretation of the questions and dealing
with memorization skills that aren't as sharp as they used to be and
material and concepts with which I am not familiar. Not to mention the
fact that the questions are grammatically incorrect which leads to
misinterpretations. I am simply not pleased with my results—or having
spent two weeks of vacation time only to be accused of not reading the
material based on an automated computer login. I am trying to learn. Criticizing me when I am frustrated and calling
me a liar does not help. For the $250 I spent on the course and the
$60 on the textbook—I am entitled to practice tests and quizzes.in
my evaluation of this course I will be certain to address the "system"
limitations.
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 14:31: 50 -0400
From:
Subject: Re: Chapter Quiz Guidelines
To:
No you are not doing the reading. Our system does not lie. You are
taking one exam after another with no targeted reading as indicated in
your Study Regiment.
&
My response:
I followed directions exactly as I went through the program. Only
after completing each chapter did I begin using the quizzes for
review.
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 18:47: 36 -0400
From:
Subject: Chapter Quiz Guidelines
To:
*You are not following the program for success.
If you continue the course the way you are now, the probability for
failure increases dramatically
*When you fail two or three consecutive quizzes*... *
*
* *_RE-READ_ *the chapter
* Do not bang through quizzes
* Question repetition will not help you pass your Licensing Exam.in
fact question memorization will hurt your preparation for the
State Licensing Exam
*Topical Reading earns you your Insurance License
If you follow these Guidelines... You will have Success with your
Licensing Exam
Anonymous
S, New York
U.S.A.
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