Untrustworthy companies...
I had my resume on monster.com and was contacted by a Joe Eustace of Ameritrain, who called me for an interview per say. When I got there he offered me a position that he knew I wasn't qualified and told me if I could pass this hard test based on networking and telecommunication, he would reconsider the offer. So I sat in the room for about 45 minutes taking this difficult test. Well as expected I failed.
Joe told me, that I did better than expected, and if I would take one of their classes I would pass with no problems. He said they had a program where you were guaranteed a job if you could take the MCSE and A and Net within a year. He said even if I signed up for one session and couldn't attend I could sign up for another with no problems. He gave me the application for SLM financial to see if I qualified for the loan, but I couldn't get it alone.
Joe seemed very concerned and kept giving me options to get the loan approved. He would call every other day, just to follow-up with me. So I got someone to co-sign with me on the loan, and everything was on the way. As soon as I signed that paperwork, Joe Eustace never called me again. When I called him, he would be busy, and say he would return my calls, but never did. From that point I started getting a bad vibe.
I signed up for the bootcamp session for A and Net, which was in session from June 24th - July 12th. Around that I time I began having family problems, and financial problems, so was unable to attend. I tried to contact Joe Eustace by email telling him that I would not be able to attend, but he did not respond. I got a little worried about that. I wasn't that worry though because Joe told me upfront if I had to choose a different session it would be no problem as long as it's within a year.
After being ignored by Joe Eustace I called SLM financial and told them of the situation with my not attending the session I was supposed to, and being dissatisfied with Ameritrain's service. They told me to get in contact with someone at Ameritrain. I called and called but could never get an answer and no answering machine. (when I first decided to attend Ameritrain they had an answering machine.) One day I finally got in touch with one of the instructors named Steve.
I told Steve my situation about not wanting to attend anymore because of being dissatisfied with the service and wanting a refund. He said he would forward my name to the refund department and I should hear something in a few days, but never heard a thing. I gave him two days or so, and then called again, but could not get an answer on the phone again, instead got a fast busy signal like the phone was disconnected.
I went to the Ameritrain site in Charlotte and spoke with Steve again, and re-explained the situation. He said he didn't forget, and that Steve Govia will call me back, and also gave me his number to call him. I called Steve Govia, and he instructed me to send him a letter stating my situation, which I did.
After I sent the letter I gave him maybe a week to respond. When I finally realized he wasnt going to respond I called him again. I spoke with a receptionist that told me that Steve Govia no longer worked for the company, and she never sau my letter cross her desk. She told me upfront that she didn't think that they would respond, nor give me a refund.
I then sent the same letter I sent before certified mail and got a certified mail receipt so I know they received it. No one ever responded to my letter. I still have the certified mail receipt.
I wasn't making payments on the loan because I wasn't using the service, so why pay for the loan. SLM got in touch with me one day and explained to that Ameritrain was closing, but I would still be responsible for the loan, unless I get Ameritrain to refund them their money. I even faxed over to them the letter that I sent Ameritrain, per Kathy's (manager) request. She told me not to worry about the situation, and to keep records of my payments til the matter is resolved, but all she was doing was trying to squeeze a payment out of me, and even threatened my job at Citifinancial, saying "I know this wouldn't look too good on your credit, working at Citifinancial."
I kept calling SLM financial and then someone finally told me that I would be responsible for that loan, and a discharge is not an option. She put me into the manager's voicemail where I left my contact information for her to call me about the situation, but she would not return my call.
I really am disgusted with SLM financial because they have not tried to help me with this situation and are just as much at fault as Ameritrain. They gave out student loans for an uncertified school, when they should have done the research on Ameritrain before taking people's money. That doesn't say too much for SLM financial, what type of institution would do such a thing. They care nothing about customer satisfaction.
They even offered to send me to a different school since Ameritrain closed and said since I'm responsible for the loan anyway I might as well attend. I did not want to attend because I trusted the first time that they were signing off on a worthy and legit school, but did not; why be scammed again? I did not ask to go to that school, I was trying to go to Ameritrain. Who's to say that school was certified. Then if something would come about and we could get a discharge, they would try to say I received my services and need to pay my loan anyway.
I do not want your services anymore SLM, Sallie Mae Foundation, or any of the other affiliates.
Monique
Charlotte, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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