I am trying to earn my MCSE certification, and in order to do so I need to take 7 exams. The closest and most convenient testing center they listed for me was Unitek in Fremont.
So far I have taken 4 exams there and EVERY SINGLE TIME something goes wrong.
The first test I took was my Windows XP exam. I answered all the questions, but the computer crashed during a section where it asks you to comment on the test. It took me over a week to find out whether I had passed or failed and I never recieved the score report at all.
The second test I took was the Installing Windows 2003 exam. Again I answered all the questions, but again I never recieved my score or my score report. A week later I was told by Prometric I had failed the exam.
The third test I took crashed halfway through the exam. After about an hour of tinkering they told me I would have to reschedule my exam for another day, because they couldn't restart the exam for me.
Finally, I took a fourth test there because no other exam center was open and I had to take the test by the end of the year. I figured at least I could pass the exam and not worry about the score report. This time everything seemed to go well, and the computer told me I had scored a passing score of 723. I went out to get my score report and the guy at the desk said " Hmmmm there seems to be a problem." After two hours of sitting and waiting as he talked to Prometric support, he told me not to worry and head home, that Prometric had gotten my results.
I waited a week and the status of my test still showed as Pending. I called Prometric and the next day the status updated to "No Show". Furious, I asked to speak with a supervisor, who offered me nothing but a free retake. I pointed out that this has happened four times and they said it was Unitek's equipment that causes the problem, not Prometric.
Unitek blames Prometric, Prometric blames Unitek, I get screwed out of another day at work. I'm paid hourly so in addition to the gas, car milage, and exam fee, I lose another $150 off my paycheck when I go to take a test. So far, this means I'm out $300 from having to retake tests because THEY screwed up.
Of course I have absolutely no options though, Microsoft only gives tests through Prometric, so if I want my MCSE I have to deal with them.
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