I enrolled in The Academy (IT Training School) October I was referred by my boyfriend and went in with several friends. I did so based on what I was told by Wentzel (salesman) and commercials I heard on the radio they said that I would be making a salary of over 60K a year, the complete course would be done in six months, I will not have to pay on loans for a year I will be completed with school and have an MCSE Certificate.
I received my first loan payment bills and they were 29% and I was overcharge $1,000.00 and there was about $700 dollars in fees added on. On 3 different occasions I was told that they were calling my Loan Companies regarding getting me a better loan without extremely high interest rates by Wentzel (salesman). It took six months to get my refund for $1,000.00 for the overcharge.
Myself and the other students that enrolled at the same time had several meetings with Wentzel (Salesman) and one with John L. Steele (The Owner/President of The Academy) to discuss our complaints regarding, books with false answers, online practice exams taken off in middle of study, bad loans set up, and how our progress is being slowed and having trouble passing the OST exam because things keep getting changed.
After so many chances after a year on 1st Course and still not finished plus all the promises broken, the only option was to get a refund for the remaining package for over $8500.00 (at that time) I had a special meeting with Ann (Vice President) she came to meet me at The Academy Ft. Laud. From Miami. Ann approved and promised me a refund and that same week 2 off my friends were approved for their refunds.
The only condition was that I could not come to school and take practice exams of resit classes to help me pass the 1 of 2 exams for the only course I took (A Certification) For six months from October 31st to May 2 I was severely ill. On November 11th I got sick and went to the emergency room and 2 days later my sister was almost killed in a car accident.
Will my stuggling to help my sister walk again and myself sick obviously I could not call about my refund and I wanted to pass my OST exam before because I didn't trust that they would let me go to the school and take practice exams. So, since then I was making my large montly payments for the terrible loans they set up. I did this because I was concerned about protecting my good credit I worked hard on for many years.
I finally get more physical strength, but on 10 different medicines for severe Asthma (breathing problems) I tracked down Ann at the Corporate Office in Miami. At first I called The Academy Miami and got a really rude girl saying am I calling about a refund if so I need to talk to Jamie Steele. I immediately said no! I called back and got another person and got the phone to Corporate in Miami.
I reached Ann and she told me she was processing the paperwork that day. I gave her 1 week and afterwards I called everyday for 2 straight weeks all hours of the day and every extension said that the mail box is full cannot leave a message. So by then I was starting to panic and wanted to call the Police.
Finally by luck Ann picked up one day she said she went out of town will do it now and that there is a problem with there computer system for the phones to work and laughed and said, we are a computer school. And isn't that funny. I didn't here anything again and got the same thing again with the phones saying voicemail box full day and night. I started to panic and was going to call the police.
A few days later my boyfriend spoke to a new guy Dwayne at The Academy Fort Lauderdale and he asked if we could come in for a meeting regarding refund. I went to the meeting and Dwayne told us that The Academy was closed and that John Steele was served papers for fraud. Jamie Steele was in charge of one of the loan companies that money paid on my boyfriends account was applied to an in house loan instead of the Loan company.
Dwayne went on to say that we will definitely get our refunds and should get the interest paid also. Dwayne said that Friday he was going to Miami to meet with their Lawyers. He said he was going to change the name of the school to The Next Step because he doesn't want to be associated with The Academy have a bad name now. He also mentioned they just got there application in before the deadline for there school licence. He also said he will get my file in Miami when they are there to meet with the Lawyers because evidently Ann took my file there from Ft. Lauderdale in October.
Dwayne told me to overnight any paperwork I have for the lawyers. We should expect our refunds in about 2 weeks. My boyfriend called after a few weeks to check on refund now the date for us to receive our refunds is no later than July 28th. We heard nothing and my boyfriend called and now they say they aren't in charge to call the State of Florida Commission for Independent Education.
I called the commission and the lady I spoke to said she cannot tell me anything they because they are investigating and when asked if they are going to help us she didn't say yes or no and that she will find out and call back. I never received a call. But my boyfriend calls and isn't offered any help just told that we have to sue John Steele or go to another school. This isn't good enough for me! I haven't called back because I am too busy trying to postpone receiving bills on my loans and I have put another $1,000.00 on my credit card to close out the horrible loan Wentzel sent up for me.
Currently, I have paid about $4000.00 and have an open loan with $8500.00 and accruing interest. Since I was promised the refund definitely by July 28th I changed my income and now in a real bind getting into financial danger. Paying for nothing.
My intention was to go to school was so I make more money in a career (The Academy said 60K a year, done in 6 months) and now I don't even have a Certificate (A Cerification) that makes me $4-$5 dollars an hour less than current career, I have paid a couple thousand dollars for no service but grief, betrayal of trust in vocational schools, physical illness that is being prolonged by this stress with getting my refund for so long and not sure what is going on I have been lied to and put off so many times. This matter needs to be addressed by someone immediately.
I don't know where these people from The Academy and The Next Step are but they need to be apprehended and arrested, they have committed fraud and grand theft against myself, boyfriend and many other students. I fear the longer this waits the harder it will be. What makes me really sick is they are still listed under the Better Business Bureau as satifactory status. Please? Any help will greatly be appreciated.
The Academy, 3100 S. Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33133 (Fort Lauderdale Campus Closed) can try the below numbers but they deny any connection with The Academy Ft. Laud.
And The Next Step
1-305-648 or 1888-GO-4-MCSE, 1877-903-8367, fax 305-648 or 305-441-9445, email [email protected] or [email protected] Contact: John
State of Florida commission for Independent Edu. 850-845-3200
Thanks
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