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Description
This company provides educational services and provides college planning help to students and families. The company states it is not a scholarship search company, is not associated with any college loan company, and does not guarantee financial aid.
Consumers typically receive a solicitation letter inviting them to "participate in an educational group presentation followed by a personal interview to help determine college admission and financial aid eligibility." Consumers responding to the solicitation are scheduled for a seminar.
Those attending the seminar receive information about the college application process, the cost of college, financial aid, and a review of the company's program and services which costs up to $1995.00. Consumers are informed through a Notice of Cancellation form that they may cancel the transaction with no penalty within three business days from the transaction date. For consumers wishing to pay for the service over an extended time period, a Retail Installment Contract is offered which includes an annual percentage rate of up to 16.88%.
BBB Accreditation
This business is not BBB accredited.
Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses
are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.
To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine
that the business meets
BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith
effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses must pay a
fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.
Reason for Rating
BBB rating is based on 16 factors.
Get the details about the factors considered.
Factors that lowered the rating for
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ASSISTANCE LLC
include:
-
83 complaints filed against business
-
1 complaint filed against business that was not resolved
Factors that raised the rating for
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ASSISTANCE LLC
include:
-
Response to 83 complaint(s) filed against business.
-
BBB has sufficient background information on this business.
83
complaints
closed with BBB in last 3 years |
30
closed in last 12 months
|
Complaint Type
|
Total Closed Complaints
|
|
Advertising/Sales Issues
|
31
|
|
Billing/Collection Issues
|
3
|
|
Delivery Issues
|
0
|
|
Guarantee/Warranty Issues
|
0
|
|
Problems with Product/Service
|
49
|
|
Total Closed Complaints
|
83
|
Additional Complaint Information
Complaints brought to this firm's attention primarily concern sales practices, customer service issues, contract disputes, and failure to refund. A more complete description of complaints follows:
Sales Practices
Consumers allege the company uses questionable and high pressure sales tactics to sell its product and appears to target low income and minority families. One consumer stated, "this company sends an urgent letter telling parents they will miss out if they don't attend a session "to receive assistance in making critical decisions..."" Another consumer stated, "..they insisted we could not go home and review their materials, or research their company online, and had to sign up right then and there...they do not offer any services that you cannot get yourself for free from your school counselor. They very much prey upon the fears and insecurities of people who are afraid their kids are at a disadvantage for success.”
Company has responded by stating “Families who sign up with our services do so after making several decisions to continue with enrollment. We offer an informative workshop on the college admission process and invite those interested in additional services to stay and speak with our representatives.” The company acknowledges it requests participants make a decision to sign a contract that day “because we will not be in that area again for another nine months” and the company incurs additional costs when enrolling families outside the workshop. The company states customers “are given a standard three-day cancellation period and are notified of this when they sign.” The company adds, “We have families in our program from all economic and social backgrounds. We do not have the ability to target any group”.
Customer Service
Consumers allege the company mails its marketing letters to minor children and refuses requests to remove children's names from their mailing lists including children who are deceased. Consumers who contact the company to remove their child's name from the company's mailing lists describe the company representatives as rude, hostile, and very angry.
The company has responded by noting different explanations for the issues consumers have encountered and by stating they have met with or contacted the vendor from whom the consumers contact information was obtained.
Contract Disputes
Consumers allege the company refuses to allow them to cancel their contract they had to sign up for on the spot, had three days to determine the merit and usefulness of the program although materials and website access are not sent until weeks later, and continues to charge for services and information they later discover can be obtained free of charge from schools and on the internet. Others allege the company refuses One consumer said, "I talked to the manager and he confirmed that all information given to the student is information that the families can receive for free elsewhere."
The company has responded by stating, “College Admissions Assistance, LLC’s [program] is a proprietary program that is currently not available through any school. While the consumer's school may offer some services to their students, we have yet to come across a school anywhere in the country that does or is even allowed to provide a comprehensive service like ours to its students and parents.”
Failure to Refund
Consumers allege the company refuses to allow them to terminate the contract and obtain a refund for reasons including determining the product is not worth the price paid or severe medical and/or financial issues. One consumer as a result of their child's illness they were withdrawn from public school and stated "my child can't even attend public school much less a college." According to the consumer, the company did not allow the family to break the contract and began withdrawing from the consumers account twice a month.
The company has responded in a variety of ways including suspending the consumer's payments for six months, releasing the consumer from future payments, or sometimes refusing to cancel the contract or provide a refund.
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Additional Information
top
BBB file opened:
October 17, 2007
Business started: 05/30/2007
Business incorporated: 05/30/2007 in DE
Type of Entity
Corporation
Contact Information
Customer Contact: Mr. Steve Schlachter, Director of Accounting
Business Category
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS
COLLEGE ADMISSION SERVICES
Alternate Business Names
TEXAS COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ASSISTANCE LLC
Additional Information
Company met with BBB in November 2009 to discuss their rating and pattern and volume of complaints. Company later provide size documentation as well as a plan of action to address complaints.
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