Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/03/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Our company has been targeted by an individual claiming to be affiliated with this company, sending what are evidently scam emails. His name is ****** War ********************************************** He started sending us emails to our personal email addresses. After blocking those, similar emails began arriving at our company email address. We have no relationship with this scammer and have never done business with him. There is no unsubscribe link or clear way to stop the emails. The pattern and content of such emails raise serious concerns about potentially deceptive or scam-like practices. We are in the process of filing formal complaints with the BBB and also the appropriate consumer protection agencies to report this activity and prevent further targeting of other individuals or businesses. In addition, we have been told to inform the domain registrar to take further action.This scammer put a "BBB A+ Rating" on ****************************. It is not clear how that rating has been obtained. Zero complaints and zero reviews should not ***** a scammer an A+ rating. This is also another piece of evidence showing we've been dealing with a true scammer.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/04/2025

  First, let us start off by explaining that we have been in business for over 20 years. 
  Weve carried an A+ rating with the BBB for many years, which has been earned through our overall good standing and through following CAN-SPAM laws and email best practices guidelines and standards.
  
  Through our organization weve created what we call our ******************************* to help small businesses reach more of their target market by utilizing interns from universities throughout the ** that we have relationships/ad postings with.
  
  We utilize external and internal grants to pay the interns to do the work, and the small business receives the benefits of letting their target market know they exist, whereby the interns get the hands-on experience and the knowledge of how a small business reaches a target market. (A win-win scenario)
  
  Each small business that participates in our program receives a minimum of 12 interns over the course of 12 months that we train and manage.
  
  When *** **** was governor of Florida, he started a program called Enterprise Florida, and with our president, Mr. **** being involved and working with that program, we were advised to look on ***/SBA for small businesses, as thats where they will list themselves if they want to do more business with the government, and told these would be ideal small businesses who could use the help of the interns to get them registered on the government supplier and vendor lists for agencies they would like to do business with throughout each state, starting in their home state.
  
  This is a very time-consuming endeavor for a small business to take on and do themselves, and oftentimes they dont have the money to pay employees to do it, yet it could be very financially rewarding for a small business to get in front of these opportunities.Letting government agencies know a small business exists is the first step to getting business from them, as they have special programs and set aside funds for small business entities, other designations, etc. Therefore, we have interns filling out the supplier/vendor listings on behalf of the small businesses that participate.
  
  We would be more than happy to provide audio and written testimonials as proof of the success of this program.
  
  To address the complaint:
  ****** ********** is an authorized representative of Global IT University, Inc.
  
  The email the complainant received is NOT a scam email.
  
  We are a legitimate company,sending legitimate emails, with genuine intentions and offerings related to the program we offer to small businesses.
  We feel the complainant is making false claims and allegations in order to damage our reputation.
  
  It is true that we have no relationship with the complainant. They are not a client, nor have they ever done business with Global IT University, Inc.
  We saw that they are a newer business that registered with ********** and thought they might be a good fit for our ************************** to help them get listed with government agencies without all the expense of hiring employees through our program.
  
  In regard to them claiming there is no way to unsubscribe or opt out, we have put in a request with our IT department to investigate the situation further, as Global IT University, Inc.complies with and is committed to complying with the CAN-SPAM laws, including but not limited to having the option to opt out or unsubscribe.
  
  The complainant did not make any attempt to contact us; they simply complained to the BBB (and potentially others) and have deterred any and all attempts to speak with us and verify the validity of the email, the offer, or the representative, and/or to resolve this matter positively.
  
  Only after submitting a complaint did they reach out to us, multiple times, with hostility. And based on their complaint, it appears they are seemingly launching a full-scale attack on us in order to defame or ruin our good reputation simply because we sent them an email!
  
  This was not an attempt to take advantage of anyone. Furthermore, we DID NOT send marketing emails to their personal email address. The only contact we had with their personal address was THEM emailing US and telling us they filed a complaint and that they didnt want to hear from us anymore.
  
  This isnt the only contact weve had from the complainantthem telling us they reported us (without attempting to resolve or asking to be removed).
  They also contacted us again to complain that we referred to the owner of the company by their first name,saying it was disrespectful.
  
  ****** left 1 voicemail after we received their email stating they had reported us and were working to act against us.
  He did this in an attempt to speak with them so he could let them know we did not mean any harm and would be placing them on our do not contact list.
  
  In resolution: The complainant has already been placed on our do not call/do not contact list, they have opted out from receiving any further emails, and we do not plan to make any further contact.
  
  We can understand not wanting to receive unwanted emails; however, to approach us with such hostility (we can forward the voicemail and emails we received), to attack our business, and to attempt to ruin our reputation without any attempt to resolve when we are a legitimate business is completely unprofessional. Truly a distasteful and highly disappointing display of character and ethics. We are not scammers, and we are in full compliance with unsubscribe/opt-out guidelines and best practices.
  
  We are not sure if this is politically motivated or if we upset them culturally by accident, as it appeared one of their main concerns based on the voicemail they left us in response to the 1 voicemail we left in an attempt to resolve this matter and an email they sent was that we referred to them in the 1 email by their first name.which is an extremely common practice no matter what industry you are in.
  
  Please see the excerpts from their email below:
  The manner in which you contacted us was also highly unprofessional.
  Referring to our CEO by his first name was not only inappropriate but also disrespectful.
  
  Please see the excerpt from their voicemail below:
  When we dont know you, and you dont know us, you arent allowed to call the CEO by their first name.Thats rude. Its extremely rude.
  
  Again, we understand if they do not want to receive communications from us, or if they would rather be referred to by their surname instead of their first name; however, they have given us zero chance to communicate or resolve this matter. Only push us away and make threats that they will take legal and other actions in order to harm and defame our business for their own personal vendetta.
  
  Furthermore, they claim in their voicemail that us finding their information online is false; however, they are listed on *********** which is publicly accessible information and is where we found their email address and information. Not to mention a simple ****** search of their companys name shows an article was released in their local area announcing them as a new company earlier this year. Their information is publicly accessible online.
  
  We do not wish to upset them further or to contact them. We simply wish to resolve this in a peaceful manner. There is no reason to attempt to destroy our reputation. If they dont want to be contacted, thats fine. We always comply with requests immediately and feel this is extremely overkill for receiving only one email and then deterring our attempts to resolve this matter positively. All while contacting us at multiple email addresses, leaving hostile messages, and threatening to damage our reputation.
  
  This has been turned over to our legal team since they have stated, We will escalate the matter to the appropriate authorities and legal entities.
  That said, we are open to having a dialogue in order to resolve this issue. The complainant knows how to contact us if they wish to have an open conversation.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/07/2025

  We are submitting this formal rebuttal in response to Global IT University, Inc.'s reply to our complaint. Their response is not only riddled with misrepresentations, but reads like a calculated attempt to downplay predatory behavior and gaslight us into appearing hostile for rightfully pushing back. We will not allow ourselves, or any other business, to be bullied or manipulated into silence by those who disguise unsolicited and potentially unlawful contact as legitimate outreach.

  Let us be very clear about what actually occurred:

  Our first contact from this organization came through a personal email address, which we have never listed for public business purposes. This alone constitutes a serious breach of digital boundaries and raises red flags. Once blocked, similar emails began arriving at our corporate address. This was not a single message, this was persistence that borders on targeted harassment. Their claim that we reached out to them first is not only categorically false, it is a gross distortion of reality designed to deflect accountability.

  Their emails lacked:
  A functional unsubscribe link, as required under 15 U.S.C. 7704
  A valid physical mailing address, another legal requirement
  Clear sender identification, which is mandated under federal email marketing regulations.

  All of these are statutory obligations under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. Their assertion of best practices is not only inaccurate, but may constitute false representation in a regulatory context. Admitting they had to escalate the matter to their IT department is an acknowledgment of non-compliance at the time of transmission.

  Displaying a BBB A+ Rating on their site without visible, verifiable evidence or current reviews could be a violation of Section 5 of the ************************ Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce. This was likely included to create a false sense of legitimacy for an offer that we never requested. Their messaging also (directly or indirectly) implies an affiliation with government agencies, which if untrue could constitute false endorsement or deceptive advertising, and may be reportable to the *** and state attorneys general.

  Using our CEOs first name in an unsolicited and informal manner, combined with uninvited follow-up phone calls, reflects a disregard for professional norms and informed consent in communication. This behavior, especially after explicit requests to cease contact, may constitute continued unwanted electronic and telephonic communications, in violation of state harassment statutes or telemarketing regulations (including 47 CFR *******). Our objection regarding tone and name usage was grounded in professional boundaries. Dismissing it as cultural misunderstanding is dismissive, irrelevant, and discriminatory in tone.

  Let us be clear: this company is not under attack. They are simply being held accountable under established regulatory frameworks. Their verbose attempt to reframe our legitimate complaint as a hostile vendetta is textbook gaslighting and reputational manipulation. Their own words admit they called us after we expressly stated we did not want contact. That is not conflict resolution, that is deliberate disregard of a cease request, which may carry legal implications depending on jurisdiction. The we meant no harm narrative is irrelevant. ****** does not negate liability. Unlawful or noncompliant behavior does not become permissible simply because the sender believes it is helpful.

  They now claim to have involved legal counsel in response to our regulatory complaints. That is their right. However, we have documented and time-stamped evidence of:
  The original emails, with complete header information
   The lack of opt-out features or required disclosures
  Voicemails received after revocation of consent
  Screenshots of misleading BBB rating references
   Failure to honor a do-not-contact request

  We are fully prepared to furnish these materials to the ************************ (***), ********************************* (***), ******************************* (IC3), and State Attorneys General, as well as to private legal counsel if necessary. Their threats are noted but without merit and may themselves be considered attempts to chill legitimate consumer complaint activity, which is protected under consumer rights statutes.

  Global IT University is not the victim here. They are a company engaged in unauthorized outreach, potential violations of federal email marketing laws, misrepresentation of ratings, and a pattern of dismissive and aggressive behavior toward those who object to it. Let this message serve as formal notice under applicable federal and state laws:

  1- Cease and desist all forms of contact with our company or its personnel
  2- Permanently delete all personal and business contact data from your databases
  3- Any further outreach will be documented and may be pursued as unlawful contact or harassment

  We will continue reporting this conduct to all relevant oversight agencies and regulatory bodies until such predatory and deceptive behavior is formally addressed.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/08/2025

  First and foremost, our response was not an attempt to downplay, gaslight, or manipulate any behavior.Nor an attempt to bully or manipulate anyone.
  
  The complainant alleges that the initial contact was made to their personal email address, however without them providing this email address we would have no way of knowing if this is true (by searching for any sent emails to that address), or being able to use it to search and find this contact in our database for removal in general, as our only knowledge is of the email that was sent to their business email address on 7/1. They claim that we emailed them at a personal email address prior to us contacting them at their business email address on 7/1, however they have provided no proof or evidence of these claims. As mentioned, without proof and without them providing the email address we allegedly contacted them at prior, we would have no way of looking to see what actually took place or pulling this personal email address from our records. We do not even know what personal email address they are referring to as the only personal email address we are aware of is the gmail email address that was used to contact us regarding the BBB complaint AFTER it was initially filed, of which this gmail email address was not found in our system to be removed in the first place.This appears to be an outside email address that they are using to contact us from after the fact, not one that we had in our database or had sent communications to previously.
  
  As stated above, in investigating this further and looking at our records it shows that we emailed them 1 time (not multiple) at their business email address, on July 1st,with a legitimate offer, not a scam email, on which the same day the complainant decided to make a complaint to the BBB.
  
  Furthermore as stated previously, we have already removed the complainants business email address from our database. The gmail email address that was used to contact us on 7/1 after making a complaint was not in our database to be removed. If there is another email address that the complainant claims we have contacted them at prior to contacting them at the business email address on 7/1, and it is different from the gmail address that was used AFTER the BBB complaint was made, we are unaware of this email address. And the only way for us to remove it from our system would be to know what email address the complainant is alleging was contacted at so that we can search for it and remove any relevant or related data if any still exists in our database.
  
  The complainant alleges that prior to emailing them (the one time on 7/1) at their business email address,that we emailed them at a personal email address several times (not the gmail address referenced). So much so as to be considered as harrasment, however not only do we not have any proof or documentation regarding these mutiple emails that were allegedly sent, but this is not how our process works internally. Unless there was some sort of technical error that duplicated a contact in our system, they could not have received multiple emails from us even if they allegedly received any prior emails at a different email address,as we only message an email address one time when we think someone might be a good fit for our program, not multiple times. They would have only receieved multiple emails if they replied to an initial email showing interest or if there was somehow a duplicated contact in our system (which would be a technical error).
  
  To be clear, our emails do have a physical mailing address listed, which is: ****************************************************
  
  To address the claim that a BBB A+ Rating is displayed on our site without visible, verifiable evidence,or current reviews The only evidence we need of this fact is the proof that is backed up by the BBBs website. By performing a simple ****** search or searching the BBB West Florida website for Global IT University, Inc. you will clearly see that we have an A+ rating, which we have had for many years. We may not have any current reviews listed, however that does not reflect any actual experiences or sales. We do not fish for reviews or positive feedback. We do not ask our clients to go and make reviews; we leave that for them to decide.Furthermore, the fact that we have no current reviews is a lot better than having negative reviews. This is nothing but a jab and attempt to do harm to our business even though this claim is baseless and easily verified by visiting the BBBs website.
  
  We are not sure what might have been misread or misinterpreted from our prior response however we DID NOT allege that the complainant contacted us first.
  To our knowledge the initial contact was made to the complainants business email address by one of our representatives on 7/1, which was the same day the complainant made a complaint to the BBB.
  
  THAT SAME DAY, 7/1, is when our representative reached out and left a voicemail in attempt to resolve the issue with the complainant directly. It was not until the next day 7/2 that we received a voicemail at 10:13am EST and an email from the complainant at 10:19am EST stating, We DO NOT want to receive any further communications from your company. The initial email we received from them on 7/1 DID NOT mention anything about ceasing communication with them or we would have not made even the 1 phone call.. Ever since we received the email from the complainant on 7/2 asking us to cease communication we have honored their request and have made no further attempts to contact them.  As stated previously the complainant has already been placed on our do not call/do not contact list, and we do not plan to make any further contact whatsoever.
  
  In the ** there are no laws regarding the use of someones first name when addressing them. Although it could potentially be looked at as informal or more casual, it is completely normal to address someone by their first name. Furthermore this was not done with any ill intent or negative connotations. Just because an individual may have a personal preference (that we are unaware of without disclosure) doesn't mean we are required to follow a certain criteria for addressing someone. Just because you dont like it, doesnt make it unlawful.
  
  Furthermore, claiming that our company Dismissing it as cultural misunderstanding is not what has taken place. We are NOT simply dismissing this and IN NO WAY was what was said meant in a discriminatory manner. We take this very seriously. In all the years of doing business we have not once had anyone complain about the use of their first name. Especially to the degree the complainant is taking this claim.There have been a lot of complicated geopolitical situations arising as of late and we had no idea if that impacted this in any way culturally, potically, or in any other way which is the only reason it was even hypothesized or questioned; however we did not make any accusations or definitive statements.

  This area of using ones first name falls into a category of personal preference as opposed to breaking any laws or regulations. Although it could potentially be looked at as informal or overly familiar to address someone by their first name, there is nothing that legally states we are barred from or not allowed to call an individual by their first name. Our initial response was not an attempt to reframe,gaslight, or manipulate, but rather to highlight the harshness and tone that the complainant has used to address this particular matter. Again there are no laws or regulations that say you cant call someone by their first name.However since there will be no further communication with the complainant this wont be an issue.
  
  To be clear, Global IT University, Inc. has not made any attempt to contact the complainant since receiving the complainants request on 7/2, stating, We DO NOT want to receive any further communications from your company. These are completely false claims that we have attempted to communicate AFTER receiving the complainants request on 7/2. Any and all communications including emails and phone calls have all taken place prior to the email being sent to us on 7/2 and the request being made. This is something we have proof and timestamps of.
  
  The phone call was made to the complainant on 7/1 where a message was left by our representative after receiving the 1st email from the complainants gmail email address,informing us that a report had been filed with the BBB. The complainants 2nd email which was sent to us on 7/2 (with the request to cease communications)did not come until AFTER the voicemail (referenced above) which was left on 7/1.
  
  To address these claims:
  The voicemail the complainant received on 7/1 was NOT after revocation of consent on 7/2 (which was the last attempt at communication we made).
  A physical mailing address WAS present in the email communication the complainant received on 7/1.
  Our BBB rating is NOT misleading and is easily verifiable.
  Escalating the matter to our IT department is NOT an acknowledgment of non-compliance.
  We have NOT failed to honor the complainants do not contact request (we have timestamps and proof for voicemail and emails sent/received from both parties)
  
  The complainant states they are fully prepared to furnish these materials to the ************************ (***), ********************************* (***), ******************************* (IC3), and State Attorneys General and also We will continue reporting this conduct to all relevant oversight agencies and regulatory bodies.

  Our interpretation of these statements make us feel these are additional threats to defame, harm, and damage our business and reputation. This is something we do not advise. Especially when the complainant is now making false claims about when requests were made, and when calls or emails were made or sent out. This is not conflict resolution at all but only escalating a situation that can easily be diffused by acknowledging that we have removed the complainant from our database and ceased contact upon receipt of their request, and we will not be contacting them further.
  
  We want it to be clear we are not making any threats, and any mention of legal action that has been referenced previously by our team would be solely in DEFENSE of the complainants actions, if any were to be taken.
  
  In closing:
  We have already ceased and desisted any and all communications (outside of the BBB complaint).
  We have already deleted all personal and business emails from our database.
  We have not and will not attempt to make any further contact.
  
  In resolution:
  What else does the complainant require to satisfy this request? If the conditions have been met we simply want to move forward.
  
  Our CEO has extended an olive branch and invitation to speak with the complainant personally in order to resolve this positively, however this would need to be initiated by the complainant since we are not contacting them further, by any means, and have not contacted them at all since 7/1. Their do not contact request did not come until 7/2. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/10/2025

  We reject their attempt to reframe this situation as a misunderstanding or to imply shared fault. Let us be absolutely clear: we did not initiate contact with this company. We did not ask for their outreach. We did not know who they were before they contacted us. Their first communication was unsolicited, uninvited, and unwanted, and it arrived at an email address that has never been published or provided for business purposes. That alone raises serious questions about how our data was acquired.
  

  Instead of owning this, they are attempting to shift the burden of proof onto us, requiring that we prove our claim by disclosing more personal email information to the very party were filing a complaint against. That is not how data privacy and consumer protection work.

  We have evidence, including original emails and timestamps. Those materials are being prepared for submission to the ***, ***, and state attorneys general. Screenshots clearly show:
  No visible unsubscribe mechanism
  No functioning opt-out link
  No disclaimer or legal footer
  No compliant formatting under the CAN-SPAM Act

  Additionally, their representative called us by phone immediately after learning a BBB complaint had been filed. That is not resolution, that is pressure and attempted containment. The call was neither invited nor welcomed. The fact that it preceded our formal cease message by a matter of hours does not excuse the aggressive timing or the tone in which it was delivered.

  As for their use of our CEOs first name: while not illegal, it is a known marketing tactic used to simulate familiarity where none exists. In this context, from a stranger, in a cold email, it was presumptive, inappropriate, and unprofessional. Dismissing our objection to that as mere personal preference is deflective and disrespectful. Worse, their attempt to theorize about our cultural or political background is inappropriate and reeks of deflection. We never introduced any such element into the discussionthey did.

  The emails we got were a cold sales pitch disguised as a grant-funded internship opportunity. The emails:

   Contains no unsubscribe option
  Fails to disclose how our contact information was obtained
  Relies on urgency-based manipulation (e.g., first-come, first-served)
  Markets a for-profit outsourcing service while branding itself as a university
  Uses deceptive framing to suggest legitimacy or public funding

  This is not just informal outreach. This is unsolicited commercial marketing that walks the line of deceptive business practices, potentially violating FTC truth-in-advertising rules and CAN-**** regulations. Posing as a university offering internships while selling outsourced labor at $577/week raises ethical and legal questions we believe regulators should investigate.

  We reject any insinuation that our regulatory reporting is a threat. We are acting within our rights under federal and state consumer protection laws. They are attempting to reposition a legitimate complaint as an attack to avoid scrutiny. That alone is cause for concern and will be included in our reports to federal and state authorities.
  

  Whats perhaps most telling, and frankly, pathetic, is that in their entire multi-paragraph response, not once did they apologize. Not for contacting us without consent. Not for emailing a private, non-business address. Not for calling us after learning a complaint had been filed. Not even a vague acknowledgment of overstepping or inappropriate outreach. Instead, we were met with denials, deflections, and veiled accusations. This complete absence of accountability speaks volumes. Any ethical business would have started with an apology. They chose to litigate blame.

  We are not interested in their olive branch. We are not interested in speaking with their CEO. We want no further contact in any form, from any representative of their company.
  

  This will be our final communication unless we are contacted again, at which point the matter will move immediately to legal counsel and regulatory authorities without further notice.