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:06/05/2023

  Type:Billing 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.

  The reviews left by others about Stratford Career Institute are 100% true - Stratford Career Institute is demanding that I pay them $554 even though I completed "less than half the course."
  
  Stratford's policy with regard to payments is as follows: ****************************************************** -Yes! Stratford offers an INTEREST FREE monthly payment plan. A minimum down payment is required to participate in this plan. We can charge your credit card or debit your bank account each month, or you can send your monthly payment in the mail. (Go back and re-read that last part - but we ALWAYS had to pay manually despite our credit card being on file because they NEVER charged it automatically but ONCE!)
  
  When I signed up for the Paralegal/Legal Assistant course online, I signed up with my husband's credit card. We also agreed to have his credit card charged automatically every month on the due date that I had chosen originally. For whatever stupid reason, Stratford decided to change my due date thereby making things "delinquent" and all sorts of messed up. I am a very responsible person and I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE having bills being paid late; "Delinquent" is NOT a word that describes me. If anything is delinquent, it's because Stratford made it that way.
  
  I wrote them multiple times on their student correspondence sheets and sent that in their prepaid envelopes telling them to cancel my account because my husband could no longer afford to make the monthly payments because he is being officially oppressed by the state of TN for crimes he didn't commit. Their solution was that I make $20 payments every month - what part of CANNOT AFFORD DUE TO BEING OFFICIALLY OPPRESSED DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND? THEY OFFER LEGAL COURSES BUT DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE OFFICIALLY OPPRESSED? ARE THEY KIDDING?
  
  They threatened to turn this over to an attorney even though their own policy says that courses can be cancelled at any time. People PLEASE DONT give them your money!

  Business Response

  Date: 06/07/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated June 6, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by **** ****. Having reviewed Ms. ****’s files, I am
  pleased to provide the following information.Ms.
  **** enrolled in our Legal Assistant/Paralegal program on September 26, 2022
  through our website, *******************. The first set of study material was
  issued to Ms. **** on September 28, 2022, which she has confirmed receipt. The
  initial cost of the program was $749.00 with a $20.00 down payment or 20
  monthly payments of $35.00 and one final payment of $29.00.The
  Legal Assistant/Paralegal program consists of 4 modules and corresponding
  exams. Ms. **** completed the first 2 modules and a third module was issued
  however no exams were received. According to our records, Ms. **** received 75%
  of the course material. The account was initially set up for automatic payments
  with a **** Card as per Ms. ****’s enrollment application however she contacted
  our Student Services department by telephone on November 1, 2022 to request
  that the automatic payments be discontinued. Ms.
  **** has indicated in her complaint that she requested to cancel her program
  multiple times. While a cancellation request was received in writing on March
  18, 2023, due to human error it was not processed. We sincerely apologize for
  this error however the account was in arrears at the time the cancellation
  request was received and therefore the remaining balance would have become
  immediately due and payable as per Ms. ****’s signed Tuition Contract on which
  her electronic signature is captured, in addition to the fact that 75% of the course material was issued. While
  students may take up to 5 years to complete a program with SCI, tuition
  payments are due every 30 days from the date of enrollment until the account is
  paid in full. No tuition payments were successfully received in November 2022
  or January 2023. In an effort to bring the account up to date, payment
  reminders were issued to Ms. **** who subsequently contacted our Student
  Services department by letter to confirm her intent to cancel. The account was
  cancelled on May 9, 2023.Although
  tuition payments are expected monthly, we do offer financial assistance in the
  form of lower monthly payments, minimum $20.00 if a student is experiencing
  financial difficulties. Alternatively, if a student has not completed the
  program, they do have the option of a 60-day hold during which no tuition
  payments or exams are required to be submitted. The account must be in good
  standing at the time of the request for a hold in order to take advantage of
  this option.While
  it is unfortunate that Ms. **** disputes the balance of $554.00, Stratford Career
  Institute did provide services for which an outstanding balance is justified.
  Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate
  to contact me toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm
  (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely,Brandi H***Supervisor Student
  Services

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/09/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  My account was NOT in arrears - and like I have said many, many times before, it is because Stratford Career Institute cancelled my automatic payments of their own doing.  IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING THEIR JOBS CORRECTLY. My husband called these people personally and made a payment on the phone because they didn't do the automatic payment as was agreed to.  My husband can verify that and so can I as I have the emails and complaints saved. These people are absolutely ripping people off.  I DID NOT COMPLETE MORE THAN HALF THE COURSE SO I WILL NOT PAY ONE MORE PENNY.  Their website states that the full course price is payable ONLY WHEN MORE THAN HALF THE COURSE HAS BEEN COMPLETED.  WHILE I DID RECEIVE MODULE 3 MATERIALS, I DID NOT COMPLETE ANYTHING BEYOND MODULE 2.  MY HUSBAND AND I WILL BE PREPARED SHALL THIS GO TO COURT.  AND I AM PREPARED ALSO TO TELL ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO EVEN CONSIDERS STRATFORD CAREER INSTITUTE THAT THEY ARE WASTING NOT ONLY TIME BUT ALSO THEIR MONEY.  
  Regards,
  
  **** ****

  Business Response

  Date: 06/20/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated June 12, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by **** ****. Having reviewed Ms. ****’s files, I am
  pleased to provide the following information.While
  we do acknowledge Ms. ****’s dissatisfaction with the previous reply, it has
  been recorded that a telephone call was made to our Student Services department
  to stop the automatic payments on file on November 1, 2022 and the request was
  processed accordingly.Ms.
  **** subsequently contacted our Student Services department by e-mail on
  December 13, 2022 to inquire when her monthly payments were due.  A telephone call was also received from Ms.
  **** on December 14, 2022 requesting the due date for her tuition payments.  All subsequent payments were made online
  through Ms. ****’s eService account which she registered for on September 27,
  2022.In
  addition to the student being issued 75% of the course material, the account
  was in arrears twice during Ms. ****’s enrollment as no tuition payments were
  received for the months of November 2022 and January 2023 therefore as per the
  signed Tuition Contract and Service Guarantee, the full balance became
  immediately due and payable upon cancellation and the same cancellation terms
  would have been applied in March 2023 when Ms. **** initially requested to
  cancel the program.While
  it is unfortunate that Ms. **** disputes the balance of $554.00, Stratford
  Career Institute did provide services for which an outstanding balance is
  justified. Should you require additional
  information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at ###-###-####.
  Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm
  on Fridays.  Sincerely,Brandi H**lSupervisor Student Services

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/22/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID 20148038, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  I was NEVER in arrears for anything on my account BECAUSE STRATFORD refused to automatically charge the credit card on file. It was what my husband and I agreed to initially and yet every single month, Stratford refused to charge my husband's credit card. If I was in arrears for anything, it was NOT of my doing - it was done by Stratford themselves when they refused to do their due diligence.  That is the reason why my husband called them in the first place when he did is to tell these stupid people to charge his card for payments on the due date (the 26 or 27 whatever it was before Stratford decided for some stupid reason to change it to the 15th of the month which is why I then emailed them and complained again). You can verify this information by calling my husband directly at 615-801-3165.  Because Stratford chose NOT to apply the payments, and because my husband had to make them himself manually every month, things got a bit messy because of THEIR doing. It is NOT other people's responsibility to pay for THEIR mistakes. Yes, I did get the 3rd shipment, but I completed only 50 percent as was stated in the Tuition Agreement.  It says nothing about paying for books and given that Stratford was the one to put me in "ARREARS" in the first place with their stupid mistakes, I should not have to pay for anything. I will be more than happy to mail back their books because I don't need paperweights laying about my home.And it's really quite sad, that they have absolutely no empathy for anyone going through OFFICIAL OPPRESSION (Check the case against ***** M. ****, ******) by a corrupt DA's office, and having to choose to pay something they are not truly obligated to pay or having to choose to starve because we literally can't afford $20 to pay anything. 
  
  Regards,
  
  **** ****

  Business Response

  Date: 06/28/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated June 23, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by **** ****. Having reviewed Ms. ****’s files, I am
  pleased to provide the following information.While
  we do acknowledge Ms. ****’s dissatisfaction with the previous reply,our stance has not changed in this matter and no further adjustments or refunds are applicable.While
  it is unfortunate that Ms. **** disputes the balance of $554.00, Stratford
  Career Institute did provide services for which an outstanding balance is
  justified. Should you require additional
  information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at ###-###-####.
  Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm
  on Fridays.  Sincerely,Brandi H***Supervisor Student Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/10/2023

  Type:Billing 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.

  I started a program with this institute. I never completed the program which mean I didn’t receive the required books. However, the institute is charging me $499.00 for the full program and supplies. They’ve also submitted the $499. 00 to my credit report. So I’m being charged for a full program.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/18/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated May 11, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by ******** *****. Having reviewed Ms. *****’s files, I
  am pleased to provide the following information. Ms.
  ***** enrolled in our Psychology/Social Work program on June 29, 2022 through
  our website, www.***********.com. The first set of study material was issued to
  Ms. ***** on July 7, 2022 in a digital format as per her selection on his
  enrollment application, which she has confirmed receipt. The initial cost of
  the program was $499.00 with a $20.00 down payment or 15 monthly payments of $31.93. According
  to our records Ms. ***** registered for eService on July 5, 2022. Students may
  access their eService account with their student number and password, which is
  created by the student. Students may utilize eService to submit multiple choice
  exams online, remit a tuition payment, view their grades and contact an
  Instructor directly. Ms. ***** completed and submitted all 4 exams in his first
  module utilizing her eService account. A copy of the results were issued to the
  e-mail address on file. A
  subsequent module was shipped to Ms. ***** on July 13, 2022. The first exam in
  this module was successfully submitted via Ms. *****’s eService account. While
  students may take up to 5 years to complete a program with SCI, tuition payments
  are due every 30 days from the date of enrollment until the account is paid in
  full. No tuition payments were successfully received after the initial $20.00
  down payment on June 29, 2022. In an effort to bring the account up to date,
  numerous payment reminders were issued to Ms. ***** with no reply until
  December 12, 2022 when Ms. ***** contacted our Student Services department by
  telephone regarding an invoice. The Instructor who responded to the call
  advised Ms. ***** that the balance of $479.00 was applicable as her account was
  in arrears and the student indicated payment would not be forthcoming. Ms.
  ***** was then informed that her account may be sent to an outside collection
  agency if no payment was received.  The
  account was eventually forwarded to an outside collection agency on January 16,
  2023 for the outstanding balance of $499.00. Students
  may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment
  with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Service Guarantee that is issued to every Stratford Student and
  cancellation requests may be sent by any method including by mail, e-mail or
  telephone. Upon review of Ms. *****’s file, no cancellation request was
  received by any method however Ms. ***** was provided with the Service Guarantee during his online
  enrollment and her electronic signature was captured indicating that she agreed
  to and accepted the terms of the contract. While
  it is unfortunate that Ms. *****’s file was eventually forwarded to **** Corporation, Stratford Career Institute did provide services for which an
  outstanding balance is justified. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
  toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through
  Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely, Brandi H*** Supervisor Student Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/14/2023

  Type:Billing 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.

  Stratford Career Institute is billing $499.00 for services they never provided,
  I have read a lot of the complaints about Stratford and have found a pattern to the illegal actions.
  Stratford is billing for services they do not provide to their students. I enrolled in there small engine program and after the first module I never received anything more from them, however they are stating that I did the second module, I never received the second module so how is it possible for me to take the test at the end of the module unless they falsify.
  I reached out to them via phone and they refused to offer any explication as to why they say I took the test but never received the course materials, they never offer to send me the course materials they are charging me for, they never offered a refund for the course materials they are charging me for, however what they did do was yell at me, refuse to let me talk to a supervisor, insist that I received the course material even after the lady I talked to informed me that they only sent me two modules. Where is the rest of the training you are charging me for?
  It is illegal to bill for services not received Stratford has a long history of doing so and they need to be stopped.
  Stratford bills for service but does not provide the services.
  Again I am being billed for the small engine training they never honored their part of our contract so I never paid for the training, that’s how it works you cannot bill for something you never provided.
  You told the collection agency that you provided half the training materials, I demand proof of delivery of the training other than your falsified documents proof from the post office you actually sent the trading material
  You are fraudulent ripoffs, I will not pay for your services that you never provided me and demand you remove this from my credit report. If you insist that I pay then let’s settle this in a court of law I am sure the courts will love to see all the complaint against you

  Business Response

  Date: 04/19/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated April 17, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by ***** ****. Having reviewed Mr. ****’s files, I am
  pleased to provide the following information.Mr.
  **** enrolled in our Small Engine Repair program on April 23, 2020 through our
  website, *******************. The first set of study material was issued to Mr.
  **** on April 23, 2020 in a digital format as per his selection on his
  enrollment application, which he has confirmed receipt. The initial cost of the
  program was $499.00 with a $20.00 down payment or 4 monthly payments of $100.00
  and one final payment of $79.00.According
  to our records no correspondence or telephone calls were received from Mr. ****
  for the duration of his enrollment however he did register for eService on the
  same date of his enrollment, April 23, 2020. Students may access their eService
  account with their student number and password, which is created by the
  student. Students may utilize eService to submit multiple choice exams online,
  remit a tuition payment, view their grades and contact an Instructor directly.
  Mr. **** completed and submitted all 4 exams in his first module utilizing his
  eService account. A copy of the results were issued to the e-mail address on
  file.Mr.
  **** has indicated in his complaint that he did not receive his second module
  however according to the attached USPS tracking information, the second module
  in his program was shipped to the address on file, provided by Mr. ****, on May
  4, 2020 and successf***y delivered on May 19, 2020. The first exam in this
  module was submitted via our eService platform on May 19, 2020 and as with the
  previous 4 exams, a copy of the results was issued to the e-mail address on
  file. I have attached a copy of this exam for Mr. ****’s review. While
  students may take up to 5 years to complete a program with SCI, tuition payments
  are due every 30 days from the date of enrollment until the account is paid in
  f***. No tuition payments were successf***y received after the initial $20.00
  down payment on April 23, 2020. In an effort to bring the account up to date,
  numerous payment reminders were issued to Mr. **** with no reply. The account
  was eventually forwarded to an outside collection agency on November 16, 2020 for
  the outstanding balance of $499.00.Students
  may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment
  with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Service Guarantee that is issued to every Stratford Student and
  cancellation requests may be sent by any method including by mail, e-mail or
  telephone. Upon review of Mr. ****’s file, no cancellation request was received
  by any method however Mr. **** was provided with the Service Guarantee during his online enrollment and his electronic
  signature was captured indicating that he agreed to and accepted the terms of
  the contract.While
  it is unfortunate that Mr. ****’s file was eventually forwarded to USCB
  Corporation, Stratford Career Institute did provide services for which an
  outstanding balance is justified. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
  toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through
  Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely,Brandi H*** Supervisor Student Services

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/20/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.Let me see if I understand you want me to pay you to get what you are charging me for that I NEVER RECEIVED. I will not pay for services not received I NEVER RECEIVED the second module if what your saying is I have the second module that it was delivered to me provide proof that I received the package something certified with my signature  provide proof that I submitted the test that it wasn’t someone else I will not pay for services not received I never received the module why didn’t a  Stratford supervisor or the collection bureau call me back very unprofessional Regards,
  
  ***** ****

  Business Response

  Date: 04/25/2023

   I am in receipt of your e-mail dated April 21, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by ***** ****. Having reviewed Mr. ****’s files, I am
  pleased to provide the following information.While
  we acknowledge Mr. ****’s various concerns, unfortunately he has not provided a
  plausible explanation for who may have received the second module in his
  program, at the address he provided, as well as who may have had access to his
  eService login credentials which were utilized to submit the first lesson from
  this second module with a passing score of 80% out of a maximum possible score
  of 100%.Additionally,
  Mr. **** has not provided a plausible explanation for not contacting our
  Student Services department by telephone or in writing to advise that he had
  not received his second module for nearly 3 years after it was originally
  shipped on May 4, 2020. The
  previous offer to replace module CAD5 at no charge once Mr. **** has made a
  partial payment of $309.40 remains valid however no further adjustments to the
  balance will be forthcoming based on the information available.While
  it is unfortunate that Mr. ****’s file was eventually forwarded to **** ***********, Stratford Career Institute did provide services for which an
  outstanding balance is justified. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
  toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through
  Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely,Brandi H***Supervisor Student Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/27/2023

  Type:Billing 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.

  I signed up for a class through the mail with Stratford, called bicycle repair. In the brochure they sent me and from what the sales person I talked to on the phone said, the third module was to cover : welding basics, planning and designing custom bikes, dismantling donor bikes, "chopper" bicycle characteristics, building the dirty rat, skyscraper, highlander, hammerhead & the snow bus. Winterized bicycles, Design characteristics of tall bikes, Building the inverta-bike and the skycycle. Designing tandem bikes, Building the mountain tandem & detachable tandem, Building unicycles, an introduction to recumbent bicycles, Building the kool kat, coyote, maraude, trick bicycles & the sidewinder, finishing and restoration. Stratford advertised all these cool subjects would be covered in the third module, but when they sent the third module it covered none of these subjects. The third module was a second rate recap of module one and two. There wasn't any new information at all in the third module. When I called Stratford to complain, they said it was an upgrade. It was more like a down grade. When I kept demanding they send what they had promised me, they said it had been changed just a few months ago. The change would have been around January this year. I signed up for the class and was promised all this info in October last year. I informed them they should have kept enough copies of what they promised to cover the students that were expecting all that they advertised. They are still advertising all the cool info in the third module. They also insist I owe for the full class stating I finished more than half of the class. Module three is the middle since there are four modules in the class. I haven't started the third module since it isn't what I was promised. I told them I could return their stupid, uninformative third module but they said no, keep it. They don't want it either. Since I can't have the info I was promised I don't think I should have to keep paying. They are in breech of contract. If they can't make it right they should apologize and let the rest of the payments go.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/04/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated March 28, 2023, regarding a complaint filed by **** *****. Having reviewed Ms. *****’s files, I am pleased to provide the following information.Ms. ***** enrolled in our Bicycle Mechanic program on September 12, 2022. The first set of study material was issued to Ms. ***** on September 14, 2022. A second module was subsequently shipped to Ms. ***** on October 13, 2022 and a third module was shipped on February 27, 2023.Included in the shipment with the first module was the course syllabus, detailing the contents and subject matter for each module in the program. I have attached the original syllabus, titled ‘Bicycle Mechanic_Original Syllabus’ for your review and would like to draw your attention to the first page where it states:“The exact titles of the books, or the order in which you learn certain topics, may be somewhat different from what is indicated. We maintain the right to revise the course and the instructional materials to bring you the most current and practical information. However, even if there is a slight change in the book titles or topics, the overall educational content of your program will be the same. You need not inform your instructor of a modification to the program content, but we always invite you to contact us if you need instructional assistance.”Unfortunately, in circumstances beyond SCI’s control, the textbook that was to be issued with the third module of the program is no longer in print and our institute could no longer source an out-of-print textbook from the publisher. A new textbook was sourced and selected, and all syllabi and course outlines, both digital and printed, were immediately updated accordingly. Please refer to the attached document titled ‘Bicycle Mechanica_Updated Syllabus’.Ms. ***** contacted our Student Services department by telephone on several occasions, beginning on March 9, 2023, to express her dissatisfaction with the updated textbook and she was advised on each occasion that the previous textbook that had been selected for the third module was no longer available and is, in fact, out of print. Unfortunately Ms. ***** has rejected this information on each occasion.While we acknowledge Ms. *****’s disappointment with the updated material, we feel that the replacement textbook selected does not substantially change or negatively impact the overall content of the program. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays. Sincerely,Brandi H*** Supervisor Student Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/21/2023

  Type:Billing 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.

  Money they are charging me when I never received the school martial from them
  Tired several times to reach out to them with no response on there end. I paid two or three payments and they want the full amount from me on my credit report. We are going on 9 or so years. This is a scam!

  Business Response

  Date: 03/30/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated March 21, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by ****** ********. Having reviewed Ms. ********’s
  files, I am pleased to provide the following information. Ms. ******** enrolled in our Art program on January 3,
  2017. The first set of study material was issued to Ms. ******** on
  January 4, 2017. A second module was subsequently shipped to Ms. ******** on
  March 9, 2017. I have attached a copy of the USPS tracking confirmation that
  confirms successful delivery of both shipments. According
  to our records one exam was received from the first module on February 12, 2017.
  A copy of the results, along with e-mail communication in which the results
  were provided to the student are also attached.  While students may take up to 5 years to
  complete a program with SCI, tuition payments are due every 30 days from the
  date of enrollment until the account is paid in full. No tuition payments were
  successfully received after April 10, 2017. In an effort to bring the account
  up to date, numerous payment reminders were issued to Ms. ******** with
  no reply. The account was eventually forwarded to an outside collection agency
  on October 10, 2017 for the outstanding balance of $382.10. Students
  may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment
  with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Service Guarantee that is issued to every Stratford Student and
  cancellation requests may be sent by any method including by mail, e-mail or
  telephone. Upon review of Ms. ********’s file, no
  cancellation request was received by any method and the attached files provide
  a direct contradiction to the information in Ms. ********’s complaint. While
  it is unfortunate that Ms. ********’s file was eventually forwarded to **** Corporation, Stratford Career Institute did provide services for which an
  outstanding balance is justified. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
  toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday
  through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely, Brandi H*** Supervisor Student Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/10/2023

  Type:Billing 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.

  I signed up for high school with this company in 2017, paid as I went, a few short months I was unable to afford it and had life happened, so I called and cancelled, never received anymore study materials, nor heard from them until 2022, when it showed up on my credit report that I owed them the f*** amount of the course which I never received nor continued. I don't believe I owe for courses, services and materials I never seen. I just want the billing adjusted to $0 and off my credit report. Fair is fair.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/20/2023

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated February 10, 2023 regarding a complaint filed by ******* ********. Having reviewed Ms. ********’s files,
  I am pleased to provide the following information.Ms. ******** enrolled in our High School program on November 8, 2017. The first set
  of study material was issued to Ms. ******** on November 9, 2917, which she successf***y completed. A subsequent module was issued on November 29, 2017 and two of the four corresponding exams were received at our offices.According
  to our records no correspondence or telephone calls were received from Ms. ******** for the duration of her enrollment. While students may take up to 5
  years to complete a program with SCI, tuition payments are due every 30 days
  from the date of enrollment until the account is paid in f***. No tuition
  payments were successf***y received after the initial $10.00 down payment on November 8, 2017. In an effort to bring
  the account up to date, numerous payment reminders were issued to Ms. ******** with no reply. The account was eventually forwarded to an outside collection
  agency on June 1, 2018 for the outstanding balance of $679.00.Students
  may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment
  with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Service Guarantee that is issued to every Stratford Student and
  cancellation requests may be sent by any method including by mail, e-mail or
  telephone. Upon review of Ms. ********’s file, no cancellation request was
  received by any method. I have attached a copy of the signed tuition contract for Ms. ********'s review.Although
  no cancellation request was received, course material was issued and services were provided. As a gesture of goodwill we are extending an offer to Ms. ******** to close the file with a partial payment of $182.92. Payment may be made directly to Stratford Career Institute. Upon successful receipt of this payment the file will be closed and her account will be removed from the collection agency. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
  toll-free at 1-800-435-5338. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through
  Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely,Brandi H***Supervisor Student Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/26/2023

  Type:Customer Service 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.

  On May 5, 2014 I enrolled in Stratford's online high school course to fulfill course requirements to receive my High School Diploma as they indicated they offered. I made an initial deposit of $20.00 on that same day to get everything started thinking that was a legit school. In total the amount of the course and all payments made to the school was $689.00 this was broken down into monthly payments of $37.16 until the full amount of $689 was paid. I made the final $218.56 payment on December 3, 2020 and at that time was paid in full. I received my official transcript of grades and diploma on March 18, 2022 only for it all to be bogus. Came to find out that this school is not nationally nor regionally accredited and I would be left with a high school diploma that I paid for that was totally useless. I have tried to enroll in several local technical schools for CE and non take this piece of paper they call a HSD. I called Stratford to complain and was told that someone named Brandi from student services would be contacting me. Spoke with Brandi who was rather rude to my sister and I trying to explain that the diploma and program was bogus and a fraud/scam for peoples money and she just kept saying "they never said anywhere that their school was accredited and that she knows the school is not accredited!" Why offer something claiming to give someone a HSD only for it to not be accepted anywhere. Brandi was not only rude but useless and said there was no way to get the money back because I have now completed the program and they have a no refund policy even through they know the school is not accredited. Why offer something sure to grant a person another chance at fulfilling this if its useless. I basically spent almost $700 and took classes to get a transcript and diploma that is not accepted anywhere and now not able to get refunded. This lacks integrity and takes advantage of people losing their hard earned money on something that is a scam.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/01/2023

  Dear ****,I am in receipt of your letter dated January 26, 2023,
  regarding a complaint filed by ***** ******. Having reviewed Ms. ******’s files,
  I am pleased to provide the following information.Ms. ****** enrolled in our Highs School program on May 5, 2015. The first set
  of study material was issued to Ms. ****** on May 7, 2015, which she has
  confirmed receipt.While Ms. ****** has indicated that she was previously unaware that SCI holds no accreditation status, she feels misled about the nature of the program. SCI does not claim any accreditation, either verbally or in writing on any literature or its website, which Ms. ****** accessed to submit exams online. Additionally, a FAQ section is available on the website, accessible by logging in with the same credentials used to submit her exams. As part of the FAQ section, it states "Our programs are specifically designed to serve as an introduction or enhancement of the theoretical knowledge required for the vocational application of each subject. Programs are intended to help individuals in the furtherance of their vocational training, and are not intended as a substitute for licensing requirements, which may include an apprenticeship or additional training, depending on applicable laws".Additionally, a course outline of the High School program is included withe the first module in the program, which Ms. ****** received and completed. A disclaimer is printed on the course outline which states "Please note that although this program offers a comprehensive range of subject matter, that it is not, nor intended to be, a substitute for state sponsored High School and GED programs. Particular schools and employers may not recognize completion of this program as high school equivalency". A copy of the course outline has been attached for review.Students
  may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment
  with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Service Guarantee that is issued to every Stratford Student and
  cancellation requests may be sent by any method including by mail, e-mail or
  telephone. Upon review of Ms. ******’s file, no cancellation request was
  received by any method.Stratford Career Institute has been fully transparent with Ms. ****** regarding the nature of our programs and at no time did any misrepresentation, either written or verbally, occur.  While it is unfortunate that Ms. ****** has expressed her dissatisfaction with the diploma, no refund is applicable as all course material was issued and Ms. ****** successfully completed all course requirement and her diploma was awarded accordingly. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
  toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through
  Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely,Brandi H***Supervisor Student Services

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/03/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  My view on the matter is that when a person tries their hardest to make a change in life for the better and seeks out a business or financial institution to help make that process a success it’s not fair to be scammed by companies seeking to take advantage of others for financial gain. The subject of the schools accreditation should have been shared before allowing a person to enroll offering a full high school diploma that I can not use. This is very disheartening and took years of my hard earned very low income to fulfill the payment requirements for something that is completely useless in any state, county or any place in the US. I called and spoke to someone about this that was not very forthcoming and pleasant regarding my experience with not being able to use the diploma. We have vocational schools in South Carolina where I live if that’s what I was interested in. I wanted to fulfil the requirement for obtaining my High School Diploma to better my life and living and that’s what this school offered. It said nothing about not being an accredited institution and I didn’t know of this until getting a useless diploma that can’t be used anywhere. I feel the right thing to do would be to give a full refund for my pain and suffering, my time and the time it took for me to do this useless course. I would like a refund please so that I can try to further my studies with an institution that is more reputable and have peoples true best interest.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** ******

  Business Response

  Date: 02/03/2023

  Dear ****,I am in receipt of your e-mail dated February 3, 2023, regarding a complaint filed by ***** ******. Having reviewed Ms. ******’s files, I am pleased to provide the following information.While we acknowledge Ms. ******'s dissatisfaction that she was not aware Stratford Career Institute holds no accreditation, at no time was the nature of our programs misrepresented. On the contrary, Ms. ****** was provided with an explanation of the nature of the diploma in writing on the course syllabus, attached to the previous response, with her first module. We remain available to assist our students with their career goals however we cannot guarantee that employers will accept the diploma as each employer sets their own hiring requirements, which may be based on multiple factors. Again, while it is unfortunate that Ms. ****** has expressed her dissatisfaction with the diploma, no refund is applicable as all course material was issued and Ms. ****** successfully completed all course requirement and her diploma was awarded accordingly. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays. Sincerely,Brandi H***SupervisorStudent Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/16/2023

  Type:Customer Service 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.

  On 16 July 2022, I signed up for the Video Game Design course with Stratford Career Institute. During the course, I received two books to study. The books were Video Game History Game On! And Video Game Design. After completing the two books, I was told “congratulation on completing the course.”
  
  I feel this course is a scam. I’m expected to pay $475.00 for two books that cost $60.00 on ******.com. Plus, the books are the history of Video Game Design, not Video Game design programming. The course doesn’t teach anything about programming. The course is only about the greats in Video Game Design. If I wanted a history lesson, I can google it on my home computer.
  
  How can they charge $475.00 for two $60.00 books. Plus, the course should be titled “The history of Video Game Design”. Therefore, people wouldn’t expect to learn Video Game programming.
  
  Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated. ****** ******* (Student Number: *******)

  Business Response

  Date: 01/23/2023

  Dear ****,I am in receipt of your e-mail dated January 16, 2023, regarding a complaint filed by ******* *******. Having reviewed Mr. *******' files, I am pleased to provide the following information.Mr. ******* enrolled in our Video Game Design program on July 18, 2022 through our online platform and his electronic signature was provided as an acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Tuition Contract and Service Guarantee which is presented to every student upon enrollment. The first set of study material was issued to Mr. ******* on July 20, 2022 of which he confirmed receipt. His tuition agreement was for $475.00 or 14 installments of $32.00 and one final installment of $7.00. During the six months of his enrollment, Mr. ******* contacted our Student Services Department on at least two occasions. He utilized a variety of available services, including exam submission through our online platform.Students may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Service Guarantee that is issued to every Stratford Student and cancellation requests may be sent by any method including by mail, e-mail or telephone.According to our records Mr. ******* did not contact our Student Services department at any time, by any method, to request the cancellation of his program nor to express any concerns regarding his Video Game Design program. While the average completion time for a program is twenty-four months, Mr. ******* successfully completed all academic requirements for the program on September 12, 2022 with an overall average of 91%. While it is unfortunate that Mr. ******* has expressed his dissatisfaction with the material provided, the remaining balance of $357.00 is justified as he has received all of the corresponding course material and successfully completed the program. I also take the opportunity to clarify that the syllabus for the Video Game Design program is presented to the student during the online enrollment process. A physical copy of the syllabus is also included in the first module. The history of various mainstream and commercially successful video games is provided in the second module of the program and this is the only module in which this topic is covered extensively.Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at 1-800-435-5338. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays. Sincerely,Brandi H*** SupervisorStudent Services

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/23/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  The course is a scam! Students will be ready to learn "programming", not the history of programming. Nothing on the website states, this is not a programming course.
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* *******

  Business Response

  Date: 01/24/2023

  Dear ****,I am in receipt of your e-mail dated January 24, 2023, regarding a response filed by ******* *******. Having reviewed Mr. *******' files, I am pleased to provide the following information.As indicated on our website, *******************, Stratford's home study program allows students to learn more about what is involved in a career in video game design. Our comprehensive curriculum focuses on fundamental concepts for the beginner designer. This course does not focus on the programming aspect of the video game industry, rather solely on a career in video game design. There is an additional disclaimer below the course outline in which it states "This educational program is an introductory course designed to help students gain knowledge necessary for the vocational application of this subject." As previously advised, Mr. ******* was provided with the course outline online during his online enrollment application process, as well as a physical copy was included in his first module. SCI was not notified over the course of Mr. ******* enrollment that he was dissatisfied with or misled by the program in any way. Additionally, a significant tuition discount was applied upon Mr. *******' enrollment. Standard tuition for this program is $989.00. Mr. ******* received the course at the discounted tuition price of $475.00.While it is unfortunate that Mr. ******* has expressed his dissatisfaction with the material provided, the remaining balance of $357.00 is justified as he has received all of the corresponding course material and successfully completed the program. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at ###-###-####. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays. Sincerely,Brandi H*** SupervisorStudent Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/06/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore 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.

  Years ago, I enrolled in an art course via the sci online learning program. I never noticed anyplace on their website where you were obliged to pay the whole amount after you joined up. When I contacted them a week later to cancel, I was informed that I couldn't and that I would have to pay hundreds of dollars. I get SSI because of a mental handicap. I tried to talk to someone about canceling the classes because I didn't have the mental capacity to sign up for the payment plan at the time. My request was scoffed at and refused. Because I have a mental handicap, I forgot about the debt until I checked my credit score and discovered that they had sent my account to collections, which is negatively impacting my credit score.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/10/2023

  John, Complaint Handler, ext. 200 Better Business Bureau 100 Bryant Woods South Amherst, NY 14228 Dear ****, I am in receipt of your e-mail dated January 6, 2023 regarding a complaint filed by ******* *****. Having reviewed Ms. *****' files, I am pleased to provide the following information. Ms. ***** enrolled in our Art program on June 27, 2017. The first set of study material was issued to  the address provided upon enrollment by Ms. ***** on June 28, 2017. According to our records no correspondence or telephone calls were received from Ms. ***** for the duration of her enrollment. While students may take up to 5 years to complete a program with SCI, tuition payments are due every 30 days from the date of enrollment until the account is paid in full. No tuition payments were successfully received after June 27, 2017. A change of address was provided by the student on a return envelope, dated July 11, 2017.  In an effort to bring the account up to date, numerous payment reminders were issued to Ms. ***** at the new address with no reply. The account was eventually forwarded to an outside collection agency on February 15, 2018 for the outstanding balance of $865.17. Students may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Service Guarantee that is issued to every Stratford Student and cancellation requests may be sent by any method including by mail, e-mail or telephone. Upon review of Ms. *****' file, no cancellation request was received by any method. Although no cancellation request was received, I have authorized our Accounts Department to close Ms. *****' file and waive the remaining account balance. The collection agency has been notified accordingly. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at **************. Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Brandi H*** Supervisor of Student Services  Stratford Career Institute 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/10/2023

  Better Business Bureau: 
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.  
  
  Regards, 
  
  ******* *****

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/28/2022

  Type:Sales and Advertising 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.

  I enrolled in an online school December 14th of 2020 and my first transaction was within the time I enrolled. So far I have paid $780.26 and have $108.74 left to pay off. Recently last November, I did some more research into ratings of this school and saw a lot of complaints and also that they do not offer any accreditation or diplomas. Which I do remember them telling me in a agreement before I confirmed my enrollment and transaction, that I will get a diploma after completion of the course. I am upset to find out two years later that I will not get any accreditation or a diploma. And that was the only reason why I enrolled in that school so I could get a diploma. I reached out to them by email and they said they never promised to an agreement offering any accreditation or diplomas. They also said I couldn’t get my money back if I wanted a refund but I can cancel anytime. I feel I have been mislead or lied to by this business.
  
  I do have a screenshot of the agreement that they showed to me before confirming the enrollment and transaction. I also have it circled in red.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/04/2023

  Dear ****,I am in receipt of your e-mail dated December 28, 2022, regarding a complaint filed by ******* *******. Having reviewed Ms. *******'s files, I am pleased to provide the following information. Ms. ******* originally enrolled in our Art program on December 14, 2020. The first set of study material was issued to Ms. ******* on December 17, 2020.  Her original tuition agreement was for $889.00.   Over the course of her enrollment, Ms. ******* contacted our Student Services Department on numerous occasions and utilized a variety of available services, including instructor counseling and online exam submission. According to our records, Ms. ******* was issued two modules over the course of her enrollment in the Art program and submitted four corresponding exams.Students may discontinue their studies at any time over the course of their enrollment with SCI. Cancellation policies are included in the Tuition Contract and Service Guarantee provided to every student upon enrollment. Ms. ******* contacted our Student Services Department by e-mail on November 30, 2022 to express her dissatisfaction that the program is not accredited however no cancellation request was received at that time. Stratford claims no accreditation, either verbally or in writing on any of our literature, digital or in print. The courses offered by SCI are introductory, theory-based diploma programs intended for vocational purposes. A diploma is indeed issued upon the successful completion of all academic and financial obligations. While no cancellation request has been received, I have authorized our Accounts Department to close the file with no further balance owed. Ms. ******* is entitled to a refund of $445.51 as per the terms of her contract. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at *************** Our hours are from 8:00am to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until 3:30pm on Fridays.  Sincerely, Brandi H*** Supervisor Student Services