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:10/04/2022

  Type:Customer Service 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.

  I have been taking an art class from Stratford Career Institute. I am only taking it as a hobby. However, I have waited over two months for them to grade my last two assignments. I emailed them and they said they had received my assignments but were behind schedule in grading. I said okay, as long as they had received them.
  However, not it has been another two weeks, and looking online, my assignments are still not graded. They are still taking my monthly automatic payment like clockwork. I do not feel like it is helping me to wait over two months for assignments to be graded. Could you please light a fire under them and get them to do their job?

  Business Response

  Date: 10/05/2022

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated October 5, 2022, regarding a complaint filed by ***** ***** ********. Having reviewed Ms. ********'s files, I am pleased to provide the following information.According to our records exam ACC8-B was received on August 18, 2022 and exam ACC8-C was received on September 12, 2022. While standard processing times for practical exams, i.e. not multiple choice, is approximately 2 to 3 weeks we do acknowledge that there has been a longer delay. The reason for the delay was a staff change for the position of Art Instructor as well as a large influx of practical art exams that were received during the months of August and September 2022. This information was relayed to Ms. ********, along with our sincerest apologies for the delay, in reply to an e-mail inquiry from the student on September  16, 2022 and subsequently on October 4, 2022.To mitigate further down-time for the student, the subsequent module in Ms. ********'s Art program has been ordered for shipment with standard delivery time of approximately 7 to 10 business days. Additionally, we have asked the new Art Instructor to prioritize the grading of Ms. ********'s exams and have instructed our Accounts department to hold invoices for the month of October 2022 so that no payment is required during this time. Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me toll-free at 1************. 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: 10/05/2022

  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:09/20/2022

  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.

  Today(09/20/2022) I received an in debt collections notice from Stratford Career institute when all I did was inquired about a couple programs but never signed up for any classes. The debt needs to be removed immediately as I never committed or signed up and told them that the cost was too expensive and that I couldn't afford the cost! This collection notice is the first billing correspondence that I have received from this horrible company so therefore wasn't able to refute this bill, which I would have had I known this company fraudulently charge me.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/06/2022

  I am in receipt of your e-mail dated September 5, 2022,
  regarding a complaint filed by ****** *****. Having reviewed Ms.*****’ files,
  I am pleased to provide the following information.Ms.***** enrolled in our Real Estate Appraiser program on March 1st,
  2022. The first set of study material was issued to Ms. ***** on March 1st, 2022
  online in PDF format as per the selection she indicated on her online enrollment
  application.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. Ms. ***** provided her electronic signature on the Tuition Contract and Service Guarantee, agreeing to the terms and conditions, during the online enrollment process.According
  to our records Ms. ***** spoke to a Student Services Instructor on March 1, 2022 who confirmed she was successfully enrolled in the program. Ms. ***** subsequently registered for eService with the student number provided so that she could access our online services. We do not have any record of Ms. ***** indicating that she could not continue the program due to the price of the tuition nor was any cancellation request received.Although
  no cancellation request was received, I have authorized our Accounts Department
  to close Ms. *****' file and waive the remaining account balance. 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:09/11/2022

  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 the canine specialist course and paid a few months. However I didn’t reach far in the course before I was forced too move and drop everything. Almost a year went by and I’d completely forget about all of it until I received multiple collection calls in a few days time. Furious and confused about the amount owed of 689.17 dollars. Due too a constant work schedule I was never able too call them back and sent an email too hear NOTHING. I keep missing their calls and am furious for being out in collections and not hearing from them. I also never returned too the address I assume is on file with Stratford and got zero calls from them regarding late payments. However when I log into my account it allows me too just MAKE a payment and continue use. So why was I sent too collections? I paid a few months worth of the course which included the book and I’m okay paying a small fee however I will not settle for the almost 700$ I “owe” that I didn’t even put too use and wasn’t sent Emails nor given phone calls about.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/04/2022

  I am in receipt of your letter dated September 12,2022, regarding a complaint filed by ****************. Having reviewed Ms. **********'s files, I am pleased to provide the following information.Ms. ********** enrolled in our Canine Specialist program on October 6, 2021,2021. The first set of study material was issued to Ms. ********** on October 8,2021, and was successfully delivered to the address the student provided on October 12,2021.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 January 6,2022. 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 1,2022 for the outstanding balance of$689.17.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, email, or telephone. Upon review of Ms. **********'s file, no cancellation request was received by any method.Although no cancellation request was received, I have authorized our Accounts Department to close Ms.**********'s 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:OOam to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until3:30pm on Fridays.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/26/2022

  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 am beyond frustrated with Strafford career institute. The entire school feels like a MAJOR scam. After seeing their online portal and the quality of their material I withdrew my application within 8 days. They're cancellation policy for a refund is 5 days. I paid 40 dollars as a downpayment, did not want a refund, dropped the classes via email and went about my life. No emails, no phone calls, no follow up at all. Then I recieved a letter from a collections agency, stating that I owe them 140 dollars immediately. This is an absolute SCAM. I recieved nothing, no books, no training, I submitted no assignments. They are charging me 140 dollars for nothing. I call the school, and it takes literal days for me to get through to someone. I have debt collectors calling me at all hours for a ridiculous amount of 140 dollars. This is foolish. If they had emailed a follow up themselves or called me I would be more accepting but to send 140 dollars straight to debt collectors with no warning that's a bit much. DO NOT ENROLL with this "school" if you can even call it that. Do yourself a favour and look up some videos on *******, you'll get the same education and it's free.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/19/2022

  I am in receipt of your letter dated August 26,2022, regarding a complaint filed by ******* *******.Having reviewed Ms. *******'s files, I am pleased to provide the following information.Ms. ******* enrolled in our Administrative Assistant/Secretary program on May 31st, 2022. The first set of study material was issued to Ms. ******* on May 31,2022 online in PDF format as per the selection she indicated on her enrollment application. Students may discontinue their studies at any rime over the course of their enrollment with SCl.Cancellation policies are included ~n 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 Ms. ******* requested to cancel her program by telephone on June 9,2022. A letter, outlining the cancel la ti or^ terms, was issued to Ms. ******* on the same date. A cancellation balance of $140.00 was applied in accordance with the terms of the Tuition Contract and Service Guarantee which was presented to Ms. ******* during the online enrollment application process.According to our records Ms. ******* paid ;he cancellation balance of $140.00 on August 29,2022 and  the file is now closed. 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 from8:OOam to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday and until 3:30pm on Fridays.Sincerely, Supervisor Student Services

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/17/2022

  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.

  I applied to take the small engine course but shortly after received the startup booklet , made my first payment and called shortly after to cancel my account couldn’t get ahold of anyone , always had to wait over 10 min in hold before hanging up . Now there’s a collection on my account and haven’t had any calls from any collection agency’s

  Business Response

  Date: 09/19/2022

  I am in receipt of your letter dated August 17,2022, regarding a complaint filed by ******* *******.Having reviewed Mr. *******'s files, I am pleased to provide the following information.Mr. ******* enrolled in our Auto Mechanics program on March 23, 2021. The first set of study material was issued to Mr. ******* on March 24,2021, which he has confirmed receipt.According to our records no correspondence or telephone calls were received from Mr. ******* for the duration of his 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 April 27,2021. 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 15,2021 for the outstanding balance of $699.00.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 anv method including by mail, e-m-ail o r telephone. Upon review- of -Mr. ********* ***********-n request was recelved by any method.Although no cancellation request was received, I have authorized our Accounts Department to close Mr.*******'s 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:OOam to 4:30pm (EST) Monday through Thursday, and until3:30pm on Fridays.Supervisor Student Services