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    ComplaintsforPenn Foster

    Correspondence Schools
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    View Business profileBBB accredited business

    Additional Complaint Information

    Customer Complaint:
    Penn Foster would like to expedite a solution to any issues you may have. They ask that prior to filing a complaint with the BBB please contact them directly at  570-961-4014 and Corinne Lenzer or Marie Allen would be happy to help you. 
    See all additional business information

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    File a Complaint

    Complaint Details

    Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. See details.

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    Complaint Status
    Complaint Type
    • Complaint Type:
      Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      I have never utilized any services provided by Penn Foster. They keep sending an account to collections and I have never signed up for an account with them. I am currently enrolled in university and would never need their services. I have never taken a course yet my account is in collections. I need this account closed and removed

      Business response

      05/26/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: *******************
      Student Number: ********

      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address **. ******* concerns.**************** enrolled in the Medical Assistant Associate degree on January 31, 2020 , by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and down payment. I will attach the agreement. As of May 26, 2023, **************** has completed 7.9% of the first semester.
      Per the agreement that **************** signed, a written request ( mail or email ) is required in order to withdraw from the program. As we have not received a request to withdraw from ****************, the account remained in an open status. Due to defaulted payments, the account was turned over to an outside agency. If **************** would like to withdraw from the program according to the terms of her signed agreement, she can email her request to me at, ******************@pennfoster.edu.
      Once **. ******* request is received, we can close the account out accordingly.

      Penn Foster  is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at **************.
      Sincerely.

      *****************************
      Sr. Escalation Specialist
    • Complaint Type:
      Order Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      I enrolled in the Appliance Repair course, but I can no longer attend and would like to disenroll and discontinue further payments. I have tried to do this, but it can only be done by phone and I am never available during their customer service hours.

      Business response

      05/16/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name *************************
      Student Number: ********
      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address **. ******* concerns. **************** enrolled into the Appliance Repair program on February 3, 2023, by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and down payment.
      Per **. ******* enrollment agreement, students can terminate their enrollment via telephone, email or first-class mail. Per the message provided to the BBB, I closed **. ******* account on 5/16/2023 according to the contractual terms. *************** will be provided a refund of $44.51.
      Penn Foster devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at *************.

      Sincerely.
      *****************************
      Sr. Escalation Specialist

      Customer response

      05/21/2023

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

      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,

      *************************
    • Complaint Type:
      Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      The representative from the college stated it was asynchronous learning when in fact it is not. They require you to take webinars but these webinars are schedule the same day of the week at the same time. When I asked why they couldnt give credit when watched on demand, I was told it was a requirement for discuss among student, teacher, and peers. Although all that is required for the live webinars is to type hello and goodbye and then write a 2 paragraph summary. I have also not been provided my book I needed for a course only to be told the book was back ordered and even though Im almost finished with the course, I can be switched to a new course but nothing I have worked on will be transferred. The instructors are not qualified and never answer questions that are being asked. The institution has been in lawsuits before.

      Business response

      04/24/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: ***** **************** Number: ********
      To Whom It May ***************** welcome the opportunity to address Ms. ****** concerns. Ms.***** enrolled into the Veterinary Technician Degree on November 10, 2020 , by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and down payment. I will include a copy of the enrollment agreement.
      On page 25 in the student catalog it states, Students in certain programs may also be required to attend scheduled online classes in order to pass the course. For the Veterinary Technician program, students are required to attend live webinars in their third and fourth semester.  Students have 12 months to attend webinars that work best with their schedule. Webinars are offered various days and times of the week and even some on weekends to allow flexibility to study at a time that works best for the students, making the program still asynchronous. A copy of the student catalog and more information can be found on our marketing website, ****************************************************************************** .
      On April 21, 2023, a representative reach out directly to Ms. ***** regarding her concerns of the live webinars for the Veterinary Technician program and having a new textbook reshipped as courtesy.
      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at **************.

      Sincerely.
      *********************
      Escalation Specialist
    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      I started August of 22 in a class with Penn Foster and they made me believe that their diploma was recognized in **** and it is not but they proceeded to take money from me since August to April of this year I am dissatisfied of their practices and I would really like to have my money back and an apology I am on Social Security and I need my money if I'm not going to get a diploma that's recognized in the ************* I want to go someplace else like Penna but I want this issue with Penn Foster to be settled if you would please help me

      Business response

      04/24/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Name: ***********************
      Student Number: ********
      To Whom It May *********************** welcome the opportunity to address Ms. ******* concerns. **************** enrolled herself online into the High School program on August 31, 2022, by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and down payment. I will include a copy of the agreement.
      Penn Foster High School has earned both regional and national accreditation. Penn Foster is accredited by the ******** ********* ********************** (****). The **** is listed by the **** ********** ** ********* as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the ******* *** ****** ********* ************* (****).
      Penn Foster High School is regionally accredited for grades 9 through adult, by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the ************************* of Colleges and Schools. Penn Foster High School is accredited by Cognia. Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and improvement services to institutions and other education providers. Penn Foster Career School is licensed by the ****************** ***** of ******* Licensed Schools.
      As of April 24, 2023 **************** has completed 9 out of 107 exams. **************** completed 8.4% of the program. If **************** would like to withdraw from the program, she will be held to the terms that she voluntarily agreed to. The cancellation policy is as follows:

      If you cancel within 6 calendar days of signing the enrollment agreement you will owe: $0 (100% refund)


      If you withdraw after 6 calendar days:


      Before submitting a completed program assignment you will owe:  registration fee + administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable)
      Up to and including 10% of the program assignments completed you will owe: registration fee + administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable) + 10% of refundable tuition
      After 10% and up to and including 25% of the program assignments completed you will owe: registration fee + administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable) + 25% of refundable tuition
      After 25% and up to and including 50% of the program assignments completed you will owe: registration fee + administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable) + 50% of refundable tuition
      After 50% of the program assignments completed you will owe: full program tuition and any applicable fees

      The percentage of the program completed shall be determined by comparing the number of completed lessons received for services by the school to the total number of lessons in the program.

      If **************** would like to withdraw from the program , she would owe a liability of $105.90. **************** is not eligible for a refund. 
      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at **************.
       
      Sincerely.
      *****************************
      Sr. Escalation Specialist


    • Complaint Type:
      Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      I received mail from a collections agency that Penn Foster has sent me to collections for a balance over $2,000. I have never attended this school, nor have I ever looked into this school. I have a degree and job in an unrelated field thats been fully paid for at a different college.

      Business response

      03/13/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: ***************************
      Student Number: ********
      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address **. ******* concerns. **************** enrolled into the Veterinary Technician Associate degree program on August 27,2018, by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and down payment. I will include a copy of the enrollment agreement.
      When enrolling into the program, **************** was required to submit a proof of High School completion form. I will include a copy of the form. Due to defaulted payments, **. ******* account was turned over to a third-party collection agency.
      Reviewing **. ******* account, we have not received any communication from **************** regarding withdrawing from the program. Per **. ******* enrollment agreement, we require a letter in writing requesting to withdraw from the program. This can be email or physical mail.
      If **************** would like to withdraw from the program, she can email her request to me directly at ***********************@pennfoster.edu. the request is received, we will close out according to the contractual cancellation terms. **************** will need to speak to the agency directly in order to resolve her financial obligations.

      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at *************.

      Sincerely.
      *****************************
      Sr. Escalation Specialist
    • Complaint Type:
      Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      I enrolled in their classes while suffering a mental health crisis. I emailed them per the instructions on their website on 4/12/22 at 1:04pm asking them to cancel my enrollment with all the information I was required to include. I noticed that I am still on auto pay and they are still charging me when I reached out them, they refused to acknowledge I made contact and basically told me have a nice day. Now, I can opt to pay $95 for an extension and attempt to get a state cert I don't want or need or suck up a $900 loss. I would like refunded my money from the time I sent the email requesting the course cancelation.

      Business response

      03/09/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: *****************************
      Student Number: ********
      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address **************** concerns. ************* enrolled into the Medical Billing and Coding program on December 9, 2021,by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and down payment. I will include a copy of the enrollment agreement.
      ************** completed 4 out of 44 exams. As per the enrollment agreement, You are responsible for paying and Penn Foster shall be entitled to receive the entire Program Tuition and the Non-Refundable Registration Fee if you cancel (a) more than 12 months after your enrollment. After reviewing *************** account, I was unable to locate any previous correspondence regarding canceling the program. Additional information regarding the refund policy can be found at *************************************************************************** March 9, 2023, I personally reached out to ************** via email to go over any additional concerns she may have.
      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at **************.

      Sincerely.
      *********************
      Escalation Specialist
    • Complaint Type:
      Order Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Canceled enrollment after one month. I paid for that one month. Now I am being told I owe $435 BECAUSE I CANCELED! Mind you it does not state ANYWHERE that you will be charged a cancelation fee and I canceled because I did not have time for schooling due to my father being diagnosed with cancer and 13 months to live. I paid for the ONE LESSON and the month of whatever the fees are for so now why am I expected to pay to NOT ATTEND SCHOOL?!

      Business response

      03/02/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: *************************
      Student Number: ********

      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address **************** concerns. ************** enrolled online into the Veterinary Technician Associate Degree on May 26, 2022 by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and down payment. I will include a copy of the enrollment agreement.

      All cancellation terms can be located on our web site and on each enrollment agreement. For ease of access please use this link, *************************************************************************** time of cancellation, ************** completed 8.3% of the semester. Per the agreed upon terms,

      If you cancel within 6 calendar days of signing the enrollment agreement you will owe: $0 (100% refund)

      If you withdraw after 6 calendar days:

      Before submitting a completed program assignment you will owe:  registration fee + administrative fee +shipping and handling fees (if applicable)

      Up to and including 10% of the program assignments completed you will owe:registration fee + administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable) + 10% of refundable tuition

      After 10% and up to and including 25% of the program assignments completed you will owe: registration fee + administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable) + 25% of refundable tuition

      After 25% and up to and including 50% of the program assignments completed you will owe: registration fee + administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable) + 50% of refundable tuition

      After 50% of the program assignments completed or more than 12 months after your enrollment you will owe: full program tuition and any applicable fees
      The percentage of the program completed shall be determined by comparing the number of completed lessons received for services by the school to the total number of lessons in the program.

      Per the terms listed above, ************** will owe: registration fee +administrative fee + shipping and handling fees (if applicable) + 10% of refundable tuition.

      Due to defaulted payments, **************** account was turned over to a third party collection agency. ************** must speak to the agency directly to resolve her financial obligations.

      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at *************.

      Sincerely.
      *****************************
      Sr. Escalation Specialist

    • Complaint Type:
      Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      They are scam they take your money and you never see them again plus their is office Is in canada but you can not go their office but their office is in the u.s but is a different name vey strange

      Business response

      03/01/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: ***** ******
      Student Number: N/A

      To Whom It May Concern:
      I welcome the opportunity to address *** *******s concerns. An extensive search for an account was made, however we could not locate an account for *** ******.  
      *** ****** is headquartered in Quebec, with operations in the United States through Penn Foster, and internationally through Penn Foster International. *** ****** is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
      Penn Foster Career School and High School have earned both regional and national accreditation. Penn Foster College has earned national accreditation. Accreditation is a public notification that an institution and a program meet the quality standards set forth by the accreditor. It means that Penn Foster schools and programs have been evaluated against a pre-determined set of criteria set forth by the accrediting body.
      As our programs are available online only, students do not need to physically come to any of our locations for their studies.
      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at (**** ********.

      Sincerely.
      Andrew K*******
      Sr. Escalation Specialist

    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      I enrolled for the online Administrative Assistant course on December 7, 2022 and paid the full amount of $649 that same day. After completing 70% of the coursework at an A level, I opened the sixth of seven syllabuses in February 2023. These syllabuses are presented to students in order and cannot be viewed out of order. In this syllabus, information was given that said that the coursework for unit 6 could only be completed on a PC, and work would not be accepted on a *** or **********. This requirement had not been disclosed before this time. As I only own a *** computer, I emailed Penn Foster and requested a refund since I could not complete the coursework at no fault of my own and would not be able to receive the course certificate. I received a reply from *************************** which stated that since I had completed over 50% of the course, I was not eligible for a refund. I was also dropped from the course at that time, and can no longer sign in to contact staff or print out completed coursework. I emailed *************************** again to protest the decision and stress that the course requirements were not disclosed when signing up for the course, but I have not received another reply.

      Business response

      02/13/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: *****************************
      Student Number: ********

      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address *** *******’s concerns. *** ******* enrolled herself online into Administrative Assistant Career Diploma program on December 7, 2022, by submitting a signed enrollment agreement and payment in full. I will include a copy of the enrollment agreement.

      As *** ******* stated, she completed 70% of the program. Per the enrollment agreement, *** ******* voluntarily signed, after 50% of the program assignments completed or more than 12 months after enrollment the student will owe: full program tuition and any applicable fees.

      Prior to enrollment, Penn Foster provides students with disclaimers on the technological requirements for enrollment. An example of the disclaimer provided is as follows:

      “Technology Requirements - You will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a *********® *******® based computer running ******* **® or later, *********® ****** 2019 or ********* ***®, and an email account to complete this program with Penn Foster. “

      The Technology requirements are made available prior to enrollment. The statement can be located on the Tuition Section of the Administrative Assistants Marketing page at ******************************************************************************************** .

      The statement is also located under the Admissions section of our Marketing site. It can be located under the Admission Requirements section at *************************************. Penn Foster provides access to our schools Catalog prior to enrollment. Each Catalog list the Technological requirements. Each of our schools catalogs can be located at ******************************************************************.

      Per *** *******’s email request, the program was closed out according to the terms of her agreement. If *** ******* would like to reinstate the account, she will need to send an email requesting this. This can be sent to [email protected]. As stated above, *** ******* is not eligible for a refund.

      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at ###-###-####.

      Sincerely.
      ****** ********
      Sr. Escalation Specialist

      Customer response

      03/11/2023

      [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]

       Complaint: ********

      I am rejecting this response because Penn Foster does not adequately show that full disclosure was given regarding enrollment requirements for the course.  Please see the letter pasted below or attached.

      Regards,

      Dear *** ********,


      As you indicated, I did sign an enrollment agreement; however, this agreement did not contain any information about technological requirements for the coursework.  The only other communication that I received from the school was as follows:  an email with info about an id card, a tuition payment receipt, and privacy information.  None of these documents disclosed any technology requirements.

      You state that “prior to enrollment, Penn Foster provides students with disclaimers on the technological requirements for enrollment.”  As proof, you list three spots on your website where I may have possibly been able to wander across this vital information myself before signing up for the course.  Here is what I discovered when I went to the three internet addresses you provide where I was supposed to find this information.

      1.“The statement can be located on the Tuition Section of the Administrative Assistants Marketing page at ********************************************************************************************.”  It is true that this link does take you to a webpage that lists the technology requirements.  However, I would challenge you to discover this particular subpage from your website.   Here is the necessary thread required to get there:
      * Pennfoster main webpage
      * Click:  Explore All Programs
      * Click”  Administrative Assistant -  This page has four tabs:  Overview, Curriculum, Tuition, FAQ.  Before enrolling, I clicked through each tab here to find the information that I needed in order to determine that this course would meet my needs, which it did. I then saw a big blue button on the top of the page that said “Enroll Now,” which I did.  However……..
      * one of the very last lines on this page says “Tuition and Payment Options.”   I did not need tuition options.  I was planning on paying the $649 in full, so I had no reason to click the link.   However, clicking that link would have brought me to the page that you indicate above.   I am not sure why an enrollment requirement would be buried on a page titled “Tuition and Payment Options.”   That is not full disclosure, and potential students should not be required to seek out hidden disclaimers buried deep within your website to be fully informed.

      2.   “It can be located under the Admission Requirements section at ************************************* .” I honestly cannot find how to access this page from your home page.  If there is a link, it is completely buried, or under a misleading title.  However, if I somehow would have been able to find this link and determine that it contained information I needed,  here is the information listed on that page:  
      “Penn Foster programs require that students have access to high-speed Internet, a *********® *******® based computer running *******® ** or later or an *****® ***® computer running ***OS® or later, and an email account. There are exceptions to these technology requirements. Click here for program specific technology requirements.”  I do have a *** computer that meets those requirements, so this would not have provided me with any indication that a PC was necessary.  My computer also has ***** and **** software, and I had no reason to even think it could not have handled the coursework.  By clicking the link at the end of the statement and scrolling to page 6 of a 15 page list, I would have found that I needed a PC for the ***** coursework, but my question is, why would I have found it necessary to dig so deep?  And why should I have to?  This information needs to be made clear by the school.

      3.  “Penn Foster provides access to our schools Catalog prior to enrollment. Each Catalog list the Technological requirements. Each of our schools catalogs can be located at ******************************************************************"  This page is all about cancellation policies.   I did read the cancellation information and had no reason to pursue any more information than was given.  Towards the bottom of the page, there is a small link provided for the Course Catalog for the course, but I had no reason to hunt for this nor know that I needed any further information.  (By the way, it is a great catalog.  Why is it buried here?  Shouldn’t this have been sent to students, or at least pointed out and made more accessible? Lots of good information is hidden here.)
      In summary, I stand my ground on my original complaint.  The burden should not be on the student to hunt through a huge website to find hidden links that might possibly apply to them regarding fine details of enrollment.   Pertinent details should all be presented upfront on the main page for the program.  This main program page is where I found almost all of the information that I felt I needed to decide to enroll in the course, and I would guess it is where almost every other student interested in the course looks as well.  ************************************************************************************.   Relevant information should be clearly disclosed here.  It should also have been part of the enrollment agreement that was sent to me to sign.  I had due diligence and read through all of the curriculum materials and knew that my *** computer had the software required for each topic listed.  (Specifically *****.) This is where the information should have been disclosed that using the PC version of the software was the only acceptable way to complete the coursework.

      In addition, the course is structured so that the coursework requiring a PC is one of the last units in the course (***** training).   So, it is basically impossible to discover the problem until you have completed over 50% of the course and therefore are no longer eligible to request cancellation.  

      Whether or not you intend for your business practices to be deceptive, they are definitely poor and inadequate.  As a customer, I should not be required to pay for a product about which I was not given all the necessary information regarding requirements.  Nor should I have to hunt through multiple webpages and links myself to find information that I don’t even know exists.  Your website needs some major overhauls to make these requirements clear and obvious to potential students, and those requirements should also be revealed in the contract they sign.
       
      Because of these faulty business practices, I would like my tuition reimbursed in full.  I would also hope that you fix the problem for future potential students who may be interested in the program.

      Sincerely,

      Business response

      04/26/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: *****************************
      Student Number: ********

      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address *** *******’s concerns. As stated directly in the enrollment agreement she willingly signed, “By signing this Enrollment Form, you acknowledge that you have received, read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions on all pages of this agreement (including without limitation, the credit disclosures), as well as the student catalog and any information pertaining to this program, including technology requirements, provided on our program website.” During the enrollment process, if *** ******* had any concerns regarding technology requirements or where to find the student catalog *** ******* could have directly reached out. On December 7, 2022, she acknowledged the above statement and signed her agreement.
      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at (**** ********.

      Sincerely.
      *********************
      Escalation Specialist

    • Complaint Type:
      Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      So I unfortunately decided to enroll in Penn Foster through my employer. It took four attempts to successfully cancel my enrollment. I've tried cancelling since December of 2022 and it was cancelled until late January 2022. There are clear policies with instructions on how to cancel, but once you speak to Penn Foster they tell you something different. After jumping through the first hurdle, now I'm having issues with the refund. There is a refund policy that is dependent on how much was completed during the semester. The refund policy does not explicitly state these percentages will be calculated using student's transferred credits. Penn Foster is trying to keep 50% of my refund, however, I only took one class with them. That means they are supposed to give me a 75% refund. I had the unfortunate luck to deal with ***************************** and she has not answered my email when I'd explained that she should not be in including my transfer credits since technically I did not submit assignments to Penn Foster in those classes. I am complaining because I'm entitled to 75% of the paid amount and not 50%. Not to mention, she already miscalculated the first time.

      Business response

      02/14/2023

      BBB Case Number: ********
      Student Name: *******************************
      Student Number: ********
      To Whom It May Concern:

      I welcome the opportunity to address **. ********* concerns. ******************** enrolled into the Veterinary Technician Degree program via our Business-to-Business with ********* on August 16, 2022. I will include a copy of the enrollment agreement.
      ******************** completed 10 out of 37 lessons. Upon cancelling,******************** is at a  35.7% cancel liability which takes her to the 50%cancellation terms. As stated in the cancellation policy with *********, After you have completed more than 25% but less than 50% of the semester coursework, Penn Foster will retain the lesser of 50% of your tuition amount ($300) or the amount you have paid in tuition as of the date of cancellation, and you will receive a refund equal to the balance of the amount you have paid to Penn Foster as  of the cancelation date. I will include a copy of the cancellation policy with Bluepearl. The cancellation terms do not apply to the 9 transfer lessons but instead the lessons taken with Penn Foster. If ******************** has any concerns regarding her cancellation policy,she can reach out to Bluepearl directly.
      Penn Foster is devoted to the educational advancement and satisfaction of all our students. If you have any further questions, please contact me at **************.

      Sincerely.
      *********************
      Escalation Specialist

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