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Business Profile

Correspondence Schools

Penn Foster

Headquarters

Important 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. 

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Penn Foster's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Penn Foster has 2 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 191 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 101 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    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.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/22/2025

      Type:Order 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 writing to express my deep frustration with Penn Foster regarding the inaccurate reporting of a debt related to my account. I had hoped to resolve this matter amicably, but after multiple attempts to reach your customer service team, I am left with no choice but to escalate this issue. To clarify, I canceled my account within the ***** grace ******* as stipulated in the terms of my enrollment. Therefore, there should be no outstanding debt associated with my account, and I am requesting immediate removal of any negative reporting to the credit bureaus related to this alleged debt.Furthermore, I am extremely frustrated with the way I was misled about the accreditation status of the program. I enrolled under the impression that Penn Foster offered a properly accredited course. However, I have since discovered that this is not the case, which is a clear violation of consumer protection laws. As a consumer, I relied on the information you provided, and it was misleading. As such, I have suffered both financially and in terms of my time, with no recourse to an accredited education.I have also come across several lawsuits and complaints filed with the ************************ (***) against Penn Foster for similar deceptive practices related to accreditation and other consumer concerns. This is deeply concerning, as it suggests that Penn Foster has a history of misleading its students, which further underscores the need for you to take this matter seriously.

      Business Response

      Date: 03/03/2025

      To whom it may concern,

      We have reviewed Rian's account and have honored their request. We do regret the inconvenience and frustration this situation has caused as this is not the experience we wish to set for our students. I have sent **** a follow up email detailing the steps we have taken to meet their request. I am pleased to have come to a resolution.

      Thank you,

      *******

      Learner Success Accommodations Specialist

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/21/2025

      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 writing to file a formal complaint against Penn Foster regarding their high school diploma policy and the inaccurate graduation date on my diploma, which is harming my education and career.I completed Penn Foster's high school program in December 2022. However, my diploma states my graduation date as February 13, 2025. Penn Foster's policy uses the program payoff date, not the academic completion date, as the graduation date.This discrepancy has caused me to be denied admission to my chosen university due to conflicting dates between my transcript (2022) and diploma (2025). I have also lost scholarship opportunities requiring specific graduation dates and have experienced a delayed career start.Despite multiple requests, Penn Foster has refused to issue a corrected diploma or a letter confirming my actual completion date, citing their policy. I am aware of other students graduating around the same time who received diplomas with the correct academic completion date, highlighting the inconsistency and unfairness of their refusal in my case.Penn Foster's policy is misleading, contradicts industry standards, and ***** students. It creates a false impression of academic completion and leads to discrepancies with transcripts, jeopardizing students' futures.I urge an investigation into this matter and appropriate action to ensure Penn Foster's policies align with accreditation standards and do not harm students. Their ability to issue correct diplomas to other students underscores the arbitrary nature of their refusal to correct mine.

      Business Response

      Date: 03/03/2025

      To Whom It May Concern:? 
       
      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Diamons concerns. ****** officially enrolled in the Penn Foster High School program on October 11, 2022, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements.  

      It is important to note that to be considered a graduate,students must meet all academic and financial requirements. This information is clearly provided in Diamons enrollment agreement which was signed at the time of enrollment. The direct quote from page 2 of the enrollment agreement states,"Upon successful completion of all High School program academic requirements and fulfilment of your financial obligations, you will be awarded a Penn Foster High School diploma."

      While we are saddened to hear of the inconvenience Diamon has faced, their account status changed to "Graduated" on February 14, 2025, which is accurately reflected on the diploma they received. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Diamon. Our Learner Success Team wishes them the best in all of their future endeavors. At Penn Foster High School, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students.? 

      Sincerely, 
      ******* E 
      Learner Success Specialist 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 03/04/2025

      Subject: Re: Complaint ID ********; ********************** - Urgent Response and Escalation - Expulsion Due to Inaccurate Diploma - Conflicting Information from Staff
      Dear ******* *****,
      Thank you for forwarding Penn Foster's response. I am writing to reiterate my complaint and express my extreme disappointment with Penn Foster's continued refusal to rectify this critical error.
      Penn Foster's response demonstrates a profound lack of understanding regarding the severity of the situation. Their insistence on adhering to a misleading policy, despite the clear and documented harm it has caused, is unacceptable.
      To reiterate, Penn Foster's policy of using the financial completion date as the graduation date is not only misleading but directly contradicts standard educational practices. While they cite the enrollment agreement, this does not absolve them of their responsibility to uphold ethical and accurate academic reporting. The enrollment agreement does not supercede standard educational practices.
      The inaccurate graduation date on my diploma has resulted in concrete and devastating consequences: I have lost my job and been expelled from college. This is not a mere "inconvenience," as Penn Foster's response suggests. It is a direct result of their inaccurate reporting. It seems as if Penn Foster does not care about the consequences their policy has had on my life.
      Furthermore, Penn Foster has failed to address the inconsistency of other students receiving diplomas with the correct academic completion date. I demand they provide concrete evidence that their policy is a standard practice within accredited online high schools. Their unwillingness to provide this proof indicates a lack of transparency and a disregard for established educational norms.
      Adding to the confusion and frustration, different Penn Foster staff members have given me conflicting information. Some staff members confirmed that my diploma should indeed state the date I academically completed the program (December 2022), further highlighting the inconsistency and arbitrary nature of their refusal to correct my diploma.
      I am appalled by Penn Foster's continued refusal to issue a corrected diploma reflecting my actual completion date of December 2022. Their response demonstrates a clear lack of empathy and a disregard for the significant harm they have caused.
      I urge the BBB to escalate this matter immediately. Penn Foster's actions have had a severe and detrimental impact on my life, and their response indicates a complete lack of accountability.
      Sincerely,
      Diam *******

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/19/2025

      Type:Service or Repair 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.
      To whom this may concern I've been having a total hardship having to struggle with being disabled after a home invasion not able to work taking classes online my apartment had a leak and the water damage caused me to lose my laptop that I was using while at the time tuition for my account was up to date and payment was current but I wasn't able to use my bathroom and have to have repairs as time went by I outreach the Penn Foster High School via email but I lost contact between having difficulty with Internet the company *********************** that I had in home my service has been poor due to equipment I have to get new equipment now thanks God things have been completed I'm off track with my payment also no keys to my mailbox to obtain new card for my bank to even make a payment. Which I just tried to outreach to an advisor at ********* School I was again put to a side because of payment I'm requesting for reimbursement to go to another school or so kind of resolvement to get my High School Diploma I deserve to finish and complete for Criminal Law

      Business Response

      Date: 02/26/2025

      To Whom It May Concern,

      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Ms. *********************** Ms. ******** officially enrolled in the High School Program with Penn Foster High School on March 22nd, 2024, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements. 

      It has come to our attention that Ms. ******* has suffered numerous hardships and setbacks that have impacted her learning to a negative degree. At Penn Foster High School, we are committed to assisting our students during these hardships and ensuring that Ms. ******* is able to complete her program to the best of her ability. Per her request, we have gone ahead and waived all late fees that she has accumulated from this point. We strongly urge that Ms. ******* contact our ****************** team at ************ at her earliest possible convivence to resume payments on her account. In addition, Ms. ******* can resume her learning from the point at which she was last present as we are a self-paced school in which all learners can resume their studies at their own pace. 

      We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Ms. ******** Our Learner Success Team is proud to have assisted Ms. ******* through to graduation and we wish them continued success moving forward. At Penn Foster High School, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students. 

      Sincerely, 
      ****** Neumann 
      Learner Success Specialist 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/27/2025

      Very satisfied 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/27/2025

      Penn Foster hasn't given me any late fee or accommodations . For me to complete my studies and the student ID isn't working for me to access my account to even make payment for a tuition in the amount of $488.00 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/27/2025

      [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: 22962787

      I am rejecting this response because:Penn Foster hasn't given me any late fee or accommodations . For me to complete my studies and the student ID isn't working for me to access my account to even make payment for a tuition in the amount of $488.00 


      Regards,

      ******* *******








      Business Response

      Date: 03/03/2025

      To Whom It May Concern,
       
      I have attached a copy of Ms. ******** ledger card associated with her account detailing all financial related transactions including the documentation of all of the fees we have waived on her behalf as mentioned.
      Ms. ******* also has the option of contacting our ****************** team over the phone for payment assistance at ************ or contacting our Learner Success Advocate team at ************ for assistance with account access inquiries.

      We are committed to assisting our students to ensure their success. 

      Sincerely, 
      ******* E 
      Learner Success Specialist 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/17/2025

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      AnsweredMore info

      Complaint statuses

      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Penn Foster High School Diploma is not accepted in *** but yet they still allow NYS residents to pay them money and complete the program without informing the consumers that their diploma will not be accepted in ***. Thats misleading to consumers who think after they complete the program they can attend college in ***. I wasted money on program because I had to take my GED. I think they should inform *** residents beforehand that Penn Foster high school diploma is not accepted in *** and let the consumers decide.

      Business Response

      Date: 02/26/2025

      To Whom It May Concern, 

      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Ms. ************************ Ms. ********* officially enrolled in the Penn Foster High School Program on October 8th, 2016, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements. 

      It has come to our attention that Ms. ******** has been unable to attend a college that she has expressed interest in attending. While we do regret that Ms. ******** has suffered setbacks in her educational journey, we here at Penn Foster inform our New York based students of the following disclaimer. Regarding the postsecondary acceptance of the Penn Foster High School diploma in ********, the following information is shared with New York residents during the time of enrollment, In the state of ********, an online High School diploma may not be recognized by some colleges and universities within the state. If you plan on attending a college or university in **************, then before enrolling with Penn Foster High School, we recommend you check with the institution to determine if a Penn Foster High School diploma will be recognized by them. 
       
      In addition, we have the following notice in our student catalogue which is provided at the time of enrollment. This notice is also given to our current and future New York based students. Many of our graduates have been quite successful in going on to institutions of higher learning or receiving job promotions as a result of earning their diplomas. However, if you plan to attend college or seek a particular job, you should find out the entrance requirements. Some colleges and employers require a diploma earned through a resident program.  
       
      We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Ms. ********* Our Learner Success Team is proud to have assisted Ms. ******** through to graduation and we wish them continued success moving forward. At Penn Foster High School, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students. 

      Sincerely, 
      ****** Neumann 
      Learner Success Specialist
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/16/2025

      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.
      When I contacted Penn Foster to learn more about the Sterile Processing Technician program, I was informed that a voucher would be included with my enrollment, regardless of whether I chose a payment plan. I was also told that after I completed my course, I would receive a voucher, even if I was still making monthly payments through the payment plan. However, I just found out last week that I have to pay my tuition in full to receive the voucher, which contradicts what I was originally told. I feel like they are not being honest, and it seems like a scheme to get people to enroll by promising a voucher that is only available after full payment. At this point, I would like my tuition to get canceled or reduce since in going to have to pay for the test out of my pocket instead of using a voucher. I'm planning on taking the test next month and my payment plan ends next year. I am not waiting a year to take a test when I can take it next month and I can start my career next month. By Starting my career next month could improve my financial situation and increase the likelihood of paying off my tuition within a year. However, I feel like I've been misled, and I plan to share my experience on social media to warn others about this.

      Business Response

      Date: 02/28/2025

      To Whom It May Concern,
       
      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Ms. *************** Ms. ****** officially enrolled in the Sterile Processing Program with Penn Foster College on June 3, 2024, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements.

      Students receive vouchers upon achieving "graduation" status, which occurs when a student is both academically and financially complete. To date, Ms. ****** is academically complete but has not met the outstanding financial liabilities on her account. To address the miscommunication,we have applied a credit to Ms. ******* account to cover the cost of the voucher, as well as to compensate for the inconvenience.

      We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Ms. ******* Our Learner Success Team wishes her the best in all of her future endeavors. At Penn Foster College, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students.? 

      Sincerely, 
      ******* E 
      Learner Success Specialist 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 03/08/2025

      [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,

      ******* ******

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/12/2025

      Type:Service or Repair 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 cancelled my course and was supposed to get a refund of $209, so far I have only received part of it. I was told that I would be receiving $79 more of the refund but still waiting for it to hit my card. I'm still not receiving the full amount as they still me the rest. When I try to contact the school I get treated hatefully. I get told that it will take 30 days, it only took two days for the first part of the refund. I want the rest of the money owed to me.

      Business Response

      Date: 02/24/2025

      To Whom It May Concern,

      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Ms. ***** concerns. Ms. **** officially enrolled in the Certified Wedding Planner Program with Penn Foster College on February 1, 2024, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements.  
      Our IT team is processing the refund once again and will ensure it is successful. As an alternative, a check can be mailed. I have personally followed up with Ms. **** to open a direct path for communication and any further questions or concerns.

      We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Ms. ***** Our Learner Success Team wishes Ms. **** the best in all of her future endeavors. At Penn Foster College, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students.? 

      Sincerely, 
      ******* E 
      Learner Success Specialist 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/26/2025

      Penn Foster contacted me through my email and are sending me my refund through the mail because they say they can't put it on my card for some reason. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/26/2025

      [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,

      ********* ****

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/11/2025

      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.
      Shortly before completing their Sterile Technician course, I received notification I would have to put in ************************************** I would lose the license. They are not accredited with any hospitals so I would have to find my own externship site. I found a local hospital willing to do it, but for insurance purposes they require a letter from the school stating when the program is complete and that I would need an externship. This hospital regularly does externships for another school and did not mind including me. Penn Foster refuses to supply any sort of documentation to assist me with placement. Without that letter, I cannot do an externship so the money I spent on this program was wasted. If I want to continue, I will have to pay to take the course elsewhere. I really feel like I was totally ripped off by this school.

      Business Response

      Date: 02/12/2025

      To Whom It May Concern:? 
       
      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Ms. ****** concerns. Ms. ***** officially enrolled in the Sterile Processing Program with Penn Foster College on June 8, 2024, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements.  

      It is important to note that the Sterile Processing certification is not a mandatory requirement for graduation from our program.Once a student has paid in full and successfully completed the program, they are eligible to sit for the ***** exam with HSPA.

      Additionally, Penn Foster Group does not arrange sites for students to complete the required 400 hours of clinical experience, as this is not part of our curriculum. Students are able to graduate from our program without having passed the certification exam.

      We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Ms. ****** Our Learner Success Team wishes her the best in all of her future endeavors. At Penn Foster College, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students.? 

      Sincerely, 
      ******* E 
      Learner Success Specialist 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/14/2025

      [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: 22926900

      I am rejecting this response because:
      I am not asking them to find a sight for the externship for me. I have found a site. But hospitals cannot accept me for an externship without a letter from the school stating I need the externship due to their insurance qualifications. And the license I am now eligible to test for will expire without a 400 hour externship completed within 6 months of taking the test.  I have the site. I simply need a letter stating I have completed the course and am qualified for an externship. 

      Regards,

      **** *****








      Business Response

      Date: 02/25/2025

      To whom it may concern,

      Ms. ***** has not yet completed her program and still has outstanding tasks for completion; therefore, we are unable to provide the letter as requested as this time. Ms. ******* instructor will be reaching out tomorrow morning to assist with the questions related to their outstanding course requirements.

      Thank you,

      *******

      Learner Success Accommodations Specialist

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/26/2025

      [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: 22926900

      I am rejecting this response because:  Penn Fosters response does not make any sense. In the alert I received that stated I needed to complete the externship, they recommend that you start the externship early and not wait until the program is complete. With that statement, they should be willing to issue the letter even though the course is not totally completed. I am hesitant to take the final test until this is resolved because once that final test is done, my 6 month timer starts.  It states in the program I encourage students to begin applying for employment in the sterile processing field as they are working through or nearing completion of the course. My paper is done and just needs to be submitted. Then I have the final test, which I assume will be followed by information on where to take the actual sterile processing test. By their own statement, it is time to start lining up an external ship, but they repeatedly refuse to provide any documentation to assist me in this. If they agree to provide documentation, I will finish the course immediately so the letter can be issued. But so far every single response from them has been stating they flat will not provide a letter no matter what is done.


      Regards,

      **** *****








      Business Response

      Date: 02/28/2025

      To whom it may concern,

      Please see the attached letter created by our team for Ms. ****** as requested. Again, we do apologize for any frustration this situation may have caused. I am pleased to have seen this issue through to a resolution. We will continue to support Ms. ***** and wish her continued success as she progresses throughout her program with us.

      Thank you,

      *******

      Learner Success Accommodations Specialist

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/06/2025

      Type:Product 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.
      In 2022 we enrolled our daughter (***** ****** student ID # ******** or *********** into the Penn foster high school program and paid her bill in full.This past September she decided she wanted to try and go back to public school. I called Pennfoster and withdrew her from the program.They told me because she did not finish the program that I would be receiving a refund of $333.00, I still to this day never received anything from Pennfoster.Three weeks later my daughter was severely bullied in the public school and wanted to go back to doing Pennfoster. I called Pennfoster and got her enrolled once again so she could pickup where she left off. I was then told she would have a balance of $333.00. They told me when I received the refund check I could apply it to her account,but the check never came.They have now locked my daughter out of her account and she can not resume her courses.I have suggested to them to cancel the check they claim to have sent and just apply it to her account.I have called 20+ times,sent emails and have been on the phone for hours.I put in requests for a supervisor to call me back and they dont. I told them I was going to file a complaint with the BBB and that didnt get me anywhere either.I hope you can help.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/12/2025

      I was able to resolve the issue with Penn Foster. I would like to withdraw my complaint.

      Thank you

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:02/03/2025

      Type:Service or Repair 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 pennfoster orginal student number is M190513L95, I have been sick terminally ill, which I couldn't finish my tuition, the tuition was paid off for in full, and I just had to complete it, but due to being ill and having a disability, I was focus on health due to mentally I wasn't able to function fully, when I started recovering where I can do normal duties, they had an update on their site thay effected me and other people from getting access to the program, I wasn't able to use it any more and was locked out, I was advise by ******, that I was locked out due to the update they had and I needed to reenroll into there new system, all my credits will be transferred and I wouldn't have any responsibility to the new tuition due to my old tuition being paid, this is a program if, I work and learn on my own time, and due to me being sick, it was work on their own time and now I'm being scammed out of 1000 and something dollars for a tuition thay was already paid for, the agents aren't trying to help correct the situation and only transferring me to other people and the task haven't been done, as I speak today 02/03/2025, nothing was transfered over I clouding my credits which was just transferred today because I was calling about the balance I'm seeing I'm owing and they didn't even process the transferr for credits on the day I got reenrolled on 01/06/2025, I have email stating that the balance will be paid in full and credits will be adjusted for what I finished on the old tuition. The new student ID is **********. I need thisbto be corrected. I'm being scammed for another $1,349.00 on top of retaking courses I took already. If I didn't call about it it would of never been corrected and also correcting the balance. It's not my fault they updated they system and cause me to be locked out of my program when I still had time to finish it.

      Business Response

      Date: 02/12/2025

      To Whom It May Concern:? 
       
      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Mr. *************** Mr. ****** officially enrolled in the Penn Foster High School Program on January 6, 2025, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements.  

      I have reviewed the previous account Mr. ****** has mentioned and confirmed the account was paid in full, however the account had reached Maximum Allowable Time which is a hard stop in our system and requires a new enrollment. We give our students 6 years to complete the program, and ********* had exhausted that timeframe. Due to the incorrect information given, we have honored that Mr. ******* new enrollment also be considered paid in full.Please consider this as official notice that Mr. ******* account balance has been dropped.

      We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Mr. ******* Our Learner Success Team wishes him continued success as he progresses throughout the program. At Penn Foster High School, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students.

      Sincerely, 
      ******* E 
      Learner Success Specialist 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/31/2025

      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.
      I enrolled through PENN foster to a dental assistant course. I have had reached out to them numerous times to cancel my course because I no longer interested in the program. They denied and said couldnt do so. So they offered for me to pay just the ones I was able to do. They never adjusted my payment and never responded to my email.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/04/2025

      Hello,

       

      I have attached a screenshot of proof that I replied to their message. I reached out to them more than twice and even called couple times but no response or call back from them. 

       

      Thank you.

      Business Response

      Date: 02/05/2025

      To whom it may concern:

      I am grateful for the opportunity to address Ms. **************** Ms. ******* officially enrolled in the Dental Assistant Program with Penn Foster College on August 12, 2024, by completing and submitting a signed enrollment agreement and fulfilling the necessary down payment requirements.

      Ms. ******* requested to cancel her enrollment via email on November 27, 2024 and our team responded promptly, that same day, to advise ********** of her outstanding liability and requested confirmation to continue with the cancellation. When our team receives a cancellation email, it is our policy to inform the students of their remaining balance and to request a response confirming that they understand the outstanding liability and still wish to proceed with the cancellation. Although we did receive a response from **********, it did not confirm that they understood their remaining balance or that they still wished to continue with the cancellation. Regardless, we have processed the cancellation as requested.

      As mentioned by the Learner Success Advocate in the original email response to Ms. ******* request to cancel, we have honored the outstanding liability amount. Additionally, in an effort to demonstrate goodwill and address any inconvenience, the balance has been reduced by 25%.
      We sincerely regret the inconvenience and frustration this has caused Ms. ******** Our Learner Success Team wishes her continued success in all of her future endeavors. At Penn Foster College, we are dedicated to the educational advancement and overall satisfaction of all our students.

      Sincerely,
      ******* E
      Learner Success Specialist

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/10/2025

      [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: 22885397

      I am rejecting this response because: They have sent the amount to the debt collector, and now I owe them over $700. I need an explanation of this, and I will not tolerate this.


      Regards,

      **** Ann *******************************************

      Business Response

      Date: 02/12/2025

      To whom it may concern, 

      I have reached out to Ms. ******* directly via email to provide documentation and clarity surrounding her concerns related to her account balance. We are committed to the overall satisfaction of our learners. 

      Thank you,

      *******

      Learner Success Accommodations Specialist

      Customer Answer

      Date: 02/13/2025

      [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,

      **** Ann ***************

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