Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  09/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled in a course titled ************************* ****** of ********** Becoming a Teacher of Presence that took place from May 21st 2023 through October 2023. I enrolled through Eckhart Teachings, which is a Sounds True business. I have a similar complaint to another complainant that I saw for this business -- they don't allow any refunds after the first day that the course has begun and you cannot see the content beforehand.I enrolled in a payment plan to pay for this course, which was six installments of $189, and that added up to a total of ******* Early into this course, I realized that I did not get anything out of the online format of the course because I prefer to interact with people in-person. I had never done a course like this, and I realized that it is not for me. There were also many Community Meditation classes offered with this course, but they were always at either 12:00 PM or 4:00 PM Central Time weekdays. I could not attend any of these because I am always working in-person at this time.On July 19, 2023 I got in touch with the company's customer service and requested disenrollment and a refund. The responses from the company were extremely short and it sounded like I was being responded to by a chatbot. The response was to simply repeat the refund policy (no refunds after the course begins) and then not discuss the issue whatsoever.I am disappointed that the **************** was so poor. I got the feeling that my experience with the course didn't matter whatsoever once my money had been paid. If I don't benefit from the course, I believe that I should be refunded (which is the policy on the specific Sounds True webpage).I got in touch with my credit card company and was refunded half of the money I paid for this course. Sounds True disenrolled me from the course on 9/15/2023 (which is what I wanted), but refused to refund the remaining $567 that I had paid. I would like to be refunded the remaining $567.00 to my credit card.

  Business response

  10/11/2023

  Dear ******, 

  
  We are sorry you were not satisfied with our customer service around your refund request and overall experience of ********** of ********* course. Please know Eckhart Teachings and Sounds True are not the same company. ******* Teachings works with various vendors, including Sounds True, for live events, and we helped manage the ****** of *********.  As you stated, our records show you purchased ********** of ********* from Eckhart Teachings, and the order confirmation reflects you selected the payment plan option for six payments for $189 on March 7, 2023, at 9:40 p.m. 

  
  We are sorry to hear you feel this program is not for you, and that your schedule has not permitted you to attend the Community Meditation Classes. We also understand that you are unhappy with the return policy. To be fully transparent and ensure participants understand that in order to get a refund they must disenroll before attending classes, the dates to disenroll, and the refund policy for ********** of *********, our team lists this information in multiple locations: the website, the *** section, the checkout page before entering credit card information, and on the emails you received. 
  These images are noted below. From the records we have, it shows that you attended class and received access to the course materials. If you did not attend any classes and feel that you have satisfied the return conditions, please feel free to contact me directly at ************ or ************************. 

  
  ***
  See attachment

  
  Checkout Page
  See attachment

  
  Below is the Marketing Email sent and opened on February 16, 2023.
  See attachment

  
  We hope this helps give you the information you need and thank you for reaching out to us.  

  
  

  Customer response

  10/19/2023

  I attempted to contact this business through their e-mail address (as listed in their response), and they never responded to me. I missed the 7 day deadline to respond here on the BBB site, but I am dissatisfied with their response. I do not feel like they stand behind their products and I am unhappy with the business overall

• Initial Complaint

  06/05/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I bought a number of "courses" on SoundsTrue. The most expensive ($267) being "The Science of Medical Intuition," by *************************; an author who's work I have followed for many years.Upon starting the course, and the others I bought, I discovered that it was falsely advertised. It states that "******** and ****" will introduce us to our intuitive gifts through "personal instruction." It states a list of how we will go about accessing these 'gifts' within ourselves, saying we will get "in depth training sessions with ******** and ****." The list of what the course includes goes on and on, and is not remotely accurate - I'd love to break it all down here and then state was is provided instead, but alas there are not enough characters available to me in this box! The course is a series of videos and voice recordings, dating back 3+ decades in some cases, many of which are outdated, even by ***************************** standards. There is no "personal instruction." There are no "in depth training sessions." The order of the videos and voice recordings is also chaotic and disconnected. I was so disappointed in this and the other courses. I haven't completed any of them, because none of them were teaching what they stated they were teaching and I was saddened by the false advertising and slap-dash, cash-cow mentality of this site. A friend then told me to ask for my money back, which I didn't realize I could do. So I did, and some were refunded, but the ************************* one was not refunded because it was "past the refund time." I would like a refund, but if I'm not able I at least want people to know that they will not be getting what they paid for. As an example, "The Late *******" "course" by *********************************** - this is just a copy of the audiobook and a couple of recordings of ******** talking. THERE IS NO COURSE. You're paying double for an Audiobook you could buy on Audible. Incredibly disappointing.Furthermore, this course is now advertised for $97.

  Business response

  06/07/2023

  Dear *********, 

  We have a very generous refund policy.  We unconditionally guarantee your satisfaction with Sounds True products for up to one year when purchased from Sounds True, excluding Sounds True One memberships, events, and in-depth programs, which are subject to unique refund policies as outlined below. If a Sounds True product fails to meet your expectation for any reason, simply contact Sounds True customer service for a refund. For items purchased from Sounds True that are manufactured by other companies, we indicate the warranty period in the product description. 

  The Science of Medical Intuition was purchased on March 6, 2022 and we received your refund request on June 4, 2023.  After the one year, the system will reject a refund request.  I'm sorry you were not aware of our refund policy but we do have this information posted in multiple locations on our website as well as in the emails about this program.  In reviewing your order history, I do show we honored your refund request for the 4 other items that were still within the one year and 4 separate refunds were issued on June 4, 2023.  These purchases were made between August 2022 - November 2022.  

  There are a variety of companies such as Audible who do sell our products digitally. Due to various promotions, some products may be less expensive to buy from Audible and we encourage our customers to choose the option that works best for them.  At the same time, there are also products which may have the same title but one is an audio product and the other is an online course.  We offer full descriptions on all of our products so customers can choose what works best for them based on time, budget, and learning style.  

   

   

   

   

  Customer response

  06/09/2023

   
  Complaint: 20147135
  
  
  Thank you for your response.  It's a shame that I had to use this service in order to get my concerns read.

  As explained in my message, my main concern is that you are falsely advertising your "courses," the act of which is strictly prohibited under ********** law.  Saying something is a course, when there is no course at all. Saying that there will be "personal instruction" and "in depth training sessions," when there aren't.  I'm concerned and upset that a company providing content in the genre that yours is, is not honest and is not providing what has been advertised and paid for.  

  Yes, you do indeed have a very generous refund policy, that I had somehow spaced on.  That's my fault, for sure.  However, seeing that a $267 "course" is now on $97 ("reduced from $149") is somewhat galling, and a refund of the different ($170) would be very welcome.

  Regards

  *********

*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. ↩