Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Tribune Training Academy Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Tribune Training Academy Inc.

  3501 Queens Blvd Long Island City, NY 11101-1740

  
• 

  Tribune Training Academy Inc.

  4038 75th St Elmhurst, NY 11373-1012

  

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:05/15/2024

  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.

  I paid for training services in advance and I no longer need the services or intend to continue pursuing these training services. I want my money refunded. The date of the transaction was 02/23/2024. Sales I.D. # ****. Transaction I.D. ;: ************. Auth I.D. : ******. The total amount paid to Tribune Training Academy Inc. was $404.04. The services paid for but not rendered are the Security Guard Training Program - $295.00. The **03 Fireguard Training Program- $95.00. Taxes $14.04. I want a full refund for the training services paid for but not rendered. I contacted Tribune Training Academy multiple times to try to resolve this issue and their response was that they are not going to refund me my money because it was too late according to a refund policy that I was unaware of and not informed of prior to or during my payment transaction to the company. This refund policy was not on the website, which is where I received all my information about the company. Nor did the secretary explain this to me when I called to make the payment based on the information from the website. They also proceeded to tell me to contact my bank and try to get my money back that way. When I contacted my bank about the issue, the first thing they asked me was "did I authorize the transaction?" Making it clear to me disputing the transaction will result in a freeze of my account and a fraud investigation. Tribune Training Academy Inc. refuses to refund me my money, and is trying to force me to take the training courses.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 05/15/2024

  ******* asked for a refund after the course date has passed. When a student books a course, it is a legal agreement between the student and the school to complete the program during scheduled hours. Should the student want to cancel the program prior to start of the program, we can accommodate the student, however not after the course date has passed. 100% of the refund should not be issued and nor should any special accommodation be made after the course date has passed. These are NYS ********** of ***** guidelines for Security Guard Training programs. However, we still tried accommodating him by rescheduling him for another date at no additional cost, he agreed to make it to the program and once again no show. Few days after, once again asked for a refund. Because of our attempt to accommodate him, we were unable to book other students who were interested in the course. It is unfair for the school to continue to book a student and the student keeps on asking for refund after the course date has passed. We tried explaining the situation to him throughly and that it's not about the refund, it's about what's fair.

  We have to be fair to all our students, issuing a refund after the course date would go against our ethical policy.

  Here is a description of the ********** of ***** Guidelines which are set for all Security Guard Training Schools. This can be found on the department of state website under security guard training school guidelines. 

  An approved security guard training school may retain no more than zero percent of the course fees if a student withdraws from the course before instruction begins or one hundred percent of the course fees if the termination occurs after instruction begins. In the event that such training course cannot be conducted within one eight hour session and the course is conducted in two four hour sessions within a seven day period, an approved security guard training school may retain no more than zero percent of the course fees if the student withdraws from the course before instruction begins; or fifty percent of the course fees if the termination occurs after the commencement of the first four hour session, but before instruction begins for the second four hour session; or one hundred percent of the course fees if the termination occurs after instruction begins for the second four hour session.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/16/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  I was not aware of the reason that tribune training academy states is the reason why I can not be refunded my money in full when I contacted the company. I was not made aware of this and should have been informed of this as I made the payment transaction. It was not included on the website or explained to me. I paid for  training services in advance that I did not receive, that I no longer need and do not intend to follow through with. All calls made in attempt to cancel, the company made me feel like I had no option but to take the training because I was not getting my money back. This issue is not resolved due to the fact I have not been refunded my money in full for services that were never rendered.

   

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************
  
  
  
  
   
  

  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/21/2024

  As mentioned before, *************************** paid for training to sit through a session which he missed. After the course date has passed, he contacted us asking for a refund. We have explained to him our refund policy and that a refund cannot be issued because the course date has already passed, however as a one time courtesy, we will allow him to sit through another session at no extra charge. *************************** agreed to this and scheduled a second session date to complete his program. He did not attend the second session as well. After the second session has passed, he contacted us claiming a refund and that he was not aware of our refund policy. The refund policy has been clearly explained to him but he refuses to comply. He refuses to understand the policy through the staff who had explained it several times and requested to speak to myself MD *****. I had explained to him that there is nothing that can be done at this point because, it's not a matter of the money he paid but about being fair. We must treat each and every one of our students fairly, we cannot conduct any favoritism and treat any students favorably. Therefore, the refund policy will remain in effect and a refund cannot be issued. He then advised me that he will take the matter to BBB if I cannot issue the refund. Recently, he also disputed his credit card transaction to which we have provided evidence of charge along with explanation of our refund policy.

  As a matter of fact, due to the fact that we had enrolled *************************** in our classrooms, we were unable to register additional students because his name was taking up the space. As a courtesy, we had done this a second time, same result. So, we lost two seats, trying to accommodate him. This cost us business, which is unfair for Tribune Training Academy.

  We run a fair business, a business where it is fair both for our students, faculty and the organization itself. Issuing him a refund would be unethical. I truly believe that this refund should not be issued and by me having to justify this with BBB and spending my precious time because *************************** decided to be irresponsible and not show up to his scheduled class, is extremely unfair for me. I request that BBB look into this matter in all fairness.