ComplaintsforThinkful, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  03/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  This is my second complaint. I am writing to express my deep disappointment and frustration with the response received regarding the ongoing dispute regarding my enrollment in the Thinkful software engineering program. It is evident that there has been a significant misunderstanding or oversight on your part, as your response fails to address the serious issues I have raised.Despite my detailed explanation of the numerous breaches of contract and failures on the part of Thinkful to provide the promised services, your response continues to assert Thinkful's rights without acknowledging the validity of my claims. This dismissive attitude is unacceptable and further compounds the distress I have experienced throughout this ordeal.I want to emphasize that this is not a matter of asserting rights, but rather seeking accountability for the harm inflicted upon me as a result of Thinkful's actions. Your failure to acknowledge and address the issues raised in my previous communication only reinforces my belief that my concerns are not being taken seriously.I implore you to reconsider your stance and engage in a meaningful dialogue to address the substantive issues at hand. Ignoring the valid concerns of a paying customer is not only unethical but also detrimental to your reputation and credibility as an institution.I urge you to prioritize this matter and provide a comprehensive response that demonstrates a genuine commitment to resolving the issues raised. Anything less would be a disservice to both myself and the integrity of your organization.I expect to receive a prompt and substantive response that reflects the seriousness of this situation. Failure to do so will leave me with no choice but to pursue further action to seek redress for the injustices I have endured.

  Customer response

  03/13/2024

  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 and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was promised that by the end of the program I would qualify for jobs that I am just not qualified for. Nevermind the inaccuracy in their promises, the changing of the curriculum, and the long hours with their experts simply trying to figure out why their solutions to my problems werent working. I have not been perfect. But their promises were far from reality, so its hard for me to feel good about my experience.As far as what I want, I want my tuition refunded, or a significant portion taken off with lower monthly payments. I want them to stop advertising and promising jobs, promising refunds for people who they later say are not qualified.

  Customer response

  02/19/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Thinkful, Inc. regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************
  

  Business response

  02/26/2024

  *****-  We reviewed your account with us, and your enrollment transpired as expected. The qualifications for the Tuition Refund Guarantee (***) were presented to you in the Enrollment Agreement and the Course Catalog. You were ineligible for the *** because you live more than a one-hour commuting distance of one of the "Approved Cities." A one-hour commuting distance is defined as no more than a 60-minute-long rush hour commute to city center for an arrival by 9:00 am. We also reviewed your interactions with our technical support team and observed only three instances out of 29 chats where we were unable to resolve your problem. Lastly, in August 2023, one month after your graduation, you stopped engaging with your assigned Career Coach. Although you were ineligible for the ***, you still had access to a Career Coach for six months after graduation. Given the observed reasons, we will not be issuing a full nor a partial refund and consider this matter closed.  

• Initial Complaint

  11/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I attended the Thinkful Data Analytics bootcamp program. I didnt get the job as promised and still was left with the school loan balance despite them making a tuition free guarantee. My next step is to contact my lawyer in getting my tuition refunded through the court system. I contacted Thinkful to let them know I didnt get the job that would meet the criteria and while still unemployed never being able to find a data analyst job as promised here I was stuck with this school debt that didnt benefit me in the slightest. No job. Thousands of applications. No help. No tuition forgiveness. Trying to rebuild my life in another career since this effort was fruitless.

  Business response

  11/28/2023

  *******-  

  We received an email from you on June 14, 2022 noting a change in your job status after having accepted a qualifying role. We were given no detail regarding why the status changed, and therefore shared that you were no longer eligible for the Tuition Refund Guarantee due to you receiving an offer and accepting a qualifying role. At that time, we also offered to connect you with a Career Coach to continue your search. This was our last contact with you. Our records indicate you willingly chose to no longer engage with your Careers team in any job search activity beginning in June 2022. We have reviewed the *********** assigned to you as a part of the job search, and have noted only 1 job tracked. We have no record of any attempt you made to continue in your search.  
  Despite your ineligibility for the Tuition Refund Guarantee, we are unable to consider any partial refund due to lack of contact with your Careers team post-graduation and lack of documented search activity.  

  Thinkful Advanced Student Support

• Initial Complaint

  11/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This is actually my 2nd complaint about Thinkful. I decided not to pursue my intial claim and renroll in the program. I renrolled in July of 2023. I only had a few modules to complete. I completed my final portfolio a day or so after the due date. The school states they never received it and I sent an email asking saying it had been submitted and to review it. They have decided not to and for the 2nd time, I've done the work and have not been able to complete the course.

  Business response

  11/07/2023

  ******- 
  
  On October 3, ****************************************************************************************** case there had been any updates made from the previous version sent September 22, 2023. In this email we offered to have our grading team review the portfolio and provide you with feedback. Based on your efforts to learn and complete the course, we wanted to reach a compromise regarding your status and eligibility for certificate. We followed up again on October 5, 2023, but have yet to receive the final version of the portfolio. 
  
  You can still send your final version to us directly for review and next steps. 

  Sincerely, 

  Thinkful Advanced Student Support

• Initial Complaint

  09/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I began taking a Thinkful UX/UI course at the beginning on 2022. I did the flex course while working a full time job at the same time. I chose the flex course because I was working a full time job and also did the tuition deferment program because wanted to be eligible for TRG because I didn't want to pay $12k if I wasn't going to get a job. After I graduated, I met with my career coach once and we briefly went over a few things. After a month, he informed me he was leaving Thinkful. Then I had another career coach and she ended up leaving Thinkful. Then another career coach. Luckily that was my last one. I was originally informed that my career coaches would be in touch with me and would also be helping to make sure that I was still qualified for TRG. I was also informed that the academic success team would let me know and issue warnings if I wasn't eligible for TRG. I was told that I had 3 chances and then would no longer be eligible. I was only ever issued 1 warning, and after that I made sure to stay on top of everything. Then when I was done with the course, I applied for reimbursement and they told me no! My job search had also been extended to 9 months because of the recession. So after their failure to provide me with good service, I have to pay $12000! It says the the academic success team will issue 3 warnings and I was only ever issued 1, therefore they failed to provide me with the service they promised. I was working a full time job and need the extra help and reminders that the flex course promised. They are profiting off of people trying to make a living. I also saw that now their website says that you have to have at least 2 years of experience in UX/UI to even apply for the course now when that wasn't a requirement before. I feel scammed and turned off from UX/UI after this. I put over a year of work in and I get nothing back and now I have to pay $12k when I was not provided the service I was promised. I would like a refund.

  Business response

  10/12/2023

  *******, 
   
  Our team sent you an email on August 22, 2022, outlining the expectations to remain eligible to receive the tuition refund. In this email, we included information on how to set up your *********** for tracking purposes, a FAQ tuition refund eligibility guide and video library of the most asked questions pertaining to the tuition refund guidelines, instructional videos on how to track both your job and networking events in *****, and a deadline for when your job and networking tracking in ***** needed to be completed by each week and each month. 
   
  We do have documentation from your *********** that you attended at least 5 networking events for ***** and May of 2023. However, we do not have documentation from ***** that you attended at least 5 networking events for the months of September 2022, October 2022, November 2022, December 2022, January 2023, February 2023, or March 2023. When asked for records of the networking events for the missing months, you have yet to produce any documentation for us to review. 

  All students in the ******* Services period are responsible for tracking and ensuring their eligibility. A full review of a students job search activity and ***** board only takes place at the end of the ****** Services Period. Any review or warnings regarding a students Tuition Refund Guarantee prior to official review does not confirm eligibility.  Since we do not have documentation you attended at least 5 networking events for 7 months of your ******* Services Period, you are not eligible for the Tuition Refund Guarantee.  

  -Thinkful Advanced Student Support 

  Business response

  10/12/2023

  *******, 
   
  Our team sent you an email on August 22, 2022, outlining the expectations to remain eligible to receive the tuition refund. In this email, we included information on how to set up your *********** for tracking purposes, a FAQ tuition refund eligibility guide and video library of the most asked questions pertaining to the tuition refund guidelines, instructional videos on how to track both your job and networking events in *****, and a deadline for when your job and networking tracking in ***** needed to be completed by each week and each month. 
   
  We do have documentation from your *********** that you attended at least 5 networking events for ***** and May of 2023. However, we do not have documentation from ***** that you attended at least 5 networking events for the months of September 2022, October 2022, November 2022, December 2022, January 2023, February 2023, or March 2023. When asked for records of the networking events for the missing months, you have yet to produce any documentation for us to review. 

  All students in the ******* Services period are responsible for tracking and ensuring their eligibility. A full review of a students job search activity and ***** board only takes place at the end of the ****** Services Period. Any review or warnings regarding a students Tuition Refund Guarantee prior to official review does not confirm eligibility.  Since we do not have documentation you attended at least 5 networking events for 7 months of your ******* Services Period, you are not eligible for the Tuition Refund Guarantee.  

  -Thinkful Advanced Student Support 

  Business response

  10/17/2023

  *******, 
   
  Attached we have included the enrollment agreement you signed March 1, 2022 agreeing to the policies, terms, and conditions of your enrollment. Starting on page 5 of the agreement, is the full outline of the Tuition Refund Policy denoting all expectations that must be met to be eligible throughout the program and career services period. You were in possession of this agreement since your enrollment and initialed you read and understood each page of the agreement. 

  We have also included the welcome email sent to you on August 31, 2022 again detailing the requirements for remaining eligible through the career services period. Including the expectation to track "10 job applications per week and 5 networking events per month" on Huntr.  There is no indication in the email nor the policy that warning emails were a promised part of the resources provided. 
   
  Since we do not have documentation, you attended at least 5 networking events for 7 months of your ******* Services Period, you are not eligible for the Tuition Refund Guarantee.  Given the above reasons and documents provided, we consider this matter closed.

  Sincerely, 

  Thinkful Advanced Student Support 

  Customer response

  10/18/2023

  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:

  Every link that I was sent says 404 not found when I click on it so of course Im unable to find anything. 
  

  regardless, if Im paying $12,000 for the education that I received and have no job then it wasnt worth it. I didnt get the support that I received and I was definitely scammed as was everyone else in my position. I had 3 separate career coaches, all of which didnt help me find a job. I wasnt offered the flexibility I was promised. It does say in my email that eligibility is checked every Monday so how come no one made sure I was following the guidelines? How come no one reached out to me? Was eligibility checked everyday Monday? If so, did you just want me to lose out on $12,000? How come the academic success team didnt reach out and say, hey we noticed you didnt log 5 events last week, and since we care about your success we want to make sure youre following the guidelines? Or was eligibility just not checked at all? How come I got a warning after 5 months when I was no longer eligible? Thats not a warning. After I received a warning I followed all the rules. Obviously I needed the reminder since I was already working a job that requires 40+ hours a week on top of job searching. I was promised flexibility and I wasnt given that at all. I was promised and it was advertised that I would have so much support and I didnt even get that. As a person looking to change careers I was expecting much more support and I needed guidance and I wasnt given that. If my eligibility was checked then did you guys just not care ?? How come I didnt get a warning right away?? It doesnt make sense. I should and I deserve a refund for the lack of support that I received. You advertise supper and you advertise flexibility on your website and that was not what I received. Support is reaching out after the first week of month of ineligibility not after the course is nearly over. How is that fair? Its not 
  

   

   

   

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

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

• Initial Complaint

  08/29/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Well I was enrolled in a bootcamp called Thinkful back in December 2022 for Data Analytics where if you complete the whole program you well land a high paying job within the tech field and you well pay the whole $15k or more in tuition. I decided to research more about the company and they were negative reviews about the company coming from students on BBB.org, ******* and TrustPilot stating that this school is a scam and provided false information about ************ it was misrepresentation in false information! I decided to dropped out because I was misrepresented by false information provided by Thinkful. Because Thinkful states if theres a misrepresentation then they will refund you the whole amount. I dropped out in January 2023 and contacted Thinkful for a full refund instead they are refusing me to provide me a refund and added me to the block list where they dont contact you. Majority of jobs in the tech field requires you to have a bachelors degree with many years of experience and Thinkful lied about job outcomes! Im currently doing online college to earn my bachelors degree in cybersecurity and the tuition is way cheaper than Thinkful! Also I reported Thinkful to the ************************************ for misrepresentation!

  Business response

  09/15/2023

  Dear ******, 
   
  Per your request, you were withdrawn from the course on December 27, 2022, and your refund was administered per the standard Thinkful policy. You completed 9 modules, which brings your total owed to $2,758.05 (not including fees/interest).  Per our communications with you, after a thorough review of your account, we have determined there would be no exception to our refund policy.  

  We have discovered no misrepresentation regarding your enrollment with us. You enrolled November 30, 2022, after withdrawing from a previous enrollment just earlier that month (November 23, 2023). We show activity on your account and contact between you and your assigned mentor until your request for withdrawal December 27, 2023. It was communicated to you that based on the resources utilized and course materials completed while enrolled, you would only receive a partial refund. The course experience transpired as expected for your enrollment without challenge or hinderance to the course or learning progress.  
   
  We cannot discuss any reviews or the circumstances surrounding them due to privacy concerns for our students and staff. As we have not found any misrepresentation of the services provided to you during your time with us, we consider this matter closed.  
   
  Best, 
  Thinkful Advanced Student Support  

  Customer response

  09/20/2023

  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:

  [Your Answer Here]

   It states Thinkful will provide a full refund if theres misrepresentation. Thinkful is not providing me a refund. Also students are complaining about this issue!  

   

   

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

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

• Initial Complaint

  08/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled in Thinkful by *****'s coding BootCamp, I chose that specific one due to the placement rates and tuition refund guarantee. I was weeks from completing the BootCamp and Hurricane *** ravaged the west coast of ******* (where I live) and destroyed personal property including my laptop. There was a strict graduation deadline or else my tuition refund guarantee was null and void. I reached out to ***** informing them that my laptop was destroyed and there was no way I could complete the BootCamp by the deadline, and that I needed an extension. Reminder this was a natural disaster with an entire FEMA response and emergency level. They gave me a form to fill and sign to ***** me an extension, little did I know that I would still be nullifying the tuition refund guarantee. They knew the extent, and direness of my situation and they tricked me into signing something waiving me of the possibility to financially recovering from a loan that is impossible to pay off. They emailed me after I graduated and said that the deadline for tuition refund was extended. The deadline they said I was no longer eligible for, so I didn't do any of the steps to ensure I was eligible for it. I reached out last week after the extended tuition refund period ended, and tried to get it canceled knowing their obvious and many violations of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act or Section 5 of the *** Act. They bounced and jerked me around between the loan servicer and their management and have basically ignored all of my complaints. Now I am stuck with a predatory loan, and I know the ***** school has a similar case against them. Its wrong what they're doing.

  Business response

  09/15/2023

  Dear ****-  
  We cannot discuss any reviews or the circumstances surrounding them due to privacy concerns for our students and staff. We cannot discuss any pending legal actions regarding any other bootcamp.  

  You were enrolled in the Engineering Immersion course June 27, 2022, and graduated January 2, 2023. This was a full 2 months after the expected end date of November 15, 2022, due to a natural disaster (hurricane) and accommodation approval. On January 6, 2023, we confirmed you were Tuition Refund Guarantee (***) eligible entering the ****** Services Period despite the extended program length that typically would have disqualified you from being eligible to receive that benefit. You responded in acknowledgment of receipt regarding the *** email on January 7, 2023.  

  To remain eligible for the *** benefit, a student must adhere to the job search expectations (e.g., x # of job applications a week, x # of networking events, etc.) through the ****** Services Period. You did not adhere to any of the requirements and thus lost the *** benefit within the first month of your ****** Services Period. We have no record, and you have not produced documentation of any job search activity.  

  Since you chose to not actively participate in careers coaching and did not adhere to the expectations set forth in our *** policy for the job search, you forfeited your eligibility for a tuition refund. Given the aforementioned observations, we consider this matter closed. 
  
  Best, 
  Thinkful Advanced Student Support 

• Initial Complaint

  08/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I enrolled in Thinkfuls UX/UI Design Program March 29, 2023. I paid upfront and am requesting a full refund of $11850.00 as Thinkful has misrepresented their quality of service and company. I contacted them about this and was denied a refund.The contract stated A full refund of all tuition and fees is due in each of the following cases: If the students enrollment was procured as a result of any misrepresentation in advertising, promotional materials of the school, or misrepresentations by the owner or representatives of Thinkful.Their website sells the mentorship as having the full support of your personal mentor, but I havent had a mentor meeting in 6 weeks due to poor infrastructure. The site advertises personalized career coaching and full-time career support from day 1. After 4 months I still have no career coach. Thinkful responded stating mentorship counts as career support but it is clearly advertised under career coaching as separate from mentorship.Mostly Thinkful oversells the curriculum. The website advertises getting familiar with key tools like Figma, Sketch, and Webflow. The program barely touches on Sketch and Webflow by outsourcing and sending you to sites outside Thinkful. Thinkful advertised we would work on real-world projects for a client and present to key stakeholders. This painted a picture that is not true. Thinkfuls response was resending the course curriculum, which further advertised operating within a team and an organization, which we never did. The lessons also become scattered and incoherent by reiterating things already taught and no longer having a cohesive flow from one topic to another.Lastly, they advertise an incorrect score on Credit Karma. This is a blatant example of Thinkful ignoring recent bad reviews and continuing to advertise an inaccurate version of themselves. I have held up my end of the contract in participating to my best ability. I ask they do the same and provide my full refund.

  Customer response

  08/24/2023

  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 and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  06/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Upon joining the Thinkful Data Analytics Immersion cohort of March 2022, I was excited to embark on a career changing journey, however, I was disappointed to find I was only wrong, for believing Thinkful would honor their tuition refund guarantee (***). The Thinkful Academic Affairs team did an egregious job of managing these expectations, where they sent me three notifications regarding losing my ***, stating if I did not comply to the job search component after the third time, I would possibly lose my ***. Despite the dismal job market, and immense tech layoffs, I kept pushing forward submitting applications and attending networking events. The week after Thanksgiving, when I entered my weekly job search within time to the partner board, *****, triggered a series of misleading replies from Thinkful. I was shocked that the next day I was sent an email stating I lost my ***. I followed up with the Academic Affairs team regarding this time zone mix up, and submitted screenshots of my log entries which clearly show this. No accountability was taken on the part of Thinkful. In fact they then stated I was in violation of my ***, after not completing networking events for August. However, there was no other notification regarding this particular issue beyond the three warning emails in August, so I believed this requirement was covered. I have no email prior to the Thanksgiving weekend email about my *** loss. If, according to Thinkful, the *** was no longer valid as of August, why was I not notified so I could rectify the situation? Why was I still prompted to complete the *********** logs? I do not believe this company cares about the welfare of its students, nor do their processes have integrity when dealing with clear systematic failure. I was supposed to have one-on-one mentorship from a professional in the industry, but after the second week, my mentor informed me they were leaving the role, and I would be reassigned. However this reassignment never happened.

  Business response

  06/15/2023

  We have reviewed your account in addition to your job search activity and unfortunately you did not adhere to the expectations we set forth in the Enrollment Agreement signed March 16, 2022. We sent you 3 warning emails on 8/1/2022, 8/8/2022, and 8/29/2022 when you dropped below the 10 jobs a week goal. The 8/29/2022 email stated if you dropped below again, you would lose your TRG status. On 11/28/2022 we logged the 4th instance of you not hitting the 10 jobs a week goal and removed your TRG eligibility.  

  We do not guarantee warnings or ongoing tracking for graduates. Graduates are responsible for all tracking in ***** and have the ability to review their board weekly/monthly. It is only after the request for refund is made after day 180 of the ****** Services Period that we officially review a graduates *********** for compliance and refund consideration. Upon your request for a review of your job search activity in its entirety, we noted no networking events were logged (nor documentation provided as substitute) for August 2022- when the requirement is 5 events monthly through the entire ****** Services Period. Because you exceeded the allowed 3 weeks below 10 jobs a week goal and did not track networking for a full month (August), you were no longer TRG eligible. 

  This is the first time we have noted a lack of mentorship at the end of your program and it is not the anticipated student experience. Although you continued to have technical support via your instructor and teaching assistants during the program, we would like to offer a reduction to your loan due to the absence of mentor support at the end of your program. This would reduce your deferred tuition loan from the original amount disbursed (fees and interest excluded). Your Living Expense totaling $7,500 will still be owed in its entirety.  

  We have provided you with all the information we have to help resolve this matter and if you would like to accept our offer, you can email us directly for next steps.  

  Customer response

  07/26/2023

  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:

  The business failed to address my complaint since they included information that was already discussed and confirmed regarding the fourth instance logged being invalid. This instance was determined to be invalid as of 12/5/2022, but they wanted to disqualify my refund on account of my networking event quota. However, the networking event quota was never brought up until they tried to disqualify my refund on the fourth instance being invalid. And the waiver emails they sent never mentioned the lack of networking events so there was no indication that this would disqualify me. And if it did disqualify me, I was never notified at the start of September when the networking event quota would be due. I understand paying for my living stipend loan, but with regards to the tuition, Thinkful failed to provide proper mentorship which was an outlined component, and with no guaranteed tracking of my job search how was this at all a supportive program to help graduates find employment? This was not the advertised program under Thinkful that I signed on for, and therefore I am still requesting a refund and additional information to close this complaint. 

   

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

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

  Business response

  07/27/2023

  TRG eligibility requirements were made available to you in your enrollment agreement (signed March 16, 2022), Course Catalog (linked in your orientation module- marked as read by you March 24, 2022), and again sent via email to you July 12, 2022 with a link to the policy. It was made clear the expectations required to maintain TRG eligibility in various resources denoted as having been reviewed by you throughout your time with us.  

  We do not guarantee warnings or ongoing tracking for graduates. Graduates are responsible for all tracking in ***** and have the ability to review their board weekly/monthly. It is only after the request for refund is made after day 180 of the ****** Services Period that we officially review a graduates *********** for compliance and refund consideration. Upon your request for a review of your job search activity in its entirety November 29, 2022, we noted no networking events were logged (nor documentation provided as substitute) for August 2022- when the requirement is 5 events monthly through the entire ****** Services Period. Because you exceeded the allowed 3 weeks below 10 jobs a week goal and did not track networking for a full month (August), you were no longer TRG eligible. 

  This is the first time we have noted a lack of mentorship at the end of your program and it is not the anticipated student experience, however you continued to have technical support via your instructor and teaching assistants until graduation. We would like to offer a reduction to your loan due to the absence of mentor support at the end of your program. This would reduce your deferred tuition loan from the original amount disbursed (fees and interest excluded). Your Living Expense totaling $7,500 will still be owed in its entirety.  

  We have provided you with all the information we have to help resolve this matter and if you would like to accept our offer, you can email us directly for next steps.  

• Initial Complaint

  05/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Dear BBB team, it's a pleasure to reach out to you regarding my journey trying to reach an ethical and feasible repayment consensus with Thinkful/Ascent, for which I have been ignored for months. Total debt: $21,506.78 INSTITUTION OWED: Thinkful by Chegg Loan provider/service: Ascent Funding Pay through ****** Services ACCOUNT: ********* - Lender Name: Barings Skills Lending Trust 1) LOAN: ****** Loan Type: Private Loan Current Principal Balance $12,664.47 Outstanding interest $725.00 Current Interest Rate 10.500%Monthly Payment Amount $467.74 2) LOAN ****** Current Principal Balance $7,466.78 Outstanding Interest $427.45 Current Interest Rate 10.500%Monthly Payment Amount$275.78 DETAILED STORY:The "Qualifying' role (more than $3333,33/mo) I landed on lasted from April to Oct 2022, unfortunately. Budget constraints affected 12 out of 60 employees (and this year, more to come). I have been more than 6 months looking for roles, and even if I find one, they should definitely consider being fair to their students, especially if they got us into the program with nearly a promise of a job guarantee. They don't have the 85% success rate from 2021. I believe my demographics (****** immigrant), the fact that I have been unemployed under a 'Qualifying role' for more than 250 days not because of my own choice should be more than enough consideration for them to settle with me. I know from first hand there are more students on the same boat and also from another one who landed a role after 6 months and she was forgiven ALL the tuition, except the living stipend. I'd like to have the same treatment as her. That should be fair. And that is up to Thinkful to decide. For more information, please review 'Additional Considerations' on this link: ********************************************************************** for taking a look at this application, if you need more details please let me know and I'd be glad to provide with more.Best wishes and best energy,*********************************

  Business response

  05/30/2023

  We appreciate you sharing your hardships. We sincerely recognize that the job search after a lay-off can be difficult and trying, particularly when coupled with the experiences that youve shared. It is our sincerest hope that you continue your job search as you are able, and that you land the job you desire in due time. We will not be canceling your loan agreement as you did secure a qualifying role within 6 months of graduating with our career team support. We sympathize with your circumstance and for this reason, we have been in touch with you directly regarding a potential resolution. Additionally, as your loan servicer has shared with you, in the event that you are having difficulties with the repayment of your loan, ************************ team is available to discuss your options for forbearance/deferment. We have provided you with all the information we have to help resolve this matter and believe this matter is now closed.

  Customer response

  05/31/2023

  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:

  The business is exercising full control of their Tuition Refund Guarantee without taking into account my individual freedom of choice nor taking responsability for their lack of leadership. The best thing they could have done is help me and other students get jobs, at least temporarily. It does not make any sense to pay a full price for a service/outcome that I have not received in time. At this point, this unnegotiated debt is a personal attack to my liveability and access to equal wealth in *****************. Not only their lack of empathy is discriminatory, but financially violent at this point. 

  If the business isn't willing to negotiate to fair terms, I will consider international support from newsmedia in Mxico, and from the immigrant community in *******************. 

  I know from another student that is actually working as a product designer she got the tuition payment forgiven. All I am asking is the same treatment as her. When I joined the program they had claims on their site, that 85% of students found work after their programs which they don't display anymore. I remain patient for BBB to support back on this case. Thank you. 

   

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

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

*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. ↩