ComplaintsforCareer Step, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  04/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled into a Pharmacy Technician Program at CareerStep. The following day I discontinued my enrollment ( April 17, 2024) I received a bill from Monterey Financial for the enrollment of $3700.00. This amount is $200 less that the full price, as a but a $200 amount total enrollment. I've ask for a refund, I've emailed about a refund. I have not received my $200.00 refund.

  Business response

  05/07/2024

  Dear learner,

  Thank you for reaching out. We are sad to see you go.  We have received and processed your cancellation request. This was processed on 4/24/2024 and a full refund was returned.  This issue is considered closed.

   

• Initial Complaint

  04/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Began program on 3/14/24 tried to cancel several time they will not allow. They are trying to collect full amount even though it was financed.

  Business response

  05/07/2024

  We have received your cancellation request submitted on April 19, 2024. However, according to the terms outlined in your enrollment contract, there is a 14-day return window following the date of enrollment, which ended on March 5, 2024. Unfortunately, as you are outside of this return window, we are unable to process your cancellation request at this time. We encourage you to continue with the program as planned and to make the agreed-upon payments to ensure your continued enrollment. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our customer service team for additional support.

• Initial Complaint

  03/06/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This company stole two thousand dollars from me. They never gave me my training after I completed my course. They made me wait six months until I finally demanded my money back. Now they are ignoring me.

  Business response

  03/21/2024

  Dear Learner,
  I extend my gratitude for reaching out to us. Following a thorough examination of your account, we are pleased to inform you that a full refund has been approved and duly processed.
  With the completion of this transaction, we consider the issue at hand to be fully resolved.
  Should you require any further assistance or have additional inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  Thank you,

• Initial Complaint

  02/05/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On Thursday , 02/01/2024 just 2 working days ago I was contacted by Careerstep regarding EKG technician program. The Program Advisor Ben S**** was supposed to brief me about the course duration and stuff and rather he started pushing me through the agreement process.. he didn’t gave me any time to process anything and made me sign the agreement .. I still was little hesitant so I held up the down payment amount and told him I’ll pay it in some time and then we can continue with the application on which he agreed… then I went thru the complaints here on this platform and within an hour texted him back that I do not wish to signup.. he said he never processed my account so I do not have to worry… but today I am receiving payment due emails from Monterey Financial… This business is a Scam… It will spoil your CREDIT and TIME.. Regret that call … I never signed up and still am receiving the payment emails… I want resolution at the earliest or I will move this to Consumer Court…

  Business response

  02/06/2024

  Dear Learner,
  I trust this message finds you well. Our records indicate that you signed the financing contract during your recent discovery call. However, upon further review, it appears that the full enrollment process was not completed, and you are not currently fully enrolled in the program.
  To address this matter, we have promptly contacted the financial institution and successfully canceled your signed application. As a result, you have no further financial obligation to CareerStep. We understand that there may be concerns or misunderstandings, and we sincerely apologize if you felt as though you were misled. Please be assured that CareerStep is committed to transparency, and we take such matters seriously. We are not associated with any fraudulent activities, and our primary goal is to provide quality training to thousands of individuals. We regret any inconvenience you may have experienced during this process. If you have any further questions or if there's anything we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to reach out. We genuinely wish you the best in your endeavors, and we appreciate your consideration.

  Thank you,

  Customer response

  02/06/2024

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because I am still receiving endless emails from Monterey Financial!!! 
  

  I need this to stop!
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ********* **** ******

• Initial Complaint

  01/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On 1-15-24 I enrolled in careerstep’s dental assistant program. I wanted a refund of my money the next day because I found out the course was not accredited. In the contract I signed I have 14 days to cancel for any reason. I have sent multiple emails, called and sat on hold for over an hour, and tried to use the live chat. No response from any forms of contact. I paid in full and they already took the money out of my account.

  Business response

  02/06/2024

  Thank you for reaching out. We have processed a full return/refund.  This issue is considered resolved.

   

  Thank you,

  Customer response

  02/06/2024

   
  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.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******** **********

• Initial Complaint

  12/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Date all of this started is 6/23/2023. On this day, I signed up for a pharmacy technician course through CareerStep and was rushed through the process. I felt very rushed going through the contract and never had a copy sent to me. I forgot about this until I reviewed my credit report in the beginning of December and realized they had sent my account to a collections agency (Monterey Financial.) Upon calling Monterey Financial, they sent me a copy of the contract I supposedly signed and it showed my Drivers License number which I don’t remember giving them. It also has the expiration date of my license wrong. Actual expiration date is 3/03/2025. I am requesting a full investigation into this incident and I am willing to help in any way I can.

  Business response

  01/04/2024

  Dear learner,

  I hope this message finds you well. I appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention regarding your enrollment process for the pharmacy technician course with CareerStep on 6/23/2023.
  Firstly, I sincerely apologize for any discomfort or inconvenience you've experienced. We take such matters seriously and aim to ensure a seamless and transparent enrollment process for all our learners.
  Upon receiving your complaint, we initiated a thorough investigation into the matter. Based on our records from the call on 6/23/2023 and the documentation associated with your enrollment, here is a summary of our findings:
  The call duration with our representative on the mentioned date was approximately 29 minutes, during which you willingly signed the EEA agreement, a copy of which is attached for your reference. Also, A down payment of $400 was made during the enrollment process, indicating the confirmation of your course enrollment. We feel as though the enrollment process was thorough and the learner should have been fully aware of the enrollment an obligation the comes with the enrollment and therefore a refund will not be approved. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our Customer Support team.

   

  Thank you,

  Customer response

  01/05/2024

  
  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.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ****** *****

• Initial Complaint

  12/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed up for a phlebotomy course with Career Step and enrolled on a payment plan for around $1700. I finished the online portion only for career step to give me the run around about placing me with an externship. *** attempted several times to communicate with two different individuals even stating I would travel to any state to have this externship completed and they keep giving me the run around stating they have reached out to clinics but when I ask what clinics , they will not tell me. Sounds like fraud to me because its hard to believe out of 50 states in the *** , there isnt one clinic that will accept me for an externship. So you are telling me there is not one clinic in the entire country that you have never worked with that cant do 40 hours of an externship . Not even a licensed phlebotomist within career step that can do the externship with me and sign off on the required things I need to do. But yet still collecting their money every month for a course I cant even finish because of their failure to do what was promised. sounds like FRAUD to me. not even discussing what steps we can do to resolve this. Next compliant ill be listing names of those ive been communicating with. Im a new mother and spent money Ive had to scrape together for months to pay for a class i was hoping to do to better myself for my 1 year old baby and got played. FRAUDS. Should be ashamed of yourselves.

  Business response

  01/04/2024

  We have been in communication with this learner and have found placement for her.  This issue is considered resolved.  

• Initial Complaint

  12/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  ******* was in a rush to sign me up but I was still unsure and needed to do my research. She gave me the option to pay $25 and then I have 2 weeks to call in and cancel or they would charge me $75 and be locked into the program. I did my research and found out this company is a scam. So I called in less than 3 days after signing up. When I called in, the customer service rep said that she could not get my account manager, *******, on the phone - which is true because I tried to call her at least 10 times with no answer. The customer service rep told me that she marked my account cancelled and they would process the $25 back to my account. I asked a second time "are you sure that it is cancelled and I don't have to call back in" - she stated "it is cancelled, you do not have to call again"I was patient waiting for the $25 back because it isn't a big deal. Today I got charged the remaining $75 and I am furious!!! When I called in today, the rep said "oh yes I do see it as cancelled within 3 days". IF MY ACCOUNT IS CANCELLED, WHY ARE YOU TAKING MORE MONEY FROM ME?I asked for a Manager - got ****, who I see is mentioned in other comments about this company. This company is fraud! Stay far far away. They will steal your money, lock you into a contract and mess with your credit when you don't pay.

  Business response

  12/15/2023

  Dear Learner,

  We extend our sincere apologies for the oversight regarding the recurring payment, which regrettably was not canceled promptly alongside your initial cancellation request. We have taken the necessary steps to rectify this situation.

  We can confirm that a full refund has been processed, and your account has been entirely canceled to prevent any further charges.
  Thank you for your understanding and patience in this matter.

• Initial Complaint

  11/30/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed up for the dental assistant program with Career Steps at the beginning of August 2023. $4000 was sent to the corporate head quarters by my familys financial advisor from my college savings account. I began the course as soon as the money was received by Career Steps. After completing several moduals I reached a point where I had to order my dental kit in order to proceed. The kit was sent out on August 14th but was not received. The shipper indicated that it was not deliverable due to an insufficient address. I called Career Steps to let them know that the shipper had sent the kit back. After giving them the address of a friend, on August 14 another kit was sent out. I kept tracking the delivery status. Soon it said that the package was out for delivery and it continues to say that even today. I have called Career Steps, as has a family member on my behalf, but have had no success in receiving the kit. At this point I have lost all confidence in Career Steps and have asked for a full refund of my tuition. The first person my family member spoke with was very pleasant and said she would look into the matter and send me and my family member an email with the findings. After about 10 days and no email, my family member contacted Career Steps again. She was not able to speak with *****, the previous customer support person. This time she spoke to ******** who said that our request was denied because it was not received during the first 14 days of enrollment which it could not have been because the kit could not be requested until after the first 3 of 20 modules was completed. He indicated that he was not sure why the email was not sent. He further indicated that Career Steps would not be rectifying the issue. We feel that they have breached the contract and believe that I am entitled to a full refund.

  Business response

  12/06/2023

  Dear *****,
  Thank you for your recent communication. We regret to learn about the delay in receiving your Dental Kit and apologize for any inconvenience caused. Our records confirm that we dispatched the kit per your request in August (tracking number **********************). Unfortunately, it appears that the delivery was unsuccessful due to an issue with the provided address.
  Upon your inquiry on 11/13/2023, our representative promptly responded on 11/14/2023, indicating our willingness to dispatch a replacement kit. However, we require an updated and verified shipping address before proceeding with the shipment. Once we have received this information, we will be more than happy to send out a new kit for you.
  Subsequently, on 11/28/2023, you requested to cancel your enrollment. Regrettably, we must inform you that this request falls outside the parameters of our 14-day return policy and, therefore, cannot be accommodated.
  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and kindly ask for your cooperation in providing us with the updated shipping details to ensure prompt delivery of your Dental Kit.
  Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any further assistance or clarification.

  Thank you,

  Customer response

  01/10/2024

   
  Complaint: 20940192
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Please review your records.  You will see that when the dental kit was not received in August, a call was made to Career Steps and a different delivery address was provided.  The  tracking number received indicated the kit was out for delivery on August 25.  However, the status of the delivery never changed.  It continued to say out for delivery.  Again you were called but no action was taken on your part to insure that the kit was delivered.  At that point, a request for a refund was made.  The representative stated that it was beyond the 14 day period to receive a refund which, of course, it had to be since the kit is not sent out until the student has completed several of the modules which takes more than 14 days to complete.  The representative said the matter would be considered and an email sent out with the determination.  No email was received so another call was made to the school where upon they said that no refund would be made.

  To say that I have no confidence in the school would be an understatement and therefore, do not wish to continue with the school.  I believe that since the school did not perform as they indicated, there was a breach of their contract.  I am still requesting a full refund.

   

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

  Business response

  02/06/2024

  We have done everything we can for this learner.  As mentioned in the first response we have reshipped the kit to the updated address.

  Thank you,

• Initial Complaint

  11/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I paid 100.00 down on November 13th for certification in medical coding and billing. I had 3 days to cancel for a refund of the 100.00. I canceled on November 14th. I received an email from the person whom I originally talked with stating I was well within my 3 days to receive my 100.00-dollar refund. On November 15th I received a phone call from the loans department indicating that my payment for the certification will be due in December. I stated I received the email notification of my cancelation within the 3 days. I forwarded the email to the loan department informing them of this. I have called and left a message with the loan dept to make sure they have received my email. I have emailed 3 times to make sure they received the forwarded email notice of my refund. I am not getting any kind of response and I would like to have this taken care immediately

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