Complaint Review: CBTDirect

BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY. My suggestion to you or anyone considering doing business with this company is - RUN THE OTHER WAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY and NEVER GIVE THEM ANY MONEY or other personal information. I got my money back and I'm going to tell you how to do it.

A competent learning institution doesn't care about you personally, THEY CARE ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION and helping you to meet your goals. CLUE don't tell CBTDirect anything about yourself.

My opinion of CBT is that they are a pseudo tech school boiler room outfit neatly tucked away in Clearwater Florida, a city known for harboring cult members belonging to the Church of $cientology.

Gaining a refund from CBTDirect LLC was only accomplished after documenting, more documenting, writing registered letters, trying to follow their warranty' a disguised legal disclaimer, and following the law to the T. Anytime you deal with CBT, you write the name of the person you talked to, the time, the date, and the content of your conversation.

Try to follow the CBT warranty even though it really is a legal disclaimer in disguise. If you cant follow the warranty you must attempt to get your money back through your credit card issuer.

I contacted the Clearwater BBB. A helpless, hopeless organization that does nothing more than provide semi-elderly people with something to do during the day. CBT direct has NUMEROUS complaints against them. BBB of Anycity USA can be bought, so the BBB bureau will do nothing for you except provide you with information. They cannot get your money back for you and will eventually tell you to contact your congressman because they are a mediator and nothing more. Have your complaint recorded with them and move on to the next step.

I contacted the attorney general for the State of Florida, and also contacted the attorney general's office in New Jersey, my home state, same thing.

Contacting CBT customer service is useless, but you will need to deal with them to play the refund game. I think that customer service is only a guy named Sean. Sean's job is not to resolve problems or help you out but redirect you into circles though he is the one who will eventually issue your refund once you have jumped through all the hoops.

Also, CBT receives your email but they don't reply to it, so don't bother. Again use USPS registered return receipt mail AT ALL TIMES. Be careful of Sean, he has been doing this for a long time and knows how to keep your money if you don't follow the CBT refund rules, never mind the law or your best interest.

If you charged your CBTDirect tuition, you might be in luck and have recourse through your credit card issuer. Beware the 'Special Rule for Credit Card Purchases'! Anytime you deal with your credit card company regarding a charge back you again need to do so in writing, and in the form of registered mail. Send them copies of all communications that you have had with CBT. Do not talk to your credit card company on the phone about this as it voids your rights under the FCBA ( Fair Credit Billing Act). Provide all pertinent information to the credit card company and keep emotion out of it- FOLLOW ALL THE RULES and give the issuer all the dates, who you spoke to, times etc. Be nice because your card issuer might be your only recourse.

You will need to demand your refund from CBT before contacting your card issuer, again using registered mail. Use a polite but firm tone and give CBT 30 days to respond before writing to your credit card issuer. Make copies of everything and provide CBT with all details reason for this is because when you take your case to your credit card issuer or to court, you will without a doubt have given CBT all information to resolve the matter and you will have shown that they are the ones at fault.

If you opened an account with GE Money Bank which CBT uses, you can invoke another federal law covered under the FCBA, BECAUSE GE MONEY BANK HAS A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CBTDirect. Demand payment from CBT and let them respond with a NO (because they are in business to separate you from your money) or they will give you the lame excuse that you didn't follow the warranty or just ignore you, then contact GE informing them that they have a special relationship with CBT and that you are prepared to contact the FTC and Banking commission for further recourse. Give them 30 days to respond to you as well.

Never miss a payment while this is in dispute. If GE does not honor the charge back contact an attorney and provide all documentation. Also contact the FTC and file a complaint. You will need your FTC complaint number when you hit the courts!

If you paid by debit card, check or cash - CONTACT A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY. Then call your state attorney generals office followed by the FTC in Washington DC. How many times have I said it before, EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING with this shady outfit in Florida!

Anytime you do business with any company that is in another place NEVER USE A DEBIT CARD, NEVER PAY BY CHECK. You might never get your money back I'm sorry to say. Chalk it up to experience and a lesson learned.

Since all phone calls to CBT are recorded legal for a business to do in Florida as common practice - NEVER THREATEN THEM or use vulgar language ( they are hoping for this because any judge will tell you to get lost ). Keep emotions out of it, never provide personal information. Never send them your resume.

CBTDirect walks the fine line of fraud. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH CBT.

Ron
Long Island, New Jersey
U.S.A.