Complaint Review: ERGI (Education Resources Group Inc.) Mr. Mike Rifenburg

To Whom it May Concern,

My wife and I got a postcard in the mail one day for doing college while in the military. We sent the post card back to get some information. We then recieved a phone call from ERGI asking if we would let a guy from ERGI come into our house and give us a representation. We said yes.

That is when Mr. Rifenburg came into our house and represnted his merchandise. A lab top computer, and some clept test disc. We were told that if we studied the disc, we could go down to the Education Center on base and take the final test. Any or all the test we passed, the credits for the test would go onto a College transcript through Excelsor College. He told us that the University of Michigan would take these credits through Excelsior College. U of M is where we were going toattend after we got out of the military.

My wife and I and her friend (Missy) thought it was a good deal so we took out a loan through Rome Financing Company for $4278.53. We then set up an allotment out of our checking account to Rome Financing Company.

After studying one of the subjescts we went down to the Education Center on Base and after talking to the lady in charge of the Education Center. She told us that we needed to contact our LEGAL Assistant building on base because we got screwed.

We contacted them and after some research our attorney contacted Excelsior College and he got a response from the Director of Communications. In the letter he sent to our attorney it said:

" Thank you for informing us about an alleged misrepresentation, made by a group called Education Resource Group, Inc. regarding a relationship this firm has with Excelsior College.

To confirm, Excelsior College has no relationship, formal or informal, with Education Resource Group, Inc., nor has the college ever had an affiliation with this organization. This company is not authorized to represent Excelsior College.

We appreciate your bringing to our attention the alleged misrepresentations that are being made and your assistance in providing us with copies of materials that your Marines (my wife and I and her friend) have recieved from this company".

Sincerely, William M. Stewart, Director of Communications of Excelsior College.

After our attorney got that respnse from Excelsior College he told us to stop our allotment asap. So we did. We were also told by our attorney to send the computer and discs back to the company. We did that. Education Resource Group, Inc. then refused to accept the merchandise.

Now my wife and I and her friend are gettting phone calls from Rome Financing Company, andollection agents, saynging that if we dont pay our loan they are going to call the Sherrif's Department and have our wages garnished and have us arrested.

So if you could help us out we would greatly appreciate it.

Roy
Twentynine Palms, California
U.S.A.