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FastTrain a horrible nightmare of fraud, lies, deception and cover-ups! Rip-off! Miami Florida
In September of 2003, I began a medical coding course at FastTrain, a computer school in Miami. So began a nightmare that continues to this day. I got a $7400 loan to pay for this course. The entire amount went directly to the school. Thus, FastTrain had no incentive to treat the students fairly as our money was safely in their pockets. We were treated with rudeness and disrespect. Even a FastTrain employee admitted that the school has a reputation for treating its students badly.
The deficiencies in the course itself are too numerous to mention in this report. However, when the students voiced concern and asked questions we were either lied to or ignored. Upon course completion we were unemployable. When we attempted to get resolution through the job placement coordinator, we were, in typical fashion, lied to or ignored. A certified letter sent to the school voicing our concerns was ignored.
Then we attempted to get resolution from the BBB, as FastTrain touts its membership in the BBB as proof of its quality. Though an individual at the BBB in E-mails acknowledged our complaints, and admitted that students from other FastTrain courses were also complaining, the BBB chose not to post this information on their website, instead stating FastTrains site was "being updated". The school took three long months to respond, and instead of adressing the main issues in the complaint chose to call us "liars" and implying we were too stupid to grasp the material. (Note: I was an A student). The BBB found this all satisfactory and decided the complaint was "resolved" and returned FastTrains status to its previous pristine but false condition (responds promptly, no outstanding complaints, etc).
FastTrain also touts its membership in the Florida Dept of Educations "Commission for Independent Education" as proof of its high ethical standards. The CIE does indeed license this school. When I spoke with a CIE investigator, Andrew Myers, in February, and complained about FastTrain, he stated "Oh FastTrain. They can do whatever they want. The program doesn't have to be any good, the staff doesn't have to be competent, they can lie if they want too, and the owner of the school Dawn Amour, can ignore complaints from the students if she feels like it". Not what I would call a ringing endorsement for FastTrains "high ethics". He then laughingly admitted that 30% of his work load is complaints against FastTrain, and the owners were coming up to Tallahassee that week to adress more complaints.
As months went by, I gathered detailed information about the defects in the course I took, and sent a letter to the Compliance Dept of the CIE. Apparently the letter went straight to Andrew Myers desk. Eventually he called me and said he "did not understand what I was complaining about". The school responded to this written complaint with utterly false information, stating that I never requested assistance from them and other lies. Though I can prove this to all be untrue, what is the point? The CIE considers the complaint resolved, and obviously will take the schools side regardless of proof or evidence by the students.
This ordeal has wreaked havoc on my health and sanity. Bottom line, I am screwed out of a whole lot of money. The institutions that are supposed to protect the consumer are in the pocket of the school, who I am sure has rewarded them handsomely for their allegance. I can only attempt to warn anyone who is thinking of getting involved with this school to think twice. To me, its a safer bet to just go to a casino and gamble with the money. The odds are probably better. If you want to take a course, stick to your local community colleges or schools that you absolutely know are reputable. Some of these tech schools are about getting your money, not providing you with an education. An if you get burned, good luck finding an advocate.
Patricia
Homestead, Florida
U.S.A.
STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!
4 Updates & Rebuttals
iconone
pompano beach,Florida,
United States of America
hit by the fasttrain school in fort lauderdale
#5Consumer Suggestion
Wed, January 09, 2013
can anybody tell me how i can diploma from fasttrain , all i get is the run around.
i can used some help please contact me at tyronemcconn@ymail.com
KellyA
United States of AmericaDifferent Experience
#5Consumer Comment
Sun, March 21, 2010
I was doing research and came up on your posting. Both my sister and I signed up for the Medical Coding program in January last year at the Flagler school. Within 10 days of completing my courses Miguel the placement person got me a job at CAC and my sister got one at Leon Medical. I know two of the other girls in our class also started working right after school finished. I found all my teachers to be caring and highly dedicated. My experience couldnt be more different than yours. Have you spoken to the Director and expressed your concern? If you havent then you have no one to blame but yourself. In life you get what you put in. Please dont put a school down because you refuse to do your part.
Kelley A
DR006
United States of AmericaThey're still getting away with this
#5Consumer Comment
Sat, January 23, 2010
This school is still getting away with this.The school is horrible. The equipment is extremely outdated. Some of the professors are OK but have to work with their hands behind their backs and others are the worst professors you'll ever have, literally. Hands on still does not exist. They seem to be professional scam artists. When you leave all they care about is collecting the payment. My class didn't even last a whole 2 months before practically everybody withdrew. This can't be a real school. They seem to be OK charging 1000's of dollars per class even though it's no where near providing that type of education. Even if you only last a few months before realizing it's the worst school you've ever been to you're still in debt over 3 to 4 thousand dollars. It just hurts to see that someone has already reported a nearly identical situation to mine and I fell for their same trick almost 5 years later. How could this school still be allowed to operate? They clearly are not in business to provide a quality education. Right now with the economy the way it is, I only hope that other students looking to take advantage of this time to educate them selves don't fall for this scam as well.
Studentana
Miami,Florida,
U.S.A.
Lets get help together!!
#5Consumer Suggestion
Fri, August 31, 2007
My name is Ana and I have also been ripped off by Fasttrain. I have contacted several governmental offices but need to show a pattern of behavior with this school. Therefore, I have created and e-mail address for students like myself for all of us to get justice. So, anybody who has a complaint about Fast Train including customer service, misleading information, unable to find a job, overcharge for classes, malfunctioning computer or anything else being done.