Kaplan University ripoff dishonest fraudulent billing Fort Lauderdale Florida
I originally enrolled in Kaplan University last August in order to complete my Bachelor degree in Information Technology Management. I was excited about earning my Bachelor degree with Kaplan University because the admissions rep was very helpful at the time. I really had no clue about what was really going on behind the scenes at this school.
Right before I was ready to start school I had problems getting in touch with the registration person for my classes. After 4 days the person decided it was a good idea to call me back to get registered so I could start.
I log into my class for the first time and found a train wreck called a virtual campus.
The campus was ugly and I had a very hard time getting around the interface to get to certain paperwork. Everything about the online interface seemed really cheap and was designed carelessly.
I decided to give the school a chance and attended class on the first day as scheduled.
I was upset to find that the class was a regular chat room with a message board. There was no real online content except a group of PDF files telling the work for the week. It just said read the chapters in this book and attend the online chat with the instructor.
I log in to attend my first chat session online and the instructor did not even bother to show up. I then went to attend my second classes session and that instructor did not show up either so I emailed one of the instructors about it.
The so called accounting professor emailed back after 3 days in broken English about not showing up for the class. I found out that she holds a degree from a Russian school and did not speak the language all that well.
I did not even complete a week of school with Kaplan before I emailed my adviser to withdraw from this horrible school. I stated that I thought the school was inferior and this was not the place for me. I was told that I had to call to withdraw so I did but could never reach this person at any time. I assumed the issue was dropped and found another school to attend online.
There is a lot more problems that I encountered with this school that was not mentioned in the story. The financial aide department is horrible and they never get paperwork that I sent via fax and numerous other problems in that department.
I attended a Kaplan campus school previously and was promised full transfer of credits since the campuses were affiliated. In reality they refused to transfer most of my credits even though I have an Associates degree from one of their schools. The 2+ 2 program they advertise is a lie for transfer students.
I later found out after I withdrew that my financial aide was not completed supposedly by their FA department. The kept sending me bills and the amounts all ways were different. I called to question the FA department and they had no clue what they were doing with the paperwork.
I assumed that the whole issue was resolved with this school and 6 months later they send me a bill for $1500 for classes that I never took and withdrew from. These scam artists have me in collections for $1700 now and I will not pay them a penny of it because I withdrew in the time specified on the agreement.
The whole Kaplan school system is a farce and I do not recommend them for anything. I have been unable to get a job with the degree from the campus school that I attended for 2 years. Their placement from that school is a joke and they have never helped me find a job.
I attended their Cyber Crime program in Pennsylvania and ended up as a mall security guard after graduation. They place their Criminal Justice graduates from that school as security guards in the area because no one wants to hire people from their schools.
Luckily I found a school that transferred my entire degree and is allowing me to complete my B.S. in Information Technology. They transferred I.T. courses that Kaplan University said did not apply to anything they teach which is a complete lie.
The Kaplan school system is a very expensive fraud and they should be shut down ASAP. The number of complaints on here is proof enough of their wrong doings and I am just a voice in a choir of ripped off students.
I will gladly participate in a law suit against this school if anyone is bringing one up. These morons can not do this forever and I hope the education department gets wise to them soon. These people take students dreams and smash them right in front of their face.
Matt
Norfolk, Virginia
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Upset Consumer
Fort Lauderdale,Florida,
U.S.A.
I disagree with you totally....
#4UPDATE Employee
Tue, June 03, 2008
I currently work for Kaplan University and I must say that I disagree with alot of the comments that I have read on this site. If you had problems logging into your classes you must not be computer literate at all or was too ashamed to call or email your advisor. We offer a LaunchPad service the first day of classes from 8:00 AM until 11:00 PM ET at which time there are several staff members (including Financial Officers) from Kaplan University available for you online to assist you with logging into your classes.
Kaplan also offers a New Student Orientation which also provide you with step by step instructions on logging into your classes as well as navigating throughout the Kaplan forum. I know for a fact that you are given all of your options upfront during the 1 hour interview held with every student prior to enrollment with Kaplan. You are also given a written Award letter which list all of your tuition costs and financial options as a matter of fact Kaplan require that you speak with a Financial Officer while looking at you financial plan and you must agree with the amounts by either electronically signing or printing the award letter out, signing and faxing or scanning the document back to Kaplan before completing any enrollment documents.
The comments left on this site are far from the truth, people become upset because Kaplan employees are not running to their every beckon and call, but you people need to understand that we deal with hundreds of students on a daily basis and do not have time to deal with all the petty problems that you people have, we are a university not a babysitting service. What usually happens is after people start classes they feel that they can just drop out of classes without any reprecussions we are a real school just because we are virtual does not mean that we are not a real school. We are held by the same principles that any traditional ground school is held by.
We are a Regionally Accredidated university and we have regulations that we must follow. We have been in business for over 77 years and we are own by the Washington Post Newspaper. Belinda Gates who is Bill Gates wife is one of our Board members, I do not think that we would have the financial backing if we were here ripping students off. So please if you are going to write comments tell the entire story like you thought you were ready to get a degree but then when you realized that Kaplan was not a "Diploma Mill" and you actually had to do homework and earn your degree you got scared and decided to bail out like alot of people have done so many times before. And yes you cannot agree to terms and when things do not go your way you drop out and then post negative comments about a school.
Lets grow up and take full responsiblity for our actions and stop trying to find a scapegoat like alot people have. Kaplan is not for everyone I will admit that, but it is up to you and only you to do your research, no one can sell you education either you want it or you do not. You have several choices out there......
Raymond
Danville,Virginia,
U.S.A.
On-line education is wonderful
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, April 17, 2007
I disagree with the quote that all on-line schools should perish. As long as the school is accrediated by the department of education. You get out of it what you put into it. Research the school first! Research all tuition requirements!
Most of the problems that individuals on this forum are having with the schools can be contributed back to the individual not researching the school and the education program.
Also, this site is an emotion site. Every business, school etc.. in the world has someone who is angry at them. You cannot please everyone!!
Everyone is always guick to point fingers at others and think that they are never at fault!! I know people who have studied and graduated at University of Phoenix and Kaplan!! They never had a single problem. They researched there options fully up front and are very intelligent people themselves. They have moved on to very good positions in the private sector.
If you have a legitimate problem, you need to contact the better business bureau! Be certain to have your act together as they will investigate and come back on you if it is you at fault!!
Anybody can rant and rave on a gossip forum.
Jesus Christ hisself would have 50 cry and moan posts on this site!!
Juliet
Birmingham,Alabama,
U.S.A.
ZERO NEED for these Online Schools Any More
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, April 13, 2007
Nowadays, just in the last year or so, I have found that more LEGITIMATE colleges and universities offer online options than ever before.
If you are interested in furthering your education via an online format, check out schools in your area that have good reputations, or well-known, well-established LEGITIMATE colleges and universities for their online options.
There is no longer any need for any of us to fund these blatant scams of 'online schools', AT ALL.
If a school is primarily known as an 'online' whatever - RUN RUN RUN.
If you have ANY DOUBT, search Ripoff Reports for a school's name, and if they show up, READ THE REPORTS.
Offering online options is just the norm, now, for LEGITIMATE, RESPECTABLE colleges and universities. If we will pursue THOSE options, these horrible farces of 'schools' WILL go the way of the horse and buggy, but we, as consumers, have to stop feeding the monster in order for it to die.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Through doing surveys or who knows what, on occasion, I've been contacted by one of the scam schools via email. I enjoy looking up their name on Ripoff Reports, copying and pasting the entire page, with notations of additional pages, lololol, and emailing them back. They leave me alone, very quickly, after that!