Complaint Review: PCDI ; Professional Career Development Institute

Hello, in March 2004, I ordered and received a medical transcription course from PCDI (Professional Career Development Institute). I paid $300 on the course before I called and cancelled it on October 25, 2004. I just never had time to study it much at all due to my family sitution. The PCDI representative in October told me that I would receive a refund of well over $100 in 4 to 6 weeks, so I've been patiently waiting for the last few weeks, thinking that I should get a refund soon.

I received another bill from PCDI at the end of November (dated November 22, 2004), so on November 29, 2004, I called them again and asked them why I received another bill and inquired about my refund. The PCDI representative told me that they had never processed my refund. In fact, she told me that that they had installed a new system and that "our system was not set up to process refunds at the time you called in October". She then promised me that she was going to process my refund at that time and that I would still get back the same amount I was promised in October, BUT it would be another 30 days before I would receive it.

Well, I got a letter from them today December 7, 2004, stating that my account is delinquent, so I called them yet again. The lady told me that my refund has been processed and that just today they had sent it to someone who cuts the checks named 'Brandie' who was going to get a check out to me. Then, she informed me that she had no idea when I would receive my refund because "our system is not set up to process refund checks at this time", so she said she would have to credit it to a credit card. I then offered her my Discover card and she put me on hold.

She then came back after several minutes and informed me that she had just spoken to her supervisor and that since the payments had been made by check, they could not give me a refund by credit card, but by check only. I then said "but you just told me that you cannot send me a check" and she said "yes, that's correct" and I said " and you also said you don't have any idea when you will be able to process checks" and she said "Yes maam. In fact, I'm going to make myself a note right now so that in the future when our system is set up to process checks, I will remember to send a note to the department that cuts checks to send you a refund".

I am asking that the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General, Mr. Thurbert E. Baker investigate PCDI regarding their refund methods. I am also going to contact the consumer advocate person at our local news station and see if they will do a report on this. If anyone out there wants to take any online or mail order course, I would strongly recommend that you steer clear of PCDI.

Angela
Warner Robins, Georgia
U.S.A.



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