QuickCert Specialized Solutions Oncourselearning.com Threatened to go to collections agency if I did not buy Tarpon Springs Florida
About a month ago, I started looking around the net for CCNA and CCNP training opportunities to fill-in my skills as a network engineer. I took a look at several online and CD training alternatives on the web as well as the local community college.
Then a few days ago, I got a call back from a salesperson from QuickCert. They offered online as well as CD training. I wanted to see a sample of their course so that could get an idea of their teaching style and depth as well as the quality of the course material.
After talking to them for a while, their salesman sent the following e-mail to my yahoo account:
"I spoke to my boss and he said he would do the cd-roms for the same price if you wanted to move forward tomorrow. You need DSL or higher to do the demo but here you go:
Login:
password:
Pick CCNA 801 and play with it for a little while(please limit your self to 30 minutes as I have other people demoing tonight). Thanks.
Todd Orzechowski
Corporate Training Consultant
Quick Cert Inc
Specialized Solutions
..."
I used their online CCNA 604-801 demo for about fifteen minutes around 11:00pm Thursday 9/9 (before going to bed), looking at key sections such as spanning tree, routing, ACLs and IOS. There were about 15 or so 30-45 minute very high-level lessons and the video portions flickered excessively. In the morning (around 5 am 9/10), I logged into the demo again to look some more.
That morning, I got a call back from the salesman. I explained to him that I was concerned about the excessive flickering of the video and the lack of depth of the course material. I also told him about my concern that if this company went out of business, I would not be able to finish my online course. The salesman offered me a variety of deals around $1500 with increasing sales pressure pitch and hurried deadlines for the good deal. I told him that I would have to talk to my finance minister (wife) concerning the purchase.
Friday was a very busy for me at work. I was not able to answer several more sales calls (no caller ID when they call). On Monday morning, I had to attend several meetings and could not come to the phone. Amongst the messages waiting for me were three phone messages containing threats that I had used six hours of time on their online training time and that I would have to buy their product or face dealing with a collections agency.
Needless to say, I have decided to attend local face-to-face classes at the local community college which let me sit in one of their classes. Bring on the collections agency. I just tried out their online product. It's not as if I was test-driving a car and took off with it.
Konrad
Seattle, Washington
U.S.A.
9 Updates & Rebuttals
Heather
Clearwater,Florida,
U.S.A.
Quickert Specialized Solutions Feedback
#10UPDATE Employee
Fri, May 01, 2009
As a developer of high-quality training materials, we take customer feedback very seriously. The sales practices mentioned in the ripoff report listing from 2004 are outdated. While QuickCert continues offer free course trials to potential customers, they are truly free.
In response to the latest complaint, QuickCert is a Microsoft Certified Partner, listed under our original corporation names, KeenSkills Inc and Specialized Solutions. Please see the following link: https://solutionfinder.microsoft.com/Partners/PartnerDetailsView.aspx?partnerid=bc2f1e8fd0dd40d19c2d9428723ee793
Microsoft knows of QuickCert by the names KeenSkills and Specialized Solutions. We are undergoing a re-branding effort, as we have been under new management since 2006. We sincerely apologize for any confusion our multiple names may have caused, and are in the process of clearing this up.
Mastriano
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
What happened to your FBI paperwork?
#10Consumer Comment
Thu, April 16, 2009
Hey,
So I got a phone call from quickcert today, almost got ripped off. I posted my own story as well... but, I want know what happened to you? The FBI and all that?
Konrad
North Bend,Washington,
U.S.A.
still filing all the paperwork with the FBI, Be sure to Check Out These Links as Well...
#10Author of original report
Tue, September 21, 2004
THEY STILL OFFER A *FREE* DEMO COURSE.... AFTER READING ALL OF THIS, IS IT REALLY FREE???
http://www.quickcert.com/freedemo.htm
Tuesday 9/21/2004
Free Demo Course and FREE Skill Testing -
Try out our Microsoft and CompTIA Certification courses absolutely free.
Sign-up and experience the dynamic and effective computer-based PowerLearning System curriculum of Specialized Solutions. We offer MCSE, Office 2000, Office MOS XP, MCSA, MCDBA, CompTIA CDIA+, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Server+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Linux+ and more!
You may need to download a specific version of a media player in order to get the most out of your free demo course.
Test your skills using Specialized Solutions's IntelliSage Skill Tester simulator. Discover what you know and what you need to study for your Microsoft and CompTIA Certification. We want you to be successful in becoming certified! The IntelliSage Skill Tester is designed to give you an overview of your present knowledge and skill set within a specific course title.
Once you get an idea of where you are, one of the Specialized Solutions Product Consultants can help you decide what course you need to achieve your IT goals and get the certification you want. We offer a variety of Microsoft and CompTIA Certifications.
Please fill out the form to try our MCSE, A+, Cisco CCNA, Linux+, Network+, Microsoft Office Products and many more! Good Luck!
CHECK OUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS COMPANY>>>
http://badbusinessbureau.com/reports/ripoff106762.htm
http://badbusinessbureau.com/reports/ripoff87104.htm
THEN ASK YOURSELF... WHY WOULD ANY COMPANY WANT TO MOVE THEIR COMPANY HQ TO LEMON STREET??
The pestering seems to have stopped for now... so I will cease fire for a while. I promise I will be back if their accounting department hassles me to pay for their *FREE* demo and threatens to ruin my credit report.... Yeah Right.
In the meantime, ... government work is slow... I'm still filing all the paperwork with the FBI, the FTC and the Attorney General's Office here in Washington State.
BY THE WAY, THE COMPANY I WORK FOR HAS MORE THAN 20,000 EMPLOYEES. MANY OF THEM ARE IT FOLKS. WHY WOULD THEY WANT ANYTHING BUT A GOOD RECOMMENDATION???? IT'S BEYOND ME.
Konrad
North Bend,Washington,
U.S.A.
Specialized Solutions QuickCert ***They have a history of this*** Tarpon Springs, FL
#10Author of original report
Sat, September 18, 2004
Larry Treiber
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QuickCert: WATCH OUT!
Anyone thinking of purchasing any of the QuickCert/Specialized Solutions
products, WATCH OUT! These guys are disreputable characters. My wife purchased a couple of their training products for my birthday and was
promised a 30-day money back guarantee. I wasn't interested and started the process to get everything returned for credit.
WOW! It was like pulling teeth to acquire the necessary RMA's. After they received everything, they simply refused to provide the promised credit, and now I'm being forced to put the charges into dispute with my bank. I have also retained a lawyer to deal with this totally dishonest company. Heed my warning.
If you buy from them, and are dissatisfied with their product for any reason, don't expect
to get your funds back without a major battle. They are liars and cannot be trusted!
Konrad
North Bend,Washington,
U.S.A.
QuickCert Specialized Solutions Rip-Off *Threats of collections on FREE training* Tarpon Springs, FL
#10Author of original report
Sat, September 18, 2004
Try QuickCert / Specialized Solution's **FREE** CCNA 640-607 or 640-801 training offer and get this kind of threatening phone calls... Here's what I got for my FREE 30 minutes of training:
9/13/2004 7:56 40 sec
Konrad this is Todd over at Specialized Solutions. We spoke last week. You didn't return my calls. Now I know why. You in and did training illegally. I have your IP address. I have that you went in on Friday. You did 21 hours, 20 minutes and 12 seconds of **FREE** training. It's illegal.
So now what's going to happen is that you call me up, we clear this up or I am going to bill you for the training - legally.
OK So you can either call me and clear this up or we can do it the other way. I will leave it up to you. I don't like to be taken advantage of. Allright .. I will tell you right now, I'm not going to be.
This is on you. 800-942-1660 extension 266. You have some choices here. We'll see what happens.
***>IN HIS OWN ADMISSION, IT WAS FREE TRAINING (THAT I DID NOT EVEN DO.) I HAVE A COPY OF THIS PHONE CALL. I did not return their calls because I was busy at work on Thursday all day. I did not use their service after Thurday Morning 9/9. I also was at work the whole day Friday and had not time to hang out on the phone. I have witnesses and a time card.)
9/13/2004 9:06am 1 min 05 sec
Konrad this is Todd. I have not heard back from you. I thought you would be in the office by now. I would like to get this expediated as quickly as possible. I'm not sure what you would like to use for payment. If you wanted to use a check or credit card... I'm really going to need to hear back from you as soon as possible.
I have disabled your account. We do have proof of your IP address, the same one you admitted using, with the six hours the day before. We track everything. I guess you did not know that.
I see that you went in and erased all the progress in the CCNA.
You re-initialized it. That is also on file. So I would love to clear this up with you. So I suggest you call me.
When our accounting department starts you to call you.
I hate to send you over to collections and that type of a thing. So I suggest you call me. I'm literrally willing to work this out with you. I had a payment plan for you on Friday. And instead... you abused my trust. You know what? You did it to the wrong person, Konrad. The wrong person.
800-942-1660 my extension is 266. Talk to you soon.
***>I still have not returned one call to this nasty bunch. If this is a **FREE** trial, why is there an issue? (Their training is so "high quality" that they have to force you through extortion and threats to buy it) I did not go back an erase any progress and re-initialize anything. OK ... So you have someone's Comcast IP address. Comcast's public IP addresses are assigned using DHCP; it's not a static address.
Also, someone (not me) could have used the username and password they hand out to everyone. Maybe their logging package has a bug in it. Maybe they create logs like these in order to extort people... I don't know. MY SUGGESTION: DON'T MESS WITH QUICKCERT OR SPECIALIZED SOLUTIONS. IT'S NOT WORTH YOUR TIME OR MONEY.
9/15/2004 10:40am 40sec
Konrad this is Todd .. Apparently you are either not getting my messages or you are too yellow to call me back. It's pretty disappointing man. I don't know if your cellphone got turned off or what. Maybe things are not going well in your life. I'm not surprised with your kind of a life. Im at 800-942-1660 x266 I just want to catch up with your account, your CCNA training that you did. Give me a call when you get an opportunity.
***>I AM DEFINITELY TOO YELLOW TO CALL BACK. I changed my cellphone number because I need it to do work, not get screamed at by a hungry, agressive salesman that has to threaten people in order to "sell" his product.
This is all the time I have to transcribe QuickCert's nasty phone calls. I am taking more time talking to the FBI, FTC and Washington State Attorney General's office. I hope that other people don't get taken advantage of by QuickCert Specialized Solutions.
Konrad
North Bend,Washington,
U.S.A.
QuickCert Specialized Solutions FREE COURSE - IS IT REALLY FREE??? Tarpon Springs Florida
#10Author of original report
Fri, September 17, 2004
-=Capture of FREE Course offer:=-
The following is a text capture of the FREE Course offer I had found...
Cisco CCNA - Certified Cisco Network Administrator- CCNA
Affordable comptia certification training for a+, linux, aplus, inet+, network+
and many more it certifications. Try our free demo! ... Try Our Cisco CCNA Course
FREE. CCNA 640-801 training, for Cisco's introductory level certification, will
prepare you to ... Lemon Street, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. sales@quickcert.com ...
www.quickcert.com/ciscoccna.htm - 56k - Cached - More pages from this site
To Take a [FREE] Course Now!!!
Click Here >>
Fill out the form below to try a FREE Demo Course
and Test your skills absolutely FREE!
(*) are required fields
* Full Name :
* Email Address :
* Company :
* Daytime Phone :
* Address :
* City :
* State :
* Zip Code :
* Country :
>>Select the Product(s) of interest.
Cisco CCNP Microsoft MCDST
ThinkTank Microsoft MCSD
Microsoft MCSA MCSE 2000
Cisco CCNA Office 2000
CompTIA A+ CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Server+ CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA i-Net+ CompTIA CDIA+
Knowledge Management Windows NT 4.0
Advanced Sales Training MCSE 2003
For More Information E-Mail us at sales@quickcert.com
or call us at 1.888.840.2378
-==-
Konrad
North Bend,Washington,
U.S.A.
QuickCert Specialized Solutions FREE COURSE - IS IT REALLY FREE??? Tarpon Springs Florida
#10Author of original report
Fri, September 17, 2004
-=Capture of FREE Course offer:=-
The following is a text capture of the FREE Course offer I had found...
Cisco CCNA - Certified Cisco Network Administrator- CCNA
Affordable comptia certification training for a+, linux, aplus, inet+, network+
and many more it certifications. Try our free demo! ... Try Our Cisco CCNA Course
FREE. CCNA 640-801 training, for Cisco's introductory level certification, will
prepare you to ... Lemon Street, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. sales@quickcert.com ...
www.quickcert.com/ciscoccna.htm - 56k - Cached - More pages from this site
To Take a [FREE] Course Now!!!
Click Here >>
Fill out the form below to try a FREE Demo Course
and Test your skills absolutely FREE!
(*) are required fields
* Full Name :
* Email Address :
* Company :
* Daytime Phone :
* Address :
* City :
* State :
* Zip Code :
* Country :
>>Select the Product(s) of interest.
Cisco CCNP Microsoft MCDST
ThinkTank Microsoft MCSD
Microsoft MCSA MCSE 2000
Cisco CCNA Office 2000
CompTIA A+ CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Server+ CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA i-Net+ CompTIA CDIA+
Knowledge Management Windows NT 4.0
Advanced Sales Training MCSE 2003
For More Information E-Mail us at sales@quickcert.com
or call us at 1.888.840.2378
-==-
Konrad
North Bend,Washington,
U.S.A.
QuickCert Specialized Solutions FREE COURSE - IS IT REALLY FREE??? Tarpon Springs Florida
#10Author of original report
Fri, September 17, 2004
-=Capture of FREE Course offer:=-
The following is a text capture of the FREE Course offer I had found...
Cisco CCNA - Certified Cisco Network Administrator- CCNA
Affordable comptia certification training for a+, linux, aplus, inet+, network+
and many more it certifications. Try our free demo! ... Try Our Cisco CCNA Course
FREE. CCNA 640-801 training, for Cisco's introductory level certification, will
prepare you to ... Lemon Street, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. sales@quickcert.com ...
www.quickcert.com/ciscoccna.htm - 56k - Cached - More pages from this site
To Take a [FREE] Course Now!!!
Click Here >>
Fill out the form below to try a FREE Demo Course
and Test your skills absolutely FREE!
(*) are required fields
* Full Name :
* Email Address :
* Company :
* Daytime Phone :
* Address :
* City :
* State :
* Zip Code :
* Country :
>>Select the Product(s) of interest.
Cisco CCNP Microsoft MCDST
ThinkTank Microsoft MCSD
Microsoft MCSA MCSE 2000
Cisco CCNA Office 2000
CompTIA A+ CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Server+ CompTIA Linux+
CompTIA i-Net+ CompTIA CDIA+
Knowledge Management Windows NT 4.0
Advanced Sales Training MCSE 2003
For More Information E-Mail us at sales@quickcert.com
or call us at 1.888.840.2378
-==-
Konrad
North Bend,Washington,
U.S.A.
trying put a stop to this nonsense
#10Author of original report
Thu, September 16, 2004
UPDATE Thursday September 16, 2004 ... a couple of weeks after I answered an ad on the Internet like this one:
Add to Address Book
Add to Address Book
=-=-=
mcse, mcse certification, microsoft certification, mcse training, microsoft training, A+, Linux, cisco, A+ training, aplus, microsoft certification, online training, network+, free online courses, it certifications
Certification training for MCSE, A+, Cisco, Linux comptia certification and many more microsoft certifications!
Free Computer Training
Affordable certification training for mcse, cisco, a+, linux, aplus, microsoft office 2000 and many more microsoft certifications. Try our free demo!
=-=-=
and one week since I got a friendly phone call from a salesman to pre-qualify me and a nice e-mail like this one: (I have removed the passord and my e-mail addresses)
-=-=-
From Todd Orzechowski Thu Sep 9 13:40:37 2004
X-Apparently-To: XXXXX@yahoo.com via 216.136.172.21; Thu, 09 Sep 2004 14:43:37 -0700
X-Originating-IP: [209.49.238.3]
Return-Path:
Received: from 209.49.238.3 (EHLO quickcert.com) (209.49.238.3) by mta118.mail.re2.yahoo.com with SMTP; Thu, 09 Sep 2004 14:43:37 -0700
Received: from termsrv [24.227.110.249] by quickcert.com with ESMTP (SMTPD32-8.12) id AFE92740108; Thu, 09 Sep 2004 16:41:13 -0400
Return-Receipt-To: "Todd Orzechowski"
From: "Todd Orzechowski"
To: XXXXX@yahoo.com
Subject: Cisco
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 16:40:37 -0400
Message-ID:
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0020_01C4968B.BCA29A50"
X-Priority: 1 (Highest)
X-MSMail-Priority: High
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook CWS, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0)
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441
Importance: High
Disposition-Notification-To: "Todd Orzechowski"
Content-Length: 830519
I spoke to my boss and he said he would do the cd-roms for the same
price if
you wanted to move forward tomorrow. You need DSL or higher to do the
demo
but here you go:
www.oncourselearning.com
Login: toddo@quickcert.com
password: XXXXX
Pick CCNA 801 and play with it for a little while(please limit your
self to
30 minutes as I have other people demoing tonight). Thanks.
Todd Orzechowski
Corporate Training Consultant
Quick Cert Inc
Specialized Solutions
1-800-942-1660 ext 266
01-727-942-0388 from outside the US
1-877-200-5959 fax
www.quickcert.com
www.specializedsolutions.com
-=-=-
Then on Thursday night, I tried 30 min of their FREE demo of their CISCO CCNA 640-801 CBT training. I skimmed through their material in two short 15 minute sessions.
I was too busy to get back to immediately get back to these guys to buy their product. The next time I talked to them (Monday 9/20/2004), I told them about the piss-poor quality of their video presentation on their video portions and the overall lack of detail. I put them off and did not buy their product.
AND THEN THEIR BS STARTED....
I DID NOT WANT TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT SO THEY STARTED TO FILL MY VOICEMAIL WITH THREATS... such as If I don't buy their training that they will contact a collection agency. ... Insults such calling me deceitful and yellow...
Now I am getting 3-5 calls a day of threats accusing me of various things like using in excess of 20 hours of their training, hacking their accounts, erasing my training record... (which I did not do) on my cell phone. "We have your IP address" ...threats to wreck my credit...
I am getting e-mail threats on my Yahoo e-mail, and am now getting threats on my phone at work.
I REALLY DON'T CARE TO RETURN A PHONE CALL TO THESE FOLKS JUST TO GET FURTHER ABUSED. I Don't need this kind of treatment.
**** IMHO, if this product was worth buying, they would not need to resort to such tactics to sell their training software.****
Here is a sample of an e-mail they sent me yesterday: (they're smart -- it's tame in comparison to the voicemails left on my cell phone and work phone)
=-*-=
From Todd Orzechowski Wed Sep 15 10:50:07 2004
X-Apparently-To: XXXXX@yahoo.com via 216.136.172.21; Wed, 15 Sep 2004 10:52:31 -0700
X-Originating-IP: [209.49.238.3]
Return-Path:
Received: from 209.49.238.3 (EHLO quickcert.com) (209.49.238.3) by mta143.mail.dcn.yahoo.com with SMTP; Wed, 15 Sep 2004 10:50:50 -0700
Received: from termsrv [24.227.110.249] by quickcert.com with ESMTP (SMTPD32-8.13) id A0C140700F2; Wed, 15 Sep 2004 13:49:53 -0400
Return-Receipt-To: "Todd Orzechowski"
From: "Todd Orzechowski"
To: XXXXX@yahoo.com
Subject: Cisco
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 13:50:07 -0400
Message-ID:
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0005_01C49B2A.E97CD2E0"
X-Priority: 1 (Highest)
X-MSMail-Priority: High
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook CWS, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0)
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1441
Importance: High
Disposition-Notification-To: "Todd Orzechowski"
Content-Length: 830415
I am not surprised you haven't returned my calls. It is unfortunate how
this
ended up.....me trying to help you and you taking advantage of the
situation. You will not get far in life that way.
Todd Orzechowski
Corporate Training Consultant
Quick Cert Inc
Specialized Solutions
1-800-942-1660 ext 266
01-727-942-0388 from outside the US
1-877-200-5959 fax
www.quickcert.com
www.specializedsolutions.com
=-*-=
I AM NOT TAKING THIS COLD...
I changed my cell phone number
I have obtained a new secure mail account
I have talked to the FBI about their using on-line services to attempte to defraud, extort and otherwise victimize citizens. FBI considers these internet fraud and extortion to be right behind terrorists and foreign government spies. See the FBI's priority list:
http://www.fbi.gov/priorities/priorities.htm and
http://www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/cyberhome.
I have contacted the Washington State Attorney Generals office and am filing a formal complaint http://www.atg.wa.gov/
I going to call the Better Business Bureau of Tarpon Springs, FL Better Business Bureau (727) 845-7591 2653 McCormick Dr and will file a formal complaint.
I am also filing a complaint with the FTC. http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm
Also, I am considering spending my money with Bellevue Community College where I can get the following courses: Cisco Security, Cisco PIX Firewalls and Cisco IOS Networks for the special price of $1195. (Which is less than the $1500 they wanted for CCNA) or training myself by buying my own router lab for less than $1500 from E-bay.
Cisco Level 1 (CCNA)
Intermediate. This is the first course for individuals who are entering the CISCO Network Academy curriculum. Topics include mathematical and scientific concepts in application of skills and protocols, such as ARP, RARP, and IGRP; standards for LAN cabling; and the proper use of UTP and STP cabling. This course is the 1st in a series that will help you prepare for CCNA industry certification exam #640-801. Prerequisite: Successful completion of at least one of the following: CompTIA Network+, Microsoft Course 2151, TCP/IP Fundamentals, Principles of Telecommunications 1 and 2, or equivalent experience in networking.
Cisco Level 2 (CCNA)
Intermediate. A follow-up to Cisco Level 1, this course provides extensive hands-on experience with Cisco networking hardware. Topics include listing commands to load Cisco IOS software; configuring and verifying IP addresses, and adding RIP and IGRP protocols to your network configuration; and monitoring and verifying selected access list operations on the router and configuring extended access lists to filter IP traffic. This course is the 2nd in a series that will help you prepare for CCNA industry certification exam #640-801. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Cisco Level 1.
Configuring Cisco PIX Firewalls
Advanced. This hands-on, lab-intensive course teaches knowledge and skills needed to describe, configure, verify, and manage the PIX firewall product family. Topics include the features, functions, and benefits of the Cisco PIX Firewall; installation procedures; basic configurations; routing functionality; PIX and VPN; testing and verification; and special protocols. Prerequisite: Experience with Cisco routers; successful completion through Cisco Level 2, or equivalent knowledge.
Securing Cisco IOS Networks
Advanced. This course provides fundamental skills for securing Cisco routers and configuring security for organizations and data communications processes. Topics include basic Cisco router security; Cisco router threat mitigation; Cisco IOS Firewall CBAC configuration;Cisco IOS Firewall Authentication Proxy Configuration;Cisco IOS Firewall IDS Configuration; Building Basic IPSec; Configuring Cisco Remote Access IPSec VPns; Managing Enterpresie VPN Routers. This course is a companion class with Cisco PIX Firewalls and together the classes will help prepare you for Cisco exam #642-501. Prerequisite: CCNA Levels 1-4 or equivalent knowledge.
...
Furthermore, I will continue to update you on my progress to put a stop to this nonsense.