SmartCertify Direct, A SmartForce Company ripoff Clearwater Florida
I signed a contract with them to pay $200 a month for two years for complete access to their entire software library. I did try getting into their web site, but was unable to get it to work properly, even after contacting site helpers using the chat facility.
I made my monthly payments thru my American Express card, until one month they billed me for the entire remainder of the balance due. I complained to American Express and had the balance taken off, while properly continuing to make the monthly payment, until American Express could get them to just go back to the monthly payment schedule I had initially signed for. They said they had charged me the entire balalce because they attempted to call me for my new expiration date and I had not been there to give it to them.
I was shocked when I received a final decision from American Express that they were going to put the total balance amount back on my bill and make me pay it immediately! In their explanation to American Express, they said that I was not entitled to a refund to my account, as I was under contract to make the payments in question.
In the first place, I would have been glad to continue making the monthly payments and never asked for a refund to any account. What I was objecting to was being charged the entire amount immediately just because I failed to respond to their call for a new card expiration date. Why was the expiration date even important to them if they were able to charge not only the regular monthly payment amout to me, but the total amount of my scheduled payments, after I failed to give them the new expiration date.
The only reason they could have for putting such a clause in their contract (where I actually found it after reading all the fine print) would be to collect their money as fast as possible, in total conflict with their "verbal" promises to spread it out over two years so it wouldn't be a burden on me. They just wanted me to sign the contract for the phony payment schedule so I could be ripped off by the gotcha clause.
George
Columbia, Illinois
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Jess
Gulfport,Florida,
U.S.A.
complainers
#5UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 05, 2005
the reason why people like me who work for smart certify(as a salesman not admin) come onto this site aand rebuke people like you is because this is a powerful tool. We live in the land of free speech so as such people such as yourself are aloud to express there opinions. However, freedom of speech is only good when it helps other people. You on the other hand were to lazy to call in with an acceptable form of payment, got charged the amount YOU OWED. and are whining about it. I would be willing to bet that you were too lazy to finish any of the courses too. Education is all about follow through. It's time you put away your parents amex and be responsible for yourself.
Pam
Las Vegas,Nevada,
U.S.A.
Your first mistake was using American Express
#5Consumer Comment
Thu, May 20, 2004
If you think you have protections using a credit card, think again! American Express is notorious for sticking their customers with bad deals. According to the Consumer Union, they have paid $85,000 in fines. I got stuck with thousands of dollars of damaged and defective furniture. When I called to dispute it, AE said work with the merchant. When the merchant refused so did American Express. I would cut up that card!
Kevin
Oshkosh,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
rebuttal to rebuttal
#5Consumer Comment
Thu, August 14, 2003
If you are not worried about your company's reputation, why do you come here and waste your time on a bunch of "complainers" unless what everyone says is true and you are trying you best at damage control. Its only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
Steve
Clearwater,Florida,
U.S.A.
Read before you sign
#5UPDATE Employee
Fri, March 14, 2003
I am an employee of Smart Certify, and I would like to comment on this complaint. And, in doing so, I would like to use George's own words and answer his complaints.
"I signed a contract with them to pay $200 a month" -*- He entered into a legal biding contract. And it was for 12 months, not 2 years. He had access to all of the courses for 2 years, but the payment option was for a maximum of 12 months.
George was charged for the remainder of the balance for the following reason: His card was about to expire. It is clearly written on the payment contract that George was required to sign that if a card is going to expire before such said time that the contract is to end, the balance will be charged in full if the customer does not provide us with a valid card. That can be in a couple different ways. First, if the card numbers remain the same, a valid expiration date. Secondly, this can be avoided by providing another valid credit card. Once a card is expired, the company can no longer charge for it's services.
"What I was objecting to was being charged the entire amount immediately just because I failed to respond to their call for a new card expiration date" -*- In George's own words, my company attempted to contact him to get the new expiration date. But, he failed to comply with the request. It only takes 2 minutes to call and provide that information. It can be done 24 hours a day. If the company is closed, he could have easily left that information in a voice mail or done it by email.
"they said that I was not entitled to a refund to my account, as I was under contract to make the payments in question" -*- again George makes reference to the contract. By this time, it should be clear, that it is a contract, and is treated as such matter. A legally binding contract that he entered into under his own free will. George requested a service in which he could not afford to make the full payment up front. Under good will, my company provided him with the means to acquire the training he desired, and pay the amount off on a set payment schedule.
"They just wanted me to sign the contract for the phony payment schedule so I could be ripped off by the gotcha clause." -*- There is no gotcha clause. The clause was set up, to ensure payment is made and the company recieves the money in which George requested and agreed to pay. It would be much more difficult to collect if George didn't provide a valid credit card before the expired card ended.
What this boils down to is, George did not read everything. My company will make every attempt to accomodate each person's individual requests and needs. It does so by providing a contract that is free of fine print and tricky wording. With over 4.5 million students world wide, it is difficult to make every single person completely happy. But, every effort is made to do so on an individual basis. That is why Smart Certify is in business. We help individuals and small businesses succeed in the competitive field of that IT world. Plus, providing services for individuals who would like to learn more about computers at a price that is more affordable than traditional classrooms, without taking away from any of the benifits.