SmartCertify Direct ripoff Clearwater Florida
I signed up for the A+ course--after I received it and viewed--I didn't think too much of it so I called and asked to have the account cancelled. I was informed that their policy was to not refund unless I took two tests and failed them both--and that my opening the software to view it I "agreed" to continue payments etc., etc--I offered to send their software back and seeing as how it is internet based they would know if I used the software "illegally" because I would have to log onto their site to use the "references/library and testing materials. Was told no--couldn't be done.
So I "resigned" myself to having to pay for something that I would never use and threw the entire package contents in the trash. The company continued to happily bill my credit card until two months in a row they double dipped--so I filed a complaint with my credit card company and challenged the company through VISA--after about six months VISA stopped them from billing my account--by this time they had 1/2 the $500--and then I get a Collection Notice--sue me--filing a letter with the credit company and one with FTC and BBB of Clearwater--plus I have the following comment in my
email "signature" "DO NOT BUY ANY SMARTCERTIFY DIRECT SOFTWARE-NEVER--NEVER--NEVER and on my web site. And please get off that "accept" agrement--even mean tough Microsoft will take back tehir software if you return it--even if you had "peeked" at it--
Jack
Lacey, Washington
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jon
Clearwater,Florida,
U.S.A.
Should we take your word for it?
#2UPDATE Employee
Fri, September 12, 2003
Jack freely admits that he opened and installed the training software. There is a big red sticker that seals the CD's which states that by opening the software you agree to our Warranties and guarantees, as well as our return policy.
That information is included with every package to avoid any misunderstandings or problems. The problem is that once you've opened the software, we have no way to verify that you didn't just make a copy and send back the original so that you could have the training for free. It would not be good business to just give away your product, so we don't. Should we just take everyone's word that they aren't just trying to "scam" us for free training?
We do provide a guarantee that the training will work for you. All you have to do is try the training. If you fail any exam corresponding to your training on two attempts (with 5 days between attempts) within 90 days of purchase, and send us proof, we will fully refund the cost of the course.
Anyone who actually /uses/ the training, as Jack apparantly did not, generally succeed's quite well... so well in fact that we provide the above guarantee. All Jack had to do was give it a try, not just look at it and decide not to use it.
As for the accusation that we "double-dipped" his credit card, I find that highly suspect, but I cannot verify that either way at this point. The fact is that we sent Jack his training for a very small payment up front, and trusted him to make the remaining payments, interest free. Apparantly he did not actually make the payment in full, even though he agreed to, and that would be why he was contacted by collections.
As to his claim that even microsoft will take their software back, I find that highly dubious. I know of no person who was able to return a Windows 95/98/ME/NT/XP/2000 OS CD-ROM back after they broke the sticker. That's because Microsoft isn't in the business of giving away their OS, and they have no way to verify that you didn't just install it and give back the CD-ROM. That's standard business practice, and nothing to be upset about at all.
Jack, if you'd used the training and had it not work for you, sent us proof, and then not gotten a refund, you'd have some basis to call us a rip-off. As it stands, you do not.