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University Of Phoenix Online Harassed me into signing up under false pretenses and is now penalizing me for voicing concerns Phoenix Arizona
In the fall of 2008 I applied for (what I thought was) a teacher's aide position through a local classified ad online. After going through a phone interview for the alleged position I began receiving calls from University of Phoenix at all hours of the day pressuring me to enroll. Naturally I was reluctant but after weeks of coaxing and assurances that classes would be core classes that I could transfer to a campus close to me I signed up. I should have known something wasn't right for the simple fact I never gave these guys my info to contact me in the first place, but I have been so eager to get back into school it didn't occur to me. Hindsight is 20.20 I suppose.
Within a couple weeks of the first class I began having problems with an instructor that was sub par to say the least (and that's being nice). I contacted my counselors to alert them of the problem, that the classes were not what I was told they would be and that my instructor was, well, an idiot. (He failed to spell and write correctly, did not form proper sentences, awarded praise and high grades to obviously failing work for other students, etc. etc.) This resulted in said instructor giving me a zero for a final paper that i handed in, saying he never received it. I was again assured (by my counselors) that this was not the usual case, to grin and bear it, that my next classes were substantial (ethics and a critical thinking class i was told), so on and so forth.
Not only were the next block of classes not what I was told they would be, but the instructors for these next two were even worse. (daily inconsistencies in assignment postings, inability to spell or write correctly, awarding praise to the students who did crap work, etc. etc.) Upon contacting my counselors this time I was told that I was never told these would be core classes and that I needed to stop trying to "cause trouble"; subsequently, each instructor that I have complained on to date has been docking points from my grade for assignments that i didn't do wrong and it has been tanking my GPA. In response to this I told my counselor to drop my classes; this did not happen, obviously, as I am still enrolled.
I think it is also of note that any response to other students (in the daily postings) that ruffles their feathers for being wrong/corrected results in forceful notes from the instructor in addition to losing points, even if what was said to them isn't confrontational. all you need to do is try and correct something and provide the right information to someone and it is grounds for discipline.
I have spoken with several lawyers about this (in more detail) and while I am told I have a solid case I am also told that because it is not a lucrative one they will not help me. there have been individuals who have contacted me with the information to join a class action suit, but the suits are concerning shady finance practices and one would need to drop out and get screwed by UoP and sallie may to join.
I do not want to drop out as it would destroy my grades (what little the UoP hasnt already) and prevent me from going to a good school but I cannot finish this with them as their "education" is on the same level as material I covered in middle school; credits don't transfer appropriately and no employer will entertain hiring someone with a "degree" from these people.
I don't know what to do or even where to start looking for help with this, so if you or anyone you know thinks they may be able to help me it would be GREATLY appreciated.
Lilithincarnate
san marcos, Texas
U.S.A.
14 Updates & Rebuttals
frustratedinfla
Tampa,Florida,
USA
UPOX a joke
#15General Comment
Thu, September 24, 2009
As I have read in other postings, the profs are a joke. They can not spell in their postings, they can't even spell in word when grading a group assignment. Nowadays word underlines the word in red, how can ya miss it??
Brought it to my advisor, pages and pages. I was told to send to her. No way! Copied and sent to the Dean, never a word.
Now, even though I was approved for financial aid I am getting collection notices. I am making a good faith effort to pay $50 a week as my spouse is unemployed. How can they send me to collections???
Cricket
Ohio,USA
Happy w/ UOP
#15
Tue, September 15, 2009
I am about ready to graduate from UOP online, and I have nothing but a great experience with them. Yeah, they did call me alot at first, pushing me into signing up with them, but I'm glad they did because I would never of gone back to school. Enrollment was a breeze, and I was told up front about classes I would have to take, meaning, all the boring classes. I was showed how to even look up my school schedule to show all the classes I would take.
As for the teachers, I can not say weather they are helpful, cause I never really needed their help, but when their spelling and grammer were just fine. The only problem I had was with Math, and my teacher and counselor were unwilling to help me. I did fail, but because I was an outstanding student, UOP waive the fee for the class. When I complained about my counselor, they gave me a new one, and when I had to retake Math, he set me up with a tutor in my area, and I passed just fine. I just needed more one-on-one attention.
As for the people complaining, I can't say nothing about the financial part, cause I've had no problem with that. But, if you don't turn in you assignments or do the work, well, a failing grade is what you will get. I find it hard to believe that they told you to stop complaining, and points are being deducted for complaining.
Not just me, but I know several people who attend UOP, mainly because of my recommendation, and nobody has once complained about anything major.
I would contact UOP again, and request someone high up. UOP does have a complaints department too, which I used with my first counselor.
Phaze
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
To "Armed and Dangerous"...
#15UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 16, 2009
I found your message to be very difficult to read and comprehend; it is filled with spelling and grammatical errors. While I cannot comment on your unfortunate experience with the University of Phoenix, I will say that had you stayed in school, perhaps your message would be more legible.
Furthermore, "recruitors" (sp) as you call them, i.e., Enrollment Counselors, do not
"get big bonuses for signing up people". This is an absolute falsehood; clearly you are not aware that it is a violation of federal law for universities to provide "bonuses" to its counselors based specifically on enrollments. UOP counselors are not paid on commission; we are given bi-annual performance reviews which reflect not only students enrolled, but also students who remain in class, customer service and office proficiency.
Certainly there are issues that arise with any large corporation. However it has been my experience that more often then not, students who have complaints with the University of Phoenix tend to be those who have not been diligent in their own studies, have failed to maintain attendance or have not completed assignments, have dropped or failed courses, with the end result being the return of their financial aid and a substantial debt with no degree.
Instead of blaming the University of Phoenix for your failure as a student, look to yourself as the sole individual responsible for your own educational success.
Sickened
Binghamton,New York,
U.S.A.
I have had pleasant experiences so far...
#15Consumer Comment
Mon, July 13, 2009
... but only really want to say that when it came to picking which lender for my student loans, the woman would NOT help me - and went as far as saying she could get into trouble for even breathing a suggestion. She sat there quietly while I read & made my choice.
I'm just starting though, so hope you guys are ALL WRONG.
Armed&dangerous
Santa Fe,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Class Action Law Suit - Let's Get It On!
#15Consumer Comment
Sun, June 07, 2009
I am a former student of the uop and there is more than instructors who are doing a snow job of teaching. Lies you are told to get you to enroll! Lies about your financial aid, team help, counselor assistance, prejudice favoring students who cannot follow instructions and produce inferior assignments. Don't even get me started. If enough of you people out there decide on obtaining attorney's to teach uop a lesson, get in touch with me. Billion dollar companies like uop are illegally handing out diplomas - they need to be taught a lesson. They even spam you on the internet, their recruitors get big bonuses for signing up people.
Armed&dangerous
Santa Fe,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Class Action Law Suit - Let's Get It On!
#15Consumer Comment
Sun, June 07, 2009
I am a former student of the uop and there is more than instructors who are doing a snow job of teaching. Lies you are told to get you to enroll! Lies about your financial aid, team help, counselor assistance, prejudice favoring students who cannot follow instructions and produce inferior assignments. Don't even get me started. If enough of you people out there decide on obtaining attorney's to teach uop a lesson, get in touch with me. Billion dollar companies like uop are illegally handing out diplomas - they need to be taught a lesson. They even spam you on the internet, their recruitors get big bonuses for signing up people.
Armed&dangerous
Santa Fe,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Class Action Law Suit - Let's Get It On!
#15Consumer Comment
Sun, June 07, 2009
I am a former student of the uop and there is more than instructors who are doing a snow job of teaching. Lies you are told to get you to enroll! Lies about your financial aid, team help, counselor assistance, prejudice favoring students who cannot follow instructions and produce inferior assignments. Don't even get me started. If enough of you people out there decide on obtaining attorney's to teach uop a lesson, get in touch with me. Billion dollar companies like uop are illegally handing out diplomas - they need to be taught a lesson. They even spam you on the internet, their recruitors get big bonuses for signing up people.
Fitz
Vancouver,Washington,
U.S.A.
office of dispute management
#15UPDATE Employee
Tue, May 26, 2009
To the original submitter: you have been offered a way to solve the issues presented. By taking advantage of this resource, you would show that you have filed your dispute honestly. By not contacting the ODM, you show that you simply don't have the wherewithall to handle yourself in the real world. No one can pressure you to do something you don't want to do and no one has; least of all UoP.
You were contacted by us because you gave us your information. Most *free* job hunting websites liaise with educational institutions because they are interelated. It's no great mystery how we got your contact information.
You make a lot of unsubstantiated accusations, as well as many baseless statements. This brings your whole complaint into question.
As with many other "reports" on this website, no lawyer would touch them with a ten-foot pole because they are unverifiable and ridiculous. Next time a major life decision comes up for you, do your research, read the fine-print, and accept responsibility for your own actions.
Don't blame others for your own failings.
Joshua
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
RE: If UOA is so great, then why?
#15Consumer Comment
Thu, May 21, 2009
Hi. I am a University of Phoenix student and I heard about this. I did a little research and found that this number only represents 7% of the student population. This figure only represents students that have no prior college experience. University of Phoenix's student body is comprised of 93% of those that have previous college experience and according to other figures has an average graduation rate similar to most other public and private universities. This was originally brought to the attention of the nation by a New York Times reporter that was trying to put a spin on numbers by using only the facts that suited his purpose and was not being objective.
Armywife65
Fayetteville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Was Lied to about Not having a loan. Went from not having a loan to now owing $15,000.00
#15Consumer Comment
Thu, May 21, 2009
"University of Phoenix" is ripping off,scamming,lying to and cheating people, and I'm not just saying that. They ripped my daughter off and they almost got me.
There are so many complaints, even by the ex-employees. Now I'm sure that there are many students or ex-students that are doing or did just fine with them, or didn't pay attention to their scam, but there millions of others that did get ripped off, including my 22yr old, single mother, Daughter.
She was told by the enrollment adviser, that the paper work HE WALKED her through was all formality; even when they go to the "loan" part. She told him, she did not want a loan and if she had to get a loan, she didn't want to pursue with them, He continued to tell her, to not worry about it, it's only if she decided to get a loan. He "assured" her it was not a loan...So "SHE SIGNED"
When she would get statements in the mail from Wachovia about a loan, she supposedly had with them. She then called her counselor, who again assured her it was nothing, she did NOT have a loan, she has a FREE Grant and told her also that she was basically being paid to go to school when she received a check in the mail from UOP, that it was just extra money to pay for any school necessities.
So now, almost 2yrs and just 6months before she graduates, she gets a call from the financing dept about her "LOAN" that she's NOT suppose to have.
We have been calling and leaving messages and no one helps. They keep telling her "Well you signed" OMG! I want to F.....ing go beat the living H...LL out of them. She knows that she signed, but the fact is, He, the enrollment counselor, walked her through the paper work and told her to sign, to NOT worry about the loan stuff, it was NOT a loan.
These people need to be stopped. I want to get a class action suit going, but, We need to get as many people as we can to be a part of this. We have already been in contact with an Attorney. Or rather, he contacted us and he states he has other complaints just like ours.
So if there is anyone else that this specific situation has happened to them, please contact me; Since I can't post my email address (read between the lines so to speak) rippedoffbyuop at gm...l dot c..
This can't keep happening to people who are just trying to better their career, make a good life for themselves.
Thank you
SheilaOnTheWeb
Ruth
Bedford,Ohio,
U.S.A.
If UOA is so great, then why?
#15Consumer Comment
Tue, May 19, 2009
To employee of University of Phoenix, if they are so great, then why is there only a 16% graduation rate? Why are there as many unhappy people as there are and why are there so many negative articles about University of Phoenix? Your college is deceitful and a total fraud. You also use a lot of scare tactics on the students that are there so they are afraid to drop out.
You lie to to people when you tell them they will have more time with family, friends and their children if they take on-line classes. This is a lie because it is more than three times the work each week than if one took a regular class at a college that had a normal fifteen week semester. They are so busy with their nose in the book and doing research papers and homework and with the participation and team activities that they do not even have time to breath, let alone spend some quality time with little Johnny.
Also, I already have an associate degree in Accounting and all my Accounting classes I've taken recently UOA is refusing to accept. UOA told me when they signed me in that my credits would transfer, yet there are at least ten classes that UOA is claiming they will not accept, including Accounting Principles I & II, (I am sorry, but every college teaches the very exact concepts in these classes regardless). They are trying to tell me I have to retake the last eight classes I've recently taken at Bryant & Stratton along with some other classes I've recently had. Would this be for my benefit? Absolutely not. UOA just wants the $515 per credit hour for each class. I was lied to and that was very unreasonable and UOA is a very unreasonable college. I even tried to fill out paperwork and had it sent in asking to accept these credits and was turned down. This is why I dropped out of their college. They would have run my financial aid well dry if I continued to pursue my degree with them.
The information you are giving here is a big joke because it seldom does anyone any good. Also, I got tired of several phone calls and emails per day on my work phone, cell phone and on my work email address. It was crazy. I would get called on my work phone and a message would be left then the same person would turn around and call my cell phone and leave another message, THAN SECONDS LATER leave me a voicemail. This was just the counselor. On top of this, the financial aid advisor was always calling and so was the recruiter. I told them that things at work was extremely hectic and to stop calling me at work. I gave these people a better time to call me but they did not bother calling me at that time.
As far as signing you up. The advisor will tell you they will "walk you through the whole process" and tell you what you need to do. It is a lengthy process and confusing even for someone with a nickname "Brain" such as myself. People like me rely on the added help. So, don't blame the students who were mislead into taking out loans when they did not need to, or whatever they were lied to or mislead on. No-one has time to read each and every word on that lengthy application and you cannot tell me that you know one person that actually has because you don't.
University of Phoenix is a fraud and they charge way too much for the sub-par education. And, don't be fooled into believing that they are one of the only colleges that will take everyone to justify the high costs because any community college at a fraction of the cost will do the same thing.
I will return to another college in the fall. One that offers in-class sixteen week semesters and that only charges $256 per credit hour as apposed to $515. UOA's class time is only eight weeks for in-class and if you have to take a second class on top of that to qualify for financial aid. Therefore, you are cramming way too much information in just a short amount of time and you will not have any time for anything or anyone else but for work and school and you know the old saying about someone who is all work and no play. They turn into a dull person.
Thank you.
Uofphoenix
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
University of Phoenix, Office of Dispute Management
#15UPDATE Employee
Fri, May 15, 2009
On behalf of the University of Phoenix, I have been asked to respond to your comments. The University strives to provide excellent customer service, and our goal is to demonstrate this commitment in all of our actions. We are always eager to review any comments or concerns from students and will work diligently to review any opportunities for improvement.
While we encourage all students to work with their local campus directly, the University also has a department dedicated to handling student complaints. The Office of Dispute Management (ODM) is responsible for all student and faculty grievances and appeals. Our goal is to resolve and bring closure to escalated student issues either by correcting a problem for a student or providing the student with sufficient detail as to why the University took a particular action or made a particular decision. If you would like to pursue a complaint with ODM, please contact our office using one of the methods listed below.
Mailing address:
Office of Dispute Management
University of Phoenix
4615 E Elwood Street
Mail Stop: AA-S401
Phoenix, AZ 85040
Email address:
UofPhoenix@phoenix.edu
Phone:
602-557-5566
Fax:
480-557-2275
Best regards,
Libby Bailey, University Relations Administrator
On behalf of University of Phoenix - Office of Dispute Management
4615 E. Elwood Street AA-S401 | Phoenix, AZ 85040
phone: 602-557-5566| fax: 480-557-2275 | email: UofPhoenix@phoenix.edu
Daniell
Des Plaines,New York,
U.S.A.
Quck rich scheme
#15Consumer Comment
Tue, May 12, 2009
Stop crying and trying to get rich just because you do not feel like working. No one placed a gun to your head to sign up and you can quick anytime. Also there are quiet a bit of students that go to that school yet they are not whining like you. To claim that all professors are weak speaks terrible character on your part. There are reasons that these people are where they are at in their lives. I am not a big fan of people such as yourself because you are nothing more then a hater. There are plenty of haters in the world who are bitter at the world and they blame others for their problems. Grow up, learn and contribute positively to society, not crying foul and making statements in order to stir trouble. Quick paychecks do not come that easy so careful about attaining your lawsuit.
I can certainly help you. Grow up.
Lilithincarnate
san marcos,Texas,
U.S.A.
*UPDATE ..
#15Author of original report
Mon, May 11, 2009
I have come to find recently that schools are not allowed to suggest lenders when you are applying for a loan; i did not know this was illegal, i thought that was standard.
I was referred to sallie may as a lender by mark serfling, apparently the lender that UoP has the shady agreement with.