Complaint Review: Belford High School - Internet Internet

I was another Extremely Naive Victim of a Diploma Mill SCAM!


Back in 2007 I really wanted to further my education by pursuing college but I knew that had to finish my High school courses first or take the test to receive my GED. So I found this website ( Belford High School) and thought that it was worth a try. It looked and seemed like it was legit and all ( Now looking back it was just my lack of knowledge and failing to research that led me to believe that it was legit). 

So I payed $211.00 (which was considered there special at the time) took the exam. I actually had to take it twice because the first time I scored too low, but the second time around I passed. I guess when I think about the whole situation it did seem very weird that you can take one exam and pass it with an average score and still receive your Diploma with a high GPA.  Around that time I don't think I wanted to know the truth, I just wanted to be done with that whole chapter in my life and move on to better things.

It took about a week to receive my diploma (or should I say phony diploma ) to arrive in the mail. I was so ecstatic and felt like I finally accomplished something being that I was never great at committing to anything involving school ( Do to my lack of confidence).  and I stored it away until I would need to use it again. About a year and a half later I attempted to enroll in school and apply for a new job and a few of the jobs required you to have a High School Diploma. Same story applied when I tried to enroll for certain colleges....they require you to verify the high school you attended (which is expected) but it had to be an accredited school.

That was something that I never had though about when making the decision that I made. So of course after researching information about the High School (Belford) I was not able to find an address anywhere on the website or any other website for that matter. When I called there 800 number the phone lines where all screwed up it kept ringing once then playing the hold music and this went on for a few minutes until it eventually just hung up on me.

I then called back and in the beginning the same thing happened, then someone finally picked up. The man who answered the phone was very rude and extremely unprofessional. I asked him for some information regarding my concerns and he put me on hold without even saying anything then transferred me to another person ( which I believe it was due to him being very nervous and wasn't prepared to answer any of my questions). 

I then went over the same questions with the second person on the phone and he kept pausing after each question I would ask him as if he was thinking about what he was going to say before he said it. At this point I was very suspicious and knew there was some shadiness going on. He told me that they were based out of Panama city, Panama and the only way to get a hold of someone with there school was through email or telephone. He continued to lie to me about how the school is recognized anywhere in the United States and to have any college or job that I was applying for to contact them for any verification concerns.   

He then advised me that if I needed a copy of my documents that I would be charged $80.00 to have it mailed to me. He stated that there was no corporate office available and that the only way to get the matter resolved was to email them my concerns or have the company that is requesting the information contact them directly. I then realized how screwed I really was at that point.

 You see that was the big problem I was always wanting to find the shortcut in everything because I didn't believe that I was smart enough to actually take the time to do it the right way. Today I realize that there is no such thing as shortcuts when it comes to the important things in life like education because at the end of the day the only person you're cheating is yourself.

 So the moral of this story is to worn everyone to be very aware of these scam artists out there
 (In particular Belford High School). I may have been played this time but that's ok I take it as a big lesson learned and plus I do believe in Karma so eventually justice will prevail in some form or another. I will continue to fight this issue for as long as I can to try and not only get a refund somehow but also try my hardest to stop these so called Diploma Mill SCAMS!!!

 Here is a Real LIVE CHAT MESSAGE: I used the name Tabitha to protect my real identity:

Frank Foster: Have any questions.. Allow me to assist you
Frank Foster: Hi there
Frank Foster: How are you today?
   
Tabitha: yes I'm thing about enrolling but i needed to get some info about your school and program first
Frank Foster: sure
Frank Foster: which degree are you looking to apply for
Frank Foster: ?
Tabitha: not too sure yet but i was wondering were you guys are based at and what is the accreditation?
Frank Foster: tell me
Frank Foster: what is your last level of education
Frank Foster: ?
Tabitha: high school
Frank Foster: OK
Frank Foster: and when did you graduate with your high school
Frank Foster: ?
Tabitha: 1997
Frank Foster: OK
Frank Foster: that means you can go ahead for your bachelor's degree
Frank Foster: tell me
Frank Foster: what have you been doing since you completed your high school
Frank Foster: ?
Tabitha: yes
that's fine but i was really wanting to know the info i originally asked
first and I've been working my business for 10 years I'm not sure why you
ask that ??
Frank Foster: OK
Frank Foster: let me explain how this program works
Frank Foster: Basically, This is a Prior Learning Assessment Program
Frank Foster: This
program is for those individuals who have the required experience, excellence and knowledge but they want to convert their  experience into a degree
Frank Foster: So, you don't have to take any courses, classes or any exams
Frank Foster: Since there are No Courses and No Classes involved. So, you can earn a degree within just 15 days
Frank Foster: the objective of this program is to award a degree on the basis of your work/life experience and the knowledge that you already  have
Frank Foster: without having to attend any classes or go through any exams, you may apply for your degree based on practical work/life experience  that you have gained so far
Frank Foster: if you qualify, you become eligible to earn your fully accredited degree or diploma from our University which has worldwide  acceptance
Frank Foster: That means, our Evaluation Committee will convert your experience into credits, and if we see that you have the required credits  for the degree, we will go ahead and award you the degree
Frank Foster: OK?
Tabitha: and were are you based out of what city and state
Frank Foster: we are an online university
Tabitha: i know
that but where are you based at i have taken classes through
schools online before but you have to have a corporate office or
headquarters
Frank Foster: We are not allowed to give out the address
Tabitha: why would that be if i want to be a potential student i really don't
understand why you cannot give out that address its not a personal
address it would be a corporate address where students or a consumer
can send correspondence to. A school is still ran like a business so there
would be a corporate address avail?
Frank Foster: Well
Tabitha: ?
Frank Foster: if you want to fill in a form for a job or school
Frank Foster: you can write down
Frank Foster: online correspondence program
Frank Foster: and then the toll free number
Tabitha: I'm
extremely confused with the information that you are providing me
someone had told me about this school but I do not feel comfortable
giving out money to anyone without getting all of the facts first... I'm
sure you can understand that right!
Frank Foster: I do
Frank Foster: but I am a counselor here
Frank Foster: and I have to follow the protocols of the university
Tabitha: OK and what does that mean
Frank Foster: that means
Frank Foster: I have to, follow the orders
Tabitha: then you out of all people should have all of the info that i need then being that
you would be the deciding factor on whether i sign up or not
Frank Foster: ?
Tabitha: your company sounds extremely suspicious to me so I think I will further research
about this school in detail before I proceed any further or give you any of
my money.
Since we're talking I actually just pulled up like 5 different links of scam reports about your
program and it seems that a lot of people have a lot of bad things to say
about your so called school. I also see hear that you have taken a lot of
people's money (which they never received back) knowing that there degree's
were bogus. There is no way in the world that anyone can earn or receive a
degree within 15 days its just impossible so therefore that's tells me two things: your company must be a diploma mill and a huge scam and if this is true then eventually it will all catch up with
you guys. God does not like ugly and if you personally have any part of this illegal
business operation then you will have to answer to someone as well, although its
never too late to do the right thing.
 I will forward all of this information over to my lawyer, the local police station and local news
station and see what they have to say about all of this ...good luck to
you and your bogus school but at this time I think I will pass!!!
Frank Foster: That is just negative publicity spread by competitors
Frank Foster: and you can do your research
Frank Foster: and get back once you are satisfied
Tabitha: Oh believe me I already have I actually already have a degree and a friend
of mine is in the middle of doing an investigation about your so called
school so don't worry all of your companies dirt will come to light sooner than
later ....BELIEVE THAT!!
Tabitha: lying and stealing innocent peoples money is the worst thing
anyone could ever do. People work so hard to earn the little money that
they do have...then to have some selfish company come and take it from them
ITS JUST WRONG.
 All it takes it one brave individual to step up and do
the right thing ....that person could be you I'm not sure only you would know that.I wonder do you have a family? if so think about if someone came and took everything you ever
owned away from you and your family ....how would you feel about that?
Frank Foster: ma'am
Frank Foster: You should relax
Frank Foster: and do you research
Frank Foster: if you want to go ahead
Frank Foster: you can get back
Frank Foster: if not
Frank Foster: fine
Tabitha: Oh I am relaxed I'm just stating facts and how I feel..... just because it may not be
what you expected to hear doesn't mean that I'm not relaxed I'm perfectly
fine just disappointed and frustrated with phony businesses like the one
your representing robbing innocent people of there hard earned money
that's all!!!
Frank Foster: Ma'am
Frank Foster: instead of playing the blame game
Frank Foster: you can get back once ready
Frank Foster: thanks for your time
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