FAST TRAIN,FASTTRAIN II NOT WORTH THE MONEY Miami Florida

I signed on with Fast Train as a student in 2005. I took out a loan through the school with Sallie Mae for about 8k. I was told by the Dean of Admissions at the time, a guy named Juan who was there for like 3 months, that schedules were flexible and that you could always freeze your classes if you needed to stop attending school and return later to finish the program. Needless to say, I signed on to take 2 courses with Fast Train and after completing the first portion of my loan I decided to freeze my schedule due to a crazier work schedule at the time. After a few months I tried returning to the school only to be told that I could not return because the school no longer offered the classes I had signed up for. I have attempted numerous times to contact Fast Train and everytime I speak with someone the next time I call they no longer work there. I spoke to a gentleman named Gus one time who claimed to be the President of Fast Train and advised me that he would take care of things but nothing was ever done. I simply want Fast Train to pay the portion of the loan that I was not allowed to complete. Is this possible? I have been paying on a loan that I feel I was cheated on. Please help.

I was 17 at the time of my enrollment at fast train. I was promised an accredited HS diploma and a wonderful education. From my experience at fast train they had favoritism among students lying recruiters who dated and has had sexual relations with students as well as receptionist. I was exposed to this outrageous behavior but ignored it for the sake of my education. I was on the bus the day of the raid getting ready for class when the FEDS armed with guns pointed them at me and my fellow classmate. We were instructed to leave the class and go home later on I spoke with a fellow teacher to find out the criminal activity that was going on within the school. Such as attendance being changed when students were absent, the taking of money from innocent minors such as myself without my diploma and bad credit only at the age of 17 and a debt of 3,167 dollars.. If anyone have ANY information on how I can get this fixed please email me : (((ROR redacted)))

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Hello

I have just found out about Fast Train being raided. I attended Fast Train in 2007 as and international student and paid out of state fees....go figure not only Okay so my first term i had a instructor that only showed power points or cancel class. the second term i had a instructor that had a very strong Spanish accent and only showed power points exams were from the back of our text books Here is the killer i had to take some time off because my daughter was born so i didn't have much time between work and a new born...I was told that it would be okay for me to come back when was appropriate for me all i had to do was pay $100 to reinstate. However that was not the case let just say I lost $16,000 with Fast Train.

With that said anyone with any information that can help me get back at Fast Train please let me know

Email: eldridge.garland@gmail.com

Hell0

I have just found out about Fast Train being raided. I attended Fast Train in 2007 as and international student and paid out of state fees....go figure not only Okay so my first term i had a instructor that only showed power points or cancel class. the second term i had a instructor that had a very strong Spanish accent and only showed power points exams were from the back of our text books Here is the killer i had to take some time off because my daughter was born so i didn't have much time between work and a new born...I was told that it would be okay for me to come back when was appropriate for me all i had to do was pay $100 to reinstate. However that was not the case let just say I lost $16,000 with Fast Train.

With that said anyone with any information that can help me get back at Fast Train please let me know

Email: eldridge.garland@gmail.com

Well I only owe 17,000 lol for a School that I'm guessing is closed now. They stole my State grant money also for certs but atleast I got some of them. Promised Cisco cert but they didn't even have a Teacher that was Cisco Certified to teach the class. Teachers Quit every Week not me I graduated for nothing but a piece of paper I wouldn't even wipe my a** with.

I am another ex employee of FastTrain, with more than 20 years in Financial Aid in the private career school industry.  There are plenty of career colleges in the US who provide a fast, skill-based training that leads to solid employment.  FastTrain is not necessarily one of those "good guys." 

When I started at FastTrain I was a little concerned when I found out they had no employee benefits, no direct deposit, etc., which is a bit archaic in year 2012.  But as the saying goes, I needed the job..... 

By the end of the first day I realized there were problems, beginning with the Admissions staff roaming the inner-city ghetto to "recruit" students.  Lovely young ladies recruiting men, buff young men recruiting the ladies, etc.  Picking up these "recruits" in their personal vehicles (alone) to take them to the school for the fast-demanding-do-everything-in-one-day enrollment.  Special targets were the homeless, recently-released inmates, young single mothers...  Get the point - no or low income = more Pell Grants and Student Loans.  Students were encouraged to state they had a HS diploma, or even were advised to state they had children they were supporting when they weren't!  Again, more $.  Nothing documentable. 

Daily complaints from students - not getting refunds, not receiving books until the end of the term, not getting any resolution to problems.  I worked with one student who attended 3 days and owed over $1400, AND had a student loan to repay also!    I worked with prior students whose loan funds were taken (and kept) clearly after the student no longer attended or funds were received for terms not even started!  When I would escalate an issue to the corporate level I was usually ignored.  Or perhaps I would receive yet another memo from the boss stating that I was "difficult" and that my employment was in jeopardy.   The more I questioned, the more I was alienated.  And boy was there a lot to question!  I have personally observed many areas of non-compliance and most people associated with the school are surprised it took this long for a Dept of Ed investigation.  Vulnerable students are now liable for thousands of dollars in student loan and or private debt.

If there is a class action suit, count me in!

FBI raids Fast Train College, Fasttrain.edu, Fasttrain.com.

Visit this link for full story: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/256729/483/FBI-Investigating-Fast-Train-College?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge.

We need to file a Class Action Lawsuit now!

FBI Raids all Fast Train Campuses! Go here for full news Report! The ex-employee who worked for Santiago Martinez was correct. Seems they were asking homeless individuals to sign up to attend Fast Train with the promise that they would receive some of the Government Money (Pell Grants) as a reimbursement for signing up.

FBI also took student files to determine if High School Diplomas were doctored. Fast Train is finally going down, the fraud and its employees are done for.

If you were going to file a Class Action Lawsuit, this would be the time. Call Commission for Independent Education as well. Protect your tax money. Don't let Alex Amore fuel up his private jet on your dime and time.

Santiago and Alex are still the masterminds. FRAUD!

I am an x-employee of Fast Train and I directly worked under Santiago Martinez, Dean of Academic Affairs for Fast Train. I can tell you without a doubt that Mr. Martinez and Mr. Alex Amor(Owner) continue to falsify documents so that they can mislead the Commission for Independent Education, ACICS and the US DOE that there so called graduates gain employment. 

What the government doesn't understand is that Fast Train doctors HS Diplomas, Doctors Attendance Records and Doctors Placement information. Additionally, Fast Train will accept attestations as proof of Education and Proof of Employment. This means that a student just has to sign a letter stating that they went to this school for a high school diploma or received employment at this company as proof. How are they safeguarding the public with regards to qualifying a student or achieving gainful employment. 

When a student is in threat of default on their loan, Fast Train will pay one payment to reset the clock. 

I know what you are doing Santiago, you better save up your money for a big slick attorney. There is nothing you can do once Alex abandons you. 

Juan, please keep us informed and let us know what else we can do or how to contact you.  I have tried almost anuthing, even talking to the Staff and the CIE, ACICS, FL Dept. of Ed., FTC and others with no avail. I taught a class there as a student with a promise of payment...it happens that I got charged for two months they never gave a class and my wife is being charged with 4 months in addition to the loan she made. Alejandro Amor and Dawn Amor are frauds and trouble makers.  He should be a man and come up with the truth, German, Santiago, Jeffrey are just sorry puppets. Please read the complaint about how we got expelled and how he wrote some no-sense in reponse to my complaint.  Until this day he has not answered my questions and now is planning to take legal actions for the money we owe him, but you are right, employees have come up to me to testify about the fraud and mistreatment of students.

Regards,

Jorge Rodriguez
major_rod@yahoo.com

I am a recent employee and past student of Fast Train. This is a warning to all employees and students of Fast Train. Upper management at this school has continuously requested that their employees forge documents to allow individuals to attend the school. Specific documents include false high school diplomas, altered evaluation exams and completion exams, misleading statements to qualify for financial aid, altered completion and placement data. If you are a student and feel that you have been mislead by Fast Train and it's employees, please draft a response to the Commission of Independent Education and have it addressed to Mr. Talman Sisk.

A separate Class Action lawsuit comprised of past employees is currently being drafted. I would strongly suggest that all current employees and students consider their legal options. Due to Ripoff rules, please contact me directly if you are interested in more information regarding the Class Action Lawsuit and where you can submit your request to join the complaint.

Fast Train is accredited by a national accrediting body called ACICS. Please send your concerns to Joseph E. Gurubatham.

More information to come.

I taught a class in "how to teach" at the Kendal Campus. I have not met any so called "instructor" that will volunteer their time on Saturdays to tutor (congrats you are the first one).

The ex-employee it is not disgruntled, I believe that she/he is telling the truth base on the fact that I have experienced the same as a student.

You on the other hand either are blind or protecting your job (I don't blame you) you have to support your family.

My grade issues when addressed were never fixed, I was reported as been absent without been absent (was never fixed), I was able to contact and meet with the owner because I have a Masters in Education, Im an Army Officer with 26+ and my wife and my son were student$$$$$$$, understand why I was treated a little bit better than other students.

FastTrain has violated student rights because they think that the students have non because they have no jobs or because they were referred by Work Force.

Other than that I consider only a few isntructors "qualified" to teach, and I'm not talking about "degrees" but methodology and teaching abilities. The majority of teachers have no skills to teach despite of having some knowledge. I hate to say this but in more that a few classes I was told to Google the answer to my questions.

I would say, contact me to see the "professional" that helps FastTrain with the answers, but after last week I can hardly say that if there2 employees with integrity in the Kendal Campus I will apologize for my comments.

I am trying to contact as many people as possible to ask them to file a complaint calling the Federal Trade Commission. Their number is 1-866-966-7226. I did mine but they will not start an investigation unless there are more than one complaint. I tried other agencies such as the CIE, the Florida Department of Education, etc, but it seem that they are getting some $$ or not doing their job!

We contacted the media and they are doing a report on our case. Patrick Fraser, form Help me Howard is working on the case. Pass the word!

Hope to hear from you...

I am a ex student of the fast train trap hole corporation. And to be honest with you everything that I have researched and the allies with negativity towards this corporation is a 100 percent agreeable. I finally found I a group of people who understand how much of a deceiving company full of fraud and lies it really is . Thank you to all the supporters that are putting up a fight against this scam. All of you make me feel a home.

Anyways back to the subject I also attended this school and I was lied and fooled infront of my face blind. They make you feel really good as if they were just a pill that will turn ur life into dreams never thought of. They make everything sound so easy and blah blah blah . Honestly that same guy that made me sign the papers, doesn't even work there anymore . So its not like I could go back to the guy and ask him why he would do something so Evil to some one that just wants to better his life. I also noticed alot of there employees never stay around. They all end up fired or resigned so I would say the same goes to all of them . Person in charge German , I could compare you to Castro or Chavez . You give us no rights at all on how we should learn. Lacking all types of technology that we need in order to provide education. You don't even have the materials to provide us to learn u give us technology form the early 90s and try to give us " examples ". Every thing taught. is coming from a book that is not even up to standards and never any real hands on experience . These are high level material that one doesn't completey learn in 3 weeks with half baked books. And unethusiastic teachers that just drive you to sleep. And evrytime I needed guidance no one was ever around. Just lies after lies after lies and the main people behind this can never help people out! , all of you are a disgrace and always remember karma does exist. And for the same evil you provide you will also receive because god doesn't let the bad be unpunished. There still the afterlife. And expectations for you going up seem unrealistic through my point of view. German u a lie . Your just like the president , a face for all the evil behind it. That just tell general population what they want to hear. Instead of what they really should know. Just another example of corporate america. And to the man that claims what my friend " ex employee " says is wrong. I would say he is just another face telling people what they would want to hear . Instead of the hidden dirty truth. You know very well your whole organization is a lie but you just want to protect your pay roll . I will fight with all my power to make sure justice is brought to you scammers. And for all of us that got scammed . Much love to all of you , I feel your pain . Thank you for the ability to express my self . I'm gone

Sincerely

Against fasttrain

It certainly sounds like a disgruntled ex-employee is trying to get back at the school. I have been an IT instructor at the Miami location for almost 5 years. Our entire staff truly cares about the students. If you dont care about your students you wont survive in any school. As a matter of fact some us even volunteer to tutor students even on weekends.

1. You are correct that one my duties is to call students that are absent. Many times students are embarrassed when they have a personal problem and cannot come in. I have actually made arrangements for students that have been in car accidents to car-pool so they would not miss class. We have even found part time jobs for students that have lost their jobs and cant afford the basics.

2. It is also true that the school provides the books the first day of class and I wished the other school that I worked at would have done the same thing. I dont have any students the first day of class with the wrong books, missing books and/or not having money to be able to afford books. This makes perfect sense.

3. You also mention that classes are being cancelled and this is just not true. In five years I have never have seen a single cancellation of any class.

I can understand if you are a former employee that been fired and upset but there is no need to lie and hurt the teachers that really care about our students. Not every school is for every person but if you are interested ask the school to allow you to sit in classes, speak with existing students and speak with graduates. While I dont know about the medical classes and their placement my last group of graduates were placed within a few weeks with the exception of one. I love my work, I love my students and I love my school.

I must agree that the way situations are handled at Fast Train are not to the benefit of the student, instead to the benefit of all the dollars of yours they've stuffed into your pockets.

Many times I recieved phone calls from students nearly 5 times a day, wanting to speak with financial aid, or anyone who could help a resolve a negative situation they were having concering the school's manner of handling problems, or taking their money.

I had students yell at me that everytime they called the person they needed to speak with was never able to speak with them and that they were tired of being tossed around and not taken care of.

Really what would happen is i would say, so and so needs to speak with you and they would say, "Voicemail." Just about everytime, unless the situation had escalated to a point where the student was threatening mountains of lawsuits or withdrawal from the school.

The instructors are usually people who have worked in the field they are teaching, but have gotten the short end of the stick themselves. They tend to have a mightier than thou personality that makes them difficult to work with, let alone endure as a student.

They tell you, you should be able to finish within the year, but by firing instructors and having low student to teacher ratios they end up cancelling classes and students are dedicated to improving their lives end up getting held back.

They don't give students any means of control or say in the way classes go, or the way information is recieved. Administrative assistants are practically forced to coddle students that are more than capable of taking care of themselves and have enough maturity to handle a class. Basically everytime a student missed a class, i had to log it and give the students a call and ask them why they didn't come to class. Reasons like illness, or pregnancy, or even getting off of work late would make it difficult to come into class, and despite the company knowing these things, we still had to make these calls.

Instead of giving the students access to their grades and class schedules online, the Administrative assistant is responsible for going to each individual class on the last day of class and telling the students where their next classes would be. She or he then had to log it, per student, and then call new students to "remind" them that orientation would be the next day even though that was the first time they were being told. Instead of buying their own books, the company buys the books for the students, with the student's money, and then hands them out by having the students pick them up before or after class. Not even actual college students get this kind of treatment, and they wouldn't support it. It's your money, you should be in control.

They leave nothing in the hands of the students and because of this students have no control over the futures in that school. Changes to their schedules or term start dates are made without prior notice and then students who have suffered these changes are simply told how it will be from then on.

It's impossible to go through every indiscretion the school has had without having been in the student's shoes. They sincerely get a raw deal, and it's their money that is at stake. If you were to try to be sincere or helpful to the students in any way, you're basically sabatoging your own job. The less help the students get, the better you're doing your job.