Smart Certify, Skillsoft, CBT ripoff, fraudulent, misleading, liars, cheats, deliberate misconception, Clearwater Florida

It was October of 2003, I was called by Smart Certify after visiting their website telling me I could get free training. I never got free training, and I ended up spending $3500.00 on a bunch of garbage. I was told that the courses I would be taking were basically like live computer simulations and I was ready to login to a system that had actual server simulators where I could work on a server and learn how to use it. I shortly found out that it was not live simulation, but a fancy interactive Flash program. This was most terrible, and I called them back several times to try to get my money back. I also didn't realize that they were going to open a credit account through a credit card company (MBNA) in my name without my permission ( I didn't know this was how it was going to be) I thought I would have a student loan and start paying it back when I was through with the course. I didn't have to start making payments right away, BUT, and I say BUT, interest was accumulating on the account on a daily basis until it was paid in full. I found the money and paid it off after one month. I certainly could not afford to have $3500.00 accumulating interest for 2 years ( Course Life )and then paying it off. I had to borrow money from family to save my skin. I was really pissed off that they setup a credit card account for me without explaining this was exactly how they were going to do it. My telephone conversations were all recorded according to the sales rep I talked with on a regular basis. He also told me I could not get my money back unless I failed the same test 2 times, and that they did not offer a Satisfaction Guarantee. I was appalled and I told them after 3 or 4 phone converstations that I would seek legal assistance to retrive my money.

My sales rep told me that I was free to do as I wished but that there was no way I would be able to fight a large company that had millions of dollars to back them up. I basically felt the defeat and tucked my tail between my legs and never called back. Since then, I have been contacted by several different people from Smart Certify, to see how my progress was going. I always told them the same story that I have posted here. They just say "have a nice day" and politley hang up the phone. Just yesterday Oct 3, 2005 a guy from CBT called me and told me that they bought out Smart Certify and he wanted me to spend another $1500.00 on his course. That would include the $3500 I already spent for a grand total of $5000.00. I explained the whole thing to this guy and he wanted me to spend more. I laughed and told him politely that I would not be spending anymore money, and if they wanted a satisfied customer, to please refund my money. NOT..... He told me he would call me back when they implement the live labs that they have in the works. I told him to do so. No, I won't spend any money, but I will get some more usefull information out of this person. I hope that this will help anybody that sees it. I still have a sour taste in my mouth and I hope someone opens a class action suit against them. BIG TIME CONSUMER RIPP OFF FOLKS!!! BEWARE!!!

Daniel
Bonneau, South Carolina
U.S.A.