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Report: #160234

Complaint Review: AIU - American Intercontinental University Online - Atlanta Georgia

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  • Reported By: Austin Texas
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  • AIU - American Intercontinental University Online 3330 Peachtree Rd. Ne Atlanta, Georgia U.S.A.

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Aiu Online American Intercontinental University Online has some serious issues concerning possible students that need to cancel or even postpone the dates.

AIU will treat you really well and pretend they are on your side until you decide to cancel. I didn't cancel by choice (trying for a week), but my current situation is horrible. As much as I hate to say it, I'm homeless now.

I almost gave in and was about to just go to class and do the best that I could under the conditions I'm in now. But I decided against it, they are not going to get away with screwing people around that easily. They have shown to me in the end they are nothing but telemarketers to sell a service and nothing more. It is unfortunate that the sales team can ruin an institutions reputation, before you even get a chance to experience the quality of the actual education from some of the talented professors they have.

I will give them some credit they were very helpful during the enrollment phase. They even paid the 50 dollar application fee.

I just lost my job around that time. But said its ok and said I can still say I'm currently employed with my current employer, since they were on the preferred employers list, which entitled a waiver of the 50 dollar application fee. A 5% discount on tuition to get me in, I'm at fault also for going along with this, but I wanted to go to college so bad.

They said it was alright and not to worry about it, they do it all the time the way they made it sound. But I never actually said I did vocally, but had to sign a form. So, I guess I screwed up. I never lied to them though I said I was no longer with them. They said it's no problem.

So, this gives you an idea what lengths they will do to get your tuition. They manipulate the situation to get the money.

They are treating me like I do not exist now and hoping I just forget about it. I'm really starting to agree with all these negative posts they are indeed very true and very accurate. I thought there were just a few disgruntled employees and maybe some over exaggerations, but there not. I really believe every one of those complaints now. I do not doubt the level of the actual education though.

Also, I was not born in the USA, but adopted and had no idea myself I had some immigration problem, since I've been working for 16 years and never had a problem with any job. But the original loan from the FAFSA was denied because a social security problem with immigration and could not be processed until I fixed it.

I never sent them documentation on my LEGAL status, but they somehow managed to get those awards for me. I've asked how and they will not tell me, since I do not want the government coming after me for fraud. I hope they did this legally, I have no idea. Any comments are very appreciative.

They do not care about you they just make you believe it, so they can get your tuition money. I did not believe this before because I did post a positive comment here in AIU's defense. I feel really stupid now and feel like a total fool for falling for their bs.

I've called and talked to the FA department and they give you the excuse they can not cancel a student, it's up to the admittance Counselor. For God Sakes I'm living in my freaking car. What other reason do you need?

I find this very misleading and extremely dishonest, because I've had to cancel a similar situation and ALWAYS the FA department was able to cancel. Their the ones that did all the work to get them, how is it that FA can't help you cancel?

But I do believe now this was a tactic to delay as long as possible until the actual classes started. I've yet to step foot in any classroom and gave AIU more than a week to respond. They have not responded to a total of 10 e-mails concerning the cancellation. Plus, telephone calls that I left messages about the cancellation. I don't have a phone to be contacted at, so it's been very difficult to resolve this issue. But e-mail should be sufficient, it is an online university. They sure respond quickly when you're enrolling though.

I'm still not sure if I'm obligated to any of the loans. I'm not going to log in, because I fear this will obligate me for sure. Because I wouldn't doubt it now they have it setup that way to get you obligated. I've received numerous e-mails to log in and attend class is why. (But they can e-mail me to log in, but not respond to my e-mails of cancellation or postponement)

Classes have started now and I'm thinking they are going to try to get the loans. I've written the Federal government, SACS and about to call channel 7 news for taking advantage of the situation of a person that clearly can not attend.

It's extremely difficult for me to keep driving to a payphone where I'm located at now. I have a limited amount of gas here. They know all this and still they have done nothing at all to resolve this issue.

Even the so called admittance counselor Mike has ignored my phone calls and e-mails. He was a great guy up to now. And he did help me allot. But now I feel like he was just doing his job and doesn't give a flying blank about my current situation. This could have been prevented if he only e-mailed me and postponed the classes.

A simple e-mail saying Postponed. I would of been happy with that. Instead here I am worrying about whether or not I'm going to get stuck with these loans for a service that I never used. And the way it's looking they are going to try to stick me with them.

I'm really lost in what I can do, so I can get some other loans to have a place to live. They are causing extreme stress, denial of loans, and just pure frustration they are purposely ignoring every e-mail and sending me to voice mail boxes; I'm frustrated as it is that life is bad as it is right now for them to do this.

Just to compromise, I've even asked for them to just postpone the dates and I would attend at a later date and still no responses. I'll deal with the loan denials, just postpone it. No responses and another e-mail from a student counselor when my first assignment is due.

But after this I'll never deal with them again if I ever do get another chance to get a degree. I want the loans cancelled fully now, no postponements and off my credit report.

They are very misleading per their website. It clearly states how to cancel and would be an easy process to do so.

Going back to school with AIU was the best choice I ever made at the time. But ironically now AIU is definitely the worst choice I ever made in my life. (Not the College part ust AIU, one of the worst) I should have dealt with the other online University, period. Whether their education is good, dealing with dishonest people at AIU that purposely lie to get you in are not to be trusted period. I might be blowing steam right now, but it's very frustrating any company is allowed to operate like this.

The admittance side and the structure of the FA is causing the bad reputation they are getting The more they continue what they are doing to people the actual AIU education will never get any real respect of quality, because of the front-end of the business. Plus, they are losing more possible students because of their unscrupulous ways they resolve issues. If they even resolve them without writing posts like this one.

Any help would be so appreciative. I just want the loans to be cancelled. They lost their chance for postponement and getting the tuition at a later date, because this is very unnecessary to write this post just to resolve this issue they could do in minutes. If anything does happen. Plus, I'm very embarrassed and I am very tired of telling people I'm homeless and tired of degrading myself writing e-mails posting this just to resolve a simple cancellation.

I do not respect AIU at all, this includes the people that work there for what they are doing now and putting me in this position writing this post on a website that gets tens of thousands of viewers just hope they respond to my numerous attempts. You have degraded me ever single time I have to post this situation and explaining this to FA, counselors, SACS, FAFSA and now rip-off report of my very embarrassing events.

I should not ever have to give you any d**n reason why I want to cancel. You guys in the FA and the admittance team should lose your jobs period. You are the ones that are causing all this.

Please anyone with some affective advise, what can I do for them to stop causing this unnecessary situation?Please help on what I can do or just to get them to respond, if not anything else.

If they resolve the issue I will be more than happy to write a resolution, but I honestly believe they do not even care about these posts here.

Thank you

Paul
Austin, Texas
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 10/10/2005 04:51 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/aiu-american-intercontinental-university-online/atlanta-georgia-30326/aiu-american-intercontinental-university-online-ripoff-will-not-cancel-of-loans-respon-160234. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
3Consumer
2Employee/Owner

#5 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Just an update

AUTHOR: Christopher - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Hi all,

I have recently learned that aiu has been put on probation by sacs. I know this was in a previous thread, but it will not open. The company hasn't stated to their employees yet to the severity and nature of the punishment, but I am told that they are acting very abrasive to the news. Truth comes out, and bad business practices can't be kept under wraps for long. The person who filled me in with this info is scared wether or not his job will be there in the future. I know education is treated as a business, but this practice should be secondary to the administration of a solid education to deserving students.

I wish all who wish to venture down their path good luck. I hope all can achieve their educational dreams, with out the pain CEC has caused many.

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#4 REBUTTAL Individual responds

** Resolved Finally **

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Christopher, I want to thank you personally for your kind words. It was really refreshing to know there are really good people here. Thank you for your investigations that will definitely help others in making a sound decision before they decide to enroll with AIU.

This is my first chance to see the post you wrote and wish I would have known that before hand. I would have just left it alone, but I don't trust them anymore. It would have made this situation less humiliating and less stressful for me though. But of course they can not tell anyone this. Great information and I'm sure future students will find your post very useful in case they get stuck with trying to cancel. It's a very painstaking task for these guys to do anything if the word postponement or canceling is every said.

AIU HAS resolved the issue today with a formal cancellation of classes, finally after I had to e-mail the Chief Executive Officer from American Intercontinental University. He took care of the matter very quickly. The loans were cancelled within a day and half from the time I e-mailed him. I do thank him for that.

But, the student should never have too contact the Chief Executive Officer, let alone FAFSA, SACS and the rip-off report to resolve a simple issue with the institution. But they choose to continue to operate like this and get all this bad publicity is way beyond me.

I know AIU is losing potential students already and they did lose me for any future enrollments ever. Plus, I will never recommend them.

I'm just glad it's over, finally after 2 weeks.

Thanks again!

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#3 REBUTTAL Individual responds

** Resolved Finally **

AUTHOR: Paul - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Christopher, I want to thank you personally for your kind words. It was really refreshing to know there are really good people here. Thank you for your investigations that will definitely help others in making a sound decision before they decide to enroll with AIU.

This is my first chance to see the post you wrote and wish I would have known that before hand. I would have just left it alone, but I don't trust them anymore. It would have made this situation less humiliating and less stressful for me though. But of course they can not tell anyone this. Great information and I'm sure future students will find your post very useful in case they get stuck with trying to cancel. It's a very painstaking task for these guys to do anything if the word postponement or canceling is every said.

AIU HAS resolved the issue today with a formal cancellation of classes, finally after I had to e-mail the Chief Executive Officer from American Intercontinental University. He took care of the matter very quickly. The loans were cancelled within a day and half from the time I e-mailed him. I do thank him for that.

But, the student should never have too contact the Chief Executive Officer, let alone FAFSA, SACS and the rip-off report to resolve a simple issue with the institution. But they choose to continue to operate like this and get all this bad publicity is way beyond me.

I know AIU is losing potential students already and they did lose me for any future enrollments ever. Plus, I will never recommend them.

I'm just glad it's over, finally after 2 weeks.

Thanks again!

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#2 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Another follow up Paul

AUTHOR: Christopher - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, October 16, 2005

Paul,

I have talked to a friend that works for CEC that has some good advice for someone in your position. He says that you aren't responsible for any bills to AIU if you haven't logged into class. After 15 consecutive days of not logging into class, you would be automatically canceled. All loans, grants, and funding would be returned back to there sources. However, if you did log in to class, for any reason, then didn't return; you would be charged 5% of the first quarter charges (as per the refund policy/enrollment agreement). You should follow up with student account or FA by direct line, sorry if this isn't easy. It sounds like you will be ok if you haven't logged in, so make sure you don't! I hope this helps you and I want to wish you the best of luck.

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#1 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I lasted 2 weeks at this job, and it was 2 weeks too long.

AUTHOR: Christopher - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, October 15, 2005

Paul,

I feel sorry for your situation. After reading your story, now I know that I did the right thing. I was a former employee of CTU (AIU's sister school). I went to work there after leaving another job. It was the easiest interview process I've been through, and the job pays very well. I now understand why this happens.

I won't go into details of the admissions' process because that is already heavily covered at this site. I will tell you my personal opinions of CEC (parent company). Paul, I lasted 2 weeks at this job, and it was 2 weeks too long. The first time I knew that there was something unethical going on was when I heard a fellow "advisor" chewing out a prospective student who changed their mind about attending CTU. She used everything she had, from guilt based on the previous information given to her during their interviews to personal information about the advisor to seem more like a "Buddy"("See I told you something private about me. We're in this together."). I have never heard anything so desperate in my entire life. This is education we are talking about. This takes a firm commitment, not a pep talk from a complete stranger for a loose yes.

Ethically, I just checked out. Every hour I spent there I felt a little more depressed. Stories like your's, Paul, piss me off. The whole purpose of education is the Student. You come first. Without you there is no school, no business, no stocks, no salaries, no admissions advisors, no FA, etc. If the students are treated with respect, then the business end should take care of itself. All this bad press can't help.

Paul, I wish you the best. Life maybe down a little right now, but things will pick up. Good things happen to good people. I feel really sorry for what you have gone through. Hopefully, what you have wrote will be seen by someone that is thinking of going through this process. That way they can make aneducated decision not just based on the fluff from the advisors. Think about it, if what you wrote helps just one person make the right choice, then your bad experience isn't totally wasted. Take care.

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