Video Professor computer based education courses for software systems, ebay use, and others Internet

I am supporting the other reports made for Video Professor. I, too, received the 'free' offer of a tutorial disc. I ordered the course for Excel and all of my contact and debit card information as requested in mid-November 2008. The shipping in handling charge was deducted from my bank account a few days later.

I received the course about 10 days later and a charge for $189.95 appeared in my bank account to my surprise. I tried to call their customer service number several times but was put on hold for up to an hour and gave up. Since I was taking the course and it was adequate, I didn't pursue trying to get an explanation for being charged full price for a 'free' course. The course didn't work on my Vista computer although their sales pitch lists Vista as being supported. I installed the course on my XP laptop and it worked there.

To my surprise, I was charged another $189.95 in December even though the November payment was, supposedly, the full price for the course. I started calling again and finally got through to an operator after a very long wait. He hummed and hawed and then reported to me that a secound 'advanced' course had been sent to me. I told him that (1) I hadn't ordered two courses and (2) I didn't receive another course.

After about 30 minutes on the phone and several side discussions by the operator to his supervisor, they agreed to refund my $189.95 for the second course but no refund for the first charge for the 'free' course. However, it would take 4 to 6 weeks for them to process the refund. Which, of course, is absurd because their system should be able to reverse the charge to my debit card overnight at the latest.

I waited 6 week with no refund and called them in January. After much back and forth between me and the operator, they agreed to refund my money on an 'expedited' schedule. I gave them a week (which I thought was generous) to put in into my bank account or I would report them on the Ripoff Report.

I didn't get the refund after waiting more than a week. I called today and got another operator who took about 20 minutes to access my account because of 'computer problems'. Then, she said that she found the refund transaction but there had been a 'computer problem' and my refund was not done on time. If I would be patient, I would get it in a week or two. I told her I had heard that story before and wan't my refund now if a company executive had to send me a personal check. Of course, she couldn't respond to that and I don't blame her.

I am going ahead and writing this rebuttal because I have little faith in their promise to refund my money so I'm probably out $189.95 which is not an insignifcan sum.

According to the other reports on this website, I'm not the only person with this experience I'm furious that I could be so gullible to order something like this on the internet, but I assumed from their expensive TV ads that they were a reputable company.

My advice, Get you computer education from a local community college.

I'll report back if I get my refund, but I'm not holding my breath!

Mart
Coppell, Texas
U.S.A.