Obsevership Scam, help!

[THERESEMARTIN]

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Hi guys, am an img and I was scheduled for 2 months of obsevership in an University hopsital at the cost of 2500$/ month. I was scheduled for the months of March and April initially and I couldn't attend in March because I did not get the visa, according to the application form rules the university said that if a person doesn't get the visa they will refund the money.( THEY CHARGED HALF OF THE TOTAL_ 2500$, WHEN THEY SENT THE ACCEPTANCE LETTER). The University asked me when I will be able to come next and they scheduled me for the months of August and September.
I came to US to give my CS in June but due to a family emergency I had to fly back home at the end of July. I explained the situation to the University, they initially agreed to postpone and when I contacted them next time, they said they are cancelling my observership and returned only 1250 $ saying that they allow to cancel and schedule only twice. The first time it was because of my Visa which was unavoidable and the second time, I had to return home.
I thought of filing a complaint with Better Business Bureau, if I do that will the particular University do any harm to me in return?

 

[jakeislove]

Doesn't sound like a scam.

Family issues and CS aside, they had to pass on populating the spot with someone able to attend.

 

[THERESEMARTIN]

But they charged me 1250$ and they never told me anything about their cancellation policy in the original application form either.
Cs had nothing to do with it, i gave my Cs in June and i was in US the whole month of July to start my observership in August but unfortunately I had to return by the end of July.

 

[THERESEMARTIN]

And for people who cancelled earlier they charged 200$ but in my case they charged 1250$, when i asked them to provide an explaination to that, they never sent a reply

 

[THERESEMARTIN]

I just want to know if they will refund the money if i make a complaint with BBB or would it backfire?

 

[joker2400]

You aren't getting your money back (90% certainty) and you aren't matching there for residency after this, so do what you want

 

[THERESEMARTIN]

I am surely not gonna apply there. I just wanted to know if dere were any chances for me to get the refund.
I am sure you'll must know how the system works so from ur reply, I am sure I won't get the money back
Thanks for taking ur time to help me and send a reply.

 

[Winged Scapula]

A complaint to the BBB has no legal authority to recoup your money. Please review all documentation sent by them as well as the fine print on their web site, etc. and contact an attorney to write a strongly worded letter to them (if you can find one that will cost you less than $1250) or write it yourself.

 

[jakeislove]

But they charged me 1250$ and they never told me anything about their cancellation policy in the original application form either.
Cs had nothing to do with it, i gave my Cs in June and i was in US the whole month of July to start my observership in August but unfortunately I had to return by the end of July.

Re-read the agreement and website to see if their cancellation policy was spelled-out.

I don't believe hospitals make money on paid observerships. My gut says any fee is to offset some of the costs associated with the resources a good experience requires (i.e., didactics, IT access, ID, etc..) and a little of the agita observing students give Attendings.

It may feel unfair but all of that stuff had to be in place just for them to say yes and someone else probably was told "There's no room at the inn".

 

[Everyones_a_rat]

Many people are a**holes, deal with it.