Prometric Test Center Problems

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So I was supposed to take my MCAT today. I brought nothing but a zip lock with my passport book, phone, and a granola bar. I was trying to check in when the lady said my passport was not a valid form of ID because the signature was on one of the pages(as all passports) not under the plastic.

I told her that passport was okay with AAMC and it said on the email. Then she told me (with out even looking at the email) that her computer instructions said that they needed a picture Id with a signature. I was like "MY PASSPORT HAS A SIGNATURE!!!!"

Well, I told my mom to bring me another ID but she only has X amount of time until my test was canceled or w/e.

In short after the time passed and I couldn't take my test anymore, the person from the next shift came in and told the lady who didn't let me take my test that passports were OK.

Well, I wasn't able to take my MCAT, but I was wondering is this something I talk to AAMC about, should the test center give me like a refund or something? Have you heard of anyone in the same situation??

I'm guessing this was this lady's first day on the job.....

Thanks!
 
Woah! That really sucks.

I would call AAMC. tell them the situation and ask if there's any way they can reschedule you for an upcoming test date. If they can't, ask for a refund.
 
Definitely being it to AAMC. Passport should be acceptable anywhere.
 
DrSis16 said:
So I was supposed to take my MCAT today. I brought nothing but a zip lock with my passport book, phone, and a granola bar. I was trying to check in when the lady said my passport was not a valid form of ID because the signature was on one of the pages(as all passports) not under the plastic.

I told her that passport was okay with AAMC and it said on the email. Then she told me (with out even looking at the email) that her computer instructions said that they needed a picture Id with a signature. I was like "MY PASSPORT HAS A SIGNATURE!!!!"

Well, I told my mom to bring me another ID but she only has X amount of time until my test was canceled or w/e.

In short after the time passed and I couldn't take my test anymore, the person from the next shift came in and told the lady who didn't let me take my test that passports were OK.

Well, I wasn't able to take my MCAT, but I was wondering is this something I talk to AAMC about, should the test center give me like a refund or something? Have you heard of anyone in the same situation??

I'm guessing this was this lady's first day on the job.....

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have never heard of anyone having this issue. This sounds like something between you and Prometric, though... but it doesn't hurt to call AAMC. Maybe they can fit you in next week because of the circumstances?

Edit: Prometric sucks. I have taken the MCAT multiple times and their staff are always unpleasant and unprofessional. I'm sorry you had a bad experience on a day that was stressful to begin with!

Edit after the comment below me showed up: Listen to them and follow their advice. 🙂
 
Last edited:
DrSis16 said:
So I was supposed to take my MCAT today. I brought nothing but a zip lock with my passport book, phone, and a granola bar. I was trying to check in when the lady said my passport was not a valid form of ID because the signature was on one of the pages(as all passports) not under the plastic.

I told her that passport was okay with AAMC and it said on the email. Then she told me (with out even looking at the email) that her computer instructions said that they needed a picture Id with a signature. I was like "MY PASSPORT HAS A SIGNATURE!!!!"

Well, I told my mom to bring me another ID but she only has X amount of time until my test was canceled or w/e.

In short after the time passed and I couldn't take my test anymore, the person from the next shift came in and told the lady who didn't let me take my test that passports were OK.

Well, I wasn't able to take my MCAT, but I was wondering is this something I talk to AAMC about, should the test center give me like a refund or something? Have you heard of anyone in the same situation??

I'm guessing this was this lady's first day on the job.....

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You need to submit a written complaint to the AAMC. You can call but they'll probably just tell you to send in the written complaint. It has to be snail-mailed; the information is on their website.

They will investigate and provide a formal written response to you in something like 4-6 weeks.

I had to do this when my testing center experience technical problems and I was concerned about the integrity of my score. In a flip of the above complaints, the staff at my center were very nice, but the computers were ****.
 
DrSis16 said:
Thanks! Did they refund you or reschedule you??
Click to expand...

So luckily for me, my score was fine. My concern had been that they had LOST it (that was a goddam horrible 30 minutes after the test while they were poking around with tech support.) They did provide a letter validating all my complaints basically saying, yes you were telling the truth. There was a line in the letter about how I could provide it to schools if I felt my scores were not reflective of my ability, but I assumed schools would just laugh at that.

I still ended up out $135 due to registering for a backup test date that I ended up not using, but I didn't ask them for either that money or the money for my original fee. (I may have said something like, 'if my score was not received, I request a full refund).

My experience with the process would lead me to advise that you should absolutely write a clear, professional letter detailing exactly what happened and politely asking for a priority reschedule and a refund. The worst that will happen is they do nothing.

Edit: I'd also follow up with a phone call to ask about getting a reschedule, but do that after you've sent in the letter to cut across the part of the conversation where they're going to ask you to send the letter. I do think they take their relationships with the testing centers seriously, so best of luck!
 
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That's great for you.. Well hopefully I have luck with them. Thank you all for your responses. This has been an overall depressing day (I should be MCAT free right now..................... grrr)
 
I'd raise hell with whomever the manager at that prometric. That person needs to get fired. They have the easiest job in the world...their entire job is to check IDs!

It's criminal for them to not give you your money back or let you retake. I'd take the AAMC to small claims court to get my money back if they refused.

They just can't just rip you off because they are big scary organization.
 
Ask for a refund. If they deny your request, do a charge reversal on your credit card.
 
Do you not have a driver's license/state-issued identification card?

By all means see about straightening it out, but why would you take your passport instead of a DL/ID card? I only carry my passport if I'm traveling internationally, not to any place I need a photo ID... unless they require 2 forms of photo ID.
 
akinetopsia said:
Do you not have a driver's license/state-issued identification card?

By all means see about straightening it out, but why would you take your passport instead of a DL/ID card? I only carry my passport if I'm traveling internationally, not to any place I need a photo ID... unless they require 2 forms of photo ID.
Click to expand...

Passports are usually seen as the ultimate form of ID. OP was probably thinking that he was the most safe with a passport, because who in their right mind doesn't accept a passport.

On a side note, I think its funny that that lady thought that a signature is what really makes the difference. As if a person who goes through the trouble of creating a fake id with their own picture is not going to be able to get around scanning in their own signature. Oh well. Hope you get a refund man!
 
DrSis16 said:
So I was supposed to take my MCAT today. I brought nothing but a zip lock with my passport book, phone, and a granola bar. I was trying to check in when the lady said my passport was not a valid form of ID because the signature was on one of the pages(as all passports) not under the plastic.

I told her that passport was okay with AAMC and it said on the email. Then she told me (with out even looking at the email) that her computer instructions said that they needed a picture Id with a signature. I was like "MY PASSPORT HAS A SIGNATURE!!!!"

Well, I told my mom to bring me another ID but she only has X amount of time until my test was canceled or w/e.

In short after the time passed and I couldn't take my test anymore, the person from the next shift came in and told the lady who didn't let me take my test that passports were OK.

Well, I wasn't able to take my MCAT, but I was wondering is this something I talk to AAMC about, should the test center give me like a refund or something? Have you heard of anyone in the same situation??

I'm guessing this was this lady's first day on the job.....

Thanks!
Click to expand...

This complaint should be in writing. You can call also, but definitely send an email explaining what happened like you did above.
 
That Prometric lady was prob a new employee or she was crazy. For example, to take the DAT you need an ID with a signature and one of the things they accept is a credit card with a signature which of course you have to put in the back with your own ink. I hope you get a refund.
 
My experience at a prometric testing center was fantastic. They were pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful. They even tried to help calm the students down some.

I hate that your experience was so bad, though. Definitely call Prometric first, and if they won't work with you, hit up AAMC. It would be great if you got the name/phone number of the 2nd employee that told the first lady she was wrong, though. Always good to have some inside help. Good luck!
 
Exactly, I mean I thought "you can't go wrong with a passport". Which on my part I think well I should have brought like a second option in case this happens, but I just though you cant "get more official" than a passport.

These things go through AAMC, so I think the way it goes is you file a complaint and then the center and the people involved have to "validate your statements" and then AAMC decides whether to refund you or whatever. The whole process takes like 10-12 weeks from what I have heard/read. I don't really have time to wait 10 weeks to see if they reschedule me so I am going to go ahead and sign up for a test as soon as I can and file the complaint and see if they can refund me.

I am really pissed about the $270 that I spent to not even take the test but I guess right now I can only see it as "everything happens for a reason"

A girl told me she was taking the test on that center and her computer rebooted or something and when the tech support came and the computer started again her test was submitted. That sucks!!
 
DrSis16 said:
Exactly, I mean I thought "you can't go wrong with a passport". Which on my part I think well I should have brought like a second option in case this happens, but I just though you cant "get more official" than a passport.

These things go through AAMC, so I think the way it goes is you file a complaint and then the center and the people involved have to "validate your statements" and then AAMC decides whether to refund you or whatever. The whole process takes like 10-12 weeks from what I have heard/read. I don't really have time to wait 10 weeks to see if they reschedule me so I am going to go ahead and sign up for a test as soon as I can and file the complaint and see if they can refund me.

I am really pissed about the $270 that I spent to not even take the test but I guess right now I can only see it as "everything happens for a reason"

A girl told me she was taking the test on that center and her computer rebooted or something and when the tech support came and the computer started again her test was submitted. That sucks!!
Click to expand...

Maybe try a different center for your next test.
 
DrSis16 said:
Exactly, I mean I thought "you can't go wrong with a passport". Which on my part I think well I should have brought like a second option in case this happens, but I just though you cant "get more official" than a passport.

These things go through AAMC, so I think the way it goes is you file a complaint and then the center and the people involved have to "validate your statements" and then AAMC decides whether to refund you or whatever. The whole process takes like 10-12 weeks from what I have heard/read. I don't really have time to wait 10 weeks to see if they reschedule me so I am going to go ahead and sign up for a test as soon as I can and file the complaint and see if they can refund me.

I am really pissed about the $270 that I spent to not even take the test but I guess right now I can only see it as "everything happens for a reason"

A girl told me she was taking the test on that center and her computer rebooted or something and when the tech support came and the computer started again her test was submitted. That sucks!!
Click to expand...

Scary. They've got to have a remedy for both problems.
 
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