WARNING to Class of 2014-The DIT refund scam

[Simpsonfan]

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DIT came to our school to promote their course (in July mind you). I wasn't sure if it was for me but they stated that you could get a refund of all but $50 and get to keep the book. Once I got the book I saw that they had the First Aid references on it so I figured I could study it myself without the lectures and decided to get the refund. (that is what I have been doing and it has worked fairly well.) That's when absurdity ensued...
Lie number 1.
Upon asking for the refund I was told I would need to send the book back. (explicitly promised by their reps while at our school)
Lie 2
They accused me (and explicitly my entire school) of pirating their lectures. They seriously gave me the third degree like a criminal!
Lie 3-10
After seriously having to argue over things they promised (book, refund), being in customer service hell, they keep holding my money hostage. First they said 21 business days. As of last week it was coming in this week. But as of today it's been pushed back to 31 to 35 business days. It's now the end of the semester and I'm quickly running out of money...

They have been fighting me tooth and nail for everything. Had I known this back in July I would have never have signed up for their course. So this a warning, they will come to your school early in the year before you've decided how you'll prepare, so if you sign up be damn sure you know that's what you want. /rant

 

[climbhigh]

I'm dealing with the exact same thing. I too was under the impression that I could keep the book, but was then told (9 months later) if I wanted a refund I'd have to send the book back...so whatever...I did...and have yet to receive any refund. Its been a few weeks since I sent the book back, so I sent an email a few days ago but haven't heard back (so much for the guaranteed 24-hour reply!). I guess I'll start calling sometime in the next few days.

I figure they don't have the money to refund! Nearly all of my class signed up for DIT last summer, but a bunch have cancelled lately. I'm sure the same thing has happened at other schools across the country...

 

[Day man]

yea i had a similar situation, so apparently customer service is not part of their plan of making the world better place. i had to call them a few times and eventually my reimbursement check was "place at the top" of the "to do list". it still took 6 weeks total, so buyers then returners, beware.

 

[venom23]

sorry to hear that! When they came to our school, they said we could keep the book and receive the DIT emails and get a full refund (minus the $70) up until the first day of the class.

maybe they're fighting so hard because the reps misspoke and didn't mention the $70 charge for the emails/booklet? I don't know, but I hope you all get your money back. I have had other friends in the past ask for a refund and receive it relatively fast. Maybe its because we're in a nearby state and/or we weren't told the wrong info.

Good luck! 👍

 

[winkleweizen]

yea i had a similar situation, so apparently customer service is not part of their plan of making the world better place. i had to call them a few times and eventually my reimbursement check was "place at the top" of the "to do list". it still took 6 weeks total, so buyers then returners, beware.

yeah there customer service were never very receptive with me. I called and left two messages and both times they said they would get back with me in 24 hours....never

 

[quepatho]

Yeah I think I actually got the wrong discount on my purchase, but at this point I don't have the time or energy to fight for what I was supposed to have paid.

That said, when I called the representatives with connection issues, they helped me promptly. I'm sorry you guys are having such a tough time getting the refund though 🙁

 

[SlaveOfTCMC]

You wonder why people would ever pirate anything with great customer service and user-friendliness of their product!

 

[fahimaz7]

They told our class the same thing. Basically, you could get a semester of questions and the review book, and if you started the lectures and didn't like it, they would refund you all but $50.

Looks like they are going back on their word. What's sad here is that it's a really small community, and they are costing themselves a lot of business in the future.

 

[SeekerOfTheTree]

I cancelled before I ever got the book. They took 50 bucks and gave me all the money. I never called, I just emailed them and it was done. Was pretty easy for me but I did it without getting the book.

 

[thepoopologist]

DIT came to our school to promote their course (in July mind you). I wasn't sure if it was for me but they stated that you could get a refund of all but $50 and get to keep the book. Once I got the book I saw that they had the First Aid references on it so I figured I could study it myself without the lectures and decided to get the refund. (that is what I have been doing and it has worked fairly well.) That's when absurdity ensued...
Lie number 1.
Upon asking for the refund I was told I would need to send the book back. (explicitly promised by their reps while at our school)
Lie 2
They accused me (and explicitly my entire school) of pirating their lectures. They seriously gave me the third degree like a criminal!
Lie 3-10
After seriously having to argue over things they promised (book, refund), being in customer service hell, they keep holding my money hostage. First they said 21 business days. As of last week it was coming in this week. But as of today it's been pushed back to 31 to 35 business days. It's now the end of the semester and I'm quickly running out of money...

They have been fighting me tooth and nail for everything. Had I known this back in July I would have never have signed up for their course. So this a warning, they will come to your school early in the year before you've decided how you'll prepare, so if you sign up be damn sure you know that's what you want. /rant

That's because pirated lectures from multiple years are out there. With a refund policy like theirs, it would be easy to get the lectures, wait for the book, and cancel.

I personally cancelled before I received the book and was refunded the money minus $70 within 3 days.

 

[RapplixGmed]

Why do people buy expensive courses and not use them? Doesn't make any sense. Were you guys just awestruck by their presentation? Did you not do your research?

If you had $50 to burn, you could have given it to me and I would have treated you better than the DIT folks. 😀

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I used them when I had to take Step 2CK.

Loved their customer service. Times where I'd attempt to watch a video and it wouldn't allow me (****ty connection) and it'd deduct from my "time viewed" - they'd put it back to the full amount (they did this each time I had issues, which was 3 times). Maybe they've changed in a year, doubt it.

 

[CWWinning]

It took me > 8 weeks, and 4 phone calls to get my refund. They had an excuse each time I called.

1. it will be about 1 week to get your refund
2. (4 weeks later) since you cancelled after such and such date we can't refund your credit card and have to cut a check, it will be sent tomorrow
3. (2 weeks later) Check is waiting to be signed
4. (1 week later) Check going out later this week

I finally got my refund check.

My 5th and final phone call was going to be to let them know I was going to meet with my Dean of Student Affairs to inform them of their shady business practices, and knowing my Dean of Student affairs, there would be a good chance they wouldn't be welcome back to solicit their product on campus.

Honestly, I think they use the stall tactic in hope that you get bogged down by spring semester coursework and board studying and forget to cancel or simply don't have the energy to be persistent enough to request your refund over and over and over and over. Do not like or recommend.

 

[kaleerkalut]

Why don't you guys just file a chargeback with your credit card company?

 

[bbydoc]

They told our class the same thing. Basically, you could get a semester of questions and the review book, and if you started the lectures and didn't like it, they would refund you all but $50.

Looks like they are going back on their word. What's sad here is that it's a really small community, and they are costing themselves a lot of business in the future.

exactly what I was thinking. they obviously haven't learned from previous mistakes. I remember how they got a bad rep last year for posting fake reviews on here.

 

[bbydoc]

Honestly, I think they use the stall tactic in hope that you get bogged down by spring semester coursework and board studying and forget to cancel or simply don't have the energy to be persistent enough to request your refund over and over and over and over. Do not like or recommend.

looks like that...

 

[CWWinning]

Why don't you guys just file a chargeback with your credit card company?

I'd consider that a last resort. Credit card companies will encourage you to make every attempt to work it out directly with the merchant. There's also usually some paperwork involved and credit card companies can take around two months as they investigate the matter before crediting your account.

 

[fahimaz7]

I filed a complaints with the BBB not too long ago when a company tried to do this to me, which resulted in them quickly taking care of the problem.

Might not be a bad option after 3 weeks.

 

[tco]

I was under the impression that we could keep the study guide as well. I was also shocked when I looked up their return policy when I was considering cancelling the program, but I just figured that I mis-remembered.

Eventually, I decided to continue with their program, and so far, I'm glad that I did. However, what you're saying is frustrating. Perhaps, as another poster mentioned, a call to the BBB is what's needed?

 

[justaregularmed]

I would say their customer service is REALLY hit or miss. I had great service once, and pretty terrible service once, and just middle of the road service another time.

Being able to process refunds and write checks is an important business process. Assuming lengthy shipping times (5 days, 1 week) and a reasonable time frame to cut a check (two weeks) the whole process should take no more then 4 weeks, 5 baring some shenangins. They need to be pressed if they cant get them out in under 5 weeks.

 

[bbydoc]

I'd consider that a last resort. Credit card companies will encourage you to make every attempt to work it out directly with the merchant. There's also usually some paperwork involved and credit card companies can take around two months as they investigate the matter before crediting your account.

seems to me that this applies in the OP's case, he has been trying for more than a month...