Advice for getting ripped off!!!!

InmyblooD · Oct 12, 2004

I completed all of my pre-req's in order to apply for the ADN program here at Chabot CC in Hayward. This was actually last year that I applied for entrance into the Fall 2004 program. Responses were to be given in August and I found out that I was picked not in the initial lottery draw (it's like trying to win the Ca state lottery......what are the chances??) but was picked 26th for the alternate list. So then I had to hope that 26 people either had something else more important than to enter into the nursing program. Now I am forced to re-apply again this coming Nov. for the Fall 2005 sem.

Feeling like i was going to get stuck in the lottery trap, I decided to fork up my hard earned dollars and enter into a private LVN program. The name of the school is Ideal Educational Concepts in Hayward. Before I even began, about 6 months ago, I knew that the school was not accredited by the State of Ca but they basically assured me that everything was running smooth and they were heading towards accreditation in October. Besides, they were offering a part-time course which would allow me to keep my day job as a CNA. They even have the nursing counselor that was able to get Boston Reed accredited on their payroll. Things look good. I take a few of the classes that they require me to take which I haven't completed yet and am basically finished by September. I now await the clinical portion of the program which they still assure me that things are on the right track and will get a go by the State in October.

It's October now and they're not singing the same song they were a couple of months ago. I find out from the program director that they had a problem getting a contract from Highland and they didn't meet eligibility for state accreditation. Now they have to re-apply in Feb.-Mar. And now I'm basically waiting again for something that I'm not even sure will get their license and have spent a large sum of money.

I'm kinda forced to find another school since I don't want to waste any more time and money on this already close to erupting out of my brain migrane.:angryfire

I asked about whether or not my classes where transferable or not and the director told me that they are but I also have to pay a lot just to get my classes that I took on a transcript.

I found another private school that just recently received their licensure for the LVN program, Unitek. Guarantees that you pass the board but is very expensive and I have to go full-time. I asked them if they would recognize my classes I took at Ideal Educational hell......told me that regardless I would still need to take the whole course.

Is it possible for me to sue these people that basically were misleading me??

What can I do to get the money that I spent back???

I don't really know what to do right now about this situation.

Any suggestions would be very helpful and thanks in advance for your replies.

Anthony S.

youknowho · Oct 12, 2004

I am so sorry that this has happened to you.:o:o i know how horrible getting into any school is right now but please whatever you do dont ever go anywhere that does not have its accreditation no matter what they say. of course they will say that its going to happen. Those for profit only schools like Unitek make me wonder. I personally dont trust them unless they have had a long, good track record. Please check by going to the CA State RN or LVN BONs webpages and check if the school in on there. Also apply to different schools. this coming winter I will be applying to 3 RN programs and a LVN program as a backup. I have no idea what to say about getting your money back, if its alot you should have a consultation with an attorney, some have a free one hour session to see if you have a case or not. GOOD LUCK!!

youknowho · Oct 12, 2004

I am so sorry that this has happened to you.:o:o i know how horrible getting into any school is right now but please whatever you do dont ever go anywhere that does not have its accreditation no matter what they say. of course they will say that its going to happen. Those for profit only schools like Unitek make me wonder. I personally dont trust them unless they have had a long, good track record. Please check by going to the CA State RN or LVN BONs webpages and check if the school in on there. Also apply to different schools. this coming winter I will be applying to 3 RN programs and a LVN program as a backup. I have no idea what to say about getting your money back, if its alot you should have a consultation with an attorney, some have a free one hour session to see if you have a case or not. GOOD LUCK!!

Sheri257 · Oct 12, 2004

I have no idea what to say about getting your money back, if its alot you should have a consultation with an attorney, some have a free one hour session to see if you have a case or not. GOOD LUCK!!

Actually, if you paid $5,000 or less (or are willing to claim $5,000 or less in damages), you can file suit in small claims court. You wouldn't need an attorney, just prove that the school misrepresented what they could deliver. Small claims cases are very simple to do. I've done a few of them myself.

However, you do have to PROVE that the school misrepresented the situation. Your word against theirs won't cut it. It probably wouldn't be worth going to court unless you had their misrepresentations in writing.

I could also see a problem winning damages if you knew ahead of time that the school was not accredited by the state. I'm not sure a judge would look favorably upon paying for a school that wasn't accredited, even if they promised to become accredited in the future.

Still, it might be worth a try. Small claims cases can sometimes be time consuming but, other than the filing fee, it shouldn't cost you much to go to court. Filing suit against them might also freak the school out enough to try to settle the case, although I wouldn't count on that.

:coollook:

Sheri257 · Oct 12, 2004

I have no idea what to say about getting your money back, if its alot you should have a consultation with an attorney, some have a free one hour session to see if you have a case or not. GOOD LUCK!!

Actually, if you paid $5,000 or less (or are willing to claim $5,000 or less in damages), you can file suit in small claims court. You wouldn't need an attorney, just prove that the school misrepresented what they could deliver. Small claims cases are very simple to do. I've done a few of them myself.

However, you do have to PROVE that the school misrepresented the situation. Your word against theirs won't cut it. It probably wouldn't be worth going to court unless you had their misrepresentations in writing.

I could also see a problem winning damages if you knew ahead of time that the school was not accredited by the state. I'm not sure a judge would look favorably upon paying for a school that wasn't accredited, even if they promised to become accredited in the future.

Still, it might be worth a try. Small claims cases can sometimes be time consuming but, other than the filing fee, it shouldn't cost you much to go to court. Filing suit against them might also freak the school out enough to try to settle the case, although I wouldn't count on that.

:coollook:

sfm533 · Oct 20, 2004

Anthony

I am in the same boat you are in. If you read my welcome greeting you'll see

that at my first college in Riverside, I just didn't get along with some of the staff. I won't bad mouth anyone it just happened and now I find myself floundering around thinking of what to do next.

I wa sgoing to go to a private school first and now I just might again.

I have already spent over 20,000.00 in Stafford and private loans so I would have been better off if I had. The school system in the state 'sucks big time',

but you know it won't get any better. No matter who is elected in the country or in the state they only have one obligation, and that is to special interest groups who pad thier wallets.

I am 51 and am old enough to know the truth now about politicians. They

are all the same, Rep. or Dem. or third party it don't matter. The schools are last of thier worries, they(schools) just don't get any better, there are no classes opened up for us in Nursing like the sciences we need to go on to get an RN. I suggested seperate sciences for nurses so we don't have to compete for spots with the other non-nursing population but no go. If the nursing shortage is So Critical, why then don't they make more room for classes in nursing programs to turn out more nurses? Instead we end up almost cutting eachothers throats to get a spot. Like damn animals we are bid on to fill slots

in thier programs. I knew at least 5-6 people closely at Riverside who had been going to school for thier RN for at least 5 years or more. Sciences, couldn't get them all.

Now they are raising the bar for LVN admissions. I had to jump through hoops to even get considered at my new school, including not only official transcrips but I had to get the old catalogs from 1971 when I took english

68 which qualifies you to take 1A, they had to make sure they were compatible.

Oh coild rant on....but I promised myself and the wife that if it didn't happen this year then i just go on and follow my other Love and that is Computer aided drafting. I am getting to old, and I have a family to consider, I can't go on being a "professional student" for years. I figure if they really were serious about filling the gaps in the nursing shortage they would have done some

renovation of the courses offered by now.

The person who said to sue them was right. Get mad as hell you have every

right to be, it's not cheap going to school. THREATEN THEM FIRST, and make sure you contact the better business bureau and the federal trades commision first, let them know you are if they don't refund part or all of your money...

Steve

sfm533 · Oct 20, 2004

In reference to your Forrest Gump quote.

Actually it is hard, very hard, but the problem is "everyone is still doing it and there is no room".

Steve

Actually, if you paid $5,000 or less (or are willing to claim $5,000 or less in damages), you can file suit in small claims court. You wouldn't need an attorney, just prove that the school misrepresented what they could deliver. Small claims cases are very simple to do. I've done a few of them myself.
However, you do have to PROVE that the school misrepresented the situation. Your word against theirs won't cut it. It probably wouldn't be worth going to court unless you had their misrepresentations in writing.
I could also see a problem winning damages if you knew ahead of time that the school was not accredited by the state. I'm not sure a judge would look favorably upon paying for a school that wasn't accredited, even if they promised to become accredited in the future.
Still, it might be worth a try. Small claims cases can sometimes be time consuming but, other than the filing fee, it shouldn't cost you much to go to court. Filing suit against them might also freak the school out enough to try to settle the case, although I wouldn't count on that.