Lawsuit Against The College Network

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2008

True, and too many people think that if you sign a contract you have 3 days to get out of it.
Many states do have such laws, however, they apply to door-to-door salesmen where they usually come to your home and similar situations.

Its not just limited to door-to-door sales people and similar situations. I got out of a contract with a time-share. I live in CT and the place of origin where I signed the contract was in NV.

I went to them, the didn't come knocking at my door.

My best friend also got out of a contract for buying a new car (salesman tried to pull a fast one she caught on). She bought the car in CT, again, they didn't go to her, she went to their dealership.

Jo Dirt · Nov 22, 2008

In a court of law, a signed contract is basically a legally-binding acknowledgment that the parties have read and understood all of its stipulations and details completely and accurately. Once you sign that dotted line, the legal system presumes you possess a thorough comprehension of the agreement you've just entered.
Although getting "ripped off" feels rather crummy, it is imperative that individuals assume personal responsibility for meticulously researching these entities prior to entering a contract that will cause them to separate from thousands of dollars. Questioning the salesperson is not adequate "research" since his/her goal is to earn a commission.

The only way a contract will not be binding is if there is something in it that is illegal. I'm sure these scum burger bottom dwellers insert the information that they are not affiliated with nor endorsed or recommended by Excelsior College and ISU, somewhere where they seriously doubt you will look at it, though I know that in the salesman's spiel they are deceptive in the information they give you. When I first got out of LPN school I went to a motel where these creatures were peddling this crap, and never once did the guy say, "but we are not a school and not affiliated with these schools." The way he talked, it was mandatory you go through them. Thank God something told me to check this out. A phone call to Excelsior was all it took to find out the truth.

I later ordered one of their study guides off ebay and I can't say I found anything useful in it. I think these creepos should be shut down, but they are too slick for that. Perhaps you can take a tape recorder with you to talk to the sales reps, depending on what state you are in you may or may not be able to conceal the recorder. Get what they say on tape and confront the company with it. If nothing else you may be able to force them to change their deceptive business practices.

I know several people they have ripped off.

caliotter3 · Nov 23, 2008

Actually, TCN is affiliated with the ISU BSN program; a fact that I'm certain they push to the hilt to get more money from suckers.

mdhammons · Nov 24, 2008

Well this company is a nightmare. False misrepresentation from the sleezy salesman led me to believe that this was a school. And I thought that I could do the self study thing... yeah I was wrong. I refuse however to pay $9,225 for being wrong. I am hiring a lawer and I will atleast get some of my money back, hopefully all. And for those of you who think that I am stupid for taking the "easy road" to getting my RN, your 100% wrong about that. I was trying to get something that I could move with me because my husband is in the army and we move almost every year. It took him getting deployed for 16 months for me to be able to settle somewhere long enough to get my LPN. I am just erked that I fell in this pit. I have an appointment with JAG (the military lawers) on December 4th. If anyone is interested, I'll let you know how it turns out.

DA314 · Nov 24, 2008

MD- please keep us updated. I'm curious as to whether the lawyers will take your case... Sounds like maybe this would be a hard one to prove.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Nov 24, 2008

i am interested in how this turns out..however, the sales man will just claim that he informed you that tcn was not a school that could grant degrees. i am also almost 100% sure it is in the contract that they are not a degree granting institution. tcn gives you three days to back out this is in the fine print in the back of the contract. because you signed the binding agreement you have agreed legally that tcn is not a degree granting school and because you did not cancell the contract in 3 days then you have agreed to pay. this is just reality ...but i have had my own run in's with tcn and know how they opperate to get people to sign contracts..they lie lie lie lie ....i am in the same boat as you . i got caught by these sneaky people as well

well this company is a nightmare. false misrepresentation from the sleezy salesman led me to believe that this was a school. and i thought that i could do the self study thing... yeah i was wrong. i refuse however to pay $9,225 for being wrong. i am hiring a lawer and i will atleast get some of my money back, hopefully all. and for those of you who think that i am stupid for taking the "easy road" to getting my rn, your 100% wrong about that. i was trying to get something that i could move with me because my husband is in the army and we move almost every year. it took him getting deployed for 16 months for me to be able to settle somewhere long enough to get my lpn. i am just erked that i fell in this pit. i have an appointment with jag (the military lawers) on december 4th. if anyone is interested, i'll let you know how it turns out.

Jo Dirt · Nov 25, 2008

Well this company is a nightmare. False misrepresentation from the sleezy salesman led me to believe that this was a school. And I thought that I could do the self study thing... yeah I was wrong. I refuse however to pay $9,225 for being wrong. I am hiring a lawer and I will atleast get some of my money back, hopefully all. And for those of you who think that I am stupid for taking the "easy road" to getting my RN, your 100% wrong about that. I was trying to get something that I could move with me because my husband is in the army and we move almost every year. It took him getting deployed for 16 months for me to be able to settle somewhere long enough to get my LPN. I am just erked that I fell in this pit. I have an appointment with JAG (the military lawers) on December 4th. If anyone is interested, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Don't feel like you should have to defend yourself for the school path you choose, what you wanted to do is perfectly understandable.

I would very much like to know what these lawyers say. I did not know TCN was affiliated with ISU, but I know Excelsior will tell you to stay away from them.

That said, Excelsior College is very hard, more difficult than if you can go to a regular nursing school. I'm talking about the CPNE. I feel like it is harder than it should be and they even will resort to nit-picking to fail you (depending on the tester you get.) Also, be sure you have strong clinical skills as an LPN. Good luck. Keep us posted. I would love to see these scumbags held accountable.

mdhammons · Nov 25, 2008

Thank you all for your support!! I am still angry about this. But the good thing about it is that even if when we get into litigation and I don't happen to win (I pray that I will though...) but if I don't happen to, God is a JUST God and will judge them as he sees fit. Either way vindication will be!!! I will let everyone know what JAG says on the 4th, and for those of you that believe, pray for me please! Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!!

mdhammons · Dec 5, 2008

Well I can't say specifics, but I went to see JAG yesterday and they told me V E R Y good news!!!!! Things look well for me. We are pursuing things, and I wont escape scott-free, but they aren't going to screw me over either... God does answer prayers people!!!! This is fabulous news!! I will continue to keep everyone updated. And for those of you who have made this mistake as well and are thinking you have to pay thousands of dollars to these scam artists DON'T LET THEM WALK ON YOU LIKE A DOOR MAT!! Stand up for yourself and your rights and they will settle.

missjennmb · Dec 5, 2008

I'm glad it worked out for you. I keep getting spam calls and emails from them from contacting them a year ago regardless of my requests for it to stop. (things like "want to make your dream of being an RN come true?" when I'm already well on my way and have let them know it)

I hope you can get your money back.

Murgy · Aug 11, 2009

Well this company is a nightmare. False misrepresentation from the sleezy salesman led me to believe that this was a school. And I thought that I could do the self study thing... yeah I was wrong. I refuse however to pay $9,225 for being wrong. I am hiring a lawer and I will atleast get some of my money back, hopefully all. And for those of you who think that I am stupid for taking the "easy road" to getting my RN, your 100% wrong about that. I was trying to get something that I could move with me because my husband is in the army and we move almost every year. It took him getting deployed for 16 months for me to be able to settle somewhere long enough to get my LPN. I am just erked that I fell in this pit. I have an appointment with JAG (the military lawers) on December 4th. If anyone is interested, I'll let you know how it turns out.

:yeah:Good for you about going to an attorney. How has your lawsuit come along? Were you able to get out of your contract? I was wondering if anybody confronted TCN about the fact that when you go to an actual college, if you decide not to return for another semester, the college does not charge you for not returning to school. So why is a contract binding that makes a person have to finish college if they don't want to? That sounds illegal to me. I know the salesman didn't explain that aspect when he/she sold the TCN package. That's deceitful. It's almost assumed that when you attend a regular college if you don't return, you only pay for when you attended. To me a contract should only be binding when it only applies to education, the same way it's binding when a person attends a regular college. Otherwise TCN should be considered a fraud. They are not applying the aspects of education. They're selling something other than a college education.

elkpark · Aug 11, 2009

:yeah:Good for you about going to an attorney. How has your lawsuit come along? Were you able to get out of your contract? I was wondering if anybody confronted TCN about the fact that when you go to an actual college, if you decide not to return for another semester, the college does not charge you for not returning to school. So why is a contract binding that makes a person have to finish college if they don't want to? That sounds illegal to me. I know the salesman didn't explain that aspect when he/she sold the TCN package. That's deceitful. It's almost assumed that when you attend a regular college if you don't return, you only pay for when you attended. To me a contract should only be binding when it only applies to education, the same way it's binding when a person attends a regular college. Otherwise TCN should be considered a fraud. They are not applying the aspects of education. They're selling something other than a college education.

They ARE "selling something other than a college education" -- they're selling their study guides. But that's part of the difference, and that's in the contract that people sign with TCN. You're not "going to a regular college" and you're not paying for the modules as you go; you're entering into a contract to purchase a product (the entire set of "modules"), and it's not TCN's problem if you choose to discontinue the program. It's not like "going to college" at all -- it's like buying a car. If you buy and finance a car, and, six weeks later, you see another car you like better and don't want it anymore, that's not the finance company's problem and you still owe the money to the company. You can't just give the car back and walk away from the debt.

I'm certainly not defending TCN here, but I'm sure they're smart enough to have good lawyers who have carefully constructed the contract that people sign so that it will stand up in court, regardless of what the salespeople have led people to believe. It's not TCN's "fault" if people sign the contract without verifying everything that they're agreeing to in the contract.