The College Network

Read The College Network's response to customer complaints.

Debby of Cole Camp, MO March 4, 2009

Purchased the program through The College Network LPN-RN - took the first test, barely passed. Their modules do not have all the info needed to pass the tests. I thought I was going through The College Network and NOT Excelsior. Come to find out it IS through Excelsior and there are problems getting certain states to accept the degree obtained from Excelsior.

I called TCN and told them I wanted to get out of the program - that I WOULD pay them for the modules, but that I wanted me test fees returned to my lender. I financed all my testing fees in with my loan. They told me that they do not have to return that money to me - so basically they have my money sitting in their savings account earning interest - while I am paying 12% interest on that money. That money has nothing to do with them at all - and they refuse to return it to me. This is robbery and this is not right. I do understand that since I signed the contract I have to abide by it for their modules even though I have not received them. But the testing money is not theirs and does not belong to them. So what happens now - I am not planning on going through their program - what becomes of that money sitting in their account? They are becoming unjustly enriched.

For a contract to be legal there must be something given - they are not giving me anything for my money in their account. I simply want my money back for the testing fees which will not be used - I do agree to pay them for their modules.

I now owe The College Network over 8000.00 because they are keeping my testing fees that will not ever be used - which accounts to a total of 2395.00.

Tarita of Pomona, CA January 30, 2009

Misrespresent everything about there company. I was told they were a college. Was told if i was unhappy that I can get out of my loan (within 30days) They would not let me get out of my loan. They where rude and calling my job being rude and threating me. I have all materials still in package not open and they say i cant return them.

Signed a loan for school and its not even a school. Thought this will help my future but just bring me hell. NEED HELP!

Nicole of Augusta, GA November 19, 2008

I researched College Network online to find online course options in Georgia. According to College Network they offered a LPN to ASN program through Excelsior College. According to the representative that spoke with me College Network would provide me with the books and then test out with Excelsior and then do my clinicals through Excelsior. I would then be able to sit for my boards and be endorsed in Georgia.

I signed the paperwork in November 2007. Unknown to me Excelsior was not meeting the requirements of the Georgia Board of Nursing and Georgia has since passed a law stating they will no longer endorse any student from Excelsior College. I am now stuck with books I can not use because I cannot get my license in Georgia.

Also I am being told by College Network that I am still responsible for paying for these books even though I cannot use them. College Network also told me I could send back 3 of the books and receive a credit but would still be responsible for the remainder. Why should I have to pay for something I should have been told upfront I may not be able to use? I was mislead from the beginning. I feel that I should not have to continue to pay this.

Valerie A. Shelton of Inglewood, CA November 11, 2008

On Saturday, May 05, 2007. I met with a representative (Beryl Wilder) from The College Network in my home. I was given information on the LPN to BSN Home study program. The information sounded promising. I signed up for the home study program. I spent all day Sunday, May 06, 2007 going over the papers that I had signed. I also did some research via the internet on The College Network. After spending an entire day of researching. I decided the home study program was not for me. My paperwork stated that I had 72hrs to cancel my contract with Corporate America Family credit Union (the lender), and The College Network. I began making telephone calls to The College Network Monday, May 07, 2005. Each telephone operator attempted to convince me to stay in the program. Even, after I repeatedly explained that the program was not for me.

I continued trying month after month to contact a representative from The College Network regarding the cancelation of the agreement I signed on Saturday, 05/05/07. No one ever returned my calls. The College Network did do a mass shipment of study materials via UPS to me a week or so later. I continued trying to call and contact someone at College Network to cancel the contract even after receiving the study materials.

Unfortunately after a month had gone by my sister was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast cancer. My sister is still undergoing treatment. I continued to allow Corporate America Family Credit Union to deduct payments for the program from my checking account. I did so to protect my credit rating. I mailed Bernard Schraeder, medical records and treatment plans for my sisters illness. I am aware that this is in violation of HIPPA regulations. I tried to explain to them by letters that I am my sisters sole support. I asked for special consideration due to my sisters illness, and please allow cancellation of the contract.

This has been going on for approximately one year. I mailed all the books and material back to The College Network, and suspended the payment withdrawal from my checking account. The College Network has received all of the materials. I was sent a letter months later stating that they received the materials but they were not going to cancel my contract and that I am still responsible for payment. The College Network never sent the materials back to me after receiving them.

Since this time I have done my own investigation regarding the so called in home study program. They take advantage of hard working professionals, such as me, by falsely offering them a way to accomplish their dream. It appears that the only thing they are concerned about is the money and not your educational goals. I was also told by the representative that came to my home that The College Network was affiliated with Excelsior College; this was also found out to be a false statement.

During my research on the internet, I found out they have been misleading people for quite a long time. Unfortunately, I became one of the many victims. The Special Program Assistance representative Barbara Wiggins at (800) 634-1443, disregarded my concerns and disappointment with the program. Her only concern was about the 8,261.40. Its not fair that I have to pay for a program that I never completed. Unsurprisingly, she could not answer my questions. Barbara said I needed to bring my account current, and that the money had to be deducted from my checking or savings account, and that I could not make payments any other way. Barbara stated that I would be reported to the credit bureau. She also emphasized that I needed to reopen a checking or savings account after I told her that I had closed my account. Im now receiving harassing telephone calls at work interfering with my job.

Luciana & Francisco Esparza of Palmdale, CA November 6, 2008

My husband and I had a person come to our home to tell us about The College Network.The person ended up getting us to sign up for classes.Over time my husband I recieved the materials for the classes but were way too busy to attend classes.We did not open the materials sent to us and attempted to send them back to The College network.

When we did so we were told that eventhough we did not attend any classes or open the material we are still obligated to pay off the loan for the classes.We feel that we were pushed into signing up and when we realized we did not want to take advantage of the program and attempted to return the material unopen we were shunned and told too bad.

While my husband and I are now attempting to fix what little credit we have and reconstruct our finacial lives we feel the treatment from The College Network is unfair and a hudge financial burden when we are not even using thier services.We have returned the product still in the origanal packaging and feel we should not be obligated to continually pay for a service we are not using nor have ever used.

Susan of Alpine, CA August 30, 2003

The college net work was in california and misrepresented themselves. There was an investigation in the state of california to not allow the Ecelsir program in this state and they did not disclose that to me...if they had i would not have signed a contract to try and get my RN. the state is now not allowing this as an accredited school. I found this out from my friend who also joined program. I never received a letter stating this but she did.

consequences will be i need to get out of this contract, not sure how to go about this.

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