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Video Professor

Video Professor • Video Professor Drops Subpoena, Goes After Wikipedia Users • Video Professor Goes After Critics • A Visit to the Video Professor's 'Classroom' --- • Consumer complaints

It's hard to miss the Video Professor if you watch much cable TV. CEO John W. Scherer is everywhere -- promising to make you a computer whiz in no time ... and with no obligation!

But according to our readers, it doesn't always work out that way.

Beverly of Austin, TX November 18, 2009

I returned the product in tact, it was never opened. I was told I would receive a refund. Called and was told it would be 20 business days, called after 20 and was told it would be 30 business days, after 30 I called and they said they would expitite the refund, today 11/18/09 I'm told the "rush" refund will take 10 to 15 business days. My checking account was debited 189.00.

Robert of Dunn, NC November 18, 2009

Went through all the trial period like everyone else. Got return authorization...sent items back...no refund received. After several calls and listening to their spiel about "up to 30 business days to process refund", waited the 30 days before calling back. Talked with rep who stated that the thirty days was up, but they had until 5pm MST to transfer the money into my account. I checked the next day...no money. Called them AGAIN...was told the refund had not been "expidited", and would be an additional 13-15 business days to get refund.

I don't believe this outfit. I have read on complaint sites that this company has and continues to rip people off regarding refunds. Some are still waiting after 60 days. The BBB has received over 500 complaints but aren't really empowered to do anything about it. I think the Attorney-General needs to step up and find out what is really going on here. This has gone on way too long.

Patricia of Quitman, AR November 17, 2009

I ordered a cd free trial for 6,95. I got a overdraft notice from my bank because they took out !89.00 from my account. I called them and was told since I did not contact them after 11 days they assumed I wanted the product and took 189.00 out of my account. I sent the product back and the received it appr. Nov, 6 and I still have not received my refund, They said it would take 30 business days to get it and it has been that long. I called them today Nov.17 and they said it would be 2or 3 weeks before I get it.

Penney of Columbia, SC November 16, 2009

I went on line to purchase the EBay lesson. I never received the product and noticed in my checking account that 189.00 was taken out of my account from Video Professor. I called immediately and they told me it would be 30 business days. I did call several times throughout the month to check the status, but they kept up the the 30 business time frame. I still had not received the product.

At the end of October, I learned that I still didn't have my refund, so I called them back and I spoke to a floor manager. He told me that he was gonna escalate it to the "refund resolution" department and I would have my refund "probably before the 10-15 business day time frame". I called again and the customer service rep stated they can refund money at any time and that I would have it by SUNDAY, the 15th of November.

I asked to speak to a supervisor and they hung up on me after a few minutes. Now, it is the 16th of November (tomorrow will be 2 months-including the business days-ha)and I was told by a customer service rep I would have to wait and it would be no later than the 23rd of November. I bounced 4 checks not knowing they would take the money out and I never received the product. One of the last customer service reps did say they would send out a replacement free of charge so I wouldn't have to eat the shipping. I haven't gotten that one either.

Philip of Monroe, NC November 10, 2009

I ordered the Video Professor online, for 10. I was then charged 189. I called to return it. I was given an authorization code, and shipped it UPS. They recieved it back in 3 days. I was told that my refund would take 30 business days to receive, kind of funny since it took them only 2 days to take the money from my account. That was Sept 28, 2009. I was "promised" I would receive my refund on 11/9/2009. When I did not, (surprise surprise) I called Video Porfessor yet again, and was told that my refund hadn't even been processed yet. I would take another 15 business days. That's when I decided to call channel 9 in Denver, look up "Video Processor Scam" on google. That's how I found this site. I don't know about anyone else, but I have filed a complaint to the FTC. They will not handle my issue directly, however they will handle the issue if they receive enough complaints. The real issue here: Video Professor is making a Ponzi Scam out of customer refunds. They hold the refunds until the next billing cycle or even longer. It doesn't take a genius to see what this means to their bottom line. It's this kind of behavior the FTC is interested in. I highly recommend you fill out a complaint form on their web site, so we can be done with this scam once and for all.

Clarice of seguin, TX November 7, 2009

hooray! finally got my refund after 61 business days!! did they actually get on the ball or was it because I filed a complaint with the Denver BBB??

Anzhelika of Parsippany, NJ November 4, 2009

On Video professor web site I paid S&H for trying 10 days their product Quick books software lessons. I am a self learner and wanted to see if it was advanced to improve my knowledge. When I received a product( good product) but it was not what I expected I returned it by USPS on time and with all delivery confirmation tracking number and receipts to prove their receiving.

More than month later I was charged for a full price. When I contacted the company representative first time he said they didn't receive it at all, and I faxed all proves to a supervisor Chasity and said that they will fix a mistake but they will refund my money in 30 business days( like 6 weeks! for wrong charge). I was not satisfied with this answer and contacted next day another representative,Dana said that it was their mistake and in 15 days I will get a refund. I was strongly unsatisfied with that charge and different information i got from different reps of one company.

I called to my bank to dispute a charge. They connected me on the conference call with Chris fro Video Professor. That was ridiculous just to listen to her, she said that they received my return but week later from my dates proved by USPS delivery confirmations and I violated their return policy, she didn't care about my USPS proves and receipts, she was extremely rude and interrupted me constantly.

In the end the said that she cannot help me with it, it is my fault and when I complete violation form, they might return my money back or might not. the bank representative hang up on us because of the screaming and unappropriated tone of voice from Video Professor Representative. I called second time to my bank and they issue a credit for this incorrect charge and processed a dispute.

I do not want anyone to have this experience and more, I think it is planned and that is the way they earn money. The product itself is great for beginners, but customer service, mixed ,confusing and conflicting information representatives provide in addition to incorrect billing and not easy to refund customer's money make this company strongly undesirable.

I was charged 190 (month later!) for returned on time free trial. I unsuccessfully spend lots of time arguing and disputing this wrong charge , proving with my receipts and confirmations. I still did not get my refund.

I am not ever going to sign any violation forms that they sent to me to sign because I didn't violate their rules and I have proves. It is exhausting, upsetting and nerve taking to deal with Video professor billing inquiries. I wouldn't recommend anyone to even try this product.

Charles of Glendive, MT November 4, 2009

I had in the past ordered a video professor CD for 4 bucks...we had gotten use of it and my middle son wanted one for him. I purchased an new one. This time it was about 7 bucks. In the fine print there was a purchase agreement for 189.00 that I did not see. I had read everything on the web page and it said nothing about a charge or any free trial like they have posted now.

The shopping cart had no charge but the 7 dollar CD. I did not read it closely because I had purchased from them before and I was happy with their service. And the my space page that I found them on said I received gamepionts for an Internet game we play as a family for a 7.00 purchase from video professor.

Consequently we never received the 7.00 CD that I purchased.About a month or so later the post office said I have a package, When I went to go see it it was a big box, I told them I never ordered anything that big so send it back to the sender. after some time I received a mailbox full of NSF charges...it wiped us out. 11 days after I purchased the 7.00 CD they took 189.00 out of my account.

This did not result in NSF right away because I kept a 200 running balance in case my car broke down so I didn't loose my job. But I had a short week and used 50.00 of my reserve to complete paying my obligations to the utility companies. I was making payments on an old bill. I tried to recover from the loss but it takes me two days to make 189.00 and then my household expenses were nearly a hundred dollars a day, with student loans and such. At this time the Video professor had cost me 500.00 or so and it was not over yet

When I first called them the day I recieved the NSF mail they said they would refund when my package got there. I said what package? Te then expalined what it was. I was furious and they said they cant help m without a return number inside the package. I told them I returned a package awhile back and it must have been thier stuff. She agian said I must have the return number inside the box. at the end of the call they were going to refund my money.

Then after time elapses more the reason changed to they did not recieve the package till after the agreed time for a free trial. I ask what free trial , why would I have a free trial when I work all the time, and I would never be able to purchase it. I explained we are in very desperate times and if they don't refund me the bank would not reverse the NSF charges.

Today they give me the return number from their computer and I found out that the first person I talked to could have gotten it from her screen knowing I did not have it and would never have it because they had the package. I have to stop writing it upsets me so bad my stomache hurts all night if I get involved again with trying to get my money back.

I know hat this will sound exaggerated but it is not, in reality what this has cost me is so great I will never recover, I can barley think about it anymore. I'm posting this to try and move on and hope I can save someone else from being hurt by this Internet scam. I was at the time paying back utility bill from the cold winter.

When they wiped me out I could only hold on until I was rained out a few days and I couldn't make the back payments per our agreement. hey disconnected my power and asses a fee for reconnect and a huge deposit. then the water was shut off, and so on. I then lost my home, because we could not live there with no utilities.

Clarice of seguin, TX November 3, 2009

I filled a complaint on Video Professor with BBB at this address: The BBB that will handle your complaint is: BBB of Denver / Boulder Colorado

Elizabeth of fayetteville, NC November 2, 2009

I am so discusted with this whole event. I ordered the Excel CD and called back within the appointed time. I was then asked by Mathew if I had an oppunity to view all the CD's and I told him no but I was calling with for the number to turn the CD's back in. He said I can extend you until 10/27/09. I asked him is there going to be any extra charges to me? he said no. I asked him abot these extr CD's that came with the package; and do I need to sent them back? he said no.

I asked him was he sure because I did not want any surprises. He said no keep them only send the one CD back. I asked for the retun code number so I could turn it in with no problems. Mathew said he could not give that to me but it sould be no problems and just call on 10/27/09. I did just that and was told that the money 189.95 was debit from my account that morning.

I called a little after 7:00am. Jay told me my money was taken 10/27/09 the same day. She apologized and said it was an repersentive error. So I just wanted it fixed. I was told I had to call back in 5 business days. I was told I could not call back any sooner and they were working to correct the problem becase it was there fault. Reluctantly I hung the phone up. Which leads me to today. I spoke to Ray who informed me that my information was not sent over to the "Refund Resulation Dept". He said that he was going to forward my information to corporate. I thought thats what going to happen on 10/27/09 so I asked to talked to the supervisor Wannetta. she said she would call me tomorrow 11/04/09 by the end of business. I hope I don't end up becoming a statistic.

I am a victim of this scam. However I think that all who read this and have been a victim should join me. I think the Attorney General needs to get involved in this whole mess that is ripping people off. I have only one income and cannot afford to just hand over 189.95 for something that I do not want. I don't even want the so called "free disc " I have now.

I have spoken to several different representatives from video professor. I just hope and pray to God that I get my money back. I need my money. I am one of the working poor, so I thought this was a inexpensive way for me to increase my computer knowledge. I had to borrow money from friends to try and cover this unexpected expense of this money coming out of my checking account so I would not incure additional charges because I didnot have the money in my account. I had no ideal that one phone call would lead to such a disaster.

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