Being ripped off? Find out here...

A DGer pointed me towards this site when I was considering an online degree and needed to verify a college. Perhaps this site can help you!

http://ripoffreport.com/

Tir - It's also a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau for either a report on that specific business or consumer tips about the industry in general. Online degrees sometimes are nothing more than a piece of paper that you pay a lot of money for and employers do not recognize as legitimate. Glad you didn't get burned on this one.

www.bbb.org

Debra

Wow, this is kinda funny... ripoffreport.com doesn't think too much of the Better Business Bureau:

http://ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff1343.htm

Yeah, I've read it. I work for the BBB and know the truth. Ripoff.com is not a forum for satisfied consumers to share experiences, but for disgruntled consumers to rant. Almost every paragraph of the report contains absolutely false information. Just because it's on the internet doesn't make it factual.

From what I saw of the site they are busy soliciting money and selling products of their own that removes any credibility that they are trying to project as far as I am concerned. Prime example is the ripoff guide for just 21.95 to help you get a better deal on somebody ripping you off, I wonder if it would work on them as well. As for an online schooling like any of the offline schools they have good ones as well as bad. Robin is using the university of phoenix which is expensive but is recognized by business execs. as a good one. What people look for in you having a degree is not so much what you major in or how well you did even though both are factors in getting a job. The biggest thing is that you had the self motivation to get the degree in the first place which counts the most.

Don

Wow! You guys have all helped tremendously! I am glad to hear these comments....yes, I was thinking "this must be a site for people who are pissed off?" and your comments only confirm it. Almost sorry I posted this site except that maybe others will give it just consideration.

I've used the BBB and at least through the local office I am now near, whenever I've needed them they are able to resolve my issue! But I have used other BBB offices that never produced results. My local office even mails you a form with your complaint and a note that they are contacting the company and get in touch with you. Very professional!

I know what you mean about the online degrees. The one I was looking at is Ashworth College and they say you can even get your Masters from them. I do not think it will matter who the school was because it is a degree just to be advanced in a current field and not to GET the job at this point. If anyone here has heard of Ashworth perhaps you can post or dmail me your opinion on it.

Thanks for reading this thread!

Oh, Tir, don't be sorry you posted the information. That's the greatest thing about DG - we learn from each other. On so many different topics! Glad your local bureau was helpful. Many consumers have a misconception about the BBB and our "powers". Actually, we have none! We are neutral and do not side with either party, only help facilitate communication which often leads to conflict resolution. We are not a government agency and have no enforcement authority (cannot revoke licenses, etc.). The bureau is a private, non-profit organization that promotes consumer confidence in the marketplace through self regulation. We produce reports on companies based on consumer experience. BTW - one major mistruth at the ripoff site is that we do not report criminal activity or government actions. True, we do not process complaints involving criminal activity (that is beyond our scope as we are not law enforcement), but we do report known criminal activity (convictions or indictments - not hearsay) within the reports. You can read a little more at this link if interested. Thanks for providing a forum for possibly clearing up some misconceptions.

http://www.bbb.org/about/index.asp

fleur,

you were a wealth of information. so glad you could help me!

I have a bad habit of getting on my soapbox.........thanks for your patience!
Debra

didn't bother me a bit. I'm always learning something!

Tir: I am currently taking a home study course from Penn Foster, which had five reports against them. A couple of the reports, I found that the people were not telling the whole story. One was somewhat true. It does take a lot of self-motivation, and if you quit you are still responsible for payment of the entire course. Regardless of whether I ever get a job in that field, I have learned a lot, and that is worth something.
I have run across that website before. It was a lady complaining about burning her hand at an Albertson's market. I figured it must have been true because I use to work there and several of the employees had also burn their hands on the hot case, plus a couple of customers. So I suppose some of their reports can be true, others maybe not.