Parents of high school students who are planning to take the SAT and ACT college admissions tests are being misled by a Texas-based test preparation service according to complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB has received 99 complaints from consumers from across the country, including Michigan, alleging misleading telephone sales and difficulties with obtaining refunds for test preparation materials by The SAT and ACT Prep Center.
Complaints allege that telephone sales for The SAT and ACT Prep Center misrepresented to parents that their son or daughter had asked to get test preparation software for the college admission tests through their local high school. After buying the software for $119.99, parents discovered that their children had not requested the study materials and their local high school was not involved with the offer. Additional complaints also allege dissatisfaction with the software; non-delivery of the materials; unauthorized charges of $49.95 for monthly service; and difficulties in obtaining cancellations or refunds.
“Everyone wants the best for their children and unfortunately there are scams that take advantage of people’s sense of parental responsibility,” said Tim Burns, Public Affairs Director for the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan. “Parents should check with their student’s school counselor and comparison shop before purchasing any offer for test preparation services. You can also review a business’s Reliability Report with the Better Business Bureau for free at www.bbb.org to see if they have a pattern of consumer complaints.”
In Michigan, a mother reported to the BBB: My husband was contacted by phone from The College Prep Center and told that our daughter had requested information from them. He believed them and gave our credit card number over the phone. Afterward our daughter was asked if she had requested anything and she said “No”.
An Ohio parent complained: We received a call that our daughter expressed interest in the high school that she would like getting her ACT, SAT, and PSAT scores up. After we got the program I found out that I can get the same program at Best Buy for under $10.00. We returned the CD to The SAT and ACT Prep Center for a refund. When I was paying my bills online, I found that he charge was still on my account. I called them and they said the software was opened and there will be no refund. I’m out 119.99.
Another parent in Nebraska stated: I went to their website trying to contact them with the information they provided me and none of it works. They have not given my money back and have now started debiting my account an additional $49.95 per month. I have tried calling them and I get a recording saying that due to high volume they can’t accept my call and I am to leave them a message. I than get a recording saying the mailbox is full and they disconnect.
The SAT and ACT Prep Center has a BBB rating of “F”. The reasons for the F rating include:
- Number of complaints filed against the business;
- Failure to respond to complaints filed against the business;
- BBB does not have sufficient background information on the business.
Due to a failure to respond to complaints and inquires from the Better Business Bureau, all complaints and information received by the BBB is being forwarded to the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Tags: ACT, BBB, Better Business Bureau, college admission tests, SAT, SAT and ACT Prep Center, test preparation services, tim burns
