| rev:text
| - The figurative:
Choice Center is a bully who approaches you with a warm, bright smile, then takes your money, punches you in the stomach, and runs away, pointing and laughing.
The literal:
1. April: someone I know signed me up during a high pressure sales situation. One can't "graduate" unless s/he recruits 5 people (even if you've complete all that it entails). The following week, I get a call from Corrine, the director. She seemed very interested in my goals and aspirations, and she urgently instructed me to fill out the on-line "homework." The "homework" is simply a questionnaire asking about your goals and visions for yourself, in short answer form. Then you are breezed past the terms and policies, necessarily agreeing to them in order to complete the "homework." Corrine called me back within 2 days of completion, saying that since it's only April and my group wouldn't start until October, she would be in touch in June and August to check in. I asked her for a copy of the terms and policies in writing, since you're not permitted to print them directly and you can not go back to review them after you have completed the "homework." I never received them. And she never called me back.
2. September: after never hearing from Corrine, I contact her via 4 different modes of communication (phone, email, text, voicemail) to inform her that, due to sudden and pressing familial obligations, I wouldn't be able to attend my first weekend, which was supposed to start 10/2/14. I wanted to discuss my options (postponement to another start date). I tried these 4 modes twice in 1 week. I never heard back from her.
3. Monday, 10/6/14: I get a call from Susana asking why I didn't show up. I told her that I tried to contact Corrine and discuss my situation and my options. Susana said that I would be getting a call on Wednesday, 10/8/14 at 10am from Danielle. I rearranged my schedule and my young daughters' schedules to take this call so that I can discuss the next steps. Danielle never called. No email. No text. No voicemail. (And since these people usually call from their personal lines, I had no way to get in touch with her.) I tried calling Corrine again. Nothing.
4. The following weeks, I finally called Amex to dispute the charge, as I no longer felt comfortable giving money to a company that won't call me back. Amex received a copy of the policies eventually. I still have NEVER received a copy. They'll talk to Amex but not me.
5. Late October - I received a call from a woman at CC whose name starts with an "M" (it was hard to hear her name on the vm). I called back within 10 minutes. She didn't answer. I left a voicemail. She never called back.
6. 11/17/14. I called CC directly again asking for Corrine. I was told by the receptionist that Corrine no longer works at CC and has moved to another continent (this was 8 weeks after I initially tried calling her and told MULTIPLE other people I had tried calling her. Note: Corrine left long before I started calling her.). The receptionist put me through to Danielle, the same woman who never called me on 10/8/14. First, she said that I didn't answer that call, when I was waiting in my living room with my phone in hand. Then she said it went to voicemail. I asked her if she left a message or tried contacting me through another method (email, text). She was silent.
After a long discussion, I asked Danielle for a refund. She said it was their policy not to give refunds (mind you, I had paid almost $2500 (the full amount) in full in April). She advised to sign up for another course. I told her I don't have any faith or respect for people who dismiss me and ignore me for 8 weeks, despite my repeated attempts to be in touch. And I informed her that I wouldn't ever entertain the idea of working with them again. And I politely but firmly requested a refund. Danielle asked if she could call me back the following day.
7. 11/18/14 - no call. I ended up calling her back the following Monday, 11/24/14. She told me that she spoke with the CEO/Founder Robyn and the accounting department. And it was decided that, even though I will never work with such a company lacking values, they will keep my money. I asked the name of the director. Danielle informed me that she's the final decision and ignoring my requests to get a copy of the policies and are "holding up [our] end of the bargain." And no refund (not even under the terms of them keeping my deposit and giving back the rest) will be issued. I did try calling Robyn twice in 6 days and left messages with the receptionist (who told me she remembered that I called previously). Never heard from her.
I am now in the midst of pressing familial obligations, out $2500 because Danielle has "held up her end of the bargain." Clearly her end of the bargain includes a lack of communication, a lack of propriety, and a lack of compassion. They only want your money. That's why the rates continue to increase. Stay away, folks!
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