obtaining refund from U Berkley?

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by lhutton, Mar 5, 2008.

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  1. lhutton

    lhutton New Member

    We have a question from a Middle Eastern student who enrolled in the University of Berkley (founded in Berkley, MI; previously operating from Erie, PA; current Chicago area code; Web site: http://www.berkley-u.edu/ current operating location unclear). She did not realize at the time the possible recognition problems that she might encounter due to the university's lack of recognized U.S. accreditation.

    She has since decided that she does not want a degree from this institution. However, she has already paid some $600 through the university's easy installment tuition plan. She has received no response to calls that she has made and e-mails that she has sent to the university.

    What suggestions do forum users have for on the best strategies for this student in seeking a tuition refund? Does anyone even know where the operators of this university are currently based? I see from other forum posts that they were previously sued by the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for consumer fraud and from their Web site that they do not currently issue degrees to Pennsylvania residents, but I do not know the full story or their present status….

    Thanks for any information or advice that you may be able to provide. Sincerely, Lia Hutton

    Lia Hutton
    Coordinator
    Advising and Testing Services
    AMIDEAST
    1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1100
    Washington, DC 20036
    Telephone: (202) 776-9619
    Fax: (202) 776-7019
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.amideast.org
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 6, 2008
  2. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    If she paid by credit card - the first step would be to dispute the charge based on fradulent product.

    Shawn
     
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I agree, and a call/letter to the attorney general's office of whatever state this "school" is now operating in certainly wouldn't hurt either.
     
  4. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    1. Don't pay any more.

    2. If by credit card, challenge the charge. If not, take a lesson on paying for things and don't do that again.

    3. Complain to any official who will listen. Then....

    4. Quit. Consider it tuition on a very important experience. And don't try to sue to collect; the costs will be far greater (even in small claims court) than the amount to be recovered.

    (Unless the outfit relents and refunds, you'll never see a dime. No one else will compel them to pay.)

    Don't go to physicians without medical licenses.
    Don't hire contractors without contracting licenses.
    Don't go to a school that isn't accredited (or doesn't seem like it will soon be.)
     
  5. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    That depends on the jurisdiction; here in MA it only costs about $20 to file a small claims action, and it's such an informal proceeding (think Judge Judy without the histrionics) that you don't need an attorney. If the magistrate finds against a business and they default, their business license(s) become non-renewable until the judgment is paid.
     
  6. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    The "School" is listing an Illinois phone number (312.924.0710), so the Illinois Attorney General would have jurisdiction.

    Shawn
     
  7. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    If it weren't tragic, the grammar would be amusing:

    "Our non-traditional, distance education university degree programs are comprehensive yet individualized, the nexus of which is primarily focused upon discovering, assessing, augmenting and documenting: knowledge, life experiences and specialized career skills and other areas of expertise. We're sure that you will be; as so many others, completely satisfied with the quality of positive interaction you will experience at the University of Berkley."
     
  8. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    A refund from a mill? Good luck! :eek:
     
  9. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    If someone made enough of a stink, it would be in the mill's best interests to pay them off a piddly amount (like the $600 in this case) to avoid the bad publicity.
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Yeah, but where's the jurisdiction in this case? Will the plaintiff have to travel to appear in court? What about the value of that person's time (wages lost, etc.)? That's why I said it wouldn't be worth it, given the low amount lost.
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Hi Lia - Your student/friend will never, ever get their money back. Despite this people should write letters, etc, because I believe that there is a cumulative effect. If enough people protest then something will be done. Letters to newspapers that vaguely suggest that elected representatives are happy to do nothing seem to be effective, in my experience. However, in this case some amber liquid and a staunch resolution to be smarter in the future is the best reasonable result. Sorry for the troubles.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 8, 2008
  12. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    With internet/phone/mail scams, the crime can be prosecuted in both the state where the scammer was at the time of the crime, and where the victim was when they made the transaction. In other words, if I'm in Boston and get scammed by U of Berkley while they're in Illinois, either Illinois or Massachusetts could prosecute (or hold a small claims action).

    With interstate cooperation and shared computer networks, it's not really possible to avoid prosecution by moving away or committing the crime from another state any longer. Just like state DMV's are becoming more reciprocal by suspending driver's licenses for unpaid out-of-state traffic tickets, the secretaries of state are starting to share resources and cooperate by going after businesses doing interstate scams. It's still very much in its infancy, but growing steadily.

    With all that said, will the person mentioned in the OP get their money back? Unless they're willing to be a real pain in the ass as well as investing a lot of time and effort, probably not. Chalk it up to experience and move on.
     
  13. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    :confused: ????
     
  14. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Amber liquid = adult beverages (beer, scotch & soda, Seven & 7, etc.).
     
  15. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I'm surprised that this Berkeley...

    http://www.berkeley.edu/

    hasn't been able/willing to successfully sue this Berkley...

    http://www.berkley-u.edu/

    (Interesting that it has a .edu web-address.)

    The bogus Berkley is obviously ripping off the University of California at Berkeley, even down to their website's color scheme.

    The bogus Berkley includes this disclaimer at the bottom of each page:

    There's also this interesting item:

    ...which probably relates to this 2005 Pennsylvania news story:

    http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2005/07/04/daily19.html

    The University of Berkley is still doing business at a bunch of websites. A few of them:

    http://www.uofb.com/

    http://www.distance-degrees-online.com

    http://www.international-university.net/

    http://www.schooldegrees.com

    http://www.degree-athome.com/

    http://www.postgraduate-degrees.com

    Here's a 2005 'Oakland Tribune' story entitled, 'Fake Cal Diplomas Offered Online'

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20050719/ai_n15826484

    Mr. Globosky is obviously still at it (though perhaps no longer in Pennsylvania) and no doubt the tens of millions of dollars are still rolling in to his bank account somewhere (probably off-shore). Like with Al Capone, maybe the IRS will be the ones that finally get him.
     
  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I took it specifically to mean whiskey, but that probably says more about me than it does about the phrase. ;)

    -=Steve=-
     

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