Trump University’s Unhappy student

Trump University’s Unhappy Students Trump University’s Unhappy Students - Kerry A. Dolan - Shades of Green - Forbes

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Among the many things that Donald Trump has stamped with his brand is a little-known endeavor called Trump University.* In Trump’s true exaggerational style, the university isn’t what it appears to be. It isn’t an accredited university at all, but a for-profit entity that sells classes on how to invest in and make money from real estate. Some of its students claim in a class-action law suit in federal court that the thing Trump University does best is sell its own classes.

Marcus Baram over at Huffington Post has a thoroughly reported piece on Trump University on Friday. I have spent part of the past week digging into some of the same issues that Baram did.

The case against Trump University alleges that “The primary lesson Trump University teaches its students is how to spend more money by buying more Trump Seminars.” Students say they were encouraged to raise the credit limit on their credit cards so they could spend up to $35,000 to take a Trump University multi-day seminar.

The case is not new –it was filed last year in U.S. District Court in San Diego –but the judge may rule on it as soon as this month. The complaint in the suit says attorneys general in six states have received “numerous complaints against Trump University” and the Texas Attorney General began investigating in January 2010.

George Sorial, assistant general counsel at the Trump Organization, denies the suit’s claims. Sorial told me that 11,000 students have taken Trump University courses and most have been happy. He sent me copies of customer satisfaction surveys that rank the courses highly. He also sent a video interview with Tarla Makaeff, one of the plaintiffs in the class action suit, taken in August 2008 in Los Angeles after a Trump U seminar, in which she praises the program.

Makaeff, a former fashion and handbag designer in San Diego, *says via email that the video interview of her was manipulative, and that before it was taken she had already complained toTrump University about not making any money off her $35,000 investment in a seminar.* “They … knew I had to give a positive response [in the video] and cooperate with them and a camera being shoved in my face in order to get further support and services from them for my $35,000 investment which I had yet to make any money off in 1 year despite verbal promises otherwise since day one,” Makaeff continues in an email.

The Trump Organization has also countersued Makaeff for $1 million, alleging defamation. A judge has denied Makaeff’s motion to dismiss the counterclaim. Call it the case of the billionaire vs. the handbag designer.

The question is what affect, if any, the lawsuits might have on billionaire Donald Trump, should he decide to run for president. Oh, and there’s a lesson, too. Before you decide to spend $35,000 on a Trump University seminar, remember what its lawyers say: “Trump University cannot guarantee riches any more than Harvard University can guarantee a Rhodes Scholarship or MIT can guarantee a Nobel Prize.”

 

And what a fine president Trump would make...

 

Sure....

Hi

Best Donald Trump joke I've heard recently is from Joy Behar (The View):

"Donald Trump isn't sure Bin Laden is dead -- he wants to see the Death Certificate!"

Trump University changed its name a while ago. I thought this might have been Mr. Trump's idea - but it wasn't. Here's a (Wiki) quote:

"In June 2010, the institution officially changed its name from Trump University to The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, after the New York State Department of Education took the view that it was "misleading and even illegal" for the institution to call itself a university."

Remembering "caveat emptor" did me good service, here! Mr. Trump was offering a downloadable (and free) PDF brochure containing 200+ financial tips. I requested one, printed it out and wow - with the colour cover picture of Mr. Trump it makes a smart-looking thingy indeed to be seen reading on the bus!

Of course, what I exchanged for it was my email address and for a couple of months I got many solicitations for Trump courses and seminars, which I had no interest in taking. From reading some complaints on-line, I gathered those who were disgruntled felt the initial seminars they paid for were largely sales-pitches for more extensive seminars, personal mentors, retreats etc., with price tags in the thousands. One disappointed customer wrote he had spent $4,500 - IIRC - and not received nearly what he expected.

One would think that Mr. Trump would have plenty of ways to make money without attracting the negative publicity of seminar-selling.

Then again, one would think the same of another financial guru, Robert Kiyosaki. Apparently Mr. Kiyosaki sold others the right to use his name in seminars, as long as they made it clear that Mr. K. would not actually be in attendance.

From the negative feedback, maybe entering the "seminar" field might be a business decision both these experts could come to regret.

My financial tip: Confine yourself to the freebies. It's hard not to get your money's worth!

Johann

 

Trump is a joke.. He is pulling a "Tom Cruise" and losing his mind.

35K for a seminar WHO WOULD PAY THAT!!!! They deserve to lose that money because it was gone the second they sent The Donald that check.

If you sent Trump that much money - You're Fired!