Lovegevity's Wedding Planning Institute

Ms [redacted] signed up for the 2 day seminar and was notified by email and voicemail on 4/21/2017, that the seminar had been canceled (this was eight days prior to the seminar which was scheduled for 4/29-4/30).  Our staff followed up with Ms [redacted] by voice mail, email and text until she...

responded to make sure she was aware of the cancellation.  On 4/26/2017, Ms [redacted] spoke to one of our program advisor about her options. She said she couldn’t attend a classroom course, but wanted to continue to the online course and she was immediately refunded $524 (the difference in tuition between the seminar and the online course).  The partial refund is only issued once a student has decided to continue the course online, otherwise the full tuition is refunded since the course did not take place.  Ms [redacted] was contacted by our educational committee regarding her progress in the online course on 4/28/2017 and 5/01/2017.  On 5/9/2017, she submitted a request for a refund. At this time she was advised that she did not qualify for a refund per the refund policy stated on our website.  Refunds are not issued once a student has the textbook and has accessed the online course.  She again requested a refund and our staff made several attempts to communicate with her including on 5/24/2017, she asked to speak to someone after 6pm EST and was advised that as we were on PST and 3 hours behind her a representative would be available.  She did not call until 10pm EST/7pm PST which was after our office was closed.  Ms [redacted] continued accessing and working in the online course once she was notified the seminar was cancelled. Her last login date for the course curriculum was 5/29/2017:Additionally, Ms [redacted] returned her textbook in poor condition. An exception was made in order to satisfy Ms [redacted]’s request for a refund even though she does not qualify.  The $1595 requested was refunded 7/11/17 and her used textbook was shipped back to her as it cannot be re-used due to its poor condition. She confirmed that she received the refund.

[redacted] enrolled in the Certified Wedding and Event Planning online only course on 9/26/2016. In his initial request for information on the course prior to enrolling he stated he works 12 hour shifts and needs the course to be solely online. Mr [redacted] was activated into the course on...

9/26/16, and passed the online Student Orientation. This shows students how to navigate the online curriculum and textbooks are not ordered until this has been successfully taken. Mr [redacted]’s textbook was ordered on 9/27/16, and he was emailed a confirmation that he had successfully completed the orientation and his textbook was ordered. Mr [redacted] submitted support tickets requesting assistance on the course and each of these was answered within 1 business day. Our Educational Committee repeatedly asked him (emails sent on 10/01, 10/02, 10/04, 10/05) to let us know his available time for a phone meeting to walk through his questions. On 10/06/16, a student support team member spent 47 minutes on the phone with Mr [redacted] answering his questions about the course and how to complete projects. Our refund policy is located on our website: Refunds – OnlineTuition for any and all online programs offered by Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute are NON-REFUNDABLE once a student accesses the online course. Withdrawal from any program must be received in writing at Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute admissions office within three business days starting from the time the student enrolled in order to qualify for a refund. Students participating in a payment plan are still responsible for the remaining balance at the time of cancellation if a student has accessed the online course materials. Mr [redacted] requested a 50% refund however he still has the textbook in his possession and he did not submit a written request for a refund. He also accessed the online curriculum and his last login date was 10/20/16. Our system does not track the amount of time he spent reviewing the course but does track the quizzes. Our staff tried multiple times to assist him in understanding the course requirements as well as assisting him with non curriculum issues such as his internet settings. While he is not eligible for a refund we are willing to work with him to resolve this issue and have worked with him since he enrolled in September 2016. Regards,[redacted], CPO

Review: I enrolled in The Wedding Planning Institute (a division of Lovegevity) in September and completed the online course in January. Over this time I spent $750 for monthly access and the final exam. Their website promises I would receive my paper certificate within four to six weeks. It is now April and have yet to receive it. My first inquiry as to where my certificate is was three weeks ago, and I was told it was "in process" and nothing more. I then followed up a week after that, and was told it was sent to the printer, and the man who has access to that was on lunch and would call me back; I never received a call. Last week I was promised I would receive it today, only after a threat to contact the Revdex.com on their public Facebook page. I'm done being polite. I wish I did not have to contact the Revdex.com but you truly brought this upon yourselves.Desired Settlement: I wish for no monetary settlement but rather my certificate be delivered and for my complaint to be publically posted so other potential students know what a hassle it is to receive your certificate. Please do not let them remove my complaint.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted],

Review: paid $50 to start wedding planning course, never received my log in info, and cannot reach anyone ever.

On 11/8 I signed up online to take their wedding planning course. It required a $50 payment, which I made. I received an email confirming payment, and that I would receive my log in info within 24 hours. It is now almost 5 days later, and I still have nothing. Their online chat is never on, even though they say chat hours are 8-5. I've called twice and have only gotten voicemail. Never get my messages returned. I've sent a couple emails through their site contact form, never anything returned. I want a refund, and I don't want them charging my card again! I CANNOT REACH ANYONE! Desired Settlement: I want the $50 I paid back, and I want to cancel without penalty, and I don't want them charging my card again! I want it noted on Revdex.com that this company should not be rated A+. It appears to be a scam.

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

The student has chosen to continue with the Certified Wedding and Event Planning course she enrolled in. It appears what happened was a misunderstanding. The student enrolled after hours on a Friday, the start of a three day weekend. She automatically received an email from our system that misguided her, when really she had created her own log in information when she enrolled. As soon as we heard from the student we followed up and have been in contact with her since. We have adjusted her start date and she is now able to log in just fine and is moving forward with the course.

Final Consumer Response

(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)

They have done everything they said in their response. The automated response received had misinformation in it, but they have accommodated my request to have my start date changed to the date this all got resolved. To date, I have not had any further issue.

Review: Lovegevity has not been honest with me regarding work I submitted for a wedding/event planner certification. They have failed to communicate with me.

I signed up for the wedding/event planner certification. The certification required I complete quizzes, a final exam, 3 projects, and a self-assessment. I completed all requirements, but had difficulty uploading my 3 projects. I have not received any communication from my online instructor, even though I have sent e-mails and called her. Below is a log of all the e-mail communications and events surrounding my certification.

Oct.11th-completed all quizzes, final exam, self-assessment. Successfully uploaded Project 2 to the website and Project 3 to the Student Blog (requirement for Project 3). I had difficulty uploading Projects 1 and 3. The website kept saying it wasn't responding.

Oct.11th- e-mailed online instructor telling her I was finished and asked if all projects went through after trying several times.

Oct.11th- chatted with [redacted] online. Informed him that I was having difficulty with the website. He informed me that I could e-mail the projects to him if I had problems.

I continued trying to upload Projects not knowing if they were going through.

**No communication from online instructor.

Oct.14th- e-mailed [redacted] my Projects 1 and 3 and asked that he upload them quickly as the time for my class would expire on the Oct.15th.

Oct.14th-received an e-mail from my instructor saying Project 1 and 3 had not been received. Informed the instructor that [redacted] had them in e-mail and would be uploading them for me due to difficulties with the website. Asked that she let me know if [redacted] uploaded the projects.

Oct.14th-called and left a message on my instructors voicemail explaining the difficulty I had uploading projects and that [redacted] would be uploading them. Asked the instructor to let me know if the projects were received.

**NO response from instructor.

Oct.15th-time expired for completion of class work for certification

**No communication from Lovegevity, but I noticed my Certification Progress Report said I earned 30/30 credits and my status was COMPLETE. I assumed that meant my projects went through and my certification was on its way.

Nov.14th- e-mailed instructor asking when I would receive my certification and what she thought of my projects. Informed her I was doing a bridal show on 11/24 and wanted my certification by then.

**NO response

Nov.18th-emailed student support asking when I would get my certification and asked why I was receiving no communication from my instructor.

Nov.18th-chatted online with Dana asking about certification arrival. She said 4-6 weeks from completion of program

Nov.20th-received an e-mail from [redacted] confirming Projects 1 & 3 were received through the online submission and an instructor would be in touch with feedback and confirm course completion.

Nov.22-called student support and spoke with [redacted] explaining that I wanted a refund and did not understand the lack of communication. He said my instructor emailed me about Project 2. I never received this email. Explained that I was tired of dealing with Lovegevity and wanted my money back. He said someone from Accounts would call me.

Nov.22-denied refund through an email, not a phone call

Nov.22-by email I explained that I received no communication/online support from my instructor and wanted my money back

Nov.23-By email I was told that Lovegevity showed on their website that Projects 1 & 3 were submitted on 11/18 and were being reviewed by my instructor

Nov.23-I replied by email telling them that I only emailed student support on the 18th, so someone from within Lovegevity must have submitted my projects. Asked why my projects were being reviewed if my time had expired on 10/15. Explained that I felt this was negligent on the part of Lovegevity.

Nov. 23-sent an email explaining that my certification progress report states that my status is COMPLETE and 30/30 credits had been earned. Asked why it would say this if I have 2 Projects that need to be reviewed by an instructor.

**I have yet to hear from my online instructor throughout this. Desired Settlement: I want to receive full tuition reimbursement for my wedding/event planner certification. I do not want the certification. I just want all tuition back. This also includes money I spent on a Dinner Party certification. I signed up for this after completing the wedding/event planner certification. I paid $734.00 for the wedding/event planner and $199.00 for the dinner party. I am done with Lovegevity, and I do not want any certifications from them.

Business

Response:

Final Consumer Response

I have spoke with Mary Ross, Director of Academic Programs for Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute. She and I have resolved the issues, and I would like to drop my complaint against Lovegevity. She has been most helpful and looked into the concerns I had about my education through them. She has worked with me, and we have come to an agreement. Thank you.

Complete SCAM!! The course is basically a Power Point presentation of the book, which is loaded with grammatical and spelling errors. They should be embarrassed. Book didn't arrive till about 2+ weeks after I registered, which once I received that realized that I just wasted $800 of my money. The online course and book are exactly the same, I could of went and purchased a $50 book and taught myself. No videos, tutorials or pictures in course. Their website shows a 100% money back guarantee within 10 days, however, by the time you receive your book 2 weeks later it's already too late.