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It's hard to miss the Video Professor if you watch much cable TV. CEO John W. Scherer is everywhere -- promising to make you a computer whiz in no time ... and with no obligation!
But according to our readers, it doesn't always work out that way.
Margarita of Fort Lee NJ (03/07/08)
CLAIM FILED WAS RESOLVED ON 3/7/08 Ann, Customer Complaint Manager, called to apologize for the behaviour of their employee. She said that this should have never happened, since they do provide different avenues when a client experiences either medical or family circumstances. She was most apologetic and will be crediting my account. She also said that she would review the recording of the phone call, and that the employee would be reprimanded. I was truly impressed with the response of the company.
Anne of Lakewood CO (03/07/08)
Video Professor is eager to help our customers with their concerns. Please contact our Executive Customer Assurance Department directly at (800) 500-1183. You will be responded to within one business day. You may also e-mail us by visiting www.letvideoprofessorhelp.com
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Margarita of Fort Lee NJ (03/04/08)
On Feb 12, I ordered the Ebay Lesson from Video Professor (3 CD's). I had 10 days from the date of delivery to either keep it or return 1 video and keep the other 2 free. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law became ill and I drove down to Florida to assist in her care. I left on Feb 14, and the CD's had not yet arrived. I returned yesterday evening 3/3/08, and found the package from them. Today 3/4/08 I found an email from them thanking me for my order. I called them to explain the circumstances,and Dulce responded that I should have called them to explain the circumstances while I was away. Well, who has a family medical emergency and remembers to call Video Professor? Not only that, but I had not yet received the package by the time I left. She responded that there was nothing that they could do but offer me another two lessons for free, but that I had already been charged $89.95 on 3/1/08 and that they would not remove the charges. She also offered that I exchange lessons within the next 6 months, but that the charges would remain anyway.
If their policy is to return 1 of the 3 CD's if you decide that you do not want the lesson and keep the other 2 FREE, then why is it so incomprehensible to them to start my 10 day period from 3/3/08 when I returned? It is not just to charge $89.95 for 3 CD's considering the circumstances, when they are willing to give you 2 FREE and return 1 to them if you return then within 10 days of delivery. Perhaps I am wrong but I think something is terribly inhumane with this company to not be sympathetic of medical issues.
Marion of Boca Raton FL (12/19/07)
I am so glad that this Video Professor sales tactic is finally in the open. I had tried for the free disc a second time, because I had forgotten what happend the firt time. They did not send 1 disc, but 2 or 3, charging for the additional CDs. I called immediately both times and got credits, except for the shipping and handling. The one CD that I kept, was not very instructive - I never used it after trying it.
Maria of Fremont CA (12/03/07)
I ordered the free disk and paid for the shippiong cost. I was enrolled automatically for other disks that I did not need. I tried to just get the one free disk, but was told the deal did not work that way. I did return all but one disk and will check to see if my credit card has been credited.
this is an unfair marketing scam!
I did not check my credit statement. I am owed over four hundred dollars in refunds. I paid interest on that amount without requesting further disks. this put me over the limit on my credit card.
Mindy of Springfield IL (10/26/07)
I inquired about a Video Professor free lesson in March or April of 2007 and have since been charged. I keep getting these how-to programs in the mail and my checking account keeps getting charged every month. What do I need to do to prevent this from continuing to happen? I have called customer service and they have been no help and are very rude. Would it help to file a complaint with the better business bureau or to put in formal complaint with the state attorneys office? Please respond as soon as possible so I can get to the bottom of this matter.
Melinda of Fayetteville AR (09/29/07)
Video Professor charged my Visa card without my having ordered anything and sent a video to my home. I had been notified by Capitol One that there had been some possibly fraudulent purchases made on the internet, and this was one of them. I refused the package and returned it on 9/28.
The freeze which Capitol One promised to put on my account did not take, and more charges have been incurred. Although Capitol One says I will not have to pay the charges, I fear harm for my credit rating and good name.
Joel of Millington TN (06/26/07)
I ordered a C.D. Learning power point and it came in with 3 I ordered 1 and got 3 then there was a scratch off for a free disc then whenI called for the other free disc I Found out I was going to be charged 79.95 for thr disc
I already got.
I then called customer service and talked to a Lady who couldn't answer my questions nor new any thing about the you learn or I pay $250 that was on my box .
I looked further and found the return policy under the shipping lable, if this isn't trying to hide something I dont know what is. I am going to put a block on then trying to take money out of my account or off my credit card .
The people I talked to were rude and when I ask one of them if I could talk to his supervisor he hung up on me.
Anne of Denver CO (05/30/07)
NOT A COMPLAINT: Video Professor is eager to help customers with their concerns. Please contact our Customer Correspondence Department directly at (800) 323-8990. You will be responded to within 24 hours.
Patricia D of Brodnax VA (05/18/07)
ordered free video, back in December 2006 had to pay 4.95 for shipping.
Thought this was the end of it until i was checking my account online May 8 and notice money had been taken out of my account (unauthorized)for 79.95 plus 4.95 shipping and 1.00 three times for i don't know what? This was an account that i only put enough money in to pay my insurance that is taken out every month so there was not enough money in the account to cover the money they took out so it made my account overdraw by 30.00 which they hit three times so i was charged a 90.00 overdraft fee!
Misty of Molt MT (04/20/07)
I really can't say any more than what has already been said. When they charged the unauthorized $79.95 if overdrafted my account and with all the additional charges I ended up with over $350 in overdraft fees. Thankfully my bank was very understanding and waved some of the fees but it took a very long time before it all got straightened out. I finally got all my money refunded approximately 1-2 mos ago and then today out of the blue what do I have? that's right 2 charges on my account for $5.95 and $1.00. Something really needs to be done about these people. I realize being in law enforcement that you take a chance when you sign up for these things and you should know there is a risk however in my case I was connected with them through a very respectable magazine whom I assumed would have researched them a little better before recommending them or allowing them to participate in any kind of promotions they were having.
Jacquelyn of Honolulu HI (03/04/07)
I ordered a free lesson through an "introductory offer" in which I only had to pay $6.95 for shipping. A few weeks later, I received a second lesson (without placing an order) and my credit card was charged $77.95. A week later, my card was charged for another $5.95; the next day it was charged for $2.00 and the following day, another charge appeared for $1.00.
I returned the second lesson and wrote a note asking Video Professor to stop sending lessons. Although I did not receive any further CD's, my card was charged twice more for $77.95, as well as multiple charges of $5.95 and $1.00. I called their customer service number; however, no one answered the phone on any occasion. I left several messages asking for someone to return my call so I can sort out the charges. My calls were not returned.
I had to cancel my credit card in order to stop the charges from Video Professor. Thankfully, my credit card company was very expedient in processing the cancel request and notified me when Video Professor attempted to charge yet another lesson to my account.
Julee of Lebanon KY (02/15/07)
I received a second set of videos that I did not want. I called Video Professor and spoke with Brian; he tried to get me to keep the videos by offering me different package scenarios. I told him that I just wanted my money back. He said that I would receive a full refund within 10-15 business days and that I should keep the videos as a gift from video professor. I never received the refund.
David of Madison MN (02/11/07)
I called to get my free CD. All of this is recorded on their end. All I have to do is pay $5.95 for shipping. I give my credit card number and she explains that it’s my lucky day, that they were going send 2 extra CD's to try for 10 days. If I don't like them send them back or they would charge me $79.95 per CD. I tell to only send the free CD or don't send any at all. She says she doesn't understand. Then I tell DO NOT SEND ANYTHING.
I get three CD's two days later. I call their complaint/"support" to tell them I want to know how I send back the CD's. I get sent to a site to submit my concern. As I am waiting for a reply my 10 days are up. Now my wife gets involved and sends them back 15 days later without telling - while I wait for their response. Now I'm out $150.00 and don't even have the CD's. This is outrageous.
Greg of Littleton CO (02/07/07)
Ordered a "Free" video and received multiple unauthorized charges on my credit card. Returned the merchandise unopened and had to fight for a refund. Then, I received more unauthorized charges on my credit card.
Katharine & Joe of Farmington MO (01/29/07)
On TV if you charged a Video Professor DVD to your credit card you got the lesson free except for shipping, approx. $6.95. I ordered "Learn the Internet" Complete 3-CD Set. We just received our Chase MasterCard bill & are getting billed for $166.85 from Video Professor.
Mila of Long Beach, CA (01/20/07)
I ordered the free trial. I was promised that I would be charged only a very minimum amount of $6.95 using my credit card and ordering online.
When I received my credit card statement there was another charge of $77.95, without my approval.
I am trying to get a credit on my credit card and also to discontinue sending me additional Cd lessons.
I learned a lesson that there is nothing free.
Karen of Beacon NY (01/16/07)
I received a charge to my credit card for 89.95. I immediately called Video Professor to give me a refund since this was an unauthorized charge. I was told by the representative that I should receive a refund within 15 business days. No REFUND YET! I am sending my complaint to the BBB and to my credit card company. I am also going to send the recorded conversations for all the promised refunds they claim I would get in X amount of time and have yet to receive.
Lee of Laguna Woods CA (11/18/06)
In late Sept. 2006 my husband ordered a free video from this co. He then attempted to cancel it by phone and internet. No live person ever answered or responded to the calls and no emails were ever answered. I have made at least 5 attempts to get our money refunded via phone and email - still no reponse. We have subsequently had over $166.00 in unauthorized withdrawals from our AYM account by the Video Professor. By the way, the product did come even though we had tried to cancel it and no more products have come just the continuing withdrawals from our account.
We have lost approximately $166.00 from our account. I spent 1 whole day of my time trying to get a refund. I am self employed so time is money. My husband had to spend most of today canceling his ATM card and filing a dispute via the bank. He took a day of his vacation time to do so. We don't know how successful we will be at stopping them, so there may be more damages.
Tony of Denver CO (11/16/06)
Another victim of thier false deceptive advertising. Was quoted 6.95, with no other terms involved. They sneak an extra CD in parcel and then charge for it, 69.95. I hadn't even opened the parcel when they went ahead and charged my bank card the additional 69.95. I thought there were laws against these sort of scams????
The extra charge at the time caused an overdraft on my checking accout. I had to make 2 trips personally to my bank to try to resolve the matter and file a dispute record that may take up to 30 days to resolve. I wonder just how much time this deceptive and outright lying means of merchandising policy cost John Scherer? Did he have to make 2 trips personally to his bank, have an overdraft on his account and wait 30 days to find out if the funds are going to be rufunded?????
Gene of Orange CA (08/20/06)
Their advertising is misleading there programs are virtually useless unless your a 5 year old and never used a computer before. There customer service number is either busy or they put you on hold for ever. Impossible to get a ra# and you only have 10 days from the date it was shipped Not the day you received it. They kept sending programs and billing my credit card untill I finally cancelled the credit card.
Mark of San Bruno CA (10/17/05)
I contacted AOL technical support for assistance with a software mal-function. The AOL support person (male) after providing the technical information, stated that I had won a free sample from the Video Professor and then connected me to a Video Professor representative. The female representative stated that as a new subscriber with AOL that I have won a free sample of the Video Professor CD and only had to pay $2.69 for the shipping cost. I responded that I had no need for the product since I had sufficient personal knowledge of operating my existing software embedded in my computer.
However, the lady was insistent and assured me that the offer was a free sample. That after the examination of the sample, I could then order more of the CDs' and then pay for the products via my VISA credit card. The she requested my VISA # and assured me that only $2.69 would be charged. I did comply with the requested. However, I never received the free sample and any of the subsequent products that were being charged to my VISA credit card account. I examined my VISA credit card statement for the months of August, September, and October and upon receipt immediately contacted the customer service department of VISA to dispute the charges and was credited.
I confirmed each monthly dispute with a letter directed to VISA customer service/claims department. Today, I did file a consumer complaint with the FTC and the San Mateo District Attorney's Office Consumer Protection Unit. This action was percipitated by the arrogance of the Video Professor female representative by stating that to cancel any future charges, that I would have to pay for two of the CD's at $79.95 each, even if I did not receive the products. This is rediculous! Why should I pay for something that I never ordered nor received? This is extortion, in my opinion and an unethical business practice. I immediately ended the phone conversation stating that I find the response unacceptable.
Alcide of Cayce SC (03/16/05)
I ordered from Video Professor a few months back for the free DVD computor lessons. They said you just had to pay the six dollar and ninety five cent shipping fee. I used my dbit card to pay the shipping cost. They sent me the first one, then the second and third. I found out a $69.95 charge on my checking statement. They charged me three times, the $69.95.I called the 800 number and talked with a representitive on March 15th, 2005. The person listened to my complaint and refunded one $69.95 payment ,to be reflected in my checking account.
The advertising on national TV with John W Scherer stated the CD's are free except the shipping fee. The comercial is run every day.I acted on that statement and ordered some of the CD's . I never expected that they would take more money out of my checking account. I reported it to my Bank; Washington Mutual Bank of Orlando Florida, and they stopped any more payments to the video Professor people. I am a disabled person, fighting cancer and I have a limited income. I thought because it was on national TV, with testimonials, that it was on the up and up. John W Scherer kept stating over and over all the DVD's are free, except for the cost of shipping.
Corey of Gautier MS (01/25/05)
I was sent a free CD, and was later billed $70.00 for the same CD.
Lorraine of Atco NJ (01/08/05)
I got a disk from them last month that only cost me 6.95 for shipping and handeling well today there was 2 different charges from them the same day one for 9.95 and the other for 69.95 And i didnt order anything else.
Jennifer of Las Vegas NV (06/17/04)
I received a pop-up ad for a free $50.00 gift card from Target Stores for trying one of their software products. On 11/21/03 I purchased one of their products (order# 1077585) and six weeks later when I still had not received my gift card I contacted them and was told it could take several more weeks and that I should expect the gift card sometime in February or even March. It is now June and still I have received no gift card. Of course now, nobody there knows anything about it.
Daryl of Hamilton OHIO (09/12/03)
After seeing the commercials on TV and receiving emails from Video Professor I decided to try one of their lessons. All of the promotions I had seen offer one free lesson just to get you to try our product. Supposedly you can keep the lesson, for free, or return it. Although the lesson is free you must pay $6.95 for shipping. I ordered the CD for learning Microsoft FrontPage. The website echos the hype from the commercials but gives no other details. Before your order is processed you are asked to choose three other lessons that you might be interested in.
The package arrived in a timely manner but I was immediately angered when I opened the package. The lesson came on three CDs, not one, you can complete the lesson but must send one of the CDs back within 14 days or be billed for $70. You are responsable for shipping the lesson back if you do not want it, so you will be out almost $15 and only have 2/3 of the lesson to show for it. Also, in the package is a note explaining that you will receive the three other lessons that you entered on the website when you ordered the free lesson. You will pay the shipping ($6.95) and have 14 days to review each lesson.
Within a week I recieved the second lesson in the mail. WHen you return the first lesson you can request that none of the others be sent. Unfortunately, due to time constraints at work, I was unable to finish the lesson and return one of the CDs before the 14 day trial period. I called after 20 days to complain about their deceptive marketing method and try to recover what I had spent. I was told that I will be billed $70 for the first lesson because the 14 day trial had expired. The did refund the shipping on the second package and was told I could keep it for free. I imagine they do this all the time. If you order a free lesson you will either pay $6.95 for 2/3 of a lesson or $70 + $6.95 S/H for a complete, free lesson.
As far as the lessons themselves, you would get just as much out of a $25 book that you can keep. You are merely showed how to get around in the software, there is no insight, background information, theory or practical tips. Buy a book and use the help that comes with whatever software you are interested in learning.
Rebecca of Joplin MO (07/30/03)
I order their free lesson on the internet, but the catch is that they send you four lessons and in order for it to be free you choose three lessons and send one back. You have ten days in which you have to call and get an id number to authorize you to send it back.
Next, I called for my number and took a few days longer than the ten days to return it. I was charged for the $69.95. When I called and questioned about how long it would take to get my return they told me that it would take to bank statement cycles to credit...that was June and I just finished my July statment and have still not received my refund. I called and they said that I would be sometime in August before they would refund my money.
Karl of Ocean Shores WA (03/28/02)
This company sells training CD's for learning computer programs.Each program consists of 3 disks. Advertising to obtain one disc for 6.95 shipping and handling. If satisfied one can purchase the additional disks for a total of 59.95. On 2/26 I ordered such a disk for Outlook. I called about two weeks later asking were the disk was I was told it takes about 4 to 5 weeks. On 3/28 I checked my bank statement and I noticed that on 3/18 I had been charged an addional 59.95 and on 3/25 I had been charged an additional 6.95. When contacting customer service I was informed the reason I had been charged 59.95 is I had not informed the company that I didnot want the program and these terms were stated on the package of the introductory disk. I informed the person I had not received the disk and I wanted a refund. At that time I was told that an additional set at 59.95 was on it's way. When I asked him how he know what title I wanted since there about 25 different programs he could not ansewer. I was told that it would take 60 to 90 days to get my credit.
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