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Video Professor

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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.

Karen of Beacon, NY January 16, 2007

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 November 18, 2006

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 November 16, 2006

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 August 20, 2006

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 October 17, 2005

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.

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