Video Professor Scam?

[gallo]

My son is a career soldier (SSG) who is currently serving in Japan. Last week I got an 2 emails; the first asking me to inquire at the bank about a charge ($189.95) to his ATM card that he didn't remember. 7 minutes later he sent a second email asking me to cancel his card. The charge was from Video Professor with whom he has never done business.

I did some research on the Internet and found that this company has many, many claims of fraud. One site (www.ripoffreport.com) had 270 complaints of incorrect billing and dishonest practices. There are several other sites that claim to report fraudulent practices by this company.

At the time that my son discovered this bogus charge he was TDY and didn't have the ability to contact the US by phone (which is why he asked me to cancel his card - I am listed on his account).

I have since been able to talk with my son. He affirmed that he has never done business with Video Professor and has never received any of their instructional CDs. Moreover, in attempting to trace this problem he has discovered two different "Video Professor" web sites. One that is linked to the 800 number in the ATM card charge, and another that is returned by Google.

John Scherer (the founder and CEO of Video Professor who offers the 100% satisfaction money back guarantee) denies the charges of fraud. He claims 100% satisfaction or your money back. Several complaints mention that shipping and handling are not refunded and you have to pay for return postage. Moreover, If you actually order the "free" (+S&H) CD lesson, you get an additional CD. If you take the time to read all of the included paperwork in the package, you will learn that an additional lesson has been provided and that you have 10 days to return it or you will be charged (you guessed it) $189.95. By the time most people get their credit card bill, it is past the 10 days.

When I looked at my son's ATM card charges, I found another charge for $9.95 from Video Professor 17 days previous to the $189.95 charge. This looks a lot like the 10 day scam, except that my son had never heard of Video Professor before this and has never received any CDs. He is in Japan and Video Professor TV commercials do not run on Armed Forces TV - Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard commercials run on Armed Forces TV. I know that for a fact. That's what I watched on my son's TV in my recent visit.

My son thinks that there are two "Video Professor" web sites; one legitimate and another bogus. But that doesn't explain all of the problems (repeat billings with no product, refusal to refund money, "magic" billings with no previous contact) with Video Professor.

If anyone really wants to learn about computers and computer software, I would recommend a community college near you. It's less expensive and you get to ask questions of a real person who actually knows the subject matter. A much better deal.

Anybody out there have any experience with Video Professor? Is it a scam? It certainly is in my son's case.

[jose]

From their terms Charges and billing

At the end of any trial, pre-paid or other promotional period, we will bill your credit card for the purchase fees at the agreed upon price for the CDs purchased plus any applicable sales taxes. Thereafter, approximately every five (5) weeks, Video Professor will send you your next set of lessons for review subject to these same conditions. For your convenience, we will charge the purchase fee (plus any taxes), and the shipping and processing fee, to the credit card you provided to us during your initial purchase (or to a different credit card if you change your account information). This is called your "Review Plan". Your Review Plan will automatically renew for successive five (5) week periods, without prior notice to you, unless and until you cancel your Review Plan or we terminate it. We will continue to bill your credit card on a regular five (5) week basis for your Review Plan. If you are not satisfied with the fees or billing methods, you may cancel your Review Plan at any time by calling 1-800-519-4110. To avoid billing of the purchase price and shipping and processing fees, you must cancel your Review Plan before the next renewal cycle.

Terms of Use - Video Professor
So unless you cancel you get billed every month
There are a lot of legal scams like this, even on the ads on this site for example lose belly fat or secret to white teeth

[Scribbler1]

I ordered a free CD from them years ago, and I was a lot less than happy as well. I found their advertising deceptive (then as now) and I don't like to have to return things I didn't order.

I've been dealing with a company called 599CD for years and they have the same product for a lot less. The only think I liked about Video Professor is that the video window stay on top of the window of the app I'm using, so I can see the lesson while I'm doing the real thing.

Also, a lot of the things they sell can be learned on forums like this one just by asking questions. There are geeks all over the place here.

[gallo]

Quote by: jose So unless you cancel you get billed every month There are a lot of legal scams like this, even on the ads on this site for example lose belly fat or secret to white teeth

That would be less of a problem if my son had ever ordered anything from Video Professor. He hadn't even heard of Video Professor and has never received anything from them. Apparently, they just took his money.

[Diogenes]

Before they could withdraw anything they would need his card information...

there is only three ways they could obtain that info...that I am aware of:

1. he gave it to them ( and forgot )

2. someone who knows him and has a duplicate card or knows his info used it

3. or the card information was purchased by them through a third party and was used without his consent

as for them charging and mailing etc...that is standard practice for most of these ' mail order ' companies...whether it's the Franklin Mint, Columbia Records, etc...this is the way they all operate...whether it's TV, Mail Order, or Internet.