Testing Authority - Cascandra Christensen, John Jonty USPS Testing Scam - BEWARE! Nor Cross Georgia
On January 13, 2009 I responded to a classified ad in my local paper thinking that the United States Postal Service was hiring in the area:
POST OFFICE NOW HIRIING! Avg Pay $20/hr or $57K/yr. incl. Fed Benefits and OT Placed by AD Source, not affiliated with USPS who hires. 866-772-1663. 013009.
I called and talked to Cascandra Christensen (ID# - 10594) from Testing Authority. She listed off a bunch of jobs and asked if I was interested in any of them. I replied that two or three of them sounded interesting. She then went on to say that I would have to take the Postal Battery Exam and pass with a 70% or better to be considered for a job.
She said that she would be sending out practice test materials for a refundable price of $99.50 as long as I take the exam and I don't turn down a job if there is an offer, if I do not pass the exam, I'm not offered a job on my 1st interview, or after working for 1 full week.
Thinking that I was either going to get a job or get my money back I went ahead and charged the cost of practice materials plus $30 for shipping to my credit card.
Soon after the call I decided to do a quick search of Testing Authority on the internet now that I knew their name and was shocked to see numerous postings about how it is a scam. I quickly called the customer service number on my credit card to see if they could block the charge but it was already pending so they said I would have to wait until it goes through and then file a complaint.
I received my testing materials in the mail on January 27th and called the company back on the 28th for a refund.
I talked to John Jonty (ID# - 02335) and explained to him that I had not opened or used any of the materials, or accessed the website that they sent me in an e-mail. I told him I would be returning the materials and expected a refund. He kept repeating that they had a refund policy and returning the materials wouldn't constitute a refund. I went on to explain that I have been looking at the USPS website and there haven't been any job openings within about 100 miles of me since I first called. After repeating his refund policy a few more times I asked him if I he expected me to drive 100 miles to take an exam for a job that I wasn't even qualified for (the two jobs, 85 and 110 mile drives one way for me, are mail carrier positions and you must live near the office). He said my best bet would be to wait until a position opened up near me and there was no time limit for their refund policy. I then asked him what would happen if a position didn't open up in a reasonable amount of time like 3 years down the road. He never answered my answer directly, just said that they had their refund policy.
Being that are currently no jobs open anywhere near me like they imply by running an ad in a local newspaper, and being that there may not be an open position for quite a while I requested a refund but the company was unresponsive. My next step is filing a complaint through the credit card.
I also find it funny that it seems they have a full time position over at Testing Authority to look at websites like this and write rebuttals... I'm sure mine is coming, something along the lines of "YOU Agreed... We never forced you to pull out your credit card.... Good luck to you.".
Well what you do is scam people into thinking that they are going to either get a job or get their money back... what you don't make clear to them is that there aren't even job openings near where you post your ads and the easiest way to get your money back (some of it) is to drive 100 miles to take a test that may be scheduled for next year and purposely fail it.
Chris
Huntersville, North Carolina
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Tid23
Huntersville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
Testing Authority - Get your money back!
#3Author of original report
Sat, June 27, 2009
Well I've finally received my money back, I'll get to how I did that in a moment.
I'm surprised (and appalled) at how many new complaints there are about this company. Not surprisingly, however, I hear they closed up shop on 3/9/09. I've read that they have done this a number of times, probably because after a while credit card companies won't allow charges from them because of the number of complaints.
So add to the list of past names that I've found they have used:
Testing Authority
Work Alliance
USWA
Exam Registration Services
US Work Alliance
Exam Service
ACD Testing Authority
Their newest creation is UTEC or United Testing and Education Center. Selling the same junk and promises to unsuspecting victims until they close up shop and do it all over again.
The CEO of Testing Authority is Tyler Long and someone else posted his contact information, I have not verified this but his work number should be 678-291-1317 and his home number is 770-368-1474 (although he's probably changed them by now).
So onto how I got my money back, it wasn't too hard! I called my credit card company and filed a complaint. They did their investigation into the matter and determined that it was in fact a scam and got my money back for me, that's it. It took a couple months for everything to go through but it was worth it, they did all the work (I had to write out a report of everything that happened though). Its worth a try if you haven't done it yet. I've talked to Testing Authority a few times and I didn't think I'd ever get my money back from them. This is the only way I can see that you can get refunded (especially now that they have shut down). Also give the name of the new company to your credit card company. And if they decide not to give you a refund tell them that you won't support a bank that allows their customer's to get scammed and you're closing your account... see what that does.
Finally, if anybody decides to file a class action lawsuit against this company please let us all know, I'm sure we'll be more than happy to tell our stories!
Anonymous_person
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Lets see
#3Consumer Comment
Sat, January 31, 2009
Lets go back to where you actually put down word for word what the ad says.. just a little refresher for you:
NOT AFFILIATED WITH USPS WHO HIRES... What does that mean to you? Well, I can tell you what it means to me as a consumer. It means the ad was NOT placed by the United States Postal Service and that the company is NOT AFFILIATED with the USPS. Maybe you should go on and actually read the other postings and the answers to the postings that have been left in regards to this company.
NO one guarantees you a job; NO one guarantees you how long you will have to wait; NO one guarantees you ANYTHING! What they do tell you is:
You will be refunded upon your request if:
1. You fail the exam
2. You are not offered a job on your first interview
3. Once you complete your first full week as a new postal employee
When you receive the materials, it goes on to tell you that you can also be refunded if:
There are NO job openings within 100 miles within 12 months requiring you to take the postal exam 460, 473, or 473-C.
It was your choice to make your purchase after reading in the ad, listening to the recording, and speaking to a representative to make a purchase. You obviously fully understood the company was not affiliated with you postal service, yet you agreed to make your purchase.
That company didn't force your payment out of you and all they ask is that you go through the process that YOU agreed to.
Now, instead of calling and demanding a refund, how about you call their customer care department and ask them to help you in moving forward. I can promise you that you will get much more information from them than the postal service will give to you.
Try to remain positive. It's obvious you called because you need a position. Think about it like this, the postal service is not like burger king or mcdonalds; you can't just go in and ask for an application and to speak to a supervisor to get a position. This is a government position that you are trying to obtain, which takes time. Stop being so impatient, call their customer care department, and allow them to help you in moving forward.
Hope this helps you. Sorry that you are irritated about the choice that you made. Just keep in mind that this was your decision and not the decision of the companies. All they are trying to do is help you to get better scores on that exam.
Good Luck! Please give them a chance, they deserve it!