Complaint Review: The Trump Institute

I signed-up to one of Trump's trainings, since I believed that if anyone, then he does not need to steel my money, so I trusted his giving-back-to-the-community introductory speech. After I paid them, somebody warned me that is a scam.

Since the contract said that I have the legal right to cancel within 3 business days without any penalty or obligation, I called to cancel just after 1 business day. The phone at the given telephone number was answered promptly by a very courteous representative, who cancelled my membership, gave me a RAN to use when returning the training materials, and told me that UPS will pick-up the package at my house within 36 to 48 hours. I waited and waited, but nothing happened, so I called them back. Again, very prompt answer of the phone. The representative this time gave me even a UPS tracking number. So I waited some more, since the given tracking number on the UPS web-site said that was re-scheduled for delivery (even if the date was already way outdated for this second delivery).

Since nothing happened, I took my package to the UPS, where I learned that the UPS code given to me by the Institute's representative was not valid. After the UPS employee heard my saga, he looked-up the Trump Institute's account number and used it for the delivery (so I did not have to pay for this delivery).

I insisted on returning the materials, since the contract had confusing language: first it said that the payment will be returned to me within 10 business day following the cancellation notice (not mentioning anything about the course materials), but later it said that I have to make available to the Institute the materials (which would be picked up at my house). Since nobody picked them up, to be sure, I sent them the package to their indicated address.

Next, I tried to contact them by telephone to see why they still did not refund my money, even if the UPS web-site indicated that they received the materials. However, this time the number was not working anymore. Since I had a different telephone number (then one I should have used for support with the training materials), I called that number. The person confirmed that my package arrived to them, but since it took 2 days to get it to the accounting department, and since they had 10 business days of refunding my money after they received the materials (this clause was not on the contract) they will give my money back after the 10 business days.

That did not happen, and now, after 18 business days since the accounting department received my package (and after more then 30 business days since I initially cancelled my membership) I still did not get my refund. Now you can not contact anybody anymore on either telephone numbers; just a robot answers, which instructs you to leave a message, which will be returned within 24 hours. Of course, nobody returned my messages so far.

I reported them to the Better Business Bureau. It was difficult to find the right BBB, since the Trump Institute is in Rochester, NY, where I needed to return my course materials, however it's affiliate, A Business Strategies Group, L.L.C. Program is located in Boca Raton, FL. Eventually I reported them to both, but the BBB in NY sent my report also to the one in Florida.

So I let you draw your own conclusions before you pay these guys even one penny. As I said, usually I am careful, but the Trump name and his initial video message made me drop my guard, and I felt for the program.

I called my credit card company, and I am trying to reverse the payment by them, but so far that was not successful, and I think I might be loosing the $3354.76 I paid these charlatans. If anybody (especially a lawyer who wants to take on the Donald) is interested in written proof of what I have indicated above, please contact me through the Ripoff Report web-site, and I can send you copies of all the documents I have.

Alex
Kalamazoo, Michigan
U.S.A.