You don't have to be twenty-something to go back to school!  In the class room or on-line - today's choices are yours!  In this economy if your income needs a little boost or you're a stay-at-home mom, recently divorced or you just need the additional cash due to downsizing, an on-line school may be for you.  Although relatively cheaper and definitely more convenient - that is if you have several quiet moments in your day to spend in the books and on-line, then an online school is for you.  I would caution you to read ALL FINE PRINT!  Even if you have to spend a few pennies to print it out before you electronically sign on the dotted line, you will in fact save a lot of money, time and a few gray hairs.  This leads me to tell you about my experience with a well-known and advertised school - Penn Foster. After reading this, you also need to search Penn Foster blogs.  There are gobs and gobs of them telling you about the horrors of dealing with this entity.  I wish I had read them before signing electronically on the dotted line! Let's start with the paper trail - the transcript.  Now, if you are just in the Vo-Tech classes, you may not need it since it is most likely a certificate program.  However, if you are wanting to get a A.S. or finish a B.S., you have to have that original transcript.   If you have just graduated from high school, you need your high school transcript - an original.  If you have been out awhile, find that school office number and get yourself an original.  You have to have it.  That's where my problems began.  My college has been dissolved.  When signing up by phone and on-line, I told Penn Foster that, and I was still able to enroll.  They took out the start up fees - and please READ THE FINE PRINT.  These ARE NOT returnable.  I got a little welcome packet and they started taking out monthly payments.  I did one on-line quickie lesson and did well for not even studying.  I didn't do anymore for a few weeks and started getting notes to remind me to send in my transcript.  I told them again I was having trouble getting it.  I got a final notice that I could not get any more papers until they had it.  I then noticed they did not take out anymore monthly payments.  I also could not get into the on-line student center.  I thought "Okay, that's it".  I learned my lesson, no on-line schools.  They had a couple hundred of my bucks for nada.  Then, I got collection letters wanting the rest of the money - several more hundred as the monies due.  Hold it - stop the mooch wagon.  I called Penn Foster - and well let me tell you, these people are automated.  Doing something outside the box they can't do.  Whoa!  I explained that I owed nothing, they stopped taking out the money, etc. you get the pic.  She then said "Oh, you want to cancel?"  I said whatever I have to do to clear up the account.  Well, a few days later I got a letter telling me the cancellation fee.  Wow, still over a hundred bucks.  It went on and went on for months.  I finally got collection calls and paid them a fee to stop the calls.  They threatened me with ruining my credit and he lied to me.  It's too long of a story, but I am absolutely telling you the truth.  I threw it back in his face what he did - caught him - and he was silent.  Skipping ahead - I reported Penn Foster to the Better Business Bureau.  I spilled the above and more and got my money back that I paid the collection agency.  I later learned that the collection agency was mostly likely in violation of the Fair Debt Act.  Folks there are Fair Debt attorneys out there.  Seek and you shall find - lots!  Anyway, I might have gotten them fined and/or gotten money.  However, there is a time-frame for this as these attorneys will tell you.  Penn Foster wasn't for me and I have a bad taste in my mouth for on-line schools.  However, it may be the perfect school for you.  Open you eyes and read everything. Keep a file of all documents received via mail or email and definitely keep a log if you talk to them.  Please, please, please, search them and read the blogs from other "students".  If I have helped to save you some sleepless nights, I consider that my Daily Smile!

DailySmile

Hull, GA