Consumer complaint received 2016-10-06
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: NV
Product: Credit card
Issue: Billing disputes

Complaint:
I came across XXXX while searching for programs to supplement and expand on web XXXX skills. With prolific overwhelmingly positive reviews seen on various sources ( XXXX ) from previous students claiming successful outcomes, including internship placements and job offers, I applied. 

I had an interview with XXXX XXXX, as he introduced himself, whom I now know to be XXXX XXXX XXXX. As per the website, students were promised at least XXXX mentor sessions, interview preparation help, and further assistance until jobs were secured. Upon a successful interview, I paid the tuition amount of {$5900.00} in full up front via credit card through XXXX ( payment processor ) ; at this time there were no financial assistance plans in place. 

Every week, the other students and I would arrange our one-on-one sessions with XXXX, and lessons would be conducted through a video-conferencing platform called XXXX. Things seemed to be going well, with more students enrolling - enough for XXXX to start looking for more instructors and an executive assistant. 

He eventually hired another instructor, whose time at XXXX was short-lived due to XXXX claims that students were not happy with him ; this, however, turned out to be false, and seems XXXX had failed to correctly pay him for his time. At the time, I never questioned it, as there was no reason for me to be skeptical. 

It was around XXXX when XXXX began to skip some of his scheduled sessions with his students, which elicited concerns among students. A few became increasingly worried about his absences and decided to ask for a refund and some left bad reviews for the school. In one particular refund case, the student left bad reviews of the school on multiple sources. It is my personal opinion that this notably triggered XXXX subsequently more XXXX behavior. XXXX threatened to put this student 's personal information online and ensure no one would hire this person - it escalated enough where the now-former student hired a lawyer. 

Further indication of his troubling behavior was his then asking students to help him create a website to defame the student. Luckily the website was never actually created and put online. XXXX XXXX, 2016 was the last time any of us saw XXXX online as our teacher. Several students expressed XXXX had not shown up for their sessions, nor had he warned he would be absent. This prompted our online search for XXXX. His executive assistant, who was also blindsided, realised passwords for accounts shared had been changed. This was the realisation point that we were now victims of fraud. 

Further research revealed he is on the Sheriff 's Most Wanted list in XXXX County and left the US to live in XXXX, bouncing between XXXX XXXX and XXXX. We have established many reviews have been falsely created by XXXX, and have reached out to known contacts, family, and are currently working to alert the correct authorities. As far as we know, he has fled with the money of possibly XXXX or more students without delivering all that was promised.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation