Consumer complaint received 2024-06-25
Product: Student loan — Private student loan
Issue: Getting a loan — Confusing or misleading advertising
Company: Ascent Holding Co (CA)

I am filing a complaint with the CFPB regarding my experience with XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, fXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ). They use a third party, Ascent Funding, as the lender for the bootcamp. 

When I first enrolled at XXXX, I had access to XXXX dedicated staff members and the option for XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. This level of support, along with the promise of job placement in XXXX XXXX, was a significant reason for signing up. However, shortly after the course began, the entire XXXX staff was laid off, and all communication channels went dark. I received no notifications about these changes via email, Slack, or phone. Additionally, they changed the XXXX channels without informing us, causing further confusion and uncertainty. 

There have been XXXX rounds of layoffs during my time at XXXX, drastically reducing the support available. None of the original staff I worked with are still at XXXX, which is very concerning. Despite utilizing all available resources and spending countless hours and additional money on data structures and algorithms, I did not sign up to rely on XXXX  XXXX. I was promised unmatched support and job assistance, neither of which I am receiving. 

XXXX 's website promotes itself as a platform that helps people secure jobs. Unfortunately, I have not received any assistance in this regard. Instead, I am continually directed to use chat XXXX and told to " try harder. '' My career coach has been instructing me to randomly send emails to companies in hopes of reaching the right hiring manager or recruiter, instead of providing affiliate links as promised. I work full-time driving for XXXX and XXXX and have purposely positioned myself in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The only people who have truly given me advice and offered referrals are those who I have met while driving. I am not receiving the support I was promised from XXXX, and I am expected to personally pay almost {$35000.00}. 

It is also concerning that the XXXX XXXX course is no longer listed on XXXX 's website, and my career coach lacks a tech background. 

This issue is significant, as my wife is also in the program and nearing graduation. We were sold this course with the promise of improving our financial well-being, but instead, we find ourselves expected to pay a total of {$70000.00}. This is a serious burden for two people, one a waitress and the other a XXXX XXXX. Instead of empowering our lives, this situation is causing us to sink further into debt. XXXX is not holding up their end of the contract. 

I've tried to reach out to the XXXX, XXXX XXXX, on XXXX after the staff wouldn't provide me with his contact. He provided his email, but as soon as I reached out ( twice ) regarding my dissatisfaction and concern over a faulty product, he has stopped responding. 

Upon graduation they issue a certificate, however, the certificate has no credentials to back it when I upload it to XXXX. This makes it difficult for recruiters and hiring managers to trust my education. Additionally, the link to my certificate of completion in the student portal is a broken link, as if I never existed as a graduate. 

Finally, I signed up for this course in XXXX of XXXX. Between then and XXXX, XXXX was put in court for deceiving students by making false claims about job placement rates and hiding loan costs. Today, XXXX is still making false claims that they have affiliations and can get people jobs. Their website has changed due to the court ruling and the investigation. I would have never signed up or made legal financial obligations had I known that they would not hold up their end of the agreement and that they would try to blame me instead of offer assistance.