Consumer complaint received 2025-11-14 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Private student loan
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer — Don't agree with the fees charged
Company: Climb Credit Inc.
State: CO

Complaint narrative:
XX/XX/XXXX, I signed up for an online " XXXX XXXX '' called XXXX. XXXX advertises as a web academy for those who code, with an " Earn While You Learn '' program. It was advertised as a career-launching program that would land me a high-paying tech job, and the ability to be mentored and earning in the meantime. Additionally, the XXXX XXXX XXXX stated in at least XXXX marketing video, that not only does he guarantee success if following the program but that he would refund any students who did not find that the program worked for them. Here is XXXX such video : XXXX XXXX XXXX? XXXX ( This video is located within the XXXX freelancing course content, which can be accessed at any time during the program, once enrolled. ) I didnt have the {$9900.00} to pay the enrollment fee, so I financed it through XXXX XXXX partner, Climb Credit, for that amount plus origination fee, totalling {$10000.00} starting principal balance. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I discussed the program with my parents. They were not only concerned with the debt that I had entered into, but were skeptical about the validity of the program and promises made by the company and XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX. It was made clear to me then, that the program was likely not worth the investment and I reached out to XXXX to see if I could exit and receive a refund. I was told that, by contract, refunds are only possible within 10 days of enrollment and that because I was beyond the 10 day timeframe, that they would not issue a refund. I decided to just try to make the best of it and started taking the program courses and making loan payments. I am a full time college student and work part time as well, so my ability to devote time to the XXXX curriculum is limited and mainly to just this last summer XXXX break from school. 

I found that as I was working through a course, XXXX would frequently update the course content and block me from continuing until I re-completed the newly updated sections. This required me to start the course or a section of it from the beginning and re-do my work. This meant the courses took much longer and could potentially be very hard to finish. It was very frustrating. 

As far as I was able to derive from my own interactions, XXXX Mentors were current and former students and not necessarily industry experts. All communication with mentors is done via the discord platform online. When I asked for help, they told me to join a pre-scheduled group accountability call. I found that their instructions for me were more along the lines of marketing statements rather than student specific mentoring and entirely unhelpful. It seemed to me that there was a high mentor turnover rate, and that they were essentially just reciting approved scripted responses, such as If you stick with the program, you will see results. Accountability calls were group events, not private. The vibe was that the mentors job was to keep people in the program, not necessarily to deliver or guide the student on the earn while you learn promise or their individual needs. I can not confirm this for a fact, as I do not know the other students personally, but during several of the calls I listened in on, it seemed like some students had learning struggles or XXXX ( such as XXXX XXXX or severe XXXX ) and that they had been enrolled with XXXX despite the struggles they XXXX experience with finishing or having success in the program due to such. It felt very wrong and unethical. Based on the lackluster and rushed screening experience when I enrolled, I assume XXXX made no effort to screen other students for potential issues ( as such ) with succeeding in the program. 

Despite the struggle it has been to get through the XXXX courses and receive meaningful mentoring, I did get through XXXX XXXX in the coursework where you create your freelancing profile in XXXX, the freelancing platform that XXXX funnels students into. I completed my profile and it was approved by a XXXX mentor on XX/XX/XXXX. As of today, I have submitted XXXX proposals, which have cost me {$25.00}, for freelance jobs via XXXX platform and have not been selected for any jobs that I have placed bids for, nor earned any income. All of the jobs that I have bid for align with the skills I have studied and skill level I feel I am at based on my progression within the XXXX curriculum. 

XX/XX/XXXX - I logged in to my student portal and found an announcement dated for XX/XX/XXXX wherein XXXX stated that they were ceasing operations and would close immediately, with classes ending on XX/XX/XXXX. I did not receive any direct communication from XXXX regarding this. I feel XXXX intentionally did not provide adequate direct and urgent communication to students regarding this important change in their business and the effect it would have on our access to, well everything. In that statement students were advised to reach out to their lender for questions relating to servicing or repayment and to email XXXX with any questions. Refunds were not and to my knowledge, have never been offered. I sent an email to the XXXX and received no reply. I emailed again the following day. I then received an automated google reply notifying me that the XXXX email had been closed down. No one at XXXX, nor the XXXX XXXX XXXX have responded. 

XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX announced that they would no longer be operating as a business nor offering new classes, but that they would keep the existing online curriculum available for the foreseeable future. So the earn while you learn promises and the reasons why I enrolled still appear to be ending. It is my understanding that there will be no active instruction, mentorship, support, grading of work, nor freelance job coaching, as advertised. Based on XXXX student agreement, which reads : XXXX XXXX shall provide to Student the following Services : 1. XXXX XXXX to the Web Program, including : a. videos and training ; b. projects and exercises ; c. quizzes ; d. student chatroom ; and e. regular and scheduled mentoring calls and student meetups.

2. Unlimited project review ; 3. Unlimited career coaching, consisting of : a. Resume Review; b. XXXX XXXX ; c. Interview coaching. 
Coaching : All coaching will be provided to Student in a pre-recorded format. 

Live Meetups : XXXX shall provide weekly live meetups on a regular basis to groups of Students.

Student may login to these sessions and ask real-time questions. Student acknowledges that the Services do not include one-on-one interaction with teachers/mentors. 

It is my opinion that XXXX has breached the student agreement by cancelling these important services, and is not providing any remedy. 

I reached out to Climb Credit on XXXX separate occasions ( XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX, XXXX ) on how to get a cancellation of my loan due to XXXX ceasing. Climb told me to reach out to XXXX at XXXX. Climb Credit has not provided any actionable information regarding a cancellation or how to proceed in getting a refund from XXXX. Every time I have called Climb Credit, each representative has said We know what's going on. However, Climb Credit did not disclose to me that they are presently facing a lawsuit for allegedly providing student loans for un-vetted and falsely advertised programs such as coding bootcamps like XXXX, information I was able to find online. My loan was issued in XXXX, so according to the CFPB 's proposed stipulated final judgement and order, I may not be considered an " affected consumer ''. However, I feel that the basis of the current litigation sets precedent for a resolution on my part regarding my loan with Climb. 

My recent research into XXXX and the struggles of other students has found that : a - On several occasions, enrolled students who requested to cancel their XXXX program during the 10 day timeframe were scheduled for a call time that was outside the 10 day window and therefore denied a refund. 
b - Climb Credit and XXXX have eliminated their partnership, presumedly leading XXXX to cease operations, no doubt due to the current litigation ( agains CLIMB ) and repercussions TBD, or what appears to be a growing number of complaints and allegations, and potential legal trouble for XXXX 
c - other persistent students who have expressed their frustrations with the program have been bullied by XXXX XXXX, in one instance literally told to go f! ck yourself.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation