ComplaintsforAmerican Education Research Corporation

• Initial Complaint

  03/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I paid **** to AERC for the degree diploma evaluation service. The AERC representative provided me with very misleading guidance since very beginning. After I paid the **** service fee, they started to change the documents required and asked me to sent them more documents. On ******** *** after they got my transcript, degree diploma, and graduate certificate in a sealed envelope originally from my university as well as my credentials report from CDGDC (China academic degrees and graduate education development center), I was told by their representative that I only need to further provide the degree diploma and graduation certificate in Chinese since I only requested degree evaluation not the full credential evaluation. After I got my original copies of my degree diploma and graduation certificate from China, they further asked me to provide my transcript in Chinese, though I had provided the English version already. Since they kept changing again and again but not fulfill the service for me, I had to ask them to return my money back. They charged me $50 immediately even before telling me. I never known and never said I am ok for charging me $50 for the so called cancellation fee. But, they processed the cancelation before informed me for the charge and got my approval. In addition, they said that $20 of the $50 were so called certified Mail fee, but the mail they sent to me was only cost them $5.11. Please see the attached picture for evidence. Overall, I got no service from them, but they charged me $50 for nothing. It's like deceiving me to do business with them and rubbering money from my pocket without telling me and got my approval. It's totally illegal!

  Business response

  07/07/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/04/13) */ On December 13, 2021, AERC received an application from Ms. ******* requesting a Foreign Credential Evaluation for a General Equivalency Report of a bachelor's degree in accounting completed in China. AERC's policy, which is stated clearly on the website and on the application form signed and submitted by all applicants, requires that potential clients submit original transcripts and diplomas in order to be considered for evaluations services. Ms. ** sent an English translation of the university transcript as well as certification of graduation and degree, but did not send the necessary documents. Upon arrival of the records Ms. ******* was contacted on December 13, 2021. Records were reviewed and a representative requested the original Graduation Diploma and Bachelor's Degree in Chinese as well. The correspondence Department sent follow up emails on January 19 and January 20, 2022. These emails were also accompanied with phone calls requesting the original records in Chinese, AERC never received the required documents. Ms. ** requested the CDGDC (China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center) online verification report sent via email and issued on July 19, 2021, this is an additional verification requirement for an evaluation specific to applicants from China. On March 17, 2022, AERC received an email request from Ms. ******* for the return of documents and cancellation of the evaluation. On March 18, 2022, AERC returned all the documents submitted back to Ms. ** with a refund check of $70.00 dollars, deducting a $50.00 dollar cancellation fee with the certified mailing fee included to safely return all original records. AERC was unable to process the application request because original documentation was not provided. This requirement is clearly stated on the application form, the fee schedule, and the instructions that appear on the website which was explained via email and phone calls. The integrity of the services is based on maintaining the highest standards for foreign transcript evaluations. It is unfortunate that Ms. ** could not be assisted in this case. AERC maintains policies and procedures to ensure the authenticity and legality of work rendered.

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