eagleeyestudios2
New Member
- Jurisdiction
- Other
Hello! My question is basically in the title, here's a little more context.
I enrolled in an online program (that I'm going to keep nameless) that charges about $10,000 per year. For various reasons, chief among them being that I haven't had the time to keep up with it like I've wanted and I didn't really feel like it was worth the price tag, I began the withdrawal process and asked for a refund--not the whole thing, just the $4500 or so for the remaining time of the program I haven't used. They told me that they don't do refunds.
Now, I recognize that refund policies are subject to state law, not federal law. My issue is not with them not having a refund policy. At no point prior to requesting a refund was I notified of this. Their website says nothing about it, and I've checked back through my correspondence with them prior to making the payment, and the policy wasn't stated there either. My understanding is that federal law requires that refund policies be clearly and explicitly stated. So I'm wondering: is there a case here, or should I just let it go? I know the people in the program--I don't believe anyone actively set out to deceive me, but I can't help but feel a little cheated. When I raised the matter of not having known about their refund policy, their response was "Oh, shoot, we'll keep that in mind for next time." I thought that was a cruddy response at best.
Some final, miscellaneous details: I'm in Virginia. I have no idea where this business is licensed, but my best guess is Oregon. I made the payment via wire. I don't want the whole amount of the payment back, just the part that I didn't use. I recognize that all legal answers boil down to "it depends," I just want to know if this mistake is totally on me, or if them failing to make their policy clear makes them liable.
Thank you!
I enrolled in an online program (that I'm going to keep nameless) that charges about $10,000 per year. For various reasons, chief among them being that I haven't had the time to keep up with it like I've wanted and I didn't really feel like it was worth the price tag, I began the withdrawal process and asked for a refund--not the whole thing, just the $4500 or so for the remaining time of the program I haven't used. They told me that they don't do refunds.
Now, I recognize that refund policies are subject to state law, not federal law. My issue is not with them not having a refund policy. At no point prior to requesting a refund was I notified of this. Their website says nothing about it, and I've checked back through my correspondence with them prior to making the payment, and the policy wasn't stated there either. My understanding is that federal law requires that refund policies be clearly and explicitly stated. So I'm wondering: is there a case here, or should I just let it go? I know the people in the program--I don't believe anyone actively set out to deceive me, but I can't help but feel a little cheated. When I raised the matter of not having known about their refund policy, their response was "Oh, shoot, we'll keep that in mind for next time." I thought that was a cruddy response at best.
Some final, miscellaneous details: I'm in Virginia. I have no idea where this business is licensed, but my best guess is Oregon. I made the payment via wire. I don't want the whole amount of the payment back, just the part that I didn't use. I recognize that all legal answers boil down to "it depends," I just want to know if this mistake is totally on me, or if them failing to make their policy clear makes them liable.
Thank you!
