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Scam Protection
OK, the web IS filled with scams. The web also is filled with crusaders who spend their time pointing out who they think are scams (sometimes out of pure motive, often out of competition) with lists of things to watch out for. Did you REALLY get a lot of value from the guy who said not to send cash to Nigeria? How would YOU like to be accused of being "Bob the Felon", then told that the burden of proof is on YOU to show otherwise? This is NOT American, and NOT the way burden of proof works in non-Muslim countries! Instead of dwelling on the negative, here is what we do to reassure our grads of value for their buck. This also is a great barometer for you to judge other programs:
1. GOOGLE: We accept Google Checkout with complete buyer protection. Scams can't use them, because their buyers are protected, and Google just takes the money back from the seller, including a back up, fully funded, corporate bank account. Each of our hundreds of merchant accounts (each with an email related to that course) has a minimum rating of 3,000. That means over 3,000 VERIFIED students (one in about 10) have been happy with their transaction on that switch. That translates to over 30,000 each, or over a million in total. You can SEE this rating every time you order on any of our sites. IF your merchant ratio of complaints goes over 1%, your account funds are seized! NO SCAM will accept credit cards because of these requirements.
2. SIZE: With over 10,000 enrolled students, thousands of domains, hundreds of courses and websites, and thousands of company and association agreements, we have the financial and scope power to stand behind our grads without having to charge them their life savings. How is it possible to Google every trade covered by PSU and find PSU's site at the top? Google's formula prevents kitchen table scams by it's very nature: either you have to spend $58,400 a day (locksmithing example) in advertising, or you have to have been in business for decades and get 50,000 plus backlinks and hits to maintain that position. In addition, our TOP auction ratings, buyer protection on every sale with checkout, and many other details are impossible for smaller organizations.
3. RATINGS: Scams won't participate in Ebay, Square Trade, Gunbroker, and other auctions, because consumers rate their buying experience for all to see. PSU has over 100,000 positive experience ratings across the web, from Amazon to Ebay. We have no fear of consumer ratings, because our buyers are happy! They are making significant income in exciting new fields in their own businesses. We've been with Square Trade for nearly 10 years, and the web only started in 1985. We're not happy until our grads are successful both professionally AND financially.
4. REGULATION: Educational regulators require bonds, tuition refunds, and other checks and balances that stop scams in their tracks. PSU has been in business for over 30 years, and NO regulatory body has ever found fault with our programs. The secret: if a consumer is encouraged to use a credit card, they have complete recourse against their purchase, plus it also is relatively small and easily refunded. Scams will ask you to send money orders to a PO Box, because you have no recourse. We don't even ACCEPT money orders!!!
5. FEES: Scams get your credit card, and then just keep on charging! Even the largest online school in the US has thousands of posts accusing them of getting their student's signatures, then charging their cards without authorization. We NEVER accept your card number-- and Google Checkout or authorize.net never shares it with a seller. We NEVER charge hidden fees: what you see is ALWAYS what you get, no hidden or extra charges. Starting to see why others are jealous?
6. PUBLICATIONS: PSU advertises, often in a cover position, in hundreds of trade publications worldwide, and has for over 25 years. These pubs have advertiser standards-- if they get consumer complaints, the seller is not allowed to advertise. You will NOT see scams advertising in worldwide trade publications for this reason, at least not for more than one issue. On top of that, a single display ad for one publication can be $10,000 an issue. This is potent scam protection for subscribers, and great repellant for underfunded kitchen table scams.
7. LAWYERS: A touchy topic. Yes, we will and do protect our brand. Yes, we do sue posters who attempt defamation, libel, and slander online. Yes, we are guilty of going after a number of thread and forum bandidos once we catch them, including one very famous court order that required a competing online school to retract with damages. Our philosophy about this is simple: if you BUY from us, you have a RIGHT to rate your transaction. If you are a competitor, conscience of the web, or other anti-gun person, and you post slander without ever having taken a course, you deserve to be sued!
The bottom line: buy with confidence from PSU! Your credentials are accepted for licensure, and as licensure in many cases, by trade sellers, wholesale vendors, insurers, bonders, bond underwriters, associations and everyone you NEED for success. In addition, you are joining a dealer/seller network of thousands, getting free referrals, free auction membership, free web listings, complete business assistance and practice protection, and NEVER are charged hidden enrollment, matriculation, graduation, transcript or other fees!
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