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The good, the bad, and the ugly - discover what customers are saying about Universal Accounting

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11:31 am EST
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Universal Accounting collection procedures

Do not enter into any written contracts with this organization. They are meant to trap you into the program whether the program ends up being for you or not. Read it very well and maybe even show it to an attorney. If you end up being unsatisfied and you will most certainly will be, you are financially doomed.

On another note there are several other programs that I have investigated that are much better and are much more ethical. Look into Andrew Argue's course, awesome and provides much better training specifically on marketing and obtaining clients.

Also, check out Bookkeeper Launch by Ben Robinson. An absolutely awesome guy and he genuinely cares about his students.

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8:53 am EST
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Universal Accounting No risk-free, full refund guarantee

Like many I was impressed with the Universal Accounting website, offering an enticing opportunity to start a new career in accounting and related areas. I'd reached out for more information and a nice sales rep got back to me, showing me the various packages of courses offered. I was interested in registering for the three basic courses, Professional Bookkeeper, Professional Tax Professional and Quickbooks for the package price of $3, 375.95, reduced by a promotional discount of 25%. The sales rep confidently reminded me that "it's a no brainer because it's a RISK-FREE investment; over a two-year period you can move as quickly or as slowly through the materials as you please; if for any reason the course does not meet your expectations, you get a full refund." My sales rep then went one step further by suggesting that I "might as well take advantage of also registering for the Universal Practice Builder, an advanced marketing course that would accelerate income flow. He persuaded me that "it would be a bargain" adding the UPB course to my package; purchased alone it would cost $1, 700 but by adding it to the package it would be offered at 50% off, or $875, and then I'd still get another 25% off with the promotional coupon. And of course, he again added that "it's a risk-free investment because there's a full refund guaranty". I was sold and added the UPB course to my package and paid a total of $3, 188 at the 25% discounted full package price. BUYER BEWARE! ...there was no "full refund guaranty" and there was NO RISK-FREE INVESTMENT. I paid $3, 188 for courses that did not meet expectations and received a credit back of $1, 913.04, or 60% of my investment, not the 100% refund that their marketing policy so persuasively professed to offer. Here are the facts...I offer them with the hope that others will not be conned by the same misrepresentation that I was conned by: 1. I completed the three basic courses and without going into all the reasons, suffice it to say that they did not meet my expectations. I was not equipped with sufficient knowledge to start a new accounting career and never took the UPB course since I had no career to advance my marketing skills. 2. I requested a refund for the full amount of $3, 188, but realized that the refund terms of the UPB course required 12 months of following the steps in the course as a condition to receiving the refund. Even though taking the UPB course without the other three courses seemed absurd, I reluctantly accepted the fact that my refund request needed to be reduced by $656 (25% of the $875 cost of the UPB add-on). The adjusted amount of my refund should have been $2, 532. 3. Over a month passed after I'd returned the materials for the three core courses, and I still had not received any communication from Universal Accounting my refund. I emailed them to find out when I could expect my refund and was told that a refund was credited in the amount of $1, 913.04, without further explanation of how that number was arrived at. 4. I emailed back the breakdown of what I'd paid for the three core courses, as follows: regular price less 25% promo price purchase price Professional Bookkeeping 1, 700.00 (425.00) 1, 275.00 Professional Tax Preparer 1, 300.00 (325.00) 975.00 Quickbooks 375.00 (93.75) 282.00 Universal Practice Builder 875.00 (218.75) 656.00 Total 4, 250.00 (1, 062.50) 3, 188.00 Less: UPB (656.00) Refund Due 2, 532.00 5. The amount credited was short $618.96, or 24% less than what I'd paid for the three core courses ($2, 532). When advised of this error, Universal Accounting responded by email as follows: The tuition for 1 program is $1, 699.95 25% off is $1, 274.96. That is what you paid for the Universal Practice Builder and we refunded you the difference. Nothing further will be refunded. 6. So, notwithstanding that the UPB program was of no use to me and could not be refunded, Universal Accounting had the gall to additionally claim that I paid (before promo discount) the sum of $1, 700 for the UPB course, when in fact I only paid $875. According to Universal Accounting the discounted 25% of $1, 700, or $1, 274.96, would not be refunded to me. 7. In short the so-called RISK-FREE, FULL GUARANTY policy of Universal Accounting was duplicitous and deceitful. I paid $3, 188 for courses that did not meet expectations and received a credit back of $1, 913.04, or 60% of my investment, not the 100% refund that their marketing policy so persuasively professed to offer.

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Universal Accounting does teach you the bare basics of accounting. I am an accountant of 30 years. They teach you debits and credits that is all. They don't teach payroll taxes that is another course and costs thousands more. Also do not take their QuickBooks course. You can get the same thing with more creditiblity through Intuit and become a QuickBook...

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12:11 pm EDT

Universal Accounting Forcible selling

This company sells a bookkeeping program and claims to have an ironclad guarantee return policy. When I tried to return the program to them they threatened to return it back to me and charge me for the shipping. I am trying to return the books unopened and sealed. They are telling me that I have to complete the course and then return it and they will look over the material that I have completed and then decide if I can return it. I told them I no longer have a job and I cannot pay for this program. I looked over the materials and I am not happy with the product. They basically told me that I had to continue to pay them and I have to purchase their product no matter what. I think anyone thinking of doing business with them should think twice about it. I feel their company is running a scam to sell you books and DVD's of very poor quality for a ridiculous amount of money. They tell you that if you are unhappy for any reason just send back the materials for a full refund. This is a lie!

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rlo53
Madison, US
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Jun 17, 2016 5:08 am EDT

I have a degree in Accounting and am preparing for the CPA exams. I am also listed on several job searches that alerts me to potential opportunities. The initial contact with Universal Accounting made it sound like an accounting firm or at least a temp agency with bona fide openings. I registered for the free "seminar" but kept thinking "What's in it for them?" Upon checking out their web site, it became clear to me that it's nothing more than a sales pitch for courses I do not need at prices I cannot afford.

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ACastaneda
Tucson, US
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Aug 19, 2013 1:00 pm EDT

I have been over looking the UA website all weekend. I am very interested in opening up my own business in the bookkeeping/accounting field. I have been in the accounting and finance field for 16 years. Big corporations are no longer in my future. I am not happy with office politics, nor the long hours I have to put in and all the family time I miss. I am really looking into this very hard and trying to make the right decisions. I have a very diverse background and worked for several companies. So it doesn't scare me to do this; as this is something I want to do. I am tired of punching the clock for someone else or living up to someone's expectations of what they want from me. I know that I am good at what I do. I don't need to devote my whole entire existance to a corporation who just gives me a plaque and tells me thanks for the blank number of years of sevice. No thank you for all the time you missed raising your kids seems to come from them either. Just the complaints of how you need to decide if your career is what you want or your family. Not saying all corporations are like that, but I have been involved with two. All the things that happened at the corporations made me realize that life is too short to punch a clock, live my someone else's rules and hours, and giving up my life was not cool anymore. I want something that is mine and the policy and procedures I instill in my company will still be ethical and the work will still be given to my customers at 150%. Thanks for all the good postings. All of you have helped me make a decision to proceed forward.

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Epifania1
Montréal, CA
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Jul 30, 2013 10:14 pm EDT

Hi,

I'm glad to see different comments here about Universal Accounting. I discovered their information today in the morning and I was absolutely in shock with the videos because I felt the owner of the school said what is really happening in the accounting world but NO ONE say it: people like me, that have a Bachelor's degree in accounting, (working towards the CPA now), have been prepared to the big corporations. That is the reality. I had an "aha' moment when I listened to this man, because I felt always in that way but I thought I should have know how to deal with accounting just to have a Bachelor's degree and this is not true.

I have been financial auditor all my life and I have no idea how payroll is recorded, how QB works, or how to deal with a gas station accounting or any small business. Don't even ask me about taxes filing. I can tell you where the business is doing well, and I can propose improvements BUT I need the other side in order to make stronger my professional career.
The thing is I have very huge skills in accounting field but in order to stop looking for a job where all people is looking for (big corporations), is a fact that having my own business would be a great idea.

I really feel attracted to Universal, I will put it in my budget because I want to open my biz in the next year.

Many people complain about they being "forced" to buy the program, that is really stupid. If you give your credit card information and say yes, then hold in your word and face your decisions. I'm not part of Universal people (just to clarify, because people could say I'm part of this organization) and just by common sense, I see people just change mind and complain a lot.

Thanks

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Merrlyn
Brooklyn, US
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Jan 07, 2013 11:12 am EST
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No one mentioned the fact that Cherrie has NO JOB and CANNOT PAY. That statement speaks for itself, yes?

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northwest learner
Kettle Falls, US
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Mar 04, 2011 2:10 am EST
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Read the return policy carefully before buying any product. This goes for any company, any product. Always understand what you are buying. Apparently many people do not read every word of the return policy, or do not read it at all. The return policy clearly states that you must complete the course before seeking a full refund. I

If you are going to run a bookkeeping business, first you must be able and willing to CAREFULLY READ and make sure you understand everything you read. This is crucial to the success of any business.

I also notice that many of the comments above contain misspellings and really poor grammar. (Have you totally forgotten what you learned in grade school, folks?) This will not help you to be a success business person. It does take hard work to start and maintain an independent business. You cannot expect the course to do this for you, while you sit and do nothing.

I agree that, while the sales people may try very hard to sell the product, no one "forces" you to do so. You always have a choice. (Example: I simply went on the University of Phoenix website to see what they had to offer. Their accounting program is $30, 000. WAY beyond my budget. However, in order to get this information, I had to enter my name and phone number. I immediately began receiving phone calls from them. Hard selling. I finally had to tell them to take me off of their calling list and not call again. Another example: I went on a discount retail furniture website just to see what it was about. Again in order to receive any info, I had to "register". As a result, they immediately began calling, persistently. I finally had to tell them to take me off their calling list.)

"Hard sell" does not mean "forcible". You always have a choice.

I also checked out my local community college to examine pricing for their accounting course. They were much more expensive than UA. And I would still have had to learn QB separately.

Always check the company out carefully. Thru BBB, ask the sales person about their accreditation, check that out. There are ways to check the company out to see if they are legit.

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Jim in Hayward
Hayward, US
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Nov 20, 2010 10:50 pm EST

I just returned from a seminar on the Universal Accounting products. While I wouldn't call it 'forceable' sell it certainly ended up as a 'hard' sell. I actually enjoyed the presentation for the most part. I did feel there was alot of information missing. The part I most disliked was the hard-sell at the end.

The speaker stated 'You MUST purchase these products today before you leave or you will not get any kind of discount. You will pay the full price'. Boy, am I glad I walked out! Turns out I can actually get the product for $30.00 cheaper from the web site that from the seminar. I like to check out companies first before purchasing their products. Waiting allows me to do this.

In the end, I may still purchase the course (without the QuickBooks part since I already know accounting and ERP software systems and can self train or get the course directly from Intuit cheaper) but at least I will have breathing room to make the decision I want instead of being intimidated into the purchase for fear of having to pay substantially more.

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marisqa1
Mechanicsburg, US
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Aug 26, 2010 9:11 am EDT

correction: correspondance

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marisqa1
Mechanicsburg, US
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Aug 26, 2010 9:11 am EDT

Why is it so difficult for UAC to keep in contact with their customers? You don't need a contract or anything. You just have to send out correspodnance asking for a website link and some information about the success of their businesses. Anyone who is happy with their success and the program, such as the very happy people on this thread, would be happy to reply.

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ASH Acctounting
US
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Jul 27, 2010 9:37 pm EDT

I have taken MANY courses thru UAC. If you devote yourself to studying and completing the coursework, it WILL transform your life. It definitely did mine. I now own ASH Accounting Services here in western NC and its growing. I would pay TWICE what they charged knowing how it would change my career...Im thrilled!

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Business Person
Indianapolis, US
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Jul 04, 2010 9:48 pm EDT
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After doing research on this company, first with BBB. The company has an A rating. A good thing. Checked out the website and lots of information about the materials and cost. I do not believe they are a scam. I do believe if you make the investment into this program, you must make a committment to study and learn from the materials presented. The internet costs are appears reasonable considering the information that you are getting. Not sure if these same prices are offered at the seminars. It would be a program that you should carefully consider because of the monies being spent as well as the committment to complete. If unsure contact them ask questions until you get the answers you need. And I personally, would not make a spur of the moment purchase without thinking about and asking for references. Based on my limited research, I would move forward and ask for a list of past students to contact. Any reputable business that is sell products will have and give that information.

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