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Sine qua non
Joined: 18 Feb 2007
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 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:21 am Post subject: The GMAT Stole My $250! |
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Has this happened to anyone else over here?
The website said I only needed a picture ID containing my birthdate, so I took my ARC and my home state driver's license. My passport was at the embassy in the process of being renewed.
When I got to the test center they wouldn't let me in to take the test and said they wouldn't even refund the $250 registration fee!
I registered online for the GMAT exam, and through the whole registration process the same information regarding identification continued coming up. It kept saying a picture ID with a birthdate that matches the birthdate on the online registration. It said this in bold print: "Bring a picture ID with a birthdate that matches the birthdate on the online registration," a couple of times, so I thought that must be important to follow very closely.
When I got to the test center, they said only a passport was acceptable. I was like WTF? They asked if I had the e-mail confirmation from the registration, so I showed it the the clerk, and she said, "See? Here." She pointed to a single line of text on two pages of information that said that people in South Korea must bring a passport.
I called their customer service and they completely refused to consider doing anything to fix this situation. Their tone was: "You screwed up. We're keeping your money. (Chump.)"
They refused to accept an ARC. I even had two other picture IDs and credit cards, etc., etc. to prove my identity. But the test company (it's PearsonVUE, by the way~~weasels) absolutely refusing to even consider a refund for this even though they didn't make their requirement clear, that's just criminal!
What can I do? Write the Better Business Bureau in their town?
WTF? |
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pdxsteve
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:39 am Post subject: |
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Sorry, but it's your fault for not following the rules.
The website (http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT/TheEssentials/TestDay/PresentingProperIdentificationin2006.htm) clearly states "If you are testing in Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong), India, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, or South Korea, you must present your passport as your identification. "
It also clearly states that you won't receive a refund if you can't provide the required identification. |
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braunshade
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Location: Somewhere better!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| They require the passprt becasue it is known throughout the world that KOREANS ARE CHEATERS AND LIARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Hagwon Muppet
Joined: 18 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:00 am Post subject: Re: The GMAT Stole My $250! |
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| Sine qua non wrote: |
Has this happened to anyone else over here?
The website said I only needed a picture ID containing my birthdate, so I took my ARC and my home state driver's license. My passport was at the embassy in the process of being renewed.
When I got to the test center they wouldn't let me in to take the test and said they wouldn't even refund the $250 registration fee!
I registered online for the GMAT exam, and through the whole registration process the same information regarding identification continued coming up. It kept saying a picture ID with a birthdate that matches the birthdate on the online registration. It said this in bold print: "Bring a picture ID with a birthdate that matches the birthdate on the online registration," a couple of times, so I thought that must be important to follow very closely.
When I got to the test center, they said only a passport was acceptable. I was like WTF? They asked if I had the e-mail confirmation from the registration, so I showed it the the clerk, and she said, "See? Here." She pointed to a single line of text on two pages of information that said that people in South Korea must bring a passport.
I called their customer service and they completely refused to consider doing anything to fix this situation. Their tone was: "You screwed up. We're keeping your money. (Chump.)"
They refused to accept an ARC. I even had two other picture IDs and credit cards, etc., etc. to prove my identity. But the test company (it's PearsonVUE, by the way~~weasels) absolutely refusing to even consider a refund for this even though they didn't make their requirement clear, that's just criminal!
What can I do? Write the Better Business Bureau in their town?
WTF? |
Brings back memories. Exactly the same happened to me. My passport was with immigration and I brought ID as stated on their website but it wasn't enough because I was foreign.
Cheating bastards to be honest but you're wasting your time arguing with them. |
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cmr
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:46 am Post subject: |
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| What's "GMAT"? |
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English_Ocean
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Location: You don't have the right to abuse me!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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There should be someone you can contact throught the web site you registered on? Try to mount an investigation into the deception. I've heard rumors of website watch dogs who can blast a site for decetion. Also you could contact the websites service provider and lodge a complaint. Contact hackers to bring the site down. 
Site Address? |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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GMAT is for those who wish to pursue a graduate degree in a business-related area of study.
BTW- What'd you get? I took it twice in the US- 620, and 630.
My old roommate got a 710. He's a math whiz, and he ended up at Notre Dame. |
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Sine qua non
Joined: 18 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: The GMAT Stole My $250! |
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| Hagwon Muppet wrote: |
Brings back memories. Exactly the same happened to me. My passport was with immigration and I brought ID as stated on their website but it wasn't enough because I was foreign.
Cheating bastards to be honest but you're wasting your time arguing with them. |
It sucks because this situation is a monopoly. If you want to apply to business school, you must take the GMAT and only PearsonVUE (weasels) administers the test.
Since there is no other exam that competes with the GMAT, it remains in the interests of the GMAC (the creators of the GMAT exam) and PearsonVUe (the company that actually proctors the exam to students) to maintain high prices so the can squeeze the most cash possible out of the captive market of MBA program applicants.
Maybe it's for the best that I didn't take the test this past week. Now I have more time to study. I like these types of tests, actually. Anyone who takes practices tests and works practice problems will increase their scores, usually by phenomenal amounts. |
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Col.Brandon
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Did you pay by credit card? Maybe you can get the bank to reverse the charge? Failing that, go back and trash the manager's office. |
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hubba bubba
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:05 am Post subject: |
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| Col.Brandon wrote: |
| Did you pay by credit card? Maybe you can get the bank to reverse the charge? Failing that, go back and trash the manager's office. |
Yeah, file a complaint with your back. Tell them you paid for a service that wasn't provided, and you want to reverse the charges. Porbably won't work, but for 250, it's worth a shot. |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: |
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It seems to me like a given. All of the standardized tests (GRE, LSAT) are like that. If you don't follow the directions carefully, you get screwed.
I took my passport to the LSAT because I was sure they would ask for it. You're in another country!!! |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Plus, there has been a lot of cheating on these tests- especially in China. They do have to be careful about who is actually taking the test. |
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huffdaddy
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| wylies99 wrote: |
GMAT is for those who wish to pursue a graduate degree in a business-related area of study.
BTW- What'd you get? I took it twice in the US- 620, and 630.
My old roommate got a 710. He's a math whiz, and he ended up at Notre Dame. |
710. Hmm. Almost as good as my score.  The GMAT was probably the easiest standardized admission test I ever took. I think it's the only time I've ever scored over the 90th%ile on the English section. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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I was hoping someone would post that they got 900/1000, or 1500/1600.  |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:17 am Post subject: |
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| hubba bubba wrote: |
| Yeah, file a complaint with your back. Tell them you paid for a service that wasn't provided, and you want to reverse the charges. Porbably won't work, but for 250, it's worth a shot. |
I'm sure there's a rule (unless it's changed) about refunds can be gotten if there is no signature on the purchase. This why there is so many reversed charges on credit card purchases (sticking the seller with the loss) on eBay and other online shopping sites. |
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