“*COVID19 PANDEMIC SCAM FRAUDSTER*
*FRAUDULENT CHARGING WITH NO REFUND*
*NO WAY TO DELETE PAYMENT CARD*
*NO TELEPHONE NUMBERS THAT WORK*
*NO EASY OR SURE WAY TO CANCEL*
*NEVER EVER EVER EVER USE & TELL PEOPLE!*
Shaw Academy are using the pandemic to defraud and scam people already suffering from Covid19, I've directly experienced what hundreds of other unhappy customers have, fraudulent charging by Shaw Academy, a refusal to refund and an inability to delete my payment details to stop further payments, no human contact at all, fake/dead telephone numbers etc. This company is a Pandemic SCAM.
After setting up a free trial from a Facebook ad, Shaw Academy have bombarded me with messages and popups then charged me for a toolkit that was made to appear free in one of these many popups.
No indication was given on the popup that it wasn't included in my free trial course and definitely no mention of a £49.99(!?) cost, or I would not have clicked it! Please be careful, this happened as soon as I accessed my trial account from my mobile and during the first few days of my supposedly free trial.
The popup asks 'get your course toolkit', no cost is mentioned so it appears included in the course. I clicked and was immediately charged without warning, deliberately and fraudulently, via one click charging using the card Shaw Academy required that I use to set up my trial (setup with the promise of no charges I might add).
I immediately complained and requested a refund pointing these facts out, the misleading/fraudulent popup etc. and that I have not accessed any of the course or the toolkit, I was flatly refused a refund.
I wish I had researched online before setting up the trial because within 2 mins of Google searching I had found several sites (shawacademyscam.com etc.) setup by angry customers in the same situation, multiple complaints on consumer forums and a warning from TrustPilot regarding Shaw Academy's shady misuse of their Trusted Review policies, with hundreds of fake good reviews drowning out the genuine customers like me, all of whom are as angry and out of pocket during a pandemic.
Shaw Academy is a frauduient Irish company run by scam artists James Egan and Adrian Murphy. They have been reported about in the Guardian and other mainstream media, they almost went out of business less than 2 years ago, their backers are fully aware of how Shaw Academy make their money: by committing a massive pandemic SCAM, defrauding people already suffering financially. I don't know how they or the people at Shaw Academy can sleep at night knowing this.
I am reporting all this to the Trading Standards Authority, the police and will be publicising this where I can with negative reviews and media articles,
These people need to be named, shamed and STOPPED.
I am sure the investors that rescued Shaw Academy out of examinership in March 2019 will not wish to be associated publicly with contributing to Covid hardship globally, they will all be getting contacted and mentioned, including:
Virgin Group chief executive Stephen Murphy
Setanta Sports co-founder Michael O’Rourke
Folens Publishing
Beach Point Capital
David Brown, the co-founder of Oxford International Education Group
Neil Balnaves, an Australian investor with media experience
Sean Tai, an education investor.
The same goes for their suppliers, such as ZenDesk, many global brands that I would hope would not want to be associated with a pandemic scam focusing on ripping off people suffering in Covid19 lockdown.
These odious people are tarnishing genuine online education platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, EdX etc. all of whom have been a lifeline for lockdown learners, particularly those out of work so the thought that these leeches are piggybacking on a deadly virus to sucker people in to their scam is enraging, they are morally bankrupt.
If anyone wants to take this people to task/court etc. or would be interested in helping unwitting consumers by writing an article please count me in.”
“I saw the ad on Facebook, it was for a psychology course. I realized it was a scam as soon as I signed up. When I was filling out the form it denied my card the first time and I thought, hmm that's weird I know I have money so I tried it again and it worked. It's normal for a free trial to charge a small fee and then immediately refund it. Most of the time people don't even realize but my account always sends a notification to my phone. They charged me .50 cents twice. But how could they if it denied my card the first time?? The first email I received said that classes were live and I would be given a toolkit. That's false advertising, it's even stated in their Terms of Service that classes are recorded and they don't give you toolkits. It also said William Eames was Head of Education, but Williams' LinkedIn says he hasn't been since August. (to be honest I don't think that William is even real) When you call to cancel it's an automated system. It tells you that your account can not be reactivated, and after one hour you should check your account to confirm. So I waited, clicked “membership status” and it said my trial was cancelled. I immediately received an email that my account was reactivated and upon refreshing the page my account status had changed to premium membership. There was no warning that clicking the link will reactivate your account & change you to a paying member. I called back and cancelled the premium membership. Then they sent an email saying that I had been given 2 free months with "no strings attached." I said I didn’t want it. I created my account & cancelled 12/28/20. They put me as “scheduled to cancel 1/27” even though I needed to be cancelled by 1/25 to avoid the fee. I closed my whole entire bank account. No chance they can steal from me. Afterwards, my account started showing me as scheduled for classes that I never signed up for. So I deleted the course, called and let them know I recorded myself doing so & that I was also recording the conversation. (If it is your first time trying to cancel it won't ring to a real person) I requested my account to be deactivated. They agreed to delete my account & my account status changed to "deactivated" with no "scheduled to..." date. But they were still sending emails trying to get me to buy course material. Then I learned from other victims that if your account is REALLY deactivated, you would not be able to log in. They were still lying to me! And they were trying to make it seem as though I had completed a course even though I never took a single class. They do that to make student numbers go up or money too obviously, they would be nothing without one click scams. Eventually I reached the point of just having enough, emailing customer service is a waste of time, I've already heard it all, I already had enough "cancelation confirmations" it was time for them to delete my account!! I'm not exaggerating, I have a 7yr old there's no way I could get this kind of time to myself during the day, but I stayed up ALL NIGHT LONG, gathered names of every single SA employee I could find, searched for their email address', went through every list of "role based email addresses" i could find and attached "@shawacademy.com" just to see if they were valid. I ended up with 130-140 addresses and just started sending company wide mass emails demanding to have my account deactivated at once. They ended up FINALLY deleting my account, would you believe it?”
“I signed up for a course free for for weeks. I couldn't access the course and when I tried for the third time I got a message that said "Congratulations on earning your Deploma ". I hadn't even started yet. Next day, I was charged the monthly fee. I called them and they cancelled my subscription but I had to email them for refund, which I did. Their reply, no refund, but you can access the school for free for 6 months. I replied, no I want a refund. They emailed back, no refund but I could access the school for free for 1 year. I went to PayPal, they agreed with the school.”
“I never finished registration because it did not offer classes availability as advertised. However it still managed to charge my bank account twice despite never registering or logging into the site! When I requested a refund they denied my request offering 6 months free! If it was something I would use okay but paying 70.00 for something I don’t want! I don’t have money to throw around like that! I feel like I got scammed and my money taken!”
“Really if I can give this company 0 rating I would so. In December I was searching for bookkeeping information that can help me find a career I would like to make in future. Short story I came across Shaw Academy and sounded good to be truth but in order to get into program info had to register my name and add my PayPal even though said free trial for 30 days and would not charge me any till time comes and inform me a head. Two days later, I get notification that Shaw academy took from my account $43.00 for some tool that I didn't use. I freak out, so I try to cancel my account with them which they really make it hard to do. I filed with PayPal a dispute for the $43.00 which still didn't get resolved for. Last night, I got notification they took $75.00 for membership that I even didn't use. I sent them email stressing out I need my money back, and I tried to go and change my account informant sadly didn't work out. I called them this morning want to cancel and want my money back since I didn't use their course at all plus not happy with their scam. The lady tells me:"sorry we can't refund your money but you can keep till the end February membership use the course!!"
They really try to keep me in this scam circle.
Please, people don't even register with them and don't add your PayPal their are big liars and just run away. I don't know how legit their course because I didn't use but at least the way they do business is scam and they need to be repot to stop scamming other people.”
“This is a Fraud company. They charged me 112$ during free trial period. I never ask for any toolkit or certificate but still they kept charging me.
Now I am asking them to refund me because i never ask them for any courses. They are fraud , looting and exploitiing innocent people.
Authorities take action against such a fraud company. And ask them to give back people money and they should be charged heavy fines for exploitong people bank details.”
“They took money without my permission and tried to say that I signed up for another subscription, in addition to the free trial.
I have refused several of their offers because I dont attend the classes so there would be no point. They called several times (during my free trial) with more offers and cant seem to understand that No means No!
The terms and conditions state that once the free trial is cancelled before the end date, I won't be charged. So why was I charged multiple times.
I blame myself for signing up and not checking reviews like I usually do, and not checking my bank statement sooner.”
“DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY.
If I could give them zero stars I would. They get you to sign up to a free trial then without any kind of sufficient written warning the put you on the most expensive plan and charge you. They make it extremely difficult to cancel your account and keep asking you to pause it in the hope they can CATCH YOU OUT and TAKE YOUR MONEY again. After I paused mine enough times and finally went to get to the last screen to cancel (which I have now found out would've only contained a number to call, where you wait to speak to an operator, after finally jumping through all the hoops a few days ago) they offered me a free trial then CHARGED ME WHILST I WAS ON A FREE TRIAL which I only took because I was tired of clicking through screens! When contacted about this issue I was told the operator couldn't do anything about it and that I had to email billings. I had to get her to repeat herself because the phone line was so quiet! Billings has not got back to me however I have received an email saying that my "request" has been closed with no mention of my dispute over the £49.99 they took from me at all. They've just finally cancelled my account. I will be disputing further.
PLEASE FOR YOUR OWN SAKE DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR BANK DETAILS.”
“ccount, I had no money to buy food, no money to buy a Christmas present for my son, and my credit card was NOT paid incurring charges.
Unacceptable. Illegal.
This company is very clever at luring you in with free course materials, free trial etc,
I signed up for a free trial and they took 3 payments from my account without my permission.
I wrote to them 23rd wanting a full refund because they took money WITHOUT MY PERMISSION from MY ACCOUNT.
I got a phonecall from a call centre in India telling me i can have lifetime membership! I just wanted a free trial!!!(I dont want a lifetime membership)
I was told that I asked for the tools etc, I asked or pressed nothing. Either something very wrong with their computer system or this is the biggest scam in the Name of Education.
I also complained of the harassing texts to complete a transaction, I got so many messages while in the doctor's surgery harassment is not the word.
I decide when I pay for something or NOT.
But they still took the money.
I sent emails.
The guy Marcus on the line reads off a script, couldn't answer yes or no, just repeated parrot-fashion over and over again that I'm getting a Lifetime Membership and a refund is NOT possible.
I explained I have a mental health problem, I am with the NHS Acute Mental Health Team for Acute PTSD.
I want a full refund, My Money was taken without MY permission, which is Fraud.
This has left me desolate over Christmas( thank you to Shaw Academy whose Fat Cats at the top are Stealing Fraudulently taking money from accounts without Permission) taking advantage of students and single parents living in poverty like myself!
I couldn't care less about a Lifetime Membership!
I will be taking this to the Financial Ombudsman as I think it's time for Shaw Academy to get redress!
I will be also reporting this as Fraud to my bank account and I will be sticking and pasting this review in every Shaw Academy Review on every website I see.
I will also be writing to my MP to address this Fraudulent Education Company.
I will be writing to the Education Minister the same.
I will be writing to my Bank.
All because taking MY Money from my account without my permission is stealing- food out of My Son's Mouth.
Shaw Academy claims that the organization is accredited by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). This is not truth.
The Academy lost this accreditation on 24 July 2019.
Today, Shaw Academy is not an accredited institution. Any claim of accreditation is not legit.
Distraught Single Mother”
“This company is a scam, sign up at your own risk.
My story is similar to others; I signed up for a free trial. I even kept my eye on the end date and made sure to call and cancel (They make it extremely difficult to cancel and you must jump through hoops in order to do so).
They offered to give me one more month free and one of their useless toolkits and assured me my account would be canceled after that month. Well it was not and now I have been charged $250 by these scammers. They have outright refused to refund me.
Their classes are pretty useless and they make it seem like you are attending a live class when that is not the case. Website is clunky and content is basic.
Customer service is rude and extremely lacking. They are money grubbing scammers. Stay away.
Update: I managed to get someone on the phone to finally properly cancel and guess what? They charged me again on the same day. I am extremely upset and considering gathering all those who have been scammed by these fraudsters to sue them.”
“They charged me over $100 just a few days after I signed up for a 30-day free trial. As I requested for a refund, they requested me to answer their call and they never called. 100 hours after I sent my request, my account was deleted on their website. This company is the worst, the biggest scam. DO NOT sign up! You'll regret!!”
“Shaw Academy is the biggest scam ever.
I am having a very bad experience with them.
I signed up for the 4 week free trial and then the trouble started.
I have never decided to buy a Hard Copy Diploma. Instead I receive an email saying that I bought it and I find myself with an automatic payment on PayPal that I have never authorized.
They charge me for something I don't even ask for.
Furthermore, I received an email for a certain course, while on Shaw Academy site there is the receipt for another course.
Then, I filed a Paypal dispute but they rejected my claim. I had filed an unauthorized transaction claim (which it was) but PayPal always decides for the buyer.
Next time, try "Item not received", maybe it works.
I also decided to cancel the account. After a while I get an email asking if I want to reactivate the account, but I decide to ignore it. After an hour I discover that it has been reactivated and proceed with the cancellation again. Later than that I get another email saying that my account has been reactivated when I have never clicked on any link.
Finally, after several email, they starts to reply me.
They keep offering me a lifetime membership, but I just want a refund for something I never ask for.
Icing on the cake: they started deleting my reviews on all social networks.”
“Shaw Academy is the biggest scam ever.
I am having a very bad experience with them.
I signed up for the 4 week free trial and then the trouble started.
I have never decided to buy a Hard Copy Diploma. Instead I receive an email saying that I bought it and I find myself with an automatic payment on PayPal that I have never authorized.
They charge me for something I don't even ask for.
Furthermore, I received an email for a certain course, while on Shaw Academy site there is the receipt for another course.
Then, I filed a Paypal dispute but they rejected my claim. I had filed an unauthorized transaction claim (which it was) but PayPal always decides for the buyer.
Next time, try "Item not received", maybe it works.
I also decided to cancel the account. After a while I get an email asking if I want to reactivate the account, but I decide to ignore it. After an hour I discover that it has been reactivated and proceed with the cancellation again. Later than that I get another email saying that my account has been reactivated when I have never clicked on any link.
Finally, after several email, they starts to reply me.
They keep offering me a lifetime membership, but I just want a refund for something I never ask for.
Icing on the cake: they started deleting my reviews on all social networks.”
“On November 26, 2020 I registered for a four-week "trial" graphics arts class that was advertised as free. The site requested payment information, which is typical for trial subscriptions and memberships. Once I entered the site I learned that a $39.99 toolkit was required. I immediately, on November 26, 2020, went to my membership account landing page and initiated the closing of the membership account. The site referred me to call customer service in order to cancel the membership. I called within 20 minutes of initiating the membership and requested the membership be cancelled on November 26, 2020. While speaking to the Shaw representative when cancelling my membership, my banking account was charged $39.99. I requested a refund and was told a refund would not be given because I consented to the download of the toolkit. I did not consent to the download, nor did I download the toolkit. I never authorized the $39.99 transaction. THIS COMPANY IS FRAUDULENT AND THEIVES.”
“Signed up for free trial in fashion design. It signed me up for photography so i cancelled.
This brought on a torrent of manipulative phone calls and emails trying to offer me a better deal which i have refused at every point.
Every day now i have a scam phone numbers ringing from countries like Mali, Malaysia etc. So your details are sold onto scam companies.
AVOID SHAW ACADEMY AT ALL COSTS”
“dont opt for "Free Course for first month", these scammers will charge you without your consent again and again. these thugs have charged me 3 times already and i had never used their services.”
“DO NOT SIGH UP.
I was charged $80 in the last two months without me knowing and they give you all sorts of obstacles (Only through emails and multiple persons) to request a refund and in the end they will not refund you no matter what.
Extremely unhappy about my experience with them and feel deep aversion towards their marketing and customer service tactic. It’s apparent that customer care is not their top priority. I would not recommend this company to anyone.”
“This whole thing is a scam. They charge you on the day you sign up, even though they say it's a free trial. Their website doesn't work and you can't access any materials. They refuse to refund your money. Their customer service reps are pushy and aggressive.”
