1 reviews | Active since Apr 2020
Avoid!
Please AVOID at all costs. I signed up for a free 4 week trial. The next day someone phones me claiming to be my student advisor. We had a friendly chat about the course I signed up for (I think I even thanked him for the call as I was impressed that my 'student advisor' introduced himself to me so quickly) and then after the call there was R2200 deducted from my credit card account for a year's premium membership.
According to Shaw Academy I agreed to this even though I can't recall doing so. If I was going to sign up for a year's paid membership, I would surely have waited for the 4 weeks to pass to get maximum leverage out of the paid subscription - So, NO, there was definitely no intention from my side to sign up for a paying subscription so quickly after signing up for a free trial.
I have since requested a refund but so far Shaw Academy has not issued it. They have offered alternatives (life membership, partial refunds - which I'm not interested in as I want a full refund for the money that was taken from my account).
If you search online you will find MANY stories like mine all over the internet. I do not consider this company to be trustworthy at all.
I will update this article as it develops...
[2021-06-02] Due the info I sent through to the e-mail provided, a new support ticket has been opened with no further feedback from Shaw Academy.
The support consultant from my original ticket sent an update (at 22:18 last night] claiming that they have scheduled a call back to me. No one has been in contact with me to setup a call date or time though.
[2021-06-03] - No contact from Shaw Academy in the last day.
[2021-06-04] - I'm happy to report that Aileen contacted me again yesterday and issued a full refund. The reversal is already reflecting in my bank account.
Just a note to anyone fighting the same battle with Shaw Academy - Check your country's Consumer Protection Act with regards to Direct Marketing and cooling off periods. The consumer generally has a couple of days after the transaction (aka the cooling-off period) where they can get a full refund, no questions asked.
Here's what the Consumer Protection Act of South Africa has to say regarding Direct Marketing:
Your right to cancel direct marketing contracts within the cooling-off period
Suppliers are required to include a ‘cooling-off period’ in direct marketing transactions – cooling-off periods generally span five (5) business days.
Consumers have the right to cancel agreements within the cooling-off period, without providing reasons or incurring penalties for doing so.
Suppliers are required to return payments received from consumers, within 15 business days of receiving the cancellation notice.
[2021-06-02] Due the info I sent through to the e-mail provided, a new support ticket has been opened with no further feedback from Shaw Academy.
The support consultant from my original ticket sent an update (at 22:18 last night] claiming that they have scheduled a call back to me. No one has been in contact with me to setup a call date or time though.
[2021-06-03] - No contact from Shaw Academy in the last day.
[2021-06-04] - I'm happy to report that Aileen contacted me again yesterday and issued a full refund. The reversal is already reflecting in my bank account.
Just a note to anyone fighting the same battle with Shaw Academy - Check your country's Consumer Protection Act with regards to Direct Marketing and cooling off periods. The consumer generally has a couple of days after the transaction (aka the cooling-off period) where they can get a full refund, no questions asked.
Here's what the Consumer Protection Act of South Africa has to say regarding Direct Marketing:
Your right to cancel direct marketing contracts within the cooling-off period
Suppliers are required to include a ‘cooling-off period’ in direct marketing transactions – cooling-off periods generally span five (5) business days.
Consumers have the right to cancel agreements within the cooling-off period, without providing reasons or incurring penalties for doing so.
Suppliers are required to return payments received from consumers, within 15 business days of receiving the cancellation notice.