In September of 2007 I registered for a weekend prep class to help prepare for the Law School Admissions Test. I registered online at the company's website, prepmaster.com, for their weekend class scheduled for Sept. 22-23 in Minneapolis, MN. I was informed by the company's website that they were not accepting credit or debit cards and that I was to send them a personal check instead. I did so. After registering and paying I called the hotel in Minneapolis, where the class was to be held, to make reservations to stay the night but discovered that the hotel was no longer in business. I contacted LSAT Intensive Review via email because they don't answer their phone, the company putting on the class, to inform them that the hotel was out of business and asked where the class would be held instead. I received a letter in the mail a few days later stating the class had been cancelled due to low enrollment and those who paid by credit card would have their accounts credited and those who paid by check would receive a refund in 3-4 weeks. It has been 2 months! I have not received anything. Recently I met two other girls who have had the same experience with this company, both had their classes cancelled last minute and never received a refund. On the company's website they do not list an address, only a P.O. Box in Texas. I have a copy of my cashed check and it was cashed in Houston, Texas at a Bank of America. I believe this is a scam! The company is yet to answer their phone, reply to emails and demands and return money. Its almost as though this "company" doesn't exist. Thanks for you help in getting the word out!
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Reader Comments:
Posted by jlea on 12/12/2007
I also have not been issued a refund from this company after a "last-minute cancellation" for a course scheduled Nov. 17-18, 2007 in Dallas, TX. I encourage anyone that has been scammed by this company to file a complaint with the Better Business in Austin, TX, which is where the company is supposedly based, as well as a consumer protection complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Office. It appears that 27 reports have been filed with the BBB so far regarding similiar complaints. The company now says they are no longer in business as of Nov. 18th on their website.
Posted by aja_aoalaw on 12/13/2007
Oh God!! I know what your going through. I signed up for a class that was supposed to take place in San Francisco, California on Sept 22-23 and got the famous "las minute cancellation." I've wrote several emails, called then phone nuumber, and mailed several leters to them. Today is December 13, 2007 and I have yet to receive a response or better my reimbursement. Im going to report them to the D.A. like the person before me did. I reported them to consumer reports and the f.b.i.'s website that does scams through the internet. I can't believe we got scammed. Hopefully these people get caught!
Posted by aja_aoalaw on 12/13/2007
There is currently a class action lawsuit pending against this company and a detective in Texas working on the case who needs information. If anyone else has fallen victim to these posters, please contact Det. Westling of the Austin police department at 512-974-5301 and file a report.
Posted by peanuts_dreams on 12/18/2007
signed up for the November 18-19, 2007 class to be held supposedly at Best Western Boulder Inn 770 28th St.Boulder, CO 80303. Their website (www.prepmaster.com) seems very legitimate. He wrote me twice thru post and e-mail prompting me to send my check before the seminar date. I sent the check amounting to $349 four days before the supposed seminar via express mail and then he sent me the e-mail stating that due to low enrollment the seminar is canceled with a refund promise. I called him up several times and e-mailed him several times. I called my bank for a stop payment but the check still got thru unfortunately. I did some online research and realized what a massive scam Lowry is doing against students.
Posted by emhward on 12/19/2007
My husband was enrolled in a September class with LSAT Intensive Review. We too fell victim to this fiasco. I reported them to the Better Business Bureau right away. BBB never heard back from the company. The tragedy in this is that most of those affected by this scam are poor students who consider $400 to be a massive amount of money. I've never been taken advantage of in this way, and it is really devistating.
Posted by penelope2007abc on 12/23/2007
I attended this course in September in Austin and it was definitely legit! I'm sorry for the people who didn't get a refund back though. That is awful! I'm glad my class wasn't canceled.
Posted by leo0839 on 01/16/2008
I too was scammed by Thomas Lowry. I was supposed to take the class in Memphis, TN in September and was notified that I would recieve a refund for the class because it was cancelled. When I called in October to see when the refunds were, or would be sent, there was a recording saying that the refunds would be processed on October 31st. Then, of course, when I did not get my refund within a couple of weeks after Oct. 31st, I went to the website to send an email, and saw that they were out of business! I emailed anyway, but never got a response. I even looked up Thomas Lowry online and got his home phone number, but the woman who answered said he no longer lived there and asked me to stop calling. I asked if I could get a number or address to reach him, and she hung up on me. I am glad that others have the same problem and are trying to do something about it. Everyone should call the detective in Ausitn to file a report.
Posted by liliana_c2006 on 01/25/2008
Thank you for the information. I have filed a complaint with Atty. General. If I get any results or more info. I will post it.
Posted by RBel605775 on 02/17/2008
They went out of business. Contact Det. Westling of Austin PD at 1-512-974-5301. I was also scammed from the Chicago area. There is a warrant issued for Thomas Lowry.
Posted by nlbinion on 09/26/2008
I just found this site...I, too, was scammed out of $400 from LSAT Intensive Review. I am just amazed at how many states were affected...I am in Oklahoma. If anyone knows what the current status of the investigation in Austin...please let me know. Any information would be great...seeing as I have been in the dark for nearly a year. It did not occur to me until now to see if there was anyone else out there voicing a complaint!
Posted by nichole333 on 03/09/2009
I was also scammed back in Sept 07 for a Virginia course. I received a letter saying that there was low enrollment and I would receive a refund. It was never received. I complained with BBB of Austin, TX. I even looked up Thomas Lowry of Austin, TX and called and reached his teenage daughter. I don't know what else to do. I know it's been a year and a half but I feel so helpless. What are we to do?
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