On June 06, 2025, I placed an order with CERT At Home for the "Skills Only" portion of the BLS…read morecourse for two individuals. The following day, I contacted the company by email and phone to request a cancellation, as the order had not yet shipped and my university required in-person training within a set timeframe. I was unable to reach anyone by phone. In response, CERT At Home acknowledged my cancellation request but stated that the order was non-refundable per their registration terms, even though nothing had been shipped or processed at that point. Initially, I cited the FTC's Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Rule (16 CFR Part 435), which requires refunds for canceled merchandise orders that have not yet been shipped. CERT At Home responded that the rule does not apply to bundled educational services. After they provided that explanation, I did not continue to argue a legal obligation but instead expressed my concern that it is unethical and unfair to withhold a refund for an unshipped and unused order. I informed them that if they refused to issue a refund, I would accept the order. However, I made it clear that their decision would inform my public review of their business practices. In response, the company confirmed they would ship the order, but also issued a strongly worded email warning that any public criticism could result in legal action. Verbatim, "If any of your comments constitute false or defamatory claims about our business or practices, we will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action. We will also leave a professional and factual review of our own on your Healthgrades and other public profiles to reflect that an attempt was made to coerce a refund in violation of agreed-upon terms with a small business." I am requesting that CERT At Home refrain from issuing retaliatory commentary or threats against customers expressing dissatisfaction. I believe their response was disproportionate and unprofessional, and I am concerned about the tone and nature of their communication. While I understand that businesses may have policies regarding refunds, I believe consumers should be treated fairly--especially when no services have been rendered and no materials have shipped. I am filing this complaint in the hope of a fair resolution and to raise awareness of these practices for future customers. June 09 update: Email I received from the company, you can form your own opinion: Hi Amanda, We have reviewed your submitted complaint to the Better Business Bureau, along with all related correspondence. Your complaint presents a selective and misleading narrative that omits a critical fact: you explicitly acknowledged and agreed to our non-refundable terms prior to completing your registration. These terms are clearly displayed during the checkout process and must be accepted in order to proceed. They apply whether or not your materials have shipped, as your purchase was for a bundled educational service--not a retail merchandise transaction. Your decision to publicly mischaracterize our business practices and frame our adherence to clearly stated, pre-agreed terms as "unethical" or "greedy" is not only disingenuous, but also potentially defamatory. Additionally, it is important to clarify that the Better Business Bureau is not a government agency, nor does it possess regulatory authority. It is a private organization that collects and publishes consumer reviews. While consumers are free to share honest feedback, when public statements are made without material context or imply legal or ethical wrongdoing where none exists, they cross the line into defamation. We take such matters seriously. As a small business, we operate with transparency and integrity. Our policies are consistent with those of educational institutions and certification providers across the country, and we have treated you no differently than any other customer. Because of the severity of your claims, we are issuing this final notice: You have until Wednesday, June 11th at 12:00 PM ET to remove or revise any publicly posted complaints or reviews--on the BBB or any other platform--that contain false, misleading, or defamatory information. If you do not comply, we will: Respond publicly on all relevant platforms, including the BBB, Healthgrades, and others, using your full name and a factual timeline of events; Submit a formal complaint to Healthgrades and any professional licensing boards if necessary, should you continue attempts to discredit our business using inaccurate claims; Forward all correspondence, documentation, and evidence to our legal counsel to pursue appropriate remedies, including for defamation and tortious interference.

terrible! They sent banged up manikins and dead batteries, no written instructions on how to set Up…read morethe manikin. They give you a link to watch a video, you can't even see what the guys is doing. I joined the class 3 minutes early. one minute after the class started, she told me I need to get off and join another class because I had the plastic insert upside down. when I reached out via email, the person responding was very rude and unprofessional. it seems like the company is run by children. Definitely not worth paying $165. Update: after posting my review, not even an hour later, the company wrote me several paragraphs over several emails, stating they saw my review. this is part of the email "I noticed your recent 1-star Yelp review and wanted to briefly respond, as it contained some rather interesting points. You indicated that our course provided no assembly instructions for the manikin, yet immediately afterward referenced the instructional video we provide--which, incidentally, clearly and effectively demonstrates each step. Thousands of students manage this each year without difficulty, so it's surprising this was problematic for you. Additionally, you mentioned spelling errors in our email correspondence. While we always strive for clarity and accuracy, the irony wasn't lost on us that your own emails had a few slip-ups ("costumer service," for example). Ordinarily, we wouldn't highlight something this minor, but given your approach, we felt it worth noting. We've seen this kind of contradiction before. Yelp tends to attract a small but loud subset of users who often skip key details, struggle with basic steps, and then blame the process. Meanwhile, we have over 500 five-star reviews on Google from students who actually completed our course and appreciated the experience. If you'd like to continue with the course, we'll honor that and expect full participation. If not, we're happy to offer a partial refund, minus the course access and shipping fees. And if needed, we're prepared to respond publicly, referencing your name, and walk others through exactly what you were sent, so they can see the full context of what you were provided, and just how simple and clear our process really is." I literally am in shock by how unprofessional this company is!! I never do reviews, but being a Director of Nursing and an RN, education is at the core of my career and belief. To be condescending and put someone down because I didn't know how to assessable a mannikin by a 3-minute video is absurd. If you express any dissatisfaction, you are immediately met with retaliation and rudeness. On a positive note, the actual teams meeting was great. The instructor was pleasant and knowledgeable. Do not give your money to ugly people. My assumption is after reading other reviews and seeing the emails this company sent to others, it sounds like this email is ran by one person. Pretty pathetic, you get this upset over a review!

Really happy to have found this place. I was required to take a in person CPR/FIRST AID class that…read moreis taught by a legit institution example Red Cross or by the American Safety and Health Institute in order pursue my profession here in VA. There are many online CPR courses which I did take but were not valid when I submitted it to the state. I took the class with Francisco the owner which is prior military and firefighter. From day one it was really easy to get a hold of him and to arrange for the class. I got lucky that my class ended up being just me so I got to ask any questions I had and Francisco would gladly answer them. The whole experience was an easy and very insightful. Francisco does a great job teaching and cares about you learning.

Great service! My wife and I are about to have our firstborn and wanted some training on infant…read moreCPR. Francisco not only help us feel more prepare in case our infant needs assitance but in any day to day scenario. Covid guidelines were followed at all time.

Very well organized and straightforward. Friendly and knowledgeable instructors who make the course…read moreinformative and interesting. I couldn't recommend this GOTCPR more highly.

Jennifer was a fantastic teacher. I saw significant improvement just from simple techniques she…read moretaught. It was a very informative & complete course. I definitely walked away with the confidence to help. AP

On December 19th 2023 I took a CPR/AED & First Aid Combo class and it was amazing and well worth…read moreit. James, the class instructor, was friendly, personable and very helpful. He gave us the opportunity to be hands on and practice on a manikin to get the full experience. James was very clear and precise and again very helpful in his teachings to us.

This review is for the CPR/BLS renewal. The class was informative and instructor was engaging. It…read morewas pretty unorganized, though. I was the only student in the class and felt awkward at times, not knowing if I was getting on the floor to practice skills or sit and watch the video, etc. Also, the logistics of the building was very bad! The building was locked and a cleaning maid had to open the door for me. Next, the email directed me to suite 306, but that door was locked. I ended up having to ask 3 random people if they knew where the class was. There were no signs to direct me, either. When I called the phone number, Diane sounded sarcastic as if I should have known the class was on the 2nd floor! All in all, it made me feel uneasy as I was the only student at a 6pm class. At least we ended early!

Dear reader, The…read moreAmerican Red Cross donation centre is one of those rare places I am always genuinely happy to return to. I donate every time I am eligible, like clockwork, and the experience here has been consistently excellent. There is tons of parking, which makes arriving easy, and the building itself is nice, clean, and well set up for a smooth visit. Inside, there are plenty of chairs, and I have rarely had any issue with a long wait, provided I have made an appointment, which I always do. The whole process feels organised and efficient without ever feeling rushed. More importantly, the staff are so nice, skilled, and reassuring, and they truly seem to love what they do. That sort of energy makes a real difference when one is sitting there preparing to part with a pint. I also must give a proper shoutout to Trina and Flora, who have done my donation a few times and absolutely rock. They are kind, capable, and the sort of people who make you feel completely at ease. A final point in this establishment's favour: the snacks are great, which is no small matter after donating. Overall, this is a thoroughly well-run place doing important work, and I will happily keep coming back.

Fairfax, VA - I've been giving blood for years. I prefer this location rather than the mobile units…read moreas I believe the phlebotomists here have more experience since this location also does platelets and power reds. My best advice to avoid scheduling issues is to schedule an early morning appointment. By late afternoon things can sometimes be backed up causing a longer wait. Another plus to this location is they no longer have to prick your finger to test your iron level prior to donating. Now they use a device that is placed on your thumb which uses light to detect your blood iron. Pretty nifty! The donation process takes place in comfy chairs and goes by quickly if you remember to hydrate ahead of time. The phlebotomists are all very professional and take care to check on you throughout the process. The snacks afterwards in the canteen vary. I had Oreos, Cheese It's and Lorna Doones. One small beef I have is there's no recycling bin for the water bottles. I try to remember to bring my own reusable bottle or I bring the empty home to recycle.

I was looking for an affordable and convenient way to get re-certified to work at a gym when I…read morestumbled across VA CPR & First Aid (certification provided through the American Heart Association). The VA CPR & First Aid website was extremely easy to navigate. The course was offered (and displayed in a calendar online) more than once on a weekend during the month making it easy for me to find a class that fit my schedule. Michelle (who taught the class) was very responsive when I asked her questions via email. I asked about dates and payment and usually got a response within 42 hours. As an instructor she was clear and friendly. The location of the course (tucked inside a commercial office space) was a doable drive from the Alexandria, VA area. If you take a course here please note there is a limited number of food options that are within walking distance (when you break for lunch). The closest place to get something to go is the Dunkin Donuts accross the street. I thought the price with the book (100 for the class, 20 for the book) was fair when compared to similar courses. I have taken the American Red Cross certification (more than once). I thought the way the American Red Cross presented the material 4 years ago to me was more hands on than the American Heart Association. Specifically, with the first aid course material. If my memory serves me correctly, I remember doing a lot more hands on demonstrations when I got certified by the American Red Cross than by the American Heart Association. In a nutshell its a good option if you need to get certified in a quick time frame and live in the northern VA area but if this is your first time getting certified specifically for first aid I would look at the American Red Cross' certification courses first.

If your looking to further your career this is definitely the school to go to Ms Ellen is a great…read moreinstructor and so Helpful in helping you conquer your goals I will definitely be signing up to take more classes

A big shout out to the admin/educators at Excel Health Institute. Thanks to the dedication and…read moresupport from Ms. Ellen (primary teacher), I passed my Virginia CNA skills and written exam on the first attempt. The videos starring Ms. Ellen are super helpful. After watching these videos, studying the provided materials along with doing the required hands-on practicum/internship, I passed the Virginia CNA 2 parts exam without any sweats. I strongly recommend Excel Health Institute as the best place to enroll for CNA related training requirements in the Northern Virginia area.

Excellent instruction, very good learning experience. Nice, comfortable testing centers in Ballston…read moreand Tysons.

Amazing experience! Extremely knowledgeable and incredibly kind in their teaching style. What a…read morewonderful class. I highly recommend!

We started training with Mike for my two boys ages 12 and 14 at the time to develop their core…read morestrength back in January 2020. He continued coming to our house during the pandemic shutdown and then opened his own studio. Mike has been instrumental in training them as they have matured and is teaching them the correct way to train. Now at 17 and 15 years old they have benefited from his training routine and have progressed in both strength and flexibility during the last 2 years of strength training. I have also taken advantage of Mikes knowledge during the last 2 years by training alongside my boys. I highly recommend Mike.

Mike is an excellent trainer. Excellent facility as well, although I've also gotten plenty of…read morevalue out of remote sessions when unable to get to Fairfax in person. Highly recommended no matter how intense (or not intense) you're trying to train.

This is a great centralized meeting place for small to medium groups to gather for a reasonable…read morefee. There is a decent sized room with kitchen to bring food and cater events. It's not fancy, but it's the rescue hall and clean. They provide tables and chairs. There are restrooms. The dispatch office remains open and there is a host or hostess that stays while the events are being held to ensure that things go smoothly. Parking surrounds the building and is a small lot, but there is public parking along the inside street and across within the opposite lot. You are responsible for cleanup. Overall, it is a great place that makes holding a group of people easy to do and very convenient.