Article
Professional guidance and test preparation are essential for Postal job seekers. High failure rates support this need. Unfortunately, a number of scam operators pose as firms that offer Postal job and exam assistance. This alert warns consumers how to avoid being ripped-off by scammers when searching for genuine help.
CHECK THE TITLE, THE CONTENT, AND THE COPYRIGHT DATE TO ASSURE THE MATERIAL IS TRULY UP-TO-DATE
Obsolete guides are a massive problem due to recent sweeping exam revisions. Former exam 473 was retired and replaced by four new tests – exams 474, 475, 476 & 477. You must check closely to make sure that a guide does not refer to exam 473, that it has a copyright date of April 2019 or later, and that it provides full info on new exams 474, 475, 476 & 477. To identify and avoid obsolete guides, see Pathfinder's Obsolete Postal Job & Exam Guides Consumer Alert.
BEWARE OF ADVERTISERS THAT TRY TO POSE AS THE POSTAL SERVICE OR AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Although it is illegal to falsely claim to be affiliated with the U.S. Postal Service or to be a non-profit organization, this frequently happens. The Postal Service does not charge any fee to take their exams, and they do not sell Postal job or exam guides. Regardless of any claims made, if they ask you for money, they are definitely not affiliated with the U.S. Postal Service.
YOU SHOULD NEVER PAY MORE THAN $49.95 FOR A POSTAL JOB OR EXAM GUIDE
When scammers try to rip you off, they go for the big bucks. They typically use false claims and high pressure sales techniques to get you to order high priced items – sometimes $100 or more – of dubious value.
BEWARE OF GUARANTEES THAT YOU WILL GET A JOB OR MAKE A PARTICULAR EXAM SCORE
Absolutely no person, business, or outside agency can influence the Postal hiring procedures. And exam scores depend upon a number of variables including the complexity of the test, the inherent aptitude of an applicant, and how diligently an applicant prepares for the exam. It is simply not possible to guarantee a job or a certain score because there is no way to control these variables. Even if a merchant publishes such guarantees, they virtually never live up to them.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF, CONTACT THE BELOW CONSUMER PROTECTION ORGANIZATIONS
In addition to assisting in your pursuit for justice and compensation, filing a complaint with these organizations also serves to protect the public as a whole.
** Better Business Bureau
** Federal Trade Commission
** National Fraud Information Center
** Attorney General for state where the company is located
** If you paid by credit card, you can also usually contact your credit card company and ask to submit a “charge back”. Where warranted, they will issue you a refund for the disputed amount and charge that amount back against the offending merchant. Unless the merchant provides credible evidence to refute your claim within a limited time period, the refund will stand.
** If you paid via PayPal, you can file a claim through PayPal. PayPal is all about protecting consumers and aggressively pursues such claims.
See our study materials for 100% up-to-date assistance.
See our Obsolete Postal Job & Exam Guides Consumer Alert for more helpful advice.