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| Thread ID: 95438 | 2008-12-06 16:34:00 | Avoid AMES Training & Resource Centre - Software Pirates | bardin (1950) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 726228 | 2008-12-06 16:34:00 | Caveat Emptor - a warning for anyone considering attending AMES Training & Resource Centre . I enrolled in AMES' MCSA course in 2005 . The course was so poor that I pulled out half-way through and demanded my money back . Coincidentally, at that point I found out that a colleague had attended AMES earlier and had issues as well (extremely low exam pass rate across his entire class) - he had successfully demanded his money back . Our original tutor left admist allegations that he was being forced to distribute pirated material (the entire class were given CDs that were chock full of pirated software, crack tools, and Microsoft license keys) . We were then without a tutor for some time . The next tutor came in and decided to go with non-Microsoft currucilum material, so we wasted days setting up a new lab environment . Which didn't work . . . because he had used the same naming convention for the student computers as an earlier stream of the same class (which I pointed out to him) . Eventually the new tutor started going through the material far too fast in order to make up time . We had a 'network administrator' (who could barely speak english) download a crack tool to distribute to the entire class, during the class, in order to crack some of the pirated software that had been given to us (Transcender test exams) . We were given pirated cheat exams called TestKings, which contain the majority of the actual test questions . I ended up taking AMES to court, the case was heard this year . I lost, seeing as my lawyer failed to prove that the CD originated at AMES . (AMES originally addmitted it but when it turned out that my lawyer didn't have proof, they changed their story on the day of the case) . Don't go to AMES - they don't deserve your money . Go somewhere decent like Auldhouse - more expensive but top notch . The whole environment at AMES screams budget and rip off . . . ancient computers, tutors pai $40-45K (see the ad they have up right now on their website for an MCSA tutor . . . ) . Would you study somewhere that pays their tutors what you can expect to receive in your first helpdesk job? My advice - avoid . Interested to hear from anyone else who has been to AMES . |
bardin (1950) | ||
| 726229 | 2008-12-06 21:21:00 | Havent been to AMES, but I know that a previous company I used to do in-house work for would burn off CD's left, right & center with pirated materials. I too pulled out from this companies in-house training, horrified... Bummer about the court case :( |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 726230 | 2008-12-06 22:13:00 | But - -They are "As seen on TV ! " so they must be good. And just look at their Mission Statement - impeccable showmanship. |
R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 726231 | 2008-12-06 22:19:00 | Is AMES the uni with the funny ad? "Once you study at AMES, everyone will want to be your friend!" Most stupid ad I've ever seen |
Blam (54) | ||
| 726232 | 2008-12-07 05:08:00 | Never been anywhere near them but seen their advertisements everywhere, if what you say is true that's very interesting... | Agent_24 (57) | ||
| 726233 | 2008-12-07 08:34:00 | Have you laid a complaint with NZQA? AMES is a registered and accredited Private Training Establishment after all - NZQA would not be happy about them holding that status if your allegations could be proved to their satisfaction. | John H (8) | ||
| 726234 | 2008-12-07 19:19:00 | Hi there, NZQA and Microsoft were both less than helpful (Microsoft sit on the AMES board of directors, so go figure), despite being given all the info they needed . The claims are easy enough to prove, unfortunately for me I lost $45K in my legal case (my incompetent lawyer was $21K and I was ordered to pay some of their legal fees) and can't afford an appeal in order to prove them . NZQA, like a lot of Govt institutions, basically gave me the impression they don't really care at all . The original tutor on the course, who quit because he didn't want to risk his career, was willing to testify and is willing to back up my claim about where the CD came from . But NZQA won't bother looking into it with anything short of a proven case . . . which my lawyer managed to scarper for me . I'm now complaining about my lawyer to the Law Society . . . for what good that will do me . AVOID AMES . |
bardin (1950) | ||
| 726235 | 2008-12-07 20:34:00 | Agreed. I did a AutoCAD course in AMES many years ago and they even installed pirated copy of AutoCAD for students! They're also using pirated copies of AutoCAD in the classroom. My advice: Never go to AMES. |
bk T (215) | ||
| 726236 | 2008-12-07 21:39:00 | Here is a quote from the NZQA audit of AMES in 2007 (in the public domain on the NZQA website): "Tutors and students commented positively on the teaching and learning resources available, stating that they are current and sufficient. Tutors further commented that the management team supports the purchase of any resources that may be required as part of programme planning." Interesting. |
John H (8) | ||
| 726237 | 2008-12-07 21:49:00 | Why not take this to consumer's institute or fair go or the ombudsman etc..? Or get it on TV and then see what happens.. :D |
Agent_24 (57) | ||
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