Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Porter and Chester Institute, Inc.'s headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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• 

  Porter and Chester Institute, Inc.

  Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2334

• 

  Porter and Chester Institute, Inc.

  470 Bank St New London, CT 06320-5548

• 

  Porter and Chester Institute, Inc.

  881 Wolcott St Waterbury, CT 06705-1365

• 

  Porter and Chester Institute, Inc.

  1984 Westover Road Chicopee, MA 01022

  
• 

  Porter and Chester Institute, Inc.

  33 Palomba Dr Enfield, CT 06082-3864

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/06/2025

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I had went to school for Lpn nursing in 2019 right before Covid we got hit and had to spend a few more months in school the nursing program was 21 months I believe. I had got to the very end before graduation and had to take exit exam. I failed. Twice which after the 2nd time you will have to take a refresher course or something of that nature to help you. Right before I took my 2nd test my mom got sick and died. I was completely stressed and needed to take a break I took a break from school and tried to re enter a few months later so this incident happened in 2020 I was told to keep checking back for evening classes kept emailing mr. O***** who was the director or Porter and Chester and I kept in contact with Mrs.b***** who was the nursing director..I have several emails of me constantly contacting the school so I can enroll back and finish up what I have worked so hard for. My dream was to be a nurse and to see the school I have invested so much into not accept me back and keep giving me so much misguided information was truly a slap in my face. In 2021 when the school moved from ********* to ********** I met with Mr. O’***** he had me write a letter and he informed me that he may be able to let me take a refresher and take seminar which is the last mod over but I will have to pay which I told him I am totally okay with that. He told me I would hear back from him within a few weeks. Well weeks passed months passed I then followed up with the new nursing team now we’re in 2022 I’m remaining consistent because I want to finish my schooling and be the nurse I have dreamed of being. It is now 2025 and I have no heard one thing about enrollment. I can see if i was at the beginning of schooling but I was literally at the end. Getting ready for graduation. I just want to finish school I feel Porter and Chester should have let me back I was a honor student.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/01/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I am a former student of Porter and Chester Institute and i am filing this complain as they defrauded me during my time there. I signed up for an in-person Computer Networking and technology program basted out of their ********* campus. The only time i ever was able to step foot on that campus was when i went to pick up the laptop that was issued to me. After that one interaction, The only communication I ever received from the ********* campus was in regards to billing. Without my knowledge, the ********* campus was shut down during my tenure and my home campus was changed to ***** **** which was nearly an hour away from where I live. I only received one opportunity to be "taught" in person at that campus and ultimately it was just an excuse by the instructors to help them clear out the old computers from their classrooms I entrusted my future to this institution and did not receive any of the education and instruction that I have been paying for. Porter and Chester has seemingly been reviewing the complaints made on the Better Business Bureau forum and is disclosing personal information about the former students who left comments. I have taken screen shots of these interactions as that is an unlawful violation of privacy.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/02/2024

  This
  student was enrolled at The Porter and Chester Institute’s ********* campus in
  the Computer and Network Technology program, starting in July of 2020 and
  graduating in July of 2021. At no time was this student enrolled at the Rocky
  Hill campus. Because of the Covid Pandemic, the program had been moved to an
  online delivery model. To help support our students, PCI gave computers that
  were in classrooms that had the capacity to support simulations, and were not
  in use because of the move to off campus and online delivery, to students that
  were interested. Upon graduation, this student was also placed by Career
  Services in his chosen field. This student completed his education, graduated
  and was placed in his career field. The Porter and Chester Institute fulfilled
  its obligations and commitments to this student both in delivery of education
  and employment. The student is obligated to also fulfill his financial
  obligations to the school regarding his education. All students as alumni have
  the ability to access Career Services to assist with employment opportunities
  and career advancement. We wish this student the best in his career endeavors.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/02/2024

  This is the 3rd complaint from this student. PCI has provided 3 responses. At what point does the BBB review the complaints and responses and make a decision that the complaint has been adequately addressed?

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/02/2024

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Hands-on instruction is an essential part of training for this career path and I was not provided the hands-on training required. Computers for a “home lab” as being described were not given to students at my only hands-on class. We were told to tear the computers down by the instructors and sort them into recycling piles at the ***** **** campus. I never enrolled at the ***** **** campus yet that was listed as my home campus after ********* closed permanently. Students were also never notified that the ********* campus was closing permanently. The point still stands that I was never provided the education and hands on instruction that is key to Porter and Chester’s marketing upon enrollment and COVID is not a valid excuse for an educational institution to not fulfill their obligations to their students while still attempting to collect full payment. 
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ****** ******

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/21/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On October 19, 2020, I enrolled to attend Porter and Chester Institute, ** ********** ****** ***** ***** ** *****. I signed for the total amount of tuition at a cost for two years at $35,449.00 in the evening LPN program.
  
  Unfortunately, when I finished the program on July 7, 2023, my total amount reached a total of $39,938.00. There is an overage of $4,489.00 on my final student loan bill. I did not authorize this amount to be applied to my school fee. I have contacted the staff persons, Kelly C*****, and Lisa P**** on several occasions to explain these extra charges to my bill. I wanted to know why my loan was increased.
  
  I was not given a clear answer. However, I was offered a check for $9,432.00. I do not know where these monies were taken from. This money was not to cover the differences I was over charged for the program.
  
  To resolve the problem, I would appreciate it if Porter and Chester Institute reimbursed me for the differences for scholarships, financial aid, graduation fee, and overcharged amount of the program. I did not receive credit for my loans.
  
  I have attached all documents that were signed for the initial cost. The other documents are for the additional charges that weren’t authorized and several emails due to cost.
  I look forward to a resolution of my problem soon. I can be contacted at the above address.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/12/2023

  Please be advised that Porter and Chester Institute reached a resolution with the complainant in collaboration with the *** and *** as of 9/28/23. This complaint has been resolved.

  Thank you for your assistance.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/12/2023

  Please be advised that Porter and Chester Institute reached a resolution with the complainant in collaboration with the *** and *** as of 9/28/23. This complaint has been resolved.

  Thank you for your assistance.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/03/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My complaints with the school created a debt of $7,057.73 in overpayment from ** ********* benefits due to Porter and Chester not submitting the correct amount of clock hours for class. While paying this down, the school financial aid department reported to the ******** ******* education department that I took a course not needed towards graduation or that I withdrew from the practical nursing program. This then created an increase of the debt in the amount of $2,455.67. I worked with the Department of ******** ******* Debt Management Center, ***** ***** ** *******, Regional ** ********* Department., as well as completing 3 audits with the ******** *******. This resulted in a letter from the department of ******** ******* debt management center in *** ***** ** on December 20, 2022, that states the increase in indebtedness was cause by changed in your enrollment as reported by your school. The law prohibits payment for classes from which a student withdraws, as well as courses not used in computing graduation requirement. If you feel the enrollment information is incorrect, you should have the school send your ** regional office a corrected enrollment certification, ** form 22-1999.
  This has been an ongoing issue since July of 2022. Caline L**** states the information the ******* ******* sent to me in the letter is wrong and that everything she reported to the ******** ******* is correct. I have asked to sit down with the Director Anne S******* and Caline L**** to work together to resolve this issue, but the request was denied. The school also issued me a check in the amount $4430.92 for covid relief to help with bills due to the original debt of 7057.43 because I was counting on the $1200 monthly from the ******* ******* for bills while I completed the Practical nursing program, this issue of the indebtedness increase was created after the first indebtedness. I have done everything on my end to try and get this resolved with Porter and Chester with no resolution.

  The next complaint is Porter and Chester was presented to myself and other students that the Practical Nursing Program is 15 months long. The school had deceptive enrollment tactics withholding information that Classes were severely behind schedule, at enrollment in April of 2021 there were still students from 2019 that had not graduated. It took 27 months to complete the 15 month program due to lack of staffing and lack of clinical sites. This resulted in going over the allowable clock hours of 1596 for the **** (** award system) according to ******* ********* who is with *********** ****** ** ****** *********. Mr. ********* stated I have 1763 total clock hours, this exceeds the allowable 1596. Mr. ********* state there is a 110 percent rule which would allow the ** to pay 1755.60 hours. I spoke with the ******** ******* Department of Education and they confirmed what Mr. ********* states. In order for the 110 percent rule to take effect, porter and Chester needs to submit a request to the office of higher education in Connecticut for the hours increase due to the reasons why it took longer than the allowable 1596 hours to complete the program. Porter and Chester already had to have all of the students submit an appeal to the SAP Rule (Student Academic Progress) with ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career School and Colleges) for the extension of the Student Academic Progress going past the 150 percent rule of 22.5 months allowed to complete the Practical Nursing Program. I have tried to get this issue resolved with no resolution because it is two months’ worth of ** ********* Benefits totaling up to $2800 dollars. In Total there is potentially $5255.67 on the line over the school submitting documents as well as not reporting correct information to the ******* *******.
  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/07/2023

  ******* *

   

  Our VP of Educational Funding, Danielle P*****, cc’d on this email, has been working with ******* *********, Director of the State Approving Agency, and Ms. ******* to resolve the issue. I will let Danielle provide additional detail as needed.

   

  Alysson

   

  Alysson R*****

  Executive Assistant & Project Coordinator, Office of the President & CEO

  Porter and Chester Institute

  YTI Career Institute

  ************ ********
  
  *********************
  
  ***********

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/04/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I enrolled in the Plumbing Technical program at the Porter and Chester Institute in ********** in mid-March 2023 which involves in-person labs ( two four hour sessions per week) and virtual lectures three evenings per week as described on the School website and confirmed by my advisor. Since the first week I have complained to my advisor more than five times by phone, my lab instructor directly at almost every session and to the Porter and Chester IT Dept. by email and phone six times concerning the quality and quantity of the instruction. Specifically, the labs are poorly taught and end after ninety minutes including time that the students use to complete their homework. What happened to the other 2 1/2 hours of instruction? Neither my advisor nor my instructor could provide an answer except to say that the labs would continue in this fashion. I also have been unable to complete much of the virtual homework/quizzes because of inability to download the lessons on their provided laptop at home despite excellent internet service as shown on my personal laptop. After finally reaching the IT Dept. I was told by them that it is due to an issue on the website which was provided to the School by an outside vendor ( TY Corp?) and that I should contact them directly. I have left them several messages without a response. I then attempted to contact the Director of the Institute, but the School refused to provide their contact info. I am very concerned about failing this course as well as not learning the required material for my Plumbing Licensure Exam. I committed to this $30,000 year-long program which requires both Federal and private loans and a **** Grant to fund so as to ensure my future in a needed trade. I ask your assistance in achieving my goal. Thank you for your assistance. **** ******

  Business Response

  Date: 04/18/2023

  Please find below the school’s response to
  a complaint made by Mr. **** ******, a student in the Plumbing program at
  Porter and Chester institute – **********..
  
  Regarding the student’s
  claim that the lab is only 1 and ½ hours long :
  In a program, like Plumbing, delivered in
  a hybrid format (didactic online and labs on campus) the proportion of online
  to on campus work can change each term based on the courses. As stated in the enrollment agreement: “In
  Hybrid programs, the Student’s lab days could be any combination of Monday
  through Friday, meeting at any time within the taught time blocks stated below.”  So while students need to be aware that labs
  could last from 5-9, in terms with a heavier online component, labs could end
  earlier than 9:00.  The labs tend to be
  fairly basic in the first couple of weeks of the term, to get students
  acclimated, and some students finish them early than others.  However the instructor has agreed to make
  himself available through the maximum end time for any student who wishes to
  stay and get additional hands on time.
  
  Next, regarding the
  student’s concern that he had difficulty accessing the information, homework
  assignments, quizzes, etc.. due to issues with the online portion  and was worried about failing the course:
  The Campus
  Director of Operations and Education (CDOE) reviewed the student’s
  participation, completion of assignments and grades and noted the following
  results:
  All assignments for the first course of the term were
  completed well and on time.
  Home
  Work grade 96.16%
  Lab
  Grade 100%
  Quiz
  Grade 70%
  Final
  Exam 90%
  Total Course Grade 89.23
  If the student is still having difficulty
  with the online interface, we request that he contact the CDOE directly to
  explain his difficulties.
  
  Lastly regarding
  his request for timely assistance by the administration:
  The CDOE reached out to the student
  shortly after learning of his concerns (which the student  voiced to his admissions representative, not
  to the CDOE, who is the campus representative students are instructed to
  contact if they have been unable to resolve a concern through their instructor).  On 04/10  the CDOE called the student and left a voice
  mail asking him to return the call and giving him both the school office number
  and the CDOE’s cell phone number.  When
  the student did not respond, the CDOE then sent him the following email on
  04/13:
  
  Good Morning ****, I understand that you
  had voiced some concerns about the Plumbing program. Rafael had relayed your
  concerns to me and I had reached out to you on Monday via your phone number on
  record. I left you a voicemail as well as my cell phone number to have you give
  me a call when you had a minute to discuss your concerns. I also discussed your
  concerns with your instructor as well as the program coordinator to see what we
  could do to address them. As of today I have not heard from you so I’m wondering
  if you are now comfortable with the program or if you would like to discuss
  your issues further.
  
  Please let me know how I can assist you.
  
  Thanks’

  Pat
  
  The CDOE is
  prepared to assist this student whenever the student contacts him.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/08/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I have been swindled by the Porter-Chester Institute with a bait-and-switch scam. After signing on for a FIFTEEN-month program for LPN education, including clinical practice, their $34,000.00 tuition cost. PCI knew fully well they had a backlog of students waiting in the wings for clinical, classes, and graduation that needed to be served first. I was NOT informed of this. I started classes on January 17, 2022. based on the idea that I would complete their LPN program in 15 months. They continue to milk and misuse Covid as an excuse. Other schools, communities, and all clinical sites opened up throughout the state of *********** with no problem getting their nursing students out into a clinical class. Here it is February 2023, and I still have not had any clinical experience and was supposed to graduate in April of 2023. On January 12th last day of finishing all didactic classes. I was suddenly told by Ms. Vicki K*** VP of PCI that she would have to pause my and other classmates' education and clinical classes because they have no qualified instructors to teach clinical classes. This resulted in a significant learning gap between classroom education and clinical practice as well as extending their 15-month program far longer than I agreed to. PCI has failed me and many other students. They continue to give us the run-around. Ms. K*** and her many employees do not care for their students. It is a for-profit school. They do not reply to emails, phone calls, and other inquiries. Communication with students *****. Pay service fees for supplies and the classrooms never have enough equipment. Huge instructor turnover, and several different nursing directors within the past year. PCI employees and Ms. K*** VP in charge and overseeing the whole nursing program do not want to take any responsibility for how they failed their students. Pointing fingers and blaming others for their failure. I do not recommend the LPN program PCI institutes to anyone.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/06/2023

  Ms. ******** enrolled in Practical Nursing at Porter and Chester Institute-***** **** ****** on January 17, 2022 under pandemic conditions. Students who enrolled under pandemic conditions were notified during the enrollment process
  that delays could occur due to the nature of Covid-19and its impact on program delivery
  (see the attached Attachment A).

  Practical nursing students were notified of the ***** **** ****** closure on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. Individual student meetings were held to discuss the opportunity to transfer to a recommended campus, based on student zip code. 

  Students’ impacted by the school closure received a transfer grant of $200 per term to assist with any additional expenses/inconvenience that
  may be incurred resulting from the change in location. Students who were unable to transfer or chose not to transfer to an existing PCI campus were informed of the option to (1) withdraw from the program with earned credit and the school’s standard refund policy applied (2) withdraw from the program, void all previous credit earned, and receive a full refund. Ms. ******** elected to continue her program and transfer to the PCI-******* campus (see the attached Attachment B).

  On January 12, 2023, Ms. ******** was placed on Administrative Non-Attending (ANA) status due to the remaining clinical backlog at our ******* location. Students who enrolled in 2019 and 2020 academic years have been given preference for clinical rotations and as students graduate the remaining ANA students will be placed at available clinical sites. PCI anticipates that Ms. ********* and her cohort will be scheduled for Clinical rotations in April2023 barring any clinical closures resulting from Covid-19 outbreaks.

  Any student who wishes to withdraw from their program of study may do so at
  any time and the school’s refund policy is outlined on page seven (7) of the catalog (please see the attached Attachment C).

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/04/2022

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was recently in the middle of an application for the LPN program here. I had Applied for a loan on top of financial aid to help pay for the program. The program was supposed to start on October 17,2022. I’ve tried reaching out on multiple occasions for the last part of the application process. Today i received A call that the lease is expiring for Porter and Chester and my application will be canceled. I was not told any sooner about the program in which I’ve been trying to reach out so i could Figure out a working situation that would work best while I’m taking the course. This is very unprofessional of Porter and Chester.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/16/2022

  Good afternoon,

   

  I would like to provide an update in reference to Complaint ID# *******. We have conferred with the individual (****** *******) who was initially a prospective student enrolled at our ******* campus. Our Practical nursing courses were later paused and she was transferred to our ***** **** location as a prospective start. The school made the difficult decision to close the ***** **** campus prior to courses commencing, however, she was able to enroll at our ******* campus for the upcoming January 16, 2023 term. She has been accepted into the program and is in the process of being packaged for Financial Aid. The complaint was opened prior to this resolution. We asked ****** if she felt we had resolved her complaint and she did agree.

   

  I do see that the complaint was closed without a response from the school. I apologize for the delay, the correspondence below is the only one I have received. We also wanted to make sure we had the opportunity to gather information and also speak with the student to ensure all of their concerns had been taken into account prior to submitting a response. We are hopeful that the record can be updated to reflect this.

   

  Please let me know if there’s anything else you may need from the institution.

   

  Thank you,