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Business Profile

Recruitment Services

Cheeky Scientist, LLC

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Cheeky Scientist, LLC's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 66 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 16 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    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.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/01/2023

      Type:Sales and Advertising 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.
      This complaint is about a loan fraud scam. On November 22, 2022 at 2pm ET, I had a scheduled call with Dr Ryan ******** of Cheeky Scientist. The purpose of the call was for Dr ******** to share information about Cheeky Scientist and for me to learn about the services they offer and then in the future decide whether or not I wanted to use those services. Dr ******** told me the cost of the career services was $5,000. I told him it was a lot of money I did not have. He said that they offer loans. I asked if I were to consider the loan option and what would be the monthly charge. He said I must enter my information on the computer to get an estimate. I entered my information to get the monthly estimate. I told him I would think about what we had discussed and then get back to him. Dr ******** said no and recruited 3 of his colleagues to help pressure me to sign a contract. I refused and ended the call. Later after a few weeks, I heard from Affirm that I was behind on payments. I told Affirm they were mistaken because I had not applied for a loan. The loan was sent to Collections. I realized that Dr ******** had used my information fraudulently to secure a loan for Cheeky Scientist without my consent. I told collections this was a case of fraud, and they said they will investigate. I have continued to be harassed by Cheeky Scientist to sign a release form, and I refused. I have continued to be harassed by Cheeky Scientist, Affirm and Collections.

      Business Response

      Date: 08/03/2023

      8/3/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: 20403430


      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ******** *********. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below.  

      This submission is incorrect on multiple fronts. Ms. ********* did take out a loan which was confirmed by and third party. We do have evidence of this. There was no fraud. Despite this, on three separate occasions we have offered a full refund. The client has been unwilling to reconcile. If Ms. ********* would contact Cheeky Scientist we would be happy to release her from any obligation.

      Further, Ms. ********* chose to use a third party processor and purchase the program on 11/22/22. While working with the team to onboard, she unexpectedly dropped off the Zoom call.  Cheeky Scientist repeatedly reached out to Ms. *********. She refused to answer by phone or email or return any reach out. She did not express any wish for a refund at any time.

      Over 5 months later on 4/23/23 Ms. ********* reached out to request a refund of her program. Cheeky Scientist agreed to refund the same day immediately in good faith. She refused to accept.

      Ms. ********* reached out again on 5/12/23 inquiring about a refund for her program, Cheeky Scientist responded on 5/16/23 again agreeing to a 100% refund. She again refused. Cheeky Scientist offered a full refund again on 5/22/23 and Ms. ********* did not respond. Her complaint here is unjustified since we have tried to accommodate her and reconcile amicably during all communications.

      Cheeky Scientist is happy to provide Ms. ********* with her refund as requested and time she is able to respond to our reach out. Due to Ms. ********* purchasing almost 9 months ago, we are unable to reverse the payment in the system but are happy to work with her to refund.


      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/07/2023



      Complaint: 20403430



      I am rejecting this response because: Cheeky Scientist's response is untrue. The neglected to mentioned that I dropped out of the call because they were harrasing me and forcing me to sign a contract that I refused to sign under undue pressure and coercion. In addition, Cheeky Scientist has also neglected to mentioned that they have been forcing me to sign a release form that I refused to sign. Business relationship should not be forced. I reject the response from Cheeky Scientist, its untrue, self-seving and inaccuarate.



      Sincerely,



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

      Business Response

      Date: 08/21/2023

      8/15/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: 20403430


      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ******** *********. Importantly, we have already agreed to refund Ms. *********’s payment with a release to negate the current terms & conditions in place. 
      We believe Ms. *********’s complaint is a mischaracterization of what occurred.  First, Ms. ********* requested the call with Cheeky Scientist team members and filled out an application requesting a call with us. Please see exhibit 1 of Ms. *********’s application to get on a call. Please note that she marked on the application that she has been aware of Cheeky Scientist for weeks to months. In fact, we’ve had a business relationship with her since 9/22/22, for nearly a year,  so she understood our company, materials and the products we offered.

      Please see exhibit 2 of Ms. ********* being walked through her program.

      Over 5 months after purchasing on 4/23/23 Ms. ********* reached out to request a refund of her program. Cheeky Scientist agreed to refund the same day immediately in good faith. She refused to accept.

      Ms. ********* reached out again on 5/12/23 inquiring about a refund for her program, Cheeky Scientist responded on 5/16/23 again agreeing to a 100% refund. She again refused. Cheeky Scientist offered a full refund again on 5/22/23 and Ms. ********* did not respond. Her complaint here is unjustified since we have tried to accommodate her and reconcile amicably during all communications.

      Due to Ms. ********* reaching out for a refund 5 months after purchasing, we are unable to reverse the payment with the payment processor she used, but we are happy to work with her to refund. To date Ms. ********* has still not responded or reached out in any way.

      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/28/2023

      Type:Sales and Advertising 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 contacted this service in December 2022 when I was finishing my studies and very nervous about finding work. Due to strong arm sales tactics they convinced me to purchase their services without the chance to review what they actually offered. They guaranteed they would find me a job.
      Now that I have reviewed what they offer I realized this is not what they promised.
      I don’t want the money I have already paid back, I just want to cease any more payments, which I feel are exorbitant for the service.
      I believe I was pressured while vulnerable to accept their contract and I can no longer afford to pay.

      Business Response

      Date: 08/03/2023

      ****************
      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ****** *****. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below. First and foremost this person has been in the program for 8 months and is only now raising any concerns.

      Ms. ***** understood how the program worked and availed herself of all the program assets including a new resume during the time she participated and never brought up any concerns of being strong armed before now. More importantly she had access to a 3 day cancellation which she did not use. If she believed she had been pressured into the service she had the option to cancel.

      Prior to purchasing, Ms. ***** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions. Section 7 & 8 of the terms & conditions explain that there are no cancellations or refunds prior to 12 months. Section 1 shows the product has already been provided to Ms. *****. Section 2 outlines that Ms. ***** agreed to participate in the program. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.

      Further, Ms. ***** agreed to the terms of the program in 2 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming she understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations. Please see exhibit 2 of Ms. ***** signing her agreement to the terms and conditions as well as agreeing to participate in the program for 12 months. It is also important to note again that Ms. ***** was given the option to cancel the program within three days if she did not like it which she chose not to do.

      Ms. ***** requested the call with Cheeky Scientist team members including filling out an application.

      Please further see exhibit 3 of Ms. ***** receiving help via and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which Ms. ***** gained immediate access to.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Ms. ***** through her job search.

      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/04/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because:

      The above described agreements were made in haste and the 3 day cancellation option was not clear. I did not avail myself of all aspects of the program and would like a ‘refund’ on the balance. The amount I have already paid covers the service I received. 



      Sincerely,



      ****** *****

      Business Response

      Date: 08/16/2023

      8/15/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********


      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ****** *****. Importantly, Ms. ***** has availed herself to our program and mentorship since 12/20/2022 and is only now making claims that she joined the program in haste. Ms. ***** understood how the program worked and used it for nearly 8 months. Just as importantly, she was given the opportunity to cancel her membership and the agreement for 3 days per the FTC cooling off rule. She did not cancel and instead utilized the program in full. 

      Prior to purchasing, Ms. ***** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions. Section 7 & 8 of the terms & conditions explain that there are no cancellations or refunds prior to 12 months. Section 1 shows the product has already been provided to Ms. *****. Section 2 outlines that Ms. ***** agreed to participate in the program. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.

      Further, Ms. ***** agreed to the terms of the program’s refund policy in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the program’s terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible and publicly listed on our website. Second, by verbally confirming she understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations. Third, by signing her name to an agreement that laid out the refund policy. Please see Exhibit 2 of Ms. ***** signing her agreement to the terms and conditions as well as agreeing to participate in the program for 12 months. It is also important to note again that Ms. ***** was given the option to cancel the program within three days if she did not like it which she chose not to do.

      Please also see exhibit 3 of Ms. ***** receiving help via and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which Ms. ***** gained immediate access to.

      Finally please see exhibit 4 of Ms. ***** getting help from our team.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Ms. ***** through her job search.

      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/17/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because:

      1. Three days is not an adequate time to consider such a large investment. I was inundated with family concerns over the holiday and stress regarding completing my PhD. 

      2. Promises of immediate employment and signing bonus were made.

      3.The only services I availed myself with were some online videos and my own revision of my resume with not interface with their staff.

      This was a pressure sale with no benefits to me. I will have to pursue legal action.



      Sincerely,



      ****** *****

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/25/2023

      Type:Sales and Advertising 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 consulted Cheeky Scientist about career consulting. They deceptively entered me into a loan for $1000 more than the contract + $1000 in undisclosed interest with an organization called Affirm. I did not want or need a loan and the fact or terms of the loan were not disclosed to me. After two weeks I am still having difficulty getting an answer from Cheeky Scientist. I filed a complaint with the lender directly. The result was a 2nd loan attempt from Cheeky Scientist that was declined.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/26/2023

      7/26/23

      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: 20374137


      Dear Better Business Bureau,


      Thank you for the opportunity to respond. We strongly deny these accusations and no evidence has been presented despite us asking the client for proof of a second loan on July 25th at 1:36 pm PST time, 2:45 pm PST and again at 3:25pm PST time. We did not take out a second loan in the client’s name, nor do we have the capability to do so. There is no record of a second loan anywhere.



      On a Zoom meeting on 7/1/23, the client agreed to paying $5998 for our services and opted to take out a pay later loan with interest in order to make smaller monthly payments. The client verbally agreed twice to understanding they were taking out a loan with interest and then signed a clear written agreement agreeing that they were taking out a loan with interest. The agreement is below as exhibit 1.



      Please see Section 4 of the agreement that specifically states “Customer understands that any loan they agree to has a balance and has interest as indicated by the third-party financing company. Customer agrees that they are responsible for reading and understanding the third-party financing company’s separate terms and conditions, truth-in-lending and other disclosures.” As a PhD, the client was extremely aware of what they were doing and the transaction was completed on the clients own computer.



      Importantly, the client is only now mentioning correspondence that she received on 7/13/23 on 7/25/23, a full 12 days after receiving that correspondence which does not show a second loan. Any concerns or questions this client has had have been answered quickly and correctly. She met privately with a private PhD mentor on 7/3/23 and again on 7/10/23. We have been very responsive by emailing the client on 7/2/23 to schedule their next meeting, replying by email on 7/3/23 to a question the client had same day, replying by email 7/10/23 the next business day to a question the client asked the night before, replying to questions immediately and several times on 7/25/23. This is in addition to other correspondence by messaging applications with our mentors.



      In Section 3 of the agreement under Service Fee, there was a single typo where the price was documented as $4998, not the agreed upon $5998. Once identified, we immediately resolved this by refunding the client $1,000, even though the client agreed to paying $5998.



      Please further see exhibit 2 of the client receiving help via Voxer and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which the client gained immediate access to. Finally see exhibit 3 of the Client receiving 1 on 1 mentorship on multiple occasions.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services they offer and will continue to help this client in her transition journey.

      Best regards,
      Rayanne

      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/28/2023



      Complaint: 20374137



      I am rejecting this response because: Cheeky Scientist is not being truthful about the loan raised for $1000 more than quoted to me by phone, on their website, and in their contract. Their responses were merely quite cheeky until I raised the BBB complaint. They have reimbursed the a***** of over charge to the lender fortunately. But only after I posted the BBB complaint. 

      They might provide a valuable service, but they seriously need to re-evaluate clear communication in the on-boarding process, letting people read the full contract (rather leaving them with the impression their signature was lifted and placed on a longer contract), and signing up people for loans without asking if they even need a loan. It does not appear they are willing to address this issue in their business contracting and would prefer to blame their customers. 

      I have provided proof of the 2nd loan attempt that was fortunately not approved. The lender is still investigating how this occurred.

       

      Business Response

      Date: 08/01/2023

      7/31/23

      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: 20374137


      Dear Better Business Bureau,


      Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Importantly, Ms. ***** has continued to work with us and receive services. You’ll see in Exhibit 1 below that just today, July 31st, 2023, she reached out for resume help and received it, and is continuing to meet with our mentors.



      We would like to reiterate and add to our previous response in that Ms. *****, on a Zoom meeting on 7/1/23, agreed to paying $5998 for our services and opted to take out a pay later loan with interest in order to make smaller monthly payments. The client verbally agreed twice to understanding they were taking out a loan with interest and then signed a clear written agreement agreeing that they were taking out a loan with interest. Ms. ***** was given a contract with a single typo in the service price. The service price had our old price of $4998. Once discovered, we refunded the $1,000 difference even though the agreed on transaction price was $5998.


      We continue to strongly deny these accusations and no evidence has been presented despite us asking the client for proof of a second loan on July 25th at 1:36 pm PST time, 2:45 pm PST and again at 3:25pm PST time. We did not take out a second loan in the client’s name, nor do we have the capability to do so. There is no record of a second loan anywhere. Ms. ***** has not provided anything new here.



      Please see exhibit 2 Section 4 of the agreement that specifically states “Customer understands that any loan they agree to has a balance and has interest as indicated by the third-party financing company. Customer agrees that they are responsible for reading and understanding the third-party financing company’s separate terms and conditions, truth-in-lending and other disclosures.” As a PhD, the client was aware of what they were doing and the transaction was completed on the clients own computer.



      Importantly, the client is only now mentioning correspondence that she received on 7/13/23 on 7/25/23, a full 12 days after receiving that correspondence which does not show a second loan. Any concerns or questions this client has had have been answered quickly and correctly. She met privately with a private PhD mentor on 7/3/23 and again on 7/10/23. We have been very responsive by emailing the client on 7/2/23 to schedule their next meeting, replying by email on 7/3/23 to a question the client had same day, replying by email 7/10/23 the next business day to a question the client asked the night before, replying to questions immediately and several times on 7/25/23. This is in addition to other correspondence by messaging applications with our mentors.



      Finally, please see exhibit 3 of the client receiving help via Voxer and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which the client gained immediate access to. Finally see exhibit 4 of the Client receiving 1 on 1 mentorship on multiple occasions.


      As mentioned at the beginning of this letter, Ms. ***** has continued to reach out and ask for more help and advice. This has continued up to and including today. Please again see exhibit 1 of Ms. ***** receiving service on 7/31/23 after her complaints.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services they offer and will continue to help this client in her transition journey.

      Best regards,
      Rayanne

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/01/2023

      I agree to disagree with Cheeky Scientist that their contracting was transparent. 

      I reached out to Cheeky Scientist to let them know that I provided the resume they assisted with to a recruiter, who asked me for a different version. As they did not like the  functional format.

      I provided the version I had before getting career services from Cheeky, and the recruiter told me the version I had before was perfect. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/02/2023



      Complaint: 20374137



      I am rejecting this response because:

      I agree to disagree with Cheeky Scientist that their contracting was transparent. 

      I reached out to Cheeky Scientist to let them know that I provided the resume they assisted with to a recruiter, who asked me for a different version. As they did not like the  functional format.

      I provided the version I had before getting career services from Cheeky, and the recruiter told me the version I had before was perfect.





      Sincerely,



      ****** *** *****
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/03/2023

      Type:Sales and Advertising 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.
      Cheeky Scientist markets itself as a platform that offers Ph.D. graduates access to training and resources to secure better job opportunities. However, my personal encounter with this company revealed a disconcerting reality that I believe the public should be aware of.
      First and foremost, I must emphasize the aggressive sales tactics employed by Cheeky Scientist. They make use of psychological strategies to pressure individuals into joining their programs. One particular example is their pricing strategy, where they initially offer a lifetime membership for a staggering $5,000 but later drop the price to $3,000, creating a false sense of urgency and the illusion of a special deal.
      Once you become a member, the overwhelming barrage of emails. It is virtually impossible to keep up with the demands and expectations set by the organization. This level of intensity and the lack of adequate support and guidance is not only disheartening but also counterproductive to the very purpose for which individuals seek their services. The payment process employed by Cheeky Scientist is highly deceptive. They coerce individuals into using Affirm, a loan company, to make the payment. However, what they fail to disclose is that by using Affirm, customers are subjected to exorbitant interest rates of 24%. This lack of transparency is not only unfair but also exploitative. I requested a change in the payment method to my credit card. It was at this point that I encountered what I can only describe as scam behavior. The contract I received did not reflect the agreements and assurances provided during our initial conversation. This discrepancy raises serious concerns about the integrity and honesty of Cheeky Scientist as an organization.
      In light of my experience, I strongly caution the public against engaging with Cheeky Scientist. Their practices are questionable, their sales tactics are manipulative, and their services do not align with the promises they make.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/08/2023

      7/5/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ****** *******. It is important to note that we refunded Ms. ******* within 24 hours of her purchase. Please see Exhibit 1 below.
      It’s also important to note that Ms. ******* was provided with our Terms & Conditions prior to purchasing, which includes a lender disclosure that specifically states: “Customer understands that any loan they agree to has a balance and has interest as indicated by the third-party financing company." Please see Exhibits 2 and 3.
      Further, Ms. ******* was given a complete contract detailing these Terms & Conditions, including again the same lender disclosure and the same language detailing that there is interest. Please see Exhibits 4 and 5.
      Additionally, Ms. ******* verbally agreed to understanding there was interest for the financing options she was choosing. Finally, as you’ll see in Exhibit 6, Ms. ******* carefully chose the 3rd payment option with interest that was given to her and displayed to her on her own computer screen. She opted against choosing the first no interest option.
      As mentioned, we escalated this right away and actively refunded her within 24 hours, as the Exhibits below show. We have done everything we can do ensure Ms. ******* was fully informed and to resolve this prior to her submitting this complaint.

      Respectfully,
      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********



      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/16/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because:

      Refund was processed by Afirm just because I told them it was a fraudulent charge not authorized. They had no intention of refunding me. I told them I preferred to pay with a cc and they rejected. 

      This business works hard to collect sufficient evidence to make their cases legal, but the way they operate is unethical. 

      They deleted some messages I sent them through linked in to make it seem like I was in agreement to keep working with them.

      Once you pay they bombard you with +20 emails of information (some that is already public on their website) so they are able to claim they provided their services.

      They say they can refund you in a year if you didnt find the job you like but they have alot of loopholes in the contract that does not benefit the costumers. 


      Sincerely,



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

      Business Response

      Date: 07/27/2023

      7/27/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID* ********

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ****** *******. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have reiterated our response in detail below.
      Cheeky Scientist has overwhelming evidence that Ms. ******* made her purchase knowingly with full disclosures, Cheeky Scientist still in an effort to show good faith, refunded Ms. ******* in less than 24 hours since it was clear she was not a good fit for the program. The complaint here is a mischaracterization. Please see exhibit 1 of the proof of refund within 24 hours that clearly shows the refund marked and clearly shows it was given by Cheeky Scientist.

      The choice to refund was solely our choice and we initiated the refund on July 1, 2023 given the client's unwillingness to work with us and continued mischaracterizations. There is clear evidence of this client reaching out to us, filling out an application requesting a call, and accessing our materials. We continue to hope the client gets into the career they want.

      Prior to purchasing, Ms. ******* agreed to the Product's terms and conditions. Section 9 & 10 of the terms & conditions explain that there are no cancellations or refunds prior to 12 months. Section 1 shows the product has already been provided to Ms. *******. Section 6 outlines that Ms. ******* agreed to participate in the program. Please see Exhibit 2 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.
      Further, Ms. ******* agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming she understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations. Third, by signing that she understood our terms in writing.  Specifically she agreed to #4 in the terms and conditions which is the lender disclosure. Please See exhibit 3 of the lender disclosure.

      Ms. ******* requested the call with Cheeky Scientist team members. She was reached out to by the team, agreed immediately and filled out an application to qualify to get on a call. Please see exhibit 4 of Ms. *******’ application to get on a call.

      Ms. ******* was not put under pressure and could have closed her laptop or left the call anytime - the call she requested. As a PhD, it is clear that she is able to make decisions on her own and that she is responsible for any agreement she entered into freely.
      Please see exhibit 5 of the confirmations we slowly and carefully reviewed with Ms. *******, and her confirmations in return, which she gave us when she entered the program. She was fully aware of the cancellation policy and the interest on her purchase.

      Please further see exhibit 6 of Ms. ******* receiving help via Voxer and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which Ms. ******* gained immediate access to.

      Further, when Ms. ******* joined the program using a third party payment processor she confirmed that she had used that processor, which includes interest, before with other purchases. Thus she knew above and beyond her confirmations the terms of her purchase. It is also worth noting that she was provided with a 0% interest option by the 3rd party processor which she chose not to take in order to spread her payments out. Interest was discussed in detail prior to her purchase. Please see exhibit 7 of the options that Ms. ******* viewed on her own screen and chose between.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services they offer and wishes Ms. ******* the best in her future career endeavors.


      Respectfully,
      Rayanne Hoopes
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      5097200258























      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/27/2023



      Complaint: 20266041



      I am rejecting this response because:

      I want to this complaint to be public so costumers know what they are getting into. They have all the evidence collected to protect themselves from the law but these types of complaints keep happening to this business. Even-though they have all evidence to protect themselves, how come they are so detailed and they are so prepared with them? They know whats is coming because it keeps happening to them. At the end they might be legal but they are shady. And they did not authorize a refund, i submitted a fraudulent claim to the loan company.



      Sincerely,



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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/30/2023

      Type:Sales and Advertising 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 father have recurrence cancer and I have same health issue. I went to India for my medical condition. I signed up for Cheeky Scientist on June 2nd, 2023, after return from my home country. I was exhausted and anxious about my family at the time. One of the Cheeky scientists (Kyle) used very strong sales tactics to guide me to sign up for a Affirm loan (although I do not know about it), and I did not know the interest rate or ability to pay because I felt nauseous and had hallucinations. Now because of this loan me and my family is going through a very stressful situation. With this loan I cannot support my father’s treatment. I want Cheeky Scientist to release me from the contract and cancel the loan, please.
      Time line:
      Signed up with cheeky scientist: June 2nd, 2023
      Introductory call: June 4th, 2023.
      Loan confirmed from Affirm: June 5th, 2023. Amount PURCHASE TOTAL: $4,998.00, TOTAL INTEREST (20.01% APR) $1,690.00, TOTAL OF PAYMENTS $6,688.00
      Dispute with Affirm: June 5th 2023

      Business Response

      Date: 07/13/2023

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ******* ******. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below.

      We have been in discussion with Mr. ****** extensively with emails exchanged on 6/5/23, 6/7/23, 6/9/23, 6/12/23, 6/16/23, 6/16/23, 6/20/23, 6/24/23, 6/26/23, 6/27/23, 6/29/23. At no time in these exchanges did Mr. ****** bring up the personal situation that he has mentioned in his compliant here.

      Importantly, we have offered Mr. ****** a partial refund despite is access and use of the program as detailed below. To date, he has refused the refund. Further, Mr. ****** signed a lender disclosure, which is discussed and shown below. Finally, the lender reviewed the transaction details and determined that Mr. ****** made the transaction knowingly and the terms were clear.

      Prior to purchasing, Mr. ****** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions. Section 7 & 8 of the terms & conditions explain that there are no cancellations or refunds prior to 12 months. Section 1 shows the product has already been provided to Mr. ******. Section 2 outlines that Mr. ****** agreed to participate in the program. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.

      Further, Mr. ****** agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming he understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations. Third, by signing that he understood our terms in writing. Specifically, he agreed to #4 in the terms and conditions which is the lender disclosure. Please See exhibit 2 of signed contract and exhibit 3 of the lender disclosure.

      Mr. ****** requested the call with Cheeky Scientist team members. He was reached out to by the team, agreed immediately and filled out an application to qualify to get on a call. Please see exhibit 4 of Mr. ******’ application to get on a call.

      Please further see exhibit 5 of Mr. ****** receiving help via and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which Mr. ****** gained immediate access to.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. ****** through his job search.

      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/14/2023



      Complaint: ********



      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      I would like to thank your organization for giving us
      a nice platform to complain about our cases.

      I have carefully read the Cheeky Scientist responses.
      I disagree with their responses because I have never applied for or signed any
      loan. Cheeky scientists trick me, and they have put this burden on my
      shoulders.



      Sincerely,



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

      Business Response

      Date: 07/27/2023

      7/27/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********


      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ******* ******. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have reiterated our response in detail below.

      We have been in discussion with Mr. ****** extensively with emails exchanged on 6/5/23, 6/7/23, 6/9/23, 6/12/23, 6/16/23, 6/16/23, 6/20/23, 6/24/23, 6/26/23, 6/27/23, 6/29/23.

      Importantly, we have offered Mr. ****** a partial refund despite is access and use of the program as detailed below. To date, he has refused the refund. Further, Mr. ****** signed a lender disclosure, which is discussed and shown below. Finally, the lender reviewed the transaction details and determined that Mr. ****** made the transaction knowingly and the terms were clear.

      Prior to purchasing, Mr. ****** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions as well as all lending disclosures. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.

      Further, Mr. ****** agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming he understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations and that he understood he loan payments. Third, by signing that he understood our terms in writing. Specifically, he agreed to #4 in the terms and conditions which is the lender disclosure. Please See exhibit 2 of signed contract and exhibit 3 of the lender disclosure.

      Mr. ****** requested the call with Cheeky Scientist team members. He was reached out to by the team, agreed immediately and filled out an application to qualify to get on a call. Please see exhibit 4 of Mr. ******’ application to get on a call.

      Please further see exhibit 5 of Mr. ****** receiving help via and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which Mr. ****** gained immediate access to.

      Please see exhibit 6 of Mr. ****** receiving 1 on 1 mentorship on 6/3/23.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. ****** through his job search.

      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********




      Customer Answer

      Date: 07/27/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I have carefully read the Cheeky Scientist responses. I am rejecting this response because because I have never applied for or signed any loan.
      Cheeky scientists trick me, and they have put this burden on my shoulders.

      Sincerely,

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



      Business Response

      Date: 08/03/2023

      8/3/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********


      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Cheeky Scientist is invested in making sure to address all of Mr. ****** concerns. He has received extensive help in this program. It is important to note that Mr. ****** has had two major points in his communication the first is that he has family obligations. To address this first point:

      We have been in discussion with Mr. ****** extensively with emails exchanged on 6/5/23, 6/7/23, 6/9/23, 6/12/23, 6/16/23, 6/16/23, 6/20/23, 6/24/23, 6/26/23, 6/27/23, 6/29/23. He has never brought up these obligations before.

      We have offered Mr. ****** a partial refund despite his access and use of the program as detailed below. To date, he has refused the refund. This was offered in good faith despite being outside the general terms and conditions Mr. ****** agreed to in order to address any hardship he may be facing.

      The second point Mr. ****** has brought up is questions about his payment plan. To address this second point:

      Mr. ****** signed a lender disclosure, which is discussed and shown below. The third party lender reviewed the transaction details and determined that Mr. ****** made the transaction knowingly and the terms were clear.

      Prior to purchasing, Mr. ****** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions as well as all lending disclosures. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.

      Further, Mr. ****** agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming he understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations and that he understood he loan payments. Third, by signing that he understood our terms in writing. Specifically, he agreed to #4 in the terms and conditions which is the lender disclosure. Please See exhibit 2 of signed contract and exhibit 3 of the lender disclosure.

      After this, Mr. ****** continued to use the product he purchased. Please see exhibit 4 of Mr. ****** receiving help via and participating in the PhD forum including engaging in the forum over 50 times and visiting multiple days as well at the dashboard which Mr. ****** gained immediate access to which includes his log ins multiple times to access the content.

      Please further see exhibit 5 of Mr. ****** receiving 1 on 1 mentorship on 6/3/23.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. ****** through his job search.

      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********





      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/04/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I have carefully read the Cheeky Scientist responses. I am
      rejecting these responses.
      From day one I have raised the issue that I have never
      applied or signed any loan, but no one try to resolve this issue. Again, I am
      saying the same things “I have never applied for or signed any loan. Cheeky
      scientists trick me, and they have put this burden on my shoulders”. But the loan
      is resolved by affirm.
      With due respect I am saying again “Cheeky scientist trick
      me, and they have put me and my family in this situation”

      Sincerely,

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

      Business Response

      Date: 08/16/2023

      8/15/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********


      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for your opportunity to respond. Cheeky Scientist is invested in making sure to address all of Mr. ******’ concerns. 
      First, Mr. ****** used the program extensively and we have video recordings of him on one-on-one mentorship meetings having his resume rewritten and receiving doctor level guidance on his job search before making any claims. Second, we strongly disagree with Ms. ******’ claim that he was unaware that he chose to take a loan and have substantial documentation that he knowingly signed up for a pay as you go loan.

      In terms of the loan, Mr. ****** signed a lender disclosure, which is discussed and shown below. The third party lender reviewed the transaction details and determined that Mr. ****** took out the loan knowingly on his own device and that the terms were made clear to him.

      Prior to purchasing, Mr. ****** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions as well as all lending disclosures. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.

      Further, Mr. ****** agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming he understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations and that he understood he had loan payments with interest. Third, by signing that he understood our terms in writing. Specifically, he agreed to Section 4 in the terms and conditions which clearly states:
      Lender Disclosure. Customer agrees to and understands that Company is not a bank, lender or financing company of any kind. Company encourages Customer to do their own research and due diligence into choosing the best financing option for any purchase of Company’s services. Customer understands that any loan they agree to has a balance and has interest as indicated by the third-party financing company. Customer agrees that they are responsible for reading and understanding the third-party financing company’s separate terms and conditions, truth-in-lending and other disclosures. Company has no affiliation with Affirm, PayPal or any other lender, nor does Affirm, PayPal or any other lender authorize any Company solicitation.
      On top of this, Mr. ****** was provided the following disclaimer at the very top of the agreement he signed:

      **DISCLAIMER** We are a career coaching and mentoring provider only and do not provide or promise employment placement, work assignments, job opportunities, or act in any way as an employment agency. Our services are designed to guide and assist you with building your résumé, enhancing your career opportunities, and seeking work or positions within your area of specialty. We do not guarantee or promise any specific position and do not receive any payment or reimbursement from your eventual employer, agency, or professional association which may retain your services. No verbal or written promise or guarantee of any job or employment is made or implied under the terms of this contract. A career consulting firm does not guarantee actual job placement as one of its services.
      Examples of people who have successfully transitioned should not be considered typical and there is never a guarantee of results. By using this product or any related materials you agree to take full responsibility for your own results, or lack thereof.
      We are not a bank, lender or financing company of any kind. We encourage you to do your own research and due diligence into choosing the best financing option for any purchase of our services.
      Please See exhibit 2 of signed contract and exhibit 3 of the lender disclosure and disclaimer.

      After this, Mr. ****** continued to use the product he purchased. Please see exhibit 4 of Mr. ****** receiving help via and participating in the PhD forum including engaging in the forum over 50 times and visiting multiple days as well at the dashboard which Mr. ****** gained immediate access to which includes his logins multiple times to access the content.

      Please further see exhibit 5 of Mr. ****** receiving 1 on 1 mentorship on 6/3/23.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. ****** through his job search.

      Respectfully,

      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 08/16/2023

      Complaint: ********

      I am rejecting this response because: From day one I have raised the issue that I have never applied or signed any loan, but no one try to resolve this issue. Again, I am saying the same things “I have never
      applied for or signed any loan. Cheeky scientists trick me, and they have put this burden on my shoulders”. But the loan is resolved by affirm.
      With all due respect I am saying again and again “Cheeky scientist trick me, and they have put me and my family in this situation”






      Sincerely,



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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/14/2023

      Type:Order 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.
      Cheeky Scientist receipt [#1461-9328]I have been following up regarding my paid amount for membershp and for training, since after that i never joined and asked for refund and talked many times in email, I was lured by the CEO on his marketing campaign that he will take me as phd student on the day before I paid. I paid almost 500 dollars and instantly realized that wasnt the product suitable for me...sent email ..however i never received responses and attempted to complain to concerned department. i am not sure why they are still not respondinng to the email, i have responded my emailf rom another email address ************************* , however that email is not working because i am no longer student, i am looking forward to hear from them long time pelase, seems they doing scam by not responding the message since then. you can check the email I have sent i have spoken sunshine their assistant some times as well...but they never reply to my concerns


      i have spoken to other groups as well

      Business Response

      Date: 06/30/2023

      6/27/23


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ******** 

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ***** *****. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below.
      Mr. ***** ***** purchased his program for a one-time payment of $298 over 2 years and 3 months ago. He purchased a do-it-yourself program of modules to work through at his own pace and he received instant access to all modules, videos, workbooks, templates, and proprietary information instantly.
      Further, Mr. ***** ***** agreed to the terms of the program prior to purchase which include no refunds.
      Mr. ***** ***** has reached out for support multiple times and been answered each time by our support team each time. He was responded to by our support member Vino privately and responded to via email 8/6/21 6/16/23. We are happy to continue to provide any support to Mr. ***** ***** may need as he works through the programs he purchased.

      Please see exhibit 1 purchase terms Mr. ***** ***** agreed to prior to purchase which are clearly displayed on the FAQ page.

      Please further see exhibit 2 the dashboard which Mr. ***** ***** gained immediate access to.

      Respectfully,
      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:05/16/2023

      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 signed up to receive employment services from Cheeky Scientist on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The purchase amount was $4,998.00 in the form of a loan at 15.99% APR administered by Affirm. I cancelled my subscription on Friday, May 5, 2023, and do not receive any services from the merchant since then. The merchant insists that the subscription cannot be cancelled and demands payments for the services not rendered.

      Cheeky Scientist is a fraudulent enterprise. They deceive, overpromise, and persuade prospective clients into signing up with them, but in fact do not provide any meaningful services. They flood clients with generalized information and are unable to consider client’s specific circumstances and goals. Most importantly, Cheeky Scientist insists that “all sales are final” and “does not offer exchanges or refunds.”

      Business Response

      Date: 05/29/2023

      5/28/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ********* ***********. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below.

      Prior to purchasing, Mr. *********** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions. Section 9 & 10 of the terms & conditions explain that there are no cancellations or refunds prior to 12 months. Section 1 shows the product has already been provided to Mr. ***********. Section 6 outlines that Mr. *********** agrees to participate in the program. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.
      Further, Mr. *********** agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming he understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations. Third, by signing that he understood our terms in writing.

      Mr. *********** requested the call with Cheeky Scientist team members. He was reached out to by the team, agreed immediately and filled out an application to qualify to get on a call. Please see exhibit 2 of Mr. ***********’s application to get on a call.

      Mr. *********** was not put under pressure and could have closed his laptop or left the call anytime - the call he requested. As a PhD, it is clear that he is able to make decisions on his own and that he is responsible for any agreement he entered into freely.
      Please see exhibit 3 of the confirmations we slowly and carefully reviewed with Mr. ***********, and his confirmations in return, which he gave us when he entered the program. He was fully aware of the cancellation policy.

      Please further see exhibit 4 of Mr. *********** receiving help via Voxer and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which Mr. *********** gained immediate access to.

      Further Mr. *********** joined the program on 4/12/23, then received extensive and productive help in his job search, including meetings with our team. Additionally, Mr. *********** received extensive help in one-on-one sessions with our mentor on 4/13, 4/18, and 4/26. Mr. *********** was very aggressive with our staff members to the point of yelling at them multiple times. Still, our team handled this professionally and continued to work with him per our terms. Now, he is refusing help altogether. As stated in Section 6 of our Terms & Conditions, engagement is a crucial part of the process.

      Cheeky Scientist has also reached out to Mr. *********** multiple times to offer a 100% refund in good faith in an attempt to reconcile. However, Mr. *********** has refused to respond.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. *********** through his job search.

      Respectfully,
      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/25/2023

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      ResolvedMore 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 6/23/2023, Cheeky Scientist deceptively lured me into a loan via their program. They did not lay out the terms explicitly. I also asked for a refund the same day. They continued processing an Affirm loan that I have requested them to cancel. I am currently working with Affirm for a refund. By looking at the other complaints, you can tell that I am not alone in facing this issue and this is something Cheeky Scientist is known for.

      Business Response

      Date: 05/10/2023

      5/9/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of Patrick ***. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below.

      Prior to purchasing, Mr. *** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions. Section 9 & 10 of the terms & conditions explain that there are no cancellations or refunds prior to 12 months. Section 1 shows the product has already been provided to Mr. ***. Section 6 outlines that Mr. *** agrees to participate in the program. Please see Exhibit 1 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.
      Further, Mr. *** agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming he understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations. Third, by signing that he understood our terms in writing.

      Mr. *** requested the call with Cheeky Scientist team members. He was reached out to by the team, agreed immediately and filled out an application to qualify to get on a call. Please see exhibit 2 of Mr. ***’s application to get on a call.

      Mr. *** was not put under pressure and could have closed his laptop or left the call anytime - the call he requested. As a PhD, it is clear that he is able to make decisions on his own and that he is responsible for any agreement he entered into freely.

      Please see exhibit 3 of the confirmations we slowly and carefully reviewed with Mr. ***, and his confirmations in return, which he gave us when he entered the program. He was fully aware of the cancellation policy.

      Please further see exhibit 4 of Mr. *** receiving help via Voxer and participating in the PhD forum as well at the dashboard which Mr. *** gained immediate access to.

      Cheeky Scientist has also reached out to Mr. *** multiple times to offer a 50% refund in good faith in an attempt to reconcile. However, Mr. *** refuses.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. *** through his job search.

      Respectfully,
      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 05/10/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because:
      None of their exhibits demonstrate that they properly laid out the loan terms. Even in exhibit 3, it is clear that I was not provided the full details of the affirm loan terms. Furthermore, the document I signed did not contain the $4998 clause that Exhibit 1 has. Perhaps they used my signature on the welcome letter and put fraudulently put it on their Exhibit 1 agreement. This is fabricated evidence. 

      Also, Florida has a 3 day recission period and I clearly expressed my desire for a full refund. By not providing me with this full refund, Cheeky Scientist is explicitly violating law. The law is above any contract.



      Sincerely,



      ******* ***
    • Initial Complaint

      Date:04/13/2023

      Type:Order 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 agreed to purchase Cheeky Scientist services approximately two months ago. Cheeky scientist promises to help Phd or PhD candidates transition from academia to industry. In my case, the Vice President who I spoke with on a Sunday, promised that Cheeky Scientist could help me network to get a better job, because I am already well established in both academia and industry. The first call/meeting with Cheeky Scientist had me worried. They have a very high pressure sales pitch approach to getting someone to sign up. Ryan, the Vice President who I spoke with, kept insisting that I speak to my wife because I informed him that I would not make a large financial decision without her. I told him that I would contact him the next day. He said that there may not be 'seats' left and said he would wait on the phone so I could speak to her. I felt taken advantage that I fell for that high pressured, "I will wait on the phone while you go talk to your wife, or this deal will pass!" sales pitch. I said no to the first several prices for their services, but then made a mistake by agreeing to their services for a lesser amount..

      When I verbally agreed, out of nowhere their 'assistant' appeared on the video call, ready to 'process' my payment,. They walked me through on video to ensure I was approved for the amount of money and to set up payments. The past several weeks, the CEO and VP have been avoiding my attempts to contact them. In fact, their names have disappeared from a app for their communication called Voxer. Besides the scam-like high pressured call, they are not delivering on what we agreed and promised. In the past I have had several meetings with the CEO and other Cheeky Scientist employees, all were fast paced (like an infomercial) and impersonal, like a pyramid scheme. Cheeky Scientist has not fulfilled their promises to help me network and get promoted, is not attempting to resolve the issue, they over promised and under delivered, and I would like a full refund.

      Business Response

      Date: 04/28/2023

      4/26/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ******* ******. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below.

      Mr. ****** requested the meeting with Cheeky Scientist team members and was provided the online meeting he requested. Please see exhibit 1 of Mr. ******’s application requesting to get on a meeting with our team.

      Mr. ****** was not put under pressure and could have closed his laptop or left the meeting anytime - the meeting he requested. As a highly intelligent PhD, it is clear that he is able to make decisions on his own and that he is responsible for any agreement he enters into freely.
      In his own statement, Mr. ****** confirms that he was provided a discount. He requested this discount and we accommodated. He also requested to speak to his wife, which of course we accommodated as well, further showing he had all the time he needed to make a decision. After conferring with his wife, he decided to move forward. Again, this was an online meeting and could be ended at any time.
      The program Mr. ****** purchased includes private, one-on-one mentoring with a highly trained PhD mentor. We only have so many PhD mentors to accommodate such training and our seats with these mentors are extremely limited. As such, screening of each potential mentor is required, hence the application we provide for these meetings. Please see exhibit 2 of Mr. ****** receiving support via Voxer, participating in the private forum and the dashboard that he got immediate access to upon joining. Mr. ****** has also by his own admission had several meetings with the team to work on his transition. Finally he engaged with 119 different posts in our members only forum.
      Mr. ****** has been offered to continue getting help in the program by getting on his upcoming one on one meeting with a Cheeky Scientist PhD mentors so they can move onto networking and connecting him to industry professionals, but he is refusing. Cheeky Scientist cannot vouch for and connect Mr. ****** to industry professionals in his field of choice if he is not willing to be taught how to do so professionally. Please see exhibit 3 of Mr. ****** being offered meetings.

      Cheeky Scientist has also reached out to Mr. ****** multiple times to offer a 50% refund in good faith in an attempt to reconcile even though we have no legal obligation to do so. However, Mr. ****** has refused. Up until this point, he’s been unwilling to negotiate any reconciliation in good faith. We hope this changes.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. ****** through his job search.

      Respectfully,
      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 04/28/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because:



      Sincerely,



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

      Customer Answer

      Date: 04/28/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because:

      While some of the aspects of
      what Cheeky Scientist are true, several parts are exaggerated or
      misrepresented. Cheeky Scientist was very high-pressured sales, and they
      recorded the video for review. I joined Cheeky Scientist for networking, and
      there is virtually zero networking. I have had no 1:1 mentor to date, although
      after I filed my complaint with the BBB, Rayanne emailed me and offered to
      established a 1:1 meeting between myself and someone. The CEO, Isaiah ******
      and Ryan, the VP I spoke to when joining Cheeky Scientist, have been
      unresponsive to my LinkedIn message(s), as have another member of the Cheeky
      Scientist staff. Many of the sent emails from Cheeky Scientist from named people
      have 'no-reply' in the email, so it makes it very difficult to contact anyone.
      Both Isaiah and Ryan are no longer on Voxer, or I was unable to find them,
      although when I first joined Cheeky Scientist I found and messaged Isaiah.

      I do not want a partial refund; I would like a full refund. Cheeky
      Scientist over promised on networking and underdelivered. I do not need resume
      templates or coaching that can be found for free on the internet or YouTube, I
      joined Cheeky Scientist to network as Ryan promised on the call, and they have
      greatly underperformed in that regard.



      Sincerely,



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

      Business Response

      Date: 05/12/2023

      5/10/2023


      RE: The Cheeky Scientist, LLC
      ID: ********

      Dear Better Business Bureau,

      Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the complaint of ******* ******. We take the responsibility to respond seriously and have responded in detail below and included additional facts considering Mr. ******s’ response.

      Mr. ****** requested the meeting with Cheeky Scientist team members and was provided the online meeting he requested. Please see exhibit 1 of Mr. ******’s application requesting to get on a meeting with our team.

      Mr. ****** was not put under pressure and could have closed his laptop or left the meeting anytime - the meeting he requested. As a highly intelligent PhD, it is clear that he is able to make decisions on his own and that he is responsible for any agreement he enters into freely.

      In his own statement, Mr. ****** confirms that he was provided a discount. He requested this discount and we accommodated. He also requested to speak to his wife, which of course we accommodated as well, further showing he had all the time he needed to make a decision. After conferring with his wife, he decided to move forward. Again, this was an online meeting and could be ended at any time.
      The program Mr. ****** purchased includes private, one-on-one mentoring with a highly trained PhD mentor. We only have so many PhD mentors to accommodate such training and our seats with these mentors are extremely limited. As such, screening of each potential mentor is required, hence the application we provide for these meetings. Please see exhibit 2 of Mr. ****** receiving support via Voxer, participating in the private forum and the dashboard that he got immediate access to upon joining. Mr. ****** has also by his own admission had several meetings with the team to work on his transition on February 13, 2023 and March 9th, 2023. Finally he engaged with 119 different posts in our members only forum.

      Mr. ****** has been offered to continue getting help in the program by getting on his upcoming one on one meeting with a Cheeky Scientist PhD mentors so they can move onto networking and connecting him to industry professionals, but he is refusing. Cheeky Scientist cannot vouch for and connect Mr. ****** to industry professionals in his field of choice if he is not willing to be taught how to do so professionally. Please see exhibit 3 of Mr. ****** being offered meetings.

      Prior to purchasing, Mr. ****** agreed to the Product's terms and conditions. Section 9 & 10 of the terms & conditions explain that there are no cancellations or refunds prior to 12 months. Section 1 shows the product has already been provided to Mr. ******. Section 6 outlines that Mr. ****** agrees to participate in the program. Please see Exhibit 4 of the terms and conditions which are also on the Cheeky Scientist website.
      Further, Mr. ****** agreed to the terms of the program in 3 ways. First, by opt-ing into the Product terms and conditions prior to purchasing, which, as mentioned, are also easily accessible publicly on our website. Second, by verbally confirming he understood key provisions in these terms, including that there were no cancellations. Third, by signing that he understood our terms in writing.

      We regret that Mr. ****** has had difficulty using his Voxer app though all members he has named are available there at any time. Please see again exhibit 2 of Mr. ****** actively receiving support there.

      Cheeky Scientist has also reached out to Mr. ****** multiple times to offer a 50% refund in good faith in an attempt to reconcile even though we have no legal obligation to do so. However, Mr. ****** has refused. Up until this point, he’s been unwilling to negotiate any reconciliation in good faith. We hope this changes.

      Cheeky Scientist is proud of the services that it provides and is here to support Mr. ****** through his job search.

      Respectfully,
      Rayanne ******
      COO
      Cheeky Scientist
      **********

      Customer Answer

      Date: 05/15/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because Cheeky Scientist has not and is not providing the services Ryan promised on the call. Cheeky Scientist continues to regurgitate its same talking points: that I signed the contract, could have closed my laptop, or other such tripe. Yes, I signed the contract under great pressure. I am sorry that I did so and sorry that I was duped by their high pressured sales tactics. However, the essence of the matter is that Cheeky Scientist did not, is not, and can not deliver on their services because their networking is practically nonexistent excepting for random emails of what I can only conclude are other victims who were also deceived by the high pressured sales tactics.No, I do not want continued 'services' from Cheeky Scientist, because they have nothing of value to offer except extremely fact-paced 'meetings' that are more akin to fast-talking infomercials than actual meetings to help people.

      As to the 119 emails that I have purportedly interacted, that is false. While I may have scrolled past 119 emails (or chat threads), looking for something of use (of which I found nothing), I have only written and/or interacted with approximately five emails (more chat room threads, or whatever they label it) by my account. As with their deceptive, high pressured sales tactics, Cheeky Scientist appears to not be opposed to misrepresenting data or events to bolster whatever position it seems to hold. A position that over promises its services by a very large degree and under delivers by an even greater degree; a company that is recalcitrant to refund customers when their services are exposed as being grossly inadequate as to what was promised during the very high pressured sales call. I do not want a partial refund, I want a full refund and will not agree to anything less than a full refund. Yes, I legally signed the contract, but Cheeky Scientist confuses legality with morality, and they are undoubtedly two separate issues. Cheeky Scientist seems to purposefully equate sales calls that are high pressured and deceptive as both legal and moral, when the latter is bereft.



      Sincerely,



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

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/21/2023

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      ResolvedMore 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 writing to let you know that I was deceived by Isaiah ******* CEO of Cheeky Scientists into signing this loan. He made me believe that I could cancel this agreement within a month of free trial period. This aggressive and predatory marketing strategy is targeted at taking advantage of people looking for employment. And I do not think this is the best way to make money from the business.

      Please I need help to cancel this fraudulent loan as I was made to do this under duress. The trial period ends today and I want out of the program/loan. I do not believe anyone should be forced to take a loan.

      Thank you!

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

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