Home > Investigations > Business Computer Training Institute Student Fraud Class Action
Business Computer Training Institute
January 14 2008
A class action lawsuit has been filed against the vocational school for allegedly defrauding students. The lawsuit was filed in Pierce County Superior Court on behalf of Oregon students alleging the Business Computer Training Institute (BCTI) falsely promised prospective students it would train them for high paying professional careers. The suit alleges the school recruited vulnerable people outside welfare and unemployment offices, and enrolled students who could barely read and write.
The class action alleges BCTI graduated students regardless of academic performance and left many with student loan debts. Instead of high paying jobs, many graduates wound up working at department stores, fast food restaurants or telemarketing firms. BCTI provided computer training and had seven campuses in Washington and Oregon when it closed in 2005.
The school's owners recently settled a similar lawsuit filed on behalf of BCTI students in Washington state. More than 1,300 students received a share of the $13.25 million settlement.
Business Computer Training Institute Legal Help
If you have suffered damages in this fraud case, please fill in our form on the right to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
I went to this school in Everett, WA, and I graduated and had a student loan. I paid it off, and I did manage to get into the casino, but at first it was hard to get a job and compared to most people they seemed to do right by me. I was in the restaurant industry with no way out, and I did manage to get out and I love being on the computer. They taught many basics. I think that's why so many people had issues because it was basic stuff. It wasn't about teaching one trade and everything about it. They taught several basic things, and if you wanted to pursue the trade further you had to go to a better school. I knew absolutely nothing about this lawsuit, and this was years ago. I do remember when I was at the school, and it seemed like the students they were letting in were not qualified to be there, and some of them acted like they were back in high school wanting to start fights. That was ridiculous. So yes in that instance there was definitely something wrong. During the second module the teacher walked out because of the students constant bickering and complaining about the course. I didn't get the best career, but at least I was able to get out of restaurants, but they should have worked on teaching full trades.
Posted by jeffrey zeitler
on
Those of us who paid off the loan. I would suggest to federal student aid and look at the borrower defense to repayment application. In 2007 I called the law office and they who was doing the lawsuit. They told me I was too late and that the money ran out. They paid those who applied for the settlement. I recently found out about this borrower defense to repayment application and when I read the article it said something about defrauding students. I graduated there in 2000 in Tukwila and have nothing to show. I paid off the loan painstakingly. Now I hope that I can get repaid back by the Federal Student aid.
Posted by Mary G
on
I graduated the Tacoma Campus in 2000 and was then hired in the marketing office as the admin asst. I never knew it turned out this bad for so many people! I worked for them until we moved overseas in 2003 (military fam). I paid the direct loan off around 2008, but one day the BCTI loan balance mysteriously disappeared...didn't realize there had been a lawsuit!
Posted by Crystal Campbell (Steward)
on
I attended bcti in vancouver wa when it closed. Took me a very long time to repay the student loans that I took out to even attend. And because wasn't but almost 5 months of the 9 didnt receive diploma/certificate. Was huge waste of my time and money. that debt followed me for yrs, wound up working gas station, bars for yrs.
Posted by Willie Ross
on
I went to BCTI in Tacoma, WA in 1996. I'm a veteran and I joined the Army with hopes of getting a college education. Well at least being able to use my $25,000 GI bill. I really believed that the $7,000 course would be taken from the $25,000 which would've been fair. They lied and actually had a my name on wall of graduates saying the got me a job. The truth is I found the job through Volt Temp Services.. Processing fingerprints lol.. After several years of paying, defaulting, paying, collections, deferments, harassing letters, Multiple Repayment programs where i had to pay $500 to $700 for six months faithfully!! Then the programs just stop.. Then they have to do a reassessment and get all my financial information and tell me im not qualified.. Now its 2020 and i have a large family Wife & 8 kids that I work hard for!! MY ENTIRE TAX REFUND WAS TAKEN!! $7,000.00 to pay down the $26,000 debt.. WTF??
So I served my country for this?? Thanks Dept. Of Missed-Education!
Where can I join the next wave of this lawsuit?????
Posted by Trenton Mullen
on
I went to BCTI back in 1988 to 1989, I could not get a job, in the field I, went to school for, in the contract it stated you would be able to attend the school, for additional training, and then they started to garnish my check and IRS, checks until it was paid off, I just found out they had a class action suit against them, where is my money, you were paid!! You were able to find people when you wanted to garnish checks so you can find them to return money.....wow what a scam!!!
Posted by William Allen Carsley
on
I attended BCTI in the early 90’s,
I’m still being charged for a loan that I shouldn’t have had! I was homeless at the time and no high school diploma, I was rushed through the process and having less than a high school education, I couldn’t read and understand what I was doing!
Posted by William Allen Carsley
on
I attended BCTI in the early 90’s,
I’m still being charged for a loan that I shouldn’t have had!
Posted by Felicia
on
I submitted a request for assistance regarding loan discharge, deleted or paid in full. So many people were no longer living in Washinton state when the lawsuit was filed. Something has to be done so the rest of us can have some resolve, at least have this bogus school loan removed from our credit reports.
I was a stay at home mom and my husband was stationed at McChord AFB, we then moved to Germany and then Florida. I would have never known about this if it wasn't for doing a google search.
Posted by Dara
on
I attended BCTI back in Feb 1997. I took computer classes while I was in high school in class of 94. While at BCTI, I kept hoping they might teach me something different, I don't know about office duties. I got some new recipes because we had a lot of pot lucks every other week. No office jobs I tried applying for years elsewhere.
IRS had information that I went to BCTI and took 2 courses office $2500 and truck driving course $7k. When did BCTI teach truck driving courses? This is the reason I'm trying to fight this. I'm 4'11" female. My brothers are truck drivers. I am not?!
I work at Walmart stocker in Oct 2015. On June 2019 now they're garnishing my wages. IRS garnished 2 of my refunds $900 my prior job and $500 was last years return. I am happy where I am working but I want the garnishments and refunds to stop being taken away.
Posted by Joe'l Herd
on
Was looking for a career in writing code. I was told had to start with word,excel etc. Big scam nothing close no job after and was not aloud back like promised
Posted by angela n anderson
on
Does anyone know who to contact about this class action suit with BCTI? I attended in 1995 and I'm still paying on this ridiculous loan. This school was a absolute fraud!
Posted by Shannyn
on
Did Any of you fill out the form up above eoth your story. Maybe if everyone complains we can sue them again for app our loans to be dismissed. I know they're could be a Statue of limitations.. We should ban together.
I was told that everyone's debts would be relieved when they won. I thought mine was gone until about 3 years ago and they started garnishing my damn check. 20 years later!! ????????????????
I sent in my story. Right above where the comments begin there's a little tiny link to fill out..
Posted by jesse jones
on
I too went to that worthless school Vancouver campus.i still have loans in default.that place pushedme right through there system . graduated me or said i passed when i had to move to oregon i apparently didnt need the last month of classes. My credit has been screwed for years .... Really hate bcti...if there is a class action i want in .....
Posted by LeAnn Slagle
on
I attended BCTI right after I turned 18, about 20 years ago. I was a single mom with no GED, and hopes at having some type of future for me and my children. I was on state assistance at the rime and struggled as most familys do at times. I attended the Vancouver, Washington campus. I went for Office Automation. Half way through the class I was told I was being suspended until I either have proof of a GED, or can get it, in the next 7 days. They knew from the beginning that I did not have it. So, needless to say I wasn't able to go back. Id like in on this class action settlement. Also, today Ive been trying to get my transcrips off of parchment.com, as Ill be attending college again, but cannot even get those. Does anyone know how to get them?
Posted by Lisa Sartor
on
I went to BCTI in 1994-1995 with the hopes of learning a trade and then land a good paying job. It cost me 10,000.00 and with interest at 7%. It was a complete waste of time and ruined my credit and never found a job that they promised I would find after graduating. I still have the debt on my record and it has tripled in price because of the interest and not being able to keep up on payments. HELP!!!
Posted by Lekisha Moore
on
I went during the 1999/2001 at the Tacoma location. I am trying to be relieved from the debt with this fraudulent school. There was a lot of talk during the 2001 school year of a lawsuit or of many suits being filled. I did receive a small compensation in 2006 from the class-action. Currently, I am going through borrowerdischarge.ed.gov to see about dismissing the debt with them.
Posted by Elizabeth J Bermea
on
I went to BCTI on 7 of 1999, and graduated on 2/2000. I payed off BCTI already. The class did not teach me anything I didn't learn anything for a job. They taught me the basics on type. I have been struggling to get a job. Everywhere I apply, they tell me, that I don't have the qualifications for the job. To me going to BCTI was a waste of my time and money
I still can't get over it of how the made me go into dept. Thank god I already paid them off. That was a relief. That money could've gone towards a car or an important bill.
It how is 2018 and I still don't have a job that I can say- that BCTI helped me acquire it. I clean houses. WOW.
Posted by Tamara Adams Guthrie
on
I graduated from BCTI in 1989 with a certificate in computer training and medical terminology. I left the school with an 8k student loan and no after graduating resources as promised. I am still paying for this loan which I do not believe I actually received all of the funds. I was a single mother with a small child and a part time job at the time I enrolled in the school. I feel I was mislead and am paying a debt to which I did not actually receive all of the funds borrowed. Is it to late to get involved in the class action suit?
Posted by jamal swann
on
I went to bcti Tukwila and basically walked thru the classes and was given answer just to pass I learned nothing. but I owe almost 21,000 dollars . they did not help me get a job or anything else what they did was killed my credit I went there from 99 to 01 . this needs to be forgive or knocked down and I heard a few years back that some students had been forgiven well I was late to the party because I did not get the invite
Posted by Danyell Zavodsky
on
It was such a waste of 10000 dollars. Took me ten years to pay off debt. I was young and didn't understand that I could learn these skills from a book. It never helped me get a job. They had commercials on the local cable. Seemed like a interesting trade school when I was 18. I don't even like putting it on my resume as "education".
Is it too late to file?
Posted by Jamie Cotten
on
I completed both non-college accredited "Business Computer Training Institute" (BCTI) courses from 1999-2001- the "Office Automation/Integrated Computer Application" course (basically a glorified intro. to MS Office/Biz. Ltr. Writing & Typing class) and their AIS- Advanced Information Systems course which was supposed to prepare the student for I.T. industry certifications like A+ and Network+.
In the end I got stuck with two Dept. Of Ed. loans of $14,125 Each- with horrendous interest accrued. Still paying off on the loans almost 20 years later and saddled with over $30,000 in Debt! With such debt accrued for minimal educational training and zero job placement help as promised, at the least- the certification tests costs should have been included in the school's program$ and all loan debt from attending BCTI should be forgiven.
Posted by Sandy Delaney
on
I went to BCTI in April of 1996 and graduate in November 1996 in Tukwila WA and I have to pay 31 thousand back I would like to know how can I get on this law suit . I knew nothing about it, Please some one tell me hew to do this
Posted by Nicole
on
I went to BCTI also and never heard of this lawsuit. Is it too late to be apart of it. Why wasn't all the students involved in this?
Posted by Gail
on
I went to BCTI in Fife, WA in 96/97. I didnt know of any lawsuit until now. How do I become part of it? I am pissed that none of the courses I took were reported the the Department of Education. Only how many credits I got. I paid well over my original loan amout due to defaulting many times. I received threats from collectors and so on. I hope the owners had a damn good time on lavish trips and fancy boats on my dime! I should vet wvery penny back I paid since not ine damn thing from that schhol meams sh*t now!
Posted by Joan Wanser
on
They said I didnt have to pay back my loans. That all my financial aid was just that aide. Because I was on assistance with a toddler at the time. Then took my tax return the first three years I used my certificate that I earned at the school for medical billing really upset about it all these years
Posted by Robert Johnson
on
I graduated 1998....I got a job and was paying on my loan then 3 years later the economy was going bad...first software industry...then Real Estate....Then everything in General...couldnt get a job..then I was blessed...I have had 1 good position and 2 at a company i wouldn't dream of attending but i did...
But the day in 2012 that OBAMA passed a Law to garnish our wages for this LOAN was HORRIBLE...
It is paid in FULL now...but I will be starting school again this fall. crazy isn't it.
Posted by DebbieE
on
My son ended BTCT an I thought this was behind me. Now the government's just garnishment on my pay for 15%.. Can you help me lift this garnishment.. Thank You.
Posted by JennJoan
on
My husband and I both attended BCTI in 96/97. He finished and couldn't get a job in the computer field and so we had to pay the full loan of over $6500. Meanwhile, I had found I was pregnant when we first started and about halfway through my pregnancy became high risk, I went into pre-term labor in the class room. I was put on strict bed rest for the rest of my pregnancy and could not finish. I was told by BCTI that I could come back and finish after having my baby with no consequence. I had my son and returned to finish the schooling. I was then told that in the 3 months I had been gone they had changed a bunch of things and that I now had to completely start over and would have to pay the original full grant for not completing the original training. So I did not finish the schooling, we paid off some of the debt and still 21 years later still have this debt that we can't pay down. We've deferred a million times.
Well, now I want to return to school for an RN degree. I can't qualify for financial aid because of this previous loan I did not know there was a class action/lawsuit back in the early 2000's. No one contacted us, otherwise we would have participated to make sure at least my loan could be dismissed or paid and get the wasted money back we already paid on this bogus school.
Is it too late to benefit from any of the lawsuits?
Posted by Charles Burns
on
I attended BCTI in 1986/87 and paid off my school loan of approximately $5,000.00. I graduated with a keyboarding certificate, medical terminology certificate as well as computing skills degree. I couldn't find work so I got a job working in Gai's Bakery. Later I landed a job with Northwest Administrators. Am I too late to get in on this lawsuit?
Posted by Michael John Turpin
on
I attended bcti and thought this was behind me. Now the government's just pot a garnishment on my pay for 15% I work hard at a lumber yard because I couldn't get into the computer field from there training and now don't know what to do. I heard there was a class action lawsuit after the fact. Am I screwed for this $26000 that there now taking?
Posted by Lindsey Cole
on
If anyone finds out more about another class action lawsuit or the loan forgiveness for fraudulent schools please contact me! Missed the original class action suit 10 years ago and still have loans from BCTI.
Posted by wesley clay
on
i went to BCTI 11/99 gradutated in 6/2000 i had fun there learn stuff but never got me a good paying job like they promised. after there went to job corps and started to work at jack in the box because its the only job i can get i want more information for this loan forgivness and and that class action lawsuite i lived in portland oregon but went to the vancouver washington site please email me the information
Posted by Brook
on
My husband and I both went to this school. the recruiters were outside the unemployment office. They made it sound so good. Promising us both jobs that were high in demand. Neither one of us have had a job in the computer field and it has been many years ago. I am working minimum wage jobs and have to keep deferring our loans. I had no idea about the lawsuit that was back in the early 2000's or I would have done this then. It is ruining our credit cause we can't afford to pay it back. Is there anything we can do?
Posted by Tomas Canary
on
I have proof that I attended and graduated BCTI, But I have not yet been able to get in on this lawsuit. What should I do?
Posted by Phillip j Mc Alasister
on
please call me for help on this case.
Posted by Lewellen Landon
on
I to was promised many things that I never received. High paying jobs with microsoft. Job placement that never happened. I was a student there in 2000. The skills they taught there didn't even qualify me for a hotel job. I struggled to pay off the loans which are now paid in full and I'm still working at a low paying job. I went to bcti with the promise of a better future for my daughter who I was pregnant with for the whole 7 and a half months. I paid my loans and have nothing to show for it now. I would also like more info in how I can deal with this and all the false promises and money and time I am out.
Posted by misty
on
I went to BCTI what a con they promise me job but in stead I got a loan. Then I found out that I'm mentally challenge and they took anvange of me years later I worked at a fast food resteraunt
Posted by Amy Hooper
on
I went to BCTI and graduated in May of 2001. I struggled for well over a year to find a job upon graduation and by no means did I secure a high paying job and have never been able to pay off my student loans. I want more information in the settlement.
Posted by Upi A
on
19 years old I went to BCTI and I'm still stuck paying a student loan. I remember going to my first interview and they told me "You have the qualifications, but just lack the experience" and it was down hill from there. What did BCTI say, keep trying, smh. They never help land me a high job that they promised. I want in on this Loan Forgiveness from this BS school. I'm glad they closed down. Destroying peoples lives.
Posted by Muhammad Diyyar
on
I also went to BCTI in 98..to put it simply..i am still paying the loan..destry my whole life.
Posted by B L
on
In January 2002, I was solicited by people with flyers to meet with a BCTI enrollment specialist in Fife, WA. I was 19, just graduated high school, a new mom and wife, and wanted to gain better computer skills in able to get a good paying professional career. I was told it was a better deal than community college/graduate college because of their shorter programs and cost less money. I wasn't explained that I could've dropped out within a week if I didn't want to continue. The class was pressured from instructors to make a good testimony for the school. I can't say that I didn't learn anything, and I did get a part time minimum wage job at a non-profit organization a few months after completing Phase 1 in July 2002, and got an unaccredited certificate that is worthless, I don't mention I went here on resumes or job applications. Most of the people I encountered at BCTI clearly shouldn't have been enrolled or teaching there. They were either homeless, mentally ill, creeps, very low income, and naiive suckers like me. My private loans have been paid off a long time ago, I'm still on a income based repayment plan with my federal loan. It was extremely hard to support my family while posting those off. The government loans are still on my credit report. I'm going to try to get it forgiven, since the "school" if now defunct and closed. I don't think it's fair to all the former students to pay because we were all deceived into thinking this was a great school that offered great education in a competing labor market. I never received any notification about a lawsuit until reading about it years later after it was settled. Please, I would like more information about any upcoming lawsuits for bcti.
Posted by Richard Rasmussen
on
I graduated BCTI in 2001. It did not help me at all with my computer skills. I was unable to get a job during the time that I went there and after the time I received my certification of completion. I applied at many different places and they refuse to hire me. Employers laugh when you tell them that you went to BCTI. I struggled and paid the full tuition but I feel that I was ripped off.
Posted by Katie
on
Went to BCTI in 1996. I was 19 yrs old had no idea about anything especially how loans work, or the seriousness of how the Federal Government can screw you for life! So they suckered me in I didn't have a GED at the time and said it ok just get it later. I quit after a couple months and they kept trying to get me to come back then just mailed me a certificate saying I graduated?? Stuck with the bill and have been trying to fight USDoE since. I not getting anywhere with them either. Didn't even know about the class action either so I am screwed out of that too. If the government thinks I am paying for this then keep trying cause it's not gonna happen. $13,000 later and keeping my income tax still nothing resolved. Can't go back to a real school so I am stuck.
Posted by Sarah K. Calloway
on
First of all.... Why haven't I heard anything about the BCTI law suit??? Anyway, I went to BCTI back in the early 2000's..... and had to get a student loan for 10,000.00 for this school...... Which is NOW paid off in full.... ( lots of stress involved in paying this off). I remember them( the teacher and staff) to bring a deck of cards when I went to school, because if the computers were down (which they were quite a bit) we could all sit around and play cards..... Kinda strange but I bought some cards.....I can't tell you the exact date, but I went to class that particular day, and the doors were locked and NO ONE was there..... NO warning or anything.... Lots of us stood around wondering..... Now What..... What do we do know? I and my Mom was soooo frustrated about this waste of money we both had to pay for the student loan... And nothing ever became of it..... So since it didn't work out for our class, Now what can I do to try and get All that money back from this obnoxious group that ran BCTI.... If anything..... Thank You, Sarah Calloway, went to BCTI in Vancouver, Washington
Posted by Dustin McMaster
on
I attended King of Prussia Computertraining.com. I was lied to and went through 3 instructors. Evrything they promised was false.
Posted by hannah Dipaula
on
I would like more info as I attended bcti
Posted by William R.
on
I was approached by a gentleman telling me about BCTI, I decided to attended. When you walk in they have a lot of pictures on the wall of people who graduated and got jobs, so I decided to join. I wanted to do the technical part (learn how to build computers) but they told me I needed to learn how to work Microsoft office first. I started and it seem like a great place to be, everyone was so friendly and helpful at first. I struggled at 10 key and the typing test and they always assigned another student to help me. I wasn’t getting much help from the instructor. and the results was me not finishing tests in time causing me to fail, so I stop going. They called and asked me what was going on, I told them how I felt and what I wasn’t getting eventually going back. The curriculum was so fast and it was hard to take in with all the programs they had you trying to learn.
I found out about the class action lawsuit on a Friday before the lawsuit. By this time, I had nothing stating I went to BCTI and I wasn’t close to the county it was held in. Plus I had a fulltime job and I could not just give late notice that I wasn’t going to be there Monday.
Long story short, I’m stuck with a loan and education nothing but a complete waste of time and no job, in debt, and stress. I can’t get a loan to go back to school because this shows up as defaulted. Nonstop phone calls from the debit collector, and no income tax return for over 15 years. Please help me.
Posted by Erin Swift
on
I went to BCTI GRADUATING IN 1992. I was targeted outside of a welfare office. I was desperate to be off welfare, making me a good target. Their job placement got me a job that was doomed to fail. I was let go after three weeks. The company wouldn't show me the mistakes they said I was making or how to fix them making it an inevitable failure. After that I tried to utilize the job placement again only to be told I was no longer eligible for their help. After working a couple temporary jobs I was hired at a convenience store and fuel station at a wage of $5.00 an hour. I couldn't even meet my own needs with a wage that low let alone make student loan payments but I believe that was minimum wage at the time. I stayed in retail for the most part since graduating and now I'm on Social Security Disability on a fixed income of less than $750.00 a month and in low income housing.
Having a student loan debt has haunted me every day of my life after graduating BCTI effectively keeping me from being able to further my education in a dagree program at a community college because my student loan debt shows up on my credit report also causing a low credit rating, so in my view BCTI damaged any chance for improving my credit score or my financial health.
Posted by Deborah
on
I graduated from BCTI in July of 2000 and I didn't not get any help from BCTI nor did I find a job. I asked to utilize their facility as it stated in the contract to find a job but was told I could not as i was no longer a student. I have to pay for the loan that I didn't not get full benefit from, this is crazy to me. What can I do if anything?
Posted by wesley clay
on
i want to BCTI november 99 graduated june 2000 was not able to find a job anywhere i ended up going to job corp graduated there still wasnt able to find a job till 03
Posted by Washington
on
When I graduated I couldn't obtain any job in that field, and later when I wanted to go back for further training, they told me no. Even though it was in the contract that I could go back any time I wanted, free of charge.
Add Your Comment on This Issue
Request Legal Help
Please complete this form to request a review of your complaint by an attorney.
There is absolutely no cost to you to submit this form. Doing so places you under no obligations and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.
