Institute of Reading DevelopmentReviews of readingprograms.org

This site is horrible. We signed up the last week of May and have not been able to use the site. I've started a chat on their site and they refuse to send me to a live human. I emailed them, again nothing back and the site does not work and hasn't for a number of days now. I had high hopes for this and provided such good reviews here it gave me enough to try it. I've already paid and now I am out the money and will have to dispute the charge to my credit card company. Save your time and money, don't sign up for this site.

Negative review for Reading Developments (Multiple complaints on BBB in the past years of similar experiences) Be aware: disrespectful/rude customer services. Poor quality classes. Kids dislike classes. After first class kids reported poor quality so I called for a refund. The customer service supervisor refused to refund nor to answer whether or not she’s authorized. She kept saying “I’m not prepared to do it”. Then she stopped responding to the phone for 15+ minutes. When she overheard I was calling credit card company she came back to phone telling me she could do partial refund. I told her I do not want partial refund; I want full refund. She hung up on me. A few hours later partial refund was credited to my credit card account without my agreement regardless I told her I did not want partial but I want full refund. Not acceptable how disrespectful/rude their customer service was. Will work with my credit card company for full refund. 11/07/2022 Update review (To reply to ReadingDevelopment.com) Your response further prove your company is worst service. The customer service supervisor refused to take my reason (classes are poor quality), told me that she was “not prepared to refund”, refused to answer me whether or not she was authorized, and stopped responding to my call for 15+ minutes. I told her I was going to record the call, share my experience on social medias, and call my credit card company. She still remained silent until she overheard my credit card company opened the claim, and she partial refunded me regardless I told her I don’t want partial refund; I want full refund. She hang up on me. Your company initially partial refunded. I shared my experience on social medias and BBB. Eventually your company proceeded full refund. Multiple negative BBB reviews of similar nature prove ReadingDevelopment.com failed to refund and poor quality. I’m ready to share my supportive materials. (Are you sure I didn’t mention to the customer service supervisor it’s kids’ second round?) And my kids did report poor quality the first round.

Program was just not for my children. They attended 1 class and I cancelled the program. Company would not offer a refund either.

Very unsatisfied with this program. Zoom didn't work with first Session then the 2nd session no volume no way to communicate. The only thing we got out of this program was some books. Also we already had some of them. All we want is to be reimbursed for the teacher's zoom because its obviously not working out. We have no desire to continue. It's wasting our time and time is precious to us. Tired of excuses would love for this program to make it right and reimburse us for what we didn't receive.

The communication, or lack thereof, from this center is absolutely horrid. I find it incredible that they save face by responding to every review on these types of websites, however, when they are reached out to via email or through their online communication system, regarding a question or any other inquiry, you hear nothing but crickets.

Very disappointed ... especially when you try hard to help your child and customer service is not sympathetic with how you feel . I will never again have my kid in this program. First time was fine but God have mercy if you have a complain... They don't care. Yes they call you to let you know that you received an email letting you know that they will be off and the class is cancelled. OK no problem. When that class which did't take place will take place? Oh, yeah I was reminded that last week children had to read 2 books... and they talked about it. Pretty much they covered they bases. Shame on you! You were quick to take the money but not the responsibilities.

Enrolled due to my daughter's Kindergarten teacher unable to tell the difference between a kid that is just young and immature to understand concepts for her age or a learning disability. Programs like this prey on parent's insecurities. Enrolled and due to situation beyond our control (i.e. active duty Navy parent change of duty station and realization that daughter was just educationally immature for her grade level) decided to withdraw. Apparently timing is the devil in the details of their fine print. No refunds, even after filing a complaint with the BBB, just a credit for something we don't need anymore. Do yourself a favor and take a close look at other programs such as ABCmouse or just work with your child yourself. Trust me, as an adult with a college education, you can figure it out and help your child yourself without the need of outside help from this company. Hopefully the COVID19 pandemic takes this business out because they taking people's money in order to stay afloat.

Waste of $300. I signed my PRE-K son up for the in-person learning, before COVID. He likes school and in-person learning. When COVID hit and in-person shut down, I called and asked about a refund. I was not given that option. I could only apply it towards a future class or take the online class. They have a real scumbag TOS entry on refunds, where you can only get money back within 10 days of paying. What if I book months in advance? In any case, I took the online replacement, which I wasn't thrilled about. And this experience proved it. The instructor, while pleasant and trying, did nothing that I have not or could not do. The interactive lessons are dated. I could have gone to the library, got books, wrote sight words down, and found iPad apps that would have worked, and saved myself $300. 30 minutes of each class was the instructor reading the book of the week (makes sense in person, but does not translate to the Zoom for pre-K). There was nothing pedagogically worthwhile for the online class. Maybe this works well for older students, but Pre-K is a no. I probably won't get anything, but I am going to submit complaints to the BBB and CA DCA.