@Jennifer11 there is an website name france bussines law form there I will submit a complaint to the University he said like that and about the payment method there is 2 ways of paying to the international university like swift and draft it depends on how your university accept the payment like I payed from the swift so I don’t think that my bank can to anything.
I can see a Business and Legal forum in France but I’m not sure it’s the same type of forum as us.
Please let us know how you get on.
1 Like
I wonder if using a lawyer just to get a registered letter and legal threat out there, might be enough to worry them into doing the right thing. I understand that pursuing it further may not be financially possible, but they wouldn’t know that, and sometimes an intimidating legal letter is enough.
A better idea is to group together with everybody you know who’s been affected and send a formal mise en demeure (demand for payment) as a collective. You don’t necessarily need a lawyer for that.
From what I could see the president of this private company did have two other businesses that went insolvent., and has been president of Aura since 2021.
2 Likes
Unfortunately this institution appears to be a scam, that rips off prospective foreign students, who are insufficiently informed about the higher education system. It is not a university, it is just a private college, effectively a private company offering so-called qualifications that are not validated and are therefore worthless.
Many of its online five star reviews look very suspicious as they lack any detail.
Unfortunately the other side of the coin which enables scams like these is that there are people who just want a student visa to France as the first step to residence and eventually European citizenship. They have no interest in actually learning anything, and taking the learning back to their home country.
2 Likes
So true!
Furthermore, having glanced a bit more at this college, I see they also offer an MBA and after a bit of digging I discovered that effectively anyone can offer a course leading to this qualification - without it being externally validated! All that’s required is a structure that corresponds to certain European academic credit standards, but there’s no requirement for a Quality Assurance system. However there’s plenty of business people who are prepared to shell out for a seemingly prestigious qualification and I suspect this course is a legit, steady money earner for Aurora.
Aura seems to have a network of ‘agents’ in southern Asia who also appear to offer visa services. I hope this link works.
Daren/Darren’s LinkedIn profile says he was at Warwick Business School. I haven’t found any information on that.
It probably doesn’t mean much, but Google Street View of the address shows a commercial building of multiple occupancy. The type that has many smaller offices in it. OK, that might work for a business running on-line services, but it is not any sort of University Campus.
One of the complaints has been that the school is being run from office blocks.
OK, thanks.
There are a huge number of companies using that address.
Could it be serviced offices or does France do the same as the UK and let companies use their accountants’ address?
1 Like
Back 40 years ago when I was involved in recruiting I found the inclusion of an MBA on a persons CV very useful. They went straight in the waste bin - saved a lot of time!
4 Likes
I imagine you have heard of Dr Hettie Goldacre? . What's wrong with Gillian McKeith | Ben Goldacre | The Guardian
You mean people couldn’t suss McKeith was a snake oil vendor from 30 seconds of her flapping her gums?
If you couldn’t, I know a Nigerian Prince who really needs your help.
1 Like
That’s a blast from the past! Surely she is not still going?
Was she the poo woman?
2 Likes
The Poo Whisperer, The Plop Philosopher or The Duchess Of Dung.
Turns out her main knowledge regarding colons was how to talk out of hers.
2 Likes
Did you follow exactly the procedure, as outlined in the post by janejones?
In France it is very important to follow each step of all official procedures. This includes both any step required in the contract you have with whoever you paid, and also the official steps to pursue this as a matter of consumer rights in France.
This is true, no matter how serious or special your case is.
If you do not follow correct steps then the French system to help you won’t work.
Also these people you are dealing with will be difficult to obtain a result from I suspect. It would appear to me personally, from the number of different people posting, that it’s possible it’s a deliberate fraud. I hope not, but you must follow all steps correctly
1 Like