Reply from Clinical Match MeFeb 10, 2022
Thank you for the feedback; we really appreciate it and we're genuinely sorry that you feel slighted. While we're disappointed in the 1-star review, the issue you point out may actually be helpful to future students, so we're glad to have the opportunity to address it here.
Unlike most of our competitors, we don't charge any up-front fees, nor any subscription fees. We only get paid after we've successfully matched a student and the student has accepted the match, which is exactly what happened with you. You hired us to do a job, we did the job, you paid, then you later decided to switch specialties, so you no longer needed the placement. Unfortunately, by that time we'd already completed our work and earned our fee.
Our refund policy is very clear about this scenario. It's written in plain English, and published on our website. It also appears in standard-sized print (not "fine print" as you put it), in the simple one-page agreement you signed. The policy states that once we've matched you, and you've accepted the match, it's non-refundable. Your choice to not attend the practicum doesn't change the fact that we already did the work of placing you. There are specific exceptions, such as if your school rejects the preceptor, or if the preceptor cancels. In those cases, we're glad to issue a refund, because it means we didn't do our job. However, if you arbitrarily decide you no longer want the placement, due to some personal or professional reason, it's non-refundable. And no, most preceptors would not sacrifice their own professional reputation by canceling a rotation, to help a student get around our refund policy. When a preceptor cancels without just cause, we consider that unprofessional and would likely not send more students to that preceptor, so there's no "loophole" as you put it.
Although the placement is non-refundable, it doesn't necessarily mean you've lost your money. We always offer the option to reschedule a canceled placement for a future date. There's no cost to reschedule if it's more than 90 days in advance of your original state date. Once you're within 90 days of your start date, you can reschedule for a 25% fee. We understand from your response that you're currently unable to use this credit. However, we're expanding into offering many new products and services to healthcare workers, so perhaps you'll be able to use it in the future. We'll be glad to apply the full value of the credit toward any future purchase.