Beware: Deceitful Payment Practices and Poor Transparency
I'm writing on behalf of my elderly father, who recently had an unfortunate experience with Apex Futures Academy. We believe it's important to share this to help others avoid a similar situation.
After attending an info session, my father made what he thought was a one-time payment of USD $87 for access to the session materials. However, without his full understanding or consent, an additional $900 was automatically charged to his credit card a few days later—bringing the total to $987. He did not intend to enroll in the full course and was completely unaware that this second charge would occur.
There are several red flags we want to highlight:
Lack of Payment Transparency: Nowhere during the info session was it made clear that the course fee was non-refundable or that a second payment would be auto-charged.
No Written Terms and Conditions: There was no formal documentation presented before payment—only a verbal prompt to scan a QR code. This is an unethical and opaque way of handling transactions, especially with older participants.
No Respect for Consumer Protection: Under the Private Education Act in Singapore, students are entitled to a 10-day cooling-off period to withdraw and obtain a refund. My father requested a refund as soon as he realized the charge had been made, but Apex Futures Academy flatly refused. They claimed to have video footage showing they explained the policy—footage that we have never been shown.
Despite our attempts to appeal on compassionate and regulatory grounds, the academy has refused to refund the $900. Their practices border on coercive and feel deliberately structured to extract payment without proper disclosure.
I strongly caution anyone—especially elderly individuals or those unfamiliar with digital payment processes—from engaging with this company without extreme care. Their lack of professionalism and transparency could cost you much more than you expect.