“If it was really that good, nobody would share it.”

Bought a course from a YouTube “guru”? Get your money back.

Free tools and step-by-step guides for buyers of misleading money-making courses and coaching programs in the U.S. and Canada: refund requests, credit-card chargebacks, FTC and Competition Bureau reports, and small claims.

Free tools

Refund & reporting guides

All 8 guides →
MANUAL #01Pre-Purchase Vetting
⏱ 6 min read
12 Questions Before Buying a YouTube Course
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

Before You Buy a YouTube Money-Making Course: 12 Questions to Ask

Check earnings claims, hidden subscription fees, student testimonials, affiliate kickbacks, and strict refund terms before buying high-ticket coaching programs.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

Verify registered business identity, independent median results, and written refund clauses before transferring funds.

MANUAL #02First Steps & Evidence
⏱ 5 min read
Course Feels Like a Scam? 5 Steps to Take First
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

Paid for a Creator Course That Feels Like a Scam? Take These 5 Steps First

What to do immediately after buying a misleading course: preserve digital proof, request a formal refund, notify your payment provider, and file regulatory reports.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

Build a two-column evidence log comparing sales promises against delivered access, and demand a written refund immediately.

MANUAL #03Refunds & Denials
⏱ 7 min read
“You Didn’t Do the Work” Refund Denials, Tested
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

“You Didn’t Do the Work, So No Refund”: How to Test a Coaching Program’s Terms

Did a creator deny your refund claiming you missed assignments, community check-ins, or milestones? How to challenge hidden terms against initial sales promises.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

Compare pre-purchase pitch with post-purchase restrictions; uncommunicated conditional refund hurdles cannot override material misrepresentation.

MANUAL #04Card Chargebacks
⏱ 6 min read
Credit-Card Dispute for an Online Course
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

How to Dispute a Credit-Card Charge for an Online Course in the U.S. or Canada

Step-by-step credit card dispute blueprint under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA 15 U.S.C. § 1666): meeting the 60-day notice rule and assembling the dispute packet.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

File formal written billing error notice within 60 days of the statement date documenting breach of promised services.

MANUAL #05Refunds & Denials
⏱ 5 min read
Watched Part of a Course? Your Refund Options
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

Watched Part of an Online Course: Can You Still Get a Refund?

Does watching 10% or a few introductory modules void your statutory or contract refund rights? Assessing failure of consideration and substantial non-performance.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

Watching initial videos does not forfeit refund rights if the core promised mentoring, proprietary tools, or materials were never delivered.

MANUAL #06Small Claims & Vanishing
⏱ 5 min read
Course Creator Disappeared? What to Do Now
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

Course Creator Disappeared After Payment? What to Do Before Evidence Vanishes

What to do when an influencer or guru deletes their channel, Discord, or portal right after launching a cohort. Fast evidence preservation and payment provider remedies.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

Archive domain whois data, payment processor descriptor receipts, and submit non-delivery claims directly to card networks.

MANUAL #07Small Claims & Vanishing
⏱ 6 min read
Course Refund Denied? When Small Claims Fits
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

Refund Denied After a Creator Course? When to Consider Small Claims

When both the merchant and card issuer decline relief: evaluating jurisdictional limits, demand letters, filing fees, and enforcement feasibility across states and provinces.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

Serve a formal pre-litigation demand letter with itemized exhibits before filing in your local jurisdiction's small claims division.

MANUAL #08Public Reviews
⏱ 5 min read
Posting a Negative Course Review Safely
FTC & FCBA PROTOCOL

Can You Post a Negative Review of a Creator Course? Facts, Proof and Privacy

How to warn other consumers online without triggering defamation lawsuits, SLAPP threats, or non-disparagement clause penalties. Protected truthful speech principles.

[ KEY PROTOCOL ]

Rely exclusively on provable timestamps and verbatim quotes; U.S. Consumer Review Fairness Act voids form contract gag clauses.