I’m sharing this because I wish I had understood Varsity Tutors’ membership practices before signing up.

I enrolled over the phone and, based on that sales conversation, was led to believe that unused tutoring credits would accumulate and that I could pause my membership if needed and resume later. Those were important factors in my decision to sign up.

When I tried to pause for a few months over the summer, I learned that this was not the case. I had four unused sessions worth $314 that would expire. I was then offered the option of paying an additional $49/month for six months to extend access to credits I had already paid for.

I explained the situation and kindly asked Varsity Tutors to refund the $314 for my four unused sessions, but they refused. I then asked them to show me when and how these restrictions were disclosed during enrollment, how I had agreed to them, and whether the original sales call could be reviewed. They did not answer those questions. Instead, they directed me to a “Signed Agreements” section in my account that does not appear to exist and said calls may be recorded for internal purposes.

My issue isn’t with the tutors — it’s with the sales and membership practices. I signed up based on what I was led to believe during the sales call, only to discover very different rules when I tried to pause. I’m now out $314 for four unused sessions.

If you’re considering Varsity Tutors, get everything about accumulating credits, expiration, pausing, and cancellation in writing before you pay. Do not rely solely on what you’re told during the sales call.