TEFL Online Pro Review: My Experience with Misleading Claims, Hostile Threats, and Harassment
As someone who is passionate about lifelong learning I was excited to enroll in a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course with TEFL Online Pro. The company promised that their certificates were internationally recognized, which sounded like the perfect opportunity for me to teach English abroad.
Avoid this logo.
This is the scam review site set up by the owners of TEFL Online Pro to feign legitimacy.
Unfortunately, what followed was a nightmare of misleading claims, hostile customer service, and even threats to my professional reputation. I’m sharing my experience here to warn others about the dangers of TEFL Online Pro and to encourage potential students to do their research before enrolling in any TEFL course.
What Happened: Non-Recognized TEFL Certificate
In September 2024, I paid $147.50 for the 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course through TEFL Online Pro. After completing the course on October 11, I paid an additional $57.00 for the certificate, believing that it would be internationally recognized, as promised by the company.
I quickly learned that their advertising was misleading. As soon as I received my certificate in my email on the 11th, I submitted it to a reputable school for a teaching position I had interviewed for, and they immediately rejected it. The institution informed me that TEFL Online Pro is not recognized as a legitimate provider. This came as a shock, given the company’s strong marketing claims of global acceptance.
Screenshot of rejected TEFL certificate from TEFL Online Pro
TEFL Online Pro’s Hostile Response and Threats
I was shocked and frustrated, because now I needed to pay and take a new TEFL course, which is more time and more money. I needed to request a refund for this certificate since it was not going to be accepted. On October 13th, when I reached out to TEFL Online Pro via PayPal to request a refund, I was met with unprofessional behavior and hostility. Instead of addressing my concerns, they accused me of chargeback fraud after I filed a PayPal dispute to recover my payment. They went as far as to threaten to blacklist me from teaching opportunities and informed me that they would notify their “worldwide education partners” to damage my reputation.
Here’s just one example of the threatening emails I received:
Screenshot of their threats accusing me of fraud and blacklisting.
These types of threats are not only unethical but also damaging. Instead of working with their customers to resolve legitimate concerns, TEFL Online Pro resorts to aggressive tactics to silence anyone who challenges their false claims.
Misleading Accreditation and Fake Reviews
Through my research, I discovered that TEFL Online Pro’s accreditation claims are likely illegitimate. While they claim to be accredited by organizations like ACTEFLC, I couldn’t find any credible information to support this. Their accreditation claims seem to be part of their effort to lend legitimacy to their services.
Worse, I found that TEFL Online Pro operates a fake review site, trustedteflreviews.com, where they post biased, overly positive reviews about their own services. After checking the WHOIS data, I learned that trustedteflreviews.com is registered under the same entity as TEFL Online Pro. This means that any reviews on that site are not independent, which raises serious concerns about their transparency and ethics.
WHOIS data linking trustedteflreviews.com to teflonlinepro.com.
Taking My Experience to Reddit: Warnings to the TEFL Community
As my situation with TEFL Online Pro worsened, I decided to take my story to the Reddit TEFL community. I posted my experience in the r/TEFL subreddit to warn others about the misleading claims and harassment I faced from this company. The support and responses I received from fellow Reddit users were overwhelming, confirming that I’m not alone in this experience.
You can view my full Reddit post here:
My Bad Experience with TEFL Online Pro: Threats and Harassment
In my Reddit post, I outlined the entire situation, from the moment I realized the TEFL certificate was unrecognized, to the hostile threats and false accusations of chargeback fraud. Other users commented that they too had seen similar behavior from TEFL course providers, emphasizing how prevalent these kinds of TEFL scams can be.
Key Points from My Reddit Post
Here are a few points I highlighted in my Reddit post:
1. Unrecognized Certification: Despite their claims of international recognition, TEFL Online Pro’s certificate was rejected by a reputable school.
2. Hostile Customer Service: After requesting a refund, the company escalated the situation by accusing me of fraud and threatening to blacklist me from the TEFL community.
3. Harassment: The company even started leaving threatening comments on my personal blog and claimed they reported me to the police.
4. PayPal Dispute: I pursued a PayPal chargeback after their refusal to refund me for a certificate that was not accepted by employers.
The support from the Reddit TEFL community reaffirmed my decision to share this publicly. It was clear that I wasn’t the first person to encounter this type of behavior from a TEFL course provider, and many users encouraged me to keep pursuing the chargeback and expose TEFL Online Pro for their shady practices.
Why Sharing Your Experience Matters
By sharing my experience on Reddit, I was able to connect with others in the TEFL community who had faced similar issues. If you’ve had a bad experience with a TEFL course or any online service, I strongly recommend posting about it in forums or platforms like Reddit. Not only can this provide support and validation, but it can also serve as a warning to others who may be considering the same provider.
Harassment on My Personal Blog
Unfortunately, the harassment didn’t stop there. After I posted an honest review on Trustpilot and started sharing my experience on my personal blog, Inheriting Italy, TEFL Online Pro began leaving threatening comments on my blog. They sent multiple cease-and-desist letters through my contact form, demanding that I:
Delete all negative reviews about TEFL Online Pro.
Cancel my PayPal chargeback.
Refrain from posting any further content about their company.
They even claimed to have contacted the police near my home in Italy, threatening legal action over what they called “defamation and disinformation.”
Screenshot of cease-and-desist letters from TEFL Online Pro.
Update on TEFL Online Pro’s Escalating Harassment and Legal Threats
In my ongoing situation with TEFL Online Pro, the company has now threatened to file a criminal complaint against me in Italy and claims that they will visit my local police station. They are using these threats as intimidation tactics to force me to remove my honest reviews of their service and cancel my PayPal chargeback.
In their most recent email, TEFL Online Pro has falsely claimed that I may lose my residence if convicted of a crime (which I have not committed). These escalating threats are an attempt to silence me for speaking out about their unrecognized TEFL certificate, false advertising, and harassment.
Screenshot of email recieved from TEFL Online Pro after submitting a comment form to the Polizia di Stato.
I have documented every interaction. I urge anyone considering TEFL Online Pro to thoroughly research the company and read about my experience. Stay tuned for further updates as I continue to pursue legal action to defend myself against these baseless threats.
Thank you to everyone for your support. It is vital to speak out and hold companies like this accountable.
TEFL Online Pro’s False Claims About Residency Cancellation: Know Your Rights as an Italian Citizen
As part of their intimidation tactics, TEFL Online Pro has gone as far as to falsely claim that my residency in Italy could be canceled due to a criminal complaint they supposedly plan to file. These threats are not only baseless but also a clear attempt to scare me into silence. Here’s what you need to know about residency rights in Italy, especially as a citizen:
Can an Italian Citizen’s Residency Be Canceled?
The simple answer is no—your residency cannot be canceled simply because someone files a complaint against you. As an Italian citizen, I have an inalienable right to live in Italy. The concept of “canceling residency” typically applies to foreigners or non-citizens who may have violated immigration laws or committed serious criminal offenses. In my case, as a dual citizen of Italy, my residency is protected by Italian law.
Key Points to Remember About Residency and Citizenship:
Italian Citizenship Rights
Citizenship grants the right to live, work, and reside in Italy without restrictions. No company or individual can threaten to revoke this right simply because of a consumer dispute or a refund request.
Threats about residency cancellation are invalid in the context of this situation, as requesting a refund for a bogus TEFL certificate is a consumer rights issue, not a criminal one.
Residency Cancellation for Foreigners
Residency cancellation is something that generally applies to foreign nationals under certain circumstances, such as overstaying a visa or being involved in serious criminal activity. Even in those cases, there are legal procedures that must be followed. In my situation, since I am an Italian citizen, residency cancellation is not relevant.
Is Requesting a Refund a Criminal Offense?
Requesting a refund is not a criminal offense, no matter how TEFL Online Pro tries to frame it. In fact, under EU and Italian consumer protection laws, you are entitled to a refund if the product or service you received was misrepresented, faulty, or not as described.
Understanding Consumer Rights in Italy and the EU:
EU Consumer Rights:
The European Union has strict consumer protection laws, and requesting a refund for a bogus product like a TEFL certificate that isn’t recognized is well within your rights.
In cases where the product is not fit for purpose, as in my case where the certificate was rejected by a reputable school, consumers have the right to seek a refund.
Chargeback and Fraud:
Chargeback fraud typically refers to instances where a consumer falsely claims that a transaction was unauthorized. However, in my case, I am requesting a refund because TEFL Online Pro did not deliver the service they advertised.
Seeking a chargeback via PayPal or any other legitimate financial service is a legal consumer right and not fraud, despite their false accusations.
Why These Threats Are Empty
TEFL Online Pro is leveraging fear and misinformation to deter me from pursuing a refund and speaking out about my experience. However, their claims about residency cancellation and criminal charges are completely unsubstantiated.
Here’s why:
Asking for a refund is a civil matter, not a criminal one. There is no law in Italy or the EU that makes it a crime to request a refund for a product that does not meet expectations or standards.
Residency cannot be revoked for a simple consumer dispute. My rights as an Italian citizen protect me from any such claims.
The only result of filing a frivolous criminal complaint against me will likely be that the authorities dismiss it after investigation, as it clearly lacks merit.
Ongoing Harassment from TEFL Online Pro: Malicious Claims and Slander
Unfortunately, the harassment from TEFL Online Pro has escalated even further. Not only have they refused to refund my money for the unrecognized TEFL certificate, but they have also begun to submit false claims to my blog, attempting to damage my reputation.
Their most recent claim accused me of child abuse—an absolutely baseless and malicious attempt to intimidate me into silence.
These escalating threats are part of a clear pattern of defamation, harassment, and intimidation by TEFL Online Pro. I have documented every single interaction and will be taking appropriate legal action to stop this continued abuse.
What You Can Do to Avoid TEFL Scams
To help others avoid falling into similar traps, here are a few tips for choosing a legitimate TEFL course:
Research the provider’s accreditation: Verify that the TEFL course provider is accredited by a legitimate accrediting body.
Check independent reviews: Look for reviews on trusted, third-party websites like Trustpilot and r/TEFL not on review sites linked to the company.
Contact potential employers: Before enrolling, check with schools or employers to ensure that they recognize the TEFL certificates from the provider.
Conclusion: My PayPal Dispute and Moving Forward
Despite the threats and harassment from TEFL Online Pro, I am standing firm and continuing with my PayPal chargeback. I refuse to be intimidated into silence, and I will continue to share my story to warn others about the risks associated with this company.
If you’ve had a similar experience, I encourage you to speak out, pursue refunds, and hold these companies accountable for their actions. Together, we can ensure that future students are better informed and protected from scams like these.