I feel the need to express my disappointment with Becker as well.
I ran into two problems. I can vouch for everything that 75 CPA said. I ordered the 4 part self study with all the bells and whistles, final review, and note cards back in May. I thought I was saving money by purchasing all 4 parts as well as the fact that they offer recent graduate discounts which expired after a certain amount of time. I was feeling good in the sense that they said that you could switch study methods for free one time during your license window. I felt that eventually I would want to do the live in class courses in 2011 for the changes to the test and the fact that I would have more time set aside for class. In class was my preferred method but I was just too busy this year.
I took FAR and BEC in Q3 and failed both. I just couldn't get into the material. During this time I found Another71.com and found that Yeager may be more my type of review. Think college course and less review/memorization course as it was described in many places on this forum. I called Becker to return REG and AUD as they were both brand new and shrink wrapped. Negative, you have a 10 day window from the time you receive your material to return it. I was a little miffed but said ok, I should have researched that first so I just kept studying.
So about a week ago I decided to check into the switching study methods one time for free. I am taking my last test of the year on Nov. 18th and figured I would start to register for the live in class course. Negative, you can not, repeat can not go from self study to any other method of studying. Maybe it was my fault for not clarifying that I intended to switch in January but I thought I was covered under being able to switch for free once. They said that I would have to pay exactly what 75 cpa said. Even if I gave them a print out of my performance report showing 100% lecture and 90% MCQ's they were still going to charge me exactly what was posted above me. If I didn't turn in my performance report I would basically need to sign up again as a return student.
The only only thing that saved this situation is that I have a great Managing Partner at the firm I work at and he said he would pay for my live courses. Otherwise I would be screwed and have to cough up all that extra cash.
So please think about this as I didn't when I bought my cpa review. Just to clarify I am not disappointed in Becker material I just think that Yeager fits my needs from watching their sample lectures on their website.
