The Repression of Fraud pinpoints in a survey published Monday, certain commercial practices deemed "
misleading
" in higher private education, a booming sector which "
must review its copy
" in terms of consumer protection.
According to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), "
more than 30% of the establishments inspected were found to be in breach of misleading commercial practices
" in 2020.
The Repression of fraud targets mentions on post-graduation employability without anything to support it or the display of “
non-formalized
” partnerships with large companies.
It also pinpoints practices consisting in displaying a promotional price next to a crossed out price, "
without being able to justify that the crossed out price was actually applied
" or even biased opinions on the Internet "
because coming from consumers who have become employees of establishment
”.
The DGCCRF also rejects the use of the terms “
license
”, “
master
” or “
doctorate
” without the establishment being authorized to issue these diplomas.
The majority of establishments inspected in an abnormal situation
The information on the prices practiced in certain private establishments of the higher education also makes tick the Repression of the frauds.
“
The investigators noted the absence of information before the conclusion of the contract on the conditions of sale and in particular on the total price including VAT of the training, the absence of display of prices
”, notes the DGCCRF.
“
Unfair or illegal clauses were found in 40% of the establishments inspected
,” continues the DGCCRF.
In total, “
more than 56% of the 80 establishments checked turned out to be abnormal on at least one of the points of the regulations
”, details the Repression of fraud which depends on the Ministry of the Economy.
"
Investigators' checks gave rise to 72 warnings, 38 injunctions, 4 criminal reports, 2 of which led to litigation
,” she adds.
It conducted this national survey of establishments affixing the labels created in 2019 by the Ministry of Higher Education to inform the consumer of the existence of diplomas "
controlled by the State
".
“
The anomaly rate in these establishments is relatively high
,” concludes the DGCCRF.
It therefore renewed this investigation in 2021.
Read also Has the level of French of students in higher education really dropped?
Private education trains 23% of higher education students, ie 671,400 students.
Since 2010, enrollment in private institutions has increased by 38%, while enrollment in the public sector has increased by 17%, according to data from the Ministry of Higher Education.