ComplaintsforAdvantage Driving School

• Initial Complaint

  07/05/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We signed our daughter up for this business's driving school online and paid the $102.20 deposit on 6/10/2023. The classes set to begin 7/6/2023. The website states that registration is not complete until a parent comes into the office to sign paperwork, stating, "It Is MANDATORY that the Parent come in before the class starts and fill out paperwork by 6/28/23, or you are not completely registered. I was en route to the academy, to complete registration on 6/28 and then quickly realized that they were the driving school that my older daughter went to 7 years ago, where our older daughter told us that the driving instructor hollered at her and pretty much demeaned her during the driving portion of the class. We then had to removed our older daughter and place her in another driving school. So, obviously we did not want our younger daughter to go here and enrollment on their website was a mistake. On 6/28, I then called and kindly called the academy and requested cancellation and deposit return, to which the office manager said that there were no refunds. I sent a Facebook message also that same day requesting the same, to which no response. To date, there are 2 openings remaining for the class that my daughter was mistakenly enrolled. I have since enrolled our daughter in the appropriate driving school, that we feel will be the best education and treated well by staff. I feel that this is bad business and that 1. Because registration was on complete and 2. Because we requested cancellation and refund in a timely manner, 3. Because we had such a horrible experience with this business before, 4. It doesn't not state on website that the deposit will not be refunded, if registration is not complete by the specified date, and that we should be allowed a refund of the deposit. Thank you for your time and consideration. ***** ************* ************

  Business response

  07/19/2023

  We take our Customer Satisfaction and the way we conduct our business  very Seriously. I am the Owner of Advantage Driving School and I have never talked to this person or have I heard her Complaint before. Now, Something that happened 7 years ago???  I have no current employees that have been here working for that long. If an Employee was rude to her daughter I would have personally taken care of that at that time. When you sign up with the $102.20 deposit that minuses out a seat and we lose that seat that could go to another student. That is stated on our Website it is not Refundable.  All of the attachments *** ****** sent in were for Students already enrolled and missing Classes. The $102.20 is a $100.00 deposit that can be moved to any Classes she enroll in, but it is not refundable. Often times we have had people enroll in our school but after finding out we are owned by a Minority Race they decide to not enroll. If this is the case I gladly refund because I don't want this student attending here if they are not comfortable with all races of people. Had Mrs ****** spoken to me and allowed me the opportunity to solve this complaint I would not be writing this response. Advantage Driving School is a great business and we strive to be one of the best in our Area. It is very sad that even in the years we are in we have to deal with these type of discriminatory complaints. Judging Advantage Driving as it is today to an incident that she claimed happened 7 years ago is not ok. I will however refund her the $102.20 and if she had just talked to me this would have been solved at the time.

   

   

  Customer response

  07/20/2023

    To be clear, I did speak with ****** directly on the phone on the day of 6/28, when on my way to registration I realized that I had accidentally signed up for the wrong driving school. 
    Due to how my older daughter was treated by one of the driving instructors there,  I did not want my younger daughter to go there.  We had a great experience at another driving school,  which is off the same street and so that is why I accidentally put the deposit down online. We are using their services again.     
    When I called ****** on 6/28, she stated that no refunds would be given, (although registration was not complete), also on the website, 2 seats were still available, so I did not fill the class (see photo).     I also attempted to get a reply on face book messenger, to no avail (see photo).  I called well ahead of the class, that was set to begin 6/8, and had not completed the mandatory registration paperwork.   I would completely understand no refund after registration was complete, as that is what the website states (see photo).  However, that was absolutely not my case. 
    Yes, our bad experience with Advantage Driving School was years ago. The experience was with a driving instructor at this business, that was very rude and demeaning, not the owner.  I did, however let the owner  know (in person), that this happened and she didn’t seem surprised and the instructor was not reprimanded.  If the owner would allow someone to continue to work and drive with students then, I assume it would be the same. A person does not forget how they are treated. 
    The no refund policy states that no refunds would be given for unattended driving classes, (in which she was not even registered to take the classroom instruction yet). It does not state that no refunds will be given for the $100 registration deposit. If that is their policy, then the website should be updated to reflect this in writing to their customers. 
    The owner did not reimburse me; after attempts to get my refund, I have disputed the transaction with my bank on 7/11 and it is in chargeback. I would like Advantage Driving School to allow that dispute to be a formal decision of refund. 
    Also, the passive-aggressive insinuations are typical of bad business owners and anyone in general, who is trying to make excuses, and frankly it is disturbing. 
    ****** emailed me and stated that I may come see her in the office to receive my refund; however, I only want to have my debit card refund dispute from my bank to progress, as stated above. 
    Had my deposit been refunded initially, as it should have, we would not be having this situation now. 
  
       Good day!   Thank you Better Business Bureau!  

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