ComplaintsforHealth and Style Institute

• Initial Complaint

  05/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I registered at the school on 3/28/24 and started 4/1/24 and withdrew on 5/3/24. I decided to leave the school because I was not getting what I was promised to get. Teachers would be absent often. When teacher would come back would give us up to three tests at the same time and would give us the answers. They gave me a certificate saying I knew a hair procedure and in reality, I didn't because it was never explained. The total cost for the courses was $24,995 for 15 months. With all this said they are charging me $******** for one month of scarcely any education. Besides what they are charging me they took a percentage from my Pell ****** So with the % they took and the ******** the total they are keeping for one month of little education would be $9,164. So they keep almost 1/4 of the tuition for nothing. Many other students are having the same situation.

  Business response

  05/15/2024

  The school must follow a refund formula dictated by its regulators. The school catalog provides a grievance procedure to address and resolve issues for any active or exited students. This student did not use the grievance procedure to request any resolutions to any concerns while in attendance. Only once she received her withdrawal calculation, did she file a complaint with the BBB. The refund formula used is implemented uniformly for all students who withdraw for any reason. The refund formula and policies are listed in the Enrollment Agreement, which was signed by the student prior to starting school. They are also listed in the school catalog and on the website. No additional refund is due to this student. As a result of this refund formula, she owes the school a balance which is now due in full. 

• Initial Complaint

  03/27/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled into the Skincare/ Makeup program late ************************** November 2023. Initially, I was interested in the additional makeup techniques that are listed on the curriculum that is students would be taught within the 300 hours of the program. Since *** been enrolled at HSI, there has been a shortage on instructors including a makeup instructor. After inquiring when we would have a makeup instructor, we were told my an administrator at the school that Once we find a teacher, we will have one. Said administrator is supposed to be taking place of the makeup instructor but is only in the makeup classroom on Mondays and Tuesdays. The contract/ handbook states that theory/ demo out of the 300 hours is to be provided 20 hours a week for the evening classes in each subject, including at least 7 hours of clinic/ completions within each 20 hour week. I am almost fully complete with the skin program and would very much rather just graduate under the skin program versus continuing with the shenanigans currently already going on with the makeup program. We are being told that if we choose not to continue the makeup program, that we would have to pay for the program even though we are not completing it and then have to start over completely in the skin program. If we are required to abide by a contract then so should the school and faculty when it comes to firstly having an instructor in place for said contract/ curriculum during the entire week for the ************************************************************************************* the program due to the disorganization of the school structure which is not currently accurately in place. A group of us students only feel like a dollar sign to the school because no one is actually looking for a solution, we are simply told wed have to pay and contracts cant be voided.

  Business response

  03/27/2024

  *********,
  As we discussed last night, you are not in the Skincare program now. You were previously enrolled in that program twice (once in 2017 and again in 2019). You dropped out of that program both times. As you know, you are now in the Makeup Artistry program. You began our very brief conversation last night with the (erroneous) claim that you have no instructor. When I asked you for more detail, you admitted that you do indeed have an instructor in your class and have never been without an instructor, but you were concerned about whether or not youd have an instructor in one of your classes that is not scheduled until a future date. I can assure you again now, as I did last night, you will have an educator present for all components of your training. This has never been a problem and it will not be a problem with your future schedule.
  
  As I mentioned last night as well, if you simply wish to withdraw from school again (although this is not a desirable outcome) you may do so at any time. We will apply the refund formula, as dictated by our regulators and detailed in the school catalog, your enrollment agreement, and on our website. At that time, if you wish to be enrolled in a different program, your application for admission will be considered. Im sure youre familiar with this process as youve been through it multiple times. 

  Customer response

  03/27/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  I never spoke with anyone last night about the school not having a makeup instructor first of all. Which also goes to show how administrators are not familiar with their students. I only dropped from the skin program once which was in 2018. When I enrolled again after that, I never officially started school! Furthermore, neither have relevance to the school not currently or since the start of the makeup program having an instructor OR one that is knowledgeable of makeup. As stated, one of the administrators is currently in the place of an instructor who is only there twice a week Mondays and Tuedays vs the full required 20 hours of theory/ demo listed in the school catalog. The makeup program is required to complete the skin program so students should not be penalized or required to start over at the fault of the school not being accurately structured. Im personally no longer interested in the Makeup program from the experience Ive witnessed so far with seeing that there is no actual program in place for students to feel motivated and want to continue with the school as well as other colleagues who are enrolled in the Makeup program (who have also been expressing complaints). It is not fair to have a institution forcing students to go through with a program when requirements arent being met on the staffing end and it shows lack of professionalism. To be told that once we find a teacher, we will have one by said current placeholder in the makeup program should have been enough to strike a red flag for anyone involved with the school. This just goes to show that no one truly cares in my opinion and there is no thrill in regards to approaching the makeup portion of the program. 

• Initial Complaint

  01/02/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was recently terminated from Health and Style Institute as a student. I am currently married to a man and have been a hairdresser for 13 years my husband is also a hairdresser. I was recently out on the salon floor and witnessed awful customer service displayed to an 80year old woman who was having to hold up her own broken hair dryer to finish drying her hair which takes an hour for her hair to dry her little arms got tired of holding her dryer and I stated to the teacher that the lack of having unprepared equipment was unprofessional. She did not like this statement to her and went and informed the director that I charged her and spit in her face which is not true. I am one of the nicest sweetest people you will ever meet. She also asked me in the recent did I get discriminated more for being fat or for being gay. And I stated that I wasn't comfortable with this conversation and tried to change the subject then it came back around to "I'm a Christian woman and only believe that a.man and woman should be together as married and it was just because I didn't give women a chance. After she informed the director that she felt unsafe around me they pulled me into the office and informed me that I was to leave the premises immediately and with no refund of my 15,000.00 I am 600 hours into the 800 hour program and will now.lose.my hours and my certificate if I cant find somewhere else to take me we have already spent all of our educational money out of pocket and have none left for my education. Now I am out 15,000.00 with nothing to show for it because of ignorance. Please Help.

  Business response

  01/08/2024

  Mr. ****** was expelled from school for clear and egregious violations of the Conduct Policy listed: in the School Catalog, on our website, and posted in common areas throughout the school. He agreed to abide by the Conduct Policy, which apply to all students, when he signed the enrollment agreement. He later agreed to abide by the policies and procedures of the Institution again by signing a Statement of Understanding when he attended orientation for new students.

  He physically and verbally attacked and further threatened members of faculty and staff. He deliberately damaged equipment in one of his outbursts. Mr. ****** was justifiably terminated and is not owed a refund. The institution's refund formula is dictated by its accreditor. It is applied to all students uniformly upon withdrawal from school. It is not punitive in nature. It is based on percentage of class hours scheduled. This refund formula has been applied to his account and Mr. ****** owes this balance in full. It is now immediately due and payable. Failure to provide prompt payment will result in collection efforts. 

  An Institution of Higher Education simply cannot allow violent, threatening, disruptive, and disrespectful behavior at its campus. Mr. ****** caused faculty, staff, and students at the campus to fear for their safety during the series of events that resulted in his expulsion. Nevertheless, if Mr. ****** would like to appeal the expulsion decision, he may take the prescribed course of action, as outlined in the School Catalog, to submit an appeal request and have his case heard. 

  Customer response

  01/09/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  I have character witnesses that I would never act in that way also they have cameras prove where I broke the equipment that was already broken . I also have proof of the already broken equipment and money scams from other people reviewing HSI I am not the only one complaining about this school. My students loved me and I was always very nice to everyone always said hello to everyone in that building and good morning. So these allegations are not true by any means and I will be contacting an attorney for my money back and a appeal.
  
  

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