ATA Cuba and Rolla Locations:
The ATA organization as a whole is just a big money scam, and their communication is a joke. To start, you have very expensive startup and Equipment fees however it's not until they are in the middle of processing your payment that they make known that first month's fees ($65/month; per person = $130 a month) are not included in the start up fees, so you must pay that in addition (paid a total of about $500 for both my daughter and I)!
Parents are left without any information about progression or requirements. When I was handed our uniforms, we were NOT told but the badges for (I asked and she told me not to worry about it), how to tie our belts, which uniform to wear (summer / winter) or which one was which, nor what color shirts to wear underneath our uniform! As for the progression side of things, we were not told at the beginning that there would be an additional cost for testing. It cost as much as a monthly dues ($65 per person) and you only go up half a belt! Not only that, but if you choose not to test, then you are missing out on 2 classes that month AND you're still having to pay for them!
She did not register us nor did she even mention anything about the kick site when we signed up (where the One steps and forms for belts are uploaded for you to practice from). She eventually got us registered, but I had to bring it up to her. Plus half the time the color belt we were on wasn't even available to watch! We were also not informed about any other programs this organization held (I e. Black belt club, sparring, summer camps, etc), that we could participate in. I found out about the uniforms, kicksite, and other programs through another student!
They also stated I could attend with my daughter for a couple months just to get her comfortable (since we moved to a new area), but when I, myself, stopped attending / paying my portion (I still paid for my daughter to attend) , they then stated that I signed a "contract" and was obligated to go and pay the full price ($130/month) for the remaining four months (total of 6mos). Mind you, what I signed was an application, not a contract! I asked her to send all the documents I signed via email, and to have their attorney reach out to me directly; however, there was no follow-through on either request!! Because I was unwilling to pay, they then advised me that my daughter can no longer attend! I had paid the monthly dues for that month, yet they kicked her out mid-month and we're unwilling to refund the money I paid for her to attend!
It is unfortunate because my daughter just got comfortable and it was gaining confidence in her skills. I fully support all the benefits one can gain from Taekwondo, but these people are just in it for the money. They're supposed to be teaching children good values like honesty; however, their business practice is a polar opposite and because of their greediness, instead of losing one client they lost two! (I would leave 0 stars if I could!) read more
