Let me start by telling you my son passed. I'm sure it was a mixture of his classes (that were every 2 weeks due to demand) and practice he had with me. I needed Stevens more for the BRAKE they have on the instructors side of the car. However, our experience was not one to give 3, 4, or 5 stars too. This is what upset the most...
The instructor, Rick, touched my son on his knee more than once to get him to press the brake. Isn't it partly why I am paying the company, for the BRAKE!!!! Not to touch my son. Besides touching him on the knee, he also grabbed his upper arm once too. His hands should have NEVER touched my son. Now you want to call it a reaction. ok. But after talking to Andrew and Michelle at the office they made it Very clear an instructor should never touch a student.
Another reason I would not give a good review. Rick, the instructor, changed times and location pick ups on short notice most times 5 out of the 7 lessons my son had. The last "change" he made was not even a scheduled lesson with Rick per se. I called the school to schedule the DMV road test appointment. The school had to get back to me when they had open slots. No appointment was set on lesson 6!!
After all was scheduled and the morning of the road test, my son and I were out practicing when Rick calls me 15 minutes BEFORE our appointment with a tone of annoyance and upset in his voice. The call was on my CarPlay. My son hearing it all. My sons nerves are already high. He does not like Rick due to previous lessons and him touching my son, and now he was listening to Rick blaming my son for not telling me the appointment time or for giving me the appointment card at his last lesson (lesson 6). Remember, I had to call the office to set up the last lesson (lesson 7) and road test. Part of the package was Rick giving the last lesson and driving my son to the road test. After we had words about blaming my son when in reality he was the one to make the mistake, while driving to the road test, Rick starts talking rudely about ME to my SON!!
Another reason, the cars rear view mirror does not stay up and is not completely functional. Even when the road test instructor entered the car he asked my son if he (Rick) fixed the mirror yet.
Another reason, my son took the online 5 hour course and never received his certificate of completion. I had to call the office after 2 weeks and they told me to wait another week. I did. I called again and they told me the online instructor never handed in the paperwork and she was on vacation. Not my problem. I needEd this certificate in order to schedule the road test. I called 2 days later because I still hadn't received it in the mail. They "issued" a certificate that day and was able to schedule the road test the next day. Hhmmmm Mkaes me wonder. We finally received the certificate of completion in the mail 5 days later.
There is more but I think this is enough. I'm writing this because I want the public to be informed to stay on top of Steven's Driving School for every thing. AND DONT LET YOUR KID GET IN THE CAR WITH RICK!!!!
The school made the excuse for Rick as having dry humor and comes across harsh. I never liked the man from day one.
Why didn't I change instructors? Out of ignorance. It took so long to get the 1st lesson (called in March and started in June) I thought Rick was the only one instructing in our area. The school made it sound that the demand was high and instructors were few. That is why my son's lessons were every 2 weeks.
Again, remember he did pass the road test but my son will never forget his experience. especially being told he should be ashamEd of the way he drives. Is that dry humor? Or coming across harsh? Granted when my son started lessons he wasn't the best. But that is no way to talk to a learner.
Andrew and Michelle supposedly "spoke" with Rick and told him my complaints. I'm sure he denied all of this. It's for you to decide. And yes after this experience I did ask to be compensated financially. They did not think my complaints were worth the money because I haven't heard back from them in 3 days. So I want the public to be informed. Good luck. read more