I need to first state that the instructor I had was wonderful. Excellent teacher!
I have to agree with John L., however, that the owner, Paul Raucci, seemed to do an about-face when a "situation" arose. And I would also use the same term he did "shrewd" to describe Paul's attitude.
I needed to cancel and reschedule my last lesson and I knew I needed to give 24-hr notice. I tried leaving a message on the phone number that was on the top of my receipt. When I called the number (several attempts), each time a child's voice answered (could not make out the name) and at the end of message it said ,"mail box was full."
I called first thing Mondiay morning and Paul answered. I told him I needed to reschedule and he told me my credit card would automatically be billed for the next month. I proceeded to tell him that I never authorize an agency or utility company to automatically use my card. He said he told me that when I signed up for my lessons and it is on the agreement I signed. I pleaded guilty to not reading, fully, the agreement but that he most certainly did not "verbally" tell me about the automatic withdrawal or I would not have signed. He proceeded to tell me if I didn't come in today to sign up for next month he would dis-enroll me.
I told him I wanted to continue to take lessons, that the instructor was excellent, but I could not come in today for my final lesson of the month and I wanted to reschedule and would pay for next month at that time. He would not work with me at all. He told me he was tired of being a "collection agency". I told him I had a credit score of 810 and always paid my bills but just did not permit automatic withdrawals.
We went back and forth and during the course of our conversation. I could see the shrewdness referred to by John L. Finally, he said he was going to dis-enroll me and I should call after 2pm to schedule my last lesson. Needless to say, I was extremely upset with his attitude and although I really liked my instructor I will not go back there because of Paul.
As a side note, I told Paul about the strange message on the business phone which I called yesterday. He obviously knew what it was about and said, "That is not the issue right now." It may not have been the "issue right now" but he kept reminding me that I had signed the Agreement and I would think that the Agreement would have a legitimate business number.
That is my story. I am sure others have had good experiences but sometimes it takes an issue to see how people really are. And I had no intention of not continuing lessons until today. read more