I received 1 lesson with this school & was scheduled for a 2nd, which I wound up cancelling after getting in the car & sitting in the back seat while another student drove himself home - which was ove... Read More
I received 1 lesson with this school & was scheduled for a 2nd, which I wound up cancelling after getting in the car & sitting in the back seat while another student drove himself home - which was over 45 mins from my house. Although I had also been subjected during my 1st lesson visit to sitting & watching another student drive home, I had made the mistaken assumption that the instructor had been running late & since the student lived relatively close to me, this was why he was in the car. On the 2nd lesson, I originally thought it was the same student. By the time I figured out it wasn't, we were too far from my home for me to get out of the car - though had I realized I would eventually wind up wasting almost 2 hours that afternoon, I think I would have gotten out anyway & taken a taxi. When I questioned the instructor (in the car) about what was going on, she said it was always their practice to pick up students & have them ride while the previous student drove home - & she avoided answering how much further "today's" ride would be. (I have since learned this practice of "doubling-up" students is called "piggybacking". ) The instructor did say that the school did offer private lessons for $15 more (i.e., $100). During my "little outing" that day, I also spoke to the owner of the school - since the instructor didn't seem to know what to do when I said I no longer wanted a lesson. When I complained to the owner about this "doubling up", she started going on about how some students like to see other students drive - but for those that didn't, they did offer $100 private lessons. What I found particularly irritating & I let her know it, was that when I originally talked to her about receiving lessons from the school, she never once advised me that the school operated in this manner (i.e., "doubled up" students). Anyway, the instructor did take me back home for "free" - but, as indicated before, the ordeal took almost a 2-hr chunk of my time that day. Although it didn't occur to me at the time, I have since wondered about what would have happened if the other driver got in an accident - is the company liable? I am currently trying to file a complaint with the BBB, but am having trouble locating this business in the BBB's directory. PS: I'd also like to note that during my 1st lesson, my route involved going to the owner's house so the instructor could give her that day's money. Not a big deal since I was at least driving, but, in retrospect the incident, is just another indicator that the COMPANY'S 1st CUSTOMER APPEARS TO BE ITSELF, RATHER THAN THE PAYING STUDENT. Read Less