Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  10/12/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My wife ********************* call** Norcal Driving School to inquire about drivers ** for our 16 year old son ******. She was told that they serve all of ******************* including ***** where we live. She paid $700 over the phone with a **** card. On Saturday the 8th they did not show at the Kohls parking lot in *****, she call** and was then told that you do not serve *****, and she would have to bring ****** to ********** area for the lessons and it was their company policy to not issue refunds. She has call** them multiple times and I have email** them requesting a refund, and they refuse to refund the money after they blatantly li** to her over the phone.

  Business response

  10/13/2022

  Good afternoon,
  
  Thank you for writing us, NorCal Driving School services North ********** and surrounding areas.
  
  On our driving ******s page it states check our service area before registering. In addition to checking the service area the parent was told we do not service the ********** and agreed to meet in Antelope. A confirmation email was sent on the same day the ****** was scheduled 9.21.22 which stated the meeting location, the ****** was scheduled for 10.8.22. This gave ample time to reschedule. The email was sent to the parent provided email on the online registration form, please see below was sent confirming the meeting location. 
  
  There is nothing unethical here, our school is very upfront, held a ****** and the instructor showed up to the agreed meeting location. The ****** can be rescheduled in any of the meeting locations offered online. 
  
  There is availability as early as tomorrow. Please contact the office to process the reschedule fee when ready to reschedule.
  
  Please refrain from threatening the school.
  
  Thank you and take care!

  Customer response

  10/13/2022

  I am rejecting this response because:

  They lied about their service area and are now refusing to refund $700. If you look at other complaints and negative reviews online you will see a pattern of this with this business. If we do not get your money back through ***** then we will be taking them to small claims court, but either way we will get our money back if not more!

  
  

  Business response

  10/17/2022

  I personally spoke to your wife on the phone, I am the owner, in no way was she lied to, she agreed to meeting in Antelope. I have always been very clear about our service area. It doesn't do our business any good to lie to anyone. In addition to the phone conversation. I sent a follow up email along with the address to the meeting location. ***, you were not apart of the conversation and not sure why you were given mis information. The only pattern here is that lessons are non refundable. It is clear all over the website and in the confirmation email she received on **** for the **** driving ******* I told her I would email the address to her. We held the open spot for weeks. The instructor showed up and has already been paid for his time. The school is consistent the policy is for all. The lessons are available whenever you are ready to use them. 

   

  Thank you

• Initial Complaint

  03/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 12/05/2021 I tried to set up three driving ******s and a drive test through the website this business provides. Instead of being able to make my ******s ahead of time the website just took $579 out of my bank account and told me someone would contact me. No one ever did I had to call this company myself to get a ****** scheduled. When I tried to get all of my ******s scheduled I was told that I wasnt allowed to schedule in bulk until a driving instructor said I was ready for my test. At this time I was also told that they didnt service my area (even though it was advertised that they did) and I would have to meet one of their instructors at a high school 20 minutes from my house up to *********************************************** well I must have made a mistake can I just have a refund for a school that services my area I was told no. After some time I finally called and expressed how uneasy I was with the experience so far and requested another refund. This was when they told me a driver could service my area so I agreed to make an appointment. The appointment was scheduled a whole month and a half out from that original call. But I went through with the appointment. When the driver showed up I again requested a refund. When I was told no I said alright Ill just go through with the ******. There was zero ****** plan, nothing was gone over, I sat in a car in silence for two hours with this instructor. After this ****** I again requested a refund from their office manager when I was told no I said okay can I schedule the rest of my package in advance to get it over with? And was told no. The same process detailed above repeated for the second appointment. After the second ****** the tune changed to we need to schedule everything as close together as possible so you can pass your test Im running out of space. But several more issues happened they wont refund me and are now refusing service please help.

  Business response

  03/09/2022

  *********************** registered on 12.3.2022, scheduled on 12.6.2022 and was told we do not service her area  *************** per the website, we accommodated her to meet for all lessons in ******** because she could not get to an area the school services. All lessons have been completed 1.11.2022, 2.17.2022 and 3.1.2022 despite the profanity used during the students last session with the instructor. Per each instructor she needed several hours of practice between sessions which is normal for all students. Classes are completed and non refundable per the terms and conditions box checked when registering. We wish you the best of luck. The attachment were too large however please see the website for terms and service areas. www.norcaldriving.com

   

  Customer response

  03/11/2022

  I am rejecting this response because: The business wasnt truthful in their response to my original complaint, the services I paid for are far from fulfilled. Due to the stress this situation and business have caused me since my original sign up on their website, and seeing now that they arent above bending the truth in this situation. Ive dropped this subject from my mind. I have chalked this up to an unfortunate run in with a morally lacking business. Its unfortunate after so much back and forth I have landed no closer to a license and with a nearly $600 dent in my bank account. I just hope this business and the people behind the scenes can take the time to make progress in the ways they treat both theyre paying customers and just people in general. 
  

  Business response

  03/11/2022

  *******, we are truly sorry you feel this way. Integrity is the backbone of our organization. We wish you all the best in all you do, please take care.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩