Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  07/18/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 12/13/21 I applied to teach English in Spain through a program called RVF International. I had a zoom call with the owner, ********, and he explained the application process with RVF and how it was essentially very likely that I would be able to teach in a region in Spain that would be within one of my top preferences. He made me feel confident after that phone call with him that I would be able to teach in my top regional preference. When I decided to follow through with RVF, I was required to make a commitment payment of $700. After making the commitment deposit, I submitted all of the documentation to RVF so they could submit my application to the Spanish government. I waited for RVF to reach out to me on where my placement would be. I feel that I was not treated equally by this company based on how they treated & spoke to a participant in a similar situation to me. The participant and I did not receive a region that we requested to teach in. When the participant asked RVF if they could provide her the city in spain she would be in first so that she could decide on whether to go, they told her the city. However, we are supposed to pay the remaining deposit to RVF first before they provide us the city, and school we would be teaching in. This is stated in their policies. Since they told the participant this information prior to paying, I asked them if they could provide me the city as well that I would be teaching in, & they told me they would know in a few days. A few days go by and I don’t hear from them. I then get sent an email from RVF stating that I needed to make the remaining payment to the program prior to being informed of the city I would be in. I don’t think it is fair they told this participant the city she was teaching in when she did not pay the remaining deposit first. And they tried to get me to pay the deposit before telling me the city and claimed to not have the information. They also told me they would know this city within a few days.

  Business response

  08/25/2022

  Hello *******

  Our Teach Abroad program is designed to be an exciting gap year abroad. Spain is such a beautiful country, and we are proud that we can help hundreds of teachers each year experience the beauty and culture of Spain. We are sorry that does not seem to be your experience with the program. We were also sorry to receive your email informing us you were leaving the program before the school year in Spain had started.

  It seemed that at the heart of your many emails, you were not satisfied with the region in Spain where you would be teaching. This presented a challenging situation because a school in Spain was preparing to accept you as their new English teacher and now must find a replacement.

  Ultimately, we are not a travel agency that does or can place people in specific, touristy areas of Spain. We are a Teach Abroad program that is trying to raise up the next generation of English teachers in Spain, in communities both rural and urban, while trying to offer a smooth and enjoyable transition to everyone in the program with our support and guidance.

  You were treated with respect and kindness, as are all in our program. In our experience, when the program is approached more as a means to travel and less as a means to teach English to children in Spain (and understandably travel on the weekends), people are disappointed because of a misunderstanding of what we can and cannot provide.

  The RVF door is always open, and we sincerely wish you all the best.

  Best regards,

  RVF International

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