Complaint Review: Educational Funding Company

I signed up to the Integrated Martial Arts Academy (IMAA) at Harrisburg, NC. I have signed a 9 month contract (starting June 2010) and naively did not ask for a copy of it. The contract was for 9 months but I cancelled it after six months (November).

I even paid for an extra month because I forgot about the 30 days cancelation policy. Because I was short on money, my dad helped me out and paid $114 by check to EFC for December. I even sent EFC a cancelation letter.

On January, $312 were drafted from my account and after trying to contact EFC unsuccessfully, I went to my bank (Wachovia) and claimed that this was a fraudulent charge to my account. I received provisional credit from the bank but several days ago received a letter from my bank claiming that the merchant (EFC) convinced them that I owed them this amount of money. They did not confess to them that I have sent them a cancellation letter and also cancelled the contract through the proprietor of IMAA.

EFC continued drafting $99 from my account monthly up to, and including, February 2011, each of which I have claimed fraudulent with my bank. Not only did EFC take away $312 (the three months that were left in the original contract, even though THE CONTACT HAS BEEN CANCELED, plus $15 late fee) they had no qualms with taking $114 ($99 plus $15 late fee) from my father (paying for December).

I was promised by the proprieor of IMAA that the EFC will stop charging my bank account after December and I have e-mails providing this information. I did not make a copy of the cancelation letter which I sent EFC because I was nave and thought I was dealing with a legitimate trustworthy company.

I do NOT demand the $114 paid for December because I understand that I neglected to notice the 30 days cancellation policy. I DO demand to receive the $312 back because not only do they include the two months which I were not supposed to pay, they also include a DUPLICATE payment for December.