Complaint Review: Club Z! Corporate - TAMPA Florida

First, I am a fully certified teacher in both California and Texas with 5 teaching credentials including 3 secondary single subjects and one for Special Education. I am on sabbatical, enjoying my grandchild, and in grad school. I decided to tutor for a little extra money, but mostly for the joy it brings me. It seems like Club-Z is determined to deny me both!

So, after the initial formalities, Club-Z asked me for fingerprints. I had it done at my expense for $71. Then they sent the names of two students, a packet with two "curriculum books" (with redundant and boring worksheets only) and two UPS mailing labels to send completed forms in. I was also emailed a bunch of different forms and told they had to be submitted every two weeks. So far, so good.

After I (snail) mailed my first two packets of forms, I sent an email to Club-Z requesting more UPS labels. This was on 1-3-09. Two days later I was told they were sent...problem solved, right? No. But as it turns out, this was just the beginning of my problems with Club-Z. As of this writing, 1-23-09, I am still awaiting the UPS labels.

The real problems began right AFTER I started asking questions. Like...I asked if there were other materials and they directed me to a website where I could download more worksheets.

I asked if I would be reimbursed for the copies I was making and was told, "We do not compensate for printing costs. It is associated with the job."

I asked why they kept emailing me for "month end reports" when I know I sent them already. This was a persistent problem. Thank God I made copies of everything!

They were quite insistent that I did not send the forms. Then, when I told them I had proof of what was sent, they "miraculously found" the missing documents.

When I asked (via email) for more copies of their forms, I was sent (emailed) 2 different versions of the same attendance form. This is important as it becomes a "bone of contention" later.

They don't do phone calls very well either. I was able to get through to the Florida office once on the phone. Actually, I "got through" every time, but only once did someone "take the call". They always ask who is calling and what county you live in. I must have called Eric Martinez a dozen times, but I have yet to speak with him.

But I am getting ahead of myself. The best (and worst) is yet to come. So, in the meantime, one of my students has several appointments canceled and her mom does not return my calls. I decide to let this one student go and keep the other till the end of February. I notify Club-Z about this and send (email) another batch of paperwork.

Then I get this:

Hello Cynthia, I have received your paperwork via e-mail but noticed that the attendance sheets were created electronically. You will need to have these attendance sheets signed by the parents in order to receive payment."

I write back and say:

Hello Joseph, I will be putting the hard copies in the mail today, as I stated in my note. The hard copies have my signatures, but I do not see any place on the attendance sheets for the parents to sign.

His reply: On the attendance sheet it asks in the grey shaded area about the calendar and below the student information to Indicate the number of hours of service on dates of attendance (Student or parent must initial daily attendance). Please obtain signatures on these documents so we may pay you for the hours you have tutored.

So I write: Hello again, None of the previous attendance sheets had the signatures you speak of...and Why is it only now that I am hearing about this?

Meet the "bone of contention"! (In the meantime, I also have every single tutoring session documented and signed for by the parents. But it's on a different form; the "tutoring log", not the "attendance sheet".)

So now, I get another email from the "Program Manager", Eric Martinez, who says: Ms._____, ...I cannot process any payment without the parent signature... You are lucky if you received payment before (last pay period) without following this protocol.... You may need to reimburse us the amount already paidYou are no longer working with us; please cease and desist from any communication with the families. Upon receipt all the original materials and verification that you have not been in contact with the families, I will be able to process payment.

Holy Cow! NOW they want to fire me? AND they mentioned getting paid seven times! Didn't I send in a resignation letter 3 or 4 emails ago? How can I get signatures on these forms if I am to "cease and desist from any communication with the families"?

How can I explain this to my students if I am not allowed to contact them? How can I get my final paycheck if I can't get the forms signed?

So I call and I call Mr. Eric Martinez. He is always on another line, out of the office, etc. Finally I leave a voice mail and send him an email:

Mr. Martinez, I would appreciate a courteous phone call from you.

This was his reply: I received you voicemail today. All the communication needs to be through emails at this point. For your information, we re-assign all your students. You cannot contact any of them. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Did you send the materials required?

Kind Regards, Eric A. Martinez

BTWthese emails are verbatim (copy and paste).

All the grammatical errors are THEIRS!

I am not sure how to proceed at this point. They owe me money, but I can't send the final papers without the signatures, and I cannot get the signatures without contacting the parents. Any suggestions?

I have oneDON"T ever tutor for Club-Z!

Cynthia

Claremont, California

U.S.A.