- Report: #74157
Complaint Review: Jesse Elder's East West Karate - San Antonio - Leon Springs Texas
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Author Confirmed
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Jesse Elder's East West Karate
13854 NW Military, 19179 Blanco, 24165 IH10W San Antonio - Leon Springs, 78231 Texas, U.S.A.
Phone:
210-493-9400
Web:
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Jesse Elder's East West Karate ripoff scam haven't followed thru on agreement to return money San Antonio Leon Springs Texas
*Author of original report: we are still out $550.00 ..EWK has plans to open another franchise
*Author of original report: East West Karate becomes Mastery Martial Arts
*Consumer Comment: JESSIE ELDER now operating school called VICTORY MARTIAL ARTS in San Antonio
*REBUTTAL Owner of company: Anyone with concerns welcome to visit Victory Martial Arts in Leon Springs
We were charter members of EWK leadership team membership. We paid in full for a three year commitment of training in January 2002. During the year and a half that we were members of EWK the schedule changed several times, graduations fees were increased from $20 to: $40 for the first 3 belt tests, $55 for the next 2 belt tests, $70 for the next 2 belt tests, $150 Jr. Black Belt to 1st degree, and $250 per test 2nd degree. In addition all levels of membership went from having a graduation every three months to every two months. Two additional schools were opened with two more on the way.
In addition the chief instructor a 4th degree black belt and excellent instructor, left the school. He was replaced with an instructor who stated he doesn't like teaching and is a high school drop out and is only a 1st degree level blackbelt.
Jesse Elder owner of East West Karate has encouraged two of his instructors to drop out of high school and work for him full time. This is clearly not a good role model for young impressionable minds. In addition it is not putting the young instructors well being first.
When our original instructor opened his own school we began training there as well as continuing our training at EWK. When Jesse Elder learned that we were training at both facilities we told him we were still planning on attending classes at EWK as well as the other school.
He stated he could not allow us to train at both as his instruction was proprietary and that we would have to choose. He even called the other instructor to let him know of his position. Due to the fact that legally Jesse Elder couldn't prevent us from attending classes that we had already paid to attend he stated if we decided to continue training at the other school he would return our unused tuition and we wouldn't be out any money.
As a consumer we have the right to purchase services as we choose, and the instruction we had already purchased from EWK should not have been denied.
On August 25, I met with Mr. Elder and he agreed to return our money, we also followed up with a letter stating that if he was forcing us to choose we were unwilling to stop training at the other facility.
This was three months ago and we are stil out $550. This amount is being held as a fee their billing agency charges to cancel a contract. Please note that not one payment was collected by this billing agency as we paid EWK in full.
Secondly due to the fact that we were not attempting to get out of our contract, instead it is a contract buy out by EWK to prevent us from attending the classes we were entitled to attend. If there are any penalties they should be EWK's.
One recommendation to all martial arts consumers, read your contract and add clauses so you can terminate for schedule changes that conflict, instructor style dissagreements, and write down that you have 30 days to cancel the contract for any reason. These contracts are very one sided with the only thing that East West Karate must furnish is competent instruction and suitable facilities.
Numerous parents who have left East West Karate have complained about the quality of some of the instructors and no consideration when making schedule changes. Make sure that you don't take a verbal agreement to be able to cancel the contract write it down. Or better yet keep shoping for a school who will put the students first.
Laurie
Hill Country, Texas
U.S.A.
In addition the chief instructor a 4th degree black belt and excellent instructor, left the school. He was replaced with an instructor who stated he doesn't like teaching and is a high school drop out and is only a 1st degree level blackbelt.
Jesse Elder owner of East West Karate has encouraged two of his instructors to drop out of high school and work for him full time. This is clearly not a good role model for young impressionable minds. In addition it is not putting the young instructors well being first.
When our original instructor opened his own school we began training there as well as continuing our training at EWK. When Jesse Elder learned that we were training at both facilities we told him we were still planning on attending classes at EWK as well as the other school.
He stated he could not allow us to train at both as his instruction was proprietary and that we would have to choose. He even called the other instructor to let him know of his position. Due to the fact that legally Jesse Elder couldn't prevent us from attending classes that we had already paid to attend he stated if we decided to continue training at the other school he would return our unused tuition and we wouldn't be out any money.
As a consumer we have the right to purchase services as we choose, and the instruction we had already purchased from EWK should not have been denied.
On August 25, I met with Mr. Elder and he agreed to return our money, we also followed up with a letter stating that if he was forcing us to choose we were unwilling to stop training at the other facility.
This was three months ago and we are stil out $550. This amount is being held as a fee their billing agency charges to cancel a contract. Please note that not one payment was collected by this billing agency as we paid EWK in full.
Secondly due to the fact that we were not attempting to get out of our contract, instead it is a contract buy out by EWK to prevent us from attending the classes we were entitled to attend. If there are any penalties they should be EWK's.
One recommendation to all martial arts consumers, read your contract and add clauses so you can terminate for schedule changes that conflict, instructor style dissagreements, and write down that you have 30 days to cancel the contract for any reason. These contracts are very one sided with the only thing that East West Karate must furnish is competent instruction and suitable facilities.
Numerous parents who have left East West Karate have complained about the quality of some of the instructors and no consideration when making schedule changes. Make sure that you don't take a verbal agreement to be able to cancel the contract write it down. Or better yet keep shoping for a school who will put the students first.
Laurie
Hill Country, Texas
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Jesse
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
Anyone with concerns welcome to visit Victory Martial Arts in Leon Springs
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, September 21, 2007
As director of Victory Martial Arts in San Antonio, I offer an opportunity for anyone who did not receive the service they expected to call or come by our school. We are located at IH-10 and Boerne Stage Rd. in the HEB shopping center. All meetings with students and parents are by appointment only but my team is on alert that anyone inquiring as a result of this report is to be given top priority. I am aware of several issues that are either solved or are in the process of being solved but if you or someone you know has a complaint about anything to do with an experience at Victory, please call the school as soon as possible at 698-2191 or email me directly at [email protected]. Victory is committed to reaching a resolution that is fair for everyone involved and we look forward to the opportunity to repair any discrepancies in any way we can.
Michael
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
JESSIE ELDER now operating school called VICTORY MARTIAL ARTS in San Antonio
#3Consumer Comment
Thu, September 20, 2007
The person who has been the subject of previous Rip-Off reports for San Antonio has opened yet another string of martial arts schools under a new name: VICTORY MARTIAL ARTS. I have met MANY unhappy parents in the area who dealt with these schools. The "new" schools are in several areas including: Stone Oak (off of Blanco Road); Bandera Road; Leon Springs; and Shavano Park.
Laurie
Boerne,Texas,
U.S.A.
East West Karate becomes Mastery Martial Arts
#4Author of original report
Sat, July 09, 2005
Ego abounds as do high pressure sales. Visiting Mastery Martial Arts as they are now calling themselves will subject potential students and families to high pressure sales and inflated prices. Belts are for sale, pay enough and you can get your black belt in record time. It's all about making more and more money and not on the students well being and advancement. Buyer beware you instructor is a sales person who may have little karate experience.
Laurie
Boerne,Texas,
U.S.A.
we are still out $550.00 ..EWK has plans to open another franchise
#5Author of original report
Wed, February 11, 2004
It has been six months since Jesse Elder made a verbal agreement to return all of our money. Apparently he changed his mind on honoring his agreement as we are still out $550.00. Or maybe the money isn't there? Black belts are being handed out like candy. Less than a year has passed from the December 21, 2002 test in which Mrs. Elder was awarded her black belt, December 13, 2003 she was given her second degree belt. More than likely the 1st degree (chief instructor?) has gotten his 2nd degree as well. Hopefully he has his GED as well??? High pressure sales techniques to push parents to charge $6,000 to their credit card are being used on Boerne students who come to EWK for (free? Trial ) It must be stated that franchising is a excellent business idea for dining but not in education where the most important people are the students and a schools focus should be on them not personal financial gain. In order to provide students with the best return for their tuition investment, class size must be small, the teacher must be competent and prepared for class, classes that are offered as an incentive to join a higher membership level need to be taught. Excellent teachers are mandatory. They should be experts in their field, not with simply a year of instruction in the martial arts. EWK has plans to open another franchise with an instructor who was wearing an orange belt a year ago. Unfortuantly the emphasis is on growth and expansion and not the students. This growth has resulted in a dire need to have instructors/salesmen not necessarily teachers to staff the locations.
