Complaint Review: Sink or Swim Scuba - Gastonia North Carolina

People, please use good judgement as this can be a fantastic hobby but a dangerous one also. I did not have any advice to go on when I entered this store, I should have known that sea hunt films and a quiz, followed by a 3ft deep swimming pool at the hampton inn all in the same day (Friday) 10:30am till 8:00pm wasnt normal. remember the name "sink or swim" scuba, dont be surprised if you sink! I lost my time and money to this guy but I also found a wonderful shop called paradise island divers on south blvd in charlotte. It is first class, with a deep dive pool on site. The training was phenomonal and everything I needed was addressed in a comprehensive fashion. I still visit this shop regularly for supplies and to just visit with the shop owner. Anyway, lessons learned, enjoy your diving and be safe! 

This customer wanted a class that did not exist and is not currently approved by the training agency. I explained that what he wanted to do was not something we offered but that I could write a custom class outline for him and submit it to the training agency to see if they would approve it. I explained up front that there was no guarantee of approval and if approval wasn't made he could easily complete the entire course in a normal manner.  This is the full course that every diver
takes.  It was clearly explained that if the class he wanted wasn't approved he would need to take the full class.  I also told him this was something I didn't usually do, and I was unsure how long the approval process would take, or if it
would go through.  He stated he understood this and wanted me to help him. We had scheduled several meetings to talk about the schedule, and to start classes, but he did not show up or cancel on any of these dates.  He then arrived one random Saturday and said that this was the agreed upon date.  I have the documentation and notes proving otherwise, but in an effort to help him I shut the store down and taught him a full day.  He also agreed to a price with me, and then
said we never agreed on a price.  This customer constantly changed his story. 

All of the paperwork he completed (and signed) in trainingwas completed by him with the understanding that he was to default to the full course (at no additional charge) if the special abbreviated course he wanted was not approved.

I also asked that he have his employer contact me so that I could confirm what his employer wanted.  He never had his employer contact me. I wrote one complete lesson plan to meet the needs he said he had at the time.  The next time we spoke he said that he didn't want that lesson plan, or to pay for the originally agreed training which covered everything he said he needed initially for work.  He said he really only wanted me to write a letter stating he was safe to do his job, he didn't really seem to want to devote the time for the training.  I explained that I had no idea if he was safe to do his job, and I couldn't make any statement like that without training him myself.  So he agreed to pay for one very small portion
of training that covered one small aspect of what he was currently doing without training.  It seemed he changed his mind about what he wanted, and what he was willing to pay for, after we originally agreed on what he wanted and pricing I devoted much effort into meeting the needs he initially expressed, and writing a custom lesson plan that took days of my time.  He received a custom course without paying the custom course fees, after already agreeing to
the price initially.  I allowed this to help him out however.  

One Saturday he arrived to attend class and I basically shut the store down to help him out and spent approximately 13 hours covering the material with him.  At the end of the classwork session he was given a written test that he failed. 
After explaining that he needed to study and arrange a retest he asked if I was really going to hold him to passing the tests.  I explained that to satisfactorily complete training he must demonstrate competency if all the material, and he had not shown me that he knew the material.  I could not move him ahead in his training until this stage was complete. 

My store does not sell certifications.  We offer training.  Successful completion of the training is up to the student.  If they apply themselves we allow adequate time to allow for learning challenges, but you must put effort into the test to pass. I make no guarantees or "promises" of certification.  You pay for the training, whether you pass the testing involved and earn your certification is up to you.

We allow for extra time for learning challenges, this customer just did not want to devote the time and effort to successful completion.  After failing the written test he demanded his certification, and made no attempts to schedule remedial training sessions.  We allow for remedial training, but if you are unwilling to devote the time to complete it, there is little that we can
do.  Certifications are earned, not promised or given. 

We devoted 13 hours to help him learn the material on his time frame, he performed poorly and did not wish to devote any more time to learn.  

As a large portion of time was spent with him, we will not offer him a refund, as a large portion of the training was received. If he wants to continue the training he may, but he must meet the standards of all students. 

This customer was dishonest, changed what he wanted, and what was agreed to on numerous occasions.  I caught him in several lies, but still offered to assist him to the best of the stores ability.  If you are unwilling to put the time and effort into the training there is little we can do to grant it.