Sylvan Learning Centers

CRISANTA of VALENCIA, CA May 29, 2009

Aliason F over charge for my granddaughter tuitoring and she hs to give me a refund of 400.00 now, she is trying to cheat me, charging for the time no used. She won't give the refund yesterday and ask me to go their today and I ask me husband to go there and she took the day off.

kay of lucedale, MS May 20, 2009

My 7th grade daughter attended Sylvan (MOBILE,ALABAMA) for 4 months 4 hours a week initially taking math and english but quickly we changed to the entire 4 hours focused on math.Into the 4th month I notified the director of my daughters situation of starting Sylvan with a 63 and now having a 56 with 5 weeks of school left. I asked for her to be put with a smaller group since there was 4 students in her group (SHE REFUSED) I then asked for her to just start teaching the 7th grade math and continue the level she was on thru the summer(SHE REFUSED).

I then asked for her to be retested to see if she was past "4th grade level"(SHE REFUSED) She stressed the RULES would not allow her to be retested for another week and half (which I didn't have)

I took her to Sylvan in Gautier, Ms and the director retested her and she was far above average. I knew this and my daughter only needed to comprehend Pre-Algebra and was being taught 2nd 3rd 4th grade math and never even got to the 7th grade level tutoring at Sylvan. My daughter left Mobile with a 56 and 2 weeks later she is at a 76 but is probably still not going to pass (going into the final her yearly avg is 69).

I tried speaking with customer service and was told my daughter was on a 2nd grade level even though her last years report card grade shows a B in math and A's and B's in other subjects. JUST GOT A COPY OF ALL STATE TESTING SINCE 2ND GRADE AND ALL SHOW PROFECIENT AND ABOVE AVERAGE THRU 6TH GRADE (7TH GRADE NOT AVAILABLE YET)

Customer service and the Mobile Sylvan are extremely rude and take no responsibility to at least offer reimbursement since I spent 3000 for my daughter to fail. I was also told my daughter had obviously regressed from 7th grade to 2nd grade! I SAID MY CHILD HAS NOT HAD A BRAIN INJURY AND I DECIDED TO GET PROOF OF GRADE LEVEL AND FIGHT THIS BATTLE MY WAY EVEN IF I HAVE TO GET AN ATTORNEY.

summer school is 40 miles away (one way) @15m/gallon 5 days a week for 4 weeks, course cost is 175, not to mention I will not be able to work only weekend for that month and then starting all over at another Sylvan paying for education that my daughter should have been taught the 4 months that I paid for. Yes Sylvan I am very angry at the moment as I should be. Take responsibility in the fact your test was wrong and you should have caught that a 7th grader couldn't possibly be on a 2nd grade level and give my money back

Karen of Edgewood, NM May 3, 2009

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the experience we had in reference to Albuquerque office. Our daughter had taken the ACT tests twice and both times scored a cumulative score of 18. Kadee is a good student; earning A's and B's on her report cards. She currently carries a 3.47 GPA. When we spoke to Tamara, who manages the Wyoming office; we told her what our expectations were. That was for ACT score to increase to at least 22 after her completion of the Sylvan course. Tamara assured us that our expectations were very doable. She also assured us that she would keep a close eye on Kadee's progress. We supplied her with a copy of the last ACT test results that Kadee took showing her score of 18. After several weeks of instruction, Kadee took a practice ACT test. On this test she received a score of 16. Needless to say, we were very concerned at this point. We made a call to Sylvan and were assured that Kadee was learning a lot of new things and that this was normal. Tamara asked for a copy of the scores that Kadee had received on her last test taken before she started the Sylvan course. We reminded her that we had left her a copy when we registered. This was a little upsetting since Tamara had assured us that “she would keep a close watch on progress. After a few more weeks, we received notice that Tamara was taking over the direction of Kadee's study. We felt that she was doing this because we had expressed concern over her progress. This proved to be untrue. At the completion of the course, Kadee took a final ACT practice test and scored only a 19. My husband made a call to Tamara again, this time he was upset. Tamara was confused as to why he was upset because, she said, she came up 3 points. Once again she had forgotten that she had the real ACT scores showing that Kadee received an 18 before she took the Sylvan course. The only thing that Tamara could say when this was brought to her attention, for the second time, was that they don't guarantee anything. Needless to say, we feel that we not only wasted 1,200 that we could have applied to my daughter's college tuition but 30 hours of my daughters time and the expense that was incurred by Kadee traveling 30 miles, one way, to attend these classes because we were given a false hope that Sylvan could increase my daughter's ACT scores and, therefore, increase her chances of receiving more scholarships. Tamara gave us lots of promises while taking our money but when we required some explanations, she was very uncooperative. All she could offer in response to our dissatisfaction with the service that we received was more classes so that Kadee could take the ACT again in July. We would like to have our money refunded so that we may apply it towards college tuition for our daughter. ACT scores did not increase significantly as promised. She did not receive a scholarship due to this. We will now have to pay full tuition at the college of her choice.

Claude of Washougal, WA May 1, 2009

I am a former Sylvan Learning Corporation executive. I was one of the founders. I am saddened to read that Sylvan is not living up to the high ethical and moral standards we the originators founded. Yes we were in the business to make money, but yet we achieved results for more than 90% of the students and parents. Sylvan was never meant to be a tutoring service, rather a diagnostic and prescriptive service to identify and hopefully solve the child's problem in reading or math. We never stated we raise an actual grade level, but rather in measurable results can achieve grade level growth by our diagnostic tools. That usually translated to better achievement in school.

Rosa of Lake Elsinore, CA April 6, 2009

Rosa of Lake Elsinore CA (04/06/09)
I had my daughter being tutoed by sylvan for a BYU final exam. I paid 48.00 an hour for 2 days a week for 3 weeks to prepare her for this exam. She had failed the exam. Her test scores were the same before she had the tutoring. The teacher only worked with her on the practice exam and not helping her with the lessons. On the day she had a sub he had her write notes for the exam. She could have done this at home on her own.I felt it was a waste of time and money.

I am out the cost of about 300.00 and she has to pass this exam or she does not graduate. This is her Senior year and only 2 months left.

Pauline of Plato, MO March 29, 2009

Pauline of Plato MO (03/29/09)
I enrolled my 7 yr.old son for reading, I paid 3842.00 up front. Plus 175.00 for testing. After about 4 months, this was for 108.00 hours of tutoring,@ 36.00 hour . We started on 9-25-08 . By the time the 36 hours came around,My son did not reach the full one grade level that they guarantee. So we should of got the 12 free hours, that I have in writing from them. But they did not stand by this guarantee, We were still charge for the 12 hours. Plus we were charged for the 2 hours of testing that was already paid for. Then we were charge for snow and ice days that they are closed on. And 2 sick days .

To top all this off. We get a letter that the Rolla, Mo. Sylvan is closing it's door on 1-31-09. I call the attorney office that was given on this letter to find out they are filing Chapter 7 . I Via-e-mail the Sylvan corp office, and got no were. Because all the offices are independently own . So Sylvan dose not stand behind the contract you sign with their name all over it. I was told After month of fighting and write letters and reviews , That the Jefferson City or Washington office MAY work out something to take on the pre-paid people.

After weeks, I was told that the Jefferson office will take my son with No other charges. ONLY for 44 hours, Equaling out to 1584.00 that they showed left on my sons account. This did not enclued the 12 free hours,nor the 12 hours for the snow days that THEY were closed,nor the 2 sick days or the 1 test day. As of TODAY, I drive 2 1/2 hours, One way to go to Jefferson city , for 3 hours of tutoring,for 44 hours. I am still out 36 hours.

Alex of Newark, CA March 8, 2009

Alex of Newark CA (03/08/09)
Attention California Residents about Sylvan Learning Center! The guarantee on their contracts and web site are worthless. Back in September 2008, we enrolled our granddaughter into the Sylvan Learning to improve on her reading skills and comprehension, as she was only noted reading in 2-grade level (she was entering 4th grade). This assessment was concurring of her level of reading by Sylvan Learning Center and Newark California Unified School District.

The guarantee was she would improve by the end of the program and start reading 5th-grade level. It did not happen after 5 months nor do her reading skills improve to the 3rd grade level after 36 hours. This evaluation was base on the State of California Education testing program. As we requested the director to add another 12 hours to her program, she said no.

Sylvan tested her skills and her reading skills did improve to one grade per Sylvan standards. The testing is base on a national assessment? test, which no one told us, that the State of California does not recognized; though this type of testing is recognized in over 40 other states. Nowhere we read or heard that the State of California education system does recognize Sylvan test assessments; or better yet, Sylvan Learning Center does not recognize the State of California testing for grade children.

We should be refunded the entire full amount of the tuition of 5,585.00. We feel we been mislead, defrauded upon and influence by false advertising.

We also feel that we should submit this complaint to the State of California State Attorney and investigate other claims besides ours and maybe there is pattern of defrauding consumers by Sylvan Learning Center in Fremont, California.

Out 5,585.00 and my granddaughters time.

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