Marinello Schools of Beauty

Failure to assist students - I filed this complaint with Marinello and no one has assisted me or will get back to me regarding my complaint and when I asked to speak to someone other than Efrain **, I was told that that was not possible because there was not someone above him. I am/was a student at Marinello Hemet. Since I have started my journey with Marinello Schools of Beauty, it has been anything but what I expected. In fact, it has been flat out hell. When I started my enrollment process in May 2011, the people that I spoke to were very kind and helpful at first. Then I started to not receive phone calls when I would leave messages. I would call to ask for the status of my dependency override and I would be told that Jessica or Cindy were not available over and over again, several times a week. Sometimes I would be told they would be available after a certain time and when I would call back, I would again be told that they were not available.

On one occasion, I had been calling and leaving messages for two weeks, with no call back. So on my lunch break from my job, I decided to head to the school. I called while in the car on my way over and I was told that neither Cindy nor Jessica were available. Upon my arrival approximately 10 minutes later, I found Jessica at the front desk chatting with some other staff, and Cindy in Ms. ** office. Why was I told several times that neither of them was on the campus property? After several months of back and forth conversations, lack of communication, and five sets of dependency override letters later, I finally got fed up and contacted the corporate office where I left a message for Efrain **. This was in late August 2011. In early September, my letters were suddenly accepted and I was enrolled and set to start the very next day, Tuesday, September 20, 2011. I did not receive an orientation prior to my start.

Before I started, I was told that my teachers would have supplies for me to use for my first two weeks of school until I got my supplies. Neither of my teachers provided me with supplies. I went to Jessica and Cindy and questioned why I was just sitting and doing nothing for the entire eight hours that I was in school. They both seemed highly concerned and said that they would pass the information on to Rebecca and that it would no longer be happening. The next day, it happened again, and it continued to happen, even after I received my supplies. The 2-5 teacher would sit and talk to senior students, leave and get frozen yogurt with them, cut their hair, wax their eyebrows and other numerous, unproductive things that really frustrated me. The 5:30-2 teacher would just sit at her desk and talk to students, or simply leave the classroom. These things frustrated me so badly to the point that I switched to the part time program. Why was I going to come to school at 2, to sit and do nothing for eight hours? Why not just work a longer day and make money and then only sit and do nothing for four hours of my day?

After months of just sitting and doing nothing, several students and I went to Ms. ** on the day that student surveys were given. On this day, we expressed to her our concerns of lack of education that we were receiving. Some students, including myself, were scheduled to transfer to the floor within two weeks and we were not confident that we knew enough. Ms. ** assured us that we would learn what we needed to and that she would talk to all of her staff and that things are changing! It's a new year and a new start and was going to get things in order! That was her promise. She even gave us her cell phone number in case we were told that she was not available, which had already been happening to us prior to this meeting.

After this meeting, we all felt very confident that things would get better and that we would begin to have a positive and exciting experience at Marinello. Well, it was quite the opposite. The teachers still did not teach. The staff still told us that people were not available when they were available, and night program students missed out on a lot of exciting things that we were promised Marinello offers. We were not given contest because we were told by Mr. ** and Ms. ** that we acted like children and that we did not appreciate the opportunities and prizes that we were given. However, as the students, we had expressed to them that we did not like being told about contest the day before. We needed time to come up with our ideas, gather supplies, ask for help and prepare the same as the day time students got to do. After this is when we were told that we were ungrateful children.

Around this time, in February 2012, I found out that my place of employment would be closing. At this time, they began to let staff go, and had senior staff filling the voids before closure. Being in a senior position myself, I was required to stay employed until the last day that they needed me and to work the hours that they needed me to until the April 2012 closure if I wanted to receive my unemployment insurance as well as my full vacation pay and bonuses. At this time, I explained to my employer that if I were to miss so many hours at school, I would be dropped from the program and that school was my priority especially since I would soon be unemployed. The employer backed me 100% and understood the importance of school and my education and offered to write a letter to the school explaining the need for me to have a flexible work schedule over the next two months and request an LOA.

I then called Rebecca and requested a meeting with her. She and I met and she agreed to the LOA and sent me to meet with Cindy and then Laura. I signed my exit book with Cindy and she then directed me to Laura. When I went to Laura, she took my papers from my hands immediately, taking letters that she did not need as they did not pertain to the LOA, but she proceeded to read them anyways and then reprimand me as to why they were wrong and why she could not accept them and put me on an LOA. Talking down to me as if I was in kindergarten and in a very condescending manner she stated, "I'm not putting my job on the line for your job. If Rebecca wants to do that, that is on her." I then stopped her to try to explain that the letter she was reading was not what she needed to be looking at. She then continued to talk down to me and tell me that if my employer wanted me to be on an LOA then they needed to write a proper letter and have it faxed to her.

Even though I had that letter there with me, she insisted that the letters that she had in her hand which were the wrong ones was what I was presenting to her for the LOA. She would not let me talk or explain that I had the correct letter. So being frustrated with the situation, I left and went back to work (as I was again on my lunch break dealing with school). I then faxed the letter to Rebecca and called to confirm if she had gotten it. I was told that she got it and it was on her desk. I asked if I could speak to her to ask her if I would be granted the LOA and I was told by Nicole that she was unavailable and that she would leave her a message. I called the next day, and the next day, and then the following week, and then the week after that, and I did not receive a call back and was told that no one was available to speak to me. How out of eight different staff members in administration, could not one of them ever be available? So I called the Murrieta campus to try to get some answers.

At this time, I spoke to Naomi and she instructed me that if I wanted to transfer to that campus, I would have to drop at the Hemet campus, wait 30 days and then pay my balance at that campus. I did this immediately after getting off the phone with her. On March 9th, 2012, I signed another exit book with Cindy. I asked her at that time if the LOA had been approved and she didn't know. I told her that it didn't matter because I just wanted to transfer so to just drop me as of that day. She told me she would miss me, good luck, and to call her in 30 days to receive my balance. On April 9th, I called and I was told she was out sick. I called the next day, and the next day, and every day after that until Friday April 13th when I was told she was with a student and they would take a message. I asked to be put on hold until she was available. She immediately picked up the phone and told me that my information was not in the system and she would have to call me back after she spoke to corporate. I told her that it was okay and that I would call Naomi.

I called the Murrieta campus and spoke to Shanik. She listened to my situation and was very sympathetic and told me she would do whatever she could to help me. She then text my cell phone every day after that letting me know her progress, and called me about a week later to let me know that she still had not been able to get in contact with the Hemet Campus. The next day, she called me and informed me on Tuesday, April 17th, she called and informed me that the Regional Manager, Dr. **, had looked in the system and found out that I had not been dropped until Monday April 16th. I then got the corporate office number and proceeded to get in contact with Dr. **. I was instructed that I could also speak to Sharleen **. I have left messages for both of them, and I was told that Dr. ** would contact me the next day, Wednesday April 18th, and today is Tuesday, April 24th. I have received no phone calls at all from anyone associated with Marinello Schools of Beauty, nor have I even been able to get in contact with anyone in the corporate office this morning other than the service operator, Elizabeth, who directed me to a line that rings once and hangs up.

At this point, I am completely frustrated and ready to give up on Marinello Schools of Beauty and pay no type of balance, and request a refund of the money that I have paid to the Hemet Campus thus far. Education is my number one priority and all I want is to transfer to a better campus and continue with school full time now that I am unemployed. However, it seems that the company does not have the same interest for its students. I had very high hope for this experience in my life and was more excited than I have been about anything in my life and all of that hope has been shot down. My dreams of being a cosmetologist are close to being crushed and it is due to the experience I have had with Marinello Schools of Beauty. Thank you for your time in reading this.

I went to the school in Paramount on Alondra Blvd. I got the worst facial that I have ever had. I almost felt sorry for the girl, she did not speak English and had no idea what she was doing. She had no sink, no water and no one to even advise her. I was asked to lie down on a table that was not even covered with a sheet. She had to run in and out of the room to get a wash cloth and a tissue and whatever. All she did was put Ponds on my face and wipe it off with a tissue. I was a grease mess when I left. It was so noisy that I could not even hear what she was saying and the door was closed. It was like some kind of frat party with a bunch of nit wits. I will never go back and I tell this to anyone who thinks about attending or having something done.

I am a student who attends the evening cosmetology program in Lake Forest, California. I was raised by a long line of professional cosmetologists who went to top beauty schools and when I asked them for school suggestions, Marinellos was not mentioned. In fact, your school is rumored to be inadequate and unprofessional. However, your Lake Forest location catered to my needs (a close school which required minimal travel). Against the recommendations of my family members who are highly experienced in the industry, I enrolled at this school.

Eight months into the program, I regret my decision. This is an email from a very concerned and disappointed student who was hoping for a professional education and ended up with a very expensive High School experience. Miss Elva was my original freshman teacher. I questioned her qualifications and abilities being a teacher while only having 5 years experience in the industry, she did okay in the freshman room. She understands how to teach the basics and answer basic questions. She brings her personal life to work with her constantly and favors certain students over others.

From what I can gather from her actions and the way she handles herself in a classroom, it seems like it is more of a curse to be there than a blessing to teach others. After some recent drama with one of the senior students and Miss Susan the junior teacher, Miss Elva was moved to the junior floor as Miss Susan was moved to the freshman room. I, like many in the class, are very disappointed with the quality of the education being provided. Miss Elva has no idea what to teach us, and no idea where to start, every night it feels like were supposed to just sit around and think of what to do on our own or gives us the same tasks she gives us the night before

I met a student who just started and she stated how disappointed she was with her experience at Marinellos. She has been looking into other schools to further her education. Miss Susan displays experience and knowledge in the industry however, her professionalism and manners in front of customers is disrespectful and degrading. Recently one of the students was washing a clients hair, his pants were down a bit, exposing his boxers. Miss Susan walked up behind his back side and pulls up his pants, in front of the client. I find it completely inappropriate!

Miss Debbie is the senior teacher. She is the only one I have found to be the ideal teacher. She has a lot of experience, she displays the ability to teach and is happy to answer anyone's questions. I feel she deserves credit because she comes to work with a smile and a serving attitude, she enjoys her job. If only your school had 5 Miss Debbies, the school would be very successful. In my opinion, I feel as though Miss Susan should have been made the senior teacher while Miss Debbie should be the junior teacher. The seniors don't require as much help on clients which would be good for Miss Susan as she wouldn't get irritated by questions. Miss Debbie and her teaching methods would benefit the juniors greatly!

Why is one of the junior students constantly acting as the receptionist? She does not get to work on clients or practice on her doll head because she is the only one who knows how to work the computers? That is absurd! The break room is disgusting. The microwave always has food stuck in it, and is never cleaned out. Also there needs to be another microwave. We have many students that use the microwave for 4-6 minutes to heat up their frozen dinners, which takes away from my lunch time. That could be avoided by just bringing in one more microwave.

I am acquiring no experience in working on clients at night because there are none. I have had one client in an entire month. There should be an incentive for the night time hours to get more clients in for us to work on. Most of the clients that do come in, are family or friends of the students. I am new to California, so unfortunately, I do not know many people to bring in. I am informing your corporation about this because this entire business being ran needs to be reviewed and reformed. Currently this is the worst experience I have ever had at a school or institution.

If no action is taken to create a more professional and more productive school environment, I will ensure you that I will not be recommending this school to anyone in the future nor continue my education here. Everyone deserves to be successful, but how can one be that when all these are going on in a school? I started out so excited to be a hairstylist, to follow in the paths laid out for me by my family, and now, I cringe at the thought of going each night. I feel as though I took $20,000.00 and threw it into the trash. I have not learned what I was hoping to nor feel confident in the skills I thought I once had.

I appreciate you reading this email. I know it's a lot to take in, but it is for the best interest of the school and the students. A few changes could make a world of difference for your school. I want to wake up each morning loving my job, not regretting my decision in the school I picked out for myself.

My experience in Marinello in Bell campus has been one of the worst thing that happen in my life. In November 2011, I reported privately that two students where doing drugs in school. Our teacher knew that but she didn't do nothing because she was participating in it that's why I. I went directly to the main office and I told them that I want to be confidential but they told the teacher about me and the teacher told the students and I have been victim of weird faces from some student and the teacher isn't the same with me like she was before.

After that, the people like the principal asked me to reunite with her because one of the student that I reported before told her that one of her clients filled one advisory report against me because I was doing faces at her when she was doing her hair and the principal was threatening to terminate me from school for my behavior. I'm so confused about this. I'll try to do my best and I see how they take our money and don't follow the state board rules. Everything is old and dirty. Nothing is private there. Those teachers have exceptions and the personnel from the office are very mean with everybody. I receive attitude all the time. One time, a girl is in charge for the hour and is screaming at me sometimes. They make me feel like a trash. I'm not comfortable anymore. Please help me. I regret with all my heart that I have decided study in Marinello. You can't trust anybody there.

Well, I must say, Marinello has not given me what was verbally agreed upon during admissions. I was told that I would have a lifetime of assistance in acquiring my license when I graduated. Unfortunately, this has not proven to be the case. Once I moved out of state to attend college, Marinello and their affiliates seemed to no longer feel it was their responsibility to assist me, as promised, in the acquiring of my license. I have yet to receive the amount of verbally promised assistance from Marinello's staff. I must say that paying $18,000 for the same quality of education and assistance that I could have received for $2,000 is a bit discerning. I would have attended a cheaper program if not for the misleading promises made by the admissions officer and school dean upon my admission.

My daughter was attending Marinello's in Whittier on Greenleaf for two months. It has been one of the worst experiences of her young life. First they promise you everything to get you to sign up. After signing up, they tell you that you have to be in class by 8:30, or you will have to wait until 10:30 to attend class. You have to wait for 2 hours there. If you get to class 7 minutes late, they close the doors, and you are not allowed on campus. They then tell you that if you miss more than 14 days, you have to pay $12.00 an hour extra for you attendance (original cost is already $23,000 for 10 months). This would be okay if they did not allow you into class, because you're 7 minutes late.

The director, I assume, comes up with these late rules so that more students miss the class, so they can make more money at the end of the year, and her bonus is bigger. The director also decided the day before New Year's eve(that's right, not even the New Year's eve off), that if students are late or absent on New Year's eve, they will be suspended for a week. Also, the school is overcrowded. They rush you to sign up by telling you they have limited spaces. That is not true.

They accept everyone who applies to the school, and there is not enough teachers to teach all the students in class. The worst thing is, the school is old and dirty. The spa room for clients is very scary. The chairs for students are old and fall apart when you're sitting on them. My daughter got hurt on a chair. When you call corporate to find out their rules on tardiness, there is no help. The only departments that answer are Finance, Collections, and Marketing. I was transferred to the call center 3 times, the warehouse 1 time, and HR 1 time, in just trying to find out what the company policy is on leave of absence, and got no resolution.

It is very bad. I have been sick, and have turned in the doctor's note. I have irritable bowl syndrome. I have a doctor's note to be released, to use the restroom, but the instructor did not let me. I am on medicine, and they are giving me a hard time. Today, I went to school, and was told I am a liability, so they called an ambulance. They said I was fine.

I told the staff I want to stay to finish my education, and they asked me to go home. I asked for a note stating they are the ones sending me home, they said no, and they left and hid. I am paying a lot of money that I don't have, and they have people here who lie to get grants, and financial aid staff allows it. I have been harassed at this school, picked on, and they don't defend me. I am 19 years old. I love doing hair, and this school ruined my dream. There are a lot of girls here who are not happy. The staff use bad language, teachers don't even spell right or speak the language right. I am really sick, and I feel like I have been harassed and discriminated, due to my sickness. Thanks Marinello for messing my dream up.

I had to pay a bill and was kicked out of school due to my sickness. They did not let me fill out an LOA. They hid from me, so my dream is shattered, and my confidence is destroyed.

Rip-off, sham, ruined dreams. I enrolled in the cosmetology program. The school seemed so together and family-like at my interview. Once I started, I realized how little they cared and how little they followed and enforced the rules. They have wrongfully terminated people, have made the only African-American girl in class stop working on clients and work on any and all African- American clients who came in.

I have wanted to be a cosmetologist since I was 13. They do not have enough teachers or staff in general. School never has enough supplies/product. We have been out of bleach and they had people pay for highlights. We were even completely out of conditioner and only had one bottle of shampoo for about 2 days.

I have not learned anything right. Being that I am now on my fourth teacher in 4 months, I do things the way I learned, only to be told it is completely wrong and told to do it a whole new way. I have left school in tears because I am so uncomfortable and they do nothing about girls being mean to other girls. This school only cares about taking money. They tell you that you're lying when you file complaints.

This is the biggest waste of money. I don't know if it's worth it trying to stick it out.

I was accused of stealing, and nothing was removed from school grounds. I was wrong fully terminated.

My name is Tanya and I'm a student at the Marinello school in Redding Ca.

On July 18, I was coloring my stepsister's hair at home. When I was finished with her hair, we decided the "Peek-a-boos" in the back needed to be pulled a few shades lighter, so the pink Pravana color would show brighter. The next day, on July 19, I had my stepsister come to school for a consultation with one of my instructors.

Miss Amy, one of the nighttime teachers, said I could try bleaching again for better results. So I took my color bowl to the lab, where I took a small amount of bleach so I could do a strand test on my doll head. I went to tell my stepsister that I wanted to test it out on my doll before we did any more coloring on her hair to make sure it was going to work. I have my own personal bleach but I only had enough to do her hair, but not enough for the strand test as well.

Before I could get my doll head out to do the strand test, Miss Amy came and told me I had to put the bleach back, so I put it back into the lab, which will show on the videos.

The next day, July 20, Miss Denise pulled me into her office at the end of the day and said I was being sent home and suspended for three days and that I could return to school with a letter of explanation of what had happened. Before I could return to school with the letter, I called Miss Denise at school and she told me I was stealing from the school, which I was not! She then stated that she was terminating me, and that I could return in 90 days, which is confusing to me. If I'm being accused of stealing, why would I be able to return after 90 days? I was also told that there would be additional "fees".

So my question is, is this about money? I need answers for this has been devastating to me. My graduation date is on August 25, 2011. It is extremely important to me to finish the last month of school so I can pursue my career in cosmetology. I feel I have been robbed of my future, when I haven't had a fair chance to explain my side of what happened. I don't appreciate being accused of stealing, especially a small scoop of bleach when all I want is to complete school and pass state board. I would like to be reinstated in school ASAP.

I registered to attend a Cosmetology Course. I started and complained shortly after starting because the conditions of the location were not sanitary and not up to code. They didn't even have enough chairs for the students. I had registered for a class in English and it was being taught in Spanish.

The cleanliness of the location was not properly maintained. I had many illnesses during this time which I provided medical notes for self and children. I feel that I was retaliated against due to my complaining to corporate and out of all that attended I was placed on probation. I was told that I was dropped to go home; then 20 minutes later , I was called at home to come back.

I was called in but I did not go due to the ear infection and high fever. My equilibrium was off and I fell, injuring my left arm wrist hand. It was dislocated on 7-4-10. I was given a note not to return until 8/2/10.

On July 27, 2010, upon returning from ER, I had a message that either I return to school or I would be dropped. I stated that I had a doctor's note said not to return. I went in to the school with an ER band still on my wrist. Karla told me that either I come in for 13-hour days or she would drop me. So that next few days, I had no other choice but to come in, arm wrapped and swollen. I'm taking Vicodin. I did 13-hour days. I was denied a leave of absence.

I was the only one in the whole school who was on probation: girls would leave with out clocking in or come late on a daily basis, etc. But I provided doctor's notes and I'm placed on probation. If I'm gonna pay $19,000, I shouldn't be yelled at and I should get what I was promised an education. The location should be up to code. It clearly could be proven that that location had a high not passing state board rate.

Well, my arm at times was visible with pain. There's severe swelling and I'm in tears. I was there unable to do anything except theory and the teacher was ordered to put credits for things I was unable to do. That is fraud. I still was struggling due to not having medical insurance. So I was under a lot of stress by being pressured that if I don't attend, they would drop me. I was told to come in on a Monday due to trying that one Monday practice for state board 8-2-10. I felt I had injured my hand more. So the following, I did not go in.

I did go back. I want to finish school but I was under a lot of pressure and in a lot of pain due to not being able to get proper medical attention due to lack of medical insurance. I was in so much pain due to the sever swelling in my whole arm. I had no choice but to return to ER, in which they gave me a Cordizon injection. I was forced to transfer to evening, which I clearly stated that I was not able. I was told and I had no choice.

I was asked by the director how was I feeling. She saw my swollen arm as we talked and she was called away. So I continued my concerns and complaints in writing. It was about three pages long. A few weeks had passed, there was no response from the director. I couldn't take it any more. I was now at the point where my arm was in a sling and wrapped in ice. Still being called in that, I needed to be there, etc. I cried to Karla telling her I'm in too much pain I need to go to general hospital or something. I was denied emergency medical. I went through a process with referrals. On 9-14, 2010, I was told by Karla that either I drop or I would be dropped. I faxed a letter to the Bell location and corporate due to nobody responding.

I was told the main corporate director was only communicated through email. In which I emailed three to four times; still there was no response (twice to the director with no response). On October 1, 2010, I was referred to ortho-fracture department and my arm was placed in a short arm cast. I feel that I was retaliated against due to asking for what I paid for and invested. I faxed over a doctor's note stating that I was not able to attend school until I return on 21st of October. And according to the doctor, I was then referred to hand wrist specialist due to the traumatic injury, which I incurred on my wrist. I will have a procedure done and going to be placed in a cast for another 6 weeks after the 21st.

This has caused above and beyond mental anguish in regard to the retaliation for my complaints and the fact that I was subjected to probation and denied a leave of absence. I felt pressured into signing agreements. I did that just so they would not drop me. In Cosmo, I need both hands. Due to them not providing me with sufficient equipment, I had to invest a lot of money. It was even more insulting when the main corporate director, whose only form of communication was through email, doesn't even acknowledge your email. Nobody today has responded. I feel that this school is breaking many laws and is taking advantage of many young naive girls who do not speak up for themselves in fear of the same or similar retaliation.

I enrolled into this school being told by the recruiter that I would be taught how to be a barber. There was not even a Barber instructor in the school or director. Therefore, I feel that I paid for something and I didn't receive what I paid for. I still have to go to a barber college. I took out loans to pay for my schooling. I have to pay these loans back but I didn't get what I paid for. I consider this false advertisement. When customers come in and need a hair cut, the instructor had me cut their hair. I even purchased my own clippers, but this school teaches barbering. I feel that I have been cheated out of my money and I shouldn't have to pay for services I didn't receive.

My next complaint is in February. I had to take a leave of absence because my wife has a heart problem and she was having difficulties. We don't have family out here so I had to stay at home with her. After my wife felt better, I went back to school early. I was sent back home by Brenda. She told me I couldn't come back early, so I went home. My wife became ill once again and I took her to the doctor; each time, we got a doctor's note when I would miss school. In the meantime, my wife and I moved on which would have been the 14th day of my leave of absence.

We didn't have a phone or money. The next day when I went to take the doctor's note, I was told I was dropped from school by Brenda because I didn't return on the day. But I had a doctor's note excusing me from school. I found out today when I re-enrolled in school that I've been charged double for school. I just really don't understand what is going on, but I do not feel I've been treated fairly. I can't seem to get that point across to anyone.