Sylvan Learning Centers

virginia of chiloquin, OR September 3, 2009

i signed my son Jacob up with sylvan in medford, oregon in 2006. i'm sorry i cannot be more specific at this point because i lost over half my household contents when family moved me to a smaller house, and my sylvan info. was probably thrown out; i was in the hospital at the time and knew nothing of the move. I took out an "education" loan, low interest, i thought. It turned out to be sally may, the interest was VARIABLE, and their loan officers very difficult to work with.

i drove 2x week from chiloquin to medford, oregon at great hardship to Jake and i. When there was no noticable improvement for jake, we had to quit the sylvan learning for my dysgraphic son. rather than help his problem, they only reviewed subjects that he had done two years before. they still have the 400.00 refund. it was to be paid us in further class time hours. at one point they talked about putting the money in the loan at sallie mae, but that never happened.

i cannot describe the emotional side--anger, frustration, heartache for my son jake. Driving 200 miles round trip for nothing, fighting to find enough gas, fix flat tires, eat at the 1.00 menu. Economical--a rolling disaster. I have a 4,000 loan which since 05-06 has grown to 6700+ with usurious interest. i still can't remedy a late fee of 20 for the last 10 months because nothing gets done when i talk to the Sallie Mae representatives.

i thought i was getting a 2% fixed educational loan and instead got a 15% variable loan, over 2600 added to my loan, 200 in late fees--AND NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT! I ONLY WANTED SOME HELP FOR MY DISGRAPHIC SON. we both feel cheated. shell-shock continues, as a disabled widow i don't know how to pay off a loan that swells with interest. is there no help?

Harkins of Flushing, NY July 17, 2009

Promised Individual 1:1 Writing LESSONS for my 6th Grade Son going into 7th Grade and Phonics/Reading for my son Kindergarten going into 1st grade/!st session only was only 1 on one and then the next 11 sessions different teacher each time/3-4 children in each group all enrolled for different subjects ranging from pre k to 6th grade/My children were only receiving 10-15 minutes of fragmented lessons with total noise and commotion during the lessons/Each session was another excuse/shortage of staff etc..../they even matched my 6yr old and 11yr old in the same group with children with ADHD etc../I paid by check initially for 40 yr program for each of my children at the rate of 68.00/per session x 2 children = 136.00 3xweek/ Jassica told me that if I wanted better to give her 90.00 /per child/I have been asking for a transfer to the Sylvan Learning Center in Mineola which appears to be functioning better and appears to meet our expectations but was told by Jassica that she would have to fill out paper work that would take 8-10 weeks which would cause my children to miss Summer Enhancement Classes/Jassica lee the Director in Flushing stated she could make a deal with me and pay the 50.00per hour x 2 for the remaining 29 hrs each child and she would keep the rest/when I refused and told her that She cashd my check in full and that I wanted to contact her Corporate Office she could not remember the number or names of her Superiors/I told her that if I did not receive a satisfactory response that I would contact the Queens District Attorney Office/Better Business Office unless I received the money to register my Children in Mineola /2 slots are open but I do not have 5000.00 available to give again/Please help as soon as possible so that my children are not penalized any further

Melissa of Pikeville, NC June 8, 2009

I visited Sylvan Learning Center on June 04,2009 and spoke with Ms. Alves about enrolling my 11 year old son into the summer program to help him with his Math and testing skills. She went through the program with me, letting me know how they work with children, the assesment, testing, and so on. She then told me the fee for the assesment testing of 95.00, for which I would have to give 50.00 deposit that day. We set up a testing time of Thursday, June 11th at 9:30 am for my son to start his testing, and the balance of the deposit for 45.00 would be due on that day. I did not sign any contracts, no paperwork was given to me advising of payment schedules, non-refundable fees, she did not speak of no refunds, she only stated the hourly fee of 48.00 per hour.

I presented her with a check for 50.00 as a deposit and left. After speaking with my husband and we figured out the monthly fee for tutoring of 48.00 per hour at 10 hours per week, just to start, the hours can be as many as 12 hours per week, the monthly fee is 1,920.00. This is more than what we make in a month in our household. We absolutely can not afford this! I called Ms. Alves this afternoon, June 08th at 1:41 pm and explained the situation to her and asked for a refund of the 50.00 deposit. She advised me that it was a non-refundable fee and we could not receive it back, that we could still bring our son in to be tested and then let it go at that.

I told her she never advised me that the deposit was non-refundable, and that I also never signed any contracts or paperwork stating or agreeing to this. She stated that they do not have contracts nor are they obligated to advise customers that the deposit is non-refundable. She stated that the spot was held for our son when they could have used it for someone else. I told her they would not have had a problem filling that spot, since the calendar was not even full at the time of our meeting, and she had mentioned at the same time that the summer session was receiving a lot of attention. She simply stated that we would not receive our deposit back and she hung up.

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

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

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

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.

Donna of Camas, WA February 19, 2009

The Sylvan Learning Center my child attended went into bankruptcy. Do Not pre-pay if you send your child there. It may reduce your payment a little but you won't get back any money still in your account if this happens. A concerned teacher is the only person to contact us and let us know they closed. Of course, she lost her job and had no idea what was going on but at least gave us a call rather than have us show up and find the note on the door telling us they were closed permanently. I know it is a franchise but shame on the corporate office.

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