A-OK Driving School

Review: A week and a half ago I called the owner, Pat D[redacted], of AOK driving school to set up my son's first driving lesson. The owner said he offers a 45 min driving lessons with 45 min. free. He seemed nice, said there was "no contracts" and he combines the first 45 min. with the other on the first drive out making it an hour and a half session for the first lesson. I paid $75. He showed up, spent about 25 minutes of the time parked in front of the house talking with my son in the car then took off to drive, then arrived back ten minutes early to talk some more and give my son a sheet of paper that rates his ability to drive and where he needs improvement. My son said they parked on the side of the road often to talk about his driving, and they stayed local to the side streets. Because of the parking and talking instead of driving I did not call to reschedule another appt. and figured I'd go with [redacted]l after that as I've used them successfully before with my older son. A week and a half later the owner comes to my house ready to take my son out for a driving lesson. I never called to schedule another lesson, my son didn't know anything about it and is underage and doesn't pay for his lessons, I DO. The owner said he set up the driving lesson with my son for today because he's going on vacation next week, and it's a double session because it's been 9 days since his last driving lesson with him and that when they returned to the house he and gave my son a "Report" of how he did... supposedly the next scheduled driving lesson was automatically written down on the report he gave my son.... My son cannot remember setting up an appointment with this guy and it was his first go at driving he was nervous and excited but would be more excited to know when he's going out again but clearly didn't remember the guy saying anything about scheduling another appt.. So the guy goes on to tell me it's a double lesson AGAIN and that I'd either have to pay for him to keep his appointment or pay for the last minute cancellation. I told the guy I didn't have the money and asked him why he would schedule another appointment, and another DOUBLE LESSON with my son who is underage and is not paying for his appointments. I felt like I was being roped into this....The man said this is the way he does it, and that all driving schools do that.. and that "it's not my problem if you don't talk to your kid"... I told him that I was a business person and when I have clients under 18 years old, I schedule with the parent. He said "that is not the way it's done" with driving schools, they always schedule with the child/student. I told him It was not a good business practice and that I cannot pay the cancellation fee and he said if I don't pay it within the next week he will contact DMV to report it so my son cannot get his license. I cannot imagine someone actually threatening to do that over a cancellation fee. As Pat D[redacted] said originally, "there are no contracts with A-OK". If I am not held to a contract and didn't sign anything, and didn't schedule the appointment then how do I owe him money? I feel he was trying to scam me. I told him to get off my property before I call for help to have him removed. I really felt that I was being scammed.. this person had many ready excuses for every question I asked. I don't know if others are victimized by this person and his business, but I am doing this so no one else is.Desired Settlement: I would like to know that this person does not have the power to affect my son getting his license over an unpaid cancellation fee that I should not have to pay because I never made the appointment to begin with. I would like for someone to tell this man that he should not be making unclear appointments or any appointments with underage kids who are not paying for their appointments, and do not have the consulting parents approval. As a parent I am legally responsible for my child and I did not sign anything that would put my son under his care or responsibility. I never received any form of notice in regards to another appointment made or have any paper stating I was in contract with Pat D[redacted] for any reason. I do not want to and will not pay this cancellation fee. Thank You.

Consumer

Response:

At this time, I have not been contacted by A-OK Driving School regarding complaint ID [redacted].Sincerely,[redacted]