ComplaintsforMilan Institute

• Initial Complaint

  08/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The school is refusing to recertify attendance with the VA due to not wanting to impact their withstanding with the VA. The cosmetology program was supposed to be completed on June 18, however, due to various factors which are at fault from the school itself, the individual was not able to complete the program on time and is still currently attending the program. The school is refusing to recertify attendance so that the individual can continue to get their financial assistance from the VA. Several attempts to address this issue with the financial aid office, and the Director of the school have been made with no outcome. Complaint to the VA is also being submitted.

  Business response

  08/20/2024

  To Whom It May Concern,

  Thank you for allowing us to respond to the complaint. VA students are to complete on their contracted scheduled end date. The only time we are able to recertify the students are when they take a leave of absence or request a session change, at which time the expected graduation date changes. Upon looking at the student's file, we see that neither of these scenarios occurred here,  Therefore, we are unable to recertify.
  Regarding this particular student, while we cannot share details publicly due to privacy requirements, the campus has been actively working with the student regarding her academics, and she has been made aware of what is needed to ensure she progresses on schedule towards the completion of her program.  

  Thank you again for allowing us to respond.

  Milan Institute

  Compliance Dept

  *********************************

  ************

  Customer response

  08/22/2024

   I am rejecting this response because no attempt to ensure that the program was completed in a timely was made prior to that date. It was only until several weeks later that any attempt was made.
  
  
  

  Business response

  09/04/2024

  Thank you for allowing us to respond to the consumer's complaint.

  The student is working directly with the campus management at this time, and while it is up to the VA to determine what they accept and allow,  we are working with the student the best we can to assist her. 

  Thank you,

  Milan Institute

   

  Customer response

  09/04/2024

   I am rejecting this response because no attempt was made to ensure that the program was completed on time. The student was not put on an action plan until two months after she was supposed to have completed the program. 
  
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Have been trying to get my esop payout for several months. At first there was no return communication, and now the payout has been delayed several times. The last time was supposed to happen February 15th. I submitted required documents as requested in January. Communication has once again ceased.

  Business response

  03/08/2024

  Hello,

   

  Thank you for contacting us and allowing us to respond to complaint # ********.

  Milan Institute's ************************** has been in with the complainant. We have requested information from her and will be able to resolve this as soon as she provides us with that information.

   

  Thank you,

  **************

  Compliance Auditor

  Milan Institute

  ********************************* ************

  Customer response

  03/08/2024

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  I have sent the documents three separate times, and received a confirmed email receipt of documents in January. 
  

  this esop was supposed to be paid in 2023. Milan is constantly giving excuses and postponing the disbursement. 

  Business response

  03/12/2024

  Hello,

   

  Thank you for allowing us to respond to the complaint response from *************************************.

  ************************ is on an expedited distribution list, as our ************************** informed her of yesterday. We are awaiting an ETA, however, we are at the mercy of a 3rd party at this time.

  Thank you,

  *****************************

  Compliance Auditor

  Milan Institute 

• Initial Complaint

  09/29/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Hello, I was a student at Milan Institute in ******* **. On the date of September 19, 2023 I arranged a meeting with the lead instructor on campus to discuss and bring a few concerns to their attention. Sanitation, teacher professionalism, as well as concerns regarding my initial course and what it entailed. After this conversation she advised me that I would have to speak with director of the campus as she is unable to be of much assistance. I specified to her that after numerous attempts I was having no luck reaching him to schedule a meeting. As each time I tried he was said to be in a meeting. After this meeting I returned back to class at which ******************************************************** from there, stating that Director was now available for a meeting. Im not quite sure as to what was relayed as the moment I entered his office I was greeted by a very unpleasant demeanor which made me feel very u comfortable. He was very aggressive and unprofessional. After this conversation I felt hopeless and just left it alone. 2 weeks later on September 25, 2023 I received a letter stating my enrollment had been terminated and I was no longer able to finish my course. I dont understand this decision at all, Im not getting any response to my emails stating my concern of being unaware of the issue at hand as to why I had been terminated to begin with. I feel very discriminated against and this is very unsettling. I have invested so much of my time and efforts into this program and I feel this just doesnt make sense. And to not be able to get any response when I request an explanation just seems unfair.

  Business response

  10/04/2023

  Hello,

  I would like to address the concerns raised by ************************
  
  According to the campus records, there is no record of the student attempting to contact or schedule a meeting with the Campus Director until September 19th, 2023. On this date, both the student and her father met with the Campus Director. Regrettably, during this meeting, the student was found to have violated the school's Conduct Policy due to unprofessional behavior.Consequently, she was withdrawn from the program.
  
  Please feel free to reach out if you require further information or clarification.

   

  *****************************

  Compliance Auditor

  Milan Institute 

  *********************************

  ************

• Initial Complaint

  09/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  It’s ridiculous that this place can be called a school. They don’t teach us anything. The instructors tell us to “simulate” dying hair, putting hair relaxer on, & do bleach or anything hair related. They have us “simulate” with a hair cream. How are we supposed to learn anything if we’re told to put conditioner in hair and pretend we’re performing a service?? They even had us use that same hair cream to “simulate” waxing eyebrows on our manikins. It’s beyond ridiculous. I constantly ask instructors how to do a service and I’m told to go on YouTube and find a video. Or to “simulate” the thing I’m struggling on. How am I going to learn if I’m not actually performing anything right? I was taught to do a chemical facial by hold a cup a few inches away from a manikin head and “simulating” light therapy since they don’t have the machines. I pass all of my test and I have great attendance. I engage on my day online and ask a bunch of questions and I try to ask instructors on my days on campus. Sadly, this doesn’t get me the help I need. We never have products to use and are constantly told to pretend we’re using the real products and to pretend we’re performing the service. It’s complete false advertisement. It’s not hands on at all and it’s a complete waste of money. As someone who loves cosmetology, I’m baffled that so many people are not being taught ANYTHING and no one is speaking up about it. I want what Im paying for. I signed a contract that promised to provide me the tools I needed and the education I needed. Not a paper that said teachers will tell me to watch something on YouTube and to pretend I’m doing the service. I want to contact licensing, I need the number. This is aweful. I want a refund. My tuition should have went to a program that invests in its students. I have my contract if needed.

  Business response

  10/06/2022

  Hello,

  
  

  We take our students concerns seriously…we are actively working with the student on her concerns, and she met with her campus director as recently as 10/5/22.  Due to privacy protocols, we are unable to talk about the student and her personal situation, but please be assured we are working with her with the sincere goal of resolving her concerns as quickly as possible.

  Regards,

  
  

  ********* *****

  Compliance Auditor

  Milan Institute 

  
  

  ************

  Customer response

  10/06/2022

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  I made the dean aware of how I was mislead into my contract, stating I was only interested in doing nails and that if there was no program available, I’d look somewhere else or if they were going to have a program for nails in the future, I’d wait. I was told there would be no nail program in the future and that they teach nails in depth in the cosmo program. The cosmo program covered nails in two weeks. One week was theory (class/book work) the next week was to learn all things nails. In two class days. That’s not in depth. If I would have known this, I would have never signed as that’s not “in depth” as I was promised. There is now also a nail program and I was told they wouldn’t have one in the future, if not I would have waited. I spoke to a student in that program and she said she had been waitoing for it for over a year. I was told they wouldn’t have a nail program, if I knew there was a nail program in the works, I would have waited as I was in no rush. I wanted to specify in nails as I stated to multiple instructors. I brought this up multiple times to different staff and was told I’d have to drop and apply for the other program if that’s what I wanted to do, but still pay off the cosmo loan. I mentioned how I was told I’d learn nails in depth and that’s not how they teach in this school. Two days in class is not enough or considered in depth, had I known this from the start, I would have never signed. Also, had I known they were getting a nail program in the future, I would have waited or went somewhere else to find a nail school. I’m currently on leave waiting for answers as I was told that they apologize for my experience and that they’d see what they can do for me. We didn’t start in the mail module when I first started school, had I started there and seen that’s what they did for nails, I would have left right away. But since we started in hair cutting and that’s a 4 week course, I didn’t have the opportunity to be able to drop. I feel I was misinformed and mislead into the contract by being told they’d teach me nails in depth in the cosmo program and that there wasn’t going to be a nail program in the future I could wait for and now there is. Ontop of the lack of supplies and the way we are taught (watching YouTube videos) I haven’t learned anything and I don’t know how to do anything, despite passing all my tests and having good attendance. I feel we are paying for the certificate and not a good education. They shouldn’t be able to lie to students to get them into the program like they did to me.

  Business response

  10/13/2022

  Hello,

  
  

  We are sorry to hear that the student is not pleased with her training. When she enrolled, the elements of the program were explained to her.  She acknowledged receipt of the campus catalog and program outline that details the hours and breakdown of the program.  We are confident she was made aware of the hours and activities that would be part of the Cosmetology program.  

   

  The student has met with campus management and has been offered a transfer into the Manicurist program to focus more on nails.  She is not currently an active student and has refused a transfer.

  
  

  Thank you,

  
  

  ***** ******

  Compliance Director, Milan Institute

  Customer response

  10/14/2022

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  I was given false information on how the program worked and was mislead into believe I’d be learning hands on as advertised. I am a current student and am on leave due to babysitting issues I was having, I have not dropped or withdrawn. I was told if I transfer into that program, I’d still owe the entire balance of the cosmo program. I do not want to transfer because I am dissatisfied with the way the programs are run and the lack of hands on teaching and lack of products for students, not the program itself. I mentioned from the beginning I was only interested in nails, that I’d wait for a program or go elsewhere to look for training. I was mislead into the cosmo program, promised by staff that I’d be taught in depth to do hair, skin, and nails. The programs are barely in the process of being switched to 1,000 hours where the chemical facials/facials are required. So the requirements are still on our sheets showing that we need those practicals and the machines have never been working or fixed since I’ve been enrolled since January. Not all students are transferring to the lesser hour program so those practicals are still required and we do not have the equipment for it. We are told to simulate/pretend the service is being completed. Previously the business replied saying those practicals aren’t required but they are for the students that are doing the 1600 hour cosmo program, not all students want to transfer and some of them can’t because they passed 1,000 hrs so they have to stay in that program and they don’t have those machines to used to do the practicals hands on as advertised and stated by the staff. I was promised a good education and was told by staff I’d have a lot of practice and hands on training and that I’d learn in depth to do all cosmo subjects and I have not. We have NEVER received manikin hands which we are supposed to have to practice. I had been asking for one for months and was given the run around, that they’re waiting for a shipment, they don’t have any yet, to wait a while longer, then finally that we don’t need them because it’s not required to do the practical in state board. I don’t understand how we are constantly being lied to by staff and how they can get away with misleading students into the programs. I waited 10 years to go back to school because I wanted to be sure I knew what I wanted to study, when I found my passion and I was sure of it, I started looking for nail programs. I was promised a good hands on education and was told I’d learn in depth to do nails and all other things and I haven’t. I mentioned to staff if there was a program coming in the future I’d wait and I was told no. Now they have a manicure program and one of the students told me she waited over a year for it. Had I been informed, I would have waited or gone elsewhere as well. I was lied to multiple times, don’t have the equipment or products needed to do my practicals, and am being told I’d have to pay everything for the cosmo program even if I chose to transfer which I don’t want to. If this is how they run their programs, there’s no way I’d want to be in any other course at this school. It is not hands on as advertised.

• Initial Complaint

  02/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled in the Esthetician Program at Milan on November 15, 2021. The lady who enrolled me was the new Esthetician Instructor. The instructor offered no guidance and we all were teaching ourselves. During orientation, we were told that online we need to have our cameras on at all times no excuses. Just because we are learning remotely due to COVID does not mean that the school is a virtual school. This school is "for-profit" and they only get paid according to the instructional hours. My teacher was not experienced in all areas for example, makeup. We are required to learn how to do makeup but instead, we're watching teenagers do makeup on ******** This program is *********. I paid out my pocket IN CASH 2.499.00 and the rest was paid through (attached funding estimate). I should be receiving hands-on learning and proper instructional hours. Also, the instructor sleeps during "instructional hours". COVID at the institute is not being properly handled. I have ***** and I caught it myself. Students are walking around the campus with no masks and the school hides the covid cases from us. They tell us "Class will be remote for the rest of the week" and that's it. We have to ask to find out if it's covid related. On Jan 19 our instructor got terminated. There was a meeting held with my class and all they said was sorry with no plan. We found out that the instructor was giving us false information (education) which lead us to fall behind including our operations to go onto Phase 2. An example, we were "taught" how to do a chemical facial, but we were using the wrong products. What if I was practicing on a real-life person? At the meeting, we received the information we needed to move on which was supposed to be handed out the first day of class. The Institut gave us two instructors that work the day class and they're unprofessional and rude. They refuse to help and only do what benefits them. During a test, I was taking I was left unattended & for the rest of the night.

  Business response

  02/03/2022

  Hello, 

  
  

  The Milan Institute of Cosmetology has received notification of the Better Business Bureau complaint from *******************************. Due to federal regulations regarding privacy, namely the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, we are unable to directly respond with any detailed information regarding any current or former student.  Under federal law, we are unable to discuss any current or former student, or even acknowledge if someone is a student,without their signed consent.

   

  We can,however, assure you that this complaint is without merit.  We have investigated all records and we have determined that all state, federal and accreditation regulations have been followed. This includes detailed statements and documentation regarding state cosmetology rules, transfer of credit policy, instruction, and student advising.

  
  

  Thank you, 

  
  

  *******************************

  
  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩