ComplaintsforSalon Institute - Columbus

• Initial Complaint

  12/29/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  the salon institute of columbus mislead my learning disabled daughter into a contract for getting her cosmotology license. They treat their students as slave labor and do not inform the students just how much of their time is spent working in their salon instead of classroom learning. they gave her an unrealistic contract date for her learning disability and then charged her more tuition for the extra 3 wks it took her to get her certificate. mind you these weren't classroom hours they billed her for, it was for time she spent WORKING in their salon for free. she thought she had from 11/29/21-1/20/22 to graduate for the amount of tuition. she did NOT understand they would bill her for any additional days past 11/29/21 to get her hours in. this cost me an additional $1477.00! they were aware of her learning disability as they had to READ tests to her!

  Business response

  01/05/2022

  The Salon Institute is bound by curriculum standards set by the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. The 1,800 clock hour Advanced Cosmetology Program in which the complaintant's daughter enrolled is broken into theory hours taught in the classroom and clinic/practical hours taught via hands-on work. Clinic/practical hours are earned via working on mannequin heads or live clients, as defined under the curriculum descriptions in the Salon Institute student catalog and by the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. 
  
  The Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4713-5-02 states:
  
  (F) All schools shall ensure each program offered is comprised of at least twenty-five per cent theory and non-clinic practice.
  
  (G) All schools shall ensure each program offered is comprised of at least fifty per cent clinic work performed on patrons, other students or mannequins. If patrons are not available, the student shall only receive credit for clinic work if the student is actively engaged in training within the clinic related to the student's course of study.
  
  The Salon Institute salon the complaintant mentions is a classroom designed to mimic the operations and experience of a professional salon so student stylists are able to complete their clinic or practical required hours on live clients, thus giving them a learning experience similar to what they could experience once working in a salon after they become a licensed professional. 
  
  The Ohio State Board of Cosmetology regulations prohibit student stylists from earning a reportable wage performing cosmetology services without a work permit or license.  The complaintant's daughter was completing clinic/hands-on hours as required by the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology and per the state board's income restrictions for students. 
  
  The Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4713-5-22 states:
  
  (A) No student shall be paid for the performance of services upon a patron or upon another student.
  (B) A licensed school may charge for cosmetology or barbering services rendered to the public in the school clinic by supervised students.
  
  The Salon Institute charges clients reduced prices for salon services to cover product and operation costs.
  
  The Salon Institute's description of curriculum and the requirement of theory and practical hours is available in the application for admission the complaintant's daughter signed prior to completing the application process and the subsequent enrollment process, as well as in the student catalog (available at www.saloninstitute.edu and distributed to students prior to admission), and in the student enrollment agreement her daughter signed as part of the enrollment process. 
  
  Regarding contract dates and over contract fees, the complaintant's daughter originally enrolled in the 1,800 clock hour program on a 21 hours per week schedule. This originally made her contract graduation date April 19, 2022.
  
  On March 25, 2021, the complaintant's daughter signed a new contract to switch to a 35 hours per week schedule, effective May 3, 2021. This changed her contract graduation date to Nov. 29, 2021, due to being scheduled to complete more hours per week and thus finish her Ohio State Board of Cosmetology required hours earlier.
  
  The Salon Institute also is bound by regulations set by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences,  which requires a limit to the amount of time a student has to complete their state-required hours. Prior to enrollment, information is made publicly available in the application for admission and the student handbook regarding attendance policies and over contract costs. The over contract costs also are outlined in the enrollment agreement a student signs prior to starting classes. 
  
  At the time of her contract graduation date, the complaintant's daughter had 151.91 hours remaining in her Ohio State Board of Cosmetology required hours. Our records show that the complaintant's daughter was made aware of her projected over contract hours due to absences. All students are permitted to and encouraged to make up missed hours by coming to class on non-scheduled days so they do not go over contract. 
  
  The complaintant's daughter did not disclose the disability referenced on the complaint. Salon Institute staff will read tests for any student who requests it, regardless if a disability is or is not disclosed. Salon Institute administrators and staff make reasonable accommodations for students who disclose and document disabilities per the Institute's 504 policy (available at www.saloninstitute.edu).
  
  In summary,  the complaintant and her daughter had access to all policies and procedures prior to application for admission; graduation dates and over contract costs were outlined in the enrollment agreement Ms. Leach's daughter signed prior to starting classes, and again when she changed her schedule in order to complete the program faster than her original date; the complaintant's daughter was given opportunity and encouragement to make up hours so as not to incur over contract fees; and the referenced disability was not disclosed with an official request for additional accommodation. The over contract charges reflect the agreement made in the signed contracts, and the Salon Institute fulfilled its obligation per this agreement.

  Customer response

  01/05/2022

  they were fully aware of my daughters disability and they had to READ her tests to her because she can't comprehend what she is reading!!! So how could she even comprehend their contract when she signed it??? She was not made aware until 1 wk prior to her scheduled graduation that she would have to pay extra  for the missed hours  between 11/29 and 12/14 or whatever her graduation date was. She did NOT understand it fully at all due to her disability that they were aware of. If they weren't aware of it why did they read the test to her? All i want is to be reimbursed for the extra hrs charged due to their lack of explanation to a learning disabled student.  Every teacher was aware, ********* read the tests to her, Karen would study with her to help her understand the readings. They were VERY aware. i have also attached a screen shot from a text with ********* where ***** specifically mentions her learning disability.
  
  

  Business response

  01/06/2022

  In the application for admission (attached) the complaint's daughter indicated that there was nothing that would prevent her from completing her course of study with reasonable accommodation (ie. Reading the test to her). During a conversation with school administration today (Jan. 6) the complainant was invited to join her daughter for her exit interview to further discuss her complaint and she refused, saying her daughter was an adult. Based on her daughter's age as a legal adult and the complainant's refusal to attend a meeting based on the assertion of her daughter's adult status, the Salon Institute did not take advantage as previously accused. The student in question voluntarily signed documentation agreeing to Salon Institute policies, including acknowledging the over contract date and per hour cost. The Salon Institute fulfilled their contract and will not issue a refund. 

  Customer response

  01/07/2022

  they mention that I refused to join in their exit interview with ***** which is only part of what occurred. I informed them at that point that  I live in Illinois NOT Ohio so it is impossible for me to attend this meeting, I would be willing to do a conference call with all involved but that wasn't offered. I did say my daughter is an adult in the conversation regarding why I DIDN'T come with her to sign the contract she signed because I wasn't told of her signing it  until she had done it and she is an adult and didn't feel she needed to involve me. She is trying to be independent but this reading disability is definitely why she should not be signing contract unless they are read to her and explained. She now knows and understands this after all the drama this school has caused her.  As for the contract, she has a reading comprehension disability and a 504 letter that she has had her entire life since elementary school, on the contact it mentions do you have any disability that would cause you to be unable to complete this course. She thought it was referring to a PHYSICAL disability and not her learning disability as the learning disability doesn'tt keep her from completing the course she just had to have accommodations of reading to her which they did do and extended time which are all part of her 504.  They did not read the contract to her and fully explain it or the monthly papers they gave her with her hours since they had abbreviations on it that she didn't know what they stood for. She fully thought she had between 11/29 and 1/20 to complete the course. She thought the over contract fees were in regard to going over the 1/20 date.

  
  

  Yesterday my daughter ***** tried to schedule her exit interview and have them schedule her state boards thru ********* and she refused stating due to this complaint we filed they could not schedule it. I then called them and ********* refused to do it and then Karen got on the call. Karen tried lying that they didn't know of her disability at all on the call, but they did because the teachers all read to her from day 1 and so did Karen and ********* which completely contradicts them stating they weren't aware of the disability.  I have a text between ***** and ********* where ***** mentions her disability that I attached in my previous response. I then told Karen they can't hold this complaint against ***** because we paid in full and she completed the program so they MUST schedule her exam as this complaint had NOTHING to do with her finishing the program. Once i stated they can't do that because she met all the qualifications Karen said fine they would book her exit interview and  then schedule her state board exam. They have done that, but only because I got involved otherwise they would have just pushed ***** into cancelling this complaint so she could get her license.
  

  
  

  
  Regards,
  
  Janette Leach

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