Complaints

This profile includes complaints for ACT-iVATE Actors Studio's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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ACT-iVATE Actors Studio has 2 locations, listed below.

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  ACT-iVATE Actors Studio

  1201 1218 Burnaby st Vancouver, BC V6E 1P5

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  ACT-iVATE Actors Studio

  788 Beatty St Vancouver, BC V6B 4P4

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/02/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I paid hundreds of dollars for services that were never provided. After repeated attempts the person in charge has canceled, ignored and now flat out denies payment or wanting to reimburse.I would like to include emails and documents however your website will not allow me to currently add them?

  Business Response

  Date: 23/02/2024

  I have taught in ********* for over 15 years and my business has always been in good standing. This is the first complaint I have received and it is my sincere hope to resolve this amicably. 

  I will attach the communications from the initial period of the workshop to our most recent interaction which reveal why I have not issued a refund.

  ******* signed up for the workshop which occurred on June *****, 2021.

  The non-refundable deposit was clearly communicated (and acknowledged by him).
  
  He cancelled the workshop on the day before, which is why he was not issued a refund, as it was so close to the workshop that a replacement student could not be found. This in and of itself would deny him a refund at mine or any other studio in *********, however I decided to make an exception and offer him a credit for make up classes equal to the value of the workshop.
  
  I and my then assistant ***************************** contacted him offering the opportunity to sign up for September Classes and October Classes in 2021 as well as special classes in December 2021 and January 2022. He did not respond to any of these emails.
  
  He did not reach out until October 2022 requesting one on one private coaching (when he had paid for a workshop) - 16 months after the original workshop. By this time I had explicitly communicated that credits needed to be used within twelve months, however I attempted to make an exception and provide private coaching however the demands of my own career kept me busy and we were not able to connect.

  Then I offered the Class in August 2023.
  It wasn't until February 2024 that he reached out instead asking for a full refund.
  After such an extended period of time and my multiple attempts to accommodate him immediately after the workshop and in the years to follow I consider his request unconscionably unreasonable.
  
  It is a students responsibility to turn up for classes they have committed to, not only for themselves but for their class mates and scene partner.

  My final offer was to give him a reimbursement of $100 as a token of good will which I will be sending on March 1st.
  There is a statutory limitation period in ** of two years for bringing small claims. I consider that this matter is well beyond that period of time.
  
  

  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/03/2024

   
  Complaint: 21266480
  
  I am rejecting and must respectfully disagree with this response and the characterization of my actions as "unconscionably unreasonable."

  In this case, there was no clear indication provided prior to signing up for the workshop to me that there would be limitations on using the services, such as a time frame for redeeming credits. This lack of transparency alone is considered a violation of consumer rights under the act. 

  "Under **'s Consumer Protection Act, consumers are entitled to receive services that are of a reasonable standard. This includes services paid for with a non-refundable deposit. Furthermore, the act prohibits unfair practices by businesses, which may include misleading representations or failure to provide services as promised."

   

  Options were offered to me to join classes or receive one on one coaching. As It is more convenient with job bookings, I chose one on one coaching. I have yet to receive these services.

   

  The last time she was receptive to booking a makeup session was in October 2022, when we booked a session for October 29, and she cancelled it on the day we were scheduled to meet (documents already provided to you). I can appreciate previous attempts made to accommodate, on both sides but after all of this- she has made it incredibly difficult to find alternative options, let alone get a response, during the 12-month period she suggested. 

  I have been gracious with her cancelations and infrequent responses. I thought she may be busy with her acting/teaching schedule. I have exercised immense patience and understanding, until she ghosted me and even unfollowed me on social media.

  Since then and after all of this time she has now responded, informing me that she is no longer running her business as she is focused on her mental health. This renders any options for me to redeem my money/credits, unavailable. It also violates my rights under applicable laws and regulations in ****************.

  To make matters more insulting and insensitive, she is offering me $100, a fraction of my $300+ payment (documents already provided to you). I am willing to forego the deposit and am asking for a refund of $250.

  Sincerely,
  
  Behtash Fazlali

  Business Response

  Date: 20/03/2024

  Please refer to Schedule C for my extended response to this matter and reference ********'s A & B for supporting materials

  I have reserved all communications to this platform since the beginning of this investigation, however I am compelled  to inform you that ******* has made several attempts to private message me via Instagram, violation of the agreed upon terms of this case, if I am not mistaken.

  I sincerely hope that with this we are able to put this matter to rest.

  Alison Araya