Complaints

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:01/13/2025

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 signed up for the Essential Tattoo Course, based on what the Florida Tattoo Academy's website lists the expected curriculum to be. I believe I am a victim of misleading conduct on the schools part after attending the school. On the Academys website, under the Essential Tattoo Course there is a description of what we students will learn. We were introduced to said topics via ******* videos. Essentially there was no insight given that I couldnt have gotten watching the same, if not more academic oriented videos at home. There was no mention of watching videos on their website. It's as if it was specifically left out to mislead students to assume we'd have a "classic" school teaching setting. I wasnt given proper information beforehand to avoid this outcome, despite calling the school and asking for specific information about the program and looking at their website numerous times. Some of the more important topics we were supposed to go over were information for BBP testing, skin biology, skin health assessment, reducing trauma, clean healing, cross contamination, studio safety, etc. These topics were basically not taught at all. How are we supposed to perform tattoos on people without learning about skin health? If you hand someone a tattoo machine, give them 100 hours to practice, they will eventually be able to trace lines... That is the concept I believe this school is based on after attending. There was no real teaching or guidance. Another issue I encountered was that per contractual agreement under Essential Tattoo Program Costs: $800.00 of the tuition cost goes towards supplies, textbooks and other materials. We students were told to BUY our own supplies to use instead for classes due to the school not having them. I didn't see where my (non-refundable) $800.00 had gone. They started ignoring me now after trying to get the money back I paid them directly to teach me how to properly tattoo, per contract agreement, that they failed to do.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/29/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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.

  On or about May 28th,2024 I paid the Florida Tattoo Academy a down payment in cash in the amount of $1500.00 to begin a class for the duration of 12 weeks. On the one day of class I was able to attend, I was given paperwork along with the rest of the class, containing the class rules, regulations etc. In this paperwork it clearly states if for any reason necessary a refund would be given if requested. I have on multiple occasions requested by email, as well as by phone for a refund with either no response or a promise for a returned call and resolution as to when, and how much my refund would be for. *******, the woman who specifically handles tuition and refunds I have spoken to, once with her seeming to understand my requests and a promise to get back to me by the end of the week an failing to do so. After waiting the week out with still no phone call or email, I tried calling her back that following Monday with no answer. again on Tuesday same outcome, and this continued that entire week leading into the next. This went on like this for two and a half weeks, when I decided to call from a number that I wouldn't usually use, that's when she answered having no explanation telling me she would have to get back to me again. Here it is two days later with still no word from her. I've exhausted every option possible short of hiring an attorney, which I simply can not afford.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/14/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore 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 enrolled in classes at Florida Tattoo Academy on April 1st through June 11th, based on the fact that there would be 200 hours of instruction and training, also that supplies would be provided, administration didn't account for Easter which took a day out of this calculation but even with this oversight there were only 168 hours total and not 200, this was discussed in an email to administration 10 days after classes started but I was assured this would be resolved, which it wasn't. Also, getting supplies was a constant struggle, even though this was also addressed in the beginning of transitioning from theory to the physical practice of the actual tattooing process. The school was always out of something, Vaseline, gloves, biohazard bags, needles, as well as a limited supply of color Ink that should have been replaced before classes started. Some of the Items NOT covered during instruction but clearly indicated on the website was understanding the specifics of skin biology, using different color pigments and how skin color impacts the overall tattoo. Also, on the website it also explains that students also learn how to build, breakdown, and maintain coil machines, and are introduced to using foot pedals, this didn't happen either. Also not covered during class was topics that included shop management, tattoo pricing and students were never given pig skin in as a last step before exam, I don't know what exam they are referring to before becoming licensed to tattoo. The online curriculum and what actually occurred during class were two different things all together for $6,600 (not including the obscene credit card fees to pay using credit card was not worth it. Per your Enrollment Contract Line 11 Program/course cancellations and refunds: If the school changes its curriculum, while the student has a signed Enrollment Agreement with the school, then the school will do one of the following: I would personally prefer to receive a Refund all monies paid by the student.