Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/22/2023

  Type:Product 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.

  On February 21, 2023 my daughter was relentlessly bullied by her teammates for 3 hours straight at Magnolia Dance Academy. The bullying was a result of her wearing makeup to the class, and her teammates ganging up on her and teasing her for the way it looked, accusing her of wearing 2 week old makeup from the previous competition. This incident happened just 2 days after several of her teammates were in a physical altercation in the studio without any adult supervision. For reference, the oldest girl on the team is just 10 years old. My daughter was in another room doing exactly as instructed, however, I did receive a phone call stating my daughter would receive the full punishment from the children in the altercation without adult supervision even though she wasn't in the room. On the night my daughter was relentlessly attacked for 3 hours straight never once did an adult step in and tell the other kids to stop it. I picked her up and she was a crushed ball of tears. Upon notification to the studio that my hus**** and I would immediately be pulling her from the team, we as parents were attacked for our parenting and told that if we don't have her face it and learn to deal with it, she was just going to get bullied elsewhere. The studio owner then went on to publicly call out my 10 year daughter, commanding that she forgive and move forward. As parents, we're thankful our child immediately confided in us of the attack and didn't come home and kill herself. For reference, we are 4 months out from the attack and my daughter still talks about it every single day. The only things we asked of the studio was just for our $350 deposit back, and credit for 7 months of tap lessons she didn't receive, but we were charged for. Our accounting records show we didn't get it, and the studio owner claims we were credited, but our records do not show that. The owner also claims our child received yoga instead of tap, but we never consented to or signed her up for yoga.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/22/2023

  My initial reaction to this is nothing short of being dumbfounded. Most, if not all of what she is claiming is completely false. The supposed 3 hours of bullying did not happen. I was personally in and out with the dancers during the time they were together and saw her daughter with her teammates giggling because they were watching the video from the competition and had been given an assignment to write down things they wanted to improve. Their instructor Ms. Courtney was in with them the entire time as well as our two teenage (high school) instructors. No one witnessed her daughter being bullied at all. I do not tolerate that type of behavior at my studio, and I believe I have several hundred parents that would vouch for that. After they watched the video, the girls went into another studio where they spent about an hour receiving individual special recognition awards and pins from the competition. Again, her daughter was completely fine. Maybe she didn't like the award she received (which is usually an MVP but this time was not) but other than that she was completely fine. The alleged bullies? She has been with them, the same (exact) girls for over 2 years. They spend a lot of time together and so their relationships sometimes resemble that of siblings. After all of this was brought to my attention, two children on the team told me that they asked ****** if she was still wearing her stage makeup from competition. Mean? maybe. Bullying? I don't think so. Once the accusation was posted on ****, a meeting was called with all parents of the team to discuss. The girls on her team were very upset that she was leaving, because they loved ******. They all decided to write her a card that was mailed to her, I do not know if ****** was ever shown the card. 

  What Mrs. ****** failed to mention is that she and I were in business together, a retail store that is located inside of our studio. We were 50/50 partners.  So, when I wake up the morning after the video and special awards to a public post from ***** about the fact that her daughter got into the car crying and says her teammates bullied her for 3 hours, I was shocked. First, because rather than pick up the phone and call me as soon as her child got into the car upset, she chose to blast a post publicly on our **** group AND ********.   This alone tells of her character.  One that I believed for a very long time to be one of integrity.  
   I would like to address her unsubstantiated request for a refund.  1- she left her team midseason which required hours of reblocking, in which I have to either do myself or pay instructors to do. She agreed at the beginning of the season to a contract stating anyone that leaves mid-season is subject to a reblocking fee of $250. There is also a 30-day notice to be given for withdrawal, it is policy at our studio (just like a gym). Therefore, she was responsible for tuition for 30 days after she withdrew. The $350 she referenced was deducted from her monthly competition fees, which reduced the amount that was owed each month. After reconciling her account and crediting where credits were due, it was determined that she owed an excess of $400 to the studio. An amount I decided not to pursue simply because I was so hurt by her actions, I wanted nothing to do with her moving forward. Tuition is determined by hours, not content. Once a dancer hits 6 hours per week they are on an unlimited plan. ****** had an average of 8 hours of dance training per week including extra practices that no additional fees were charged. Tap did take a back seat for the first 6 months of the season, however, it was decided by myself and the instructors that they girls needed to focus more on their technical training for strength, leaps & turns. They did still do tap a couple times a month, but again, we did replace the hour that was originally designated for tap with core training, yoga and technique.  I saw ***** almost daily and she never mentioned that she didn't agree with that plan or that she had any concerns about it. Maybe I should have asked her on ******** what she thought. That seems to be her preferred method of communication.   I also would like to add that after her abrupt departure from the studio, she left me completely hanging with our business. It was an informal arrangement, but still a legitimate and functioning business. We both agreed that we would allow the store to grow at it's own pace because neither of us had a ton of time to commit. We also agreed that every dollar made in profits would go back into inventory, however after all of this happened, I learned that she had been using the profits from the store for her own personal use for many months.   I'm quite sure I've left some things out.  I do have email correspondence that I can send to you as well, I just need some extra time to gather that. I wish that I had the time to go into greater detail to be sure that nothing is left unnoted, however I do wear many hats as a dance studio owner and have classes beginning in a few minutes.

  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 06/24/2023

  At this point, it comes down to the contract signed.
  
  Emotions were heightened in my initial response, but as a business without emotions I technically lost money and am just writing it off so I can move on with my business. Please see attached contract signed by *****.
  
  It states that if you have any issues or concerns you are expected to bring those to your instructor or director. The contract also states that if you withdraw in the middle of the season there is a $250 re-blocking fee associated with every routine your child is in. Additionally, the contract also states that you are to give 30 days' notice of withdrawal from the studio. 
  
  The $350 deposit that she paid in July is just that a deposit. It goes to offset money during the year. The amount was deducted from her monthly competition fee installment. 
  
  As far as the monthly tuition goes the rate is based on hours in studio not classes taken. She was in the studio under our direction 6-8 hours a week.
  
  
  Please see the second attachment breakdown of charges associated with the account. Again, I am taking a loss on monies owed as you can tell this was not an amicable split. 
  
  
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/26/2023

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Please review the previously attached statement which shows a $350 Season Deposit paid on 7/14/2023. Please see the attached screenshot explaining, "This deposit will help to offset your expenses over the course of the season. You can choose to use funds from your deposit to go towards reducing your fees each month over the course of
  the season, or during a certain time when you anticipate need (ex: Christmastime)." 

  1. Never once was I given the option to use my deposit money towards a balance, or asked how I would like the deposit money applied.

  2. There is zero accounting to show that any of my deposit was used to offset a competition fee or tuition balance. If that was the case, the accounting statement would show a "competition fee" listed as a charge, and then "applied season deposit balance" as a credit to reduce the owed amount. My statement never shows a season deposit being used to offset any listed charges. There are no "season deposit credits." There is zero accounting to document how the $350 deposit was distributed.

  3. I selected Option 2: which never states the deposit would be used to offset competition fees. It just states you pay your deposit, and then you "CHOOSE" how to use the funds. I never used the funds, and for both the physical and mental safety of my child we had to leave. Option 2 is outlined as follows: "Option #2- Costumes, Entry Fees, Convention fees, and Team Gear will be totaled and split into 10
  installments drafted on the 15th of each month. The first installment will be drafted on August 15 and
  the final on May 15. Recital fee is not included in the payment plan. Your deposit of $350 is still due on
  July 15."

  4. Forcing our child to return to Magnolia Dance Academy after she was attacked by her teammates and witness to a physical altercation without proper supervision would actually be a violation of Title 63 SECTION 63-5-70. Unlawful conduct towards a child (1.) Place the child at unreasonable risk of harm affecting the child's life, physical or mental health, or safety; 
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ***** ******