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Report: #592554

Complaint Review: La Vallee's USA Black Belt Champions - Fort Lauderdale Florida

  • Submitted:
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  • Reported By: R Miles — FoRT LAUDERDALE Florida United States of America
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  • La Vallee's USA Black Belt Champions 1425 B E Commercial BLD Fort Lauderdale, Florida United States of America

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I was a student.  Students are instructed to run on demand in the classroom.  During one particular run some of the mats were becoming separated {this is common.} Because of that I fell and my left foot was sprained.  These mats are only attached by velcro; it seems that these mats were not meant to be run on by a group of people in procession or they would not look as bad as they do.  As a result of my sprain I was not able to attend any classes for weeks.


Then I was was involved in several motor vehicle crashes and am no longer able to participate in any classes. I provided LaVallee's USA Black Belt Champions with documentation including a doctor's statement to confirm my condition.  

I cannot finish the program which I paid for in full and LaVallee's Black Belt Champions is refusing to give me back my money for the unused portion.

I caution anyone who signs up for any classes at LaVallee's USA Black Belt Champions given my situation.  First there is a safety matter, then a financial matter and neither seems to be much of a concern to them when it comes to their current or past students.  

 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/12/2010 07:32 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/la-vallees-usa-black-belt-champions/fort-lauderdale-florida-33334/la-vallees-usa-black-belt-champions-abusing-an-individual-with-injuries-fort-lauderdale-592554. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author
4Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#5 Consumer Comment

LaVallee's Karate

AUTHOR: anonymous - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, April 21, 2010

As a parent considering sending my two kids to LaVallee's in Oakland Park I'm glad I had the opportunity to see this consumer report as well as the other two.  I will be looking elsewhere for alternative choices.

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#4 Consumer Comment

Record Straight

AUTHOR: ndot - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, April 18, 2010

I've been a student at LaVallee's USA black Belt Champions for four years. I proudly earned my black belt at our Ft. Lauderdale NTC location. Our mats are in excellent condition. I'm not sure often you came to class to suggest that it is common for our mats to seperate. That is entirely false and I can say that because I run, strike, side slide, do ground work, and more on them 4 times a week. You obviously haven't been in many dojos to know what bad mat conditions look like. Also, we have three VERY specific rules that we follow at our dojo and the first rule is "Safety." If you were a student there you've heard that before. We take safety very seriously as students and so do our instructors. In my entire time attending the Lavallee's school I have NEVER felt, nor seen any situation, that would be deemed a safety concern.

I'm genuinely sorry to hear about your ankle sprain and multiple car accidents. I know misfortune, as I've had some in my life as well. It sounds like you've had a strange amount of bad luck recently and, although I don't know you personally (or may), I wish nothing but positive things for you in the future. However, I have a very hard time with your claim that you presented doctor's orders to your instructors that state that you can not participate in class and your situation went without concern.

My experience has been exactly opposite of yours. I've had injuries and each time that I've gone to my instructors they have put my contract on hold until I could return. The LaVallee's organization greatly surpassed any expectation I could have when I ran into some serious financial struggles with my work. While I too signed a legal binding contract that I was obligated to. I sat down with my instructors and explained not only my situation but my intentions as a student, we worked out a VERY GENEROUS agreement where I could train free of charge (which they in NO WAY had to do). I am mroe grateful to them than I can effectivly express. If they did not truly care about their students, and only cared about money, there would be no point in allowing me to train. I will not only fulfill my contract with them, but will renew it again when it is up. In my opinion, there is no better place to train. They exemplify what it means to be a true balck belt school.   

Businesses must have contracts in order to survive, as I'm sure you know. Our state of the art dojo is not cheap to run. Electric, water, cleaning, equipment maintenance and purchasing. I say "our" because I have always felt like a part of the LaVallee's family as a student there. We are a tightly knit group of students who would embrace you and your situations with care and concern. I've personally seen several cases where the instruction has been modified to meet the needs of individual students with various limitations. If you presented a doctor's statement explaining the situation, I find it hard to believe that an agreement could not be reached. My experience was the complete opposite. It doesn't make sense. Did you communicate with them as things were occurring or go back to them in an unreasonable time frame?   

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#3 Consumer Comment

Responsibility

AUTHOR: NH - (United States of America)

POSTED: Sunday, April 18, 2010

As a student of LaVallee's for more than 3.5 years, I can say that martial arts and most things in life run on a system of you get what you give. Martial arts is a sport as any other. While I am a fit adult, I too have sustained injuries while pushing myself at the dojo; It was my doing, not as a result of unsafe dojo conditions. I've never seen any.

People naturally lose interest and go through personal challenges during their time at the dojo. This is normal. Each person's situation that I saw was dealt with on a personal level, but the first step was them talking to the necessary people. When I was injured or questioned my ability to continue paying for lessons I stepped forward to discuss it. We worked out the best options and/or extended any missed program time as necessary.

Your dojo and accident injuries are unfortunate, but did you really step up and submit your doctor's note and concerns, or did you do what most people do....wait it out until your contract was finally expired then complain about it after the fact?

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#2 Author of original report

Response to J Samurai's rebuttal

AUTHOR: R Miles - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, April 16, 2010

You seem to be a pretty good spokesperson for Lavallee's.


My motor vehicle injuries are such that my doctor determined that I should not engage in this activity anymore. Your comment about "get back up after getting knocked down...." is unrealistic and flies in the face of medical advice.  Getting knocked down was never part of the problem.  Your comment is, however, something with which LaVallee's would be in total agreement.
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#1 Consumer Comment

Life-Long LaVallee's USA BBC student's response to R Miles

AUTHOR: Samurai J - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, April 15, 2010

I am a student at LaVallees USA Black Belt Champions.  I have been training in the system for over fifteen years.  At no time have I ever felt that my health or life was at risk.  I can assure you that the mats and equipment of all USA BBC training facilities that I have been in are state of the art.

 

Occasionally, there have been instances in which I legitimately could not attend classes due to injuries.  When this happened, I notified the USA BBC instructors.  They gladly put the program on hold for me (and all billing was put on hold as well) until I returned and resumed training.

 

In regards to payment and billing, I, along with every student in the system, are aware that we are responsible for showing up for classes as defined in our agreements.  And USA BBC charges the rate that is clearly specified in each students agreement that they sign.  Basically, they charge you for the service that you agree to pay them for.  Pretty simple stuff.

 

Martial arts is a contact sport and sometimes things happen.  However, true champions get back up after getting knocked down and always take responsibility for their own actions.   Perhaps you should consider doing the same.

 

Respectfully,

 

J

2nd Degree Black Belt

LaVallees USA Black Belt Champions. 

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