When I'll shut up...

[Mavmb]

You know, all the problems that I had at Pan Am, I can get over if it was simply a school that had a sudden growth spurt and was going through changes.

However, what I really want is my 2000 dollars back that the school stole from me when I opted out of the program. They called it a penalty charge for me and all the other students I believe. And I also want all of the interest that Pan Am made when my 50,000 dollar loan was in there bank account and they wouldn't let me take the money out.

[TheFlyingTurkey]

Mavmb, you knew before you signed the contract, that if you left early, you would be penalized $2000. This was explained to everyone in my class before we signed the contract. It was explained to me when I toured the school 3 months before I arrived. If you didn't like it, you should have never gone to Pan Am in the first place. Your arguement on this issue is completely without merrit.
The whole reason the penalty is there is to disscourage people from signing up, taking out a big loan, and then quitting a month later. They want people who are seriously commited to hard work.
I don't know how old you are, or what your life experience is, but I have had quite a few days of hard work in my life, and I found flight school to be a lot easier than I thought it would be. Maybe thats because I love to fly, and the more I learn about flying the more I like it. I am already studying for the ATP written, and I only have 540 hours. And if that wasn't enough, I joined the Civil Air Patrol and I can't wait to start teaching the cadets what I know about flying.
Well, I have to go to work now, no wait, it's not work. I have to go play now...

[Lima_Charlie]

Hey Turk... So what is the story w/ CAP over there? I was kicking around the idea here in Phoenix, but just haven't found the time.

LC

[Tired]

[ QUOTE ]
The whole reason the penalty is there is to disscourage people from signing up, taking out a big loan, and then quitting a month later. They want people who are seriously commited to hard work.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your are right in the fact that it's a contract at each student agreed to it. It still think that $2000 is an unfair penalty. Maybe something more inline with the acutal cost of a student leaving would work out better. Idealy, each customer would be completely satifisfed and they wouldn't have to worry about leaving the program early.

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]

The whole reason the penalty is there is to disscourage people from signing up, taking out a big loan, and then quitting a month later. They want people who are seriously commited to hard work.

[/ QUOTE ]

Of course, since they wouldn't want to benefit from that, they donate that $2000 to somebody that's having financial trouble, right?

[Lima_Charlie]

Exactly! Just like what an apartment complex does when you break a lease. Any penalties are donated to the Goodwill!!

A contract is a contract. He chose to sign it, couldn't live up to it, and continues to have his panties in a bunch. So rather than just take responsibility and move on, Mav feels the need to blame everything and everyone else.

He said it himself... He is just pissed about the $$$. Losing that money is no one's fault but his own. Unfortunately, pigs will fly before he will admit that.

[CLR4ILS]

I looked at Pan-Am when I was researching schools. Pan-Am made it very apparent that they were after my money and couldn't back up their high cost with quality training. The $2000.00 penalty for withdrawling is living proof of that. Are you going to tell me that they have the panalty to "discourage" those who are not serious? That is B.S. Oh, maybe it costs $2000.00 to process the withdrawl paperwork. More B.S.

ANY school that has these kind of contracts are out to screw you and if you bought into it, then I am sorry. If they were smart, they would cut MAV a check to shut him up. He will ultimately cost them more than $2000.00 when 5, 10, 15 students decide to go somewhere else after reading his posts. I am sure he and others that P.A. have screwed have had some impact on potential students choosing another school. That penalty is not constituted anyway. If I were the students who left Pan-Am and were charged the fee, I would file a class action. I am sure a good attorney would find something wrong with the "contract".

This is why I chose Flight Safety. They treat you like a customer!!! You have complete control of your money 100% of the time. They do not have penalties to screw the students. If a student wants to leave for whatever reason, they get their money refunded or sent back to KEY Bank.

Good luck MAV...ILS

[mtsu_av8er]

The simple fact of the matter that a penalty like that is a legal rip-off, and I don't care what business you're in. It's a way to make money off of people, with no recourse. Just like a $33.00 "returned check fee". I'm sorry...it doesn't cost $33.00 to process it. Cost about $7.00. I know this for a fact... . BUT...what can you do about it? Nothing. The banks have figured out that they can make the most money this way, so they raise this fee every few years!!

They can say it's to "discourage" people from bouncing a check - but has it ever done so? Hardly....But it sure has made lot's of banks rich!!!

[CLR4ILS]

My friends girl friend works for Washington Mutual in Seattle. She said her branch processes over $250,000 PER WEEK in returned check fees. That is one branch.

Looks like Pan-Am is trying to steal money that isn't rightfully theirs also........ILS

Just a guess but, is the penalty a way for the company to recover any admin costs and commissions paid out for each student enrolled?

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a guess but, is the penalty a way for the company to recover any admin costs and commissions paid out for each student enrolled?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ummm...like, what costs?

[FLDiver]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Just a guess but, is the penalty a way for the company to recover any admin costs and commissions paid out for each student enrolled?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ummm...like, what costs?

[/ QUOTE ]

EXACTLY !!! What costs? They just steal your money, BECAUSE THEY CAN !!! You have no control over YOUR money, they can take it for whatever reason. If you ask them for a breakdown of what that money is for and why they take 60 + days to refund the rest of the monies to Key Bank, they will probably tell you that "it is none of your business", just like they did to me.

[Lima_Charlie]

Hmmm... Well, all I can say is that I have never had a problem dealing w/ accounting on any aspect of my account. I have had friends that have found mistakes on their flight account, and had them cleared up in no time at all. I have audited my own account to find mistakes, that had already been fixed w/o any intervention on my part.

Look, I have no idea what the $2K is "meant" to be for. I also don't believe it is a good policy, and I am not going to defend it. However, I was fully aware of the deal before I signed up. That was a choice that I made, and I am very much okay with it. I am not sure what else you want me to say about it?

Who knows, maybe the "powers that be" will understand that they can attract more "bee's" with honey than they can w/ vinegar.