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From: Reiki Council
To: cs_colvin@yahoo.com
Cc: mingram@tfcloaninfo.com; connie@sanctuaryschoolofmassage.com
Sent: Friday, August 3, 2007 2:20:15 PM
Subject: Your School Status
Catherine,
For the reasons outlined below, we have no intention of submitting your paperwork to the financing company. I expected you in school at the established time over the weekend for the required Chakra Wisdom & Energy Anatomy course to discuss your status. You did not show up to the class stating you decided you would take it another time.
Let me present the situation as Connie and I understand it.
1. You approached us stating that you wanted a refresher course because you had already attended massage school, but did not feel ready to pass the exam. Your interests were approaching this more as extensive continuing education, rather than a massage program.
2. When it came time to perform in class, it was clear that in some areas you demonstrated strong knowledge, but your basic level hands-on skills were severely lacking.
3. You indicated to Connie that your health issues were flaring up and creating problems that were interfering with your ability to function in your classes.
4. Connie scheduled a time for you to come in, let her personally experience your massage to determine how to best proceed with your training. You did not show.
5. 5. You then stated that you were having problems with strength issues and decided to drop from the current Swedish Massage course and be able to start the Swedish course over at a later date when you were healthier. This request was approved.
6. You stated that because you felt confused and a little lost because you joined an ongoing class, and wanted to drop from the Anatomy & Physiology Course and take it at a later date. We accepted you into the ongoing class for two important reasons: first, you stated that this was a review for you having already graduated from a massage program. And second, the ongoing class had completed only preliminary, and non-Anatomy & Physiology chapters. As you were informed, the chapters you missed dealt with the History of Massage, Professional Practice Requirements, and Sanitation. These were all chapters that have no impact on your Anatomy & Physiology studies, and can be covered at any time during your course. Even though your weekly quiz grades in the Anatomy & Physiology course were very good, Connie extended the offer to you to dedicate Tuesdays to your private tutoring to help you feel more comfortable. Your decision to drop from this course and start the next time it was offered was approved.
7. The Anatomy & Physiology and Swedish courses are mandatory before you can begin work in the Student Clinic and progress to advanced classes. The last half of the massage program is an interweaving of Muscle Anatomy (the advanced segment of the Anatomy & Physiology course), Pathology, and Deep Tissue Therapy. You can't take these classes without the foundations you chose to postpone.
8. You then came in and informed us that you were told that you would be able to get your license without taking the state licensing exam under a special exception the Illinois Massage Board was offering. You believed you may have been among those people who qualified for the state's grandfather clause but did not take advantage during the required period. The state was reopening the grandfather clause for a 10 day period and you stated your plans to utilize the opportunity to avoid the licensing exam. Connie supported your decision saying it would be a smart decision if you did in fact meet the requirements.
Because you were dropping from the classes and planning to get your license without the need to take the state licensing exam, it would have been unreasonable for us to submit your paperwork to the finance company and to start billing you for classes you did not plan to continue with at the present time.
Connie suggested that you focus on the less demanding courses that would be helpful to your health and did not require Anatomy & Physiology and Swedish Massage as pre-requisites. She suggested that you take the Reflexology course in August because you would then have a marketable skill that did not require a license. She suggested you take the elective advanced Reiki classes, because these would be helpful in self-care and would add other non-licensed skills with which to build your practice before re-entering the program. She suggested that you continue with the full Reiki-ssage Training and get your Certification in that, so you would again have a marketable skill that did not require a massage license to practice. These classes are not expensive, averaging $250 each, and it made more sense that you pay as you go for these individual classes offered throughout the year rather than having a $5500 payment agreement for classes you were not and may never be using.
As for your current status and your request for refund, our refund policy is quite clear. Unlike many higher education programs that offer no refunds after the first month of training, we offer refunds based on consumption for students who have completed less than 60% of the coursework. Since joining the class, you have completed 163 hours of the 660 hour program. Significant portions of this time is one-on-one private tutoring by Connie that is normally billed at a considerably higher rate to get you up to speed. You were also given an extra course. The program allows for either Usui Reiki I Course or Japanese Style Reiki I Course. You had both. The additional course is $200.
On July 19, 2007, you left a note for Connie and I. The note was written following a class during which you created a major disruption in class and became visibly anxious and confused, and you called Connie a liar in front of three classmates. Your outburst made your classmates very uneasy with the prospect of you continuing in their class. To quote exactly, you acknowledged, "So, I'm not certain if I'm still actually a student or not, but I definitely owe you guys for the classes I've been taking and need to make a payment arrangement."
In your letter, you acknowledge that you were receiving value that was worthy of payment. So, your refund is based upon use. Since your enrollment, you have consumed 163 hours of both standard class time and private one-on-one consultation and tutoring. Doing the math, we quote the cost of participation in the full program at a very reasonable $11.36 per hour. You have the $250 cost for books and materials that you have in your possession which is clearly stated as non-refundable and you have the additional $200 Reiki Class. In addition, you have an open balance for a $40 student massage. Your total consumption is $2341.68. With your written request for withdrawal and factoring the $2000 initial payment made, you have a remaining balance of $341.68 that is payable immediately. Your written statement that if you turn in your books and certificates of completion, you are entitled to a full refund is simply unreasonable and outside the scope of our agreement.
You made a health-based decision to withdraw from classes you did not feel capable of completing. With your withdrawal, we opened alternative options for you to continue to progress in a less stressful way by undertaking courses that were part of the program, but not as demanding, and whose pre-requisites you could meet to support you in your decision. These recommendations for a future path would have provided you with an opportunity to have a legitimate therapy practice and the ability to create an income for you. In response, you submitted a statement in writing indicating that you would not be continuing with the program in any manner.
Connie and I wish you well, and look forward to you clearing your open balance $341.68. As you know, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, checks and cash for your convenience. Please call to schedule a time to pick up the items you have left here: your massage table and accessories, some books, and other personal items. If you feel you need to pursue this further, please have your attorney contact us.
Sincerely,
Rick Vrenios
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