Resources

I thought I'd done my homework until I pursued help by filing a dispute with my credit card company. Then I realized I'd barely scratched the surface of information available. Still, I also have to say that the only thing I've found out so far that would have kept me from continuing with the Reiki Council and The Sanctuary School is that I should not have begun classes until I had payment information from TFC. Connie Vrenios had me using used books donated by a previous student for over a month, which was over half the time I was there. I had no business using their materials until they were "mine" and being paid for through the loan I thought was being submitted. Hopefully other would be students, from whom Rick Vrenios or Connie Vrenios request(s) a down payment from in order to submit a loan that doesn't end up submitted, may benefit from information provided in the resources below.

Illinois Legal Aid

Nolo

Illinois Pro Bono

Carol Stream Office of Praire State Legal Services provides free legal services in civil legal matters for persons who have incomes below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines and senior citizens age 60 and older regardless of income.

ISBE - Illinois State Board of Education In Illinois, a school's curriculum usually must be approved by the ISBE. As it happened for me, that may not apply to classes taken as a member even if you are a student or licensed.

Illinois Department of Finanical and Professional Regulation

Chicago Better Business Bureau

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork

American Massage Therapy Association

American Massage Therapy Association Illinois Chapter

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals

My Experience with Rick Vrenios, Connie Vrenios, Reiki Council and The Sanctuary School

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This blog details an attempt to complete a Reiki-based massage therapy program at The Sanctuary School which was cut short by Rick Vrenios and Connie Vrenios who chose not to submit the loan we agreed to in writing. A scan of that loan application dated June 13 2007 is chronologically entered near the bottom of this page.
To clarify a point made by Connie Vrenios and Rick Vrenios' in their BBB response about me creating a "flurry of communications", 1) this began in pursuit of my $2000 downpayment; 2) it's unlikely attorneys are inclined to immerge themselves in dense, convoluted communications for issues like this. Surely most would glance at this mess and rightfully refuse involvement. Maybe Connie Vrenios and Rick Vrenios relied on offensively dense and convoluted communications to prevent legal pursuit. I can't speak for them, but I have a consistent history of being verbose, so again their accusation is baseless and unprovable.

This blog is intended to serve as a constructive outlet for this experience. Though I'll never know why this happened, I do want others to know Connie Vrenios and Rick Vrenios disappointed me to the core. I also want to believe someone else will be helped by not being similarly victimized. My biggest mistake with The Sanctuary School and the Reiki Council though was wanting to continue to trust after common sense said enough is enough. There could have been much more to say here, but I didn't journal as I should have. Much is already not posted here because it's mostly rambling while trying to organize where I went wrong.

Outside legal means, any representative for The Sanctuary School and Reiki Council who decides to contact me should email transparent and clear discussion and know it will all be posted here and backed up elsewhere. This blog will be edited for clarification, typos and updated to add evolving details, so it will remain a work in progress through the last communication.

Friday, December 14, 2007

October 4, 2007 through October 8th BBB complaint communications about the second complaint being deleted

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Monday, October 4, 2007 12:23 PM through Thursday, October 8, 2007 BBB separate complaints
From: Denise Hines
To: cs colvin
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2007 4:55:33 PM
Subject: RE: no complaint confirmation - Reiki Council

Good Afternoon



Please resend your complaint .

*********************************************************

From: cs colvin [mailto:cs_colvin@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 3:47 PM
To: kmullen@chicago.bbb.org
Cc: dhines@chicago.bbb.org
Subject: Re: no complaint confirmation - Reiki Council

It occurred to me that you may be unaware The Sanctuary School closes in a few weeks and the Reiki Council will continue according to website announcements. The two schools are perceived as two separate businesses in the eyes of consumers. Is the Reiki Council not registered as a business?

The problems referenced in the complaint involved classes taken at both schools (according to the owners). Well documented problems initiated by the owners of both schools were also reported and are being investigated by the ISBE, IDPR and possibly the Attorney General's office dependent upon the outcome of the refund requested in both complaints. All communications have been or will be forwarded to or included in complaints with other authorities. To date, there are over 30 pages. More was not sent to the BBB because of size limitations of the online form.

The fact that the same problems occurred at both schools confirms both complaints are valid. Neither complaint is secondary to the other. Not to report both schools could contribute to allowing the problem to continue; and the school remaining open can similarly abuse future consumers under another name.

I am truly struggling to find logic in not reporting problems as they are. Even my husband just asked me, "so, if someone owns several businesses, can only one complaint be lodged?" I really don't understand. Any explanation that will clear up my confusion would be sincerely appreciated.

Respectfully,
Catherine S. Colvin

*********************************************************

----- Original Message ----
From: cs colvin
To: Denise Hines
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2007 2:32:53 PM
Subject: Re: no complaint confirmation - Reiki Council

Please don't do that. There is an important difference. They are not the same at all.

*********************************************************

----- Original Message ----
From: Denise Hines
To: cs colvin
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2007 1:37:20 PM
Subject: RE: no complaint confirmation - Reiki Council

Good Afternoon

The Sanctuary School and Reiki Council are one in the same. All complaints go to the Sanctuary School . Therefore, complaint 94145503 has been deleted. If you have any further questions, inquiries or need to know the status of your complaint, please contact Ms. Kimberly Mullen at kmullen@chicago.bbb.org. She is the manager that will be handling your complaint.

Have a good day

*********************************************************

From: cs colvin [mailto:cs_colvin@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 12:44 PM
To: Denise Hines
Cc: kmullen@chicago.bbb.org
Subject: Re: no complaint confirmation - Reiki Council

Complaint number 94145268 references The Sanctuary School. The email you responded to references the Reiki Council.

Because the same problem occurred at both schools run by the same owners using a single address, a second complaint was made for the Reiki Council. I took the time to file separate complaints, one for each school, to pursue a refund of my $2000 down payment and so future unsuspecting students might make more informed decisions.

Because no email response had been received for the Reiki Council, I resubmitted the complaint for the that school the next day. The second try returned a complaint number of 94145503.

Thank you for following up.

Respectfully,
Catherine S. Colvin

*********************************************************

----- Original Message ----
From: Denise Hines
To: cs_colvin@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, October 8, 2007 11:53:29 AM
Subject: RE: no complaint confirmation - Reiki Council

Good Morning

Your complaint was processed on 10/4/07. An email was sent to you stating this. Your complaint number is 94145268. If you have any further questions, inquiries or need to know the status of your complaint, please contact Ms. Kimberly Mullen at kmullen@chicago.bbb.org. She is the manager that is handling your complaint.

Have a good day

Denise Hines, Asst Mgr – Intake Services

*********************************************************

From: cs colvin [mailto:cs_colvin@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 12:23 PM
To: info@chicago.bbb.org
Subject: no complaint confirmation - Reiki Council

Is it possible for someone at the BBB to confirm if a complaint was received for the Reiki Council in Glen Ellyn, IL , DuPage County , zip code 60137? I submitted a complaint for Reiki Council but did not receive a response that confirmed the submission. Asking because I wouldn't want to submit it twice.

If it was received by the BBB, how might I obtain a copy for my records? Thank you for your time and attention.

Catherine S. Colvin
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