ComplaintsforCFI Academy Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  03/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  After searching for a place to complete my Multi-Engine Training and *** training for aviation, CFI Academy appealed to me. I signed up with them, paying a $500.00 deposit to secure my spot on January 31st, 2024. Per the contract I also signed, I would pay an addition $14,899.00 in person before starting class. On February 16th 2024, I paid the additional $14,899.00 in person via check. Due to a combination of maintenance issues with the aircraft, weather delays, and administrative issues, I had not received any training after 8 days into their 14 day course. I went to the Chief Instructor, ******, who was also the only instructor certificated for the aircraft in question, to voice my concerns. After a short conversation, he became defensive and decided for me that I would be unable to continue training with CFI Academy, and that I would receive a full refund since I had not completed any training. After asking how to receive this refund, he directed me to their Administrative head, ****.**** and I spoke over text, where he promised me he would send the refund out ASAP. On March 4th 2024, he had informed me the check had been sent. Having not received any check by March 13th, 2024, I texted **** again asking if the check had been sent. He responded that he was sending it out ASAP once again. He has not responded to any further contact attempts.I am seeking a full refund of my $15,399.00 since I had not received any training, and was forced to leave the school. Per the contract signed by me provided by CFI Academy, "Cancellations due to program cancellation by the school will receive a full refund (including the deposit or application fee." Since my program was cancelled by ******, against my wishes of leaving the program, the deposit should also be refunded.

  

  Business response

  04/26/2024

  *******, I am sorry for the inconvenience that this may have caused you. However, as I mention to you on the phone before that refunds do take upto ************************************************************************** the mail before, but for various reasons that didn't happen yet. However, the 90 days period has not passed yet and you will be refunded in Full on or before the 90 days are up. 

• Initial Complaint

  12/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I chose CFI Academy for my CFI initial training because they advertise online that it is a two-week course, and the check ride is prescheduled on the third week with an onsite-in-house **** I missed an opportunity to be hired into an October CFI new hire class due an unimaginably long check ride delay, which has been extremely frustrating and out of my control. There were periods of time where there was little to no communication on the status of my check ride from CFI Academy, which I found to be unprofessional. It has been more than three months since I initially came to train at CFI Academy (08/21/2023). My check ride was not scheduled for the third week of training, and I have had to spend extra money on housing and transportation to come back and finish flights before I could be scheduled for a check ride. Now that my check ride is scheduled three months later, it is with a different DPE than *********************************. I was told to come back and finish flights so that I was 100% ready to take the check ride because ********** was not giving dates until a few days before the check ride. All my training and preparation with CFI Academy had been geared towards a check ride with ********** and what to expect. I was not informed of which DPE I was assigned to until I asked days later, nor was I prepped with a ***** on the **** CFI Academy took my payment of $7,999 and then did not deliver what they advertised or agreed upon. I am requesting that I receive an immediate full refund of $7,999. I emailed CFI Academy on 12/02/23 and it's been a week without any response.

  

  Business response

  02/02/2024

  ******

  I have read your complaint and I would like to apologize for any inconvenience. However, I would have to disagree with the content of your complaint since we have completed your training and you got the sign off from the chief instructor. *** Academy advertise the *** training for three weeks including a scheduled checkride date by the end of the three weeks. However, we do not specify which DPE will be used for the checkride neither we customize our training for a specific DPE, in fact we have multiple DPEs that we work with all over the states and our students have passed their checkrides with them. The contract that you have signed, states: "I agree that CFI Academy is not responsible for checkride canceling due to weather, airplane maintenance, or any other reasons that are beyond their control." That has been said, your checkride was scheduled with a DPE but he had to cancel all checkrides at the time due to personal reasons. And at CFI academy we work very hard to get everyone rescheduled as soon as possible, which we have contacted you three times total with checkride dates and twice you have declined and the third time you canceled two days before the checkride date because you did not like "the examiner" which that actually caused us $2000 examiner cancelation fees with that particular examiner. 

  We decline your request for a full refund because you simply got the full training and your sign off which you could use any time to schedule your checkride with any other DPE and get your *** certificate. 

• Initial Complaint

  10/31/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I paid $**** for student housing, and $19999 for the CFI.CFII,*** also $1500 for (checkride deposits)I only went forward with CFI which has a fixed cost which I completed I have asked for a refund on CFII AND *** for 2 months and they have been extremely slow and dismissive in responding. Total cost of refund estimates $12000. It was listed in the contract that the program can be refunded full price within 3 days of the start of the program, I have not even started either program Student housing was cut short after 17 days because they moved to a different location.I spent **** for 5 weeks and have not got refund for the remainder

  

  Business response

  02/02/2024

  CFI Academy has resolved the issue with the customer. 

  Customer response

  02/05/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my concern, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  10/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  ***************************** attended the CFI Academy for training and a check ride. Total cost of $8995 was payed and training and check ride where never completed. A promise to complete has not been fulfilled and we are seeking a resolution.

  Customer response

  11/09/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to my concern, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. My complaint with CFI Academy *** has been resolved and I would like to thank CFI for helping me resolve this issue. No further action is required at this time.
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  07/10/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled in April 2023 to CFI Academy ************* in ******, ** as a student to complete my Certified Flight Instructor Rating (CFI), Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Rating (CFII) and Commercial Multi-Engine Rating. I gave the school a deposit to complete all three of the ratings prior to my arrival. At the first day of training, I was promised to complete all three of the ratings as stated above and gave the final payment for all three ratings. I began the program and completed my certified flight instructor rating (CFI) and proceeded to complete my certified flight instructor instrument rating (CFII). I was able to complete 90% of the ***** just unable to complete the check ride as booking it was unavailable during my time in **********. When it came time to start my multi-engine training, I was told that the plane has not been flown in over a year and the only instructor (teacher) they have to fly it was in an aviation accident and does not have a current medical. Meaning he is not legal to fly and instruct in the plane. As this was the reason for me going to this particular program, I accepted the situation and was told by the schools office manager (****) I would receive a full refund within 45 days for the multi-engine training per the contract, as they were unable to provide the training for me. I have written correspondences with the office manager (****) telling me that I will receive a full refund within 45 days as per the school contract. The 45-day period has passed, and I still have not received any refund. The refund total due is $6,500 dollars. My final day at CFI Academy was on May 13, 2023. Please find attached the written correspondences with the school manager (****) and the contract.

  

  Business response

  09/22/2023

  This matter was resolved with the customer a while back. And we responded back to an email from BBB regarding this a few days ago as well.

• Initial Complaint

  02/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Nov, 28th 2022 $900 - for housing accommodations (very poor conditions onsite airport)$500 - deposit for Examiner scheduling (Never took ************* Services, ****** plans, syllabus, and training for a Flight Instructor Certificate (never received any training under the advertised)The business advertised Heavy ground training (boot camp style) - (Did not receive anything remotely close)The business advertised flight instructor flight training (did not receive any flight training)The business advertised spin training (did not receive this)The business advertised a typical training day of 2 ground sessions per day 3 to 4 hours, a flight of 1-2 hours per day, video sessions, and ****** plans. (never received one day of any of this) The business advertised ***** hours of ground school (received roughly 15 hrs in total across 2 weeks, with several days of no training at all)The nature of this dispute is clearly a false advertisement. I requested the business to refund the $500 and $6999 for the services they were advertising and failed to provide. The business tried to falsify the level of training I did receive (which was nearly zero) and attempted to claim costs were incurred at an exorbitant amount, which was clearly a continued attempt to take money for services not given. In addition to the lack of services offered, the planes, scheduling, maintenance, professionalism, and non-qualified instructors per FAA ****** were all signs that this company was offering services that could not or would not provide. Attached is a small outline of day in the life from their site that was not provided or adhered to per signing up with this company. Also to add, after the extremely poor experience I had, I searched further, and it appears many other people have had a very similar bad experience with CFI-Academy.I am also disputing this through my credit card company as well for the $500 and $6999

  

  Business response

  04/18/2023

  ******************************* applied for the 3 weeks long Certified Flight Instructor course in September 2022, and started his training on November 28th 2022. He attended 2 weeks out of 3 weeks of training and then decided to leave. And the week after we got an email from him saying that he decided to go somewhere else to finish his *** training. The contract we had with Mr ***** states that the *** course is 3 weeks long, and by leaving in the 2nd week he revoked that contract. Shortly after Mr ***** disputed the charges he made with his credit card company and got the fee paid refunded to him. So, in reality CFI Academy was the one that lost it's earned income.

  There is a lot of work that goes in to reaching out to prospective applicants, enroll them, prepare for their course studies, schedule instructors, equipment, and then eventually an FAA designated pilot examiner. 

  Once an applicant enrolls and signs on a training contract with us, he/she is committing to perform on their part of the contract. Which includes them being in attendance for 3 weeks straight. Mr. ***** violated this contract by simply disappearing in the middle of the training.

  We understand that this training course is not an easy task. And it is not a hidden secret in the industry as well. We believe that the applicants have conducted a thorough research of the options available in the industry, and are fully committed to follow through with the full course of study.

  CFI Academy has been in the business  of providing training for *** courses for 25 years. But we are not in the business of guaranteeing results without the active participation of the applicants.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩