ComplaintsforAlpha Truck Driving School Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  01/11/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  These people are scam artists! I've spent over 120 hours between classes and observations and had 0 hands-on learning. I spent 20 hours standing by a truck by myself to complete the observation part. Not 1 second was there ever an instructor. They scammed me out of $4000. Out of the 100 hours, I spent in class all they ever did was replay ******* videos of how I should be doing exercises while I'm out on the road or videos of what I should be eating while out on the road and other nonsense videos. Instead of playing videos on what I needed to pass their class. Their pre-trip was impossible for me to pass I spent numerous hours studying and you have to memorize 224 things to say and say it in front of the class while pretending it was snowing or raining and with no visual aid and say all 224 things and if you missed 3 out of the 224 they failed you and then would have reschedule 1-2 weeks later to try again. I wouldn't recommend this school to my worst enemy. They need to be investigated and shut down they are robbing people of their education, hard-earned money, and time. I only chose this school because they had good reviews but realized 95% of them are fake and as soon as someone leaves them a negative review they try and get it deleted.

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  I enrolled in the Alpha Truck Driving school at a cost of $4100 to obtain a cdl license with a manual transmission certification. After only a few hours of street driving, I realized the instructors were unprofessional and unsafe. My instructor was yelling, hitting the dashboard, grabbing the gear shifter, and demanding I stop the truck while in traffic. All unsafe practices in my opinion. I decided to change from a manual transmission cert to an automatic transmission cert. They charged me another $1500 to change to an automatic cert. Originally, and automatic cert was only $3100. I ended up paying $5600 for the automatic cert. Since I was already 3/4 of the way through the course and I wanted to finish before Christmas, I paid and obtained my license. I believe the extra fees they charged me were exorbitant, not warranted, arbitrary, since they have basis in reality for costs incurred by the business for a student switching certs. It is also predatory since they know students who are almost done with the course would rather pay up than quit. I ended up paying $2500 more than an automatic cert was originally. I should be refunded the $1500 that I paid, since I originally paid $1000 more than an automatic cert costs.

  Business response

  01/14/2023

  This complaint is full of wrong information. ************ switched his course to an automatic transmission at his own request. The pricing  he has provided is not correct as we have never offered the price he quoted for an automatic transmission. ************ has received a senior citizens discount for the additional time he has purchased.  What is correct that our instructors yelled and grabbed the shifter while *********** drove the truck to prevent an certain collision with a passenger vehicle. After said situation occurred with 2 different instructors *********** decided to switch to an automatic transmission vehicle stating to one of the instructors that a manual transmission truck was too much for him. ************ paid additional fees for additional time spent in a truck to prepare him for the exam which he has passed all parts at a first attempt. We did not receive any indication that *********** had any issues during the course. Yet he has decided to tarnish our reputation on social media and attempt to extort our business. 

  Customer response

  01/17/2023

   
  Complaint: 18676959
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  * The story about grabbing the wheel and shifter to avoid a collision is an outright lie. There were no other vehicles involved. This is a case of extremely emotional instructors who over react. They performed unsafe actions and created an unsafe condition by not instructing, only yelling and grabbing the shifter. 

  * The amount they charged to switch from manual to automatic is arbitrary and there is no justification. Their automatic courses were priced at $3100. I spent only 4 or 6 hours on the street shifting a manual transmission. They penalized me $1500 to change to the automatic course, on top of the $4100 I had already paid. I ended up paying $5600 for the automatic course, which is $2500 above what they priced for an automatic course. 
  

  * There is very little difference between the automatic course and the manual course. All of the class work is identical, and 99% of the pre trip inspection is identical. The only adjustments they had to make as a company, was a few more hours on the street with the truck. This does not justify an extra $1500 penalty to switch.

  * It is my belief that this company does this on purpose. They spend no time teaching the shifting on the trucks, and then when the student finally does get behind the wheel, they intentionally make your experience so miserable when on the street, many students switch to automatic course. By this time the student is 80% through the course, and they have no options. Only to quit altogether, or pay the penalty and switch. 

  * After speaking with other students, I am convinced this is not an accident, but it is an intentional scam Alpha uses to extort more tuition from students who don't want the stress of being verbally harassed while learning how to shift. This has occurred to several other students I have spoken with. Again, there is no justification for the exorbitant penalty fee they charge, for making only a slight adjustment in the course curriculum and activities. 

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************

• Initial Complaint

  10/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Good morning I made a full payment of $*****.00 to begin my course back in March 19, 2021 and was planning to begin several months afterwards due to covid. Prior to enrolling I was unemployed which was what pushed me to enroll but after I have made the payment I had to go back to work which left me with little time to commit to the course. I planned on beginning early 2022 but I got news that my mother back in ******* was ill so I had to fly there to take care of her. Due to covid and her illness, flying back on time was difficult. My mother ended up passing early March, leaving me unable to fly back in time to begin the course because of this grieving period. For these past few weeks I have been studying to pass my written exams, I passed the "Basic CDL Knowledge", "Combination Vehicle" and "Air Brakes" exams. After taking the exams the person at the office let me know that the $3,000 automatic course I paid for has expired. I explained to the person my situation and they told me to email them explaining what happened. Overall, covid and the death of my mother in ******* has put many hardships on me as I also have a family of 5 to support. Would there be any chance that the time limit could be extended so that I would not have to pay for the course again? I look forward to hearing back. This is the answer I from them: Hello ************,We are sorry to hear about your loss, please accept our condolences.Unfortunately, your course has expired and a new enrollment is necessary.We would like to offer you the course at the original price you have paid which is ***** dollars and not at the current rate. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.Thank you

  Business response

  10/18/2022

  The complaint is not valid due to violation of the school student contract that states that; the student has a maximum of 9 months to complete the course. The contract also states that student needs to inform the school in writing of any prolonged absence over 30 days. 

• Initial Complaint

  06/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I enrolled in this school based on the invoice I received 10-04-2021. I didn't receive any paperwork there then a blue folder with 2 time sheets and the receipt/ invoice of payment made to your school. I never got any kind of curriculum for the refresher course to get my CDL back , nor was I given nor received any agreement of the time frame for completing the court. In the process I sent a few emails asking questions as far as how long the course was and how many hours I had to complete. The girls in your office in ******* have no clue what they are doing or how to conduct a business. The girls in the office didn't have nor know all the necessary paperwork to get together to hand to the potential students, nor did they give the proper paperwork out to the student after enrollment. I personally was never told the course was only good for 6 months. If that was the case I would never have paid $1900.00 for a 6 month course with no guarantee to pass or get my CDL. When I went to the school for the first time I had to ask for paperwork that needed to be signed from the so-called teacher you had in the classroom. After 2 times of going there, Then I was asked by Premik if i was ready to take my pre-trip and when I was asked to see my paperwork "I said what paperwork this is all I was given" Premik then came back with a booklet for a pretrip and student sign off sheet before i was allowed to go to the yard. then in January they went to remote class room not showing or allowing you to watch the videos needed to continue to the next step. asked a few more times about what was needed asked about hours still needed Then on January 3rd 2022 i received an email that remote classroom would be held till further notice. I then received an email about how to sign in and complete assignments , of which I had already completed and had to repeat again never to complete the subjects needed to be able to finish my course and move to the yard to start practicing my skills and driving.

  Business response

  06/10/2022

  Hello,

  
  We are writing this explanation regarding ******* Laryss time as a student at Alpha. In reference to her course, ************************* enrolled on October 4th, 2021. She was told upon enrollment, stated in her contract,emails, and introductory book that she has a minimum of 1 month and up to 6 months maximum from enrollment to complete her refresher (45 hour) CDL A course.

  
  In Jackies records of attendance, it is shown that she only attended 2 or 3 days per month, instead of utilizing the full 6 months to complete her coursework, where we have flexibility to be open 7 days a week for attendance.

  
  December 10th, 2021 was the last time ****** appeared in class. We do have a policy stated upon enrollment, as well as in her contract that was sent to her email again, if a student is gone for 90 days straight,they will be withdrawn for excessive attendance and withdrawn if the course expires as well.

  
  We do offer refunds, but we state clearly in our contract to her how the refund fees will be determined. We have tried to explain that process to her as well.  This is stated in her legal contract she had signed and dated herself upon enrollment.

  
  There have been many instances where multiple staff members have tried to aid her and help with her questions during her course period. We have our hours posted on a board in class as well as signs that also guide as to what should be done. Attached is also the introductory booklet we use to aid students on our processes that is available for any student to obtain. Each student is provided invoices, permit information, introductory information, a sign out sheet to check all stuff needed to get accomplished in class, signed timesheets to log hours, signed contracts, and proof of legal presence requirements documents. Since we work on a flexible pace, we ask that once students are on the pretrip theory aspect, that is when we hand out the pretrip inspection packet, so we can clearly explain the next step.

  
  After not returning since December 10th, 2021, or reaching out to us in regards to why she hasnt returned, *********************** returned in May after her course expired. Jackies expiration date was on April 4th,2022, and she tried to continue her course, in which we told her she would need to reenroll to continue due to her course being past expired and her not attending 90 days or notifying us as to why she wasnt attending, in which she was withdrawn already.

  
  It is unfortunate the situation has displeased ******, but we did try our best to communicate all factors of the course to her to the best of our abilities, yet we do have our policies that every student is aware of and follows that ensures their success in the course. We do try our best to provide our students with all the resources needed and possible to aid in them obtaining CDLs, and its up to the students as well to utilize all the resources we offer to ensure the best results.

  Please note that this has been brought up to the Secretary of State as well. They too have seen and heard from both sides and understand we too have our policies and legal agreements that we explain to our students in the course and in the contracts that they sign as well.

  
  Please let us know if you need anything else.

  
  Best Regards,

  
  Alpha Truck Driving School

  Customer response

  06/13/2022

   
  Complaint: 17298723
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  I  never received any booklet when i signed up. i never received any contract when i singed up . the emails that the school provided were before i signed ** in asking questions but never actually answered my questions i then called an asked questions but as i sated the girls i the office didn't know anything or provide anything as a school should.  i was never asked any questions by a so called teacher nor was any teachers at the school on the weekends , i would go in the evening ask about videos that i needed and told that they didn't plan on putting them on. they catered only too the full time students. I am not the only female student that was treated this way in a room of men. I have worked in a mans world for most of my life never have i had to deal with this kids of treatment.  as i stated before half the time their was never a teacher their.  to pay $1900.00 to a school and not receive any course material, only a video to watch over and over again. the teacher didn't go over anything that would promote learning to any student, their was no going over pre-trip on the teachers part, no going over the truck parts, no going over how to double clutch i stood their one day and had to teach 3 guys how to double clutch because the teacher was out back or out front smoking, or on his phone.  on the weekend i was their all day myself an one other student where their most of the day by ourselves and we worked together going over the truck by a bunch of pictures on the wall. I also asked about going to the yard to work on the Pre-trip on an actual truck and was told i had to say it out-load by pictures on a screen by memorizing the video they have everyone watch other wise you did not pass the verbal pre-trip before you get to go on the simulator before you can go to the yard i what i was told. a few days later i drove tot he yard in west ******* and drove around till i found someone to ask questions to, so i could find out what the progress is to get the things done that i needed to and how to do it what i needed to couplet it.  no student should have to guess what they are do and what they need to do or what the process is to get through their course. i didn't sign up to teach my self if that was the case i would have done it all on my own as i ended up having to do and it wouldn't have cost me $1900.00 dollars. 

  I also filed a complaint with the state about this so called school next i will call the channel 7 news.   I am also going to put out o social media of any and all people that have been wronged by this so called school as my lists already growing of names of people that had their money taken and not got anything out of it. refund my money and i will go away.   

  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

   

  Business response

  06/17/2022

  Hello, 

  Attached is a letter from the Secretary of state, after they investigated the claim in regards to ***********************. 

  Thank you. 

  Customer response

  06/25/2022

   
  Complaint: 17298723
  
  I am rejecting this response because: i feel i have been treated unfairly from this business. I have attached a letter to better explain my issues again and in more detail. I want a refund of my $1900.00  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

  Customer response

  07/09/2022

  Better Business Bureau:

  I would like to reject the offer of Mediation for complaint ID ********.

  i want to be refunded the money i paid when they didn't provide the service they where offering. i shouldn't have to pay for a service when they didn't fulfill their part of teaching or providing the skills needed to get my CDL. 

  Regards,

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

*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. ↩