Complaint Review: Safe Driver Centre - Bellaire Texas

I decided to take an on-line course with Safe Driver Centre (license: TSDCC- CP341/ CO 341). On the web-site, there is a $15.00 next day delivery option.

Under false pretenses, I paid the extra $15.00 and expected to receive my certificate of completion the next day after I finished. However, I did not receive my certificate the next day.

Now, I finished and passed the course on Wednesday, December 24, 2003, so therefore I naturally did not expect to actually receive my certificate on December 25, 2003. But I DID expect for my certificate to be delivered the following day on December 26, 2003.

When I did not receive it, I called and I talked to the owner, Robert Torres, who was extremely rude over the phone. He told me that the $15.00 Next day certificate delivery charge was not REALLY for the next day, but it meant that it would be mailed out on the next day.

Now first of all, on the day that I registered on December 15, 2003, the web-site stated that the standard was a next day mail out. However I paid an extra $15.00 for a next day delivery.

When I tried to explain this to the owner, Robert Torres, he first, kept cutting me off, then he actually hung up on me when I politely asked him not to cut me off when I am trying to explain to him my confusion. I even asked if I could come pick up my certificate, but he remained rude and patronizing.

I want a refund of the $15.00 next day delivery charge and a written apology from Robert Torres. I believe that this caliber of rudeness and lack of respect for consumers is a terrible way to do business.

Furthermore, I'd called before with technical questions (as the web-site indicates to do if you have any questions) and he was very condescending then as well. Below, I have pasted the exact page in which I received the misleading information that I will have next day delivery.

Registration Code:

Copyright 2001 safedrivercentre.com. All Rights Reserved.

Site design by Websoft.

Online Registration

Please be extremely careful in filling out the information you are about to be asked. The address given is the one you want us to mail the certificate to, not the address on your driver license. Do not leave out the apartment number or zip code.

The name of the court should be the name of the municipality, county or judge. Be very specific, municipal court alone does not mean anything.

Please double-check everything; it is the court's choice to accept or reject a certificate with a mistake. If your certificate is incorrect, the certificate will have to be voided and re-issued by the State of Texas at a cost to you of $10.00.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INFORMATION!

Please enter your information. Fields in red are required.

Last Name:

First Name:

Middle Initial:

Suffix:

Driver's License #:

(Enter 00000000 if you have no driver's license)

State of Driver's License: AL - AlabamaAK - AlaskaAZ - ArizonaAR - ArkansasCA - CaliforniaCO - ColoradoCT -

ConnecticutDE - DelawareDC - Washington D.C.FL - FloridaGA - GeorgiaHI - HawaiiID - IdahoIL - IllinoisIN - IndianaIA -

IowaKS - KansasKY - KentuckyLA - LouisianaME - MaineMD - MarylandMA - MassachusettsMI - MichiganMN - MinnesotaMS -

MississippiMO - MissouriMT - MontanaNE - NebraskaNV - NevadaNH - New HampshireNJ - New JerseyNM - New MexicoNY - New YorkNC -

North CarolinaND - North DakotaOH - OhioOK - OklahomaOR - OregonPA - PennsylvaniaRI - Rhode IslandSC - South CarolinaSD -

South DakotaTN - TennesseeTX - TexasUT - UtahVT - VermontVA - VirginiaWA - WashingtonWV - West VirginiaWI - WisconsinWY -

WyomingOutside the US

Texas License Plate:

(of the vehicle you drive most often)

Social Security Number:

(first 3 digits only)

Mailing Address:

City:

State: AL - AlabamaAK - AlaskaAZ - ArizonaAR - ArkansasCA -

CaliforniaCO - ColoradoCT - ConnecticutDE - DelawareDC - Washington D.C.FL - FloridaGA - GeorgiaHI - HawaiiID - IdahoIL -

IllinoisIN - IndianaIA - IowaKS - KansasKY - KentuckyLA - LouisianaME - MaineMD - MarylandMA - MassachusettsMI - MichiganMN - MinnesotaMS - MississippiMO - MissouriMT - MontanaNE - NebraskaNV - NevadaNH - New HampshireNJ - New JerseyNM - New MexicoNY - New YorkNC - North CarolinaND - North DakotaOH - OhioOK - OklahomaOR - OregonPA - PennsylvaniaRI - Rhode IslandSC - South CarolinaSD - South DakotaTN - TennesseeTX - TexasUT - UtahVT - VermontVA - VirginiaWA - WashingtonWV - West VirginiaWI - WisconsinWY - WyomingOutside the US

Zip code:

Day Phone:

Evening Phone:

E-mail address:

Confirm e-mail address:

Modem Speed: 28.8K Modem56K ModemISDNDSL/CableI don't know

Court Name:

(as it appears on citation)

Taking course for insurance only

The following section is for billing purposes. When you are done, you will have the option either to submit payment information securely over the web, or to print out the form and mail in payment.

Charges: $39.95 Online course charge

$15.00 Next day certificate delivery

Click here to use the same address as above

Billing Address:

City:

State: AL - AlabamaAK - AlaskaAZ - ArizonaAR - ArkansasCA - CaliforniaCO - ColoradoCT - ConnecticutDE - DelawareDC - Washington D.C.FL - FloridaGA - GeorgiaHI - HawaiiID - IdahoIL - IllinoisIN - IndianaIA - IowaKS - KansasKY - KentuckyLA - LouisianaME - MaineMD - MarylandMA - MassachusettsMI - MichiganMN - MinnesotaMS - MississippiMO - MissouriMT - MontanaNE - NebraskaNV - NevadaNH - New HampshireNJ - New JerseyNM - New MexicoNY - New YorkNC - North CarolinaND - North DakotaOH - OhioOK - OklahomaOR - OregonPA - PennsylvaniaRI - Rhode IslandSC - South CarolinaSD - South DakotaTN - TennesseeTX - TexasUT - UtahVT - VermontVA - VirginiaWA - WashingtonWV - West VirginiaWI - WisconsinWY - WyomingOutside the US

Zip code:

Payment Options: Pay On-Line with Credit Card

Generate form for Mail-in

Method of Payment: Credit card - VISACredit card - MASTERCARDCredit card - AMERICAN EXPRESSCredit card - DISCOVERMail-In - CHECKMail-In - MONEY ORDER

You must read and agree to the following disclaimer before continuing with registration.

ONLINE COURSE POLICIES

Minimum System Requirements to take the online course are:

Internet Access at a minimum of 28.8 Kbps

A sound card with speakers or headphones

Netscape Navigator/Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater with cookies and JavaScript ENABLED

Windows Media Player

Minimum screen resolution of 800 x 600

SAFE DRIVER CENTRE, hereinafter referred to as "school," hereby agrees to provide the undersigned parties, hereinafter referred to as "students," with six (6) clock hours of driving safety instructions upon receipt of the entire cost of the course. The cost of the course includes all required instructional materials where applicable. Any duplicate of the certificate of completion must be requested from the Texas Education Agency. To request one, call 512-997-6522 or 6523 or 6524.

PAYMENT & COURSE ACCESS POLICY: If payment is made by credit card you will receive instant access to login and begin taking the course. If payment is to be made by check or money order, the school will issue you a password via email upon receipt of payment.

REFUND POLICY: All tuition and fees are refundable under the following circumstances:

You cancel your course registration before midnight of the third day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays,

and

You have not successfully completed the Course

or

Have not received a failing grade

or

The course of instruction is discontinued by the school, preventing a student from completing the course

or

The enrollment of the student was procured as a result of any misrepresentation in advertising, promotional materials of the school or course provider, or misrepresentation or misrepresentation made by an owner or employee of the school or course provider.

All refunds will be completed within 30 days after the date of enrollment termination. Form of refund will reflect original payment method (credit on a credit card and a refund check on payments made by cash or check).

No refund will be given to a registered student who attempts to circumvent the Course, violate any of the Course policies or attempts to violate its security or procedures. In such a case a failing grade will be given and no refund issued.

To request a refund, please click here to fill the Refund Request Form

INTERRUPTIONS IN SERVICE: Interruptions in course service may occur over which the school has no control. Interruptions in service may include but are not limited to interruption of service by your internet service provider (ISP), School internet service provider, electrical service provider or communications service provider. In the event of any interruption you may experience, please wait a few moments and try logging into the course again.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: You will be allowed 15 calendar days from the day you pay to finish the course. A student must attend the complete 6 clock-hour course including spending at least the minimum required time online in all phases of coursework of the approved school curriculum and final exam in order to receive a certificate of completion.

GRADING AND PROGRESS POLICY: A student will receive a failing grade in the Course if the student misses 16 course content questions.

A student may not be certified or given credit for a driving safety course unless a student scores 70% or higher on the final exam.

RULES OF OPERATION AND CONDUCT: A student or prospective student may be dismissed or barred from attending online courses for falsifying application data or failing to provide adequate online identification to ensure positive identification.

STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: My name entered on the electronic form, in conjunction with other registration information and personal data, signifies that I have been furnished a copy of the school tuition schedule, cancellation and refund policy and school regulations pertaining to attendance, grading policy, progress and rules of operation and conduct.

I understand that Safe Driver Centre reserves the right to use third-party information such as Texas Dept. of Public Safety, Driver License, and Social Security Administration records in order to verify statements made in your application before issuing a Certificate of Completion. I understand that the information which I provide will be verified by multiple third party information sources including but not limited to driver license, payment information, information about the vehicle I drive most often and social security.

I realize that any grievances not resolved by the school and/or by Robert G. Torres Nin and/or Armida G. Torres, 5316 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77401, may be forwarded to the Driver Training Section, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701, telephone 512-997-6500.

GENERAL INFORMATION: The school is prohibited from issuing a certificate of completion if the student has not met all of the requirements for course completion and the student should not accept a certificate under such circumstances.

Online course material delivery is subject to service interruption due to communication problems. the school will provide high quality reliable internet web service, but is not responsible for other problems, such as telephone line difficulties.

The school may contact outside data vendors for the purpose of validating registration information. Other than that, no information gathered for or during this course will be made available to any other parties besides the school and State agencies, as required by law.

PRIVACY POLICY STATEMENT: At Safe Driver Centre, we value your privacy. Any information you provide us is strictly used for our internal purpose of identifying you and issuing a course completion certificate, and will not be shared with any third party.

This agreement constitutes the entire contract between the school and the student and no verbal assurances or promises not obtained herein shall bind the school or the student.

STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

I acknowledge the minimum computer requirements for this course.

I acknowledge the refund policy as outlined above.

I acknowledge the information I provide will be verified by multiple third party information sources including but not limited to driver license, payment information, information about the vehicle I drive most often and social security.

I acknowledge the privacy policy for the school as outlined above.

I acknowledge that there may be interruptions in service.

I affirm that I understand the above policies, and upon registering for this course, I will be the one participating in the entire 6 hours of the course duration, including quizzes, the final examination and the evaluation.

I submit this registration and all of the above as being true.

Your presence and your participation in this course will be verified by you under oath. To validate your "CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION" you will be required to affirm by/with your signature that you were present and that you personally interactively participated in the entire six hours Driving Safety Course. Note: false affirmations are grounds for a criminal felony conviction of TAMPERING WITH A GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT [Texas Penal Code, Chap. 37.10 (a5).d.] Such conviction is punishable by no more than 10 years or less than 2 years in prison, and /or a fine up to $10,000.00 maximum.

K

Houston, Texas
U.S.A.