Question: What if I am only going to miss a couple of days?
Answer: If you are sick or planning a vacation for several days you should call you Instructor and inform him/her of your time missed to receive any courtesy class extensions; if this is not done, then we can not offer class make ups. As a courtesy, approved missed classes can be made up during the week at any time with your instructor’s permission. If you miss classes for three weeks or longer because of a planned vacation or if a serious illness arises, then prior notice in writing is required for longer Courtesy Class Extensions. If your contract goes into default (non payment) or collections, you are not eligible for courtesy class extensions. Students must attend scheduled times.
Any other missed classes must be made up during the same missed month. ATC is not required to give any class time extension, we do so as a courtesy and this time is limited..
Question: I need to take off some time for other activities or vacation?
Answer: First off very few martial arts, dance, gymnastics centers or fitness centers give credit for missed classes. As per your agreement with ATC, we reserve the right to approve or deny extended missed classes. ATC normally only extends “class” credit due to serious illness or for one month of vacation time. So please schedule other activities around your scheduled ATC class times, otherwise you will not benefit from the martial art classes, and you risk your child losing motivation and you lose money.
We will only approve class time extensions with prior written notice. You will then receive a maximum of 30 days of class time extension within a calendar year. All other missed classes can be made up during that month in an appropriate class time. This prevents members from missing classes and extending contract for years with class extensions.
Upon approval, the classes credited will be added to the end of your existing agreement. Any short term absences can be made up in extra classes within 90 days of the absence and must fall within your contract period.
Your tuition payments will continue to be billed and ALL TUITION IS DUE as originally agreed. Class Extension Time: 12 Months = 30 days / 24 Months = 60 Days
Question: What if I go on vacation or I am sick for several days?
Answer: If you are on a 12 to 48 minth discounted program, you must pay all your tuition fees, but if you miss a block of 30 days, we will extend you a onetime 30 day courtesy class extension for missed classes at the end of your contract. If however, you are sick or planning a vacation for several days, you should call you Instructor and inform him/her of your time missed to receive any courtesy class time extension. If this is not done then we cannot offer class make ups. As a courtesy, approved missed classes can be made up during the week at any time with your instructor’s permission. Any short term absences can be made up in extra classes within 90 days of the absence and must fall within your contract period. Please do not schedule other activities around ATC class times, otherwise you will not benefit from the martial art classes and you risk your child losing motivation.
Question: Do I have to pay if I am sick or on vacation for over a month?
Answer: Yes you must pay your tuition. If you miss classes for three consecutive weeks or longer because of a planned vacation or a serious illness arises, then prior notice in writing is required for your Courtesy Class Extensions. If you contract goes into default (non payment) or collections, you are not eligible for courtesy class time extensions. Students must attend scheduled times. There are no class extensions if you go to full collection status.
Question: What if I want to practice, but I fell on some hard times?
Answer: ATC wants to assist you in those times of need so we offer 2 options on
60-90 day past due accounts:
1) As a courtesy ATC will reinstate your contract (one time) and you can start
fresh. If you did not attend during that period of non-payment, ATC will waive
past outstanding balances. (You will need to sign a New Contract & make your
tuition payments on time)
2) You pay the outstanding balance and as a courtesy we will credit you
your some missed class time per our approval.
Question: What if I miss classes, do I have to pay?
Answer: If you miss classes you still must pay all your tuition fees and you can make up your missed classes during that month. Whether you attend classes or not, you must complete your course tuition requirements.
Question: My Child is doing too many activities, so I want to cancel?
Answer: ATC Student Services, Branch Academies or Masters are not to blame if you overbooked your child’s schedule. ATC normally recommends while you are learning martial arts you do not commit to more than one additional activity. ATC martial arts training is an ongoing life education. If you do not have the time for your child’s martial arts commitment or you mistakenly registered them in too many other activities which conflict with his/ her training then we recommend you drop some activities so your child can benefit from training at ATC until your contract is completed.
Unfortunately there are some parents that act like other activities are more important than martial arts training and our team classes. This is disrespectful to the art and to all its Masters and Instructors. It is also impolite to fellow classmates and team members. This is like someone telling their football coach, “Sorry, I can’t make the practice because I have to go to a movie.” This action just shows the member’s level of true commitment to training and to his/ her academy or to his or her team.
You made a commitment to your academy that needs to be completed. ATC has taught thousands of students, and for over 30 years we have been upfront and honest with all our members. ATC has found that if parents support their child in the martial arts, the child will excel in sports and find it easier to overcome training difficulties and life’s obstacles.
Some people are not sure at the time of registration about the dedication or commitment needed to learn martial arts. That is why ATC offers everyone a Month to Month Non Discounted Program or a Basic Trial Program to all its new members to see if they enjoy the classes and to see if they can commit to the time needed to learn.
ATC recommends these shorter term programs before anyone commits to a longer discounted program. ATC also offers all new members discounted 12-24 month courses with a large monthly discount for signing a longer term contract. (ATC Discounted Programs are 20% to 50% off the standard fees offered at other martial art schools (One Free Uniform - No Registration or Sign Up Fees are offered on some programs )
If any member decided to choose the discounted 12-48 month course and he/ she signed the paperwork, then he/ she promised to pay that program and signed a contract that says No-Refunds and No Cancellations. Being an ATC member for a long period of time does not grant you special terms or conditions on your program or contract. ATC Student Services will work with you the best we can but we do not consider a cancelation as an option. Please review your original paperwork.
Question: I have been with ATC for many years, so why can't you cancel me?
Answer: ATC does not cancel or give refunds, so please do not call or write student services and tell them what is fair or tell them that the instructor said you can cancel or you hve been with us for many years so we should give you a break. ATC cares about all our members and treat everyone equally. Just because you have been a student for many years, does not mean you have different rules from other new students. ATC Staff members are required to follow company policy and company rules.
ATC Student Services can assist you in many ways if you are having financial issues or other special issues, but we do not cancel discounted programs. If you have been a member for many years, you can give the program as a gift to a non-member friend or transfer it to any non-member with ATC Student Services’ approval. ATC Student Services will work with you the best we can but we do not consider a cancelation as an option. Please review your original paperwork.
Question: What if I want to cancel my 12 to 48 month discounted program?
Answer: When you first entered our academy, you were offered several program choices which saved you considerable money from a month to month fee of up to $450.00 per person. If you chose a 12 to 48 month discounted program, you’re are bound by your contract to fulfill your discounted course. If under special circumstance with (senior board approval) you qualify to cancel you will be required to pay all prorated fees and cancelation fees. This is not the best option since it might cost you more to cancel then to complete your program. You can always just sell it to a non-member or neighbor for a small transfer fee or pay your program in full and donate your program to an underprivileged child or group and take a tax right off.
Question: I want a refund on my discounted program?
Answer: There are "No Refunds on any paid in full programs" even If you cancel before the cooling off period or quit anytime thereafter & even if you move. If you signed a contract there are no cancellations and no refunds.
Question: What will happen if I just stop paying and practicing?
Answer: ATC takes your contract and prommised commitment seriously. When you registered, we gave you several program discount options. ATC did not force you to sign a contract and we do offer month to month non-discunted programs. You made the choice and you selected a special discounted program which you are responsible to fulfill per your student contract, whether you practice or not. If you do not fulfill your commitment and feel yelling or threaten the staff will help, it wont. We will automatically forward you to our collection company. If you feel you need to threaten or staff, we take all threats seriously and will call the police. So we ask that you act in a professional manner and realize you signed a contract and our office is here to enforce membership contracts. We are just doing our job. ATC has had thousands of happy students over the last 30 years and only less than 1% have gone to collections.
ATC Student Service’s will try to assist you in bringing your tuition current, our tuition office will contact you by phone or letter, and after 60 days you will receive a final notice. You will then have 30 additional days to contact us and become current on your tuition or make some type of payment arrangement. If after the 90 day late mark if you are not current or you refude to pay then your paperwork will be forwarded to Green Tree Collection Company and they will send a negative rating to the 3 major credit bureaus if your account is not paid. Then they will pursue with full collection legal actions. At that time, all contract, legal fees, late fees and accumulated interest fees will become due in full. There are no class extensions if you go to full collection status.
Question: Why can't I cancel, that does not seem fair?
Answer: ATC has to operate like any good company; the utility or phone company does not care if we are martial art masters and we have to pay our overhead and staff. So if a person bounces checks, pays late or does not fulfill his/her agreement, the academy which has limited class space looses and that is not fair.
When a new member visits ATC, all Masters and Instructors are honest. They present the new member with several different programs at the time of registration, we don't force people to join. Our staff members emphasize that Martial Arts and Olympic Sport training are “serious commitments” and as with any art (Dance, Music, Painting), it takes years of training, dedication, perseverance and discipline to benefit.
ATC has the proven track record in developing (sport & life) champions, improving grades, teaching proper self defense, leadership skills and life skills and changing people’s lives, especially if parents and students (children & adults) commit the time required to improve and maintain a positive mindset to learning. If your child is having a motivational issue, we are the professionals, so call your Master and he/she will have a meeting with your child to re-motivate him/her. 95% of the time, it is just because the classes are more challenging and just like school, the higher you go, the more challenging it becomes and the more family support and motivation an adult or child needs. Click to read - My child wants to quit
Please Note: We have developed strict policies over the years because of a handfull of untruthful buyers that received large discounts and free equipment based on the discounted program "they picked," and some of the those members even try to practice months without paying or while bouncing checks. Their tuition fees are months behind, or even worse, they committed to a program and had no intention of completing that program. Then they come up with excuses and lie to Masters and Instructors why they cannot continue or why they cannot pay monies due, all just to try and cancel. Then there are some people that move around and do the same at many other academies in the area, defaulting on programs, bouncing checks, not paying for classes, equipment or uniforms, This is stealing… and that is not fair. That is why we created ATC Student Services to keep tuition an billing issues out of the classroom.
If you are behind on tuition or late, do not call your Masters or the office and complain about receiving late letters from ATC Student Services or that we do not return calls. If you leave a message we will call you back or respond via email. We try our best to assist students that want to train with us and fulfill their contracts, we understand that there are special circumstances and we will review and try our best to work with you so you can continue training with our family.
Question: I want to cancel since my favorite instructor quit or was fired?
Answer: ATC does not cancel contracts because an instructor or master quits, you signed up to learn our methods which will continue to be taught to you by all our certified instructors and masters. We can not control when Instrcutors graduate, move on or decide with ATC blessing to open their own schools.
However in the past 32 years we have developed many top Masters and Instrcutors and only two had issues were ATC has had no choice but to let them go because of background issues, drug issues, DWI's, changes in behavior, leadership issues, personal issues and breaking company policy. There has also been one or two dishonest instructors or masters looking for employment just to gain knowledge and lied just to seek short term employment so they can try to learn our proven training methods, which takes years to master. Then during their short stay they try to gain students trust and friendship with half truths and lies. They even used parents for funds to open a school, while ploting behind the organizations back. They also tried to recruit and steal our family members with lies and other dishonest con-artist methods. ATC continues to do its best to weed out any negative people as we see any of these issues arise. If a staff member can not change or follow rules then ATC will have no choice but to find a new Master. Instructor or manager.
ATC will continue to make sure any new instructors is qualified and certified to teach you or your child. We also try our best to keep vigilance on staff members behavior and we try to run yearly background checks. If we see a staff member that does not fit our high standards of leadership we will have no choice but to replace them. We understand at times parents or students can be upset with ATC Grandmasters or school owners but we must do what is right for ATC students and to maintain quality instruction.
Parents and students can not see the complete picture and we can not tell members
the real issues since ATC can not discuse termination issues in detail. ATC number
one concern will always be student safety and students learning. We do understand change can be tough at times but sometimes we need to change staff to maintain a higher standard for our students. Grandmasters are trained to see many issues so be very carefull if you plan on quitting and following an instructor that is not in good standing with ATC there could be a serious issue, inside or outside the dojang.
Question: What If I get injured in class, do I need to pay?
Answer: Yes tuition is still due, but ATC as a courtesy will extend you class credit for any time missed with a certified physicians note. ATC does not pay for any injuries, you should have medical insurance or you can purchase an additional secondary insurance through the AAU or USATKD. ATC as a courtesy will extend you a courtesy class credit for timed missed. Click Here for more info
Question: What if I am disabled or seriously injured?
Answer: You may cancel your contract with a permanent long term disability or students or buyers death. A Permanent Disability must be verified with a "Certified Physician’s" letter and a state disability letter, we do not except Chiropractor, Acupuncturist or Therapist letters. You cannot cancel this agreement based on any pre-existing conditions or short term injuries, asthma or surgeries. (We will extend you a class time extension only for classes paid during this period)
It is further understood that the buyer is responsible for all tuition payments and any
legal fees and collection fees needed to enforce this contract. If your contract goes into 60 Day default for non-payment, then it will be sent to basic collections and you will have 15 additional days to contact the office and reinstate your program otherwise your full balance will become due and this contract will then move to final phase collection status and reflect on your credit.
Question: What if I move out of the area?
Answer: If you move more thn 25 miles, proof will be required. ATC does not except po-box or vacation home addresses. ATC will put your contract on a 60 day temporary hold, untill we recieve your paperwork and you pay any required fees. If after 60 days we did not receive you required paperwork and closing fees you will be reinstated and all past tuition will be due in full until proof is mailed to student services.
- New Current Driver’s License
- Two Current Utility Bills (In Buyers Name)
- School Registration Form
- New Signed Lease / New Home Mortgage
- Cancelation Fee & all tuition payments up to hold time.
ATC Student Services will call to verify all moves.
Due to large discounts there are No Refunds:
In certain special cases ATC may choose to cancel and prorate your program for cancellation. If they do so, it will be based on the current Month to Month Academy Rates of ($250 to $450 per person + Uniforms and any other collection fees). Your pro-ration will be based on all months used up to cancellation date. Any eligible cancellations must still be approved by the Student Services board.
ATC Student Services maintains this option and may refuse you a pro-ration or cancellation. This option may cost you more than just completing your program.
