ComplaintsforOhio Paramotor

• Initial Complaint

  09/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 4-2-22 I paid the business $500 for a deposit towards PPG flight training. Paid the remaining balance of $2000 with personal check#423. The owner of the business told me "I will not move you forward with flight training" in a text message from phone number 740-324-5577. The nature of the dispute is I am not being allowed to access the service I paid for. The business has made no attempt to resolve this problem. The $500 was paid via paypal along with a $2000 personal check#***

  On 7-10-22 I paid Ohio Paramotor $2000 for powered paragliding flight training certification. I was given a few lessons without being allowed to complete the training. I asked for a refund, which I was denied. I contacted the business several times to schedule the rest of the training and was told by the owner of the business in a text message "I will not move you forward with flight training" I would like a refund from the business because they failed to provide the service I paid for, and they have not made any attempt to resolve the problem $2000 was paid from my personal checking account check #423
  

  Business response

  10/13/2022

  Documentation is available upon request.
  
  This complaint is ultimately about risk and safety. We stated the student was not safe to move forward with flight training. The student disagreed and is upset with our decision.
  
  Before we decided to train this student, he submitted documents to us, not listing any health issues. He also had a phone interview. And on 4/22/2022, he sent a $500 deposit to us electronically (minus PayPal fees). He was then given a training slot, chosen from a waiting list of other eligible
  students. The remaining balance ($2000) was paid by check on 7/10/2022.
  
  On the first day of training (7/9/2022), official documents were initialed and signed by the student and notarized at a bank. While content addressed various issues (e.g., not making claims against us and providing testaments
  to his physical fitness), the documents clearly stated that training is nonrefundable.
  
  Powered paragliding (PPG) training is involved. It consists of ground school information (1), ground training (2) and then flight training (3). Content is structured and occurs in steps, and adheres to organizational standards. Ratings are offered, but not guaranteed.
  
  While most PPG schools provide about two weeks of training, we provided close to two months of unlimited training to the student. The student was free to come any day of the week. He was there often, not for just a few lessons as he stated.
  
  Undisclosed health issues and problems were eventually revealed during training, discovered through instruction, observations, behaviors, statements, inconsistencies and documentation. Student safety was now our main concern.
  
  On 9/20/2022, after about a two week training halt (consisting of discussions with the student, unresolved documentation, investigation, research and reflection), the student was officially informed he would not move forward with flight training.
  
  On 9/21/2022, we received a text message from the student requesting a refund. As this was evening, we texted him back, stating we would contact him the next day.
  
  On 9/22/2022, we called the student as promised, planning to discuss refund and resolution. He, however, did not answer the phone, nor did he call us back.
  
  On 9/28/2022, we learned about this complaint and how it was hastily filed on 9/20/2022, the same day we gave him the news about flight training. We also read the complaint and how it made false statements, such as how we only gave him a few lessons, how we denied him a refund, and how we were
  not trying to resolve the problem. The claim also omitted the rationale of our decision, disregarded context and sequence of events.
  
  On 9/28/2022, we decided to call the student again, still hoping to discuss refund and resolution. Once again, however, the student did not answer our call, nor did he call us back.
  
  On 10/1/2022, we opted to text and email the student, expressing our hope to resolve the situation and reiterating our rationale for the decision—his safety. Happily, he called back that evening and we finally discussed a resolution. He requested a full refund ($2500) and we suggested a half
  refund ($1250). The student requested time to think about the matter.
  
  On 10/4/2022, we texted and emailed the student again, wondering about his decision, knowing we had to respond to this complaint. He replied on 10/5/2022 and on 10/6/2021, wanting more of a refund. We opted to pass.
  
  As a gesture of kindness, we are still willing to return half his money, but we want the student to cancel and close the complaint and provide a signed document stating this matter is resolved, along with stating he will
  stop spreading negativity about our business.
  
  While it’s incredibly hard to receive bad news like this, we didn’t take the decision lightly. It took a lot of time and energy. And even though we are still dealing with this issue today, we still feel we made the correct decision. It came from the right place—the desire to keep a student safe.
  
  Thank you,
  Ohio Paramotor
  740-324-5577
  info@ohioparamotor.com
  https://www.ohioparamotor.com/

  Customer response

  10/17/2022

  I am rejecting this response because: The amount of time I was allowed access to is nowhere near what I payed for.  The concerns were addressed (requested by the business owner)with a letter from my doctor stating I was medically cleared and safe to participate in powered paragliding, and was disregarded by the paramotor instructor. I was allowed access to what I paid for from 7-10-22 - 8-31-22 therefore think 85% refund would be fair, and would close the complaint.

  Business response

  10/21/2022

  We are sticking to the below response. Supporting documents, statements and observations are all available upon request.
  
  This complaint is ultimately about risk and safety. We stated the student was not safe to move forward with flight training. The student disagreed and is upset with our decision. 
  
  Before we decided to train this student, he submitted documents to us, not listing any health issues. He also had a phone interview. And on 4/22/2022, he sent a $500 deposit to us electronically (minus PayPal fees). He was then given a training slot, chosen from a waiting list of other eligible students. The remaining balance ($2000) was paid by check on 7/10/2022.
  
  On the first day of training (7/9/2022), official documents were initialed and signed by the student and notarized at a bank. While content addressed various issues (e.g., not making claims against us and providing testaments to his physical fitness), the documents clearly stated that training is nonrefundable.
  
  Powered paragliding (PPG) training is involved. It consists of ground school information (1), ground training (2) and then flight training (3). Content is structured and occurs in steps, and adheres to organizational standards. Ratings are offered, but not guaranteed.     
  
  While most PPG schools provide about two weeks of training, we provided close to two months of unlimited training to the student. The student was free to come any day of the week. He was there often, not for just a few lessons as he stated.  
  
  Undisclosed health issues and problems were eventually revealed during training, discovered through instruction, observations, behaviors, statements, inconsistencies and documentation. Student safety was now our main concern.  
  
  On 9/20/2022, after about a two week training halt (consisting of discussions with the student, unresolved documentation, investigation, research and reflection), the student was officially informed he would not move forward with flight training.  
  
  On 9/21/2022, we received a text message from the student requesting a refund. As this was evening, we texted him back, stating we would contact him the next day. 
  
  On 9/22/2022, we called the student as promised, planning to discuss refund and resolution. He, however, did not answer the phone, nor did he call us back. 
  
  On 9/28/2022, we learned about this complaint and how it was hastily filed on 9/20/2022, the same day we gave him the news about flight training. We also read the complaint and how it made false statements, such as how we only gave him a few lessons, how we denied him a refund, and how we were not trying to resolve the problem. The claim also omitted the rationale of our decision, disregarded context and sequence of events. 
  
  On 9/28/2022, we decided to call the student again, still hoping to discuss refund and resolution. Once again, however, the student did not answer our call, nor did he call us back. 
  
  On 10/1/2022, we opted to text and email the student, expressing our hope to resolve the situation and reiterating our rationale for the decision—his safety. Happily, he called back that evening and we finally discussed a resolution. He requested a full refund ($2500) and we suggested a half refund ($1250). The student requested time to think about the matter. 
  
  On 10/4/2022, we texted and emailed the student again, wondering about his decision, knowing we had to respond to this complaint. He replied on 10/5/2022 and on 10/6/2021, wanting more of a refund. We opted to pass.
  
  As a gesture of kindness, we are still willing to return half his money, but we want the student to cancel and close the complaint and provide a signed document stating this matter is resolved, along with stating he will stop spreading negativity about our business. 
  
  While it’s incredibly hard to receive bad news like this, we didn’t take the decision lightly. It took a lot of time and energy. And even though we are still dealing with this issue today, we still feel we made the correct decision. It came from the right place—the desire to keep a student safe.  

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