Mike Giles Family Karate

While this karate dojo offers a very good program, be extremely wary of their business practices. This starts with the contract that you’ll potentially sign. Actually, what I signed was an ‘Agreement’ and it erroneously named the wrong course, did not specify the cost of the course and didn’t specify the agreed payment plan, which was a major problem.
We verbally agreed that $ 1,320 would deducted from my account, with the next installment due in 6 months. One month later, another $ 1,320 was deducted from my account! When I called them on this, they refunded that amount and there might have been a verbal apology, but nothing formal. I decided to let it go, as everybody makes mistakes, but then again, one month later, the same thing happen! This time it resulted in an overdraft for which I had to go to the bank to rectify. At this point I no longer trusted them, I mean can you imagine someone taking out that amount of money from your account without your consent or knowledge?!?
Seeking to end the arrangement on good terms (I did consider them friends of the family considering my daughter got her black belt there) I offered $ 200 for the few lessons I took and the gi that was purchased on my behalf (which I returned) and left thinking that the situation was resolved. After several emails with no reply, I learned that they wouldn’t return the money as the agreement had a clause that under no circumstances, would there be any refunds. Their withdrawing my money without my consent or knowledge was clearly a violation of what we agreed to and bordered on criminal activity! In addition, they have a 100% guarantee that: «If you’re unhappy with your progress, we won’t (and don’t want to) keep your money. We want you to have it all back if we don’t give you the results that we guarantee.» I also experienced knee and hip pain, which obviously means I wasn’t happy with my progress, but as far as they were concerned, they could teach me Tai Chi instead, so no, they’re not happy to return your money!
I’m not one for airing my ‘dirty laundry’ in public, but after a slew of emails to get together to resolve this, I gave up! I even tried to take them to small claims court, but after they failed to show up twice and then I got the date wrong for the last court date, I gave up on that avenue. Yes, this has gone on for over a year.
Bottom line: Make sure you have a detailed, written contract and I would refrain from giving them your credit card number.