“Learning Center Closes Leaving Some Without Refunds” plus 1 more

Learning Center Closes Leaving Some Without Refunds

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 08:01 AM PST

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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A well-known tutoring center has suddenly shut down, possibly leaving Minnesota parents out thousands of dollars.

"I think families need to be aware. They're not doing business with Sylvan. They're doing business with the person that owns the franchise," said Michelle Rietveld.

Her daughter used the Sylvan Learning Center in Albertville, Minn., just north of the Twin Cities, and she had some luck.

Her daughter reversed her tough time in class and is now getting better grades and excelling in her subjects.

Unfortunately, Rietveld learned her own valuable lesson, a financial one. She lost $500 the day the Albertville center closed for good on Dec. 9, 2010.

She says she knows of another family that lost $5,000, money they prepaid for future tutoring.

"And although the tutoring helped, it's costing us more money. It's taking money from us that we can't afford," Rietveld said.

The franchise owner, Allen Stock, signed a letter and posted it on his door, saying that because of circumstances beyond his control, he had to shut down the business.

Sylvan's Corporate Office insists that Stock's legally obligated to pay-back the families based on a license agreement he has with the corporation. The corporate headquarters doesn't give refunds in situations like this.

"It's sad. It's disheartening," said Kelli Abar who owns seven other Sylvan franchises in the Twin Cities.

She is offering those families who lost-out in Albertville a chance to use their pre-paid credit hours at her locations, and they can do it for free.

"I came to work at Sylvan to change lives, to help kids, and if we don't service these students, we are not doing our job," she said.

But Rietveld won't take the offer. She simply wants her money back.

"I know it's legal what they're doing, but it's wrong," said Rietveld.

She said she's not sure just how she can fight this because no one can reach Stock.

WCCO tried to reach Stock on Friday but couldn't, and the spokesperson at Sylvan's home office in Maryland said company officials have had a hard time reaching him too.

The Better Business Bureau in Minnesota has had no complaints against that franchise. It said paying up-front for any services beyond just a month is always risky.

WCCO-TV's James Schugel Reports

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A Guide To Los Angeles Academic Tutoring Services

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 11:05 PM PST

teacher header A Guide To Los Angeles Academic Tutoring Services

credit: (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

Into each life a little homework must fall. And those college entrance exams don't just take themselves. So when you feel the need to get a little extra help for your kids' academics, or you are looking for test prep for the SATs or the LSATs, you'll find no shortage of tutors here in Los Angeles. There are large chain operations with outlets all over the country, as well as small, one-woman shops that just work locally.

Local Los Angeles Tutoring

(credit: 826la.org)

826 LA

826 LA West

685 Venice Blvd. Venice, CA 90291 (310) 305-8418

826 LA East

1714 West Sunset Blvd. Echo Park, CA 90026 (213) 413-3388 http://www.826la.org/ 826LA is a non-profit tutoring and writing center (and is part of a national non-profit), offering free after-school tutoring and homework help, as well as free writing workshops for children throughout the year.

1 on 1 Academic Tutors

5601 W. Slauson Ave., Suite 200 Culver City, CA 90230 (310) 773-4444 http://1on1academictutors.com/ 1-on-1 Academic Tutors provides in-home tutoring all over Los Angeles.

A + Educational Centers

Locations around LA (and CA) (800) 700-APLUS http://www.aplus4u.com/ A+ Educational Centers were founded in 1985 and offer tutoring in their centers all around LA.

Achieve Tutorials

(310) 850-2616 http://achievetutorials.com/ Founded by Pete Edwards, Achieve Tutorials is a local company offering in-home, one-on-one academic tutoring.

Audra Crane Tutoring

(310) 920-2570 http://www.audracranetutors.blogspot.com/ Audra has over 15 years experience as a one-on-one tutor, specializing in test prep.

Franklin Educational Services

11777 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 129 Los Angeles, CA 90049 (310) 571-1176 http://www.franklined.com/ Franklin Educational Services provides in-home Academic Management all over Los Angeles.

Fortune Tutoring

9315 Alcott Street, Suite 301 Los Angeles, CA 90035 (800) 385-4654 http://fortunetutoring.com/ Fortune Tutoring offers in-home tutoring throughout Southern California.

Green Door Learning

http://www.greendoorlearning.com/ Combining one-on-one tutoring with educational therapy and consulting, Green Door Learning offers tutoring services throughout Los Angeles.

Intelligentsia, Inc. At-Home Tutoring Services

2073 Mayview Drive Los Angeles, CA 90027 (310) 801-4608 http://intelligentsiainc.com/ Founded by Tracey Erickson, Intelligentsia offers in-home tutoring customized to each student's needs as well as test prep throughout Los Angeles.

T's Tutoring

http://ttutoring.blogspot.com/ Specializing in pre-K – 6th grade multi-subjects, T's Tutoring also works with bilingual students.

Tier One Tutors

14126 Sherman Way Sherman Oaks, CA 91405 (800) 99-TIER-1 http://www.tieronetutors.com/ Tier One Tutors offers personalized, in-home, one-on-one tutoring in Los Angeles, with the first hour free.

National Tutoring Chains with Locations in Southern California

clubz2 A Guide To Los Angeles Academic Tutoring Services

(credit: clubztutoring.com)

Club Z In-Home Tutoring Services

(866) 44-TUTOR http://www.clubztutoring.com/ Founded in 1995, Club Z offers one-on-one tutoring, which can be held in the home, at schools, libraries, or community centers.

Academic Advantage

5777 W. Century Blvd., 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90045 (866) 788-8677 http://www.academicadvantage.com/ Offering in-home, one-on-one tutoring since 2000, Academic Advantage offers tutoring 7 days per week, from early morning to late evening.

Kaplan Test Prep

(800) KAP-TEST http://www.kaptest.com/ A pioneer in the Test Prep field, Kaplan was founded nearly 70 years ago and today is still going strong.

Kumon

(877) 586-6673 http://www.kumon.com/ The first Kumon Center was started in Japan in 1955, and the first US Center opened in New York in 1974. Now there are centers all over the US, where students can attend after-school classes and tutoring sessions.

Mathnasium

(877) 601-MATH http://www.mathnasium.com/ The "Mathnasium Method" was created in Los Angeles over 35 years ago by Larry Martinek, and in 2002 the Mathnasium centers were launched. Now all over the US, the centers teach Martinek's method still.

Parliament Tutors

(877) 873-0511 http://www.parliamenttutors.com/ Parliament Tutors provides one-on-one academic tutoring at every level, from Kindergarten through Postgraduate Exams.

Princeton Review

(877) 773-3720 http://www.princetonreview.com/ Founded over 25 years ago, the Princeton Review offers test prep and academic tutoring in cities all over the US.

Revolution Prep

(877) REV-PREP http://www.revolutionprep.com/ Revolution Prep offers online courses, group classes and hybrid classes, as well as private tutoring.

Sylvan

(888) EDUCATE http://tutoring.sylvanlearning.com/ Sylvan provides tutoring in their centers, at home and online, and has over 900 centers around the country.

Tutoring Match

(800) 775-4881 http://www.tutoringmatch.com/ Tutoring Match provides an online matching service to find a tutor near you who specializes in the type of academic help your child needs.

Tutoring

Sunday, January 9, 2011