02/11/2013
The following letter is my response to Video Symphony's recent letter and statement of my loan/account dated 1.11.13. My letter sent by certified mail to Video Symphony on 2.11.13...
February 5, 2013
J. R.
Mgr. of Collections Group
Video Symphony
266 E. Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
Dear J. R.,
First, let me say that I feel I was treated very unfairly by Video Symphony in regard to my wrongful withdrawal and abruptly denied Appeal for Reinstatement (please see attached documents). I was never once offered or given the chance to have an official dialogue with my counselor or Student Services in regard to these matters. For this alone I, and my loan cosigner, feel that Video Symphony has broken their contract with me. The following delineates other reasons I and my cosigner feel Video Symphony has broken the contract, and not delivered on promises made:
1. AVID certification was promised by my counselor to be part of tuition and made to seem all-important. Once deep into the academic program, however, I learned that the AVID certification process had changed and it’s value diminished, becoming moot in regard to securing a job.
2. Final Cut Pro certification was promised by my counselor to be part of tuition and made to seem all-important. Once deep into the academic program, however, I learned that the certification was no longer part of tuition and had been modified, only covering a new and completely unique version of FCP not taught by Video Symphony. Thus, securing the FCP certification became next to impossible. I was also advised by my instructor that it was moot in regard to securing a job anyway.
3. As a selling point for enrollment at Video Symphony, learning to put together a professional AVID system from top to bottom was promised by my counselor. Once well into the program I discovered that not one single class even touched on this. Not even one class gave instruction on simply how to properly install the AVID Media Composer software and little was ever explained about the system requirements necessary to run the software.
4. As a selling point for enrollment at Video Symphony I was promised by my counselor that I could schedule as much lab time as needed and could get it anytime, even as a walk-in. But constantly there was difficulty getting into labs, either because of class scheduling and rescheduling, sudden maintenance, overbooking, editing stations stolen by greedy students, or Video Symphony Open House taking precedence.
5. In spite of maintenance, lab editing systems were fraught with constant problems causing extremely frustrating delays in getting started in labs. And several times I could not reach techs because all had gone to lunch at the same time. This was mentioned by me more than once in the official critique of labs, but nothing was ever done about it.
6. The Video Symphony program was touted by my counselor as an “accredited” program. But once enrolled I soon learned that not one class could be transferred as valid credit to another career college or state or private university. Even so, Video Symphony Student Services claimed the basis for the priority of class attendance and test scores was due to Video Symphony accreditation.
7. Once enrolled into the program, classes that were already accelerated were suddenly accelerated further, condensed into fewer days. This certainly occurred with the 998 Real Life Production class (making it a complete farce) and the FCP 200 class –– and those weren’t the only ones –– hence cutting into the educational value of an already accelerated program. The After Effects class was condensed into two days, which not only put undue burden on the instructors, it made it nearly impossible for me as a student to learn anything of real value. Even after taking the class twice!
8. I enrolled in the Video Symphony “Video and Film Editing” program, but practically no attention to film/narrative editing was given. But increasingly the curriculum changed to place greater and greater emphasis on what was essentially Assistant Editor slave work for broadcasting. Which, on that note, the program was focused more on speed and flash then introspection and story telling. For me, very discouraging and in the end spirit breaking.
9. In regard to the 531 Post Production class, I found it extremely and pointlessly offensive, and more of an education in sexual harassment, denigration, and condescension than editing. It was a class that had many student complaints and was dedicated more to teaching the student that they don’t know anything (and that Video Symphony mostly turns out terrible editors), instead of simply teaching. I could bring a lawsuit against Video Symphony for this class alone.
10. Before I was officially withdrawn from the program I was never once encouraged to speak with my counselor regarding the matter, or even Student Services in an official and formal capacity. I was just simply “out” overnight because of a short and panicky email sent to an instructor regarding thoughts on quitting the program. As well, my formally submitted Appeal for Reinstatement was dealt with in a similar fashion. I finally had to request a statement regarding the status of my appeal. The following day I was informed by a curt email that my Appeal was denied. The email offered little explanation. Or at least it was an explanation I considered unprofessional, inconsiderate, and negligent in regard to such an important matter.
11. The recent statements of my loan/account sent out January 11, 2013, were another sign of Video Symphony’s lack of concern for the student and plenty of concern for their own coffers. As stated in my previous certified letter, “At the end of July 2012 I was accused of not paying several previous loan payments, which I most definitely had paid and which were cashed by Video Symphony according to my official bank statements (check numbers and dates cashed will be produced upon request). At that time I adamantly requested through W. H., VS Registrar, that I be sent an official statement of my loan account by email or regular mail. I know that Mrs. H. forwarded my request to the pertinent party, and also requested I be sent a statement. I was never sent any statement of account by email or regular mail.” Then suddenly on December 28, 2012, I receive an email from a Pat Green in your Collections Department saying I’m past due on payments. I responded by certified mail and again requested a statement of my loan/account. I at last received a response from The Video Symphony Collections Department with a detail of my current statement, but also with $71.08 of late fees tacked on. This is absurd and I will not be punished for the incompetence and negligence of the VS Collections Department.
Again, because of my wrongful withdrawal, curtly denied Appeal for Reinstatement, and the above detailed reasons I, and my cosigner, strongly concur that Video Symphony has breached their contract with me. We also feel strongly that if we consult a lawyer in these matters we would certainly find one that would also concur. I was a paying Video Symphony client in good standing and with fine academic scores; Video Symphony was never MY client, who I was required to please. Already Video Symphony has received government loan money in the amount of $13,584.00 and I directly paid $2500.00 while in academic attendance. And now I say, for what? It’s all money thrown down a blackhole. And why should I throw more money down the same blackhole when I’m not being allowed to complete unfinished classes, complete classes not even taken, receive a degree/certificate-of-completion, be allowed use of the facilities, audit classes, make use of Video Symphony as a reference, or make use of the Video Symphony job placement services? Again I ask, what am I paying more money for? Whatever education received is currently dubious. And again I say, I was a paying Video Symphony client in good standing and with fine academic scores; Video Symphony was never MY client, who I was required to please. Video Symphony has wrongfully expelled me, denied my reinstatement to complete the program, and therefore breached the student-client contract.
Sincerely,
C.A.B.
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