Signed a Contract

[ps1]

You should be able to easily get out of the contract. Start by talking to the ower of the establishment. If that doesn't work, simply call the company that is doing the direct withdrawl of your account and tell them to stop payment. They may give you some rigamoral...but they must stop payment. Nobody can charge you for services not rendered. If that doesn't work, you can call your bank and ask them to block the withdrawl. All of these options are free. Your last option, and most expensive, is to get an attourney involved. It shouldn't come to that though.

[JohnASE]

Perhaps if you leave, but opt to keep your child in, they might cut you some slack. If they have any business tack at all, they should let you out. It doesn't always work that way, though. Ask and see. I hope it works out for you.

This sounds good. They might let you out of your contract to maintain good will if your kid is staying. If that doesn't work, maybe you can offer to buy your way out of the contract.

I couldn't ever imagine signing a contract for classes. Is this common?

At our school we have to register with contact info and medical info, and you pay for class. If you come, you pay, if you don't come you don't pay. If you don't come for an extended amount of time when you decide to come back you may or may not keep your belt. It depends on the circumstances. Signing a contract seems extreme though, and in my opinion a bad idea. I mean, are you technically legally bound to show up once you've signed? If so I would reconsider ever signing one again for Martial Arts classes. Then again, this is the first time I've heard of a contract for a school.

Yes, this is common. Well, not unusual. You're not legally bound to attend, but you're legally bound to pay. Of course, if you have to pay, you're more likely to attend. Contracts provide the school with some financial stability. Martial art is a seasonal business. For example, most schools get slow during the Summer or Winter breaks. Annual contracts make it easier for the school to stay open during the lean times. In exchange, contracts usually offer a discounted rate over month-to-month or pay-per-class plans.

The problem is with people like the OP, who sign a contract and decide they've made a mistake. Usually, this is a legally binding contract, and failure to pay could have a negative impact on your credit rating. You could be sent to collections. However, most schools aren't hardcore businesses. They'll cut you some slack if lose your job or have to move or something.

[ps1]

Usually, this is a legally binding contract, and failure to pay could have a negative impact on your credit rating. You could be sent to collections. However, most schools aren't hardcore businesses. They'll cut you some slack if lose your job or have to move or something.

This isn't actually the case. Most of the companies that handle these contracts will let you out pretty easily. This is because most court cases surrounding them have ended in favor of the person trying to get out of the contract. Because future court cases are determined based on precedent, it's just less costly for these companies to let you out.

Look at it this way. They lose a couple hundred dollars by letting you out of the contract. They lose thousands upon thousands in attorney fees and court costs if they make you take it to court.

Just ask to be let out of the contract. If your school is really pushy, they may wait until you have an attorney draw up a formal request (about 50 to 100 dollars). But they are going to let you out. JUST ASK! It really is that easy.

[tori]

If the dojo does not hold up their end of the contract ie... classes start and end on time... then you have an out. I would talk to the head instructor. I do have to tell you, our school does have a contract. It basically states that you agree to pay this certain amount over the course of your contract. However, the main idea of the contract that i sign states that you will not hold the owner or school responsible should you become injured on their property or during their classes. I do know that the cost of a school owner to fight those individuals who drop out before their contract expires is to costly. They usually just forget about it. However, if you leave your child in those classes, they may talk to you about it.

[JohnASE]

Usually, this is a legally binding contract, and failure to pay could have a negative impact on your credit rating. You could be sent to collections. However, most schools aren't hardcore businesses. They'll cut you some slack if lose your job or have to move or something.

This isn't actually the case. Most of the companies that handle these contracts will let you out pretty easily. This is because most court cases surrounding them have ended in favor of the person trying to get out of the contract. Because future court cases are determined based on precedent, it's just less costly for these companies to let you out.

Look at it this way. They lose a couple hundred dollars by letting you out of the contract. They lose thousands upon thousands in attorney fees and court costs if they make you take it to court.

Just ask to be let out of the contract. If your school is really pushy, they may wait until you have an attorney draw up a formal request (about 50 to 100 dollars). But they are going to let you out. JUST ASK! It really is that easy.

My info could be outdated about this. I'm thinking back to a time when a lot of schools, at least around my area, were using billing companies. I remember hearing from some instructors that some billing companies were too hard on their students and that some had been sent to collections. This might not be the case today.