LABBB.ORG RATING EXPLANATION:

Prior to January 2005, the LABBB.ORG rated a company as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.

We were ALWAYS rated Satisfactory.  This rating system is still used for most of the nation. In early 2005 the LABBB.ORG instituted the A - F grading system, considered the toughest in the nation.

With this new system, the LABBB.ORG downgrades a company's rating based in large part on number of complaints even if it is resolved to the customer's satisfaction. Our company's rating of A, as we were rated, was downgraded with each subsequent complaint. Any complaint, even a baseless one, can reduce a company's rating in the process regardless of the validity or outcome of the complaint.

We strive to use valid complaints as an opportunity to better improve communication, policy, and our program in general. To that end, we have consulted with the LABBB.ORG along the way to help in the process.

Without being totally inflexible we try to stand by our policy, which we strongly believe is in the best interest of all our applicants. Our goal continues to be to resolve any complaints according to our principles and policy, to decide in a fair manner what we are responsible for, and to initiate positive action to remedy the situation.

It is extremely ironic that most of the complaints (the majority of which were from those who had paid a Registration Fee or partial payment) stem from our unabashed support of our clients' goal, which is to make sure they don't let temporary predicaments (personal or financial) sway them from our mutual commitment. That's what they're paying us to do.

POLICY BACKGROUND

Our program depends on commitment to goals, mutual good faith, and realistic expectations on the part of the apprentice. 

Because of this philosophy, up until late 2004, we did not supply a ‘traditional’ contract.  When asked, we would be proud to say that our website fully discloses our policies and serves as our mutual contract.  (See GetAMentor Policy and Service Agreement.)  That had been our procedure for over two decades. 

As part of improving our program, it became imperative to insure that our policy, our role, and the apprentice's role, was and is clearly defined and conveyed, and that the apprentice understands and accepts that agreement. 

With that in mind, we consulted with the LABBB.ORG and their major recommendations were that:

1)  We have a contract or agreement in writing, and,
2)  We consider clarifying or omitting the term “deposit” (with reference to the Registration Fee, because the term “deposit” could imply that it is refundable).

We did what they suggested and even exceeded their recommendations. 

Our formerly non-refundable Registration Fee is now unconditionally refundable - a risk free guarantee. Our website is still our contract, but we now provide (via email and a hard copy, if requested, via snail mail):

• a Service Agreement, which is in essence our Cancellation & Refund Policy
  
• our guarantee: What If Something Goes Wrong
  

The Service Agreement is a synopsis of the information presented on our website, but the formal presentation of the agreement terms seems to have made all the difference.  

The results speak for themselves. We have had no complaints with the LABBB.ORG since January 2005, over 2 years ago. 

Our policy supports our belief that ‘satisfying’ a client’s immediate ‘complaint’ is the easy way out to “make the problem disappear”, and ultimately the client’s goals. Do we forgo our policy and take the most expedient way out for the benefit of a spotless record (not necessarily an accurate assessment of a company’s reputation or its clients’ success ratio), or do what will contribute to our client’s success in the long run?

Our normal course of action is to uphold our policy and adhere to what is agreed upon with the apprentice – encouraging our applicants to stick to their goals to achieve their dream start in the industry of their choice. They can delay their apprenticeship and come back at any time to resume their training. Their deposit and any monies already paid towards their enrollment will stay intact and go toward their total enrollment fee on their account.

By holding to our agreement, the apprentice, our client, is given a concrete incentive to return to finish what they had started. Encouraging them not to give up, to come back to resume their quest is again a big part of what they are paying us for in the first place. Our purpose is not only to help them get their start – finding them a mentor - but to hold them to their commitment to fulfill their goals . And it’s worked - even if it takes a year or two! A prime example of this is chronicled here*:

As always, we continue in our commitment to improve our programs and we are happy and proud of our success stories. We look forward to assisting our applicants in making their dreams come true.

If you would like additional details and outcome of the complaints presented on the LABBB.ORG report, or have any other questions or concerns about our program in general, please let us know.