Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Friendly Driving Academy's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  Friendly Driving Academy

  1055 Ingleside Ave # 205 Catonsville, MD 21228-1339

• 

  Friendly Driving Academy

  8511 Liberty Rd Randallstown, MD 21133

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/11/2025

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Friendly Driving Academy is a driving school in ***********, MD with anti consumer practices that aim to deter you from trying to collect your refund. I initially signed up with a full course in early October 2024. I initially signed up and paid on their website to a full remote course in early October 2024 for $350. The course was meant to end in Mid October but upon starting the course, you actually find out that due to scheduling issues for the driving component of the course, it will actually finish early December or even after that. I called them to change my course selection and payment for only the remote portion so that I can complete the in person part somewhere else but they insist that theres nothing wrong and that you will finish on time. Excuses on excuses range from the finance manager being the only who can handle this and conveniently not available in the office to assist, to the refund machine not working etc. Getting aggressive made them settle for a refund by check or by coming in to the office. The office is too far of a drive for me, so check made sense. I was told the check should arrive in a week. 4 weeks pass and nothing came. This business is so determined to not refund you fairly. I was told that they will cancel the check and I will have to come to the office. The matter continues and by Thanksgiving the manager finally agrees to refund me back by card, the exact way I had paid them. So I received my refund electronically by card, instantly during my call. Except this time the refund was conveniently $45 short. I called them back and they said there was technical difficulties and that they will have investigate my exact profile and what service I had received. They continue to delay by saying the manager has an emergency and their newest trick now is that their new system isnt working and that I will have to come to the office to collect the rest of my refund It has been 6 months now and still not refunded.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/13/2025

  We do not have option to pay for the services online through our website, also we do not have a finance manager who comes and handles complaints. Just so that we know this complaint is legit we need students full name so we can look into this matter and move forward.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/14/2025

   
  Complaint: 23047111
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  They need more information.

  Student Name: **** Khalaf 

  Phone: ************

  Registration: 09 September 2024

  Last 4 digits on Card: 6928

  Email: *****************************

  
  The finance manager or whoever this business keeps deferring my case to is named ***** ******. 
  

  The website stated $350 for the full course and only $55 for the online course. 
  

  I paid $350 electronically without my presence hoping to get the full course but only got the online course which was valued at $55

  You only refunded me electronically $250 on 25 November 2024 without my presence

  I only did the online course. You still owe me $45 

  
  
  Continued stalling will not be tolerated 
  Sincerely,
  
  Ziad K

  Business Response

  Date: 03/18/2025

  When student originally signed up they mentioned they want to do full drivers education classes and then once the class was finished decided to get refund for driving hours. Student was already refunded the amount as per our pro-rated refund policy. He keeps on mentioning about $55 for classroom as per the website, but its only for the student who are transferring from different school and want few classes or just specially want classroom. Once you are signed up for drivers education you are automatically refunded based on our pro-rated refund. 

  Business Response

  Date: 03/19/2025

  350 for the total fee

  6 hours behind the wheel price $250

  30 hours of classroom instruction $100

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/11/2025

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In August 2024, my son registered for a driver's education course. To secure his spot in the August/September 2024 class, I made a $100 down payment via credit card, with the remaining $225 paid in cash. Although we requested an in-person class, the school only offered the course online, despite their website stating in-person options. My son completed the educational portion, but there was no guidance on the next steps, and we received no follow-up communication.After a week or two, I contacted the school to schedule the driving sessions and was told to come to the school before 4 p.m. to select a time. Given my work schedule, his grandmother took him, but the earliest available slot was February 11th, 2025. Concerned about the delay, I called to ask if we could schedule it sooner but was told it wasn't possible.Due to the schools poor communication, I called in January and left a message requesting the exact dates and driving schedule. After no response, I followed up. The same woman who booked the class answered, said she was driving, and asked me to call back. She was short in tone, so I called again the next day. When I asked when my sons lessons were scheduled, she responded, What were the dates he was to start driving? After leaving a low-star review in January, I received a call on February 10th, the day before my sons ******* The school informed me he would need to take the driving portion elsewhere due to the review and also said he had to pass the final virtual class, which I hadnt been informed about. They claimed they didnt have my contact info.When I asked which part of the course my son failed, she couldnt provide that information. I asked about a prorated refund and was told it would be $240, credited back to my original form of payment. Since I no longer had the card, I requested the refund in cash or check. I also asked for documentation via email, and after some insistence, she agreed to email me the details.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/25/2025

  Student originally came along with his grandparents to sign up for the process, and also to pick up the schedule. Student along with his grand mom decided to keep his drive time closer to his test, However Student was notified in the class that he failed his class and he needs to retake it. Mom called us in February stating that they lost the paper for his drive times and needs to know the dates, since she called us non business hours we told her to reach out to us during our business hours and someone will be able to help her out. She called us again the following day and was trying to be rude and saying her sons permit is about to be expired. Upon looking at her sons information she was told that it doesn't expires until 2026. We were trying to explain her how her son needs to still retake his class before his last drive time and were trying to educate her since she was not the one who originally brought him to register for classroom or driving portion. It seems she does not have right information and was trying to give her one, but she was being rude, loud and disrespectful.That is why she was told that we do not want to do any business with her anymore and she will be provided with her pro-rated refund. She was called to confirm the address and  her refund along with original document was mailed to her on the address provided, and copy of a document was also emailed to her.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/04/2025

  The Driving school neglected to mention important details as to how this transpired. In my email provided to the school as well as the BBB, I requested a copy of the signed agreement with the cost break down. I do not believe the prorated rate provided as a partial refund is truly representative of the technical class portion and is in access of what should be accredited. This school is highly unprofessional and as noted in their response, the contract was signed with a different party. I have yet to receive a reply to my email or the requested contract documents. Please advise.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/29/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  i started and finished the class and testing part. when it was time to do my behind the wheel covid was going on and its was a lot of closing and opening due to that. but i never received my certificate from passing the class or received any information about behind the wheel. i have been calling the ************ location leaving voicemails and emailing the email on the website with no response. i have been waiting for this information so that i can go and get my license

  Business Response

  Date: 10/11/2024

  Good Afternoon,

  We have reviewed the attachment which student have attached and that is not the email address we have it on our website, maybe that is why no was able to get in touch. Student can get in touch with us at ************ between 12:30-5:30pm or email us at ***************************************************************************.

   

   

  Thank you
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/19/2024

  the business did not practice in good faith or try to fix the issue. they little tried to just con me out of more money. the lady on the phone told me she see that i passed the class and everything in the system but the only thing i could do was pay to redo the class because the certificate expired. but certificates do not expire! i want this business to be held accountable for the bad faith practices they have! they are con artist and the world should know to never use this driving school 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/08/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On February the 3rd I contacted this driving school and reference to wanting my daughter to go there to take her driving just the driving part because she went somewhere else to get her the written exams and stuff basically this school I really don't care for too much they refuse to give me my money back now they want you to bring your child also they said it's a $50 fee if you late they don't have weekends you know it seems like they don't want to work with anybody at this point in time I want my money back so I can go somewhere else I'm not happy with them already my daughter have not gotten one last thing so I would like my money to be fully refunded to me

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/08/2024

  The business just called me today and we resolved our issues that was just a misunderstanding

  Business Response

  Date: 02/13/2024

  Customer was contacted and there was a miscommunication. She mentioned she doesn’t know how to delete this complain. If you guys could kindly contact her and help her with the process to delete this.

   

  thank you 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/25/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Good evening, I'm ****** *****. I wanted to notify you all about the horrible customer service at the Friendly Driving Academy located at 8507 Liberty Road, Suite L3, Randallstown, MD 21133. Whitney is very rude and the vibe is totally off in there. Whitney is very snippy and unprofessional if you ask questions or run into any problems with you assistance you request. I think that this office needs to conduct a serious and thorough investigation into the business practices of this location. Whitney's interpersonal skills need to be evaluated and rectified immediately. The issues at this location regarding the customer service have been an ongoing problem. Please advise and let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter. Thank you, ****** *****

  Business Response

  Date: 09/27/2023

  Good Afternoon,

  We tried to reach out to Ms ****** ***** on two different occasions yesterday and there was no response or any voicemail setup to get in touch. If they have any questions or issues that needs to be sorted they can email us on ***********************************

   

  Thank you
  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/28/2023

  Good Afternoon,

  Ms ****** was called on 9/26/23 at 10:12am, and also 9/26/23 around 2:05pm.

   

  Thank you
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/29/2023

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ****** *****

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/21/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Around Christmas holiday the was doing a special so I sign my son up... I paid a down payment of a 100 dollar my son wasn't able to attend at the time I called time and time aging to reschedule... so when they finally talked to months later they said they don't have my son folder and I told them I misplace the receipts ?? they explain they would take 50 off and I was fine with that...so yesterday my son maid a payment for half of the class so we came in this morning to pay the rest just to find out they add 50 more dollar back to the price they said 50 cost for the transaction... my problems is that he didn't even start the class we paying you all upfront and you charging me more money

  Business Response

  Date: 07/21/2023

  The student was issued refund for their full money ($260) on 7/21/23.