BEWARE!! I found Maxwell's on the internet. It seemed convenient enough...you go there and my daughter was able to take the eye test in their office. I was told day 1 would be an overview of general driving instruction, day 2 would be K-turns, parallel parking, navigating circles and any specialized skills, day 3 would be an review of all driving skills ending with a trip around the testing course and more parallel parking practice at the testing center. Here is what really happened....
Day 1...very elderly (very strange) gentleman picks her up at the house. He did not come to the door, just sat out front until we finally went out. He puts her in the car and they drive away. She had never been behind the wheel before so it was all new to her. She drove around the neighborhood and another close neighborhood nearby.
Day 2...He shows up with another young girl driving. My daughter's job is to drive her home to a town about 5 miles away. Then she drives around a little. The instructor kept asking her "you don't want to go on this road, do you?" It made her think that she should just say "no" because he scared her into thinking it was a danger or something. He told her he couldn't take her on any roads that she didn't agree to. Let me just say, not many kids know what road is what road by the numbers, ex..route 295, 42, etc. So then she has to drive to another town 25 minutes away to pick up the next student. Then that student drove her home. I wish I had known that unskilled people would be driving her around because I don't like that idea at all. I dont like the idea of my daughter driving any other kids either. NO SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONS TOOK PLACE ON THIS DAY!
Day 3-again a young girl drove to our house and my daughter had to drive her home. She drove around a little and then he took her on Route 295. She was doing 65 mph and the elderly instructor 'twitched' or something and hit the gear shift and shifted the car into LOW!!!! My daughter thought she was going to die. He says "oh that was clumsy of me". She was able to compose herself as she again drove 25 minutes to pick up the next student. Then that student drove her home. THERE WAS NO REVIEW OF THE TESTING COURSE OR PARKING OR ANYTHING!!! The instructor didn't even come to the door and tell us how she did or what she needed to practice....NOTHING!!!
So all in all, we paid $360.00 and my daughter didn't even know what a K-turn was when she finished. There was no parking instruction of any kind. She was never even taught how to hold the wheel when turning. All he told her was "don't lock your arms". Her driving was literally a danger after these lessons. We had to spend many hours driving in our neighborhood before allowing her to go out on the highways.
I called Maxwell's and informed them. They acted shocked. Steve told me that Ken the instructor had been with him for many years and NEVER had any complaints. I told him that I wanted at least a partial refund considering I didn't get what I paid for at all. It was all lies. He got nasty and told me he needed to speak to the instructor and would get back to me. He NEVER did.
I have told all of my daughter's friends not to use this company. It is a total RIP OFF!!!! He had the chance to make it right with us but instead he chose to be a jerk.
BEWARE!!!! You will NOT get anything that is advertised except the free eye exam. read more