Kumon Math and Reading Center of Chicago – Northwest

Be ware — the management of this Kumon center (Northwest) is the same as the Lincoln Park branch. Kumon is a franchise business, so each center is owned independently. My critique is about the management of this kumon center, not so much the work itself. This particular center suffered from an owner who seemed not to be well trained in customer service or creating a positive environment.
CONFUSING, POORLY KEPT ENVIRONMENT: The environment where the kids learn must be kept quiet, but even upon entering, there is no signage or guidance on where to go or sit. I would sit in one area for several weeks, and then be told parents weren’t allowed to sit there. Later there would be parents sitting there, and no one saying anything. Bathroom facilities were not well maintained or cleaned, and you got the feeling they just put in the bare minimum effort to keep the lights on and the doors locked.
POSITIVITY: No one, and I mean no one is smiling in this place. Its a center for kids, and not one tutor, nor one child looks happy. Parents waiting are the same. I’ve been to other academic centers, and the culture of the management typically influences how the place feels.
NO COMMUNICATION/​ERROR IN ACCOUNTING: The Lincoln park branch closed and I did not receive any communication about it. The next thing I know there was supposed to be papers mailed to us, but none came. to this day the new promised center has still not opened. I therefore had to cancel my account due to lack of accessibility. After submitting the paperwork to the owner to cancel my account in March 2015, I was charged 3 subsequent months worth of tuition. I emailed and phoned the owner John Salceda, letting him know, with no response from him. One charge was reversed in May 2015, but the other two still have not been reversed. I finally called the Kumon 800 number and they are now looking into it.
I don’t believe in using Unilocal to gripe or complain unduly, but I felt it was legitimate to let users know about this management. They seem inexperienced and ineffective.

This Kumon Center is under the same ownership of the Lincoln Park center that was located on N. Dayton. Unfortunately, the Lincoln Park center has closed effective December 15^th 2014 and although we have been told that they will open another center nearby, concrete details and a firm date have yet to emerge. In the meantime families like ours, who live close to Lincoln Park will have to travel to Kedzie and Irving Park despite having signed up because of nearby location which now no longer exists. I am otherwise happy with Kumon but our center closing has been a disappointment.

Update. I went to Kumon to try to break 2 year contract, John the manager gave me a hard time. I have a friend that went thru the same issue I’m having. Mr. John broke her contract and she told me that he would be compassionate about the my situation. Unfortnuily, my son is in special Ed and her daughter wasn’t. I thought he would consider my situation due to the fact that my son has ADHD and the program is not for him and he’s not challenge doing addition & subtraction for 6 months. I now have to bring my friend who he broke the contract for and now I have to get his special Ed teacher involve. Hopefully this will work. I can’t afford to pay another 1year & half for wasted tutoring when I am paying for tutoring elsewhere to help him with what he is earning at school, which is algebra & geometry. By the time he would learn this at Kumon, he would be in high school. I will see John in 2 weeks with a letter from school. I will have an update in 2 weeks. Hopefully a lawyer won’t have to be involve.