Yes I know, another ATP rant. But hear me out -


Couple years ago I started flight school at ATP with 0 hours under my belt. Took a loan out with Sallie Mae.


Did my private with them, no issues. Halfway thru my Instrument I requested a new instructor because mine was being a dick and even was telling me I should pick a different career. I understand my fault during that period also, I honestly should've studied harder. Anyways, it took ATP 2.5 months to find me a new instructor. Keep in mind, during that time of me sitting on my ass at home studying for my rating they were still charging Sallie Mae for the program.


Fast forward 4 months, I have my Instrument and nearing my Commercial Checkride. ATP's planes were constantly going down for maintenance, I was 3 months behind schedule already, and weather had been bad for a couple weeks. I get pulled into an office and I'm told that corporate called, and the way it looks to them on paper (3 months behind in the program schedule and haven't done my checkride yet), I'm taking too long and I'm out of the program. All happened in just 5 min and I was driving away wondering what just happened. By the way, they charged me $1647 because they discontinued me.


I ended up doing "mom and pop" schools for my Commercial, Multi and CFI, and I'm slowly paying off the interest for my Sallie Mae loan, which is now at $140K...


Now here's where ATP is REALLY screwing me -


Sent them an email 2 weeks ago asking for an itemized list of the cost for the program. On Tuesday, someone from ATP finally called me, and sent a list of the charges. The total cost for the program at the time from 0 hours to CFI,CFII, and MEI was supposed to be $81k. My total cost from 0 hours to 182 hours was... $81k???


They refunded Sallie Mae a total of $67.21 at the end of my program.


When I asked why I was charged the full program cost, the lady at ATP gave me an analogy of "buying a bundle deal at McDonalds and getting charged for everything included in it, even if you don't eat it all". Then proceeds to say "you only get charged for what you use at ATP".


When I explained that what she said makes no sense, and it also makes no sense that the 182 hours costs the same as getting over 250 with your multi-engine and all your instructor ratings, she said she has to go because they're about to start a meeting. She called me back today, we ran thru the same discussion as last time to no avail, and she's supposedly going to let her boss know I still don't agree with being charged $81k for 182 hours and call me back.


What the actual f***.


End of rant.