Hello
I’m sorry for the length of this post. This post isn’t about the quality of instruction but rather about the Business practices of PADI instructor Forrest Simon and Go Native Freediving
I wanted to tell you of my experience with Go Native Freediving. Early last year I started to look for a freediving instructor course that would fit my schedule and budget.
I came across Go Native Freediving and it’s owner Forrest Simon. Forrest is a PADI ambassadiver and has been featured in several of their promotional videos.
I paid $2500 a total immersion instructor training program. Unfortunately, do to work conflicts, I had to cancel and requested a refund. Forrest was able to pay half of the refund and said he could pay the balance later. I told him to hold onto the balance ($1250) and I could use it as a deposit on a future course
By October of last year, I decided that I no longer wished to pursue an instructor path and asked for the balance due. Forrest said he would have half my money December 1st and the rest by the end of the month. Forrest failed to make either payment. Forrest then said he would have my payment in January and again failed to make the payment
For those outside of the United States, we have an organization called the Better Business Bureau (BBB) which helps to resolve consumer complaints. I contacted this group for assistance. They reached out to Forrest several times and he ignored all attempts to contact him
At this point, Forrest is also ignoring all of my attempts to contact him. I have retained an attorney and am pursuing my legal options in order to get my refund
Before any one asks, on the Go Native Freediving website, their stated policy is to provide a full refund
I’m sorry for the length of this post. This post isn’t about the quality of instruction but rather about the Business practices of PADI instructor Forrest Simon and Go Native Freediving
I wanted to tell you of my experience with Go Native Freediving. Early last year I started to look for a freediving instructor course that would fit my schedule and budget.
I came across Go Native Freediving and it’s owner Forrest Simon. Forrest is a PADI ambassadiver and has been featured in several of their promotional videos.
I paid $2500 a total immersion instructor training program. Unfortunately, do to work conflicts, I had to cancel and requested a refund. Forrest was able to pay half of the refund and said he could pay the balance later. I told him to hold onto the balance ($1250) and I could use it as a deposit on a future course
By October of last year, I decided that I no longer wished to pursue an instructor path and asked for the balance due. Forrest said he would have half my money December 1st and the rest by the end of the month. Forrest failed to make either payment. Forrest then said he would have my payment in January and again failed to make the payment
For those outside of the United States, we have an organization called the Better Business Bureau (BBB) which helps to resolve consumer complaints. I contacted this group for assistance. They reached out to Forrest several times and he ignored all attempts to contact him
At this point, Forrest is also ignoring all of my attempts to contact him. I have retained an attorney and am pursuing my legal options in order to get my refund
Before any one asks, on the Go Native Freediving website, their stated policy is to provide a full refund
