PARKING AND
THREE-POINT TURN
(Turn-About)
SUMMARY OF INFO IN THIS COLUMN. You only need to read the paragraphs that apply to you or where additional info is needed; however, you will be rewarded if you take the time to read this entire column.
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m8JJLWELCOME INFORMATION
Thank you for your interest in my business. I look forward to serving you. I am, mostly, a one-man operation. I do all of the training and about 90% of the admin work.
CONTRACT SIX FOR 75-MINUTE LESSONS Please read the entire Contact before calculating any fees.
1. CHARGES IF YOU ARE PAYING WITH A MONEY ORDER OR CASHIER'S CHECK. There is a 7% discount if not paying with a credit card (Visa or MasterCard. No debit cards accepted). Therefore, multiply the total due as determined from the calculations in #2 below by 0.93 (zero point 93) and delete cents. If you want me (Joda Collins) to calculate your fees, just ask. 2. CHARGES A. Each lesson is 75-minutes unless otherwise requested and arranged. I only collect for lesson one to start with, however, you can schedule as many as five lessons and only pay for the first lesson to start with. If you want me (Joda Collins) to calculate you charge, just ask. (1). Scheduling fee is $32.00. (2). Tuition: $118 for weekday training or $124 for Saturday training, plus a (3). One-time charge to use the Academy vehicle for parking and three point turn rather than your own insured vehicle for parking and three point turn is $27 because excessive turning of the steering wheel while the vehicle is stationary or moving at super slow speeds causes me additional auto repair bills, plus a (4). Per lesson charge for using your insured vehicle for over-the-road / in-traffic training rather than the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle is $13 per lesson because training in a vehicle without a second brake is more dangerous and more nerve-racking (among other good reasons), plus a (5). Door-to-door fee for those that do not want to or can not begin and end training at our start location very near the intersection of Interstate 10 at Exit 26, Milton is $2.42 per round trip mile. Provide to me your start/end location address and I will email you the charge for that door-to-door service.
A. The combined total of 2A(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) avove is your charge if you are paying with a credit card (Visa or Master Card accepted. No debit cards accepted). B. Multiply the total due as detemined in A immediately above by 0.93 and drop cents if you are paying with money order, cashier's check, or upon approval a personal check.
4. PAYMENT
A. To make your payment by US Postal Service, mail your money order or cashier's check to
Joda Collins Driving Academy
4033 Buttonbush Dr.
Milton, FL 32583.
We have never lost anything in the mail, but be sure to keep your proof of purchase just in case. Do not mail cash. B. To make your payment by Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard credit card only. No debit cards accepted), send the following info by email, phone and/or US Postal Service. (1). Name on Credit Card. (2). CC Number. (3). Expiration Date (4). Full address credit card billing is sent to.
5. REBATES (1). A rebate is not a discount. A rebate is a refund of some, most or all of the admin fees I save by you scheduling several lessons with one email, paying for all scheduled lessons with one payment and not missing, canceling or rescheduling any of them even if doing so is unavoidable (not your fault/and act of God). A. However, I (Joda Collins) cancel all lessons that are scheduled to begin or end within three-hours of a National Weather Advisory without any financial loss to our Client for that lesson, however, a scary forecast of wind and rain is NOT a National Weather Advisory. (2). I am often asked to provide the maximum Rebate when a Client misses and/or cancels a lesson for reasons which are not his or her fault, and I understand the sentiment behind that request. After all, should a Client be financially punished for something that happened that was out of his or her control? There are two things errant with this thinking.
(a). First, the rebate is not a discount. I am simply not charging some, most or all of my administrative costs to schedule and resereve multile appointments rather than one at a time. If a Client misses and reschedules an appointment, not allowing the full rebate is not a penalty fee, but the reinstatement of the administration expense I incur to provide that additional scheduling service. It is just paying me for my service. Nothing I do for others is cost or time free to me.
(b). Second, if something bad happens to me that was out my control that costs me time or money, it would be inappropriate for me to expect you to reimburse me for my time and financial expense for that bad thing. It would be childish of me to be upset with you if you did not pay. If my car quit running and I had to have it towed, I would not send you the tow bill. If I got a cavity, I would not tell the dentist to bill you for my filling. If I lost my job, I would not ask you to make my house payment until I was back on my feet, financially. If something bad happens to you so that you cannot keep yourappointment and I had to incur extra administrative expense because of something that happened to you, it would be inappropriate for you to ask me to pay that expense for you. Everyone over 18-years of age that incurs time loss and/or expense for bad things that happen to us pay our own way rather than expect others to pay our way. That is just part of being an adult. Right?
B. After the completion of lesson one: (1). After the completion of lesson one, schedule one weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for that one lesson at the start of that one lesson, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule that one lesson for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault and receive zero dollar rebate at the start of that one lesson. (2). After the completion of lesson one, schedule two weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for both at the start of lesson two, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule either of those lessons for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault and receive a $10 rebate at the start of lesson three (including lesson one).
(3). After the completion of lesson one, schedule three weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for all three at the start of lesson two, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule any of those lessons for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault, and receive a $15 rebate at the start of lesson four (including lesson one). (4). After the completion of lesson one, schedule four weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for both at the start of lesson two, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule any of those lessons for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault and receive a $70 rebate at the start of lesson five (including lesson one). (5). After fullfilling (1), (2), (3) or (4) above, schedule two weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for both at the start of the first lesson in this series of lessons, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule either of those lessons for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault and receive a $5 rebate at the start of lesson two. (6). After fullfilling (1), (2) or (3) or (4) above, schedule three weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for all three at the start of the first lesson in this series of lessons, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule either of those lessons for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault and receive a $10 rebate at the start of lesson three. (7). After fullfilling (1), (2), (3) or (4) above, schedule four weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for all four at the start of the first lesson in this series of lessons, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule either of those lessons for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault and receive a $15 rebate at the start of lesson four. (8). After fullfilling (1), (2), (3) or (4) above, schedule five weekday lessons with one email or phone call, pay for all five at the start of the first lesson in this series of lessons, and do not miss, cancel or reschedule either of those lessons for any reason, including a reason that is not your fault and receive a $70 rebate at the start of lesson five.
6. REFUNDS AND MISSED LESSON FEE
A. To secure a full refund of unused funds make your request for your refund with at least a one-hour notice. If you provided less than a one hour notice of a missed lesson, 75% of your fees paid in advance in excess of $100 are refundable.
B. If I miss a driving session with less than a one-hour notice, 100% of the fees you paid in advance are refundable and (a). You will receive a $50 discount on your rescheduled training if you did not get an email reminder between 8am and 8pm the day prior to your lesson (even if you got a reminder before 8am the day prior to your appointment) there is a scheduling problem and you contacted me immediately within eight hours of your appointment to confirm your appointment. 7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A. LESSON DURATION
Each lesson is 75-minutes unless otherwise agreed and arranged.
B. HOW MANY LESSONS WILL IT TAKE TO REACH YOUR DRIVING GOAL(S)?
(1). After the first lesson, via email the same day, I (Joda Collins) will answer that question to the best of my ability if you want that question answered and ask me, via email, to answer that question. An Estimate of Future Progress is not a promise, guarantee or a prophecy. There are too many variables out of my (Joda Collins) control to guarantee a rate of progress.
C. FREE THINGS AVAILABLE TO YOU BUT ONLY UPON YOUR REQUEST. (1). I offer about $200 in free training and/or services. To secure a list of and conditions for those offers, just ask.
8. ATTACHMENT ONE is part of this Contract. You can find it immediately below CONTACT SEVEN as found at www.jodacollins.com , Agreement page, right column.
CONTRACT SEVEN
THREE-IN-THREE TRAINING Please read the entire Contact before calculating any fees. Edited 3/15/2023. Total charges unchanged. Sections in red print expanded for clarification. $100 minimum down changed to $200.00.
1. IF YOU HAVE A VALID DRIVER LICENSE OR VALID PERMIT, OR A LETTER FROM THE DEPT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY THAT SERVES AS YOUR TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR YOUR FOUR-HOURS OF TRAINING, SKIP THIS AND GO TO #2. A. If you do NOT have a valid driver license, a valid permit or said letter from the Dept of Highway Safety, you will need a Letter from the Department of Highway Safety, Tallahassee, FL that states in some form or another that said letter serves as the driver's permit or driving authorization during the four-hours of driver's training. This letter is not needed if your driver license or permit is now and will remain active/valid during your four-hours of training. If not, and you do not have this letter call 850 617-2598 any non-holiday weekday as near as you can between 7am and 7:05am (to avoid a long wait) and ask for that letter.
2. FINANCE: If your fees were sent to you via email, you can skip this section and go to #3 below. A. BASE CHARGE IS $108 + $375 + $54 = $537.00. (However, the BASE CHARGE when paying by money order or cashier's check is $499 but more about that later.) This Base Charge itemized is:
(1). Non-refundable scheduling and Reservation Fee: $108
(2). Tuition @ $375
(3). Aggravation Charge @ $54 B. ADDITIONAL FEES
(1). $27 if we are using the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle, rather than your insured vehicle, for the parking and three point turn training. (2). $43 if we are using your insured vehicle for the over the road training, rather than the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle for all over-the-road/in traffic training. (3). $17 if you are training on a Saturday and not a weekday. (4). Door-to-door fee, if applicable, of $2.42 per round trip mile from 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583. (This is not our business address. Please do not come to this address.)
(5). $32 per lesson additional Scheduling fee starting with lesson two if training is taken in more than one four-hour session. Under no circumstanes is the Reservation fee refundable or transferrable to any other date or time unless I (Joda Collins) cancel or miss the appointment. I cancel when there is a National Weather Advisory for Esambia or Santa Rosa Counties within three hour of the scheduled training start and/or end time. All lessons have to be prescheduled with one email request. C. GRAND TOTAL IF PAYING WITH A MASTERCARD OR VIA CREDIT CARD (NO DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED).
(1). Add the total of B(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) to $537.00.
D. GRAND TOTAL IF YOU ARE PAYING WITH A MONEY ORDER OR CASHIER'S CHECK
(1). If you are paying with a cashier's check or money order(s), multiply the total amount you determined in C(1) above by 0.93 (zero point 93) and delete the cents. That 7% discounted fee is your total if you are paying with money order or cashier's check.
E. NON-REFUNDABLE
(1). The Scheduling/Reservation Fee is non-refundable under any conditions and non-transferable to any other date and time from the original date and time you request that is approved by us. This is not penalty fee, but a fee collected for service already rendered. I cannot reserve four-hours of my time plus the time it takes to prep, cancel that time and reschedule, and do all of that for free. F. THE AGGRAVATION CHARGE is part of the total. (1). Approximately one-third to 40% of 3-in-3 drivers seem to have severe mental and/or emotional problems or a chip on their shoulder and opt to harass me, argue with me and/or give me hard time before and/or during the training as if I were their enemy, their spittoon or someone automatically deserving of disrespect. I will treat a person with kindness until they treat me like dirt. I will not respnd "in kind" but I will defend myself. I am not anyone's slave, enemy or spittoon. If you are mad at the driver license office, the police or the world in general, take it out on someone else or your dog. (2). If you are civil towards me, I will refund the full Aggravation Fee by mail the same day as your training. If you are not civil towards me I will keep the Aggravation Fee. That decision is mine, not yours. Just assume the Aggravation Fee is gone, unless you get it in the mail. Please do not ask for it or ask if you earned it paid to you. The determination whether you are civil towards me is my decision alone, not yours. At the end of the lesson, I will not talk with you about or argue with you about whether or not you were civil towards me. Do not ask if the Aggravation Fee will or will not be refunded. If you do not get it in the mail within three business weekdays, it is not coming. (3). Training can be frustrating. I know that. I am not asking you to not get frustrated, I am asking you not to kick me with words or a hateful attitude towards me. I am asking you to act like a reasonable and responsive adult not like a spoiled, snotty and rude teenager who thinks everyone in the world owes him or her and the only reasons others exists it make them happy. I am asking for nothing more than common adult-level courtesy.
3. PAYMENT A. Unless otherwise requested and agreed on, I (Joda Collins) will assume you are paying in full, however... B. You can request to pay as little as $200 down and the balance interest free whenever you desire. However, your completion will not be turned in to the State until th full payment is received. When I am in possession of at least $200, I will contact you for scheduling. If paying by mail, mail your money order or cashier's check to Joda Collins Driving Academy, 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583. BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE.
C. To make your payment by US Postal Service, mail your money order or cashier's check to
Joda Collins Driving AcademY
4033 Buttonbush Dr.
Milton, FL 32583.
We have never lost anything in the mail, but be sure to keep your proof of purchase just in case. Do not mail cash. D. To make your payment by Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard credit card only. No debit cards accepted), send the following info by email, phone and/or US Postal Service. (1). Name on Credit Card. (2) CC Number. (3). Expiration Date (4). Full address credit card billing is sent to.
4. WHY ARE YOU PAYING ME? A. Let us start with the reasons you are not hiring me. (1). You are not hiring me to provide to a pass or a fail status for the training. No one fails. Everyone passes. Your training with me is not test. This is just training to best insure you pass your State test and keep or regain your license. (2). You are not hiring me to answer a never- ending list of questions you could or might be inclined to ask of me for four continuous hours any more than you go to high school, college or technical school to inform the teacher that you will be leading his instruction by asking as many questions as you want and whenever you want during his class.
(3). You are not hiring me to tell you that you are a great driver or that you are a terrible driver.
(4). At the most elementary level your are hiring me because you have to have four-hours of training in order to test for the purpose of keeping or re-securing your active status for your driver license. My assigned task is to make you as safe a driver as I can in four-hours of training. I do this not by answering a string of questions but by watching you drive and give you as much training as I can to try to help you overcome your most dangerous driving habits. Four-hours will not be enough to do everything, but we can get a lot accomplished if you: (a). Are humble enough to be teachable. (b). Do not spend your time arguing with me about the rules of the road you disagree with or the safe driving skills I am trying to teach you that you do not like. (c). Allow me to lead the training by me doing the instruction rather than you try to lead the teaching by asking me a hundred questions about things that are not on my list of your most dangerous driving habits I compiled by watching you drive. (1). If, by the end of the lesson, I have not answered your questions as a result of me leading the training, you want to email me your questions I will answer them by return email free of charge as long as we are both alive and of sound mind. All of your questions do not have to be asked and answered in the four-hours of specialized training. You are not hiring me to answer your questions during the four-hours of training. You are hiring me to use all of the four-hours for me to train you in the manner that I believe is most beneficial for you. If you were in a classroom with a professor at the front teaching the material he was assigned to teach you, would you constantly interrupt his teaching efforts by asking questions as questions come to your mind? Would you say to him, "Professor, I know you are trying to teach the assigned material, but let's forget what you are trying to teach and put that off to the side and I you will answer my never-ending list of questions I have for you. Of course, you would not. Do not try to do that to me, please.
If you will let me lead the training and just pay attention, I will probably get to all of your questions. If I do not, I will get to the most important ones regarding my list of your most dangerous driving habits and that is the highest goal of this training.
5. DURING TRAINING PLEASE GUARD YOUR EMOTIONS.
A. Some three-in-three are extremely dangerous drivers and did not know it until the training. Their sudden awareness that they are poor drivers upsets them and they come kind of unglued.
B. Some are hostile or aggressive by nature when driving and/or do not accept constructive criticism (correction) well.
C. Some believe I (Joda Collins) should allow them to drive in accord with their personal rules of the road and ignore the legal rules of the road everyone else drives by, and they (the three-in-three driver) become upset or angry when I will not allow them to do so. Making up personal rules of the road and driving in traffic by those secret rules is dangerous and puts my life on the line, unnecessarily.
D. In and of itself, being in driver training is a strain and to experienced drivers it might be embarrassing. I understand that. Some are mature enough to handle the strain and embarrassment without getting mad at me. The immature do not.
E. Some are angry at the State of Florida for suspending their license and see me as a State paid employee and deserving if their hate; however, I am not a State employee. I am an independent contractor. My only job is to help you keep your driver license and help you become safer behind-the-wheel.
F. Some refuse to follow my directions and put my life, limb and vehicle at unnecessary and easily avoidable risk. When I do not allow them to drive like maniacs, they resent it and take it out on me verbally.
G. The majority of three-in-three drivers lie to me. They say and sign they have carefully read this Contract and Attachment One but did not. Not reading this Contact and or not reading it well enough to understand it, they are totally unprepared or the training and being totally unprepared for the training, they tend to get frustrated and/or anger more easily. I did not call your name. I do not know you. I can not nor will not prejudge you. I said, "the majority." Unless you prove me wrong, I will assume your are in the minority and have read this Contract carefully.
H. Be decent and respectful towards me. I will be decent and respectful towards you. The training is not easy for student-drivers. I understand that. It is not easy for me either.
I. Please do not provide justification, rationalization or argument regarding why you drive poorly or in violation of traffic laws. Confronting or attacking me about your dislike of traffic laws just eats up time, creates a strained environment and changes nothing regarding your situation with your license status. J. It has been my experience that about 40% of three-in-three drivers are quite immature and treat me like arrogant, disrespectful, know-it-all teens treat their parents. Unlike many parents, I do not put up with that; I confront. I am not being paid to be spit on, so to speak. I pray you are part of the 60% that are not like that. If you are like that, just fake adult level maturity/behavior for four-hours.
6. CERTIFICATION AND RECORDING OF THIS TRAINING.
Certification of the completion of your training is accomplished electronically between me and the State. You will not need and will not receive a paper copy of a completion notice. You can contact your local driver license office now and schedule your State exam. Train on Monday, schedule on Thursday. Train Tuesday, schedule on Friday. Train on Wednesday, schedule on Monday. Train on Thursday, schedule on Tuesday. Train on Friday or Saturday, schedule on Wednesday. DISCLAIMER: Add to this any weekday National holiday.
7. SCHEDULING
You can pay as little as $200 down (this changed from $100 down on 3/15/2023) and the balance interest free whenever you desire. However, your completion will not be turned in to the State until th full payment is received. When I am in possession of at least $200, I will contact you for scheduling. If paying by mail, mail your money order or cashier's check to Joda Collins Driving Academy, 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583. BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE.
8. ATTACHMENT ONE IS A PART OF THIS CONTRACT. You can find Attachment One immediately below this Contract.
ATTACHMENT ONE
POLICIES AND PROCEDURE 1. MANDATORY READING A. Failure to carefully read your Contact and Attachment One almost always is a major contributor to unnecessary stress, confusion and hard feelings that would have been easily avoided with a careful reading of these Documents before agreeing or signing. Thank you. B. Please read this five or 10-minute read (link) before signing or agreeing to this Contract if you are under 26 years of age or a parent, guardian or the spouse of the Student-driver under 26-years of age. https://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2019/09/most-people-prior-to-age-25-lack-good.html .
2. VEHICLE SELECTION QUESTION FOR YOU.
A. Unless otherwise directed by the Client, when training for parking and three-point turn, I will assume the Student-driver is using the same vehicle he or she will be using for his or her State exam. Using the Client's vehicle for parking and three-point turn training averts an additional $25 to $27 fee.
3. START AND END LOCATION A. If no door-to-door service is requested and agreed to then the start location is 3804 Garcon Point Rd, Milton, 32583 which is less than one-tenth of one mile off of Exit 26 and Interstate 10, Milton, 6.5 miles East of Pensacola (the second exit after crossing the Escambia Bay Bridge). This (3804 Garcon Point Road) is not our office addresses. This is a gas station, Circle K, truck stop and restaurant. Please park in the spaces at the side of the building (Manager's request), enter the front doors and turn left. My (Joda Collins') photo is at www.jodacollins.com . I will be seated immediately in front of you. My cell phone number is 850 304-1870.
(2). For additional lessons, if any, and no door-to-door service is asked for or provided, the start location is across the street, 3815 Garcon Point Road, at the Dollar General Store. Please park in the spaces that face and are the closest to the side road (Manager's request). I use the same parking spaces and will be in my car there. My cell phone is 850 304-1870.
B. FIRST LESSON TRAINING OR THE START OF THE ONLY LESSON (1). Proper steering. a. This includes proper hand-over-haand steering and allowing the wheel to slide lightly through the driver's hands to complete standard right and left turns. Most crashes in driver training vehicles are the result of poor steering, so I mandate proper steering first. (2). Proper braking. a. Stopping without jolting the vehicle or throwing the head of passenger's forward. b. The ability to use minimal brake pressure to drive at 0.1 to 2mph on flat land or a slight decline for 30 consecutive seconds which replaces unnecessary, aggravating and (more) dangerous stop and go, stop and go, stop and go in very slow moving traffic.
4. I HAVE NO VERBAL AGREEMENTS NOR FUNCTION BY ASSUMPTION, EVER!
A. I will never attempt to hold you hostage nor will I be held hostage to anything that follows, "But you said....", "But, I said....", or "But, I thought (assumed)...." If it is important to you, get it in writing. We do! If it is not in writing, you never said it, I never said it and no one will be held accountable/responsible for what someone wrongly assumed somebody said or for what the other person said poorly. That is why I shy away from telephone or voice mail with it comes to all matters regarding service or money and use email. B. I do not do business on a handshake. I have no verbal agreements. C. I do not do business based on assumption that others understand the Contract. Too much stress. Too much arguing, too much justification and too many accusations for me! Been there. Done that! No thank you. I do not do business by assumption unless it is written that "such and such" is an assumption. I have NO verbal agreements. (1). Assume only what is in this Contract and Attachment One (above). I have no verbal agreements. None. Ever! The emphasis on no verbal agreements is intentional.
6. CONTRACT CLARIFICATION
This is a legal document. If you do not understand something in this document, please ask. If we feel you have given us every reasonable opportunity to clarify this document to you and you still are confused, at your request we will consider paying your Attorney to explain it to you. Contact us for specifics.
7. SCHEDULING AND PAYMENT
A. WHO CAN SCHEDULE, CANCEL AND/OR RESCHEDULE? Only the Client (the financially responsible person) can schedule, cancel or reschedule unless other arrangements are made. I (Joda Collins) accept scheduling requests only by email or US Postal System. Go to JodaCollins.com and follow the scheduling directions in the Available Dates and Times Section.
B. PREPAYMENT. The first training session has to be paid for and in our possession in advance of scheduling. Additional lessons have to be paid for in advance of scheduling unless otherwise arranged. (1). When paying with a money order or cashier's check please mail payment to Joda Collins Driving Academy, 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583. Do NOT mail cash. While we have never had anything lost in the mail in the 15-years we have been in business, there may be a first time. We do not accept responsibility for what others place in the mail. It is the sender's responsibility to keep his or her proof of purchase. (2). When paying with Visa or MasterCard Credit Card (no debit cards accepted), we usually charge the card for $1 to be sure we have a valid card and correct card information. Then we usually charge the balance due the day prior to the training, unless other arrangements are made.
8. OPTIONAL MEMORY WORK FOR STUDENT DRIVER.
If you can and want to memorize, as best you can, the following before lesson one, that effort will serve you well.
A. Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Signal. Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Move. B. Slow, Right, Look, Signal, Stop. Turn, Look, Coast, Stop, Reverse. Turn, Look, Coast, Stop, Drive. Turn, Look, Accelerate.
9. CONTRACT INFORMATION
A. If you do not like something about this Contract, tell me and I will try to work with you to adjust this to your liking.
B. The only things I will not consider changing are the things that cost me time or money. I cannot serve for less or do more for FREE and stay in business.
10. EMAIL REMINDER FOR YOUR LESSON
A. If you (the Client) do not get an email reminder of your driving session between 12:01am and 8:30pm the day before your driving appointment EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED A REMINDER/CONFIRMATION EARLIER, there IS a scheduling problem. Please call 850 981-3355 or email to discover the problem so I can try to resolve the difficulty. Without your or email, I will not be able to resolve this difficulty and will not assume any responsibility or liability for this missed lesson. This need covers an occasional glitch/weakness in my scheduling system that I cannot get rid of without your assistance. I place this burden on you because I have to. If you want to know why, just ask. B. Part of his Contract is your word that you will check you emails at least once every 24-hours and one-hour before every lesson for last minute details. I (Joda Collins) will do the same in search of your emails. Doing this will aid communciation and avoid difficulties that sometime arise due to mistakes. No one is perfect. Thank you for this commitment.
11. YOUR RIGHTS AND OUR RIGHTS
We understand that you reserve the right not to be served by us at any time with out without explanation. We, also, reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at any time with or without explanation. We have only refused service to ten student-drivers to date, out of more than 2,100 applications.
12. SIGNERS AND APPROVERS.
Both the Student-driver and the Client (financially responsible) person are required to read this Contact and Attachment One. If you want to know why, just ask.
13. DURING TRAINING PLEASE DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING. (No one is expect to memorize this list. Just read it over carefully and retain what you can with one devoted and careful reading. Thank you.) A. Do not reach into the back seat from the front seat. Place in the back seat and retrieve from the back seat what you want by exiting the vehicle and opening a back seat passenger's door. (1). Do not reach into the back seat from the front seat. Place in the back seat and retrieve from the back seat what you want by exiting the vehicle and opening a back seat passenger's door. (2). Do not reach into the back seat from the front seat. Place in the back seat and retrieve from the back seat what you want by exiting the vehicle and opening a back seat passenger's door.
B. Please do not take it personally when I correct poor driving. It is not personal. It is professional.
B. Do not use your cell phone for calls or do computer work while you are in the drivers seat unless the vehicle is stationary. C. Do not use your cell phone or computer even if you are in a passenger's seat, other than to answer the phone and ask the caller to wait while I pull over and out of traffic.
D. If you want to or need to use a cell phone; let me know and I will stop the car if I am driving or direct where to stop if you are driving. Then, use your cell phone.
F. If you have any questions about this Contract please do not call on the phone to get your question(s) answered. Rather, ask via email (JodaCollins@aol.com) or US Postal Service (Joda Collins, 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583 which is our mailing address and NOT our office address) BEFORE signing this. We have very good reasons for this request / procedure that best serves us and you. If you want to know why, just ask via email or US Postal Service.
G. Do not brings foods, snacks or drinks of any kind the car for consumption during training. Please do not chew gum or use candy. Water in a container with a screw on cap is okay. If you need the reasoning for these restrictions, just ask.
H. Some believe I (Joda Collins) should allow them to drive in accord with their personal rules of the road and ignore the legal rules of the road everyone else drives by. Making up personal rules of the road and driving in traffic by those secret rules is dangerous.
I. I am easy to get along with. Be decent and respectful towards me. I will be decent and respectful towards you. Driving is easy. Driving safely in traffic is hard, a lot of work and can be taxing; I understand that. If you get overly frustrated ask for a break. Teaching not easy, either, and I may need a break.
J. Only about 15% of new drivers and 40% of experienced drivers need this admonition. Ignore it if you do not need this. This is not intended to be personal to everyone but only to the small percentage of people who do need this admonition. Please do not provide justification, rationalization or argument regarding why you drive poorly or in violation of traffic laws. Confronting or attacking me about your dislike of traffic laws just eats up time, creates a strained environment and does nothing good for either of us. K. Please do not accelerate in a manner that throws my head back. I had a very serious water-skiing accident when I was 13 and did some severe damage to my neck. I can handle quick stops and quick turns, but I need slow acceleration in order not to cause neck pain. Accelerate in a manner you would if you were a chauffeur and you have passengers drinking champagne in the back of the vehicle. I can take a few quicker starts per day but not dozens per hour. If your acceleration is too abrupt, I will let you know. Thank you for not getting upset with me for letting you know. Remember, the driver knows when he or she is going to accelerate so the driver can (pre-act) preset so his or her head is not thrown back at the instant of acceleration. Passengers do not know exactly when the driver is going to accelerate or how abruptly, so a passenger cannot preset or pre-act. A passenger can only react after his or her head is thrown back at the point of acceleration. L. Please do not reach into the back seat from the front seat. Place in the back seat and retrieve from the back seat what you want by opening a back seat passenger's door. (1). Thank you for not reaching into the back seat from the front seat. Place in the back seat and retrieve from the back seat what you want by opening a back seat passenger's door. (2). Do not reach into the back seat from the front seat. Place in the back seat and retrieve from the back seat what you want by opening a back seat passenger's door. If you want to know why, just ask.
14. MISC. INFORMATION
A. Communication via email (JodaCollins@aol.com) is better for me and better for you in a number of ways when dealing with service, benefits, responsibilities and/or money as it relates to Contract issues.
B. This Contract has a lot of information and covers many variables. If you have a suggestion how to improve this Contract, please let me know.
15. ASSISTANCE.
A. If you have any questions about this Contract or Attachment One (above), please ask via email. If after giving us a reasonable chance to answer your question or questions, if you still do not understand any part of this Contract, let me know how much your attorney would charge to explain this Contract to you and I will consider paying it.
B. Please do not sign or agree to this Contract if you do not understand it and accept all of the benefits and responsibilities in it that apply to you. I will hold me to this Contract. I will hold you to this Contract.
16. SOME KEY FACTS OF THIS CONTRACT
A. I accept any questions or statements about this Contract via email and we will respond via email. I do not verbally clarify, discuss, debate or negotiate legal documents (Contacts). B. Those who do not read this Contract but try to work with me by assumption always face difficulties and obstacles others easily avoid.
17. STUDENT DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY
A. Wear tight fitting shoes such as tennis shoes or dress shows and not crocks, sandals, boots, slippers, or flip flops.
B. Be clean and were clean clothing. My car has cloth interior and absorbs odors.
C. Do not wear anything that will snag cloth seats.
D. Have your permit or license with you.
E. Carefully read every email I send.
F. ACTIVE/VALID LEGAL DRIVER LICENSE, PERMIT OR LETTER. Driver must have a current active/valid/legal driver license that will still be active/valid/legal when driver takes the four-hours of driver's training, a valid permit or a letter from the Dept. of Hwy Safety specifying said letter has to be with driver during training.
18. CONFLICT/CONFUSION RESOLUTION
A. If you are ever unhappy with me, signing this Contract is your word that you will tell me of your concerns and give me a chance to resolve your concern(s) before you share your negative opinion of me with anyone else.
B. Beyond my initial conversation with you, I communicate by email, telephone or US Postal Service.
C. I require those we do business with to read emails from us within 24-hours of being sent (once a day) and one-hour before any scheduled lesson. I hold you accountable to read your emails at least once every 24-hours and one-hour before any scheduled lesson. I hold myself responsible to look for your email every 24-hours and one our before all scheduled lesson.
(a). However, if you do not, can not or will not do that, let me know and I will do all of the important things via US Postal Service which is better than verbal only, but the US Postal System is slower communication. (b). Only about 25% of Clients and Student-drivers need this admonition. Please ignore it if you do not need this admonition. Please do not become upset with me if you fail to read your Contract, Attachment one and/or your emails and that lack of awareness causes you difficulties. I have enough to answer for when I make my own mistakes, I certainly do not need to shoulder the responsibility of enduring the cost of other people's mistakes. One of the hallmarks of maturity is accepting responsibility for one's actions or lack of same. Thank you!
D. Anything in an email is considered null and void (in error) if it is in contradiction to the content of this Contract.
19. USUALLY, I DO NOT TEACH THE FOLLOWING DURING DRIVERS TRAINING because any experienced driver can teach these things and I am focused on teaching safe and crash free diving. A. Put the parking brake on hard enough that when you are parked and in drive with no acceleration or braking, the car will not move. B. Fueling. C. If a red light appears on your dash or your car makes loud unusual noises while driving asap pull of the road, turn your car off asap, and call someone to come and assist you if you do not know what to do. D. The mechanics of a car beyond the brakes, the accelerator and the steering. E. Anything under the hood. F. Rules of the road that are not employed during our driving time. There are just too many to try to teach all of them. (1). However, if you want any of the above done during training time, let me know.
20. I PREFER EMAIL COMMUNICATION RATHER THAN TELEPHONE OR FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION ABOUT FACTS, FIGURES AND SERVICE because in January 2020, Covid19 bestowed upon me permanent vocal cord damage. I need to limit my vocal cord use to avoid further long-term and possible further permanent vocal cord damage. I need to reserve as much vocal cord use for driver's training as possible. Thank you for understanding. However, if your strongly preferred method of communication is the telephone, I welcome your call to 850 981-3355. It will probably go to voice mail. We will NOT initiate a telephone call when an email will suffice. We will not return a telephone call if a return contact by email will, in our opinion, suffice. This provides a mutually protective record of communication and rids everyone of depending on, "But, you said...." or "But I said...." comments. To the best of our ability each email from us deals with only once subject so the subject line become a quick reference section of important facts and figures.
21. ADDITIONAL INFO
A. If you are a client (financially responsible person) or a student-driver under the age of 26, please read online the following brief article before your first lesson: https://ppsimmons.blogspot.com/2019/09/most-people-prior-to-age-25-lack-good.html .
22. PLEASE DO NOT....
A. If we are using my car for training, please do not wear dirty clothing or clean clothing that looks dirty. I do not smell a person on purpose or touch a person's clothing to see if individuals are actually as dirty as they look. The vehicle is a closed small area and smells are trapped. My interior is cloth and absorbs odors. My interior is light in color and shows dirt. Thank you for taking a shower and being clean of body and clothing before the lesson begins. Please do not wear dirty-looking clothing and expect me to take your word for it that you clothes only look dirty, but they are really clean.
B. Please do not wear flip flops, crocs, sandals, boots, high heal shoes or slippers. Rather, wear tight fitting shoes such as tennis shoes or dress shoes.
C. Please do not eat, drink, smoke, chew or suck during the driver's training. If you want know why, just ask or go to:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/joda-collins/selective-soft-sound-syndrome/paperback/product-18785296.html . If you want to do any of these things, let me know and we can stop for a few minutes while you do these things. However, water in a container with a screw on lid is permitted in the vehicle. Just do not drink and drive.
D. Please do not reach into the back seat from the front seat. Access the back seat from the outside of the vehicle via the back seat passenger door.
E. Please do not answer yes or no questions with long answers. For example, if I ask you if you see the red light, do not answer by telling me what a red light means, just say yes or say no. Quick, clear, crisp communication is a key benefit in driving safely in fast moving and every changing conditions.
F. Please do not slap my vehicle controls. Treat them gently. Thank you. Do not mistreat my equipment and I will not toss your cell phone around the car.
G. If I am standing at your door when you get into the vehicle please do not close the door. Allow me to close the door. When I am sure you are not a door slammer, I will feel better having you close my car doors.
H. Please do not complain to others about me or my business policies without giving me a chance to make amends, make changes in an effort to make you happy. I do my best, but I am not perfect. I won't bite. I want to make you happy.
I (eye). I (Joda Collins) do not expect you to memorize the above things. I do, however, expect people to be gracious to me if I graciously remind then of these rules. We live in an increasingly rude and hateful world of which I desire no participation in it or of it. 23. OFFICE HOURS A. My office is staffed for eight hours between the 12-hours of 8am and 10pm. We are seldom out the office more than two or three hours at a time. Delays in responding to emails or voice mails may be due to this, or the workload during staffed hours. If you do not get a return email from us within 12-hours (excluding 10am to 8am), please resend your mail or restate your voice mail. 24. CONTRACT FACTS A. Whenever I (Joda Collins) have any questions about money or service that are asked and responded to verbally, I try to always back that verbal conversation up with contract specifics just to be sure there is a meeting of the minds. I do not have nor honor any verbal agreements. Verbal agreements are anything about service of money that can logically be included in this sentence, "But, you said...." or "But, I said...." that can be uttered as a challenge (sincere or otherwise) to my written Contract(s). It is easy to make a mistake verbally. No one says one-hundred percent of all words perfectly. No one hears 100% of all words perfectly. So I attempt to back up verbal conversation about money or service with Contract realities just to be sure we have a meeting of the minds. B. This is a sad reality. According to many public records, today more than 50% of Americans age 16 and above have a reading comprehension/retention level and verbal (hearing) comprehension skills level of 2nd graders (7 to 8-years old), about 25% of American age 16 and above have a reading comprehension/retention level of between the third grade and seventh grade level (ages 8 to 12-years of age), and about 25% read at a 9th or higher grade level (age 14 or above). This poses a problem. I had all of my Contracts edited by professional contract writers with the goal of simplification for ease of reading and comprehension. According to experts, this is done by using no more than two-syllable words when doing so does not extend the reasonable length of the contract, only using simple sentences (one subject and one verb per sentence), and never the word "and" or the word "or". C. Over the years, I have invested slightly more than $2,200 in such professional contract authors. It is amazingly difficult to write a legal document at a 2nd grade (age 8) reading level so that the average reader can comprehend it easily. I have been informed by every professional contract writer that because of my many benefits given, the stipulations necessary for guarding my business against the abuse of my generosity, and the technical words that have to be a part of a driving school contact, it is impossible to write my Contracts below a 9th or 10th grade reading comprehension/retention level and keep them short enough not to overwhelm with words.
D. I am about openness, transparency, cooperation, reasonable compromise and client/customer service. I hate small print and blatant attempts in contracts designed to take advantage of others; I do not and will not do that. Questions? Just ask. The only print in any of my Contracts that can possibly work to the surprise dis-advantage of those I serve, is the print those I serve (1) do not read or (2) read but do not understand and do not ask about -- and those failures are NOT my fault. I will not assume responsibility for them. I do enough careless things in my own life to pay for. I cannot afford to, also, pay for the careless things others do to themselves. Thank you for not being upset with me if your failures cause you difficulties.
25. FREE THINGS
I provide about $200 in free training. If you want to know how to access this free training and the conditions of the free training, just ask.
26. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH THIS PROCESS. The 2019/2020 Wuhan Virus (aka Corona2019 and Covid19) closed our office and inflation has keep it closed. I cannot re-open the office and incur that expense again without going up on my charges, so do all things one step at a time via email, voice mail or US Postal Service rather than charge more. This has become the new norm for many businesses including mine and will last as long as the too many of the politicans in charge continue to damage our economy. Some of them are just ignorant and need to take an Economics 101 Course. Some of them are stupid and can not understand basic economics. Most of them hate America and do all they can to detroy America and Americans. In the meantime, we all suffer becasue of them.
27. DISCLAIMER
A. The Contract nor Attachment One are in force until both documents are signed by all parties (paper copy), payment is made and received, and the training begins. Until then, documents can be changed, added to or reduced in words and/or corrected. Paper copies signed at the start of training by all parties and each gets a copy. B. We do not discuss contract related issues by phone, texting or instant messaging or in person for a lot of great reasons we will cheerfully clarify upon email request to do so. We only deal with contract related issues/questions via email or the US Postal Service. C. Nothing in any email is valid if it is different from the facts and figures in any Contract found at www.jodacollins.com , Agreement Page unless specifically stated as exempt in an email. It is easy to make a typing or mental error in an email while every fact and figure in this Contract has been carefully worded and triple checked for accuracy by four individuals.
D. We reserve the right to make changes in wording and format to any Contract or Attachment without issuing a new replacement Contract as long as said changes do not affect benefits, obligations or charges.
E. It is the Client's responsibility to check his or her email at least once every 24-hours and one-hour before your appointment date and time for any final updates. I treat adults like adults. I will not call you by phone to reminded you of this obligation nor assume any responsibility if you fail to keep your part of your commitments
F. FINANCIAL DISCLAIMER
(1). When we give you (the Client) a payment figure, double check our figures with your contracted price and if you find an error, please forgive our error and notify us of your findings. Any contractually factual or financial error that is:
(a). Discovered before the above service is rendered may be corrected.
(b). To the benefit of the client and is discovered after the above service is rendered will be corrected and the missed benefit provided to the client.
(c). After the above service is rendered that is to the detriment of the client will not be corrected.
(d). Discovered before or after the service above is provided will not be carried over to any additional service.
28. LIMITED LIABILITY CLAUSES
A. When in the Joda Collins vehicle, you agree not to hold Joda Collins and/or the Joda Collins Driving Academy responsible for any physical, emotional or psychological damage, real or imagined, that occurs during training relative to but not limited to any steering, braking or acceleration that is not associated with a crash and said crash must incur, at least, $100 property/vehicle damage regardless of who is driving or who is steering, braking or accelerating. When, in a client’s vehicle, the vehicle owner assumes all liability including all liability that is over and above car owner's maximum insurance limit.
B. If you would not ride in roller coaster, do not ride or be in a driver's training vehicle and/or during driver's training; in both cases (roller coaster and during training) you are taking an assumed risk at your own risk.
C. If you (the Client) do not get an email reminder of your driving session between 8am and 8pm the day before your driving appointment EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED A REMINDER OR CONFIRMATION EARLIER, there may be a scheduling problem. Please call 850 981-3355 or email jodacollins@aol.com to discover if there is problem. If you do not contact us by email or phone at least two-hours before the scheduled lesson we will not assume responsibility, financial or otherwise, for that missed lesson. This need covers a glitch/weakness in our scheduling system that we cannot get rid of without your assistance. We place this burden on you because we have to. If you want to know why, just ask.
29. QUESTIONS If you have any questions about your Contract or Attachment One, just ask via email.
END CONTRACT
CONTRACT EIGHT
SHORT/SIMPLE CONTRACT FOR 75-MINUTE LESSONS This Contract is just Contact Six with the maximum charge, the minimum benefits to Student-driver and Client (financially responsible person) and some slight changes (simplification) in favor of me (Joda Collins).
1. CHARGE/FEE
$156 per 75-minute driving session.
2. START AND END LOCATION FOR TRAINING A. If you do not want or need door-to-door service, the start and end location is 1/10th of one mile off of Interstate 10 at Exit 26, Milton. Six and one half miles east of Pensacola, FL.
B. If you want or need door-to-door service the charge is $2.42 per round trip mile from very near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Exit 26, Milton, FL 32583. 3. PAYMENT A. I accept Visa and MasterCard Credit Card (no debit cards), money order, cashier's, money order, and upon prior approval personal or business check.
B. I do not accept scheduling for the first lesson without pre-payment in full. C. I do not accept pre-payment for unscheduled lessons. D. I do accept scheduling in advance for lessons two and following without pre-payment for those lessons up to five lessons. 4. REFUNDS
All except $50 is refundable if you provide at least a one-hour notice of cancellation.
5. LIMITED LIABILITY CLAUSES
A. When in the Joda Collins vehicle, you agree not to hold Joda Collins and/or the Joda Collins Driving Academy responsible for any physical, emotional or psychological damage, real or imagined, that occurs during training relative to but not limited to any steering, braking or acceleration that is not associated with a crash and said crash must incur, at least, $100 property/vehicle damage regardless of who is driving or who is steering, braking or accelerating. When, in a client’s vehicle, the vehicle owner assumes all liability including all liability that is over and above car owner's maximum insurance limit.
B. I (Joda Collins) prefer to use your insured vehicle for parking and three-point turn training. If you want to know why, just ask. I prefer to use my car for all other (over-the-road) training. If you want to know why, just ask.
C. If you (Client/Student-driver) use your own car any liability claims exceeding your maximum insurance limit can be taken from the owner's current estate and future earnings by the action of the court or courts. This is not my law. This is THE law.
D. If you would not ride in roller coaster, do not ride or be in a driver's training vehicle and/or during driver's training; in both cases (roller coaster and during training) you are taking an assumed risk at your own risk.
E. If you (the Client) do not get an email reminder of your driving session between 12:01am and 8:30pm the day before your driving appointment EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED A REMINDER OR CONFIRMATION EARLIER, there may be a scheduling problem. Please call 850 981-3355 or email jodacollins@aol.com to discover if there is problem. If you do not contact us by email or phone at least two-hours before the scheduled lesson we will not assume responsibility, financial or otherwise, for that missed lesson. This need covers a glitch/weakness in our scheduling system that we cannot get rid of without your assistance. We place this burden on you because we have to. If you want to know why, just ask. This is so important we place this requirement twice in this Contract.
6. CONTRACT I do not provide service, including scheduling service, without an agreed on Contract. Making a payment is tacit approval of the Contract. We will make a arrangements to secure a signed paper of this Contract at a later date.
7. If you are paying with your personal or business Visa or MasterCard Credit card, please provide to us the following in any manner you want (email, telephone, US Postal Service or a combination of two or all of these options with less than full info in each option):
A. Name on card exactly as it appears.
B. Credit Card Number.
C. Expiration Date.
D. Three digit security code on back of card.
E. Complete mailing address including zip code where the billing for this card is mailed.
F. If payment is being made with someone else's Visa or MasterCard Credit card (no debit cards accepted) we can only accept the Credit Card from the person whose name appears on the Credit Card and we will need that person's driver license number or Florida State ID number for verification of ownership of the credit card. Said person must also sign and agree to this Contract.
8. HEATH RELATED QUESTIONS
You do not have to answer the following because of privacy laws, but you will be safer behind the wheel if I know the following info. A. Do the Student-driver have any learning disabilities? YES NO
B. Does the Student-driver have ADD or AdHd? YES NO
C. Does the Student-driver take any prescription medication? If so, what kind?
D. I opt not to answer the immediately above questions. TRUE FALSE.
9. SCHEDULING After you provide the info asked for in this email and I have payment in hand I will contact you by email for scheduling.
10. FREE A. If you want FREE training on:
(1). How to change lanes safely.
(2). How to do the three-point turn.
(3). Parking Just ask for the details.
SECTION (CONTRACT) NINE SERVICE CONTRACT FOR EMBRACE FAMILIES Nov 3, 2022
1. On April 9, 2022 our Attorney suggested the following things:
A. Be sure the Embrace Families Representative understands and accepts the benefits and responsibilities of this document before any money exchanges hands and before any service is scheduled or promised.
B. Have a Contract Summary just before the Signature section of the Contract to put the most important responsibilities of the client and driver.
C. We have all of student-drivers and their adult care-giver sign a paper copy of this Contract before we provide service. His reason for that is, "Things have changed in recent years. It is estimated that 85% of all persons who agree to contracts that appear on line only, either do not read them or do not read them well enough to understand their responsibilities and liabilities. This opens the door for future problems that could have and should have been easily avoided if the paper copies were signed. Approximately 90% of all signers read carefully contracts of three pages or less before signing. In our efforts to foster the best working relationship between us and those we serve, beginning January 1, 2022 we are adopting our Attorneys recommendation and requiring a signed paper copy of all Contracts for agencies and agencies representatives at the higher levels (for Embrace Families that would be all persons residing outside of our service area of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties), and beginning November 18, 2021 we are requiring a signed Contract with all persons we serve that reside within our service area (Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties). Thank you for your assistance in this matter
A. FINANCES: All fees are charged to / paid by Embrace Families.
(1). $720 for six-hours of training. (Does not include door-to-door charge.)
(a). ADMINISTRATION EXPENSE: Within the $720 noted above, there is a $32 scheduling & reservation fee for one scheduled day/time and a $24 charge for admin expense for one scheduled day/time. When more than one lesson is provided, add $32 and $24 ($56) per additional appointment (starting with lesson two). We serve several agencies as well as individuals. We charge the same fee for everyone and every agency. No agency receives our service for less or more than any other agency or individual. However, no other agency has this $24 admin fee because there are additional admin responsibilities we incur when serving Embrace Families. This $24 covers only a portion of that added expense to us. For clarification of the additional admin efforts, just ask via email. In addition, there are many factors in our service to Embrace Families clients/customers that are significantly different from any individual or other agency we serve which makes calculation comparisons like apples to oranges, so we have done our best to keep these charges as close to our charges for everyone else.
2. PAYMENT: We accept money order, cashier's check, business check and Visa and MasterCard Credit cards (no debit cards accepted). We understand that payment is always in the form of a Visa or MasterCard CREDIT Card (no debit cards accepted). Reduce the total due by 7% if paying by any other method than credit card (Visa or MasterCard). No debit cards accepted.
3. DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE: Door-to-door service is $2.15 per round trip mile from our office located at 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583 plus reimbursement for toll charges. (Does not include tuition charge.)
(a). We understand that door-to-door pick up service is always requested. If door to door is NOT requested, our start location is in Milton, FL. Please contact us for the start location address.
(b). If Mr. Collins provides door-to-door service and the student is not there or for whatever reason or reasons, including acts of God against the student-driver (otherwise known as "not my fault" or "unavoidable"), does not take the training at the scheduled time, Embrace Families incurs 100% of the charge for the door-to-door service and to reschedule another door-to-door service fee is charged; however, Mr. Collins will continue to incur the loss of six-hours of scheduled time and the financial expense of scheduling the appointment and reserving our vehicle for the absent driver. If there is at least a two-hour notice of cancellation, there will be no door-to-door charge.
(c). If the student driver is not present to take the lesson when Mr. Collins showed up as scheduled (regardless of the reason), or for whatever reason did not take the training when Mr. Collins showed up as scheduled, the charge is the door-to-door fee (if any), the $32 scheduling fee and the $24 admin fee. Mr. Collins will incur the expense of scheduling and the loss of six hours of training time.
(d). If the student-driver quits early or if Mr. Collins quits early, the actual charge will be the $32 scheduling / reservation fee, the Admin expense of $24 and a pro-rated per minute charge of (six hours = 360 minutes divided by $664 = ) $1.84 per minute.
(e). DISCLAIMER: To guarantee no door-to-door service and no door-to-door charge a minimum two-hour notice is required; if you want to know why, just ask
3. NOTICE/REMINDER OF LESSON DATE/TIME. If the Student-driver or Care-giver does not get a phone call or email one or two days in advance reminding the Care-giver of the appointment there IS a scheduling problem/mistake/oversight. Please all 850 981-3355 24/7 (do not email) to resolved the confusion / mistake / problem / oversight. If the Care-giver does not get a phone call or email one or two days in advance reminding the Care-giver of the appointment there IS a scheduling problem/mistake/oversight. I (Joda Collins) will NOT assume any responsibility, financial, ethically or otherwise for that missed lesson. Thank you.
4. SCHEDULING
A. Training is Tuesday through Friday Only, 10am to 4pm start time.
B. We (the Joda Collins Driving Academy) accepts scheduling requests ONLY from the adult care-giver of the student-driver regardless of __________ (fill in the blank with anything); however, if the student-driver is self-sustaining (has no legal care-giver) we will accept a scheduling request from the student-driver. We will contact you for scheduling when we receive your signed Contract in the mail. To validate a student-driver's self-sustaining status in life (it that is a reality), please provide a copy of a rent or house payment receipt or a utility bill (photo copy is acceptable, or mail it to 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583). If you want to know the reason for this, just ask.
C. We accept scheduling date/time requests by email or US Postal System (paper request). We will NOT schedule training date(s) or time(s) on the telephone. If you want to know why, just ask via email or US Postal System (letter).
D. Unless otherwise approved by us, we must have a signed paper copy of this Contact in our hands from the Caregiver and Student-driver (if not the same person) before we schedule any driving/training session. When we get it, we will contact the Caregiver or self-sustaining student driver for scheduling.
E. If there is a National Weather Advisory in effect for Santa Rosa Okaloosa or Escambia County, the Joda Collins Driving Acdy will cancel the driving lesson with no additional charges and no loss of funds to Keys/Embrace or the Care-giving agency. A local forecast of scary weather is NOT a National Weather Advisory.
F. All six hours of training must be provided in one lesson unless other arrangements are made. Other arrangements will include an additional financial commitment of $32 (Scheduling and Reservation Fee) per appointment starting with the second appointment plus an additional door-to-door fee per appointment starting with the second appointment.
(1). Said additional fees can be paid by Embrace Families or the caregiver of the student-driver. That decision is between Embrace Families and the student caregiver and has nothing to do with the Joda Collins Driving Academy. However, the Joda Collins Driving Academy must be informed who is paying for these additional fee BEFORE scheduling can occur and if the additional fees are paid by the student-driver's caregiver or student-driver if self-sustaining, said fees must be paid in advance are are non-refundable under any conditions unrelated to a National Weather Advisory noted to occur in Escambia, Okaloosa, or Santa Rosa area within 24-hour before or 24-hours after the scheduled lesson and are non-transferable to any other lesson under and any all circumstances unless the Joda Collins Driving Academy cancels, reschedules or misses the lesson. The Joda Collins Driving Academy does and will cancel the lesson if there is a National Weather Advisory noted to occur in Okaloosa, Escambia or Santa Rosa area within a 24-hour period before or a 24-hour period after the scheduled lesson. Note: A scary forecast of wind and rain is not a National Weather Advisory.
G. The Joda Collins Driving Academy does NOT make our vehicle available for a driver's personal use including but not limited to allowing student-driver to use our vehicle to take the State Driving Exam.
H. If you (the Client) do not get an email reminder of your driving session between 12:01am and 8:30pm the day before your driving appointment EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED A REMINDER OR CONFIRMATION EARLIER, there may be a scheduling problem. Please call 850 981-3355 or email jodacollins@aol.com to discover if there is problem. If you do not contact us by email or phone at least two hours before the scheduled lesson we will not assume responsibility, financial or otherwise, for that missed lesson. This need coves a glitch/weakness in our scheduling system that we cannot get rid of without your assistance. We place this burden on you because we have to. If you want to know why, just ask.11. I. Removed. J. SCHEDULING FE
(1). No charge. There is no Scheduling Fee if you schedule using our online Calendar / List of Available times and in accord with the directions found there.
(2). If you schedule by telephone use (with a live person or via voice mail), there is a $10 charge per event (per phone call for scheduling). If you want to know why, just a
5. ROAD TEST: We do A(1) and A(2). We cannot do A(3) and/or A(4).
A. Road Test means different things in different areas of Florida. It can mean a driving school:
(1). Tests the driver's skill level in traffic and advise Client. We do this.
(2). Attempts to train the driver to pass the State Driving Exam for his or her driver license and/or train driver to be a safer/more responsible driver. We do this only if requested in writing (paper or email); if you want to know why, just ask.
(3). Provide the State Driving Exam and if the student passes recommend to the local driver license office that the driver be granted his or her driver license. We cannot do this.
(4). We provide the State Driving Exam and if the student passes provide State Driver License. We cannot do this
6. CONTRACT APPROVAL/ACCEPTANCE
A. We (Joda Collins) will mail you via US Postal Service two copies of this Contract; one for your records and one for ours. Please sign either copy and mail it back to us in the self-address envelope we will provide. We will contact you for scheduling when we receive your signed Contract. It is estimated that approximately 15% of all people who approve/sign Contracts electronically never read or only casually read the Contract. We have found this true in our business and that has caused a great deal of difficulties. It is estimated that approximately 85% of those who sign a paper copy of this length give a good effort to carefully read a Contract before signing. To best avoid confusion and misunderstandings before we provide service this Contract must be approved in advance of service provided and we (the Joda Collins Driving Academy) must have a signed copy of this Contract in our physical possession from:
(1). A representative of Embrace Families with a signing date that is within three-years of any service provided. Said representative is not personally liable for anything but has the authority of Embrace Families to incur financial debt on behalf of Embrace Families.
(2). The Student-driver under the age of 18 and who has a caregiver, even though there is no enforceable provision in this document for that Student-driver. If you want to know why said signature is required, just ask.
B. No one says everything perfectly and no one hears everything perfectly, therefore, we do not have any verbal agreements, EVER! We will not hold you hostage to or be held hostage by anything that follows, "But you said...." If it is not in writing and signed by or accepted via email notification all relevant parties, it was never said by you or us. Protect yourself. Get it in writing. We do. We do not and we will not discuss contractual issues verbally for good reasons we will share upon request.
C. We do not engage in or participate in three-way or more way conversations by phone or email for very good reasons which we will cheerfully clarify upon request.
D. Nothing in any email that is in opposition to this Contract is valid. It is easy to make a typing, expression, or statement mistake in an email. To change anything in this Contract requires a dated a signed by all parties paper copy of an Attachment. Questions? Just ask!
E. Anyone who signs or approves this Contact reserves the right to terminate this Contract, in writing (email okay) at any time and for any reason as long as a notice via email or telephone or no less than two-hour is provided. If a notice of less than two-hour is provided all services already provided are due.
F. Alterations to this Contact, in writing and signed, can be made by mutual agreement with any person the alteration effects as long as said person has the legal right to approve the change.
G. The only course (commitment / training) asked for by Embrace Families is the "Time Only." Parking and three-point turn (needed to pass the State driving exam) are not provided unless requested in writing (email is acceptable) at least 24-hours in advance; there are really good reasons for this that we will gladly share upon request. If parking and/or the three point turn is requested and taught with the driver behind-the-wheel, they must be taught in a private insured vehicle with the owner's written permission and NOT in the Joda Collins Driving Academy Vehicle. If parking and/or three-point turn is requested and taught by show and tell only with Mr. Collins behind-the-wheel, the Joda Collins Driving Academy can be used for parking and three-point turn training. We are happy to share the reasons for this limitation/stipulation if requested. Not reading this Contract is insufficient reason to hold Mr. Collins responsible for the Caregiver's or the Client's responsibility to ask for parking and three-point turn training if said training is desired.
H. The Joda Collins Driving Academy does not make our vehicle available for the Student-driver's personal use, including but not limited to using our vehicle for taking the State driving exam. There are good reasons for this which we will share upon request.
I. Removed.
J. If you struggle to understand this Contact you can.
(1). Email jodacollins@aol.com and get as much clarification as you need or desire at no charge.
(2). If you attempt (1) above and still have unanswered questions, you can secure a charge amount from your attorney for your attorney to clarify the details of this Contract to you; if the charge is reasonable, pre-approved in writing and signed by Mr. Collins, we will pay that expense.
K. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone with or without explanation
7. WE MUST HAVE SIGNED CONTRACT IN HAND BEFORE SCHEDULING. Signing and returning a paper copy of this Contract before any service is provided, including scheduling service. When we receive your signed copy of this Contract we will contact you for scheduling. 1 8. ATTACHMENT ONE and Two are a part of this Contract.
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
SECTION (CONTRACT) TEN
SERVICE CONTRACT BETWEEN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND
THE JODA COLLINS DRIVING ACADEMY.
March 16, 2023, 12 Noon Edit Notice: In my 13-plus years working for the VR I have never been asked to being a student-driver's training with less than five scheduled lessons. However, I was recently asked if I would accept a new student with less than five VR Authorized lessons to start. The answer is "Absolutely, yes." However, that does introduce some new financial dynamics. It is important that I do not apply these financial dynamics to any VR Authorization wherein I suggest fewer than five 90-minute lessons or to any VR Client/Customer that has already taken six or more lesson BEFORE the VR Authorization is created. I know the calculations are difficult and confusing. It is like trying to explain the cost per ounze of milk if purchased by the 8 oz glass, pint, quart, half gallon, gallon or five-gallon container. The larger the container, the less cost per ounce. The only way I can charge less per VR Authorization is to charge less for the larger container of lessons. Since I will schedule one, two, three, four and up to five lessons per Authorization, there is a greater per lesson charge for a one-lesson container (Authorization) and prorated lesser charges for a Authorization (container) with two, three, four or five lessons. Providing that progressive lesser charge is just math and conditions in number and words. However, creating the language for the VR is very easy. You can see how easy it is by reading the bold red print in Section 4F(1). I will do all the math upon submission of the Invoice, however, State law requires the finanial justification for all charges be in print in an agreed on Contract. Submission of the Authorization = agreeing to the Contract; promise to pay = tacit contractual agreement. Questions? Just ask. 1. This Contract / Service Agreement is complicated but I do not know how to make it simpler without deleting important information that resolve problems before the occur by replacing assumption with clear statements and/or deleting legally required information. If you do, let me know; I would prefer a shorter Contract.
2. This Contract is not written in stone. If you want to change something, add to it or delete something, just let us know. We are less concerned that this Contract remain unchanged and mostly concerned that all I serve have a meeting of the minds with me so we can avoid unnecessary disruption and disheartening results that often result from assuming or confused/poor wording. The only things I cannot do are to serve for less money or do more for free. 3. If you find the following steps overwhelming, let me know by email and I will direct you through the process via email one step at a time.
4. VR AUTHORIZATION SUGGEST STATEMENT A. The following, if acceptable, needs to be printed in the VR Services Authorization and Billing Notice "Comment Section" and/or the "Service to be Provided" Section as a prerequisite to service for tuition.
(1). "Five (5) weekday 90-minute driving lessons @ $168 per lesson ($840 total) minus any discount or rebate as clarified in Contact Nine at www.JodaCollins.com , Agreement page, Section Six. The purpose (goal or goals) of the training is (are): First, enroll driver in the Basic Vehicle Control Course, then the Pass the State Driving ONLY Course, then in the General Safety Course, then in the Defensive Driving Course. VR will determine, based on several factors, if more or less than five lessons will be paid for, in whole or in part, by the VR.
or
(2). "Five (5) weekday and/or Saturday driving lessons @ $174 per lesson ($870 total) minus any discount or rebate as clarified in Contact Ten at www.JodaCollins.com , Agreement page, Section Nine." (3). The purpose (goal or goals) of the training is (are): First, enroll driver in the Basic Vehicle Control Course, then the Pass the State Driving ONLY Course, then in the General Safety Course, then in the Defensive Driving Course. VR will determine, based on several factors, if more or less than five lessons will be paid for, in whole or in part, by the VR.
B. The following is automatic and does not have to appear on the VR Authorization: VR charges will be reduced by $6 per lesson that is taken on a weekday if the $870 fee is selected. C. Five lessons is the norm per VR Authorization. If the Student-driver reaches his or her approved goal before the five lessons are over or loses interest in driver training, I will suggest to the VR to stop training.... D. However, if the VR requests fewer than five lessons per VR Authorization that is fine. However, there is an administrative charge of $60 that is built in to every VR Authorization of $12 per lesson for five lessons to (1). Receive and process the incoming training Authorization. (2). Invoice that Authorization. (3). Monitor that Autorization status between invoice and payment and to (4). Receive, record and deposit that payment upon receipt is the same for each VR Authorization for training regardless of the number of lessons. E. When fewer than five lessons are contained in one VR Authorization, my (Joda Collins) administration expense on a VR Authorization for fewer lessons than five does not cover my $60 administration expense per VR Authorization. I do not absorb that expense, but pass that on the VR. My administration expense per VR Authorization is $60 and IS covered at $12 per lesson for five lessons. However,
(1). When only one lesson is scheduled instead of five, my added Admin expense for that Authorization is $12 timed four = $48.00. (2). When only two lessons are scheduled my added admin expense for that Authorization is $12 times three = $36.00. (3). When only three lessons are schedule my added admin expense for that Authorization is $12 time two = $24.00. (4). When only four lessons are scheduled with one VR Authorization, my added admin expense for that Authorization is $12.00. (5). The added admin expense for a VR requested Authorization for less than five lessons of $12, $24, $36 or $48 is passed on to the VR. If I (Joda Collins) suggest less than five lessons for an Authorization, that $12, $24, $36 or $48 added admin expense is paid by me and not passed on to the VR. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(6). Five lessons with one VR Authorization gives the VR the best opportunity to secure the lowest fees of $151.20 per 90-minute weekday lesson. (7). Four lessons with one VR Authorization = a best price of $163.15 per weekday lesson if specific contractual conditions are met.
(8). Three lessons with one VR Authorization = a best price of $164.40 per weekday lesson if specific contractual conditions are met.
(9). Two lessons with one VR Authorization = a best possible price of $165.60 per weekday lesson if specific contractual conditions are met.
F. To produce a VR requested Authorization for fewer than five lessons I (Joda Collins) suggest the following financial statement be in the Comments Section of the Authorization. (1). X number of 90-minute lessons at $174 per lesson plus an administration fee of no more than $48 minus financial reductions as clarified at www.jodacollins.com, Agreement page, Contract Ten, Sections 4 and 9.
5. OPTIONAL DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE
For clarification and ease, a separate Authorization is requested for door-to-door fees if door-to-door service is desired and paid for by the Vocational Rehabilitation. Door-to-door charge is $2.25 per round trip mile (up from $2) plus any toll fees, beginning with all contracts approved starting January 15, 2023. This is the first increase in charge in more than 12 years and is necessary because of the severe increases in charges or vehicle maintenance and because I increased my liability coverage in my vehicle by 10 times due to the severe increase in traffic and agressive drivers in Milton in the past few years. Provide us with the pick-up address if door-to-door services is wanted and we will tell you the fee. (This increase is not related to gas prices, but because Milton and Pensacola roads have become must more congested and drivers much more aggressive. Because of that I have increased my liability coverage considerably which has added a lot to my vehicle insurance costs which have to be paid by the per mile use of my vehicle. Only a portion of the additional insurance charge increase is covered by the 25-cents per mile increase for the door charge.) Without door-to-door service all lessons begin and end very near the intersection of Interstate 10 at Exit 26, Milton, the specifies of which are clarified with the Student-driver and he VR Client/Customer. This fee is not charged and/or transferable to any other lesson ONLY if the lesson is missed, cancelled or rescheduled with at least a one-hour notice.
Sending us the Authorization is the same thing as approving this Service Contract/Agreement. Please do not send us the Authorization if any content of the Contract us unacceptable with you. This Contract is not written in stone. If you want to change, add or subtract anything in this Service Agreement, just ask. The only things I cannot do and stay in business are to serve for less money or do more for free. 6. THE PURPOSE (GOAL OR GOALS) OF THE TRAINING IS (ARE)?
Here is the typical response to the question above. "The goal of the training is for the driver to become as skilled and safe a driver as he or she can become at this time in his or her life." If this typical statement is not reflective of the VR's goal or goals for the driver and/or the VR Clients goal or goals for the driver and/or the Student-driver's personal goal or goals for him/herself, please state the proper/correct goals. Hint: It is nearly impossible to train a driver beyond what the driver wants to learn. I always suggest asking the Student-driver what his or her goal or goals are for training and using that answer as the official training goal or goals. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." Student-drivers typically have much smaller (less challenging) goals for themselves than others have for them.
7. WHAT IS THE TYPICAL TRAINING REGIMEN? (See Section Six for Rebates.)
A. Enroll driver in the Basic Vehicle Control Course where the driver learns the proper of the brake, accelerator and steering wheel. This includes proper hand-over-hand steering and allowing the wheel to slide through the driver's hands to complete standard right and left turns rather than manually steer out of turns. Poor/dangerous steering is the #1 cause of crashing during driver's training, so I do NOT allow a driver to pass the Basic Vehicle Control Course until the driver has good control of and understanding of the steering wheel. Upon graduation from this Course, if the driver has not reached saturation (the inability or unwillingness to learn anything more that is new at this time in his or her life until some of what the driver has learned has become habit or until the driver makes a decision to do the hard work needed to learn more) then enroll driver in:
B. If the Student-driver does not yet have a driver license, then he or she is enrolled in the Pass the State Driving Exam ONLY Course as the test is typically given at the Gulf Breeze or Warrington (Pensacola) driver license office. That way, if the driver quits or if funding ceases, the driver can at least secure his or her driver license. Upon graduation from this Course, if the driver has not reached saturation, enroll driver in: C. The General Safety Course where driver learns 12 very specific driving skills that keep the driver from being the cause of crashing among driver that honor the rules of the road. This Course has three levels of proficiency. Upon graduation from Level Three of this Course, if the driver has not reached saturation, enroll driver in: D. The Defensive Driving Course where 23 very specific driving techniques are taught to keep the driver from becoming involved in crashes that crash prone drivers cause. This Course has three levels of proficiency. Upon graduation from Level Three of this Course, if the driver has not reached saturation, enroll drive E. The Advanced Defensive Driving Course where five reasonably difficult defensive driving techniques are taught.
8. CONTRACT / SERVICE AGREEMENT IS REQUIRED BY LAW State law requires the Joda Collins Driving Academy to have a contract and/or service agreement with everyone I serve and everyone with standing. I am required to have a separate contract/service agreement with the VR Customer/Client; that Contact/Service Agreement is found at www.JodaCollins.com , Agreement Page, Section Eleven. While that Contract/Service Agreement does not have to be approved by the VR, I (Joda Collins) welcome any input from the VR about said Contract/Service Agreement. Also, being aware of that Contract I have with the VR Client/Customer and Student-driver will better prepare VR Reps for possible inquires from VR Clients/Customers. If you (the VR Rep) wants anything changed, added or removed from this or that Contract, let me know and we will seriously and sincerely consider your request. The VR is our Client and we want to please you.
9. FINANCES
A. OVERALL RULE FOR FINANCES: My (Joda Collins) contracts or all agencies and individuals are about the same. No person or agency gets more special treatment, lower or higher charges, or more or fewer benefits. However, minor differences in contractual arrangements exist because I try to work my Contract around what my Client likes best. Every agency has their own preferences and requirements and different mandatory or requested services between individuals and agencies exist. Some agencies require more admin effort which is reflected in some additional expense for that additional service. (1). I do not give discount service nor get a discount on anything I need to provide my service, so I do not give discounts. I do provided refunds, rebates or reduced charges as clarified in this document that are linked to those I serve functioning in manners that reduce my administration expenses.
B. PER LESSON CHARGE $168 or $174 per 90-minute lesson depending if lesson is on a weekday or a Saturday. Weekday lessons that are charged at $174 will receive a $6 reduced charge per weekday lesson at the end of the VR Authorization period.
C. SAVE MONEY
(1). I do not give discounts because I do not get a discount on any expense I incur to provide my service and I do not give sub-quality (discount) service. When a VR Client/Customer does something that saves me money, I pass some, most, all or more of that savings on to the VR in the form of a lower final charge.
(2). We do not enter into Authorizations with the VR for more than five lessons per VR Authorization.
(a). If less than all of the Authorized lessons are scheduled with one email and all are kept, that is no lesson is missed, canceled or rescheduled, there is a price reduction of:
(1). Zero dollars for one weekday lesson scheduled with one email and no lesson missed, canceled or rescheduled for any reason.
(2). $4.80 total for two weekday lessons scheduled with one email and no lesson nor any Saturday lesson is missed canceled or rescheduled for any reason.
(3). $10.80 total for three weekday lessons scheduled with one email and no lesson nor any Saturday lesson are missed, canceled or rescheduled for any reason.
(4). $19.40 total for four weekday lessons scheduled with one email and no lesson nor any Saturday lesson is missed, canceled or rescheduled for any reason.
(5). $84 total for five weekday lessons scheduled with one email and no lesson nor any Saturday lesson is missed, canceled or rescheduled for any reason. (6). Saturday appointments do not qualify for rebates but do count against rebate total if missed, canceled or rescheduled by the VR Client/Customer for any reason.
DISCLAIMER: All of the above missed, canceled or rescheduled lesson carry the following condition/understanding/consideration: The missed, canceled or reschedule lesson is for any reason, including reasons that are not the fault (otherwise know as "unavoidable" or "an Act of God) of the VR Client/Customer or Student-drive) other than the existence of a National Weather Advisory that predicts adverse weather present in Escambia or Santa Rosa Counties within three-hours of the lesson start time. A scary forecast of wind and rain or a fear of wind and rain is not a National Weather Advisory. If we allowed missed lessons for no financial remuneration to us for that expense, on the condition that the person testify that the missed lesson was 100% their fault and completely avoidable, that open door would probably guarantee we would never be compensated for our added admin expenses for missed lessons.
E. DOOR-TO-DOOR CHARGE is $2.25 per round trip mile from 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583.
F. JODA COLLINS' RECOMMENDATION If I (Joda Collins) think a student-driver is not trying or has reached his or her maximum learning potential at this stage in the drivers life/experience, I suggest the VR stop paying for training. 10. TRAINING GOALS Unless otherwise stipulated in writing by the VR in the Comments section of the VR Services Authorization and Billing Notice, Student-driver is to be trained to be as skilled and safe a driver as possible, funds permitting, at this time in his or her life. However, unless otherwise directed, training starts with passing the Basic Vehicle Control Course and passing the State Driving Exam if the Student-driver does not have a driver license. Parking and three-point turn is taught as soon as the driver has basic control of the vehicle.
11. CONTRACTS (Part 2):
A. AVOIDING UNNECESSARY CONFUSION AND CONFRONTATION AND HONORING PRIVACY LAWS: We will not communicate with third parties with vested interests (this is anyone but the VR Client and the VR) and/or respond to their communication efforts with us because, "Too many cooks spoil the broth". We will not assume any responsibility for any confusion, discomfort or irritation experienced by anyone that refuses to honor this requirement.
B. VERIFICATION: Every VR Representative that does business with, is part of or oversees business with the Joda Collins Driving Academy should reproduce this Service Agreement/Contract, Section Ten, and the Service Agreement/Contract, Section Eleven, to insure content relative to facts and figures does not change on this web site without VR approval.
C. CONTRACT TERMINATION: This Service Agreement/Contract is subject to change at any time by mutual agreement. Any party can end this Contractual Agreement with or without notice or with or without stated reason.
D. CONTRACT REVIEW: We do ask VR Representatives to review this Contract before sending us their first client/customer and every year thereafter between January 1 of that year and producing the first Authorization for that year. This avoids confusion, misunderstandings and errant assumptions that cause, otherwise, easily avoidable difficulties.
E. A SEPARATE CONTACT WITH VR CLIENTS/CUSTOMERS: By State law we are not allowed to provide service without a Service Contact/Agreement with those we serve including the VR Client and any third party with vested interest (such as a parent, spouse, or guardian). That Contract can be seen at www.JodaCollins.com, Agreement Page, Section Eleven. Among other requirements said Contact does have financial commitment components. VR Representatives have the legal authority granted to them by the VR to approve said Service Contract/Agreement. Any business we do for a VR client/customer is provided with the understanding that the VR Representative requesting said service has a read and approves of the Contract we have with VR clients/customers and his or her representative (if any). If this is not the case (reality) please advise us immediately.
F. If after a careful reading of this Contract and an attempt to allow us to clear up any confusion, you determine this Contract is whole or in part is too difficult to understand, let us know what your Attorney will charge to explain it to and we will consider making arrangements to pay him or her for that service to you.
12. SCHEDULING
A. I schedule training in increments of five lessons at a time unless deemed otherwise by VR. VR Clients can schedule any lesson date and time except for Saturday mornings. Caution: Please be aware of the contractual obligations and/or limitations that apply when scheduling:
(1). Includes or is on a Saturday.
(2). If less than all VR approved lessons are scheduled with more than one email request.
(3). When a lesson is missed, rescheduled or cancelled.
B. I do not make phone calls to schedule for several reasons.
(1). I have discovered if I make phone calls to schedule, I often put the Client in a position where he or she is scheduling blindly because he or she has not had or taken the time to carefully consider future commitments. This leads to multiple rescheduling preceded by the statement, "I forgot about another commitment we had on X day when I scheduled the driver's training, so I will have to reschedule." Each rescheduling cost me added administration expense, loss of scheduling time, puts others we could have served earlier further down the scheduling calendar causing us to delaying their training or causes us to lose business if clients or student drivers (such as the military) will not be in this area later for training.
(2). The irritation factor for rescheduling is a consideration.
(3). Rescheduling does incur a slight increase in fees to the VR ($17 per lesson) and a $13 expense to the Client. These are charges we prefer to avoid as they are distasteful to the VR, to VR Clients/Customers and to us. In addtion said charges do not cover all of our expense for a rescheduling.
(4). When I initiate the telephone call to schedule five lessons, the conversation usually goes much like this, "Yes, let's schedule X date and time, however, I am not sure if that is an after school activity day (a work day or whatever) but I will let you know (or you can contact us to confirm)" and such as that. Lessons become "tentative" based on investigation, thus rescheduling is the norm for many of those tentatively scheduled lessons. That kind of conversation is expensive for us as we now have to wait for confirmation and / or invest a lot of time and energy in remembering and making multiple calls to confirm. When we forget to call to confirm, that puts all the pressure and responsibility on mr and frees the client from any responsibility, accountability or involvement for their own schedule.
(5). Usually, when I make the phone call to schedule, the Client and / or Student-driver has not read the Contract and / or does of two things.
(a). They state they have read it when they have not and the lack of awareness of the Contract content causes disruption, hard feelings and /or confusion in the future. When we hold clients and / or student-divers responsible for commitments they say they knew about but did not, that always ends poorly. Sometimes clients tell us they are "not responsible to keep their contractual commitments because they really did not read the Contract." That logic baffles me, but unfortunately, that is the kind of world we now live in.
(b). The client and / or Student-driver has not read the Contract and ask us to call back later, which usually leads to multiple calls from us or the situation as noted in A above.
(c). Sometimes, I have to make many phone calls to schedule, in effect, almost begging the a client to schedule. When we have to beg a client to schedule, that usually means I are put in a position to beg the client and / or student driver to show up for every lesson. That is costly and irritating. We offer a high quality, valuable and life-saving service. We do not beg people to let us serve them. Some people, that are not begged to show up for training, simply do not show up and that is bad or everyone, especially us. So, we avoid that negative scenario and such people by allowing those who need to be begged to schedule and begged to show up to simply let our service pass by. We do that by simply not begging such people to schedule.
(d). Some people become too busy to take lessons. Not calling them to schedule allows them a graceful way to bow out of taking lessons.
(e). I am required by law to have a Contract with everyone I serve. Some people after reading the Contract determine they do not like something about the Contract or they make a decision they would rather not take lessons than inquire about altering the Contract to fit their desires (a conversation and an option I would, however, welcome); the client and / or student-driver having made such a decision is allowed to gracefully opt out of training by simply not initiating a scheduling request.
(f). About one in twenty take offense to being held to a Contract for reasons of their own. They would rather not take driver's training than read a Contract. This is their right and we honor that right. Because they refuse to read and agree to a Contract of any kind and agreeing to a contract is a prerequisite for scheduling, they never contact me to schedule. This allows them and us to gracefully avoid an awkward one-to-one conversation where they aggressively let me know they will not be held to any contractual commitments. Such a statement to me always ends with me wishing them a good day and informing them we will not and cannot serve them.
(g). Everything about me calling unannounced to schedule or reschedule lessons screams it is a poor, ineffective, unprofessional, irritating, awkward and embarrassing (for all or someone) business practice. That is why I graciously invite clients to schedule but do not pressure or beg them on the phone to schedule driver training.
(6). If you (the Client) do not get an email reminder of your driving session between 12:01am and 8:30pm the day before your driving appointment EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED A REMINDER OR CONFIRMATION EARLIER, there may be a scheduling problem. Please call 850 981-3355 or email jodacollins@aol.com to discover if there is problem. If you do not contact me by email or phone at least one-hour before the scheduled lesson I will not assume responsibility, financial or otherwise, for that missed lesson. This need coves a glitch/weakness in our scheduling system that I cannot get rid of without your assistance. I place this burden on you because I have to. If you want to know why, just ask.
SECTION (CONTRACT) ELEVEN
SERVICE CONTRACT BETWEEN
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CLIENTS, STUDENT-DRIVERS AND THE JODA COLLINS DRIVING ACADEMY May 8, 2022 The process is:
Step 1. The person who is financially responsible for all charges for services the VR does not pay for, but are specifically requested by anyone other than than the VR reads and approves our Contract and sends us an email from his or her email address that states,
"I _________ ________, accept the benefits and responsibilities as they apply to me as found in Contract Eleven." Step 2. The VR Student-driver reads and approves our Contract and sends us an email from his or her email address that states,
"I, _________ _________, accept the benefits and responsibilities as they apply to me as defined in this Contract (Contract Eleven).
Step 3. Anytime after both of those emails are sent, the VR Client/Customer (only), with no additional prompting from me, goes to www.JodaCollins.com and from our Calendar / List of Available Times, schedules five 1.5-hour lessons via one email request. (No phone calls to schedule, please.) All dates and times listed are available to you except for Saturday mornings.
2. CONTRACT
A. As a responsible, honest and mature person, I will honor my contractual commitments to you even when it does not benefit us, and ask that you as a responsilble, honest and mature person honor this Contract even when doing so does not benefit you. Otherwise, there is no value or purpose to a Contract. B. This is not a novel or a newspaper where a quick reading is sufficient for a good overall general idea of the content. This is a legal document with specific obligations and benefits. This document commits many hours involvement and hundreds of dollars. C. Read this Contract with a pen in hand and write down, in your own words all of the obligations this document, once signed, commits you (the Client) and the Student-driver to.
D. Who are the parties to his Service Agreement/Contract?
(1). Everyone that signs this Contract including:
a. The Student-driver.
b. The person who is responsible for charges paid to the Joda Collins Driving Academy that are not covered by the VR. It may be or may not be the Student-driver.
c. Third party with vested interest such as parent, spouse or guardian. This is any person whose has standing (decision-making power or decision-making influence) with or over the Joda Collins Driving Academy. (1). Under normal circumstances, I do NOT communicate by email, phone or in person about this Contract or the driver's progress with third parties. The VR Client and/or the financially responsible person have our approval to share anything we write with anyone they like.
E. Driving Academy Contractual Commitment (1). Student-driver is to be trained to be as skilled and safe a driver as possible at this time in his or her life, with the funds allotted unless we are otherwise directed by the VR. (2). However, training starts with learning how to pass the State Driving Exam if the Student-driver does not have a driver license. (3). Parking and three-point turn is taught as soon as the driver has basic control of the vehicle.
F. Student-driver Contractual Commitment:
(1). Student-driver is asked to give his or her best attempt to memorize the following before the start of lesson one:
Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Signal,
Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Move.
(2). Student-driver asked to give his or her best attempt to memorize the following before the start of lesson two:
Slow, Right, Look, Signal, Stop.
If student-driver has not memorized the above procedure by the start of lesson one as much time as needed to memorize these steps will be devoted to this task during session one as needed before any additional training is provided.
(3). Student-driver asked to give his or her best attempt to memorize the following before the start of lesson three:
Turn, Look, Coast, Stop, Reverse.
If student-driver has not memorized the above procedure by the start of lesson one as much time as needed to memorize these steps will be devoted to this task during session one as needed before any additional training is provided.
(4). Student-driver asked to give his or her best attempt to memorize the following before the start of lesson four:
Turn, Look, Coast, Stop, Drive.
If student-driver has not memorized the above procedure by the start of lesson one as much time as needed to memorize these steps will be devoted to this task during session one as needed before any additional training is provided.
(5). Student-driver asked to give his or her best attempt to memorize the following before the start of lesson five:
Turn, Look, Accelerate.
If student-driver has not memorized the above procedure by the start of lesson one as much time as needed to memorize these steps will be devoted to this task during session one as needed before any additional training is provided.
(6). Drivers that struggle to memorize the steps in this Contract on their own time for FREE and need help memorizing the steps, let me know and I will pay one of my secretaries for up to three one-hour sessions to tutor you one-to-one at no charge to you and no charge to the VR. Just ask. (7). If you have any questions about this Contract, please ask via email. If after giving us a reasonable chance to answer your question or questions, if you still do not understand any part of this Contract, let us know how much your attorney would charge you to explain this Contract, in whle or in part to you, and we will consider paying it. We have NO verbal agreements, ever. We do not do business by assumption. Please do not sign or agree to this Contract if you do not understand it and accept all of the benefits and responsibilities in it that apply to you. We will hold ourselves to this Contract. We will hold you to this Contract.
(8). Attachment One as found at www.jodacollins.com , Agreement page are considered part of this Contract. Do NOT agree to this Contract without reading and knowing that agreeing to this Contract is also agreeing with Attachment One and Attachment Two as found at www.jodacollins.com , Agreement page. G. Unless otherwise stated or clearly stated, the "I" of this Contract is Joda Collins.
4. FINANCES: Please read this section even if you have no money due to us from you (the VR Client/Customer) at this time.
A. I (Joda Collins) do not give discounts but the VR Clients and Student-drivers can save money for the VR which will allow the VR to serve more people. B. VR Clients/Customers can pay less by honoring the conditions under which additional services that are not contracted by or paid for by the VR not paid by the VR, are charged to the VR Client/Customer
C. CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS FOR ALL SERVICES THE VR WILL NOT PAY FOR....
(1). All quoted prices are non-credit card (Visa/MasterCard) prices and include a 7% discount for all payments in excess of $30.00. If you are paying with Visa or MasterCard, please advise us immediately. If you, the VR Client, stays within the service agreement (your covered benefits) we have in agreement with the VR, there will be no extra charges to pass on to you.
(2). We accept any or all payments by cash (however do not send cash in the mail), money order, check (personal, business or cashier's) and/or credit card (Visa or MasterCard credit card; no debit cards accepted).
(3). If paying with a Visa or MasterCard credit card, please provide to us (by phone, email or US Postal Service. Feel free to send info in various communication methods if you desire to do so:
(a). Your credit card number.
(b). Expiration Date
(c). Name exactly as it appears on the Credit Card. We will not accept someone else's credit card for your debt without a notarized statement they are paying a specific debt for you.
(d). Full mailing address where the billing for that card is mailed.
(e). Three-digit security code as shown on the back of the card.
(4). All quoted prices in this document are non-credit card (Visa/MasterCard) prices and include a 7% discount. If you are paying with Visa or MasterCard, please advise us immediately for a re-quote.
(5). If you, the VR Client, stays within the service agreement we have with the VR, there will be no extra charges to pass on to you.
(6). All payments made with money order or check (personal, business or cashier's) are received by US Postal Service ONLY. Please mail to Joda Collins Driving Academy, 4033 Buttonbush Drive, Milton, FL 32583. This is not our office or business address. It is our mailing address only. Be sure to keep your proof of purchase. While we have never lost anything in the mail nor had anything mailed to us that did not arrive, there is often a first time.
(7). We accept cash payments. Please contact us to make arrangements for cash payments. Do not send cash in the US Postal System
D. VR CLIENT FEES/CHARGES. (1). Prior to the 2,022 economic crisis in America (runaway inflation, rising costs for employees and rising costs for operating a business) we did not always charge the following expenses; however, since we have only increased our fees by 3% since 2012, the current economic realities force us to begin to charge the agreed (signed) contracted charge where we used to, often, not charge for a service and/or sometimes graciously forgive (overlook) a debt. Thank you for understanding.
(2). Fee for missed lessons belongs to the VR Client/Customer, not the VR.
(a). For every lesson that is missed, canceled or rescheduled with less than a two-hour notice, including lessons missed, canceled or rescheduled that were not your fault (otherwise known as unavoidable or acts of God), there is a re-scheduling fee of $30.00. The VR pays $17 of that fee and the VR Client/Customer pays $13 of that fee and that $13 must be paid in advance of rescheduling. Exception: If there is a NATIONAL adverse weather advisory in effect within three-hours of the driving lesson that predicts adverse weather in Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties or Okaloosa Counties within three-hours of your lesson all Missed Lesson Fees (aka Scheduling/Reservation Fees) are waived for that lesson. Predictions of or fear of rain and wind or a forecast of scary weather is NOT, in and of itself, a National Weather Advisory.
(b). If door-to-door service is provided, if there is less than a one-hour missed lesson notice provided we have not contracted with the VR for them to pay for the door-to-door fee. That door-to-door fee belongs to the VR Client or the person who signs as the financially responsible person and must be paid before any additional service is provided.
(3). Schedule all VR approved lessons with one email or the additional fee of $10 starting with the second scheduling request belongs to the VR Client/Customer, not the VR.
(a). Please schedule all VR approved lessons with one email request. If do so there is no scheduling fee.
(b). If you schedule less than all VR approved lessons with one email request there is a $15 fee per scheduling request beginning with the second request. This fee must be paid in advance of scheduling by the VR Client. Having that payment in the mail is considered paid in advance as long a we actually receive the payment. Our mailing address (not our business address) is:
Joda Collins Driving Academy
4033 Buttonbush Dr.
Milton, FL 32583
We accept money order, cashier's check or credit card (Visa or MasterCard; no debit cards accepted). This fee only covers a portion of our actual expense for the added admin expense for additional scheduling effort on our part. Keep your proof of purchase for your money order or cashier's check as we do not provide free service if an envelope (payment) is lost in the mail. We have never had an envelope lost in the mail, but there could be a first time.
(c). All scheduling dates and times are available to VR drivers except for Saturday mornings.
(4). Schedule from our web site (www.jodacollins.com) and not via phone or voice mail or the additional $15 fee (as clarified below) belongs to the VR Client/Customer, not the VR.
(a). No charge. There is no Scheduling Fee if you schedule using our online Calendar / List of Available times and in accord with the directions found there.
(b). If you schedule by telephone use (with a live person or via voice mail), there is a $15 charge per event (per phone call or voice mail for scheduling). If you want to know why, just ask. We do not ask the VR to pay for this because it is an extra service. We do not collect in advance for it because almost no one opts for this. We bill those who opt for this.
(5). Parking and three point turn training is accomplished in the vehicle the driver will use for his or her State exam. There are good reasons for this that we will cheerfully share upon request. If using the vehicle the Student-driver will use for his or her State exam to do the three point turn and parking training is not possible or unacceptable, please let us know. There is an additional charge of $30 per lesson where the vehicle is used by the Student-driver for parking and three point turn that belongs to the VR Client/Customer, not the VR we will clarify.
5. RIDERS
A. Anyone approved by the vehicle owner (age 12 or older) is allowed to ride in the back seat if the training is accomplished in any vehicle that does not belong to the Joda Collins Driving Acdy.
B. For reasons I will clarify upon request, with very few exceptions I do not allow anyone to ride in the back seat of my car during VR funded training; there are exceptions, but few.
6. SCHEDULING
A. Unless otherwise agreed on and arranged, all scheduling is done by email. See www.JodaCollins.com , Homepage (Welcome) page, SCHEDULING CALENDAR aka AVALILABLE DATES AND TIMES, for additional scheduling directions. VR Clients or the financially responsible person can schedule any lesson date and time except for Saturday mornings
B. Who can schedule lessons? ONLY the individual who is financially responsible for all charges the VR does not pay and/or his/her designated representative that is 18-years of age or older can schedule, cancel or reschedule lessons. Said individual must be designated in writing and said copy signed by all named therein; this is done on the appropriate signature line of the Contract.
(1). Unless otherwise arranged and approved, the start location for lesson one is 3804 Garcon Point Road, Milton, FL 32583. This is a Shell Station/Truck Stop/Circle K Store and Restaurant. I (Joda Collins) will be inside seated alone in the restaurant. My photo is at www.jodacollins.com. If there is any last-minute confusion call my cell at 850 304-1870.
(2). Unless otherwise arranged and approved, the start and end location for lessons TWO and following is 3815 Garcon Point Road, Milton, FL 32583 which is across the street from the start location for lesson one. For lesson two and following Mr. Collins will be in his car, immediately to your left as you enter the only parking lot entrance to this little store.
C. VR approval and paperwork must be in my (Joda Collins) hand and client and driver approval of this Contract has to be received before we provide any driving lesson.
D. You will be notified by email if the VR approved training Tuesday through Friday or Tuesday through Saturday (excluding Saturday AM). If you want Saturday training, YOU must request it from the VR before you are approved for any VR funding because the VR receives a discount for VR students not training on Saturdays.
E. Driver must have license or permit for more than 90-days to be able to legally drive at night.
F. VR agrees to pay for a package of services. Additional service charges belong to the person who is financially responsible for all charges not covered by the VR.
G. For several reasons (listed below), we do not make a phone call to schedule or reschedule.
(1). We have discovered that if we make a phone call to schedule, we often put the Client in a position where he or she is scheduling blindly because he or she has not had or taken the time to careful consider future commitments. This leads to multiple rescheduling preceded by the statement, "I forgot about another commitment we had on X-day when I scheduled the driver's training, so I will have to reschedule." Each rescheduling cost me (Joda Collins) added administration expense, loss of scheduling time, and puts others we could have served earlier further down the scheduling calendar by delaying their training or causes me to lose business if clients or student-drivers (such as the military) will not be in this area later for training.
(2). We do not initiate telephone calls to schedule or reschedule lessons. When we initiate the telephone call to schedule or reschedule lessons, the conversation usually goes much like this, "Yes, let's schedule X date and time, however, I am not sure if that is an after-school activity day but I will let you know of you can (or will) call us to confirm," and such as that. Lessons become "tentative" based on investigation, thus rescheduling is the norm for many of the scheduled lessons. That kind of conversation is expensive for us as we now have to wait for confirmation and / or initiate multiple calls to confirm. Sometimes, we have to make many phone calls to schedule, in effect, almost begging a client to schedule. When we have to beg a client to schedule, that usually means we are put in a position to have to beg the client and / or student driver to show up for every lesson. That is costly and irritating. We offer a high quality, valuable and life-saving service. We do not beg people to let us serve them. Some people, that are not begged to show up for training, simply do not show up and that is bad or everyone, especially us. So, we avoid that whole negative scenario and those kind of people by allow those who need to be begged to schedule and begged to show up to simply let our service pass by. We do that by not begging such people to schedule or reschedule.
(3). The irritation factor for rescheduling is a consideration.
(4). Some people for whatever reason or reasons opt not to take lessons. Not calling them to schedule allows them a graceful way to bow out of taking lessons.
PS. This is a real email exchanged included as a clarification: -----Original Message-----
From: Joda Collins Driving Academy <jodacollins@aol.com>
To: Vocational Rehab Client Ms. B.
Sent: Sat, Nov 21, 2022 11:36 am
Subject: VR Student # VRXXXXX, CONTRACT QUESTION: Would you Ms. B., (VR Client) rather schedule all five VR approved lessons with one email to avoid the $15 fee starting with the second scheduling request which belongs to you, the VR Client/Customer, not the VR?
Good Morning Ms. B,
Thank you for your email request for scheduling only one lesson at a time. Before I schedule that date and time, I do want to be sure you are aware of our contractual agreement regarding scheduling one lesson at a time. Nothing I do is free because everything I do cost time or money and time is money.
A portion of our agreed-on Contract with you is reproduced below for your review, which reads: "(b). If you schedule less than all VR approved lessons with one email request there is a $15 fee per scheduling request beginning with the second request. This fee must be paid in advance of scheduling by the VR Client. Having that payment in the mail is considered paid in advance as long a we actually receive the payment. Our mailing address (not our business address) is:
Joda Collins Driving Academy
4033 Buttonbush Dr.
Milton, FL 32583
....F. VR agrees to pay for a package of services. Additional service charges belong to the person who is financially responsible for all charges not covered by the VR." Paying for the added charge of multiple scheduling is not part of the package we have with the VR. We place a high priority on being sure we have all things stated as clearly as we can at all times because miss communication and missed communication is the source (cause) of most difficulties and misunderstandings; all of which we seek sincerely and work hard to avoid. Such things are most easily avoided when information is repeated, double checked to assure good comprehension (a meeting of the minds) and a commitment to the contract is made and honored at the beginning of service. All of that said, we realize the contract is wordy. It is wordy because we have a lot of benefits for drivers, VR Clients and the VR that have to be, by law, clarified in detail. Those benefits depend on us keeping our admin expenses as low as possible. Our approved by all parties Contract with you reads in part:
"(3). Schedule all VR approved lessons with one email or the additional fee of $15 starting with the second scheduling request that belongs to the VR Client/Customer, not the VR.
(b). If you schedule less than all VR approved lessons with one email request there is a $15 fee per scheduling request beginning with the second request. This fee must be paid in advance of scheduling by the VR Client. Having that payment in the mail is considered paid in advance as long a we actually receive the payment. Our mailing address (not our business address) is:
Joda Collins Driving Academy
4033 Buttonbush Dr.
Milton, FL 32583" Would you rather schedule all five VR approved lessons with one email to avoid the additional $15 scheduling fee starting with the second scheduling request. That belongs to you, the VR Client/Customer, not the VR. Either way is good for us. Just let us know which option you are selecting so we are sure we have not only our agreed-on contract, but a meeting of the minds about the agreed-on contract.
Thank you!
Questions? Just ask via email.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jackie, Scheduling Secretary
Joda Collins Driving Academy
850 981-3355
-----Original Message-----
From: Vocational Rehab Client Ms. B.
To: Joda Collins Driving Academy <jodacollins@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Nov 22, 2022 1:54 am
Subject: VR Student # VRXXXXX, CONTRACT QUESTION: Would you Ms. B., (VR Client) rather schedule all five VR approved lessons with one email to avoid the $15 fee starting with the second scheduling request which belongs to you, the VR Client/Customer, not the VR?
I have a work schedule that changes every week. I do not know my work schedule for the next week until the previous Friday. Why should I have to pay an additional $15 per lesson for scheduling one lesson at a time when it is not my fault that I do not know my work scheudule in advance?
-----Original Message-----
From: Joda Collins Driving Academy <jodacollins@aol.com>
To: Vocational Rehab Client Ms. B.
Sent: Sat, Nov 21, 2022 5:26 pm
Subject: VR Student # VRXXXXX, CONTRACT QUESTION: Would you Ms. B., (VR Client) rather schedule all five VR approved lessons with one email to avoid the $15 fee starting with the second scheduling request which belongs to you, the VR Client/Customer, not the VR?
Ms. B,
I undestand your work schedule dilemma and I am not without empathy. I have faced the same kind of difficulties in my life, also, as I am sure most people have. Nothing that I do for others is free to me. Everything I do for others costs me time and money, and time is money. With no intent to be confrontational, accusatory or demeaning but only a desire to get to the heart of the matter, please permit me to change slightly your reasoning and re-present it to you like this: Why should I have to pay an additional per lesson administration expense from my own pocket for you scheduling one lesson at a time when it is not my fault that you do not know your work schedule in advance? As responsible, mature adults we all assume responsibility for our own dilemmas rather than ask or expect others to pay the price for our less that perfect life and/or work circumstances. I am sure, after some thought, you agree.
SECTION / CONTRACT TWELVE
Removed.
SECTION (CONTRACT) THIRTEEN
NON-BINDING ESTIMATE OF PROGRESS 8/26/19
If you are ever unhappy with me, my staff or our service, please let us know before you share your negative opinion with anyone else and give us a chance to resolve your concern. The best way to best insure we have a good working relationship is to read this Contract carefully and only sign it if you agree. If you find this Contract overwhelming, let us know by email and we will direct you through the process via email one step at a time. Thank you. Sincerely, Joda Collins
I am often asked, "How many lesson will the training require?" That s a good question. It is, also, hard to answer. For example, if I asked you, "How long will it take my son to become educated?, what would you say? If I asked, "How long will it take for me to be financially well-off?, what would be your answer? If I asked you, "How many lessons will it take for me to be a good piano player?" Can you tell me that now with any degree of accuracy? You cannot answer well because you do not have enough information.
Provide the following information BEFORE THE FIRST LESSON and after the first lesson I can give you a fairly accurate estimate of how many more lessons, if any, I think the driver will need to reach his or her driving goal. Fill out as many of these forms with varying criteria that you desire.
1. Are you only seeking to pass the State Driving Exam? If yes, do not complete this form. I will provide an estimate after the first lesson.
2. At what maximum speed do you want driver reasonably safe? _______ mph
3. In what traffic congestion do you want driver reasonably safe?
A. Mild B. Mild to Moderate C. Moderate D. Moderate to Congested. E. Congested
4. In what weather conditions do you want driver reasonably safe?
A. Good Weather (no noticeable wind or rain)
B. Mild wind but no rain
C. Moderate wind but no rain
D. Much wind but no rain.
E. Mild rain but no wind.
F. Moderate rain but no wind
G. Much rain but no wind.
H. Mild wind and some rain. (Mild Storm)
I. Moderate wind and moderate rain? (Moderate Storm)
J. Much wind and much rain. (Severe Storm but under level of national weather advisory)
5. Do you want driver reasonably safe after sundown? _______ (yes or no)
6. In what driving environment do you want driver reasonably safe?
A. Memorized by driver.
B. Well-known to driver.
C. New to driver but common to our area.
D. New to driver and much different from our area.
7. Do you want driver reasonably safe driving directly into rising or setting sun? _____ (yes/no)
8. Do you want driver reasonably safe among:
A. Excellent (defensive drivers) only
B. Excellent and good drivers only (good drivers keep the major rules of the road but are not defensive drivers)
C. Excellent, good and bad (crash prone) drivers.
9. By whose/what standard do you define "reasonably safe?"
A. Joda Collins' standard that teaches 12 General Safety Skills (that keep a driver from causing crashes) and 23 Defensive Driving Techniques (that keep a driver from becoming involved in the crashes that bad drivers cause). This estimate will be higher because Mr. Collins standard for "reasonably safe" is higher.
B. The Average Driver who employs three to six of the 12 General Safety Skills and two or three of the 23 Defensive Driving Skills. Note: The Average Driver considers him or herself safer than 80 to 85% of all other drivers, therefore, the Average Driver would also include the Above Average Driver.
C. The Poor Driver who employees one or two of the 12 General Safety Skills and zero to one of the Defensive Driving Skills.
Things are always changing and that is especially true in the arena of communication. Email was once new and now it is old. We are informed that the new rage for communication is texting because it allows for a faster and easier response. However, texting does not provide a record of previous communication, promises, directions, questions, answers or proposals. For personal communication texting is fine, but for business communication, texting has severe and costly limitations. Our primary mode of communication is email because it is the most effective for keeping a record of communication progress. If you do not have an email address or if you do not check your email at least once every 24 hours, let us know and we will communicate by US Postal Service all relevant facts, figures, promises, expectations and responsibilities. We do not have nor do we honor any verbal communication of facts, figures, promises, expectations and/or responsibilities; thus we have three methods of communication open to us: texting which we do not do for reasons clarified, email or US Postal Service. To use email, we do require that you promise to check your emails at least once per day. If you do not or can not do that, please let us know so we can communicate facts, figures, promises, expectations and responsibilities via US Postal System. Covid has closed our office except for receiving mail and the administrative business work of staff that cannot be done at their homes.
SECTION (CONTRACT) FOURTEEN
FOR DRIVING COMPETENCY/SAFET Edited 11/1/21
If you find this Contract overwhelming, let us know by email and we will direct you through the process via email one step at a time.
30/19
1. DRIVER INFORMATION
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Mailing Address
___________________________________
City State Zip
___________________________________
Email Address
___________________________________
Telephone Number
___________________________________
Driver License Number or State ID (Same number)
2. MEDICAL INSTITUTION INFORMATION IF ANY.
___________________________________
Name
___________________________________
Official Representative of Same
___________________________________
Mailing Address
___________________________________
City State Zip
___________________________________
Email Address
___________________________________
Telephone Number
3. WRITTEN EVALUATION
A. If the Evaluation has to be accomplished by a Florida State Licensed Driving Instructor that is also a Florida Licensed Medical Doctor I (Joda Collins) cannot provide this Evaluation. If the Evaluation has to accomplished by a Florida Licensed Driving Instructor that does NOT have to also be a Florida Licensed Medical Doctor, I CAN provided this Evaluation.
B. The Evaluation answers the following questions.
(1) . Is the driver currently safe behind the wheel?
(a). If not, does the driver have the capacity to become a safe driver?
(1). If so, how much additional training do I (Joda Collins) think the driver will need to become a reasonably safe driver?
C. Unless we have the written approval and permission of the Client (the person or agency that paid us) we are not allowed, by law, to send the written results of a Evaluation or any follow up documents and/or written information about or related to Evaluations to anyone except our Client. Our Client is the person or agency that paid us.
4. VEHICLE USED
Unless otherwise requested parking and three point turn are NOT part of this evaluation. This evaluation is focused on driving safety in traffic. If parking and/or three point turn are to be part of this evaluation, please notify us in advance so we can provide you with an Attachment to review, approve and sign at least 24 hours before the start of this appointment.
5. FINANCES
A. Safety evaluations are two-hours including a five-minute break for safety if needed. Thecharge is $250 if paying with a money order, cashier's check or if pre-approved a personal or business check or $268.96 if paying with a Visa or MasterCard Credit card (no debit cards accepted). There is a 7% discount if not paying with Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard). Mail your payment (no cash) to Joda Collins Driving Academy, 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583. The same day we get your payment we will contact you for scheduling. Be sure we have your phone number, email address and mailing address. If you desire door-to-door service the charge is $2.25 per round trip mile from our office very near the intersection of Interstate 10 at Exit 26, Milton, FL 32583; this includes a 7% discount for not using Visa or MasterCard Credit card (no debit cards accepted). If you are paying for door-to-door service with a Visa or MasterCard credit card the per round trip mile charge is $2.42 per round trip mile for our office which is very near the intersection of Interstate 10 at Exit 26, Milton, FL 32583.
B. Fee includes the option for a written Evaluation of results. Drivers that decline the written evaluation are no refund in whole or in part. Payment is tacit approval of this Contract. Read and understand it well before paying. Once we receive your full payment, you can schedule by calling 850 981-3355 or from our scheduling calendar on line at www.jodacollins.com .
C. The over the road evaluation and training is accomplished in the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle. If the over-the-road evaluation and training is done in a private vehicle, it must be done in the vehicle owned by the driver or we must have written permission of the vehicle owner to use the vehicle. Said written permission must in a paper format, signed by the owner and notarized unless the vehicle owner is present. If the vehicle owner is not present for the use of his or her vehicle, contact us for the proper form to fill out and have notarized. There is an additional charge of $25 to use any vehicle other than the Joda Collins Driving Academy Vehicle for over-the-road evaluation and training. If you want to to know the reasons for this additional charge, just ask.
D. If Student-driver misses the lesson for any reason with less than a two-hour notice, including a reason that is not his or her fault, the charge is $75 plus 25% of door-to-door fees (if any). If you want the Student-driver to share in any or all of this financial liability (for missed lesson), please advise is before signing.
E. If there is a National Weather Advisory that predicts adverse weather for our area within three-hours of the scheduled lessons, Mr. Collins will cancel the lesson and there is no charge for the canceled lesson or to reschedule. A local forecast for adverse weather is NOT a National Weather Advisory.
F. One hundred percent (100%) of all funds paid in advance are refundable if we are provided at least a two-hour notice of cancellation.
G. Financial Disclaimer
(1). When we give you (the Client) a payment figure, double check our figures with your contracted price and if you find an error, please forgive our error and notify us of your findings. Any contractually factual or financial error that is:
(a). Discovered before the above service is rendered may be corrected.
(b). To the benefit of the client and is discovered after the above service is rendered will be corrected and the missed benefit provided to the client.
(c). After the above service is rendered that is to the detriment of the client will not be corrected.
(d). Discovered before or after the service above is provided will not be carried over to any additional service.
H. The Joda Collins Driving Academy does guarantee that an adequate list of driving needs (if any) can be provided to the Client (whoever is paying for this service) in the two-hours set aside for this evaluation; however, we cannot guarantee a driver will understand the reasons for any corrections or be able to accomplish any corrective action within the two-hours set aside for this evaluation, explanation and corrective results accomplished by the driver. We will make a full written report of the realities, however
6. SCHEDULING
A. When we receive your payment we will contact you for scheduling.
B. If you (the Clent) do not get an email reminder of your driving session between 12:01am and 8:30pm the day before your driving appointment EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED A REMINDER OR CONFIRMATION EARLIER, there may be a scheduling problem. Please call 850 981-3355 or email jodacollins@aol.com to discover if there is problem. If you do not contact us by email or phone at least two hours before the scheduled lesson we will not assume responsibilIty, financial or otherwise, for that missed lesson. This need coves a glitch/weakness in our scheduling system that we cannot get rid of without your assistance. We place this burden on you because we have to. If you want to know why, just ask.
SECTION (CONTRACT) FIFTEEN
CONTRACT FOR PERSONAL USE OF MY ACADEMY VEHICLE TO TAKE YOUR
STATE DRIVING EXAM.
Edited 1/19/23
I do not allow the use of my vehicle to take the State Exam if the driver can pass the simple driving exam but is also a dangerous and deadly driver. My conscience will not long allow me to be an accomplice to putting a driver license in the hands of a dangerous and deadly driver.
However, if a driver will commit to graduating the General Safety Course, Level Two (120 General Safety Points) I will rent that driver my vehicle for his or her personal use to take the State exam. I keep good records. In 14-years, I have had 592 drivers enrolling the General Safety Course, Level Two training. Two hundred and sixty graduated that Course of training and the fewest graduated in five 75-minute lessons while the most lessons taken to graduate that course was 18. The average was 9 to 12 lessons. This excludes drivers who had psychological or emotional problems, drivers with learning disabilities, drivers with bad attitudes, excessively immature students, and drivers with ADD or ADhD. I do not keep records on those drivers as their progress varies too much to make any confident future predictions for others from their rate of progress.
Also, I am a really small business. I have one car. If you wreck my car I am out of business until I get it fixed or buy another one. I am entrusting you with my livelihood so I have to be double sure and completely confident you are going to wreck my car during your State Exam. The State examiner will not intervene to help you avoid a crash.
If this is something that interests you, keep reading. 1. Your State exam must take place at the Gulf Breeze Driver License Office or the Warrington (Pensacola Office). 2. The fee is $300 plus $2.25 per mile my car is used to pick you up, drive you to the driver license office, back to your home and drive back to my office. This includes a 7% discount for paying in advance with a cashier's check or money order rather than with credit card (your Visa or MasterCard accepted. No debit cards accepted). 3. The $30 scheduling fee is non-refundable and non-transferable under any conditions unless I (Joda Collins) cancel or miss the lesson/appointment. 4. Cancellation fee is $100 if you cancel with less than a two-hour notice. 5 . You must reserve my time and my car before you schedule your State exam. 6. There is no guarantee that if you take lessons from me, that you will eventually drive well enough to use my vehicle for your personal use (to take the State Exam). However, I will keep you posted along the way so you have a good idea when you will score the necessary 120 general safety points needed to qualify to use my car for your State exam. 7. If you are a newer driver and you are are not willing to take at least nine 75-minute lessons, I would suggest you not believe you will be allowed to use my vehicle for your personal use (to take the State Exam). Driving is easy. It is stop, go and turn. Driving safely in ever-changing traffic conditions among aggressive and poorly trained drivers is not easy.
Sincerely,
Joda Collins
Joda Collins Driving Academy
850 981-3355
JodaCollins@aol.com
Behind-the-Wheel Training
Serving Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties since 2008!
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SECTION ONE
JODA COLLINS
Please read your Service Agreement (Contract) Carefully! Thank you.
54i
Working Agreements/Service Contacts
850 981-3355
DRIVING ACADEMY
If your only goal is to pass the State Driving Exam to secure your driver license, the better you have memorized the steps for parking and three-point turn BEFORE scheduling your first (or only) lesson the fewer lessons you will need to reach that goal.
However, we do not teach parking and three-point turn unless specifically asked to do so. Second, we do not tell the driver or the client when we will teach parking and three-point turn, rather, the driver and/or the client tells us when that training will occur.
We do not charge for parking and three-point turn training IF the driver is also enrolled in paid training, has memorized the steps in whole or in part well enough to quote them without hesitation upon request and without assistance. It only takes about one minute to teach the three-point turn and about five minutes to each parking once a driver has memorized the steps well enough to quote them (in whole or in part) without hesitation, or assistance and upon request. I (Joda Collins) simply add the time to any existing lesson. Also, drivers do not have to memorize all of the steps for parking and three-point turn as I will train a driver to do all the steps the driver has memorized taking the first part of every lesson to do so, if you wish that free training. If so, ask for it.
Parking and Three-point-turn are skill requirements for all who have to take the State exam. It usually benefits the driver to use his or her vehicle to learn parking and the three- point turn because that better ensures the driver will, more easily, pass the part of the State test and because the training/learning is easier and takes less time in a personal vehicle. (See red and green print for details.) Therefore, I need to know if you, the Client, want to use your vehicle for parking and three point turn training or our vehicle. It is your choice. I do not care if you use your car or my car for parking and three-point turn.
Drivers that have memorized the steps for parking and three point turn can "learn" how to park and do the three point turn during behind the wheel training in about five minutes. Drivers that do not or can not memorize on their own usually require one to three hours of behind-the-wheel training to learn parking and three point turn.
Drivers do not have to learn all the steps at one time before free training for parking and/or three-point turn occurs. You can be trained for no charge on only the steps you have memorized. Just let us know when you want the training.
When I first bought my car I had to have my front end (tires) aligned every 5 or 6 weeks. I was getting only 24,000 miles on my 40,000 mile tires. A Toyota supervisor asked me if I was turning the steering wheel with the vehicle stationary? I said, "Yes, every day, many times a day." He told me to be sure the car was moving at least one mile per hour before turning the steering wheel and I would get rid of the necessity to have my front tires aligned so often. He was right. Most students take about 15 to 20 attempts before learning to do the three point turn. It is not unusual for mentally handicapped students take 20 to 40 attempts. It is common for me to teach 100 to 200 three-point turn attempts monthly. Now that I require my vehicle to be moving at least one mile per hour before turning steering wheel, my front end alignment need has vanished.
What car are you using for parking and three point turn training? Yours or mine?
Unless otherwise directed use this procedure (memory steps) for the three-point turn:
Slow, Right, Look, Signal, Stop
Turn, Look, Go, Stop
Reverse, Look, Go, Stop
Drive, Look, Go.
Memorize the red print if you are using your vehicle for parking and three point turn training.
Memorize the green print if we are using the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle for parking and three-point turn training.
The only difference is that in the Acdy vehicle the vehicle has to be moving at least one-tenth of one inch per second before steering while in your vehicle you can turn the steering wheel with the car stationary. After about 200 stationary full turns left or right I have to have my vehicle tires re-aligned. I have to take half a day off and pay $66 for the re-alignment. If the car is moving at any speed, the weight of the car is dissipated and no front end alignment is necessary due to parking and threepoint turn training. However, many new drivers take a long time to learn to keep the car moving slowly with brake pressure applied and turn the steering wheel fast enough to successfully accomplish a three-point turn or parking. Teaching does not mean that I am obligated for a student driver to abuse my vehicle unless I am convinced driver cannot, with training, learn to drive slowly with brake pressure. The expense for learning or trying to learn to travel slow without stopping by applying light brake pressure belongs to the Client. If I determine the driver simply cannot do it, I will let driver use my car for parking and three-turn and I will pay for a front-end alignment. Anyone, however, can turn the steering wheel while the car is stationary and it does not matter if the steering is slow or fast. Questions? Just ask.
Entering a parking space when using a private vehicle for parking.
1. Go slow, get far right, look over left shoulder and if safe, signal left.
2. Stop, turn wheel 90% full left.
3. When safe, coast.
4. Steer right in order to stop with car centered n lane.
5. Point front wheels straight.
6. Put parking brake on and transmission in park.
Note: "When safe," means you look in every possible direction from which a vehicle or pedestrian might reasonably be about to enter your line of travel.
Exiting a parking space when using a private vehicle for parking.
1. When safe, put in reverse, release parking brake when safe, back.
2. Stop when my front bumper is even with back bumper of vehicle on right or left.
3. Turn wheel 100% in the direction you want the back end of vehicle to go. .
4. When safe, back up, stop at 45 degree angle and put in drive.
5. Turn wheel 100% in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go and when safe, accelerate. .
View: http://activerain.com/blogsview/505780/a-slice-of-life
Three Point Turn when using a private vehicle for three point turn training.
1. Go slow, get far right, look over left shoulder and if safe signal left and stop.
2. Turn 100% left and, when safe, coast, stop and put in reverse.
3. Turn 100% right, when safe coast back, stop and put in drive.
4 Turn 100% left and when safe, go.
There is more to entering and exiting a parking space than what is noted above, but the additional information is easily incorporated into the steps above once the steps above are memorized.
Entering a parking space when using Academy vehicle for parking.
1. Go slow
2. Get far right
3. Look over left shoulder and if safe.
4. Signal left.
5. Stop.
6. When safe, coast at 0 to 1 mph and then
7. Turn wheel fast 1.5 turns left (as soon as your from bumper passes post.
8. Turn wheel to 1.5 turns to right.
9. Stop centered in your lane one to 12 inches from curb or concrete stop.
10. Put parking brake on and transmission in Park.
Exiting a parking space when using Academy vehicle for parking.
1. When safe, put in reverse and when safe, back
2. Stop when told to do so, when directed turn wheel full left then stop vehicle at 45 degree angle.
3. Put in drive and when safe, coast at 0 to 1mph and then steer into your lane.
Three Point Turn when using Academy vehicle for three point turn training.
1. Go slow, get far right, look over left shoulder and if safe signal left and stop.
2. When safe, remove some brake pressure, coast, and turn full left and stop before any part of vehicle goes off the road.
3. Put in reverse, when safe, coast with partial brake pressure on, turn wheel full right as fast as you can, stop when told.
4 Put in drive, when safe, remove some brake pressure, coast while turning wheel left as fast as you can and steer into your lane.
Note: "Stop," means "stop when I (Joda Collins) tell you to stop. "Coasting," is always at 0 to 1mph, accomplished by keeping some brake pressure on.
There is more to entering and exiting a parking space than what is noted above, but the additional information is easily incorporated into the steps above once the steps above are memorized.
We offer a free written Memory Course that, upon completing, most student drivers have memorized the parking procedures. That free Memory Course is found at
http://www.lulu.com/shop/joda-collins/driving-skills-memory-work/paperback/product-20127983.html
If you want to use this Memory training and need more direction to do so, just ask!
For student-drivers that have completed the Driving Skills Memory Workbook and turned in the completed written work to us (as evidence of completion of the Memory Workbook) and still find they cannot memorize the steps for parking, we set you down at a table and quote each step to you one and you restate them. We do this for one hour. So far, everyone who thought they could not memorize, did.
Every driver that has secured a driver's license in the State of Florida has memorized steps for parking and a three-point-turn. You can do it, too.
Even if the vehicle that the driver will use for the State test is not available for use for training, I still prefer to use the Client's or Student-drivers personal vehicle instead of my vehicle for parking and three point turn training. That is because I do not allow my vehicle have the steering wheel turned while the vehicle is stationary. It is very hard on the power steering over a long period of time. It will not hurt power steering if done a few hundred times, but can damage the power steering when done a few thousand times as it is when done in a vehicle use for training every day.
FREE TRAINING (PARKING AND THREE POINT TURN)
We do not charge for parking and/or three point turn training, in whole or in part, if the following conditions are met:
1. Driver has memorized the steps for parking and three point turn, in whole or in part, well enough to quote them without hesitation or assistance and upon request before training for parking and three point turn during paid sessions. This means driver does not have memorize all the steps at one time. Memorize as much or as little as you want and we can practice what you have memorizes free of charge to you anytime you want. It only takes about 45 seconds to to a complete three point turn after steps are memorized and it only takes about two minutes to enter and exit a parking space in accord with State law once the steps are memorized. So, all I do is a two or three minutes to any existing lesson at no charge any time a driver wants to practice what he or she has memorized of the steps for parking and/or three point turn.
2. Before memorizing the steps for parking and three point turn, read the red and green print above.
3. Driver must have at least 90 General Safety Points before practicing parking and/or three point turn if using the Joda Collins Driving Acdy vehicle for parking and three point turn training.
ADDITIONAL OFFER
I (Joda Collins) will train any licensed driver to train any person how to pass the parking and three point turn part of the State driving exam for $1.94 per (in car) minute. Requirements:
1. This training must be added to an existing lesson of 75 or more minutes.
2. The training has to take place in the Client's insured vehicle.
3. The maximum training time per 75 -minute or longer lesson is 15 minutes unless otherwise arranged. Most experienced drivers can learn to teach parking and three point turn in 15 minutes.
ADDITIONAL OFFER
Any Client can ride during parking and three point turn training of his or her Student-Driver and learn from watching how to train for parking and three-point turn. Charge for riding and learning how to teach parking and three-point turn is zero dollars. Standard training fees still apply for Student-Driver training.
I will train any Client to train any student to do parking and three-point turn. Standard training fees still apply.
If you have any remaining questions, just ask!
SECTION TWO
This is for those directed here. If you have not been directed to this Section, it will not make sense to you.
THREE POINT TURN
Far right
Go slow
Look
Signal
Stop
Turn
Look
Coast
Stop
Reverse
Turn
Look
Coast
Stop
Drive
Turn
Look
Go
ENTERING PARKING SPACE
Get right
Go slow
Look
Signal
Stop
Turn
Look
Coast
Stop
Parking & transmission brakes.
EXITING A PARKING SPACE
Reverse
Look
Coast
Stop
Turn
Look
Coast
Stop
Turn
Look
Go
Turn steering full left when parked uphill with curb on right.
Moving vehicle must miss pedestrian by three feet minimum.
Put both feet on brake. Hold brake down with left foot. Move right foot to accelerator. Small acceleration. Remove left foot from brake.
One difference is turn lane is shorter than deceleration lane.
Know where horn, emergency flashers, bright and dim headlights are.
CLARIFICATION OF FREE THREE POINT TURN TRAINING
What follows was in response to a real email which read: "Mr. Collins, you said I would get some FREE three-point turn training today and I did not. Why?"
My Response: Free behind-the-wheel training is unusual for any driving school to offer. Unlike other businesses, such as grocery stores for example, that can offers something for free or at a reduced price and can make up the lost profit on the sale of other items, driving schools only have one product/service which is driver's training.
Eighty percent of driver's training is Cognitive/Mental only.
Ten percent of driver's training is a combination of Cognitive and Physical.
Ten percent of of driver's training is mostly Physical.
1. COGNITIVE/MENTAL ONLY (80%)
A. Learning the rules of the road and how to apply those rules of the road in traffic,
B. Learning the 12 General Safety skills and now to apply those skills in traffic and C. Learning the 23 Defensive Driving Techniques and how to apply those techniques in traffic.
2. A COMBINATION OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL (10%)
A. Learning how the steering wheel influences the front tires.
B. Learning how the brake and accelerator influences the speed of the vehicle.
C. Learning when and how to use coasting.
D. Memorizing the steps for parking and three point turn.
Ten percent of drivers training is:
2. PHYSICAL (10%)
A. Learning the physical moves to safely operate the accelerator, brake and steering.
I give away FREE driver's training in the following ways:
1. The workbook which is all mental/cognitive.
2. These emails which is all mental/cognitive.
3. The written steps for parking and three point turn, which is all mental/cognitive.
4. Responding to any questions about driving presented in email format which is cognitive/mental.
5. Under specific conditions, couple of minutes at the start of each lesson devoted to free three-point turn and parking skills, which is a combination of mental/cognitive (memorizing the steps) and physical (doing the memorized steps behind the wheel).
Now, let's take the major points made in this note so far and put them together.
1. It is unusual for a driving school to give away driver's training whether it be cognitive/mental skill information, physical training behind the wheel or any combination of physical and mental/cognitive training.
2. FREE three point turn training consists of memorizing the steps and doing them. However, I only give away a minute or two free driver's training per lesson and only until driver can do the three-point turn and parking well enough to pass that part of the State exam.
Today, my FREE three point turn consisted of testing you while you were in the passenger's seat with me in the driver's seat to see if you memorized the steps for the three-point turn. In total it took only about three to five minutes to do so, which included driving to the location for the three point turn, providing instruction to you to state the steps from memory, and me doing them to show you what the steps looked like in real life and changing sides with you to begin the paid driving session.
You ACED the memorizing the steps. When the three to five minutes of FREE training was over, I changed places with you to begin the paid training. We started the lesson at 2:25pm and ended the lesson at 3:47pm; a total of one hour and 22- minutes or 82-minutes of training of which five was devoted to free three point turn training leaving 75-minutes of paid training and 2-minutes of additional free training. I always try to go a couple of minutes over to be fair.
At the end of the training you shared with me that you were not allowed to do any of the FREE three-point turn training. I shared with you that you did get the FREE three- point training. You seemed confused and I shared with you that I would clarify with an email. This is that email.
However, I know what you meant. What you meant was that you were not allowed to be behind-the-wheel of my car to do the three-point turn training for FREE. And that is correct. Before I put a driver behind the wheel for FREE three point turn training, I usually first verify the driver has memorized the steps well enough to quote them without hesitation, without error and upon request and show the driver those steps as they play out (are done) in real life. That is driver's training. Once I know a driver can quote the steps without error or hesitation, I put the driver behind-the-wheel to do those steps, which will be done the next lesson.
In contrast, if today, I would have spent five minutes driving to the three point turn location, clarifying what we were doing during the three-point turn, having the you quote the steps slowly so I could show them, then changed sides with you and then having you actually do the steps, the total amount of time I would have given to FREE training would have been closer to 15 minutes rather than five. Five minutes of FREE training is a about a $10 value. Fifteen minutes of free training is about a $29 gift. While I enjoy and want to give some free time, I seldom give $29 worth of my time for free in one lesson; not because I am negative towards giving the training, but because my lessons are often back to back, especially on Saturday and if I give 15-free minutes to every driver, that would mean I lost one full hour of training time every day (if I had four drivers), which is not unusual for a Saturday because Saturdays fill up first and fastest. That is too much free training to give and too much lost training (income) time.
Next lesson we will start the training with you behind-the-wheel to do the three point turn. The free training consists of everything relative to the three-point turn that you can do without unnecessary hesitation and without error. This limits my free gift to you to a limit I can give away and still make the most of my limited time I have to earn my living.
Thank you for your good question. I hope this clarifies and is a good answer to your good question.
Questions? Just ask.
Sincerely,
Joda Collins
SECTION THREE
SAVING MONEY!
OUR MOTTO IS "WE GO THE EXTRA MILE."
In the days of Jesus on Earth, any Roman Solider to order any person to carry anything the Roman Soldier was carrying and do so for up to one mile. Jesus said, if a Roman Soldier orders you to carry his gear (or anything else) for a mile, then volunteer to carry it an extra mile. In other words, do twice as much for the Roman Solider than is required and do it with a positive attitude.
In order to fulfill our motto, we have to give you the opportunity of progress through the training at twice the rate, therefore at half the expense. Drivers who:
1. Memorize the steps for parking and three point turn.
2. Memorize the assigned 10-words prior to the start of lesson one.
3. Do the assigned three hours of self-study in preparation for each lesson starting with lesson two.
4. Read and reflect on progress reports after each lesson.
5. Learn hand over hand steering on their own time.
6. Learn to let the wheel slide through hands to complete standard 90-degree turns on their own time
Progress twice as fast and at half the expense compared to drivers who do none of the above.
A. MEMORIZE
Memorize the following 10-words in consecutive order before the start of your initial driving session, "Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Signal, Ahead, Behind, Mirror, Shoulder, Move." Save $30.00 (not $30 off, but $30 less).
B. MEMORIZE
Memorize the steps (procedure) for parking and three-point-turn on your own time. Save $150.00. (Not $150 off but $150 less.)
C. FREE written report of your driving progress and/or needs after each or almost every lesson. Learn by reading. You have to ask for this report via return email. Mr. Collins pays a Secretary $15 to turn his coded notes into something you can read if and only if you want those notes sent to you email FREE of charge to you. Only about 30% of drivers and 70% of Clients want those notes, so Mr. Collins does not spend the money producing them if they are not valued. One request is all that is needed for notes after every lesson.
D. WORKBOOK
Read 15-pages of the study Workbook in preparation for your initial training session. That workbook is attached to your first email from us. Or, you can order the workbook on line at
http://www.lulu.com/shop/joda-collins/joda-collins-driving-academy-course-workbook/paperback/product-24099355.html
Read for a devoted three hours (or less if so noted) from the study workbook in preparation for each lesson beginning with lesson two and turn in the self-study written work, unsolicited, at the start of each lesson. Save 30% to 50% of your tuition expense (not 30% to 50% off, but 30% go 50% less) because you will progress up to twice as fast and at up to half the expense compared to those who do not do the reading or written work.
None of the workbook is required reading. None of the reading is expected. The workbook is nothing like the Florida Official Driver's Manual. The workbook is optional reading for those who want to progress faster through the training, thus at a lower expense. Some find it very helpful and progress up to twice as fast and therefore at half the expense. Others find it tedious reading and of no value at all.
Learning to drive safely is 10% physical ability, 40% behind the wheel training and 50% mental. For example, if I gave an elementary school student a copy of the times tables on Monday and said we would study the times tables on Friday and I would charge the student's parents $1.68 per minute for every minute it took me on Friday to teach the times tables and between Monday and Friday the child spent eight hours memorizing the times tables, on Friday I would ask the child a dozen or so times tables questions such as what is 3 times 3, 6 times 4, 7 times 9 and so on. If the child got every answer right I would know in about a minute or so if the child had learned the times tables. If so, I would charge the student's parents about $2.00. However, if the student waited until Friday to study the times table with me as the teacher and it took him or her eight classroom hours to learn the times tables, the charge tot the parent would be $1.68 times 60 minutes times eight hours = $806.00. The savings for the first child is $804 ($806 minus $2). That is not $804 off, but it is $804 saved.
That is the way it is with driver's training. If you want me (Joda Collins) to explain during paid driving time the meaning and application of the 45 most common traffic laws, the meaning and application 10 most common traffic signs, the meaning and application of the 12 general safety skill and the meaning and application of the 23 defensive driving techniques, I can do that at a cost to you of several hundred or several thousand dollars (depending on your listening skills and learning speed). Or, you can learn them for free by reading the assigned homework.
The only reason I offer this savings opportunity is for the students who could not otherwise afford driver's training. However, if you can afford driver's training but want to invest half as much for twice the learning, you can do self-study also.
Only about 10% of students avail themselves to this savings opportunity. If most students did use the workbook, I could not afford to offer it.
Those who do not avail themselves to this FREE learning often say they learn by doing and not by reading. However, they never tell any other teacher that. For example, how many times does a person have to negotiate a four-way stop without instructions on the rules for a four way stop before they learn the rules of a four-way stop. My estimate is about 10 to 20 times. How many times must a driver read the rules to four way stop before the driver knows the rules to a four way stop? My estimate is about four times at a cost of zero dollars.
When a student is learning from me in the car, I am doing is telling the student how to apply what is in the workbook, but charging by the minute to do so. Use your behind the wheel time learning how to apply what you learned by reading, not learning what is in the 266 pages of reading material.
Sometimes a student tells me they cannot do the homework because they cannot read. Please see: https://donmcminn.com/2020/01/how-to-learn-from-reading/?unapproved=47797&moderation-hash=a5a7f3da1c5b26eed090089a2727ff1b#comment-47797
Most students who cannot read, can listen to someone else read it. If you do not have some one to read it to you, let me know and I will pay my secretary to read it to you and charge you nothing. Just call or email for details.
E. Follow directions during training and learn by doing rather than ask "why" before you will follow directions. Save $1.68 per minute for each minute Mr. Collins invests to answer your why question before you will follow his direction. (Not $1.68 per minute off, but $1.68 per minute less.) Once you follow the direction, you will experience why.
F. Shuffle steering slows training. If you want to know the details of why shuffle steering slows training (and adds training lessons), just ask.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/05/just-say-no-to-shuffle-steering/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ArlcIqmOg (Hand-over-hand steering)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/road-safety/2748533/Bad-and-unnatural-steering-practices.html
There is no such thing as a perfect steering method. Every method has positives and negatives. You must determine which positives and negatives you are willing to live with. I teach the 10 and 2 hand over hand method because I think the positives of this method outweigh the negatives. In all other forms of steering I think the negatives outweigh the positives. If you are devoted to a form of steering other than 10 and 2 hand over hand, let me know and we will honor your wishes. Just let us know. Otherwise, we teach 10/2 hand-over-hand.
FREE TRAINING (PARKING AND THREE POINT TURN)
We do not charge for parking and/or three point turn training, in whole or in part, if the following conditions are met:
1. Driver has memorized the steps for parking and three point turn, in whole or in part, well enough to quote them without hesitation or assistance and upon request before training for parking and three point turn during paid sessions. This means driver does not have memorize all the steps at one time. Memorize as much or as little as you want and we can practice what you have memorizes free of charge to you anytime you want. It only takes about 45 seconds to to a complete three point turn after steps are memorized and it only takes about two minutes to enter and exit a parking space in accord with State law once the steps are memorized. So, all I do is a two or three minutes to any existing lesson at no charge any time a driver wants to practice what he or she has memorized of the steps for parking and/or three point turn.
2. Before memorizing the steps for parking and three point turn, read the red and green print above.
3. Driver must have at least 90 General Safety Points before practicing parking and/or three point turn if using the Joda Collins Driving Acdy vehicle for parking and three point turn training.
SECTION FOUR
SHORT CONTRACT
FINANCE
$145 per 75-minute in car and/or behind the wheel training session payable in advance. No refund once this payment is made. No rescheduling once lesson is scheduled unless the Joda Collins Driving Acdy does the rescheduling due to a National Weather Advisory for our Santa Rosa or Escambia County the predicts adverse weather within three hours of your scheduled lesson. Includes a 5% discount for not using Visa or MasterCard Credit card. If paying with Visa or MasterCard, please advise us immediately (now is good).
SCHEDULING
We do not schedule without payment made in advance. When we receive your payment we will contact you for scheduling.
LESSON START LOCATION
Door-to-door service is available. For a quote, just ask. If no door-to-door service is requested and agreed on, the start location is 3804 Garcon Point Rd, Milton, 32583.
VERBAL AGREEMENTS
No verbal agreements, ever!
LIMITED LIABILITY
When in the Joda Collins vehicle, you agree not to hold Joda Collins and the Joda Collins Driving Academy responsible for any physical, emotional or psychological damage, real or imagined, that occurs during training relative to but not limited to any steering, braking or acceleration that is not associated with a crash and said crash must incur, at least, $100 property/vehicle damage regardless of who is driving or who is steering, braking or accelerating. When, in a client’s vehicle, the vehicle owner assumes all liability including all liability that is over and above car owners maximum insurance limit.
SECTION FIVE
Note: This is a sample of an email we often sent, with slight variations as needed, to Clients. While 100% of the content of this email will may not apply to you, some of it will. The part that applies as well as the part that does not apply will be apparent. Thank you for reading this carefully.
Good Afternoon Mr. and/or Ms. Client,
Question: Do you want the driver to use our (Acdy) vehicle or your vehicle for the three-point turn for the upcoming lesson? Before answering that question, please carefully read this detailed email. Thank you.
See www.jodacollins.com , Agreement page, Section One, Colored print for details. Be sure to memorize the list of steps relative to the vehicle you are using for training for parking and three point turn.
If the driver has not memorized the steps for the three point turn well enough to quote them upon request without error or hesitation, then Mr. Collins will ask this question of the Client at the start of the lesson tomorrow,
1. Do you want to spend paid driving time at the upcoming lesson with the driver memorizing the steps for the three point turn. or
2. Skip the training for parking and three point turn today, memorize the steps for the three point turn on your own time for free between lessons, and go on today to General Safety Skills (driving in traffic)
Note: At the upcoming lesson, if you want the driver to memorize the steps for the three-point turn during paid training using the Acdy vehicle, that is done:
1. With the student in the passenger's side while Mr. Collins shows the three point turn. The student-passenger directs Mr. Collins from the passenger's side to do the three point turn until the driver has the three point turn steps in short term memory. Then,
2. Driver does the three point turn helping driver move steps from short term memory toward long-term memory.
Why doesn't the student begin the training for the three point turn in the driver's side of the Acdy vehicle? Because....
1. It takes longer because the student often does the steps out of order, thus frustrating learning as learning the wrong order is counter-productive and the more the driver does the steps out of order the longer the training takes.
2. Most new drivers think that, or have been taught that steering is done with the vehicle stationary. However, every auto mechanic will tell you and almost every car maintenance manual will state that turning the steering wheel with the car stationary is not recommended as it is very hard on (damaging to) the power steering, the front wheel assembly and the front end alignment. When I was allowing student drivers to turn the steering wheel with my vehicle stationary I had to get my vehicle front end (tire) aligned every four to six weeks, plus I incurred some costly and unnecessary front end repairs. Plus, my 40,000 mile tires only got about 24,000 miles when I did not often align the front end. I no longer allow drivers to steer in my vehicle with the vehicle stationary.
To dissipate the weight of the vehicle on the tires/front end alignment/parts, when steering, my car must be moving at least 1/100th of one mile per hour (the speed an ant moves). I have been mandating that for six years and have not had to spend one penny on front end alignment or front end repairs during the past six years. Most new drivers find it very difficult to regulate the brake pressure so the progress is slow and steer fast enough to do a three point turn in three points. That is one reason why I suggest using the driver's or client's vehicle for the three point turn and parking training. With the vehicle owner's permission, I do allow a driver to turn the steering wheel of his, her or the client's vehicle while that vehicle is stationary. I allow this for the following reasons.
1. It takes about 200 full turns in a stationary vehicle to cause the first signs of needed a front end alignment. Most students do not need 200 attempts to memorize the steps for the three point turn. However, since I work with many new students all of the time it does not take long for 200 three point turn, full stationary turns left or right to be made in my car.
2. I pay my vehicle repair bills and pass that expense on to Client's in the form of higher prices.
3. I do not have to pay for your vehicle repair bills.
Question: Do you want the driver to use our (Acdy) vehicle or your vehicle for the three-point turn for the upcoming lesson?
Questions? Just ask.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jackie, Scheduling
Joda Collins Driving Academy
850 981-3355 www.jodacollins.com
WHAT IS SATURATION?
What follows is a cut and paste from my web site. It is generic and intended for every driver who has reached saturation. No offense is intended by this generic cut and paste. What follows are just facts; facts of life and facts of learning.
Driver appears to me to have reached saturation. Saturation is not about a learner's character, disabilities, motivation or IQ. Saturation is just something that just "is."
CATEGORY ONE
Those with excellent character, no learning disabilities, higher motivation and normal IQ along with
CATEGORY TWO
those with poor character, learning difficulties/disabilities, low motivation to learn driving skills and less than normal IQ all face saturation sooner or later.
However, those in Category Two above reach saturation sooner compared to those in Category One (above).
Saturation = driver can not learn more new things at a reasonable progressing rate/speed of learning at this time until some of the things the driver is now learning becomes habit.
I am not a psychiatrist, psychologist nor a sociologist. It is not my job to diagnose why a learner has reached saturation but only diagnose to the best of my ability when a driver has reached saturation. My job is to be the best instructor I can be and provide as much motivation as I know how to provide to the student-driver to become as safe as the student-driver can be at this time in his or her life. There is only so much room in the human mind and emotional reserve for a person to deal with the quality of new things to learn. Otherwise, we would wait unit a person is 17-years old and send them to school for one year to earn their high school diploma rather than spread the learning of new things out over a 12-year period of time.
Some of the typical signs of saturation are listed below. All 12 signs are not needed, nor am I stating that driver has more than one of the following. Saturation is just a fact. It happens to every driver sooner or later for one or more reasons. Human beings are not created to learn a ton of new things in a short period of time. We all have our limit of new things. There comes a time when the material to learn is just too much for the present time and we need time, practice and experience (applying what we are learning and have learned) to turn what we are struggling to make good habits, good habits.
Like all good habits, it takes time, work and practice to develop good habits. Saturation is not about a learners character. Those with excellent character and those with poor character all face saturation sooner or later. Saturation is just something that just "is."
Saturation is just a fact. It happens to every driver sooner or later for one or more reasons. Some of the typical signs of saturation are listed below. All 12 signs are not needed, nor am I stating that driver has more than one of the following signs (evidences) of saturation.
1. Two consecutive lessons with loss of General Safety Points or General Safety Points considerably below drivers current real ability.
2. Three lessons in a row with less than two General Safety Points average for those three lessons.
3. Driver is forgetting to do the things that he or she has remembered to do well in past lessons.
4. Driver has lost a significant amount of interest and/or motivation to do the hard work it takes to learn more things relative to driving safer.
5. Forgetting to bring General Safety Scored card with him or her to the lesson for updating said card after the lesson ends, and showing no interest in driver's General Safety Score following the lesson.
6. Lack of attention in training to directions.
7. Passive attitude about learning (kind of an oh-hum approach to learning new things).
8. Emotionally neutral (or negative) towards constructive criticism about driving in an unsafe manner.
9. Lacking the ability or desire to do simple tasks.
10. Experiencing a degree of frustration or anxiety that is excessive or unusual for the driver when asked to do simple tasks.
11. Driver appears more excited and interested in the lesson being over than excited or interested for the training lesson to begin.
12. Driver walks away from the vehicle faster after the lesson is over compared to drivers walk to the vehicle to start the lesson.
CATEGORY ONE
Driver has the ability to learn to become a safer driver at this time in his or her life but lacks the internal motivation to do the hard work it takes to learn to become a safer driver; the longer the training lasts the more challenging the task as one moves into more challenging driving environments; driver will struggle to remember and apply driving skills learned due to lack of interest and/or internal motivation; expect considerable regression. If driver finds or rekindles ample internal motivation to do the hard work it takes to become a better-skill (safer) driver in more challenging driving environments, driver will benefit greatly from continued professional driver's training. Or....
CATEGORY TWO
Or, driver has the motivation to do the hard work it takes to become a safer driver in more challenging driving environments but lacks the ability to do so at this time in his or her life; thus, driver needs time to practice what he or she has learned until some of the things he or she has learned becomes habit, thus making more room in mind and emotions for continued learning of new material. Once learning becomes habit, this driver will benefit greatly from continued professional driver's training.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW?
Saturation does NOT mean the student-driver cannot learn any more new and challenging material regarding learning to drive with more safety. It does, however, mean the progress in the future may be painfully slow and may not be worth the expenditure of time, effort and finances. However, the decision to continue in training is not mine to make. That decision belongs to others.
Copyright © 2016. Joda Collins. All rights reserved.