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I have been a member, or I thought I was a member, of the USAF for over 5 years. Each year I have tested at my dojo and I have paid my testing fee to the Chief Instructor and each year filled out the appropriate papers to be submitted to the federation. Well, 5 years later and a bit peeved, I find out that I have never been registed with the USAF, the Chief Instructor has not been submitting any paperwork for the past 5 years. I do not have a USAF membership number and I plan to move to another state next month. What happens when I go to the new dojo and say that I'm a first kyu and a member of the USAF, but in reality I am not? I have brought this topic up the the chief instructor each year, and he is one, non-approachable, and then he says he'll get back and he doesn't. Other members are upset about this as well. What is the proper way to go about clearing up my membership with the federation.
Any help/suggestion would be appreciated!!!
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This is a not uncommon form of fraud. The Chief Instructor, usually under financial pressure starts to play the float with the student's money that should be going to the organization. At first he just pays a few bills instead of sending it in and then he makes it up later. But if he gets in over his head he can get to the point where he not only doesn't have the money to make it up later but he has waited so long that now, everyone would know what he was doing so he just digs himself in deeper.
I doubt if any organization could help you on this but it would certainly be something you could take to small claims court to get your money back. I would also inform the Better Business Bureau and the your state's consumer protection department.