CONSUMER PROTECTION MESSAGES THE AUTHORITY GUARANTOR
OF COMPETITION AND OF THE MARKET
The “Bel Canto Italia School of Opera” and the “Florence Art Collegium,” based in Florence, have sent out through the following web sites: www.belcantoitalia.net and www.artcollegium.com, advertisements to promote study courses for foreign students that the Authority deems to be DECEPTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS. The advertisements:
Stress the presence in the city of Florence of two qualified schools for foreigners (the “Bel Canto Italia School of Opera” and the “Florence Art Collegium”) in which opera singing as well as drawing, painting, sculpture and Italian language are taught;
Refer in particular to the existence of regular teaching courses, for which the subjects and the duration (often a few months) are specified. Complimentary activities such as taking part in concerts and guided visits to museums are also mentioned.
The Authority deemed that the aforementioned advertisements are deceptive, in so far as, contrary to the truth, they lead one to believe that:
There is a complex organization with people, structures and means, in other words adequate permanent premises (in which to hold the advertised teaching program);
The schools retain a teaching staff (specialized in the various fields of study), an appropriate technical/administrative structure, and recognition by or collaboration with public and private institutions.
From our investigation, however, it appears that the schools have no permanent premises, that the address given on the Internet websites corresponds to a simple post box at the Florence central post office, that some of the lessons for foreign students were held in premises made available by a musical instruments shop, and that the cultural visits and other advertised activities did not take place. The Authority therefore decided to publish the present rectification message. (Order adopted at its meeting of 7 February 2002, under D. Lgs. n. 74/92)
http://www.infogiur.com/giurisprudenza/provvedimento_10413_2002.htm
CARLOS DELLA MORA’S RESPONSE TO PARTICIPANTS’ ALLEGATIONS
Mr. Della Mora was required to place a governmental warning message on the Bel Canto Italia website alerting singers about his program. [see sidebar to the left]. Rebecca Cloudy was concerned about the warning prior to sending her $3,000 for the summer 2002 session. She received the following letter which we print with her permission wherein Mr. Della Mora tells his side of the story. CS is using the letter exactly as given to us by Ms. Cloudy.
From:CDM bciso@texnet.it
Subject : Re: Summer Program in Florence
Date : Fri, 19 Apr 2002 09:53:43 -0700
Dear Ms. Claudy[sic]:
Yes, I have no problem explaining the message attached to my home page. I have inserted the message after a request from the Consumer Protection Board request. (This is not a government agency.) I am sorry that this past problem may affect any of the future students at BCISO, and perhaps, precludes them for obtaining an oportunity that could have proved beneficial to them.
Unfortunatelly, last year a teacher with three of her students from the USA attended the summer program. After the second day of attendance, the manipulation of this teacher on her own students was very obvious, as soon as I call this to their attention, she reacted very violently towards me and my coleagues. Insults and physical agression was part of her reaction. I had no choice but to expell her from the program. We, the school as well as personally follow suit and took her to court. In the mean time, before leaving Italy, this woman did all the damage you can possibly imagine, such as the one we see the results at my home page. This desicion has been appealed and the court proceedings continue against her and the university that sent her. There are actually in attendance two of my students that participated at this infortunate events last year, and if you wish to contact them I will be more than happy to provide you with their e-mails. I have already spoke to them about this aspect and they are more than willing to help clarify the situation and clear my name.
What the anouncement does not clarify, and these is one of the reasons for the appeal, is the fact that these people left the program after the second day of attendance, thus, in a very poor position to evaluate any of the program offerings as as well as to condem a school that has been in business in the last six years.
The rest of the students that remainded in the summer school, benefit from the course. After being put in the open, this lady, promised me to destroy me and harm me in any way she could. This becomed a personal and totally an unjust personal vengance. The message has to be at my home page until the 19th of May and then it will be deleted. Therefore, you can see that if the allegations were at all true, the penalty for such wrongs, if there were any at all, would have been much serious.
I am sorry, really sorry , that something so unjust as the experience these people put me through, as well as to my colleagues, has affected or can affect your desicion to attend my program. It is also a pitty that open minded and serious students would miss an opportunity that others couldn’t afford.
If you decide not to attend, I understand, and again, I appologize for the inconvenience. Nevertheless, after the 19th, Bel Canto Italia becomes part of a new program and a new school, the Florence School of Opera and Visual Arts. You will find new information at http://www.florencearts.org when the new information and home page will be uploaded some time next week. Please feel free to coment or ask me all the questions you like. Our program continues to be offered and it will be implemented as it has been offered in our home page.
With kind regards,
Maestro Carlos Della Mora
