Parents across the United States are reporting significant problems with Ride Along Now, a New Jersey-based school transportation company. Multiple families claim the company failed to provide promised services after taking payments, leaving them without essential child transport and facing financial losses.
Key Takeaways
- Parents in Arizona, Maryland, and New Jersey report paying for services that Ride Along Now did not deliver.
- Complaints against the company and its owner, Norbert Sygdziak, have increased significantly.
- Legal actions, including lawsuits and judgments, are ongoing in multiple states.
- Affected families describe significant stress and disruption to their daily lives.
Families Rely on Services That Fail to Appear
Mike Rulli, a divorced father in Chandler, Arizona, needed transportation for his 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son. Their school does not offer bus service, and after-school programs were too costly for the short period he required coverage. He discovered Ride Along Now through an online search and believed it offered a viable solution.
Rulli quickly received a quote for $1,062.56 per month. Service was scheduled to begin on September 30. However, a request to start three days earlier led to a crucial change in payment method. Sygdziak, the company's owner, reportedly stated that credit card processing would be too slow for the expedited start. He requested payment via Zelle.
Quick Fact
Payments made via Zelle, a popular digital payment service, are often immediate and irreversible, which can complicate refund processes if a service is not delivered.
Rulli sent three Zelle payments totaling $1,062.56 on September 23 and 24. As the start date approached, he received no confirmation of a driver. His attempts to contact the company went unanswered, causing alarm. The night before service was to begin, Sygdziak informed Rulli that the driver's background check was incomplete, delaying service.
"I had to quickly find coverage for my kids at the expensive after-school program, after I just sent him $1,062," Rulli said.
A week later, still without a driver, Rulli demanded a full refund. Sygdziak agreed but the refund never materialized. Rulli then escalated his complaint to the New Jersey Attorney General's office, a move he says Sygdziak perceived as blackmail.
Similar Issues Arise in Maryland
Maureen Betz, a single mother of two in Silver Spring, Maryland, faced a similar situation. Her 12-year-old son, who has special needs, attends a school outside their district without bus service. This created a significant logistical challenge for Betz, who needs to be at work by 8 a.m.
She also contracted with Ride Along Now, with service slated to begin on October 6. A family member paid the $927.71 fee by credit card on September 30. Betz contacted the company on October 3 to confirm arrangements but received no definitive updates over the weekend. On Sunday night, with no driver assigned, she emailed again.
Like Rulli, Betz was told the driver's background check was not complete. This forced her to scramble for alternative transport, causing her to be late for work. Her parents stepped in to help with afternoon pickups.
Background on Consumer Rights
Under New Jersey law, merchants can set their own return policies, but these must be clearly displayed to consumers. If no policy is posted, the law generally allows up to 20 days for a refund to be issued.
Betz requested a refund on October 7. After no response, she filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and Maryland's consumer affairs office. This action prompted a resolution, and the relative received a credit card refund by the end of the month. Despite receiving her money back, Betz expressed a desire for justice for other affected families.
Growing Number of Complaints and Legal Actions
The problems experienced by Rulli and Betz are not isolated incidents. Allison Tyler, a mother from Wayne, New Jersey, first brought attention to Ride Along Now's practices after she reportedly lost $2,800 to the company. Since her story became public, Tyler has connected with many other parents who claim to be victims.
The number of complaints against Ride Along Now and its owner, Norbert Sygdziak, has risen sharply. The Better Business Bureau now lists 29 complaints, a doubling in just one year. The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has recorded 16 complaints since October 2022, many of which have been referred to county agencies.
- 8 new lawsuits have been filed against the company in New Jersey in the past year.
- One Bergen County lawsuit resulted in a $1,041.73 judgment against Sygdziak.
- Public records show three judgments for unpaid wages against the company.
- A $45,000 judgment was issued in favor of the state Division of Workers Compensation.
- There are also three judgments for unpaid rent or contracts.
- Federal tax liens against Sygdziak total $17,000.
- A lawsuit was filed last year in Saratoga County, New York, against Sygdziak and Ride Along Now.
Parents Unite for Justice
Allison Tyler is now working with five other families to pursue legal action to recover their funds. Her father, a Newark-based attorney, is representing the group pro bono. Their main obstacle has been locating Sygdziak's correct address for service of process.
Tyler emphasizes the emotional and financial toll these alleged deceptions have taken on families. Losing what they thought would be reliable and safe care for their children has caused significant stress and disruption.
"Every time I hear from another family, it brings me right back to when it all happened with me," Tyler stated. "It’s about preventing it from happening to other families."
Mike Rulli reported receiving a call from an investigator with Bergen County’s consumer affairs office, indicating a potential consolidation of complaints at the state level in New Jersey. The state has declined to comment on ongoing investigations.
The affected parents hope that increased public awareness and collective action will lead to a prosecutor taking on a case against the company and its owner. They believe that in a time when many families are facing financial strain, such alleged practices are particularly damaging.