“I don’t understand the point that some are making of a “success fee” when clearly this consultant makes no promises of college placement or satisfaction with outcome of the admissions process.”
Or, maybe the attenuated fee timetable was set up to take care of situations where the admissions process dragged out. Like if the kid took a gap year and applied later.
But come on folks. You have a 7 figure fee that is backed up by a laughably drafted half page contract. Basically it is written on a napkin. It is sketchy/goofy on both sides.
Presumably the parents will argue that the contract has been terminated and therefore the executory payments are not owed. I don’t see anything in writing about whether the contract is/is not terminable, or what happens upon termination.
If you are really expecting to collect a 7 figure fee, you are a complete idiot to not have that contingency (and about 10 others I can think of) spelled out clearly in a multi-year agreement.