Advent Training Gone bust... what now??

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hello all,


we have just heard that advent training have gone bust, oh was in proces of studying with them... he had recently paid in full for his training, after the one yr buy now pay later thing with them, he paid in full to a barclays account, has been studying for 12 months, no exams sat yet. but has had to sit some training type tests so that he could get the necessary books and coursework etc.



as they have gone kaput, what are our options now???? we have never had any dealings with companies going to insolvency.... some forums have said we will be contacted by the insolvency people...

but in realistic lay terms, will he be able to reclaim money for anything, or get the futher course materials??? to complete on his own??


we would really appreciate any advice, we cant afford to be let down like this, and feel sick at what has happened!! i know it will affect an awful lot of people, and am so angry that it seems they have still allowed people to pay, and continue on workshops this week (dh was on one yest) when they knew this was happening!!

[Ben01635]

Hi All,

I am (was) a student with Advent and heard the news late last night. I am about midway through my course so stand to lose out quite substantially in terms of training and finance.

I took a CDL (Career Development Loan) for the course which I'm now paying back. I am wondering whether there will be any re-course from this, as it's kind of government sponsored?

Really would appreciate any advice anyone can give. It seems now I can't develop my career as I already owe a lot for this course so cannot afford another, and my job is partly dependent on getting the qualifications, so I could also end up losing my job too. NOT GOOD!

Rather distressed about the whole thing and don't know what to do.

[nikki2804]

I think everyone is in limbo with this. OH took out in-house finance with them so were hoping that he doesn't need to pay anymore.

The emails they have sent to people state they can no longer continue with the course mean they have breached their side of the contract. Can't see them chasing people for payment. Don't know how people will get there money back - would need to contact the inolvency practicioner?

[David_87]

Hi All,

I am in the same situation here. I have been with Advent for a while now and received this email last night. conveniently it was at 5:01pm, just after they closed.

Does anyone know who the insolvency practitioner is? or who we can contact?

Does anyone know of anything we can do??

I have paid in full for my course without any loans. I paid totally out of savings relying on the fact that doing this course will bring me a good job and reclaim my money that way. However this is not going to happen now.

I think we are all in the same sort of situation. And it doesn't help that Advent are not being very forthcoming with information.

[purpleyowzer]

I just paid back my loan last year November... but have not yet done my first exam... ! I really hope that we get something back as I really wanted to do this course and can't afford to enrol anywhere else now.

[roka]

Hi, everyone, - I am also studying an MCSE with Advent - Does anyone have the T&C's for this course? I started in November 2007...

THis is well annoying, I was nearly going to give them another 1000 to change over to their new CPP course...

[Rich10]

Hey guys, me and my brother are in the same boat, but we are paying off loans. We have been advised to email the loan company, and they will refund me what i have paid <in comparison to the duration of the course left) and cancel the rest of the loan.

Good luck- hope that information helps.

[neilbadge]

Just found the e-mail this morning in work


I feel so sick.

I was funded have by the company I work for and paid half of it myself.

I feel so lost, I don't know what to do apart from sit and wait for the phone to ring.

Anyone got any ideas on this?

[rounj02]

I am in the same boat guys, paid all mine off and yet to take a course due to long work hours.

They are not picking up the phones either or replying to any emails that are sent.

I was due to attend an IT course on Monday and teuesday next week and dont know where i stand.

Dont know if we would get the rest of the books / cd's for the course (dont see why not as we have paid for them) or any money back.

[Rafter]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you are insured for this, through the S75 protection by paying on credit for example, there is very little chance you will get your money back.

It is like paying a deposit for a sofa in cash when a furniture store goes bust - you are trusting the company to deliver the goods, but if it goes bust you have very little chance of getting your money back.

Your best hope is that the administrators manage to sell the business and the new owners offer you some kind of discount on completing your training.

Nobody will be picking up phones or answering e-mails either. The company has gone bust so can't afford to pay staff, most of whom have probably been laid off.

R.

[rounj02]

Wonder if we are covered if you paid for the course via barclays 1 year loan (even if its been paid back)

[Gnomelove]

I paid for mine on an a Barclaycard, so I am wondering if they will be able to help me out, as isnt things purchased this way insured in some way by them?

[neilbadge]

Originally Posted by rounj02

Dont know if we would get the rest of the books / cd's for the course (dont see why not as we have paid for them) or any money back.

I was thinking the same. We should be entitled to our books and cd's since we have already paid for them.

[purpleyowzer]

I just phoned Midlands Today - 0121 567 6104 and they took
my name and number - Give them a call and let them know there are more than just a few people affected!

[purpleyowzer]

Is there some way that we can do a group litigation action....? i.e. as there is so many of us afffected. Does anyone know anything about this? We are paying or paid money for services we are not getting... Can anyone advise?

[neilbadge]

Dear Neil

It is with the very greatest regret that I have to write to you to tell you that having tried our very best we have been unable to secure ongoing funding for the company and accordingly as matters currently stand we are unable to continue to provide your training.

Arrangements are being made for an insolvency practitioner to be appointed and I am sure you will be hearing from him. No doubt you will want to discuss the position with him or an adviser.

Yours sincerely

Advent Computer Training


So this was the lovely e-mail I received from them this morning. Great way to start the day, hey!!!

So what exactly is a insolvency practitioner? What will they do for me?

How long should we wait to hear from the insolvency practitioner?

[Rafter]

An insolvency practicioner is a type of accountant who is brought in, usually by the bank, tax man or other creditor owed the most money to try and recover what they can.

Unfortunately as a customer you are very unlikely to get anything as presumably the reason why the company has gone bust is that they have run out of cash and are insolvent.

There is no money to refund you. There is no money to print or send training materials.

If you paid by credit card you should contact the card provider and make a S75 claim for a refund.

There is no point going for litigation because you are sueing a company with no money.

If you pay for goods in advance or sign a contract it is your responsibility to check that the supplier is financially stable. Alternatively always pay on credit or by credit card or take out insurance against the risk that the supplier goes bust.

This is just like excel airways going bust and leaving customers stranded. Unless you are insured, there is nobody there to bail you out.

R.

[DanCML]

The company I work for supplied Advent and they owe us a fortune. Fat chance of getting that back.

This morning we went to Advent offices in Hagley, as well as the Access 2 Trade building in Hartlebury, to try and retrieve all the stock they haven't paid for yet and they’re both deserted.

All you guys who have been dropped in it but want to continue training should know that most of the home study material for these courses is produced by Microsoft or CompTIA through book publishers and can be purchased direct for under £40 each on average, and you can book the exams yourself through VUE without having to go via a training provider. From what I've heard the courses offered by Advent resulted in little more than a couple of books (most of which we supplied to them) as the training part of the course.

[Bunni]

People you need to get out your Advent contract and Finance contract, the terms and conditions are long and very hard to read but I advise you read them so you know exactly where you stand.

[roka]

Could anyone post a copy of Advent's T & C's?

Cheers