BSM driving school - waste of money

Antispam

stick with someone local often these driving schools dont always give you same driver. Having driving lesson you need a instructor you can trust and build a relationship with. A local driver instructor has a lot more to loose than a driving school ie word and mouth

PandorasJar

I had a lot of lessons with BSM in Alton, Hampshire. I would tell anyone to avoid them!!!
I would request an hour lesson, then get an hour and half and pressured into paying for two. We would stop for petrol, his lunch, even to post someone's card through a door on my lessons!
After a lot of lessons (and having already taken tractor lessons as part of a course and being fine with them) I turned into a terrified driver who didn't have a clue where even my lights were and was told I was ready to sit the test.

I finally changed instructor to a private company and couldn't recommend anyone higher. His average first time pass rate was over 90% and he taught me how to drive rather than purely pass a test. He said that he taught every kid like they were his own as he'd feel responsible if anything happened in the car after passing. Lots of his students were also people who had passed their tests but couldn't drive and had written off cars.
The lessons cost less, he's steadily booked right through the year and no-one I personally know having passed with him has had accident.

Private instructors have far more to lose if they are not up to the highest standards, I would avoid commercial ones like the plague now though.
Unfortunately a large company like BSM cannot know that all it's instructors are of a high standard, so a few will let them down hugely... I'd always check with local people about a company now, as it's not so much to do with the company as a whole, but particular branches of it.

ucack

Hi I total agree with sanjeev. I also took lesson with BSM but found that my nerves always got the better of me, my instructor just didn't know how to handle me as I overacted in some cases, but hey that's his job roll right as an instructor! Well to cut a long story short he refused to drive with me, fortunately I didn't pay him in advance. I decided to chose a small company called kingscross-drivingschool.co.uk . I found that my instructor from this driving school helped me more than BSM ever did, not only were BSM more expensive than the one I'm with now but they didn't want to take me on cause of my nerves, I mean come on! I'm much happier with the driving school I'm with now. well that's my rant! c ya good luck Sanjeev.

jc808

Moneysavingblogger wrote: »

If you are thinking of starting driving lessons with BSM please read this post. Please consider your choice very carefully!!!!

My sister learnt with BSM 9 years ago before they were franchised in the days when you could have 20 hours and that would be enough to pass your test. In 2009 they long out the process to over 45-50 hours for most people. Beware they will rip you off!!!!

My first instructor smoked in the car (which is illegal) and continually got out of the car during my lessons to smoke. He also answered his phone whilst he was supposed to be supervising my driving. I confronted him about this, and he was just rued. He was unprofessional, and not interested in teaching me anything. I complained to BSM in Bristol and they refunded me for these hours.

The second instructor started off well enough, but then became complacent. They are a company that likes to long out and draw out absolutely everything to make you pay for lessons which you really dont need. I made it clear at the start of each of my lessons what it was that I wanted to learn seen as I was paying the premium of £28 per hour.

• My instructor was on the phone and texting in the car when she was supposed to be supervising me.
• She continually got lost and would give me late instructions as to where I would be going, which interferred with my ability to use the MSM routine.
• She didnt correct my errors she just talked. And refused to listen to me when I asked her to be quite so I could concentrate on driving.
• She interfered with my driving unnecessarily - one time causing a serious risk of a crash. She spilt coke all over the floor on her side of the car. She didnt think i was steering enough to the right at a crossroads. She hit the brakes but her foot slipped and the instructor stalled the car in the middle of a crossroads causing a very dangerous obstruction as the lights turned red we were blocking oncoming traffic.
• The instructor had the audacity to text me at 11 o'clock at night to book a lesson the next day.
• Then she booked in lessons without even telling me when they were.

BSM's Policy

• They insist that you book 2 hours but my experience is that they dont fully utilise that time. They ask you to drive around on their errands - rather than around test routes.
• They switched cars three times, first I was driving an Astra, then a Corsa then a Fiat 500 which disrupted my learning process. I ended up paying for more lessons just because I wasnt used to the car that they gave me. I expressly said from the beginning that I wanted to drive a Corsa and they simply ignored my wishes, and turned up outside my house in another car.
• My instructor didnt know the test routes and so I have come to the stage where I know loads about my surounding areas but not enough about the test centre areas.
• You can only do a practical test after your instructor signs a "declaration of test readiness", so if your lucky you might pass by the year 2012 when they put you forward for the test (as they work for themselves your a regular cash cow!)
• BSM are not interested in reprimanding bad instructors as they are getting money from the instructors around £250-350 fee per week.
• They give you a driving record book which is supposed to record progress but my instructor didnt bother to fill it out. When she did she used to deliberately downgrade me.
• I completed a mock with BSM and the instructor who I had never met before said I would need a minimum of 10 hours, my instructor had been telling me that I needed at least 20-30 hours!!!!!

My advice, well I have had 24 hours with them, and I have moved to Red Driving School because I am fed up with BSM's instructors. I am a very fast learner, so I found myself very frustrated by the slowness of everything with BSM. If your instructor is slowing you down/not being clear dont hold off changing them or the school that your with.

20 hours? A young un with private practice *maybe* not nearly enough IMO

And a DI isnt supposed to teach you a 'test route' they teach you to drive!! If they cover areas/ roads etc that may be on test thats a bonus. Driving isnt a memory test, its a skills test!!!

jamesuk01

I passed my test in 2007 with BSM in Hull.

I couldnt fault them.

The driving instructor seemed a bit of a pervert and I am not sure I would have allowed a daughter (if I had one) to use him, but he got me through my lessons.

From me starting out learning to me passing my test, it was around 3 weeks, maybe a little less. Passed everything first time with minimal effort.

The price of the lessons was a little more than most places, but the lessons were clearly laid out with passing in mind, from day one.

I guess if you are useless at driving you will have issues with any instructor though. Not saying this is necessarily the case with the previous posts, but more likely than the driving instructors not knowing what they are doing, especially with an established company such as BSM.

I would certainly recommend them to anyone, pretty much.

driversam

Actually, it all depends on a driving school whether it's a waste of money or no. The first I did when started looking for a driving school was reading driving school reviews (!!!!edconsumer.com/consumer-reviews/driving-school.html)Thus, I was aware of what schools were not worth dealing with. And I must tell that the school a I chose was awesome!

Adonai

BSM uses trainee instructors, I passed first time with one of the local driving schools, Road Matters Driving School, they have a very high pass rate and huge customer satisfaction
chk out there happy customer page at roadmatters .co. uk

sniggings

I passed with BSM first time, the instructor was very friendly and most/all leasons would go overtime and not be charged for.

My very first leason was with a company called UK driving school I think it was, now that was a joke, he turned up late, yawning as he had been on a night out, lighted up in the car, I turned on the fans and got a lap full of ash:eek:, he ended the leason early, even though he was late starting, when I came to pay he didn't have any change at all, so I had to take him to a shop a few minutes away, he got his money then left me to walk home :eek: I rang and cancelled.

Not saying an independent can not be as good though.

candi1985

I was with a previous instructor and had 15 hours of driving lessons already and wanted to try someone new.
I decided to go with Bumps driving company in Cardiff based on the reviews only on their website which was good. The instructor I booked my 2 hour session with was with Keith the owner of Bumps.

What a mistake this was, not only was this instructor on his phone taking in bookings during my lesson for the first hour off and on, despite making him aware I’ve already had 15 hours of driving lessons, he did what you would expect on your first or second lesson, pull me up by a curb telling me about junctions crossroads etc from his instructor booklet (to pass the time so you don’t get to drive for long), we did about 25-30 minutes driving out of my 2 hour session.
I was furious :mad: to say the least I’m paying for 2 hours with this guy for his attention and instruction, not for him to take booking for his business during my session time. (he should be doing that in his spare time and not while he has a client).

[FONT=&quot]And not to mention he did not even ask for my provisional licence. Very unprofessional, he had no ID on him or evidence that he is a level 5 instructor as he claims to be did not do an eye test with number plates which is mandatory when learning to drive.

After the lesson I brought this up to his attention that it is not acceptable that I will no longer require his services.
This instructor got very aggressive was annoyed and reacted inappropriately.
Beware, I would not recommend this instructor or this driving school, when looking for an instructor make sure you ask for is their first time pass rate, and what level instructor they are, 1 being the poorest 6 being the best. And the instructor should always ask you for your provisional licence on the first lesson and should have proof and ID and do sights test usually on the first or second lesson on number plates.

If an instructor is doing anything that rings your alarm bells during your session you should not continue the session with them and ask to be taking home immediately and explain to he/she what you are unhappy with. Remember you are the client you are paying the instructor for their attention and time and instruction for your session he/she should not be doing anything other than teaching you during your session.

Hope this helps :j

[/FONT]

candi1985

I was with a previous instructor and had 15 hours of driving lessons already and wanted to try someone new.
I decided to go with Bumps driving company in Cardiff based on the reviews only on their website which was good. The instructor I booked my 2 hour session with was with Keith the owner of Bumps.

What a mistake this was, not only was this instructor on his phone taking in bookings during my lesson for the first hour off and on, despite making him aware I’ve already had 15 hours of driving lessons, he did what you would expect on your first or second lesson, pull me up by a curb telling me about junctions crossroads etc from his instructor booklet (to pass the time so you don’t get to drive for long), we did about 25-30 minutes driving out of my 2 hour session.
I was furious :mad: to say the least I’m paying for 2 hours with this guy for his attention and instruction, not for him to take booking for his business during my session time. (he should be doing that in his spare time and not while he has a client).

[FONT=&quot]And not to mention he did not even ask for my provisional licence. Very unprofessional, he had no ID on him or evidence that he is a level 5 instructor as he claims to be did not do an eye test with number plates which is mandatory when learning to drive.

After the lesson I brought this up to his attention that it is not acceptable that I will no longer require his services.
This instructor got very aggressive was annoyed and reacted inappropriately.
Beware, I would not recommend this instructor or this driving school, when looking for an instructor make sure you ask for is their first time pass rate, and what level instructor they are, 1 being the poorest 6 being the best. And the instructor should always ask you for your provisional licence on the first lesson and should have proof and ID and do sights test usually on the first or second lesson on number plates.

If an instructor is doing anything that rings your alarm bells during your session you should not continue the session with them and ask to be taking home immediately and explain to he/she what you are unhappy with. Remember you are the client you are paying the instructor for their attention and time and instruction for your session he/she should not be doing anything other than teaching you during your session.

Hope this helps :j [/FONT]