help with driving instructor

becca54

i paid for a block of driving lesson in october, my driving instructor kept cancelling an hour before and by december i had only managed to have 3 lessons, i explained that this could not carry on as i wasn't getting an better at driving because there were such big gaps between lessons. my driving instructor tried to schedule more regular lessons but again he would cancel.
just before xmas, i was really ill and had to miss a lesson, he text me to arrange another but after i'd sent him the times i was free he didn't reply.
i then text him after christmas to arrange a lesson, the next day i got a message saying " my phone is messing around, who is this?" i replied with my name and then no reply.
i phoned and his wife answered i asked to speak to him and the phone went dead, i rang back and she informed me that he was no longer a driving instructor, i explained he had my money and could she get him to call me back.
i'm not holding my breath for a reply!
is there i any thing i can do to get my money back?
i paid in cash so have no receipt.

Browntoa

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/csmco2/index.jsp

claim the outstanding money back

becca54

i don't have an address for the instructor, only a mobile number, he's an independant driving instructor not linked to any major name. i ve found his website but that has a telephone number that doesn't work.
also i don't have any proof of paying the money, will i still be able to put a claim?
have never heard of this service before is there a cost for putting in a claim?
sorry if i'm sounding a bit dumb

rogue_element

If he's a registered driving instructor, you should be able to get his details from the DVLA or the instructor licensing people I would have thought. If you have his name or company name and your town.

Premier_2

Are you really saying you paid over a substantial amount of money without getting a receipt?

How did you pay? Cash you said. If that was withdrawn from a bank, there'll be a record. I presume you don't habitually hold £100's of pounds in cash, or even withdraw that amount regularly.

You say you've had 3 lessons with the guy. did he not give you anything with his name & address on? A receipt? Details of his company & what he does? etc?

How did you find him originally?

If you remember his name or his company name, find him in the phone book, yellow pages etc - I feel sure he would have advertised his service in there.


Yes there is a cost to making a claim through the law courts - but those costs are usually awarded to you if you eventually win the claim.

hollydays

Do you remember his car registration?

oldagetraveller

Driving instructors are regulated, or whatever term applies, by http://www.dsa.gov.uk/ so it could be worth contacting them about your problem. He should be on their books as the green DSA approved instructor badge displayed on his cars windscreen would indicate. There was one wasn't there?

hollydays

Why not post the link to his website?

before_hollywood

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Driving instructors are regulated, or whatever term applies, by http://www.dsa.gov.uk/ so it could be worth contacting them about your problem. He should be on their books as the green DSA approved instructor badge displayed on his cars windscreen would indicate. There was one wasn't there?

or a trainee badge which i think is orange (or used to be?)

op- please dont tell us that any of the following are true
1. his car didnt have duel controls
2. there was nothing to indicate a driving school name on the outside of the car
3. no dsa badge of either colour

important rule for anyone reading this- independent instructors are usually better than agency ones for keeping their word (as they are earning their own living and not being paid commision) but please make sure non of the 3 points above apply, if necessary have a trial lesson and only pay on the day for each lesson