Hi need advice from CeFA experts

JenRoxy

Hi there,
I am too one of the unfortunate individuals who naively trusted the words of this company and forked out the £495 to pay for CEFA module 1. For the past 2 weeks I have tried to contact them to organise booking my exam and suprise suprise can not get through! My friend suggested entering their company name in a forum search and lo and behold I made this grisly discovery...
Yes I do feel very sheepish for not doing my initial research, but I do not feel this company can get away with making totally untrue promises, and then proving their dishonesty by contining to advertise for this 'training course' at such an expense.
So basically I'm definitely going to follow the route of going through the small claims court to obtain my money back. Sooooo as per an earlier thread to this apparently the cost of raising this in the small claims court is just over £100. But if we can get 10 people to join per geographical area the cost will be a tenner each. Is there anyone in the South East area (like me) that has been affected by this rip off and would like to see they're cash again? If so please please get in contact! POWER IN NUMBERS PEOPLE! WE NEED JUSTICE AGAINST THESE ROGUES!!!!!

Kimeny

Hi guys!

I have just read through this whole thread and feel like crying!! I really didnt want to believe that Darnell International was a scam!! I paid £400 for my course which I struggled to pay back as I borrowed it. I recently moved so hadn't really been doing much studying. I called Darnell today to be told that the trainig centre had been shut down and the guy I spoke to was really rude saying he couldnt help me and it wasn't his problem!! I was furious and still am!!
@JenRoxy..... I live in the south east and will also want to be going to a small claims court to get my hard earned money back!!

thank you for all the info people, just a shame I never came across this beofre I had paid the money out!

JenRoxy

Hi there,

I'm so sorry to hear you were too duped by this too, and are in such an unfortunate financial position having moved out. At least rest in some sort of comfort it's not just you that has been affected. I felt pretty much the same after reading all these threads, not to mention naive... but the it's not acheived the status of an 'international scam' without a lot of convincing strategies on their part.

I am indeed still keen to take this to a small court claim, so if there is anyone else out there from the south east that has been affected and wants their money back, get in contact!

And I'll definitely keep up contact..chin up.x

aslofcourse

Hi all, Just a quick update to let you know where things stand at the moment with DARNELL TRAINING/RECRUITMENT.

After speaking with trading standards and the Citizens advice bureau I was told to send a recorded letter informing Darnell of the request to have my money returned to myself. After the letter not being received by anyone I have looked into this further to discover that Darnell Have not been at the address on the information they send out since Summer of 09.

I gathered this information from the company that leeces out the offices to tem at Telford Yard. The person there informed me thta no one has been going/working there since the summer but they do however pay rent.

I then rang Darnell on there number 0870 768 0000. To which I spoke to suprise suprise a South African to confirm there addres details are correct. They were strangeley reluctant to give me any address or to even confirm the information I had infront of me.

After a few words were exchanged the operator let slip that I was infact calling their South African offices, and therefore the UK number is re-routed to South Africa, and there is no one working in the UK.

I then spoke to Trading Standards who advised me that I would be better off cutting my losses as this situation makes it pretty impossible to get my money back, and with the time and effort I wold put in would be less than worth while for the amount I am after. The company that I would now need to claim my money back off was called "DEE HOLDINGS" (these were where the payments where made to) this company however has since changed its name and no longer exists.

I am not exactly thrilled with the options available to myself, however a harsh lesson this has been. I would be interested in hearing if anyone has succesfully got their money back (other than those that can claim via the consumer credit act as they paid on a credit card)

MY email is aslpresents@hotmail.co.uk

JenRoxy

Hi all,

In response to the message posted here yesterday, I attempted today to call Darnell to speak to [TEXT DELETED]. As soon as I mentioned his name the line went dead.....I redialled again asking to speak to [TEXT DELETED] and surprise suprise the line went dead again. Perhaps this is because people have been trying today to get an answer out of him, and his professional and mature response is to turn a blind eye...
I have pretty much lost my patience now...Has anyone actually managed to get their money back? Or has everyone given up leaving these South African Fat Cats to count their unearned dosh????!!!!

feistybadger

[TEXT DELETED] is not a South African but does live in Cape Town. Contact him via his facebook. As I am a new user I cannot post links but type this into a we brower (less the spaces) h t t p : / / o w . l y / 1 o v k V

I hope you get your money back and I hope this shyster gets what he deserves.

1212

I too have been scamed!!

I signed up for this summer 2009 but never really looked at it or logged on. Recently I took more interest to it and started reading the notes. I now came across this as I typed darnell scam.

I paid with a debit card. Is there anything I can do to get a refund... please help!! This money would mean so much at the moment.

Satanless

Unfortunately I have been a victim of these b*stards. I tried calling them in January and they informed me the company from which I purchased the course was shut down.

My mother paid for the course with her credit card, which she cancelled a few months later. Thus I am wondering if there is a way for her to get the money back, as both myself and her could benefit from a hefty refund of £495.

I used the course material for about an hour in total, and decided it was not for me. They told me they give refunds at managers discretion, and after contacting the managers BEFORE the company shut down (Last e-mail sent was 28/10/2009) but have not received a reply.

Is there anyone who knows what I should do, if so please advise.

Best regards.

annabelp

I have been approached by a compnay called Web Employ. They have not guaranteed me a Job but say that they will keep working for me until they get me a Job. They have asked me to pay £349 upfront (or have offered me a payment scheme) for CeFA modules 1 and 2 (not including the exams but through their training scheme) and that they would find me a company willing to pay for the rest of my training. For me this sounds very simerlar to Darnell International and I am an very skepitical abot this. Can anyone help with a way to sound them out or has anyone had dealings with this company?

Thanks your help!

Smike_2

People,
You will NEVER get your money back from Darnell and DO NOT pay any money up front for any training that allegedly offers you a job at the end - to anybody.

I have had a solicitor on the Darnell case and he advises there is no way the money can be recovered. The company is registered in the Cayman Islands or somewhere similar and that is done for one reason only - to fleece us!!!

If people are not sucked in Mr Darnell will have to look elsewhere for his ill-gotten gains.