Hi need advice from CeFA experts

Pagg

Well, if Darnell are willing to give you a written guarantee of a job placement on successful completion of CeFA Module 1, that'd do the trick. Ask.

pupkevicius

Hi, in my opinion DO NOT go through this company to get a job.

they phoned me up a week after my 15 minute interview-- they couldnt remember if i had done the interview then proceed to say "o ye my client really wants to meet you but cannot because you MUST do the CEFA mod 1." then throw me a sales pitch about how if i do the course i will be 98% sure to get the job.

In conclusion to this thread, i would advise people not to go for this offer.

jono_01

I am in the same boat and I have forked out the money also. I am due to have an interview on the 28th of this month on the basis I pass my module 1.

I have had no end of trouble actually using the training site and half the materials don't seem to work. I am now using the booklet sent from the IFS (which I had to register and pay for again)

I will give them a chance - if I get messed about if/when it comes to interview times then I will be looking to do a chargeback to get my money back. I will be doing this on the basis that the quality of goods/services purchased were not as described. Basically, I paid this money to get the documents fast tracked to me by email, the online tutorials and also the promise of an interview.

If the chargeback is disputed, I will probably accept that I have to cover their costs for some of the materials etc but if it is dodgy they probably won't challenge this.

I have noticed that they don't state they record their calls when you get in touch with them. In addition to this, the advert for the 'Trainee Financial Adviser' position is all over the net again, this time it is through a recruiter called Bold Moves. If you follow an application through it is actually Darnell. Why would they do this?

As soon as I have an update with regard to an interview I will post to (hopefully) put other people's minds at rest. If there is anyone else out there in the same situation, please will you do the same?

Thanks

TEDDYRUKSPIN

People, People! Do not pay for this stupid training course!!!!!!!!!

CeFA module 1 requires you to fully read and study the whole module as a whole.

If you want a free tip! I can give you this for nought!

(1) Order from IFS learning and I think it is still £135 per module.
(2) Do not order all the rubbish they try and sell you. This is from experience as I did. Waste of money!!!!!!!! This includes the summary book and CDT software.
If you are desperate for this and you know someone who works in a bank, you can get these for free.
(3) Read and study the whole module! I mean read and study! You will be surprised how boring it is and how many people fail this module!
(4) CeFA1 is one of the hardest modules out of the 4. CeFA module 1, module 3 part 2 and the synopsis are the most difficult to pass.
(5) TIP: Can you see the black bold statements? Revise them! Yes. The are black and bold for only one reason! They will be on the exam.

(6) Last tip. If you are the lazy person and complete cacking your pants, I greatly suggest trying to buy some cheap help from ebay for a fraction of the price.

(7) Feel free to ask me anything.

Last advice: Obtaining and holding only CeFA module 1 will not get you are job in finance.

[TEXT DELETED BY ABUSE TEAM FOLLOWING COMPLAINT]

Buttsadam

Hi all

I too have had the same phone call having applied for the 'Trainee Financial Adviser' about 2 weeks ago, may be important to note that it was actually advertised on Totaljobs by a company called Bold Moves and not Darnell International. Last week I received a call from a guy from Darnell International claiming he'd received my CV and forwarded it on to potential clients one of whom was "very interested" in the skills I had to offer.

Within 10 minutes of very brief conversation the guy had establised that I wasn't CeFA qualified but despite that I was exactly what his client was looking for. I was told that it would cost me £495 to complete the CeFA Module 1 and there was a 95% chance of his client wanting to meet me for interview once I was qualified. I have since asked questions about where the client is based and who the client is but I have been told that this info can't be disclosed until I have passed the module and the interview has been confirmed. At this point I became suspicious and decided to do some more research. Within minutes I found that I could get the CeFA module from countless other companies at a fraction of the price and I then discovered this thread which has confirmed my suspicions.

I am literally about to contact the guy to let him know what I have found out and that I won't be taking him up on his offer, this morning he offered me the CeFA Module 1 for £350.00 rather than £495.00 as a good will gesture due to the fact I'm currently unemployed, extremely good of him seeing as the module can be found very easily for 1/3 of that price with a quick online search!!

My advise to anyone else would be to steer well clear, I certainly will be and I will also be approaching Trading Standards to let them know of my experience.

TEDDYRUKSPIN

timmy101 wrote: »

Thanks alot for your posts guys, its been really helpful
I've been emailing Darnell for about 2 weeks and that's including there complaints but still no word. There course training and materials are rubbish in simple words. They said you are able to speak to other cefa 1 course members and ask questions to the training team and you will get a response straight away, yeah right. Pls could anyone advise me on how I could get my money back or what i can do from here.

p.s stay away from this firm
its impossible to go through all of cefa 1 along with your every day commitments such as college and work in a period of 2 weeks or even 5days as promised.

This is a trading standards issue. No difference from buying anything from a shop.

[TEXT DELETED BY ABUSE TEAM FOLLOWING COMPLAINT]

AS A RULE OF THUMB:

Never pay anything up front for a job! This includes this and even the modelling profession etc. If they like you, they will pay you for the education!

TEDDYRUKSPIN

For all reference! BBC website has a brilliant article [TEXT DELETED BY ABUSE TEAM FOLLOWING COMPLAINT].

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/claims/index.htm

jono_01

Thanks for this link.
I have called Darnell today as I have booked my exam. I asked what whould happen next... in a nutshell, I have to get in touch with them once I have passed and they will then put me in to the 'confirmed' pool. Once a total of 8 - 10 'confirmed' people are in the pool Darnell can then start making arrangements with the clients to conduct interviews.

The surprising thing was Darnell then said they would be able to give more details as to who the clients were (this was unprompted by me - this has been one of my biggest concerns) and advised they are a mixture of 'high street banks' and other smaller firms.

I am going to continue with my studies and hope to pass the exam and get the interview. I think the best recommendation I can give is for people who have already paid to follow it through as much as you can but if you are tempted by it, maybe don't bother.

As soon as I hear anything I will post. Fingers crossed and good luck to anyone else in a similar situation

leannejj

Hi, just wondering if anyone was successful in getting their money back? I know someone affected by this... After getting the initial phone call, my friend paid for the course and immediately regretted it. He has not started the course and would like his money back... does this look likely or have people had real battles on their hands because of this? Thanks for your help

peterchurch_2

I also received a phone call from 'Darnell International' back at the start of August. I took the phone interview, and was called back with a job offer, if I had Cefa/ Cemap module 1. They sent me details of how to get the qualification using their training department. I asked if I could gain the qualification with another company, and was told that it would be okay.
I applied to the IFS, and was sent the module through the post, including exam fees, this came to £135. I passed the module on 28th August, and sent my results back to them. I was then contacted to congratulate me and to advise me that the application was being sent to the 'client'. Since then, I have sent numerous e-mails, and tried ringing Darnell, but there is no response. I was told that "the position is still available, but on hold for the moment while the FSA is in negotiations with the intermediaries to try and get a better rate for Financial advisors."
I am still waiting for a positive response, but I am almost certain that I will not hear anything.
Worst case scenario - I have Cefa/Cemap Module 1, and will probably take modules 2,3 and 4 with the IFS, but with no job at the end.
I sincerely hope that I am wrong, but I doubt it.