Cancelling a credit agreement

quBluTraining

Hi, hope someone can help me.

At the beginning of September 2009, I signed up to start a web design course with Home Learning College, costing about £1500. I was using a Windows PC at the time of signing up, however, soon after signing up my circumstances changed as my PC failed and died.

Due to limited funds it took me a while to purchase a replacement computer, which is now an Apple MacBook. As the PC broke I never opened the software packaging that the college sent me, so I decided to contact them to ask for replacement software - only to be told the course does not support Apple Mac! So basically I couldn't do course - they said "why don't you just buy another PC!"

Based on their answers, it was clear that I could not do course so I said that didn't want to continue any further. They said that I couldn't because I was outside the 14 day cooling off period and due to me signing the agreement, and at the time my criteria matched the course requirements, I am responsible for paying for the entire course!


This is stupid because I am not actually using anything, or gaining anything, as my computer no longer fits the course criteria due to a change in my circumstances. I do not hold HLC responsible for my failed PC, but surely I have rights to cancel the agreement - which they insist I do not!??

I really do not want to have to go down the court/legal route, but fear I may have to in order to get this agreement cancelled.

Has anyone else experienced similar as me and ok to share their experiences? Is the college right - do I no longer have any legal rights? I will also be seeking advice from CAB and not just rely on advice from website.

Thanks,



quBlu

Fonz_2

Unfortunately I don't believe there is even a court/legal route for you to follow. You signed a credit agreement and through a set of choices and circumstances which you made/created you no longer want to take the course.

If the college had made changes to the course which excluded you from taking it you may have some mileage in following it up, but as this was entirely your own doing unfortunately you don't.

iolanthe07

I agree with the above. I don't think you have a leg to stand on, legally, as the Home Learning College have not done anything wrong. They will argue that you should have checked the system requirements for taking the course software before you bought another computer, which is pretty unanswerable, really. If you appeal to their better nature you may get a rebate as a good will gesture, but I don't think they will admit to any liability to cancel the course. Could you not borrow a friend's PC, or perhaps use one in your local library?

quBluTraining

Sorry that's just ridiculous. I appreciate my specification matched the course requirements at the time, but the fact is my circumstances have now changed which now results in me no longer doing the course. The basis of me doing the course was so I could do in the comfort of my own home in the evenings - why should I go out of my way going to a library or making other arrangements!?? I refuse to pay for something that I no longer match the criteria to do - especially with a course costing £1500!! The software is still in its packaging and the course materials untouched because my IT problems delaying me even starting the course! That is exactly why shops and retailers have refund policies, and as far as I am concerned the return of the materials and decline in proceeding with the course should be sufficient enough to warrant cancellation.

DrScotsman

Shops and retailers refund policies are not only a gesture of goodwill, but they're all a limited period of time. Maximum 30 days and probably most are 14 days - just like yours.

I can't believe anyone would buy a Mac and expect software to run on it without even checking, that's very short sighted. You can usually install Windows on Macs made in the past few years, so why don't you do that?

And why don't you request a part refund as a gesture of goodwill? Worth a shot.

ILW

quBluTraining wrote: »

Sorry that's just ridiculous. I appreciate my specification matched the course requirements at the time, but the fact is my circumstances have now changed which now results in me no longer doing the course. The basis of me doing the course was so I could do in the comfort of my own home in the evenings - why should I go out of my way going to a library or making other arrangements!?? I refuse to pay for something that I no longer match the criteria to do - especially with a course costing £1500!! The software is still in its packaging and the course materials untouched because my IT problems delaying me even starting the course! That is exactly why shops and retailers have refund policies, and as far as I am concerned the return of the materials and decline in proceeding with the course should be sufficient enough to warrant cancellation.

Absolutely none of that was the fault of the software supplier, so sorry you do not have any sort of claim against them. Your only hope is to appeal to their better nature and hope for some sort of partial refund and a gesture of goodwill. I would not recommend demanding your rights from them as you do not have a case. Either that or see if there is some way you can sell on the course to someone else. You could sell the Mac and get a PC. as another option.

fifiramone

Hi,

I would like to add that I have an apple Mac and you can run windows and windows programs on it. I'm not technical minded enough to know how exactly as somebody else set it up for me but essentially you have two user profiles- one for windows and one for mac osx. It shouldn't be too hard to do!

As for the credit agreement, it's very very unlikely that they would be willing to cancel it in your circumstances as you ARE able to do the course- although you may not want to you do have a number of options a) the library b) borrow somebody elses computer c) sell your macbook and buy a windows pc d) just install windows on your mac.

Dabooka

quBluTraining wrote: »

Sorry that's just ridiculous. I appreciate my specification matched the course requirements at the time, but the fact is my circumstances have now changed which now results in me no longer doing the course. The basis of me doing the course was so I could do in the comfort of my own home in the evenings - why should I go out of my way going to a library or making other arrangements!?? I refuse to pay for something that I no longer match the criteria to do - especially with a course costing £1500!! The software is still in its packaging and the course materials untouched because my IT problems delaying me even starting the course! That is exactly why shops and retailers have refund policies, and as far as I am concerned the return of the materials and decline in proceeding with the course should be sufficient enough to warrant cancellation.

Sorry mate, but as "far as you're concerned" doesn't matter a jot. You signed on the line for a course that met YOUR requirements at that time. You have changed YOUR requirements now, not them.

I see you having two options. One, if it's a new Mac it's an Intel chip so you could dual boot with Windows and OSX, allowing you to continue with the course. Secondly, you could see if they have any alternative courses for OSX they may give you in exchange. I can't see why they would let you change you mind and give it all back.

And one last thiing, next time try going to college, it's a hell of a lot cheaper than £1500 for a self study distance learning package.

Fonz_2

quBluTraining wrote: »

Sorry that's just ridiculous. I appreciate my specification matched the course requirements at the time, but the fact is my circumstances have now changed which now results in me no longer doing the course. The basis of me doing the course was so I could do in the comfort of my own home in the evenings - why should I go out of my way going to a library or making other arrangements!?? I refuse to pay for something that I no longer match the criteria to do - especially with a course costing £1500!! The software is still in its packaging and the course materials untouched because my IT problems delaying me even starting the course! That is exactly why shops and retailers have refund policies, and as far as I am concerned the return of the materials and decline in proceeding with the course should be sufficient enough to warrant cancellation.

Well, As long as that's what you think - that should be fine

sp1987

quBluTraining wrote: »

Sorry that's just ridiculous. I appreciate my specification matched the course requirements at the time, but the fact is my circumstances have now changed which now results in me no longer doing the course. The basis of me doing the course was so I could do in the comfort of my own home in the evenings - why should I go out of my way going to a library or making other arrangements!?? I refuse to pay for something that I no longer match the criteria to do - especially with a course costing £1500!! The software is still in its packaging and the course materials untouched because my IT problems delaying me even starting the course! That is exactly why shops and retailers have refund policies, and as far as I am concerned the return of the materials and decline in proceeding with the course should be sufficient enough to warrant cancellation.

It is not their fault that you chose to purchase a Mac. In fact, macbooks are particularly expensive so although completely your choice to buy something, or nothing to replace your pc, they should not be liable for your consumer choices.

Purely for illustrative purposes...If you bought parts from ford for your ford focus and did not use them, then after a period your focus broke and you decided to buy a bmw 3 series, you could not demand that ford swapped your focus parts for bmw parts or that you should have a refund because you chose to buy a different (and more expensive) car than a focus.

Sadly, what you ''reckon'' will not do much in court. They have provided you with software to complete a course with them and you agreed to pay to receive such software. Unless they have breached any obligations in the contract then you will be wasting court fees.

If you want to hear the same again, go to the CAB or a solicitor.

jonesMUFCforever

I have to agree with all of the above posters who say that OP has no choice but to pay for what he purchased.
How many times has anybody bought something which was flavour of the month only to allow it to collect cobwebs at the back of the cupboard?