We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Help please!!
Options
matt_jagger445
Posts: 19 Forumite
Hi
I was made redundant in may this year. I'm in the building trade and suffered from the downturn this year, I signed on and tried to find a new path for the future. I saw an advert in the Manchester Evening news for trainee quantity surveyors and project managers with a company called Accepta Realty (american obviously)
After an interview they said, regardless of past experience every prospect needs to attend a short 1 day course held in Bolton at a cost of £495 and sit an exam the following week after being given a whole pack of information and tools of training. The idea is if you get 70% on the test they'll give you a job as a trainee, after the 1 day course and revising the bucket load of information they give out for you to semi train up in the week for the following exam.
Now, I was skint, no prospects, looking at possibly 2 years without a job, so I had to jump and take the opportunity, from what i'd been told this could change my life, they told me they were a cash rich company and it all sounded fantastic.
My fiance' made a cheque out to them as a present to help me
(and us both!! ultimately)
And we sent it off.
4 weeks later, nothing, 6 weeks later nothing. I was told there can be a wait etc because of the high demand, all the time they constantly advertised in the manchester evening news for more positions day in day out and this can be verified by manchester evening news.
I couldn't wait around anymore so I had to get a job we were so skint!! another 2 weeks went by and I was settling into a training period in my new job. Out of the blue one wednesday night I got in from work at the usual 6pm, to find a letter telling me to attend the reebok stadiums conferance room at 7:30am the following morning for the course!!
As there was no guarantee I was going to pass the course and be offered a job, I had to think logically, and so I decided I couldn't take the day off work! I was in training at my new job with a stricht no absence 2 week period or it was P45 in hand and down the road you go.
To this I called several times to tell Accepta Realty to explain I couldn't attend, when I got through the following day (3 hours after the course had started) the young man on the phone swore at me and said, you should have pulled a sickie mate, we'll be in touch to re schedule.
8 weeks later, nothing from Accepta Realty.
I was doing really well in the job I had stayed in and the opportunities were opening up there, so I called Accepta and asked to cancell the course and to refund the cheque that they had cashed for £495 and thanked them for the opportunity.
I didn't hear from them for four weeks so called again, and again, and again, each time I was told the director needed to deal with it and he would call me when he was available.
Anyway, I sent them an e mail again!! after another bout of calls to them asking for a refund and that I would seek legal action if I didn't hear from them.
I received an e mail today titled "OH DEAR!!!" from a senior consultant at accepta realty, Below is the e mail he sent me
"You booked yourself on a course and paid the fee. As a result we stopped advertising and told other applicants that they could not attend the course. You caused us to lose money - far more than the £495 you paid - possibly upwards of £5,000.
You will not be getting a refund - of course not! Not one penny.
Feel free to send as many letters to as many newspapers as possible and to initiate legal action. If you'd attended the course then you would have realised that we know the law and you don't.
Please be reminded that we reserve the right to sue you personally for any damages that you cause us and for the right to sue you personally for Contracting to take the course and then not doing so.
You have breached the agreement - WE HAVE NOT. PERIOD.
Kind regards
SK
SENIOR CONSULTANT
I have proof they continued advertising the positions and courses, and the fact that they never even invited me back or re scheduled this course is strange anyway. To further ad to this I NEVER SIGNED ANY AGREEMENT!! NOR WAS I ISSUED WITH ANY TERMS OR CONDITIONS!! From what thier website says the course is booked up in advance hence the waiting period, so I can't see how I cost them any money??
What the hell can I do?? Accepta Realty are a company but hard to find via the usual sources and are a PLC but that doesn't mean they should be able to rip people off in this way.
From what I hear, I also beleive they make the end test after the 1 day "intensive" course so hard a 1st degree graduate couldn't gain 70% as a result and has nothing relating to the course content you are given. So it seems a bit of a blag to me, and I am sure this can't be right, I mean, we've paid for something we have not yet received and from the above doesn't look like I will even be sent the course content, invited back to another course or be given a refund.
Can we cancell the cheque?? even though it's been cashed? ie, can my other half say I stole it and made the cheque out to accepta without her knowlege?? we need this money back, I will deal with any come backs next year after the dreaded christmas!!
Where do I stand legally in terms of my rights?? From the e mail I was sent, it seems I owe them money!! and I won't see a penny of my fiance's £495 ever again!! and if I try to get it back they will sue me!!
Can someone give me some advice on this situation please, I'm desprate!!
To add again, I never signed a thing ever, and they did continue to advertise the positions the entire 4 months this has gone on for.
Many thanks
Matt
I was made redundant in may this year. I'm in the building trade and suffered from the downturn this year, I signed on and tried to find a new path for the future. I saw an advert in the Manchester Evening news for trainee quantity surveyors and project managers with a company called Accepta Realty (american obviously)
After an interview they said, regardless of past experience every prospect needs to attend a short 1 day course held in Bolton at a cost of £495 and sit an exam the following week after being given a whole pack of information and tools of training. The idea is if you get 70% on the test they'll give you a job as a trainee, after the 1 day course and revising the bucket load of information they give out for you to semi train up in the week for the following exam.
Now, I was skint, no prospects, looking at possibly 2 years without a job, so I had to jump and take the opportunity, from what i'd been told this could change my life, they told me they were a cash rich company and it all sounded fantastic.
My fiance' made a cheque out to them as a present to help me
(and us both!! ultimately)
And we sent it off.
4 weeks later, nothing, 6 weeks later nothing. I was told there can be a wait etc because of the high demand, all the time they constantly advertised in the manchester evening news for more positions day in day out and this can be verified by manchester evening news.
I couldn't wait around anymore so I had to get a job we were so skint!! another 2 weeks went by and I was settling into a training period in my new job. Out of the blue one wednesday night I got in from work at the usual 6pm, to find a letter telling me to attend the reebok stadiums conferance room at 7:30am the following morning for the course!!
As there was no guarantee I was going to pass the course and be offered a job, I had to think logically, and so I decided I couldn't take the day off work! I was in training at my new job with a stricht no absence 2 week period or it was P45 in hand and down the road you go.
To this I called several times to tell Accepta Realty to explain I couldn't attend, when I got through the following day (3 hours after the course had started) the young man on the phone swore at me and said, you should have pulled a sickie mate, we'll be in touch to re schedule.
8 weeks later, nothing from Accepta Realty.
I was doing really well in the job I had stayed in and the opportunities were opening up there, so I called Accepta and asked to cancell the course and to refund the cheque that they had cashed for £495 and thanked them for the opportunity.
I didn't hear from them for four weeks so called again, and again, and again, each time I was told the director needed to deal with it and he would call me when he was available.
Anyway, I sent them an e mail again!! after another bout of calls to them asking for a refund and that I would seek legal action if I didn't hear from them.
I received an e mail today titled "OH DEAR!!!" from a senior consultant at accepta realty, Below is the e mail he sent me
"You booked yourself on a course and paid the fee. As a result we stopped advertising and told other applicants that they could not attend the course. You caused us to lose money - far more than the £495 you paid - possibly upwards of £5,000.
You will not be getting a refund - of course not! Not one penny.
Feel free to send as many letters to as many newspapers as possible and to initiate legal action. If you'd attended the course then you would have realised that we know the law and you don't.
Please be reminded that we reserve the right to sue you personally for any damages that you cause us and for the right to sue you personally for Contracting to take the course and then not doing so.
You have breached the agreement - WE HAVE NOT. PERIOD.
Kind regards
SK
SENIOR CONSULTANT
I have proof they continued advertising the positions and courses, and the fact that they never even invited me back or re scheduled this course is strange anyway. To further ad to this I NEVER SIGNED ANY AGREEMENT!! NOR WAS I ISSUED WITH ANY TERMS OR CONDITIONS!! From what thier website says the course is booked up in advance hence the waiting period, so I can't see how I cost them any money??
What the hell can I do?? Accepta Realty are a company but hard to find via the usual sources and are a PLC but that doesn't mean they should be able to rip people off in this way.
From what I hear, I also beleive they make the end test after the 1 day "intensive" course so hard a 1st degree graduate couldn't gain 70% as a result and has nothing relating to the course content you are given. So it seems a bit of a blag to me, and I am sure this can't be right, I mean, we've paid for something we have not yet received and from the above doesn't look like I will even be sent the course content, invited back to another course or be given a refund.
Can we cancell the cheque?? even though it's been cashed? ie, can my other half say I stole it and made the cheque out to accepta without her knowlege?? we need this money back, I will deal with any come backs next year after the dreaded christmas!!
Where do I stand legally in terms of my rights?? From the e mail I was sent, it seems I owe them money!! and I won't see a penny of my fiance's £495 ever again!! and if I try to get it back they will sue me!!
Can someone give me some advice on this situation please, I'm desprate!!
To add again, I never signed a thing ever, and they did continue to advertise the positions the entire 4 months this has gone on for.
Many thanks
Matt
0
Comments
-
This is terrible! I would seek advice immediately (CAB??) and don't let them intimidate you in such a disgusting way. If Ive read correctly then were you not to attend an interview before this course but you weren't invited for an interview just the course? They are clearly rip off merchants (and bullies) and again my advice is to persue reimbursement and getthem shutdown if possible.
PS have just checked and they are still advertising same scenario on their website. Also checked and they only registered with Companies House on 6 June 09. Registration number 06927176. Registered Office is 12 LimeWood Close, Rossendale,BB4 4HZ. Business type unknown and no accounts filed to date.
You may also be interested to read exchanges with the company at constructionsforum.co.uK.
The company is frightening.0 -
Hi
Thanks for the input, they do seem a complete bunch of rip off merchants.
I was desparate, thats why I went for it, I wish i'd have just waiting because a decent job came along six weeks afterwards.
Anyway.
I did attend an interview, as did about 11 other people that day!! they were queing up.
They described what they did, etc mainly converting failing business premises into profit turning little projects to sell on. I showed them the protfolio of extensions, conversions, renovations including listed buildings all run and managed by myself. This was not enough experience he said, you must attend the course. Tell us when your interested. I was promised a 15k starting wage, as soon as I could show I can run a job, they'd double it, dependant on a 70% or more pass of this test they have.
The following week I called up, they said yeah, get the money to us and we'll see if we can get you on the next course, we did, they didn't, and as I said, I didn't even get 24hrs notice to attend.
I'm not available enough to contact CAB I have tried so hard and cannot get through etc. What do you think a solicitor will say about all this??
If my fiance' states to the bank I stole the cheque will they refund the money into her account?? I don't mind getting arrested because if that money is back in her account it can't go back to Accepta Realty, and i'll explain the situation to the officers after some time ha ha, they cannot charge me with theft if my other half then states that it wasn't as soon as we get the money back.0 -
Matt, pleeeease don't start lying (about a 'stolen' cheque). You're in the right here, don't ruin it. You'd both be charged with wasting police time. Is £495 worth ruining the rest of your life for? (aware I'm being a bit dramatic, but I'm sure you'd regret it if you did this, you sound like a nice bloke).
By all means, fight these bunch of sharks, I've never heard of passing an interview then having to pay to get the job (which is what this amounts to!), but make sure you stay whiter than white or else you start becoming unbelieveable yourself.
Sorry, I've got no more help about getting the money back, hopefully someone else will be along soon.Are the words 'I have a cunning plan' marching with ill-deserved confidence in the direction of this conversation? :cool:0 -
That's quite possibly the rudest email I've ever seen someone send to their customers. Well, on purpose anyway.Squirrel!If I tell you who I work for, I'm not allowed to help you. If I don't say, then I can help you with questions and fixing products. Regardless, there's still no secret EU law.
Now 20% cooler0 -
you were had, and they are hard at it by the sound of it. But you did book the course and it was you that decided not to go on it.
I notice there are more and more of these kind of courses around.
Most are just taking advantage of desperate people.
As for the email its direct and too the point rather than flannel...0 -
The issue is not that I went on the course, I didn't I bloody couldn't!! The issue is, if you get 24hrs notice and cannot attend, I assume thats only fair to re schedule.
How would you feel if you had to pay to see a doctor, got 3 hrs notice and no refund if you couldn't attend?? you'd be very angry
They did not offer to re schedule, even though I tried to do that with them.
The payment of £495 is for course content, you get a whole host of books and tools and thats what your paying for, I have not received these.
How would the court see it if I went into argos gave them a cheque for a product, argos cash it, and never give me the product?? I can't see them taking the side of Argos.
I don't think it's a cut and shut as your making out a reasonable ammount of notice should be given, even if you owe 100 grand you get plenty of notice of recovery, court attendance etc, if you apply for a college course, they don't tell you 24hrs before it starts "Ok mate, you've got a place on the course be there tomorrow morning or !!!! off"
And if it's a one day course with over 20! yes 20X £495, every week I was attending, you'd think an offer of re attendance would arrise because they are certainly making money and the courses are always booked up with mugs like me hoping to pass this course and get a great job with a fantastic future. I'm waffling on a bit, but I have done loads of short courses in my life and not once has this happened.
I will ad again, because people don't seem to be hitting on this, I didn't sign any agreement or receive any terms or conditions. You cannot say that court will see this as a contract if nothings been signed or a warning that if non attendance happens then you don't get a second chance or any money back?? Thats stupid!!
If this is so, I might set up a scheme similar to this and so should everyone else we'll all be rich and not be in any trouble at all0 -
The bank probably has no recourse for getting the money back from the company. So IF they refunded you it would be out of their pocket. To get a refund from the bank, at a minimum you girlfriend would have to file a police report. The police may only take the report if she is willing to press charges. Presuambly your GF doesn't want you to have a criminal record for theft, fraud and forgery? You may also end up with a fine if proven guilty amounting to more than the value of the chq??0
-
Kenny_Powers wrote: »You are biting the hands that are trying to feed you.
I suggest you take this forward as you see fit since all the advice you have been given so far you have rubbished and dismissed.
If you are considering to do to others as have been done to you - Then i sincerely hope you are taken to court and fined the thousands that you are being threatened with.
There is always one isn't there
Grow up man, as if I meant this you div, if I was that way inclined I wouldn't broadcast it would I!!
I have thanked everyone but you and one other for thier comments.
It's very frustrating this, and I am writing all this with my heart on my sleeve, so it may come across as being an idiot, I just want to get as much advice as I can whilst throwing my own opinions and questions in, or am I not allowed to do this in the very grey and dim point blank world you seem to live in0 -
The bank probably has no recourse for getting the money back from the company. So IF they refunded you it would be out of their pocket. To get a refund from the bank, at a minimum you girlfriend would have to file a police report. The police may only take the report if she is willing to press charges. Presuambly your GF doesn't want you to have a criminal record for theft, fraud and forgery? You may also end up with a fine if proven guilty amounting to more than the value of the chq??
Very sound advice, many thanks, it's just so frustrating isn't it. I won't be following up on the cheque being stolen angle.0 -
Kenny_Powers wrote: »I advised you as per the law, whilst the England v Australia game was on Sky Sports 2 HD i took out time to give advice at no cost to you - But because it didn't fit with what you hoped you disregarded it and have now got offensive.
At first i felt sympathy for you, now i realise you are just too stupid to know that when something appears too good to be true it usually is.
I have no doubt an individual of your calibre would have failed the test anyway.
I think the fact that for the sake of £495 you would incriminate others in your plight speaks volumes about the despicable type of person you are.
Yes im frustrated that England threw away a good lead and ultimately got hammered by the Aussies - But ive had enough of morons like you walking through life with your eyes closed and then littering these forums with your bleats for sympathy because you're too bloody stupid to think before you act.
:beer:
I hope you realise you've made me cry now0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 257.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards