Need some advice and help please!!

morgan09

Hi all,

I really need some help and advice, In April I decided to do a home course from Stonebridge Associated colleges, in Child Psychology I paid the deposit and had 8 monthly payments that was going to be taken from my bank debit card.
I recieved the pack along with my first unit of course materials which to be very frank were not all that, I decided not to go ahead with the course and I did not fill in the relevent form to continue the enrolment process where I had to sign and fill the information that authorised them to take payment from my card.
So I thought that as I had not signed anything that would be that.
But upon checking my bank account over a month later I noticed that they had taken a payment from my account, I rang to ask why and was told that they could not discuss this with me and the lady on the phone refused for me to speak to someone else, she told me to write to someone called Wayne Steel. At the time I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and was signed off work, so persuing this matter went straight out of my mind.
They have continued to take payment from my bank card every month, until October when my bank card was blocked due to fruadulent activity on my account and I was sent a new card, this has of course stopped them from taking anymore money from my account and are contacting for payment.
I recieved a letter this morning saying that they hold a signed agreement by me which acknowledges the debt I owe and that this is legal and binding document with regards to the regular payment of my monthly instalments which can be enforced in a court of law.
Now I called them this afternoon to say that I have not signed any agreement so how can they say that and was told that I made the agreement when I let them take the deposit from my card over the phone.
I have NOT signed anything, infact I still have the forms infront of me not signed or completed or authorised for them to take anymore payments from my card and bank account.
They said that I have to pay the remaining balance and will not get a refund even though I have not started the course or had any correspondence with regards to why I have not finished the first unit of the course.
If I have to pay I'll pay the balance but I would like to know if they are right or not and where I stand legally.

Many thanks and sorry for rambling on :huh:

Laz123

I'm not sure why you didn't just cancel with your bank after the 1st payment was taken.

You need to get some professional advice, either from a solicitor or CAB.

A solicitor should give you half an hour free.

morgan09

Maybe I wasn't clear enough but basically they debit my card and not through a direct debit.
Thanks anyway

And I didn't think to cancel as I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and had other more important things on my mind at the time!

Sukatoko

When you signed up did you enter the long number on the front of your bank card. If this is the case you need to ask your bank to give you a new card. Its a pain but it not a bad idea to change your bank card fairly often anyway.

Stonebridge Associated colleges sounds a bit like a scam. I think they are used to people wanting their money back. I would speak to CAB as suggested or Trading Standards/consumer department within your local council. That way you have experience of dealing with dodgy companies on your side.



Good luck with further study !

morgan09

Thanks Sukatoko