Advent Training Gone bust... what now??

cjclegg

Maybe I am shooting from the lip, but this is absolute bollox.

Barclay's have just put Advent out of business and then think they can take their entire student program and force them into an alternative program. We must have some rights against these A holes. Does anyone have anything concrete that we can all use??? I have been trying to get into the CAB but the line is constantly engaged, and I like most of us need to know more...
I have no intention of fulfilling the finance package, as far as I am concerned my arrangement was through Advent and not Barclay's, it even states on my contract "Course provider - Advent".... This is now no more so I should, in essence, be able to walk away without paying them a penny....

If anyone has had the opportunity to visit CAB please let me know the outcome.

Regards,

Cj.

aron80

I'm not going to the CAB, I'm going to write to the Financial Ombudsman today. I suggest everyone does that. Dunno if it'll help much tho. Scraping the bottom of the barrel here but need to do something.

sqlman

Hi all
I have just returned from my honeymoon only to find out this news. Well it was only because I tooka break from my studies last year due to my wedding last year amongst other personal reasons. I was all set to begin studying again for my MCITP SQL exams and went to the Advent site this morning only to find they have gone bust!

I must say I am extremely disappointed that they did not notfiy the students by email to let them know what had happened like I said I only found out by chance, when going to their website this morning.

I paid for my course in full a couple of years ago when I signed up so I won't be getting anything back! I originally signed up to the course beacuse they offered a full career and job search service which I thought would be useful (along with their job guarentee) as I did not have any IT work experience.

In hind sight this type of course was a waste of money, sure they provide all the books and training material (which probably adds up to less than 1k) and workshops. If you add up the cost of buying the books and paying for the exams yourself it would be less than 2k, so the 4k they charge was unreasonable.

I only met with their careers people a couple of times and was unimpressed as they told me I would need to start off in a basic support role as I had no experience (even though I had my A+ and MCP certs at this point) and would be looking at 12k. That was funny I was really going to be able to live on that wage!

Luckily I was able to find my own IT job and got a lucky break. I now have 3 years of IT experience in a support environment with SQL, Crystal Reports and other software technologies. I have acquired the SQL books and material myself from other colleagues so am not too bothered about that. I am disappointed in that the Advent course would have covered all the exam fees but I am sure that I can get my employer to cover that.

I can only say I feel sorry for all the people who signed up with Advent recently and have only started studying. I am luckly in that I have a secure IT job and was half way through my Advent course (I originally started the MCSE one and changed for the SQL one).

I regret signing up for such a course but have not been too affected by the news except that I have wasted my money and won't be getting all the training materials and exams paid for that were included in the course! The best way to get into IT is to look for jobs yourself and get a lucky break like me. In terms of the certifications you can get the books yourself to study and just need to set yourself up with a virtual machine to do the practical stuff.

The exams only give you so much knowledge, its getting the experience that is more important. The best way to learn or get into IT is through experience and the big wages won't come straight away you have to work your way up to it. Gaining an MCSE won't get you a 30k job instantly.

I guess now I have more options in the certification route that I want to take as I can pick and chose what exams I want to do as I was doing the SQL2005 path with Advent but can now switch to SQL2008.

cjclegg

I have been keeping up with all the comments made on here recently, even posting a few comments myself. I have finally managed to get through to my local CAB who will be conducting a telephone conference with me next Tuesday. Basically I am going to be reading the entire terms and conditions of my agreements with BPF and Advent to them for them to advise me on the best course of action.
Personally, I want out. I have not paid a penny as yet and hope to god that I can in some way back track out of this situation. Having read numerous posts it has become painfully obvious that the decision I/we all made was a mistake. The fact that so many people have been let down by both Advent and BPF shows us all exactly where we are on the food chain in these kind of matters.
I will update on the outcome of my conversation with CAB, but if anyone has had the opportunity to speak to them already then please post something so we all have a clearer view of the matter in question.

Regards,
Cj.

d4rmi83

Hi after looking at all the comments, i had a look at the BPF agreement. On that it states:

"If the contract is not fulfilled, perhaps becuase the supplier has gone out of business, you may still be able to sue us"
If you would like to know more about your rights under the Act, contact either your local trading standards department or your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.

I have had enough of waiting, and all i want it the bank the stop chatting S*** to all of us.
I will be going to my local CAB tommrow and will keep you posted on any information.

Hope this info helps
DG.

cjclegg

d4rmi83 wrote: »

Hi after looking at all the comments, i had a look at the BPF agreement. On that it states:

"If the contract is not fulfilled, perhaps becuase the supplier has gone out of business, you may still be able to sue us"
If you would like to know more about your rights under the Act, contact either your local trading standards department or your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.

I have had enough of waiting, and all i want it the bank the stop chatting S*** to all of us.
I will be going to my local CAB tommrow and will keep you posted on any information.

Hope this info helps
DG.

Look forward to your update DG and I hope we can all breath easier after your visit.

Cj.

ginge5627

i am also a student with advent computer training and i have had a good look through the terms and conditions and could someone correct me if i am wrong. in the terms and conditions under section 10 (termination)it states - 10.1 the contract will terminate immediatly on notice from us to you: 10.1.1 in the event that we make any voluntary agreement with our creditors or become subject to an administration order or go into liquidation (exect for the amalgamation or reconstruction and in such a manner that the company resulting there from effectively agrees to be bound by or assume the obligations imposed on that other partry under this agreement); 10.1.2 in the event that you fail to pay the fee within 30 day of the date when it is due; 10.1.3 in the event that you are in breach of any of your obligations under this agreement and fail to correct the breach within 14 days of being asked by us to do so; 10.2 the contract will teminate immediately in the event of your death. So under the terms and conditions it obviously states that because ADVENT have gone bust (liquidation) all contract held by advent have thereby been terminated. The terms and conditions i have got are from aug 2009. If anyone has got anything different to what i have got could you please leave a reply. Cheers

malchus

this is what I've found on my BARCLAYS PARTNER FINANCE FIXED - SUM LOAN AGREEMENT REGULATED BY THE CONSUMER CREDIT ACT 1974: "IMPORTANT - READ THIS CAREFULLY TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS.
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 lays down certain requirements for your protection which should have been compiled with when this agreement was made. If they were not, we cannot enforce this agreement without getting a court order.
The Act also gives you a number of rights:
1) You can settle this agreement at any time by giving notice in writing and paying off the amount you owe under the agreement which may be reduced by a rebate. Examples indicating the amount you have to pay appear in the agreement.
2) If you received unsatisfactory goods or services paid for under this agreement you may have a right to sue the supplier, us or both.
3) If the contract is not fulfilled, perhaps because the supplier has gone out of business, you may still be able to sue us."

So it says in a document I'm holding it in front of me right now. To me, as a result, the outcome, should be clear. But i still feel there's a "but", any comments, suggestions are so welcomed.

greighughes22

wynnvegas wrote: »

Having looked at this for a few days now (I recruit IT professionals and my brother stupidly signed up for this course in June 2009 against my advice), I wish you all the best in recovering your monies. The Advent business model of distance learning is predicated on the assumption that a majority of the people won't bother with the studying / ... See moreclass days and will be left with the debt alone at the end. I'm told that it is something ridiculous like 85% of people who sign up for home study courses fail to complete them. Advent going bust will really only be a good thing if the large percentage of people who have varying excuses for not making the effort to chase their qualifications get a refund or are able to agree a settlement payment with whatever credit provider they agreed to get into bed with. I fully expect that all credit providers will manage to worm their way out of a refund option but I hope, for the sake of you all, that a consumer rights heavyweight gets behind your cause and gets something out of the credit providers.

From my perspective, I would not employ anyone who had trained through advent as it shows a complete lack of common sense to have signed up with them in the first place as any cursory investigation of the sales pitch (£40k within two years of starting the course was a particular favourite of mine) would have shown. All these courses are available via a variety of sources at a fraction of the cost advent were charging and home study options have only served to devalue the MCSE and MCITP accreditations as employers are more and more finding that the lack of practical experience behind these accreditations is a major issue.

Cheers,

Billy

once again another awful comment on this forum. insulting those who wish to improve their careers. some people do not have the advantage or privilege of knowing someone who may work in the industry. i 'was' with advents partner firm access2trade careers, i genuinely needed a homestudy course like this this to change careers as i need to work full-time. i went for the full kit and caboodle and decided for the gas plumbing. i've got the intelligence to do this course and was looking forward to a career where i could work my way up the ladder.

for people in my position as i'm sure there are many out there, this career development choice, is probably the complete opposite of having no common sense as the people who have chosen to do this have taken the burden on with the part and even full time employment that they need to sustain themselves and perhaps a family. many are paying money out of their own pocket to do this, hoping for a better future, for a career path they may not have thought about in years past.

i feel sorry for the company you work for if these are the kind of harsh judgements you make as you obviously cannot judge a person for their actual skill or merit.

betatrials

Petition to get our money back on number10.gov.uk

Can be found here on petitions.number10.gov.uk

its called "adventcomputer"

Sign it!!!

Thanks

James :rotfl: