The National Home Study College - gone into administration?

SarahLou

Help!

My husband and I spent our hard earned cash on two courses each with "The National Home Study College" back in 2008. I completed my courses back in 2008 (which set me back £195 for the two courses I did) and received a diploma for each. Turns out it is completely fake.

My husband is still working through his (slow coach!) and we only found out they've gone into administration/receivership when he tried to get in touch with the college about receiving his next pack to work through. Then alarm bells started ringing - website was blocked by firewall as being full of viruses, the phone number doesn't ring through to any tutors or anything ("number not recognised"), emails bounce back, etc.

On googling, it turns out this problem occured in January (ish) as lots of people have also demanded money back for false diplomas (position I am in currently). My husband hasn't got to that stage but has also wasted £195 of his money as he'll never get his diplomas now.... even if they were to be fake. :mad:

Where do we stand? I hear other people have been in touch with Watchdog and I also hear that BBC South East have been trying to get in touch with the bloke who has been running this scam.

But I really don't know where to start in even trying to get our money back as if all mail is bouncing, how do we do it? (Postal address for the company is bouncing back letters as "Undelivered").

Anyone got any suggestions?

unholyangel

Did you pay by credit card?

If so they are jointly liable for amounts over £100 and you should be able to claim it back through them.

GEEGEE8

£195 for a Diploma.. wouldn't that be nice.

Erm, well I don't think you will get your money.

Open University is a better place for home learning, you pay be able to get it free if you household income is below their threshold.. There is a calculator on their website that checks for you.

SarahLou

Sadly I didn't - I paid in full out of my normal current account.

The hubby did pay for his through via his credit card though so that might be worth persuing. Thanks.

I am embarking on a degree with the Open Uni this year funnily enough but at the time of applying to the "Home Study College", I had just not long since had a baby so was in no position to start quite at that level!