Driving Lessons Refund?

HeatherH

I block booked some driving lessons last year, I have 4.5 hours left, but I stopped booking the lessons as I started to feel my driving instructor wasn't right for me.

I kept saying I'd go back, but I never got round to it. I've had a look on their website and there is no t&c's about refunds or non-refundable bookings.

Does anyone know my rights in whether I can get a refund for the remaining hours. I'm thinking of booking more lessons in the near future, just not with him.

Thanks

DVardysShadow

I take it they have several instructors. Ask if you can have another one.

cyberbob

Have you asked him?

HeatherH

My last contact with the instructor was april 2009, and at the time I did ask whether my funds could be transfered to an instructor that taught automatic within the franchise, but he said no. As far as I can see, it's just a few self employed instructors under a particular name.

As I say, I did intend to go back, but life got in the way.

thisuseridistakenagain

I doubt it, you block book and pay in advance so it costs less. So it wouldn't be the same price for the individual lessons you have already had.

Try phoning the centre though, they may well be happy to swap you to another instructor.
even if its just until you use up your 4.5 hours then you can go wherever you want.

I've had some dodgy instructors, in my time. i got there in the end though!!

Even if you have to 'use up' your time with him, its all experience, so it might not be what you had hoped for but its all time in a car.

HeatherH

Update:

I am now booked for my test this year and remembering I had some hours left I sent this to my old instructor:

Hi ****,



Bit of an odd query, but I thought I'd ask anyway. My last lesson with you was at the end of April 2009, and since then I have only just started driving again end of last year with another company, nothing personal, they just had a great deal on.

Anyways, I'm due to take my practical test on 24th February 2011 and the reason I'm contacting you now is that I was looking through old documents, and I noticed that I'm still owed 4.5 hours driving lessons. Now I have been thinking it over about what to do, as I'm already booked up to the test with my current instructor and I wondered instead of asking for a refund, (haven't found any terms and conditions on it anywhere I've looked) whether I can put the hours owed towards a pass plus course (done by you) that I intend to take after I've passed (hopefully). I have enclosed scans of my old driving lesson card just for reference and I look forward to hearing from you. My contact number is still **** ***** if you prefer to call.



Kind Regards,

Heather *******


Fair enough I thought, I think get this rather bitter response

Hi Heather.
If you can give me your address I can send you a copy of our full terms and conditions.
If you check my Web site you will see that full terms and conditions are available upon request, you will then see that we do not refund any lessons.
Under the circumstances ( you chose to go to another driving school and the time involved 21 months) I consider the matter closed.
Regards
**** ******.

From looking at his website 1st Reliable I could not find where it says terms and conditions on request, so I've decided to write him another reply. I haven't sent it yet because I'm still grr-ing about his last response.
I'd like to say....

I'm sorry you feel that way for the fact that no where on your current website does it say "terms and conditions available on request" . The fact that I've changed companies should be irrelevant when running a business, but being the person that I am, it is why I chose not to ask for a refund, because I felt that unfair. I would love to read a copy of your terms and conditions as theoretically you still owe me £85.50 in lessons, as at the time of the lessons it was not made aware to me that the lessons had a sell by date as your terms and conditions were not readily available then either.


Any advice welcome, to be honest from a response like that I wouldn't want to drive round with him, but it's still money owed theoretically. Hmm maybe a lesson learned rather than having to deal with that bitter old man

HeatherH

I'm starting to think it's more stress than it's worth, even though I think I can prove that he owes me the lesson, and as he's refusing to honor it, is there really much point in taking him to court for a £85 refund? Probably not. So choosing to try and be the better person, and walk away. Just means I'll be telling anyone I know thats learning to drive to avoid this company, nothing slanderous or liable mind.... just the facts, that'll do enough me thinks.

McKneff

But he doesnt owe you this. You got your lessons cheaper because you agreed to take out a certain amount of lessons therefore you got them all cheaper.

Compare how many lessons you had, price them up singly, compare them against the price that you actually paid.

Only then can you work out who owes who what.

Do that and then move on. It really isnt worth the stress after all this time.

HeatherH

McKneff wrote: »

Compare how many lessons you had, price them up singly, compare them against the price that you actually paid.
.

Thanks for the advice, as the discount was only a £1 an hour difference, I would still be owed money, but as you say, it's really not worth the stress.

knightstyle

Was he a fully qualified instructor? You can tell by the colour of his badge. A fully qualified instructor has a green badge but there are trainee instructors out there who do not tell you they are still in training, often for years and years. This may give you leverage if you thought you were with a fully qualified instructor, it is amazing how a threat of local publicity can help.

PZH

HeatherH wrote: »

...as he's refusing to honor it.....

But has he refused to give you the "basic" 4.5 hrs worth lessons of lessons or just declining the option of transfering them to the "Pass Plus" Course ?

I know that you don't like lessons with him, but can't you simply use the 4.5hrs before you practical test is due to simply gain more experience of driving ?

If he refuses to fulfill the "basic" lessons you've already paid for ( and assuming the T&C's don't have a "Use by" date ) then that will strengthen your case for a refund ?