Driving instructors stolen my money?

ziggycj

Hi,

I had payed for a 12 block of lessons with an AA instructor direct to him, but now he has left AA and wont answer his phone.

Has the money gone?

The AA said that because I paid direct to him they cant offer me a refund and the company he said he was moving to said he doesnt work for them.

I dont have a receipt, I just have the hours book where he wrote 12 hours in.

Does anyone know what I can do? Shouldn't the AA warn students not to pay directly?

I only have mobile numbers that dont work and £300+ worth of lessons.

Help please.

Rainmaker_uk

Ouch that's very harsh!

Not sure what to say really but I would consider a written letter to the customer services Director for the AA and copy to the CEO.

Mention that you may approach Watchdog if this is not resolved - the negative publicity is worth more than £300 to them

Good luck

ziggycj

Rainmaker_uk wrote: »

Ouch that's very harsh!

Not sure what to say really but I would consider a written letter to the customer services Director for the AA and copy to the CEO.

Mention that you may approach Watchdog if this is not resolved - the negative publicity is worth more than £300 to them

Good luck

I'm not sure if its actually AAs responsibilty though. The said instructors are self-employed and they will try to contact him. It's just I think they shouldnt allow instructors to ask for money direct at all. I didnt know there was any difference in paying direct or paying online.

fluffnutter

What does the AA's policy say about paying instructors directly? Are they employees of AA or are they sub-contractors? If he's an employee of AA or it's common practice to pay your instructor directly, and there's nothing in the T&Cs stating that you do so at your own risk, then you can legitimately expect your money back from AA as he was acting on their behalf at the time. If, however, there are disclaimers saying you can pay AA, or you can pay one of our contracted drivers but this is then a contract between yourself and them, then you'd have to chase the individual I guess. That's my, admittedly, unprofessional opinion. I don't know what the legal position is.

FunnySaving

Presumably the AA have an address for him on file - they shouldn't pass it on to you, but if you wrote to him they might pass it on for you. Not sure how far you can get with pursuing this through small claims court if you don't know how to get in touch with him, so that might be something to pursue if you can - a little light detective work might yield some results.

ziggycj

Yeah, they say the hold no responsiblity (wish he showed my the T+Cs in the car)

From the info I've gotten, I think I have to just keep trying. Hopefully, he will switch on his phone.

ziggycj

They said they will send him a letter. But he isnt with them anymore so...

fluffnutter

What a shyster. Name and shame him!

PZH

ziggycj wrote: »

Hi,

I had payed for a 12 block of lessons with an AA instructor direct to him, but now he has left AA and wont answer his phone.

Has the money gone?

The AA said that because I paid direct to him they cant offer me a refund and the company he said he was moving to said he doesnt work for them.

I dont have a receipt, I just have the hours book where he wrote 12 hours in.

Does anyone know what I can do? Shouldn't the AA warn students not to pay directly?

I only have mobile numbers that dont work and £300+ worth of lessons.

Help please.

Unfortunately, they do

Payments and lesson bookings

You must pay for tuition in advance by using one of the following methods:

* payment by credit or debit card online at https://www.theaa.com/driving-school
* payment by credit or debit card by calling the AA Driving School on 0800 587 0087
* payment by cash, cheque or credit/debit card direct to Your Instructor. (Any cheques must be made payable to Your Instructor. Your instructor will confirm whether or not they are able to take payments via credit or debit card.)

AA Driving School has no responsibility or liability to You for payments made by other means, and further if you do pay Your Instructor directly by cash, cheque or card payment, You should obtain a receipt. AA Driving School accepts no responsibility for any payments made direct to Instructors.

Did you pay by card ?

I agree, you should name him.

Lip_Stick

fluffnutter wrote: »

What a shyster. Name and shame him!

Completely agree. Driving lessons are a huge expense without being ripped off by a thieving instructor.

dori2o

AA Driving School has no responsibility or liability to You for payments made by other means, and further if you do pay Your Instructor directly by cash, cheque or card payment, You should obtain a receipt. AA Driving School accepts no responsibility for any payments made direct to Instructors.

I'm not sure how legal that would actually be.

The instructor will pay a fee to AA Driving school for them to supply him/her with learner drivers.

If the AA provided this instructor following the OP's request and payment for their first lesson, then surely AA Driving school have some duty of care towards the student?