Dispute with Driving Instructor

moneytroll

spugzbunny wrote: »

I think you can complain to the association of driving instructors. http://www.driving.org/
You should complain both about the instructor and the school.

Wouldn't they want to protect each other? (I am getting paranoid..)
Are they equivalent to the ombudsman to the financial services?

Thanks, that was helpful.

spugzbunny

moneytroll wrote: »

Wouldn't they want to protect each other? (I am getting paranoid..)
Are they equivalent to the ombudsman to the financial services?

Thanks, that was helpful.

I don't think so because they have a reputation to uphold. They must have certain criteria that the members meet in order to become part of the association.

But WAIT! .... I have found something better for you!

From the BSM website:

High standards

BSM is a founder member of the Official Register of Driving Instructor Training (ORDIT), administered by the DSA to ensure high standards of driving instructor training. All our facilities, Trainers and training courses are constantly reviewed by ORDIT examiners for quality.

So .... write to ORDIT to complain. You can find their details here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Drivingforaliving/DG_182842
(3/4 down the page)

Just edited to add - I checked and the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) monitor all schools and instructors. ORDIT might just be for quality. DSA will definitely take your complaint

moneytroll

spugzbunny wrote: »

I don't think so because they have a reputation to uphold. They must have certain criteria that the members meet in order to become part of the association.

But WAIT! .... I have found something better for you!

From the BSM website:



So .... write to ORDIT to complain. You can find their details here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Drivingforaliving/DG_182842
(3/4 down the page)

Just edited to add - I checked and the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) monitor all schools and instructors. ORDIT might just be for quality. DSA will definitely take your complaint

Brilliant! Thanks.
Btw, do driving instructors have some sort of rating/quota record themselves? Am I entitled to ask the school for this information?

skiddlydiddly

jase1 wrote: »

I don't remember learning any test routes when I was preparing for my test.

Nor me, sort of defeats the object really.A bit like getting an exam test paper before the exam.

Personally I'd have planned the route to the test centre in advance rather than risk not finding it.It does sound like the school have messed the OP about though.

janninew

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

Nor me, sort of defeats the object really.A bit like getting an exam test paper before the exam.

Personally I'd have planned the route to the test centre in advance rather than risk not finding it.It does sound like the school have messed the OP about though.

Can't the test routes be downloaded online? When I took my test (10 years ago) I'm sure I remember having a look at them online, there were around 10 different routes I think.

doober

find yourself a good honest driving instructor, not a school. then use the remaining hours of your driving school lessons driving into things,to get your monies worth out of the dishonest thieves.

colino

Complain to the Driving School, demand a full refund and if they don't comply, make sure they understand you will report the individual licenced Instructor and them to the DSA. Becoming an ADI is no mean feat and for the life of me I don't understand so many unsuitable people putting themselves through the stress and becoming such square pegs in round holes. If it is one of the biggies who have recently changed ownership again, so what? They should be big enough to remain professional and give you the service you pay for.
I'd pay less attention to knowing or memorising routes (Likely to disappear soon now anyway) and aim to be confident enough to listen and respond to directions.
Good luck.

DaveF327

moneytroll wrote: »

- who is liable for the instructor turning up late for the lessons consistently?

The instructor. They should manage their diaries effectively so they allow enough time to travel and be reasonably on time. A few minutes here or there may be unavoidable due to traffic, but 30 minutes is taking the p***. To have happened twice is just totally unprofessional.

- whose responsibility is it to arrive in good time for the test?

The instructor's. Test appointments should take absolute precedence. If their timekeeping is poor, at least they should have agreed with the previous pupil to shorten their lesson rather than compromise a test.

- whose responsibility is it if the instructor doesn't know the way to the test centre and the test was missed as a result?

The instructor's. Again, a professional instructor should at least know the test centre locations. Even if it's a test centre they don't normally use, as long as they've agreed to present you for test at that centre, it's up to them to know how to get there and on time.

- can an instructor "force" hours upon the pupil to suit/fill their own schedule, against agreed hours with the school and can this agreement be overruled by the instructor?

Tricky one. Your contract is actually between you and the instructor. BSM staff on the telephone arrange all the bookings and act as agent between you and them, which does create the impression that "you've agreed with the school", but actually, they pass on this information and the instructor should agree this with you. If I were you, I wouldn't have signed for the full two hours the first time. I'd have annotated their sheet to read "1½ hours taken - ADI late!" before signing.

If I suspected that the first lesson was a sign of things to come and that an instructor was going to be troublesome, I'd get a refund of pre-paid lessons and start paying the instructor cash every time. That way, you can withhold cash if they're in breach of contract.

Having paid the money, it's gonna be hard to get it back. The school won't be liable, but you should at least put in a written complaint about the instructor as they really need to have words. You should also write to the instructor personally (c/o the school address if need be) demanding a refund of money for the time you didn't spend in the car. If she won't play ball, you should consider a county court claim. Check your contract carefully.

BSM are pretty bad, but the AA are just as useless when it comes to office / instructor communication. A lot of franchised instructors are a law unto themselves when it comes to service delivery as they know that work will be provided for them and their personal reputation doesn't mean as much to them as it would to a sole trader under his own name.

ElkyElky

I learned with BSM. I actually found the whole experience pleasant though a few times my instructor was late, I always demanded he give me the time back or a partial refund which he did without question.

Because the contract is with the instructor and not BSM, surely civil court action can be taken against him for the time you've lost? You've paid him for his time and he did not give you it so it's only right you get a refund for the lost time.

moneytroll

DaveF327 wrote: »

Tricky one. Your contract is actually between you and the instructor. BSM staff on the telephone arrange all the bookings and act as agent between you and them, which does create the impression that "you've agreed with the school", but actually, they pass on this information and the instructor should agree this with you. If I were you, I wouldn't have signed for the full two hours the first time. I'd have annotated their sheet to read "1½ hours taken - ADI late!" before signing.

This is where I feel I am getting no protection whatsoever. The school is not liable, the instructor says/does whatever she wants.

Anyway, just to say that I did in fact want to sign her sheet for 1 hour 30 minutes. I distinctly remember that when she handed me the sheet, she left the space for "time" blank. I inquired whether she is intending to charge me for two full hours, she responded that yes, she would and I should take it up with BSM if there was a problem.

Many thanks for the helpful comments. It helped me in the compilation of the letter and I will let you know how it all goes.