Problems with a free training course.

Casio1_2

Dear All,

I wonder if you can help me?

I am currently attending a customer service course (city and guilds level 1) which was arranged through the job centre but have had a number of problems with it.

Having received confirmation that I had been given a place on it, I phoned to see about enrollment etc and was told that I would enroll on wednesday of that week, and that in all probability the course would start the week after. It was also advertised as a four week course (and that I would need to go in 3 days a week). As to what those three days would be, the learners on the course would agree upon. As I volunteer at a local charity shop, it meant cutting back on my hours but that was ok, after all I was getting a free qualification at the end of it!!!

Only to then receive a call that the course registration was to be Tuesday and not wednesday. Which again was ok, if a little inconvenient (as I volunteer on that day). When I then enrolled, I received the course schedule and found out that that it was starting that wednesday and not a week later (as advertised), and that the days had already been booked (Weds, Thurs, Fri), also not as advertised. But again no problem.

Having started on the course, I found it interesting and the tutor to be more than capable. Learning about customer expectations, service standards etc..

Week 1 - the course tutor couldn't make it in for the Thursday session. But rather than letting everyone know..i.e. contacting the college who provide the course, who could then notify everyone prior to travelling there..we had to wait for two hours before we were told, as a result of harrassing a nice council lady, who was kind enough to chase it all up for us. So I wasted a day of my time, paid the bus fare and learnt nothing that day. It turned out that the tutor's journey had been disrupted by rail problems. Which he did apologise for at the next session (so I was ok with that).

Week 2 - course tutor didnt come in on the Friday session. But this time there was no word or message giving a reason. So we waited for over an hour only to be told that they couldnt get in touch with him. The college offered to send another tutor, but it would have meant starting that day over 2 hours late..and then with or without a lunch break (3 hrs wasted).

Oh and the kicker is that it turns out that it is a 3 week course..we were told this. We will also need a new tutor and that the exam is next Friday!!! So the two days that we have lost (almost a week in actual course terms, will not be made up!!

To say that I was mad (and most of all disappointed is an understatement). But what can I do? And apparently, the course told the job centre this (and did they tell me that it was a three week course), and did the college tell me this...no (even at enrollment)..

So I out two days learning and the fares on the bus and the time it took to get there for those two days (and the time I had to waste waiting for the tutor to turn up)!!!

Who should I complain to? The college website is most unhelpful? And will the fact that I arranged it through the job centre count against me?
When I spoke to them they said that I was a student there for all intents and purposes..but I didnt pay for the course? So I can hardly get a refund for the course fees? For people who dont have the money, £5.00 is a lot of money to waste!!!

Help, any advice as to what I can do would be much appreciated. (For reference..it was Barking and Dagenham college)..