Driving lessons scam

embob74

Hoping somebody has some advice or info for me....
My DD found a company that do 10 hours of driving lessons for £99. I paid yesterday by debit card over the phone. They told me the lessons would have to be in 2 hour blocks which I was happy with.
DD had her first lesson today and was asked to sign a contract which stated 4 hours of the lessons are only to be used prior to her driving test so could be quite far into the future.
Additionally if she does not have a subsequent lesson within 2 weeks of the previous one she forfeits her 4 hours!
I'm furious - this was never mentioned when I paid or prior to the lesson. My daughter is 17 so I don't even think the contract will be legally valid.
I am going to phone the company (KanKan) tomorrow but wondered if this is standard practice and what I can do about it?

TrickyWicky

You can't be asked to sign a contract for something you've paid for days after payment. They've already made their agreement with you and if they've not mentioned this over the phone then I'd use your cooling off period and end the agreement and get a refund.

I learnt with the AA. Very good bunch but don't bother with their CDs for the theory test, buy one of those other ones from waterstones which are far superior.

[Deleted User]

Sounds like a dodgy/cr*p driving school that has to rely on ripping people off to get custom rather than recommendations.

When starting with a new instructor just book single lessons at a time and pay when the lesson takes place. This is what I did when I was learning to drive. Saves all the hassle.

Look at learning to drive as an investment instead of trying to get as many lessons for the lowest price.

waynedance

Cheapest is not always the best in these matters. Best to find someone that has good reviews ask friends or people at work.

robbies_gal

ten hours for 99? no wonder theyre trying to back track

tell em to stick it and ask for a refund

EdGasket

Didn't the rediculously low price and silly name (KanKan) ring any alarm bells for you? The going rate for lessons is around £20 per lesson. Best to ask around your friends and see who they know and can recommend.

daveyjp

Any company which offers lots of lessons for not much money is going to do you over. They will probably add lessons to get their money back. You can't provide lessons for £10 an hour and cover all running costs.

Cancel immediately stating the terms and conditions were not explained when you booked and they are too onerous for you to continue. There are bad instructors out there, last thing you want is to be tied in with someone who can't do the job.

Get your cash back, get your daughter to speak to her friends and find out who they used. Keep a look at around your local area too and see which instrcutors you see often, these are the busy ones - look for the ones without 10 for £100 stickers on the car.

Honeydog

Report them to Trading Standards.

I_was_just_wondering

I just found their website... I think that the T&Cs for this offer read like something a dodgy double glazing company would write. I'm sure they would bamboozle many 17 year olds.

Firstly...

TrickyWicky wrote: »

You can't be asked to sign a contract for something you've paid for days after payment. They've already made their agreement with you and if they've not mentioned this over the phone then I'd use your cooling off period and end the agreement and get a refund..

Judging by the website, Kan kan might argue that the OP bought a gift voucher for £100, and the Daughter used the gift voucher to buy lessons. But it depends if that was explained to the OP over the phone.

Essentially, their T&Cs would be much more transparent if they made the following clear:

1. You will probably have to pay full price for at least 35 lessons in order to get the 10 lessons for £100. (They don't seem to mention what full price is.)

2. It is up to the instructor (not the learner) to decide exactly how many full price lessons are needed. (Presumably a cash strapped instructor could say 70 lessons are required.)

3. The learner cannot book the test without the instructor's permission.

Maybe it's a resonable offer - I don't know. But I would not trust a company that framed their T&Cs as they do.

sam_bon

KAN KAN DRIVING SCHOOL FOR WOMEN

STAY AWAY!!!

Bought 5 lessons for £60 over the phone before xmas as a Christmas present for my girlfriend. My girlfriends parents also done the same thing for her Christmas Prsent.

So...Girlfriend received 2 gift vouchers and has gone to book and have been told:

1) Theres only one voucher per person?

(These are gift vouchers not discount vouchers)

Then after discussion they said:

2) Well she can only have 7 and half "Maybe" 8 lessons??

3) You have to save two lessons from the voucher for just before the test.

Now I'm really not happy about the above after paying for 10 lessons we should get 10 lessons surely???

Their response was...well thats your options? Nothing we can do.

How is it fair that we pay for 10 but only get 7 and half maybe 8?? Not sure why its Maybe??

Anyone else had problems with them?? I've had friends use and Instructors are always canceling!

Who can I complain to?? Please help because I feel they are ripping me off??

Thanks

Sam

daveyjp

To complain contact the DSA:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/dsa/about/contact/dsa-approved-driving-instructor-branch/