Secondary School making 75% profit - help?

Fenchel

Hello!

In need of a centre in which to sit my IGCSE later this year, I approached the only school in my area which offers external places. I purchased a single IGCSE exam place (single exam, no coursework) for £120, and the school cited a £30 registration charge that would be 'good forever' if I decided to do more IGCSEs there.

I paid up, but later searched online to find edexcel's price list. The charge for the IGCSE should be just £37.80. When I queried the price breakdown with the head of exams at the school, he responded in writing with:

'We are not a charity and we make money out of private candidates to fund school events.' :eek:

I do not want to pay an extra 75% charge on top of an already generous registration fee, especially given that this was not made clear at the time of the transaction. If I had known of the cost break down I would not have continued the transaction. I feel daft for not having been mo assertive when I saw the charge, but all i can do now is be clear and informed on the situation. I will request a refund but I would like to know my consumer rights so that I can go in prepared. Ay ideas?

Summary:
IGCSE exam place purchased from state secondary school
I am not affiliated to the school in any shape or form
Purchased with cash but have a hand written receipt
Purchase made last week
Normal edexcel price is £37.80, school charged me £120 including £30 registration.

Fosterdog

If you made the purchase on their premises then you have no legal right to a refund, unless it is in the terms of the contract.

wearethedogs

Why shouldn't you pay a contribution towards the heating, lighting, maintenance of building and facilities, administrator's wages, invigilator's wages, upkeep of car park, security etc. ? Or should the tax payer pay for all of this so you can use it ?

Bennifred

Bear in mind that the fee you found online is just the fee that the exam board charges the school - there are other costs involved for the school when it takes external candidates. Premises, invigilators, administration etc. They are not obliged to accept external candidates and may have priced high to put them off (there is much more work involved than with internal candidates). Do you have an alternative venue which would allow you to take the exam? It may be Hobson's choice, I'm afraid.

bris

Do you know how much profit Asda make from a tin of beans or Ford from a Focus car? No and you have no right to, you paid what was agreed, deal done.

harrys_dad

£37.80 is just the entrance fee for the examination. The school has to provide a space for the exam, an invigilator, somewhere secure to keep papers, an examination secretary to ensure entries are made, a Head of Centre to take overall responsibility etc etc.

You are getting much more than the price of the entry fee. As a private candidate you are also entering a marketplace. Examinations can only be taken in accredited centres, I doubt you will find a cheaper one.

Fenchel

Hmm, a bit surprised about the level of responses here. I don't think it should come into consumer rights issues but I do pay taxes (not sure why this was assumed to be to the contrary?) and heating/lighting/staff etc is a null argument because first, I paid their registration fee which covers that and which I am not contesting and second, I am visiting for one 3 hour period during the summer months when their students are sitting a simultaneous exam, so no heating or lighting is probably required but would be on anyway. Is anyone able to verify whether I am able to reasonably request a refund as I was not made aware of the unrelated charges for 'school events' and this pertains to a school and not a business with clear refund policies? Thanks in advance!

bris

Refund policies do not need to be in place. When no policies are present you rely on contract law, contract law in your case would not make any allowance for a cancellation.

Your going to have to rely on the school letting you cancel without penalty, have you asked them yet?

wearethedogs

The point you make about the heating and lighting being on anyway is invalid. By that logic you should be able to board a train for free because "it was going that way anyway". Taxpayers, including yourself, pay for schools to give children an education. Not so that any Tom, !!!!!! or Harry not in statutory education can go and sit an exam to enhance their own earning prospects.

You can request a refund. They may refuse. Are you sure you want to kick up a fuss? They may well give you a refund and ask that you do not sit any future exams there.

WestonDave

Basic contract law applies - a place at the school to take the exam was offered to you at £120, you accepted and a contract was formed - its now binding. You are free in law to make a bad bargain provided its done at free will which yours was - the time to do the research is before you contracted with them, not afterwards. There are certain exceptions to contract law for faulty goods (doesn't apply) or distance selling (doesn't apply) but not because later on you decide the price was a bit steep.

There is however another point - even if you can nullify the contract and get your money back there is absolutely no way in law the school would have to take you for the price you decide you want to pay and as its the only school in the area, you are then stuffed if they simply refuse to take you.

The fact that they price to make a profit doesn't give you the right to a refund regardless of the fact that profit wasn't disclosed nor because it was to raise money for school events.

harrys_dad

Is the school an Academy? If so, most people do not know that these are state funded private schools and can set their own policies on virtually everything.