Driving instructor, taken my money

Aquamania

fiendishly wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions, btw. Does anyone know the answer to my trading standards question? Is this sort of thing in their remit?

If he's the respected, long standing instructor you say, especially passing other candidates in recent days, then no that is not something trading standrads will usually get involved in; they rarely get involved in an individual's dispute.

Having siad that, I'm not sure there is any dispute. Nothing in your posts seem to suggest there is a dispute (other than your current inability to contact him) and the actions you describe doesn't suggest the instructor no longer wished to provide tuition to your son

Aquamania

fiendishly wrote: »

Not in the phone book macca, not many people are these days.

fiendishly wrote: »

I'm pretty sure he could untag his name from any post of mine. What about the small claim court?
I've had an idea, I might get a friend to enquire about lessons, see if she gets a call back fom him.

Your posting style seems to imply you are hell bent on creating a problem for this instructor.

If the instructor is as well respected locally as you suggest, it won't be hard to find out where he lives or trades from.

Court action should only be considered as a matter of last resort ... and you'll need an address for that anyway :cool:

fiendishly

I disagree aquamania, he's pocketed my £290 and is pretending he's never heard of me.
No, there's no paper tail. It was cash, my son handed it to him during the driving lesson. I thought we were engaged in a professional business relationship given that my son had already had 12 lessons with him. It was beyond conceivable that this would happen.

fiendishly

I have an address, I'm not prepared to knock on his door. He hasn't returned my calls or replied to my texts and he has removed his Facebook page tags from my posts.
'I am hell bent on creating a problem for this instructor' bite me aquamania, he's created the problem. I just want my money back.

Money_maker

Aquamania - please read the whole thread. OP already has his address.

OP, have you spoken to your son to see if anything untoward was said by the instructor. Did he say he would be in touch? Did your son get on well with him? How was it left once the money was handed over?

fiendishly

Thank you money maker. My son said it was normal, fine. He said he'd 'give him a receipt next time'

DCFC79

I find this just wrong on the instructors part, taking payment for lessons and then saying he doesn't remember the OP. Get another friend to arrange some lessons and be there at the arranged time to confront him and ask for a refund (or try recorded letters first). I wonder if hes done it before and why has he done it.

eta
in fact arcon has posted some good advice below.

arcon5

comeandgo wrote: »

I would not say three weeks with no answer is not uncommonly long. Have you gone to his house? Have you seen his car around? I would imagine after twelve lessons your son would know his routes, you may try going round it.i see you suggest writing, I don't think it needs to be nasty yet as you don't know why he has not replied. He may have a family tragedy and you would feel really bad if you had went in all guns blazing.

Are you for real.... 3 weeks is a crazy amount of time to wait for a response from a driving instructor!!! I'd expect a reply within 24 hours - 48 max unless he was on holiday or had mitigating circumstances, which doesn't appear to be the case here

arcon5

Macca83 wrote: »

I'd maybe be wary of turning up on his doorstep too. What means of contact do you have? Does he provide a landline number or a mobile? Is he in the phone book? The majority of our local instructors used their home numbers so quite often you'd end up speaking to a wife or partner

I wouldn't. After 3 weeks of no contact in ops situation i'd say knocking on the door would be fair game. He can't avoid answering questions then. Op would also know of his intentions at this point also.

fiendishly wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions, btw. Does anyone know the answer to my trading standards question? Is this sort of thing in their remit?

Threaten with small claims court. Reporting to TS is more of a side line action - they will log the complaint and if he's a serial offender they may take action. But that's independent to your action.

Edit:
Sorry just seen your more recent posts.
Court would be complicated if he denies ever receiving the money. But he hasn't really communicated at this point so it's hard to say what he would respond with.
I'd send a text saying something like, since paying you £x on y date you've not responded to my calls or messages, so I trust you'll be returning my money? And when?. He may not reply, in fact probably won't reply, but if he did and didn't deny having the money it would act in your favor. Anything really to try put the balance of probabilities in your favor without giving him ideas, like denying he was paid the money.
Even if he didn't reply, you could give a court a trail of attempted phone calls and messages - and his complete silence may even go in your favor in incriminating him somewhat.

mrmechanic

If he is a registered ADI, phone the DSA and let them know you are having a problem with him explaining the situation and his refusal to reply to you or acknowledge knowing you after giving your son lessons.

Only problem is the no receipt for the money paid. However he will not want any problems from the DSA so he might just regain his memory.