Child's Swimming lesson refund advice help needed pls

Flowers1_2

Hello

I am new to the forum and truly hoping to get some help if possible please.

A new swimming pool has opened and in May as soon as they began to take bookings for lessons I booked my child for private one to one lessons.

I had to pay upfront for a full term of lessons starting in September and ending in December £279.

At the time of booking I asked for a female swim teacher as my child would feel more comfortable being taught by a female and I explained that in November I would need to make the lesson time earlier than the original time slot I had chosen. I also asked to be told the name of the teacher as I want to know the background and qualification of the teacher who my child will be having lessons with.

They told me that they would request a female teacher, that they would know who would be teaching by end of July and that it would be possible to change the time slot but it may not be the same teacher.

Since booking I have felt uneasy especially since a visit to the pool last week where the lady at the desk told me firstly their is no guarantee my child will have a female teacher, secondly they have not yet decided who will be teaching the private lessons and finally because I received an email from the owner regarding changing the November time slot saying:-

"My staff were right in saying that it may be possible. it would depend on the ability of the 2pm class and the availability. If these are both Ok then yes we could move her. I am sorry I cannot give you a firm answer but we are still taking bookings and we do this through the term as well. Once we get to November you can ask I we can then tell you the availability."

I am really not happy with the whole thing they have taken quite happily £279 of my savings but they are not able to tell me who the teacher will be, whether it will be a female and whether I can change the time slot in November. I feel that I have been duped into paying and it seems like they want to take the money and then they don't care after.

They say on their paperwork that absolutely no refunds will be given in any circumstance unless they can not allocate the time slot you asked for.

I would be most grateful to find out my rights as a consumer with regard to this situation and what I could do to get a refund especially as I have paid for lessons and they have not even started yet. What can I do?

Thank you so much for any help.

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Flowers1 wrote: »

I would be most grateful to find out my rights as a consumer with regard to this situation and what I could do to get a refund especially as I have paid for lessons and they have not even started yet. What can I do?

Thank you so much for any help.

It seems that the pool have been consistent in not guaranteeing a female teacher - they said you could request one, but that isn't guaranteed. However they also said you would be told the teacher by the end of July, which hasn't happened, and that it would be possible to change the time slot but now that's in doubt.

The verbal promises form part of your contract with them, although it's always difficult to prove what someone said. Legally, as they have broken the verbal agreement they have breached the contract so you should be entitled to a refund if desired.

I would be tempted to reply stating something like "When booking the course of lessons I was told that it definitely would be possible to change times in November, not that it may be possible. As I'm sure you appreciate I don't want to be left with my daughter only able to attend half a term of lessons. Would it therefore be possible to cancel the booking and obtain a refund of the money paid?"

Flowers1_2

Hello thank you so much for your kind advice, I have written to the pool today and am now awaiting a response.