RED driving school

meercat86

Hi,

I would be really grateful for some advice. We purchased some driving lessions through RED driving school last year - paid around 800 i think for the package. My brother used some of this but then went away to university. When he came back for summer hols the company is telling us that it's a new policy that all sessions have to be used within 6 months or the money is lost.

We were not told of this - didn't receive any emails etc telling us about the change in policy. We complained to the company and received a phone call where they basically told us that we have lost 400 plus pounds.

Obviously we're quite upset about this. It really is a large amount of money to loose. I was wondering if any one could recommend where to take this to next?

Thank you.

forgotmyname

Calmly explain that you didnt buy a new policy and do not wish to buy a new policy, your terms and conditions did not state this when you purchased it.

Astronaughtwannabe

The senior examiner for ADIs (Instructors) tends to put the fear of God into them.

Ask RED where it stated that in the original terms and if they can't produce it then complain as above.

Car_54

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

The senior examiner for ADIs (Instructors) tends to put the fear of God into them.

Ask RED where it stated that in the original terms and if they can't produce it then complain as above.

Do you mean the ADI Registrar?

He/she has no power whatever over driving schools.

The OP needs to look at the terms of whatever they bought last year. If the "new policy" is indeed new, then it's unenfocable.

A stiff "letter before action" is the best course, followed if necessary by the small claims court.

meercat86

Unfortunately the terms and conditions are found via a link from the original email and have been updated.

Sooler

Wayback Machine has some archived copies
http://web.archive.org/web/*/www.reddrivingschool.com/terms-and-conditions/

"Prepaid lessons must be taken by you within six months of the date of your original payment" was present in 2012

Astronaughtwannabe

Car_54 wrote: »

Do you mean the ADI Registrar?

He/she has no power whatever over driving schools.

The OP needs to look at the terms of whatever they bought last year. If the "new policy" is indeed new, then it's unenfocable.

A stiff "letter before action" is the best course, followed if necessary by the small claims court.

No, I mean the SE ADI.


And the registrar does have power over diving schools if you consider that the instructors have to be 'fit and proper' persons to retain their licence. It's a good one to pull out of the bag given it can be interpreted very broadly.

Astronaughtwannabe

OP, you might still have some comeback despite the terms. You could go down the route of it being an unfair term (Google "UTCCR". It might be worth quoting with the threat of court if they don't cough up, coz let's face it - there's no good reason not to honour the lessons paid for other than greed.

Car_54

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

No, I mean the SE ADI.


And the registrar does have power over diving schools if you consider that the instructors have to be 'fit and proper' persons to retain their licence. It's a good one to pull out of the bag given it can be interpreted very broadly.

But the dispute isn't with an ADI, it's with RED, who don't employ any ADIs.

Astronaughtwannabe

And if the Prime Minister complained to the company you work for about the fitted kitchen you made?

meercat86

Hi,

Thank you for the advice. Had yet another phone call from them - again completely pointless. Absolutely refuse to budge on anything. Going to write a formal written complaint (have finally given us the complaints dept address after much discussion).
Is there an ombudsman etc?

Thank you