RED driving school

lincroft1710

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.

Are you sure about that?

Car_54

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

If the OP's dispute was with an ADI, then the Registrar might (?) take an interest. But it isn't. The dispute is with a "driving school" which is really no more than a booking agency.

If I were the OP I'd take the small claims route, and cite the Unfair Contract Terms legislation. Also maybe involve BBC Watchdog, national and local papers ...

lincroft1710

Car_54 wrote: »

If the OP's dispute was with an ADI, then the Registrar might (?) take an interest. But it isn't. The dispute is with a "driving school" which is really no more than a booking agency.

If I were the OP I'd take the small claims route, and cite the Unfair Contract Terms legislation. Also maybe involve BBC Watchdog, national and local papers ...

Read the emboldened part of the quote in my post very carefully.

Car_54

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Read the emboldened part of the quote in my post very carefully.

I've read it, and it isn't true.

The Registrar has a relationship with the individual ADIs and PDIs who contract with RED, but no relationship whatsoever with the driving school itself.

The OP's dispute seems to be with RED. No matter how badly they may behave, it can't reflect on the "fit and proper" status of the individual instructors.

If the OP had a dispute with an ADI it would be a different matter.

For what it's worth, when driving instruction was first regulated in the 1960s there was a view that the schools should have to be approved, but the governemnt chose not to.

lincroft1710

Car_54 wrote: »

I've read it, and it isn't true.

No, you clearly haven't read it!

cajef

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

And the registrar does have power over diving schools

Underwater driving school?:D

lincroft1710

My point exactly, cajef.

Astronaughtwannabe

Car_54 wrote: »

I've read it, and it isn't true.

The Registrar has a relationship with the individual ADIs and PDIs who contract with RED, but no relationship whatsoever with the driving school itself.

The OP's dispute seems to be with RED. No matter how badly they may behave, it can't reflect on the "fit and proper" status of the individual instructors.

If the OP had a dispute with an ADI it would be a different matter.

For what it's worth, when driving instruction was first regulated in the 1960s there was a view that the schools should have to be approved, but the governemnt chose not to.

I think you'll find that the learner contracts with the instructor as well as the school.

Car_54

Astronaughtwannabe wrote: »

I think you'll find that the learner contracts with the instructor as well as the school.

Normally, with the instructor rather than the school. But in RED's case:

"You agree that monies paid in advance by you or on your behalf for driving lessons to be provided in the future will be paid to Driving School (Acceptances) Limited. Driving School (Acceptances) Limited will arrange payment to your Instructor on your behalf once your Instructor has provided you with the prepaid driving lessons. Lessons delivered to you will be redeemed against your oldest prepaid lesson payments."


Since the OP hasn't had the outstanding lessons, there's no instructor to have a dispute with.


In simple terms, the OP paid the money to RED and RED is sitting on it.

AmyHadley

meercat86 wrote: »

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.

meercat86, I'm going through the exact same thing you have described and I have seen others complain also. I would appreciate if you could share your experiences dealing with Red since your first posting.

Myself, I've phoned them twice, contacted the ombudsmen (who cannot help as the sale was made before 1st January 2015 and I'm assuming the same will apply to you) and I'm in the process of writing a scathing letter, if you could possibly share the address of the complaints department that would save me a third phone call lining their pockets.

Have you given any thought to making a complaint about them to Watch Dog given that the ombudsmen cannot offer assistance.