Refund for exam

JJ159

Hi all.
I would be very grateful if you could help and advise me on an issue.

I have recently applied to sit an exam about 3 days ago. The exam happens in late April. I have changed my mind and decided that I dont want to sit this exam anymore. It's just a written paper for an optional qualification which hundreds of people will sit across the country. As far as I understand, if I bought anything online, then I'm generally entitled to a refund even if it's simply because I've changed my mind. However, I understand that it is slightly different in this case as it's an exam that I've applied to sit for and not some product that I've bought from Amazon or eBay.

Am I, under law/consumer rights, entitled to a full refund if I gave them a call within 7 days or X days and say that I no longer want to sit the exam.
On their website, they say that if you wish to withdraw from the exam after the closing date for the application, you will have to forfeit your fee. The closing date has passed, (I literally applied for it a minute before the closing time). However, I was hoping that there might be some piece of law or consumer right that might still allow me to claim a refund despite what they say on their website.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read and I eagerly await your responses.
JJ


Edit: Another thing I just saw, I'm not sure if this is relevant but on my online account, it says "Your application is being processed." So that means it isn't all finalised yet... right? I'm not sure if this changes anything.

System

I don't know about legislation but a quick trawl with Google shows that the educational/ exam centres that I have found have a no refund after application closing date. This involved universities, colleges, professional bodies and exam centres

They are all either pulling a fast one (doubt it) or they are entitled to make that condition.

JJ159

Thanks for your reply !!!!!!.
Yeah unfortunately I'm just not aware if there is any piece of legislation that allows them to do that.
Would be really great to hear if anyone else knows anything about this.

JJG

JJ159 wrote: »

Thanks for your reply !!!!!!.
Yeah unfortunately I'm just not aware if there is any piece of legislation that allows them to do that.
Would be really great to hear if anyone else knows anything about this.

What you need is legislation that doesn't allow them to do this, rather than does.

bris

I would class it as a service so the CCR's do apply and you get 14 days to cancel. I know Universities and Colleges give you 14 days under the CCr's so I can't see why this is any different.


P.s I assume they haven't sent you anything you haven't downloaded anything that would deem the service to have started?

System

Universities and Colleges only give you up to 14 days or until application close date whichever comes first. Once applications close then no refund

JJ159

Thanks again guys for your replies. Really appreciate it.

bris wrote: »

I would class it as a service so the CCR's do apply and you get 14 days to cancel. I know Universities and Colleges give you 14 days under the CCr's so I can't see why this is any different.


P.s I assume they haven't sent you anything you haven't downloaded anything that would deem the service to have started?

I haven't done anything that would have deemed the service to be started.
Literally I've just booked for a written exam which happens on one particular day in April. Nothing else happens with that from now until then.

!!!!!! wrote: »

Universities and Colleges only give you up to 14 days or until application close date whichever comes first. Once applications close then no refund

If that's the case then I might be screwed because the close date for the applications for this exam has passed. As I mentioned in my initial post, I literally applied for it a minute or two before the deadline time ie at Sunday 11:58pm sort of.
Anyway, not to suggest in any way that I dont trust what you're saying is true, but is there any link or any source you can provide me with that says no refund after applications close? Would be grateful.

wealdroam

JJ159 wrote: »

I haven't done anything that would have deemed the service to be started.
Literally I've just booked for a written exam which happens on one particular day in April. Nothing else happens with that from now until then.

Sorry I can't help with your latest query, but would just like to comment on this point.

Nothing happens 'til the day of the examination?

I bet your name is already on several lists.
...registering your application with the examining board.
...seating arrangements - number of chairs
...etc, etc.

bris

wealdroam wrote: »

Sorry I can't help with your latest query, but would just like to comment on this point.

Nothing happens 'til the day of the examination?

I bet your name is already on several lists.
...registering your application with the examining board.
...seating arrangements - number of chairs
...etc, etc.

That's my thinking, even universities aren't exempt from the CCR's so after the deadline passes it would then go into motion as said above deeming the service to have started.