Trades Gateway- need a way out!

bex_84

Good evening, in an attempt to keep my post to the point I have used the questions in the 'sticky'. I have also written 'I' whereas it is actually my Husband but I was present the whole time and have all the paperwork and have made the calls myself so have all the info.
To give an overview my husband popped his details into a website to enquire about a qualification. This prompted a Trades Gateway sales rep to text and arrange to come to our home and sell the dream of being a self employed electrician via their online learning. He explained that he would arrange the funding which would be repaid on a pay as you go basis with cancellation in writing and 1 months notice required to 'get out'. The reality is that he returned a day later with a 'Fixed Sum Loan Agreement' headed Career Finance 4 Trade Skills Ltd which my husband signed. A year on and the course is impossible to complete. Only 1 module has been done and 13 monthly payments of £125 have been made. I called and asked for their cancellation policy to be told that there isn't one. Once the cooling off period is done you're stuck except in 'extreme circumstances'. Examples given were terminal illness or leaving the country.

What did you buy? Electrical course £4925
When did you buy it? June 2016
Where from? (internet or in store - it DOES make a difference) My living room! Sales rep

How did you pay? debit card for £50 deposit then standing order of £125 x39months (13 months so far)

What went wrong? The course isn't as described and the sales rep reassured that I could cancel at any time and stop paying.

What are the vendors telling you? That cancellations outside the cooling off period are not accepted. Verbally said 'except in extreme circumstances such as terminal illness or leaving the country, Cant find this on any paperwork though.

What solution or remedy are you looking for? In an ideal world a refund, realistically to cancel the course and for the training company to refund the unused portion of fees back to the Finance company.

On googling it seems there are a lot of people that have fallen into this trap. Is there anything I can do?

unholyangel

Who is the contracting party for the course? Is it the same company providing the finance or different (even if its part of the same group....ie Career Finance 4 Trade Skills Ltd providing finance and Careers 4 Trade Skills Ltd for the course)?

What did the sales rep provide you in durable medium at the time of entering the contract? What does the paperwork state in regard to cancellation? Why is the course impossible to complete & in what way isn't it as described?

bex_84

Hi, Thank you for your reply. The training provider is Marlborough Information Services Ltd, trading as Trades Gateway and the finance company is separate CF4TS Ltd. They have some overlapping of directors and their addresses are on the same area but are separate.

The paperwork we were left includes the finance agreement as described above and a 'Registration form' which states that the agreement is with Trades Gateway but also features the CF4TS logo along with the terms and conditions.

The course started off at a manageable level with the first book then the second book was a massive leap. When contacted for tutor support they advised my husband to 'work through the book and complete the TMA's (Tutor marked assessments). Which isn't any help when you don't understand the content of the material.

All paperwork says 14 day cancellation period. There is no info about cancelling after this. I did ask for a copy of the cancellation policy and was told there isn't one, you're either in the 14 days and can or you're over 14days and can't.

Verbally the sales rep assured us that this wasn't the case but I can't prove what he said and my husband did sign the agreements without reading the T's and C's which was a huge mistake.

I'm hoping their is some technicality that we can use. Is there a code of practice they have to follow or licence's required for signing people up to finance in their homes?

bex_84

One of the points on the T's & C's says 'Your personal data is held in accordance with our Privacy Policy, a copy of which will be provided to you with your copy of this contract'

No such policy was provided. Would this be something I could use?

[Deleted User]

You seem to be implying that your husband isn't capable of completing the course. If that's the case, its tough, I think. It's not the companies fault if he doesn't have the ability to do it.

bex_84

I take your point however I don't believe the purpose of the company is to actually train people, only to {Edited by Forum Team} them. A reputable company wouldn't {Edited by Forum Team} or have such unprofessional customer service staff.
Regardless of this is there not legislation or licensing involved in signing people up for loans in their own home beyond allowing a cooling off period? It seems like something that would be regulated.

forgotmyname

Online or distance or in store purchases/ signing loan agreements may have different cancellation terms but none after a whole year.

You had the cooling odd period to cancel the contract.

The rep said you could cancel at any time and stop paying. If you can prove this then you maybe able to take it further. No proof then you have little option.

Salesmen make their living on commission so the odd little lie or maybe hinting at being able to cancel at any time without actually saying that in black and white, if it gets them the sale then they get to eat that week.

The terms and conditions you signed will have outlined the terms and conditions. Did you not read them at the time and especially within the cancellation period?

wealdroam

bex_84 wrote: »

I take your point however I don't believe the purpose of the company is to actually train people, only to {Edited by Forum Team} them. A reputable company wouldn't {Edited by Forum Team} or have such unprofessional customer service staff.

That's a bit unfounded. Are you basing that on complaints you've read on the internet?
Do you understand more people write reviews when complaining that write reviews to praise a company?

bex_84 wrote: »

Regardless of this is there not legislation or licensing involved in signing people up for loans in their own home beyond allowing a cooling off period? It seems like something that would be regulated.

Consumer credit is regulated.
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 for a start.
The Financial Conduct Authority is a regulator, and The Financial Ombudsman Service helps resolve problems.

So what do you propose should be done 'beyond allowing a cooling off period'?

The problem you, or your husband, have is that a binding agreement has been entered into.
It has already been suggested that it may not be the course provider's fault that your husband is unable to complete the course.
If you want to cancel this course because it is below the standard expected, then you will have to provide better evidence than 'I don't believe the purpose of the company is to actually train people, only to {Edited by Forum Team} them'.
You need to show exactly where the course provider is not keeping their side of the agreement.

bex_84

Wealdroam- I base my assertion on the contact we have had with them.

Thanks for the info regarding CCA, FCA, and FOS. I will have a look into this.

I understand the difficulty of our situation as we should have taken less notice of what the rep said and more of the T's and C's. I can't undo what is done and so am exploring and researching incase there is anything that can be done going forward.

Forgotmyname- I have as much sympathy for Sales reps who tell lies to eat that week as you seem to have for people who sign agreements without reading the small print.

Thanks all for your time.

Aaron66

I've had a similar problem with these. when the man come to my house he told me information not accurate. I was told when I had the choice between the lower and higher electrical course that if I took the higher one I could go back to the lower one as long as I hadn't started the higher part. doing so would mean more money would of been paid off and smaller payments if I did go down. when I went to do this was told that he did not say this and what proof I had. I was also told the place of study was closer and I could drive there everyday when in fact there was not and would require me to book a hotel and once completion of the course was over would be refunded up to £30 a day. I said to them can I just lose out on the money od paid which was around £2000 and just not do it. I was told if I quit the course off I would be handed the full bill to make payment of. the course I am on is over £7000.

emilymk82

Hi All



So my partner signed up to trades gateway to do Domestic Plumbing Course costing £6k! All was fine until about a week ago when he made contact with them to request new course materials so he can pick up his studies again (personal circumstnaces mean he doesnt have access to the study material) He was told on the phone that his time to complete the course has now lapsed, despite him being sold a no time limit course, he tried to argue this with them but they refuse to help & gave the normal speil of read your T&CS ect.
The loan to pay for the course was paid off last year - so hes paid £6k for somethign he'll never be able to complete!

None of the contacts numbers my partner has now work - main customer service number tutor contacts ect

Has anyone else had this issue with Trades Gateway and able to offer any help/advice