Free online course - cancellation fees

Suejarvis

I signed up for a free online course on mental health with Learning Curve Group. When I signed up online I didn’t read the full conditions as I was having laptop trouble. Within 9 days I realised that due to family problems I would not have time to commit to the course. I cancelled by email immediately. I had not started any of the course. 

I’ve now been told I have to pay £125 to cancel the course. 

I thought that if you signed anything at home that you had 14 days cooling off period with no comeback?  

I would be very grateful if you could advise how to deal with this. 

ThumbRemote

Free, or with the fees paid?

pinkshoes

What did the T&Cs say that you agreed to when you signed up for the course? All cancellation costs should have been made clear to you in the T&Cs, but these cannot contradict consumer rights. I am assuming you were signing up for personal interest and not as a work requirement?

When you say "FREE", do you mean there was no cost to anyone, or is it one where you are given funding to do it, so it is no cost to you?

Under consumer rights, courses that are provided in full within the 14 days cooling off period mean you lose the cooling off period e.g. you had already been given full access to the course. 

davidmcn

Judging from the current website, the cancellation fee isn't exactly buried away in the small print:
https://www.learningcurvegroup.co.uk/courses/learners/level-two-certificate-understanding-behaviour-challenges

Ectophile

davidmcn said:

Judging from the current website, the cancellation fee isn't exactly buried away in the small print:
https://www.learningcurvegroup.co.uk/courses/learners/level-two-certificate-understanding-behaviour-challenges

It isn't actually free, either.  Somebody else is paying for it.

Lorian

"I confirm that if I choose to withdraw from the course after submitting this form without a valid reason, I am required to pay £125."
Valid reasons being?

bris

Did you access the course? If so the cooling off period ended the moment you did.

unholyangel

bris said:

Did you access the course? If so the cooling off period ended the moment you did.

Provision of the service within the cancellation period does not end the right to cancel, unless the service is performed in full and providing other conditions are met. 

Those conditions being that you requested the service begin before the end of the cancellation period and that you were given all of the necessary information in a durable medium before conclusion of the contract, including that provision of the service in the cancellation period would make you liable for a proportionate amount (to the whole contract price) for the services provided up to the moment you cancel and that the right would be lost once the service is performed in full. 

MalMonroe

According to Which (as endorsed by the UK government) you DO have the right to cancel an online course if you have changed your mind within the 14 day cooling off period, under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. Here is the link -
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/i-want-to-cancel-a-course-i-booked-online-what-are-my-rights

If I were you, after reading the info in the link above, I'd contact the company again and tell them that you have a right to cancel within 14 days, without penalty

You advised them as soon as you possibly could, and you did not access the learning materials. 

If you need any further help, although the article is very comprehensive, you could also try contacting Citizens Advice.

MalMonroe

bris said:

Did you access the course? If so the cooling off period ended the moment you did.

OP said she did not access it.

bris

There doesn't seem to be any information on cancellation rights. Maybe this is because it's government funded and free to the client.
Not really sure about this one tbh, suggest OP emails them and tries to quote the 14day cancellation rights with them and see what they come back with.