HGV training refund!

Bongzilla39

Ok. Might come up a bit currently 

I Contacted HGV training broker. They put me in touch with a training provider. 

A phone call later and all the usual sales pitch I signed up for the course and paid 2k. 

Later that day they sent me a handful of emails. One containing a link to help with cv writing. One containing doctors details who I could contact to take a medical. 

And one about how to enrol on the theory revision.

The very next day I realised this was currently unaffordable for me and emailed them to cancel and obtain a refund that day. I checked the T&Cs and was well in the 14 day period stated. 

I then called them the following Monday to confirm this. They stated I would not obtain a full refund due to services already provided and may charge up to £600! 

That it can take up to 21 days. I find this pretty tough. At no point during the sign up call was I informed that the full amount or parts were non refundable? 

The salesman was pretty keen on me replying to one email whilst I was on the phone that I wanted training and recruitment info (choosing option 1). Was this my point of no return! Again wasn’t clear. 

It even says in t&cs if you don’t activate the revision theory you won’t be charged for that. 

Granted this is early days as they haven’t contacted me yet to tell me what refund I will receive. But I just wanted some advice / similar experiences as to my rights if they do come back and not offer a full refund due to services already provided in 3 emails!

thanks all 

Aylesbury_Duck

Bongzilla39 said:

Ok. Might come up a bit currently 

I Contacted HGV training broker. They put me in touch with a training provider. 

A phone call later and all the usual sales pitch I signed up for the course and paid 2k. 

Later that day they sent me a handful of emails. One containing a link to help with cv writing. One containing doctors details who I could contact to take a medical. 

And one about how to enrol on the theory revision.

The very next day I realised this was currently unaffordable for me and emailed them to cancel and obtain a refund that day. I checked the T&Cs and was well in the 14 day period stated. 

I then called them the following Monday to confirm this. They stated I would not obtain a full refund due to services already provided and may charge up to £600! 

That it can take up to 21 days. I find this pretty tough. At no point during the sign up call was I informed that the full amount or parts were non refundable? 

The salesman was pretty keen on me replying to one email whilst I was on the phone that I wanted training and recruitment info (choosing option 1). Was this my point of no return! Again wasn’t clear. 

It even says in t&cs if you don’t activate the revision theory you won’t be charged for that. 

Granted this is early days as they haven’t contacted me yet to tell me what refund I will receive. But I just wanted some advice / similar experiences as to my rights if they do come back and not offer a full refund due to services already provided in 3 emails!

thanks all 

The 14 day cooling-off period ends if you begin using the service voluntarily, which it sounds like you did.  You're therefore not entitled to a full refund, but nor can they retain your full £2,000.  If they can provide reasonable evidence that they have so far spent £600 on you, then you're entitled to £1,400 back.  They may, for example, have registered you with the doctor.

Wait and see what they come back with, ask for a breakdown of whatever amount they want to retain, and take it from there.  Come back for advice at that point, because people will be able to advise if any of the amount is unreasonable and open to challenge.

MattMattMattUK

Does HGV training come under consumer rights, or as it is professional trading would it be classed as a business transaction?

molerat

MattMattMattUK said:

Does HGV training come under consumer rights, or as it is professional trading would it be classed as a business transaction?

I would say that as OP is likely an individual and not a business .............

Bongzilla39

How would that change things? If it was a business transaction? 

Thanks 

MattMattMattUK

molerat said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Does HGV training come under consumer rights, or as it is professional trading would it be classed as a business transaction?

I would say that as OP is likely an individual and not a business .............

They might not be a business, but is training for business classed as a business service. Eg. they do not need to be a Ltd company or even registered as a sole trader for certain transactions to be classed as B2B, I am curious if this is one of those. 

Bongzilla39

They’re called easyasHGV if that helps 

Aylesbury_Duck

Bongzilla39 said:

How would that change things? If it was a business transaction? 

Thanks 

If you are a business, then consumer rights don't apply, and any resolution will depend on the terms of the contract.  If you're just a regular member of the public paying for HGV training then I would have thought you're a consumer.

neilmcl

MattMattMattUK said:

molerat said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Does HGV training come under consumer rights, or as it is professional trading would it be classed as a business transaction?

I would say that as OP is likely an individual and not a business .............

They might not be a business, but is training for business classed as a business service. Eg. they do not need to be a Ltd company or even registered as a sole trader for certain transactions to be classed as B2B, I am curious if this is one of those. 

The same could be said for any type of training or educational/vocational service. Just because you might use something to further a potential career doesn't mean it's a business service from the outset.

Ditzy_Mitzy

I don't think that this is a business to business transaction in any way.  The OP was looking for HGV training as a private individual only.  He's not employed by a firm to drive a lorry and he's not running his own company with a lorry, so there's no specific current business purpose for him learning to do it.  He is merely seeking to gain a qualification, which may also be used privately.  Lots of people, equestrians and amateur motor racers for example, need Class 2 licences to drive the vehicles that are integral to their hobbies.  This is no different to a teenager learning to drive a car so that he or she can seek employment in roles that either require driving to, or driving as a part of.  

bris

It's unclear what services the OP actually started. reading an email with a handful of links isn't starting a service, using the links and actually acting on them would. 

So OP did you book the doctor, enroll on the theory revision etc. Reading the Email would not be enough to "start the service"

Like any other sales new doors and windows etc just giving a quote doesn't start the service.

Is it a B2B contract? I would say no, they may say different but I would certainly challenge any deduction they try to make on this.