Driving School Refund Help

Ohnoman

I recently tried to buy an intensive driving course off of a driving school where they would find an instructor, book lessons and the test for me. A week before my test, my instructor said he would not be able to make my test date, so I contacted the driving school and they couldn't organise me anything for that day, so I had to cancel my test.

I am trying to get a (nearly) full refund from the driving school, as I have not at all received what I believe was sold which was an intensive course up to right before the test date.

According to them they only work as an agent between me and the instructor, so I'd have to get my lessons refunded from him. I've tried pressing them but they're only going to agree to refund the test and a paltry amount for "inconvenience". 

What can I do in this situation?

Thank you.

[Deleted User]

What are the terms of your booking?

It sounds as if you may have had all your lessons but then cancelled the test. If that's correct, it doesn't sound likely that you would get a (nearly) full refund.

Ohnoman

Deleted_User said:

What are the terms of your booking?

It sounds as if you may have had all your lessons but then cancelled the test. If that's correct, it doesn't sound likely that you would get a (nearly) full refund.

What terms specifically? As for the test I was forced to cancel because there was no way I would be able to take it. My instructor couldn't attend and the driving school said they couldn't find anybody either.

[Deleted User]

Terms around service, cancellations and refunds.

Ergates

Ohnoman said:

I recently tried to buy an intensive driving course off of a driving school where they would find an instructor, book lessons and the test for me. A week before my test, my instructor said he would not be able to make my test date, so I contacted the driving school and they couldn't organise me anything for that day, so I had to cancel my test.

I am trying to get a (nearly) full refund from the driving school, as I have not at all received what I believe was sold which was an intensive course up to right before the test date.

According to them they only work as an agent between me and the instructor, so I'd have to get my lessons refunded from him. I've tried pressing them but they're only going to agree to refund the test and a paltry amount for "inconvenience". 

What can I do in this situation?

Thank you.

Of the course that you paid for, how much of it did you receive?

If you received all the instruction and it was only the test that you missed, then I think it unlikely you'll be able to get a nearly full refund - unless you can demonstrate that the cost of the part you missed made up the bulk of the cost of the course.

pinkshoes

What EXACTLY did you sign up to?

We could do with seeing ALL the terms or name the driving school you booked through. 

I'm assuming you paid the driving school, and they then paid an instructor? In which case, you need to seek any refund due through the driving school.

Or did you pay the instructor directly?

Who booked the test? And if you booked it, who told you to book it?

Surely you can just re-book another test on a date that your instructor CAN do? You can't have a full refund just because they couldn't' make the test date as you still had all the lessons.

400ixl

If you had the lessons then you can't claim them back. Usually a couple of hours are held back for the pre-test lesson and the test itself, those you should be entitled to, along with any costs for the test itself (assuming you weren't able to cancel and get those funds back).

If you haven't since taken and passed a test, what might be more suitable is to re-arrange the test for a time the instructor can make and ask for a couple of additional hours (over the couple they still likely owe) to get you back up to speed and to use the car for the test.

sheramber

Until you tell us how many, if any, of the lessons you had nobody ca know what your position is.

I know locally you could have a  lesson everyday for a week and take your test. It was a complete package. 

What did you sign up for and what have you received?

Ditzy_Mitzy

The suggestion appears to be that the driving school provided a block of lessons, but were unable to complete the test element of the intensive driving course.  You cannot 'unlearn' to drive, so the knowledge gained in the lessons that were provided has some value.  The most sensible thing would be to book a test privately and arrange for a local instructor to give a couple of refresher lessons and car hire for the test.  

Manxman_in_exile

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

...The most sensible thing would be to book a test privately and arrange for a local instructor to give a couple of refresher lessons and car hire for the test.  

I don't think the OP wants a sensible solution - they want a (nearly) full refund.

bris

Usually the test is just really a 2 hour lesson, 1 hour lesson then 1 hour for the test.

The refund should take into account the cost of this plus the cost of the test.

Has the instructor told you he/she will not rebook the test?

To expect a full refund is wishful thinking.