Unable to do Correspondence Course

Alidogmum

Hi
Im hoping this is in the right place.
A bit of background. I have been doing a level 3 Correspondence Course and was almost finished. I booked the Level 4 course in the Black Friday sales, with an aim to starting it in Jan of this year, once the level 3 was complete.
Unfortunately, 3 days after I booked the level 4 course I had a stroke (This was during the 14 day cooling off period, but obviously I was a bit preoccupied). I am now partially sighted, and my cognitive abilities have been impaired. I struggle to read, partly due to my sight, but also due to the fact that my short term memory has been damaged. I can read a paragraph, and by the end, ive no clue what ive just read.
I contacted the company in Jan to explain, and they said they were happy to wait for me to get well.
I contacted them again a couple of months later and got told the same.
Finally I contacted them last week. Explained in detail that I will not be able to start the course, and asked for a refund. (I had to give up my business when I had the stroke as I can't drive anymore), and the monthly direct debit payments were sending me overdrawn, causing me to have to pay bank fees.
I was met with a resounding 'no!' I  was offered the chance to stop the payments, but that was it. I replied in detail that I had never started the course, and it wasn't like id just changed my mind, I physically can't do it. Eventually they offered me a £300 'goodwill gesture' They have take nearly £1000 for the course ive never started.
To add insult to injury, they have tried to take another payment this weekend!
Is there anything I can do? 
{Sorry if its confusing, as I say my cognitive abilities have been damaged, so I dont always explain things so well anymore)

TELLIT01

Given your medical and personal situation, I would be inclined to accept their offer and draw a line under it.  I expect the T&C of the course had a section about refunds - or lack of them.  Other than writing to their Chief Exec and pleading your case I don't think you are going to get anywhere.

Aylesbury_Duck

Alidogmum said:

Hi
Im hoping this is in the right place.
A bit of background. I have been doing a level 3 Correspondence Course and was almost finished. I booked the Level 4 course in the Black Friday sales, with an aim to starting it in Jan of this year, once the level 3 was complete.
Unfortunately, 3 days after I booked the level 4 course I had a stroke (This was during the 14 day cooling off period, but obviously I was a bit preoccupied). I am now partially sighted, and my cognitive abilities have been impaired. I struggle to read, partly due to my sight, but also due to the fact that my short term memory has been damaged. I can read a paragraph, and by the end, ive no clue what ive just read.
I contacted the company in Jan to explain, and they said they were happy to wait for me to get well.
I contacted them again a couple of months later and got told the same.
Finally I contacted them last week. Explained in detail that I will not be able to start the course, and asked for a refund. (I had to give up my business when I had the stroke as I can't drive anymore), and the monthly direct debit payments were sending me overdrawn, causing me to have to pay bank fees.
I was met with a resounding 'no!' I  was offered the chance to stop the payments, but that was it. I replied in detail that I had never started the course, and it wasn't like id just changed my mind, I physically can't do it. Eventually they offered me a £300 'goodwill gesture' They have take nearly £1000 for the course ive never started.
To add insult to injury, they have tried to take another payment this weekend!
Is there anything I can do? 
{Sorry if its confusing, as I say my cognitive abilities have been damaged, so I dont always explain things so well anymore)

Sorry to hear of your health troubles.

From a strict consumer rights perspective, I'm afraid they've done nothing wrong.  They're guilty of being particularly unsympathetic, but that's all.  You may have to accept that no more payments and a refund of £300 is the best you're going to get.

Alidogmum

Thank you. I thought as much.

pinkshoes

Legally there is nothing you can do, so accept the £300.

Could they not allow you to "sell" your place to someone else, as even that way you would get more than the £300 even if you sold it half price!?


Morally, it's really awful. Given the medical circumstances that mean you cannot do the course and thus need to cancel, any decent company would have no qualms about refunding. I appreciate a business needs to make money, but a business also has a reputation...

Care to name and shame this company?? 

I would almost be tempted to go to a newspaper with the story, or at least post online stating that even though you had a stroke and suffered a brain injury preventing you from doing the course, they are still demanding full payment.