Driving instructor owes money

canbage

Hi
my daughter took 5 lessons of 10. When the wife of the instructor told her by message that he was poorly and wasn’t going to take her driving. Then heard nothing. We chased up they said he’ll be better in a few weeks. Plus Christmas we left it a few more weeks. Then heard he had had a life changing stroke. And could no longer work. They owe us £400 for the 5 lessons that wasn’t taken. 

I have written a letter before action and it was ignored. We called the bank today in the office chance they could help. But told us the company is insolvent the process of being liquidated. But nothing on company’s house. But notice they haven’t filed any returns since before “supppsed stroke”

I take it it’s not worth going small claims court now? Is there any we can do? I have been in e.mail contact with citizens advice but they keep replying with their automated flow chart of what to do rather than giving me specific answers. 

Wondered if anyone out there can guide me please? 

daveyjp

Small claims will get you a piece of paper saying a company owes you money,  if that company has no money or assets you will have a moral victory, but still be out of pocket.

eskbanker

How did you pay?

Okell

Is this a limited company?  Presumably a "one man band"?

born_again

canbage said:

Hi
my daughter took 5 lessons of 10. When the wife of the instructor told her by message that he was poorly and wasn’t going to take her driving. Then heard nothing. We chased up they said he’ll be better in a few weeks. Plus Christmas we left it a few more weeks. Then heard he had had a life changing stroke. And could no longer work. They owe us £400 for the 5 lessons that wasn’t taken. 

I have written a letter before action and it was ignored. We called the bank today in the office chance they could help. But told us the company is insolvent the process of being liquidated. But nothing on company’s house. But notice they haven’t filed any returns since before “supppsed stroke”

I take it it’s not worth going small claims court now? Is there any we can do? I have been in e.mail contact with citizens advice but they keep replying with their automated flow chart of what to do rather than giving me specific answers. 

Wondered if anyone out there can guide me please? 

How did you pay for the lessons?

Letters before action do not have to be responded to. If you get no reply, then it is at that point you start the process. But if they have no money, then odds of getting anything are next to none.

Interesting how bank knew they were "insolvent the process of being liquidated." can only think that the person you spoke to checked companies house. 

canbage

Okell said:

Is this a limited company?  Presumably a "one man band"?

Yes one man band. Ltd company. 

canbage

eskbanker said:

How did you pay?

eskbanker said:

How did you pay?

Paid by bank transfer so bank can’t do anything also said that you have had half the service!

Aylesbury_Duck

I appreciate it's only two instances on here, but I wonder if this a more common occurrence?  Our local facebook pages are full of people (supposedly instructors) posting about driving lesson availability, always block-bookings and often with the promise of a short-cut through the long wait for test dates.  There are a lot of young people desperate to get their licence, and I wonder if this is now an area for a lot of exploitation?  Get the money up-front, feign some sort of crisis and disappear.

Flugelhorn

my daughter had an instructor, we had paid upfront but after a few lessons he had some health problems and decided enough was enough - I was concerned as to whether I would get money back, however he was very straightforward, transferred me the money in a couple of days and also recommended some other instructors - I think I was quite lucky