We paid a driving instructor but they're unable to deliver the service

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Driving instructor owes money.

Urbanbuff

Thanks for sharing.

We have a similar problem.
Driving instructor took £340 ( via BACS) for 10 hours for my wife’s lessons (2/12/24).Had one hour done and then his son group messaged via his driving app that he had a mini ? heart attack and but should  be in action in a few weeks. Left it till Jan25 ..still no communication - left messages no response - so contacted his driving agency - they said he is no longer registered with them and gave his details and advice to consider small claims court. 

We are considering our options - contact bank?SCC? Citizens advice/DVSA/Trading standards/Action fraud ?
Looking for further inputs or advice from MSE -
Thank you !

powerful_Rogue

Urbanbuff said:

Thanks for sharing.

We have a similar problem.
Driving instructor took £340 ( via BACS) for 10 hours for my wife’s lessons (2/12/24).Had one hour done and then his son group messaged via his driving app that he had a mini ? heart attack and but should  be in action in a few weeks. Left it till Jan25 ..still no communication - left messages no response - so contacted his driving agency - they said he is no longer registered with them and gave his details and advice to consider small claims court. 

We are considering our options - contact bank?SCC? Citizens advice/DVSA/Trading standards/Action fraud ?
Looking for further inputs or advice from MSE -
Thank you !

You need to start your own thread otherwise it's goingto get confusing.

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've split this into its own thread @Urbanbuff

elsien

It’s only worth going to court to Recover the money if he’s going have the resources to repay it. A self-employed driving instructor who’s been out of work due to health issues may have a number of other debts which are also being chased. If he is indeed still alive and hasn’t had another heart attack.

You paid by BACs, and you weren’t misled at the time so the bank are not going to do anything.

I wouldn’t say action fraud would be relevant, because this is not a deliberate attempt at fraud. It seems to be one of those times when life has thrown him a curveball.

Ergates

elsien said:

It’s only worth going to court to Recover the money if he’s going have the resources to repay it. A self-employed driving instructor who’s been out of work due to health issues may have a number of other debts which are also being chased. If he is indeed still alive and hasn’t had another heart attack.

You paid by BACs, and you weren’t misled at the time so the bank are not going to do anything.

I wouldn’t say action fraud would be relevant, because this is not a deliberate attempt at fraud. It seems to be one of those times when life has thrown him a curveball.

Similarly - DVSA wouldn't do anything if this person is no longer able to give lessons and trading standards will have no interest

Urbanbuff

Thank you all for your replies - was hoping at least they could have updated the pupils of the situation if possible.

MattMattMattUK

Urbanbuff said:

Thank you all for your replies - was hoping at least they could have updated the pupils of the situation if possible.

Is the driving instructor even still alive, out of hospital, facing life changing consequences and likely no longer able to work?

Ergates

Urbanbuff said:

Thank you all for your replies - was hoping at least they could have updated the pupils of the situation if possible.

Ideally yes.  But under the circumstances, it's likely that their pupils aren't top of them priority list, and whilst I appreciate this would be frustrating for you, I can't say I'd blame them.