BSM Driving School

misscutiepie1984

HC wrote: »

Excellent post. I totally agree.

Yes, you probably were a bit silly not realising that BSM would need to see both parts of your licence. However, I would have thought it was up to them to make sure you knew that before your first lesson. (Unless it's in the BSM T&C - have you checked?)

My daughter learned to drive recently, and her instructor told her clearly that she would need to provide both parts before any lesson could take place.

Edit: sorry, I realise now that BSM admit they have breached their T&Cs in not forewarning you. Strange, then, that they are not coughing up.

Thank you for the responses. I do not disagree with anything that has been written. I do accept full responsiblity for not having put such an important document somewhere close to hand.

BSM have admitted they they should have advised me as to their requirements but have also mentioned that my instructor is claiming they had 'left a message' on my answering machine as a reminder to bring my license. I know this to be untrue as I check my machine religously every evening. Clearly my instructor had indeed forgotten to make such a call or had called the wrong number, and in an attempt to safeguard their days wages has instructed BSM that I was informed beforehand and chose to ignore the advice- presumably because obviously I enjoy chucking £55 hard earnt pounds down the khasi.

Incidently, BSM did provide a copy of their T&C's which mention the license requirements... they were handed to me whilst sitting in my instructor's car by my instructor shortly after them asking for said paper counterpart. :rolleyes:

cajef

Keep at them and if you do get them to refund and IF you eventually decide to carry on with lessons with them you are quite entitled to request a different instructor irrespective of any disputes effecting your opinion of the instructor, remember you are the customer.

HC_2

misscutiepie1984 wrote: »

Thank you for the responses. I do not disagree with anything that has been written. I do accept full responsiblity for not having put such an important document somewhere close to hand.

BSM have admitted they they should have advised me as to their requirements but have also mentioned that my instructor is claiming they had 'left a message' on my answering machine as a reminder to bring my license. I know this to be untrue as I check my machine religously every evening. Clearly my instructor had indeed forgotten to make such a call or had called the wrong number, and in an attempt to safeguard their days wages has instructed BSM that I was informed beforehand and chose to ignore the advice- presumably because obviously I enjoy chucking £55 hard earnt pounds down the khasi.

Incidently, BSM did provide a copy of their T&C's which mention the license requirements... they were handed to me whilst sitting in my instructor's car by my instructor shortly after them asking for said paper counterpart. :rolleyes:

Your word against his, then. Difficult. (Although it does seem rather peculiar that if he did leave a message, you would have chosen to ignore it, knowing that you wouldn't have been allowed to have a lesson without the required documents. :rolleyes: Doesn't really make sense, as you're clearly not stupid.)

pinkshoes

I sympathise with Misscutiepie on this one as I find the whole license thing confusing!

I originally had a paper one, then got given a colour card one when I moved address last year, so I shoved the card in my wallet, and didn't really think about the paper work bit until someone asked for it a couple of weeks ago for car hire purposes!!

What was the point of issuing card licenses, if we still need the paper bit?? I already have photo ID in the form of a passport, so it just seemed a waste of (tax payers???) money bringing out the card ones if paper ones were fine!

As someone already pointed out, the BSM instructor is still claiming the full amount, so for this he should have stayed and waited the 2 hours! And yes, he really should have told you that you need the paper bit too!!

I would pursue at least a partial refund, and in future, don't take lessons with BSM, as they charge SO much more than other local independent instructors. If you can't get the £55 back, you'll save that over the course of learning to drive by not using BSM!

cajef

pinkshoes wrote: »

What was the point of issuing card licenses, if we still need the paper bit?? I already have photo ID in the form of a passport, so it just seemed a waste of (tax payers???) money bringing out the card ones if paper ones were fine!

From the DVLA when photocards were introduced:-

We are required by an EC Directive to issue photocard licences to all UK drivers by 29 July 2001.

The main purpose of the new licence is also to give the DVLA more accurate information on a driver's identity and to help the police combat car-related crime.

If you are pulled over by the police, the card licence will establish that you are the person entitled to be driving that vehicle or that you are entitled to hold a driving licence.

The new licence comes in two parts, a paper counterpart will accompany the photocard driving licence and this will record details of penalty points, disqualification periods, and the different vehicles the holder is allowed to drive, both sections are as important as each other the photocard licence is not a full licence on its own.

It is important that both parts of the licence are carried together and they will be issued in a wallet so that drivers can easily do this, therefore, should any additional information be request from the driver, this can be readily available.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]

sallyrsm

erm.. the DVLA don't "spend millions of pounds purely handing out reminders" though... the renewal form they send to you is sent because your action is required, either to go to the Post Office and renew your car tax or do it online. I appreciate that now they can see online if you've got an MOT and insurance if they had your credit card details they could feasibly just take the car tax from you, but that would be a bit Big Brother. Hence the "reminders"....

Sorry you lost £55 though.

misscutiepie1984

sallyrsm wrote: »

erm.. the DVLA don't "spend millions of pounds purely handing out reminders" though... the renewal form they send to you is sent because your action is required, either to go to the Post Office and renew your car tax or do it online. I appreciate that now they can see online if you've got an MOT and insurance if they had your credit card details they could feasibly just take the car tax from you, but that would be a bit Big Brother. Hence the "reminders"....

Sorry you lost £55 though.

I'm not entirely clear as to the point you are trying make. The fact is that the DVLA do spend considerable sums of money sending out written notifications to vehicle owners to remind them that they need to renew their road fund license or make a SORN declaration. If the DVLA suddenly declared that these reminders were to cease I dare say we would see a marked increase in the numbers of people inadvertently allowing their road tax to expire. If these defaulters were then to be fined £55 for the lapse would an appeal be justified or should they simply learn to take more reponsibility for themselves?

The DVLA clearly acknowledge the usefulness of accurate and timely reminders it's a pity BSM and their francisees do not share the same view.

smun04

Today I had an experience trying to overtake a car traveling at 20 - 25 in a 30 zone. When they noticed me overtaking the instructor must have told the learner to accelarate - this action forced me to increase my speed to 60 to overtake. I will never recommend this crowd for instructor led courses. The sort of behaviour displayed today shows that they have no regard for road safety. This is not the sort of behaviour you want to teach new drivers - no wonder there are so many accidents???

pmduk

You're better off creating a new thread rather then reviving one that died three years ago.

pinkshoes

smun04 wrote: »

Today I had an experience trying to overtake a car traveling at 20 - 25 in a 30 zone. When they noticed me overtaking the instructor must have told the learner to accelarate - this action forced me to increase my speed to 60 to overtake. I will never recommend this crowd for instructor led courses. The sort of behaviour displayed today shows that they have no regard for road safety. This is not the sort of behaviour you want to teach new drivers - no wonder there are so many accidents???

20 to 25mph in a 30 zone is fine for a learner driver. Perhaps they had already been told to try and stick to 30mph and speed up a bit?

It was rather irresponsible of you to try and overtake. Perhaps show some patience next time, as all learners have to start somewhere. Sticking to a fixed speed is difficult when learning, as there are SO many other things to think about!