[Fugley]

[OD1975]

Hello All,

I'm reading your posts with great interest! I was ripped off by the Instructor College 4 years ago. I should have read the warning signs, as I'd paid £1250 deposit then they sent me a demanding letter from there financial controller to pay the balance within 2 weeks! I wasn't even booked in for my first day!

There cool off period suits them not you so buyer beware! They have a ZERO TOLLERANCE on refunds so once you part with your cash and find its not for you, you would have done better giving your now £3100+ to charity as it will have done some good in this world instead of LINING THIS DINOSAURS POCKETS. ( I realised on my assessment day and spoke to the senior trainer, who actually had some integrity and eventually understood my argument (Lengthy). He sided with me a little and got the sack. This shows how ruthlessly their policy is enforced.

I took my complaint to the DSA who are not interested (remember all those tests line their pockets too!). A solicitor will not touch it either, I've looked at all options.

TIC did send me lots of STANDARD LETTERS which confirms they have lots of complaints! They offered to keep my place open for me for as long as it takes to get me qualified.

So I went back to do the course under duress! Can you Imaging your 17yr old son or daughter being taught by someone who may have gone through the training under these terms?

YOU WILL STRUGGLE TO GET BOOKED IN, ESPECIALLY IF ITS AROUND EXISTING WORK COMMITMENTS. I HAD TO WAIT UP TO 8 WEEKS AT TIMES! (FOR A HALF DAY) NOT VERY GOOD FOR QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY IN YOUR TRAINING. I PASSED UP TO PART 2 WITH ALOT OF WORK ON MY OWN (30+ HOURS / WEEK ON TOP OF WORKING 45HRS FT).

PART 3 TRAINING IS A JOKE. THE INSTRUCTOR TRIES TO SCARE THE S##T OUT OF YOU ON YOUR FIRST DAY. I COULD TELL YOU MORE.
I DID THE 40 HOURS BUT NEVER TOOK IT FURTHER BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD ANY TRAINING! I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO USE DUAL CONTROLS! (SCARY TO THINK I COULD HAVE STARTED TEACHING YOUR SON / DAUGHTER ON A TRAINEE LICENSE).

If you want to train to be an instructor, good luck in your quest. Mine wasn't successful, but that doesn't mean yours won't be. I'd recommend you do ALOT of homework on The Instructor College BEFORE you give them a penny or sign the contract with the devil.

[Fugley]

If you send your complaint direct to wevet.com we can:
a) make sure that you are not a competitor trying to blacken their name
b) we can use a variety of strategies to put pressure on them

However, unless we hear from you direct it just remains an unsubstantiated gripe

[HL]

I would like to add my experience of The Instructor College, as I too have had a TERRIBLE experience and been complaining since 2006....

I signed up to the college in 2005 and immediatley the company reneged on their contract. The following occured:
1. Advised that I would be able to call my local branch with any queries, e.t.c. However within a matter of weeks, all calls diverted to a call centre in Liverpool and advised allowed to only call local branch in case of emergency!!
2. Never able to get through to call centre, having made a complaint at local level and was told it was teething problems....same 3 years on!
3. After first class in June 2005, course changed and incorrect booklets issued for training, no apologies made told was administration error, when arrived for assesment!
4.Having failed first assesment (not surprising) when given incorrect info, I tried to call the call centre took longer than the 90 days to get response to calls or letters so they once again reneged on their contract.
5.Having spent nearly 9 months trying to get help and to move forward with the course decided to make a formal complaint, TIC ignored letters and calls so had to send a lot of chasers, was called to discuss complaint and advised that he could sympathise with complaint and apologised. Was advised that a re-imnursement cheque would follow in the post. He was unable to specify the amount verbally but assured me a refund would be posted to me..... never arrived!
5. Having sought advice from The Trading Standards was told to write (again) and in their reply was advised that they would keep my place open on the course indefinitely.......


So where do I go from here - the small claims court??

[Fugley]

Send your info and contact details to www. com we are compiling a list of dissatisfied clients of theirs. We are devising a strategy to get some or all of their money back.

[City Plumber]

[ladycharleslondon]

Hi i have had problems with TIC too and definatley willing to talk.
I signed up sept 2006 after having had my licence for three years.
They let me sign up but the actual requirement time for becoming a trainee instructor is 3 1/2 years.
On sending my application to DVLA to get permission on to the register of approved trainee instructors i was refused on the grounds i had not held my licence for the required 3 1/2 years.
I dropped off the course and now have over £7000 to pay back, needless to say i cannot afford it.

Willing to talk!
Thanks.




quote="wickedwitch153"]I'm trying to get together a group of people willing to talk about their experiences. If you're interested please let me know below.
Thanks,
Wicked Witch[/quote]

[similans]

Well what a relief to find i am not the only one who is having doubts about the Instructor College.?

I signed up last August Paid up the £3500 ?? I am up to session 8.

I have spent 3 classroom sessions total 9 hours.
I passed my Theory and Hazard perception test after doing all the work myself (buying dvds etc)

To date i have had 4 hours and twenty minutes off driving??
on my last session (7) i was told i still needed to put in a lot of Practice
on M.S.P.S.L. but book my test in about 5-6 weks ??.

In all the time i have been attending this college no one has even looked at any of the course work done ?? why.

My next driving session is in 3 weeks the only time they can fit me in.?

What i cannot understand is why you get taken out to do 1.5 hrs of driving, then get given a list of faults and told to get on with it (practice)

In my mind it would make more sense, if someone has a problem then take them out on a one to one basis show them how to do it then stay with them till they get it right or at least fully understand how it is done.

It saddens me each time i go to the college to see fou or five cars just sitting there.

I am glad i have seen this forum as i thought it was just me who had
issues with this college ??
any body wishing to contact me over this matter please do and at least i wont feel i am on my own.

[similans]

Just a further comment about the Instrutor college,
on my last session i was given a Practical in car progress sheet record
which states i have to take each time i do an in car practice session.??
i was only given this on session 7 ??
When i read the reports it appears i am not doing very well and i am not making very good progress ???

Seems strange to think that i no of 5 issues i have solved since starting, ??
one concept i find very strange is in the boxes marked cockpit checks
every box has been with a "B" yet no one has ever asked me about it and it is one thing i do no but perhaps its easier just to tick boxes.??

[disgruntled]

im glad im not alone, passmasters are very similar,
they must all a code of BAD PRACTICE.

[Fugley]

Does anyone know who the alleged successful instructors are on the tic testimonials page.
If you do could you let me know at wevet.com@gmail.com

The URL for that page is

theinstructorcollege.co.uk/driving_instructor_testimonials.htm

[jason_m]

Has anyone reported tic to someone who can do anything about it yet? we can all have something to say then.

[similans]

Approached the college to air my views of standard of training which i am not happy about
I am on session 8 next, the college has agreed to me starting on session four again.

As apparantley on my first session (4) when the instructor showed me in 20 minutes how i was suppose to drive then that was the only Physical instruction i was going to be given.

NO one has yet come up with a solution who to claim to,??

[elizabeth91]

[PDI thats a larf]

I have a similar story to all the others on this forum, and have sent it to the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Telegraph, Sun, Star and BBC Watchdog. If you have a story about TIC, perhaps you could do the same?

investigate@mirror.co.uk
news.desk@express.co.uk
news@dailymail.co.uk
telegraph@blj.co.uk
talkback@the-sun.co.uk
news@dailystar.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/mailto@watchdog@bbc.co.uk

Let's get the lying *@%$^"*#!!!

[Complete]

You are so right. You need to be aware of this college. The training is now where near the standards you need and is often in groups rather than individual. Look around if you want to learn this trade. I train instructors for half the amount of this college and provode 1to1 training. Feel free to contact me @ davewells@completesom.com for advice in this area.

[john davids]

i cant disagree more. seriously.

i had a great time during my training; i went on Pink after 40hrs and now ive just taken an instructor from TIC to work with me. I really must stick up for them. It was hard work granted, but i expected it would take effort. I failed a test on the way and thge trainers could help enough.
Wish I could join in the slagging but i cant!!!
J Davids

[shmuckhead]

I would like to add that not only are TIC very expensive for the amount of time they spend actually "training" you, but they also let you down at the last minute-An example is when you need their car for the Part 2, they then tell you they need the car for training-making you search for a suitable car at the last minute. Due to their shortcomings, they then put the blame on the Examiner (I have spoken to others where the TIC prompt you to write in and complain about the examiners-blaming them instead of TIC's poor service and support).
The only thing I learnt-is don't trust a cowboy outfit such as this-do your research and pick someone from word and mouth-talk to people who have passed all three parts and find out exactly what you are getting for your money and what support-if any they give should you fall back and need it.

[SUPERGRAN]

Thanks guys and gals

You have saved me from making a big mistake, I had an interview with the tic yesterday and the very nice man gave me all the usual spiel about what they do then told me I was perfect for the job (heard that one before) and that he could guarantee me a job at the end of my training with about 30 driving schools, when I looked on the website of one of them I read that they train their own instructors. Fortunately I was refused credit and it was suggested that I ask someone else to do it in their name. When I returned home I looked for an independent website and found this one. Thank goodness I didn't sign up with them. I Never thought being refused credit would be a godsend.

[shanice]

I signed up wit the tic feb 2005.. on my initial meeting with them they did their best to sign me up on the course and even offered discount if i was to take a loan out with them which was declined to cut a story short I was never satisfied with the training i received from them. once they got your money that's it!! they don't care what u do? how well or (bad) you progress there was such a long waiting list for the training sessions. I got thru part 1 in my own time. for part 2 i had all the promised training sessions from them but didn't particularly find them useful as I wasn't taught what i needed to get me up to the standards dsa was looking for. which i found out later on when i started having extra tuition from another highly qualified instructor !!! yes i had to have lessons from somebody else and had to pay for on top of the £3150 which i paid to the tic... there is a lot to be said about them but i really gotta stop as i'm off to a lesson.. but i am not the only one from my time of training who thinks the training was not sufficient enough!! i am willing to supply further information if the matter is to be taken further on legal bases.. so if any of you out there thinking of signing up with them.. PLEASE DON'T and find a driving school with a good reputation and have one-to-one training...

[Jon123]

I have read quite a few of the comments and feel that one of the main concerns from my point of view may be usefull when you do your research....with the college I got 98% on part 1 ...passed part 2 first time...both parts done under the guidence of the college with lots of work by ME.
Now part three... LOOK OUT.. forget the money look out for the destruction of any self esteem you built up by your successes in parts 1 & 2. I made a mistake at the start of a lesson (my fault) and as a result was humiliated for an hour and a half infront of someone I had just met. Yes I made a mistake but the teaching method I experienced and have witnessed at first hand is demoralising... some of us will find it harder to learn the ROLE PLAY games that they relish... I have found it difficult because it seems like their goal is to destroy your head.... Since starting to teach I am having success and getting recommendations: every time I go to the College demoralisation sets in again... If they say that 'you are not good enough for the part three test delay it because every one gets an extension to the trainee licence' don't believe it.... I did and have found that I will not get one..Having appealed I may have to go to a Tribunal in London to get an extension !!! They, the tribunal ,want to know if I will be taking Legal represention... What is this; I need the money to pay for the extra lessons from my franchise 'mentor' due to TIC not leaving me keen and happy at the end of each lesson...and looking forward to the next... I have another one next week and a tribunal to look forward to.... and exhausted savings... but the main thing is mind your head.

[Jon123]

As you say I only had my work checked once...it was usefull and helped with my understanding of what I had to do.
I have entered more info as jon123 which is not the full story but you clearly know how they treat people who have already given them money.

They forget that some people, like me, find it harder too learn to play their role play games because they seem to be taking the mick.... this is never a good start with my temprament.

[cheenie]

Well, well, well! Googled small claims instructor college and what a surprise -NOT! Quick background to my story- I live in Aberdeenshire in Scotland, bought course and was told of local training in Aberdeen. Now know local is a 310 mile round trip to Edinburgh! I would be interested to hear from anyone who actually has taken them to the small claims court. I have the papers in the house - will be trying to claw back £2500 from the £3445 I paid them ( spent over £4000 including test fees - and yes, all my classroom teaching WAS done in a Tesco car park!) Only costs £44 in Scotland to serve papers on them - I'm really interested in warning other people ablout these scam merchants and willing to be pro-active in doing so.

[Tigerbaby]

Hi all!
I've posted my complaints about TIC including all supporting documents to the office of fair trading based on unfair contract terms. 1) Within the first 7 days (100% refund, theoretically...) you haven't got a clue as to the future quality or lack thereof of their training. Also, all you get to take home is their glossy advertisements whereas it would be essential that you get all future legally binding documents (course agreement, loan agreement) to take off the premises for 7 days and seek independent advice if you so wish. 2) It's extremely unlikely that anyone prepares for, books and passes the test for part 1 within the first 30 days and as we all know, part 1 is our responsibility and all we get from them is printed material. 3) When they arranged the loan I haven't been given the opportunity to speak to a financial advisor.
The OFT replied that they've kept my complaint on file and if there'll be more complaints they might take them to court.
Hence, I suggest that you all write to the OFT with as much supporting documents as you've got.

[cheenie]

Hi there,
Count me in-do you have the address as I live in Scotland and I want my complaint to go to the same place as yours
Still compiling my list of complaints for small court, will be handed in Monday at the latest, will let all know how I get on