7 replies to this topic

[SwannyUK]

This is a bit of a long shot but there are some smart people on here so here it goes:

Basically after leaving school I did a 2 Year BTEC ICT System Support Course (IT Technician Stuff) at college and passed it with flying colours.
After this I looked for a job in IT but nothing really came up.

Then one day I saw an advert on the TV for the Home Learning College and their Comptia A+ course saying "this will get you into IT bla bla bla"
Looked into it and phoned up about it. A day or 2 later a guy turns up on my door with all the course material and the forms to get me on the course. (I only rang up for info)

He came in and said that my BTEC qualification was useless and that to get in the IT Industry I would need this Comptia A+ certificate.
After hours of me uming and arring and listening to what I now know was bulls**t he got me to sign for it. The course costs around £1,300 and I'm paying £58 a month.

Fast forward a year to now and oooo look I'm an IT Technician at a local college just starting my second month here. Got the job on my BTEC qualification and know how...NOT BECAUSE I AM STUDYING THIS COMPTIA COURSE.

I'm now finding it really hard to find time to revise this comptia C**p and get through the work. There are 2 exams to do and they are both over the top difficult and nothing like what you revise for in the books. Imagine doing 9 hours or so of IT every day knowing that when you come home you have to sit down and do more IT.

I emailed to see if I could quit and got an email back saying I am legally bound to the payments and can't do anything about it...

So basically I am now stuck with a course that I don't need anymore and was told a load of C**p about. I feel like I've been had

Anyone got any ideas?

Edited by SwannyUK, 03 July 2008 - 12:35 PM.

[miniEgg]

unfortunately if you are in a contract to pay the money it will be hard to get out of....

and i have a BTEC ND and HND in computing and after finishing the courses i worked for PCworld for a year as no one would take me on with no experience, i then worked for 2 years as an IT technician and im now working as a Programmer and technician.

i think they were a bit clever when they told you that a BTEC was not enough when it is. i think you need to contact citizens advice or even trading standards to see if you can quit out and stop the payments.

[SwannyUK]

unfortunately if you are in a contract to pay the money it will be hard to get out of....

and i have a BTEC ND and HND in computing and after finishing the courses i worked for PCworld for a year as no one would take me on with no experience, i then worked for 2 years as an IT technician and im now working as a Programmer and technician.

i think they were a bit clever when they told you that a BTEC was not enough when it is. i think you need to contact citizens advice or even trading standards to see if you can quit out and stop the payments.

Thanks for the advice MiniEgg. Might be worth a look

[miniEgg]

not a problem mate, bit poo that if they have taken you for a ride.

if you have any paper work from when you signed up it should state if you are alowed to quit or not. etc

[GottaDesigner]

I got nailed with EXACTLY the same routine. I'm paying £100 for something that's actually a load of cr@p. Tell me, the company involved isn't "IT Skills", is it? 'Watchdog' here in Britain and in Wales are actually looking into the company from what I know as they have 1000's of complaints against them for this set-up.

Trading Standards will tell you you're stumped because you signed the contract and in the fine print it says they own your soul and will take you to court for monies owed if you stop paying.

Edited by GottaDesigner, 03 July 2008 - 12:55 PM.

[Ethel]

Your best bet would be to argue that the contract is void because they did something wrong. Misrepresented the product, engaged in pressure selling - didn't allow a 'cool off' period...

I'd certainly consider stopping the payments - the ball's in their court then, just check there isn't a penalty clause in the contract.

Certainly go to CAB and get Googling, highly unlikely you're the first.


For anyone else considering remote learning - do your research before committing to anything. You may well be eligible for funding off the government - Learndirect are at least one such training organisation.

[SwannyUK]

I got nailed with EXACTLY the same routine. I'm paying £100 for something that's actually a load of cr@p. Tell me, the company involved isn't "IT Skills", is it? 'Watchdog' here in Britain and in Wales are actually looking into the company from what I know as they have 1000's of complaints against them for this set-up.

Trading Standards will tell you you're stumped because you signed the contract and in the fine print it says they own your soul and will take you to court for monies owed if you stop paying.

It's Home Learning College.

I didnt mind it when i worked part time at the local co-op because i had time to do it and thought i needed to get it done before i could become a technician. Just feel so hacked off and helpless now i know it was a load of rubbish.

It means spending my weekends studying something that is along the same lines as my work. It's like working at mcdonalds everyday then at the weekend studying about bigmacs for hours

I could always quit the course but keep paying but that really doesnt make sense.

[SwannyUK]

Just gets better.

Emailed my tutor and asked if i could take the first exam now. That way if i fail i know what i need to revise and then re-take it.

Turns out the 2 free exams i was told about are C**p. I only get 1 free exam and then after i have to pay for the second (or any re-sists) costing £108 a pop ffs