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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is my DS's driving instructor taking the piss?

47 replies

IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 15:48

He has had a few lessons now and is doing ok.

At my last lesson, DI asked to pick him up 30 mins earlier as was passing through area. There was another student in the car who drove them to where they needed to go; DI then chatted for a while (in the drivers seat) while DS sat and listened, just about family stuff apparently so not actual driving. DSthen had a half hour/forty mins of actual driving practice out of an hour so not that bad.

Fast forward to today. DI messaged at the time DS was supposed to be picked up asking to schedule for an hour later. Agin, another learner was in the car. Took half an hour for him to get behind the driving seat once faffing was over and learner dropped off. Then had approx forty mins of good driving practice before yet another learner was picked up to drive DS home...

He is very reluctant to say anything and so far seems to be progressing well. But I feel that he's being taken for a ride (if you'll excuse the pun)...

Opinions?

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 15:50

Obviously this has meant that DS' one hour lessons are turning into 1 hr 30 which is annoying for him given he's got work and other commitments...

OP posts:
lynniep · 15/09/2015 15:53

Not at all acceptable. I think you've explained why perfectly why yourself. Get a different DI immediately

Hereward1332 · 15/09/2015 15:54

It's a while since I learnt, but a one hour lesson should be one hour driving, with occasional stops for pointers, at the times scheduled.

antimatter · 15/09/2015 15:57

Is that lawful that the learner has passengers in his car during the lesson?

Obviously not acceptable not to have full 60 min lesson if that what you paid for.

Just say no to changes in the schedule.

TheWanderingUterus · 15/09/2015 16:00

Yes, taking the piss. I learnt two years ago and every lesson was just me, not shared with any other learners. I got the whole hour of driving/instruction I paid for and no messing around.

Get a different instructor.

FinallyHere · 15/09/2015 16:00

For me, it would depend on how i rated the instructor. When i was learning, after a few lessons on my own with the instructor, we settled into a routine where i would be picked up at roughly the right time. I would get into the driving seat, previous occupant into the back. We would drive them home. Often picked up the next student at their start, my end time and they then drove me home.????Instructor was brilliant, kept to a reasonably small area (refused to cross kingston bridge) to keep delayed manageable. A cancellation came up just after my eleventh lesson, i passed and never looked back. I think its good to be driving in, as far as possible, normal conditions.

SladeGreen · 15/09/2015 16:01

Your DS needs to bring this issue up with the instructor himself. If an hours lesson has been paid for, than an hours lesson is what he should get, without any other students tagging along. Its supposed to be one-to-one instruction, not a free-for-all cruise.

SladeGreen · 15/09/2015 16:01

P.S. I loved your pun Grin

blibblobblub · 15/09/2015 16:07

I'd just find someone else tbh.

My first driving instructor used to spend a good 5 minutes telling me all about her daughter's travels around Africa and showing me all the latest pictures and that was bad enough.

Driving instructors are ten a penny (round here at least), surely it's just easier to go elsewhere?

Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 16:08

Thanks Slade Grin

Yes, I think he should bring it up. DI is good in all other respects (he does seem to be progressing quickly so credit to DI for that) but problem is he has block booked eight lessons already...

We are struggling a bit to know what to say to DI. My preferred method is to the point but last thing we want is to have any trouble and for DI to take it out on DS. Tricky

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 16:10

Bib, yes good point. He had block booked lessons annoyingly and pre-paid but I think he will look for someone else in the meantime to go with after. Alarm bells rang when DI got the huff after we rang to enquire about a taster lesson and he wanted to pin us down there and then to more lessons despite not having had the first!!

OP posts:
blibblobblub · 15/09/2015 16:22

How many lessons has he had so far? If he's nearly at the end of the block he could just do the last one and then say to DI "not sure when I'm free, I'll let you know when I can rebook".

Or just do what I did and say he's taking a break for a bit. Then find someone else.

It's cowardly but it worked!

Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 16:43

Great plan, thanks. He's had four so far and is having about three a week so hopefully should reach the end of the block over the next week or so.

I think he'll probably go with your method of taking a break or saying he's not sure when he's free. His job is putting on the pressure to work more shifts so he can always tell DI that.

Thanks Wine

OP posts:
PurpleSkyatthewateringhole · 15/09/2015 16:46

Yes, he is taking the piss. I once sat outside a house for 40 mins of a 1 hour driving lesson whilst my instructor popped in to deliver done Christmas cards and stood chatting. He wasn't my instructor after that.

Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 16:52

Purple Shock

How do they get away with this?!

OP posts:
StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 15/09/2015 17:02

when my DS was learning his DI took him out of town for a 2 hour round trip .... to pick up his Christmas meat order from a Butcher in a village Shock only charged for the hour though so Ds got a good deal Smile

SomedayMyPrinceWillCome · 15/09/2015 17:09

I think this is standard practice for some instructors - it minimises the times they're not teaching. When I learnt to drive the AA advertised that they never do this "piggy backing" of students. Don't know about nowadays of course!

Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 17:14

Ha yes that is a good deal Step Grin

I think DS wouldn't mind so much if she told him these things beforehand and gave him extra time. If anything it's the fact that DI just chats and chats without letting him drive for some of the lesson; DS not keen to interrupt or make a scene but feels hard done by I think!!

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 17:14

Also the constant rearranging of lessons just before they're about to start is a bit Confused

OP posts:
onecurrantbun1 · 15/09/2015 17:35

Get a new instructor.

Mine did the piggy-backing thing, but I got in the driver's seat outside my house (previous student in the back) and got in the back outside the next student's house so I got a full hour of driving. Your son seems to be being driven by others at both ends lf the lesson so is missing out.

RobinHumphries · 15/09/2015 17:47

It's been many years since I learnt to drive but the advice then was avoid any instructor that did the piggy backing thing. Even though the way onecurrentbuns instructor did it meant that she had an hour driving, that hour would not be spent on the test routes.

PermetsTu · 15/09/2015 17:52

This sounds ludicrous. I only learned to drive 2 years ago and my instructor was brilliant from start to finish. He told me to go home after my taster lesson and contact him if I wanted to book more lessons, even though I was happy to sign up for more immediately. He didn't want me to feel obliged or pressured. I got the full 2 hours every time and if he was even a minute late, he tacked that minute on the end. In fact, if I was just getting to grips with something and he had time, he'd go over just to help me get it right. He was kind, patient and thorough and gets all of his work through word of mouth. I can see why.

I read some ridiculous tales of driving instructor behaviour on here.

Original poster
IAmElizaCook · 15/09/2015 17:58

Ok I think he will be changing then!!

I'm annoyed on his behalf that he's being treated like this! £25 an hour (so 3-4 hours of work for him) basically just going down the drain

How do these people build a business!! I would be out the door if I treated clients like that

OP posts:
mountainofdreams · 15/09/2015 17:58

Iamelizacook - Where are you based? Your sons instructor sounds exactly like my old one!!!

ExasperatedAlmostAlways · 15/09/2015 18:06

No its not acceptable at all. Its very unprofessional! My instructor is always ten minutes early. Hed told me before I don't need to get in until my lesson time unless I want to,he just likes being there early. I do go out then we go and are back at my house at the time the lesson should finish so I get 1hr 10 for a lesson.

I'd be changing instructors. My first instructor everyone kept saying change and I didn't for 14 lessons. Eventually did and was best thing I ever done so I can understand why he might be apprehensive to change.iv got my test on Tuesday Confused