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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Driving lessons (and breathe!)

23 replies

Crazycatlaydee · 08/10/2015 11:19

So annoyed!

I had a driving lesson booked for 9am today. Instructor rolled in at 9.15 with another learner in the car and no phone/text to apologise. Learner drives for half an hour, drives us all to her house at which point I take the wheel at 9.45, a full 45 minutes after the scheduled start time of my lesson.

I then drive for just under an hour in total... To another learner's house! Pick her up and she drives me back home.

I then return to my house two hours after the scheduled start time of my one hour lesson. This is not an infrequent occurrence.

Arghhhhhhh

OP posts:
Bragadocia · 08/10/2015 11:22

I had no idea this was a thing until reading another thread on this subject on MN a few weeks ago. I'm learning at the moment, and would hate it if my lessons were like this! Loads of instructors don't do it - I look at training cars all the time when out and about, and have never seen someone sat in the back. Was this teacher recommended?

BondGate · 08/10/2015 11:22

I think I'd be looking for another driving instructor.

The driving instructors I used turned up at my house, alone, then we finished the 1 hr lesson by driving back to my house, and the driving instructors then drove off by themselves to next lesson or wherever. The system your driving instructor uses sounds like a right PITA.

Londonista123 · 08/10/2015 11:26

Start looking for a different instructor, this isn't on at all. He's wasting your time. When I was learning I'd also have been v uncomfortable with another person in the car witnessing my stalling/harsh braking/whatever else. And as a passenger I don't think I'd have felt too safe!

Original poster
Crazycatlaydee · 08/10/2015 11:28

Yes I think i will, thanks!

It is really annoying, yeah, especially as it's obviously never a priority to practice test routes for example or different manoeuvres etc, instead learners are treated like the instructor's personal taxi service...

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 08/10/2015 11:28

That isn't right at all.

if teh instructor is late (which can happen due to traffic or feedback time etc) yiu should still get the full time you are paying for.

Original poster
Crazycatlaydee · 08/10/2015 11:58

Thanks Giles, in theory I do get the full time but it's never actually quality learning time iykwim. It's just doing what the instructor wants to do, taking them where they want to go...

One time I was picked up in instructor's automatic (I'm learning in a manual) and spent lesson driving to their house to pick up the manual and switch Confused

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 08/10/2015 12:00

He's taking piss big time. he should schedule lessons to allow for travel time between lessons to the next adress.

and lessons should have an objective

BondGate · 08/10/2015 12:53

Agree with Giles, he's taking the piss.

And lessons should definitely have objectives. Getting experience in different types of roads and different traffic conditions, practicing manoeuvres, practicing things that you don't feel confident about (I spent several lessons doing virtually nothing but roundabouts after my driving instructor realised I was a bit scared of them).

TheWitTank · 08/10/2015 12:55

Yanbu. Who has time for that?! I used to cram my lessons in between work, study and horses, I didn't have the odd extra hour to be fucking about going backwards and forwards dropping off other people. Get another instructor and tell this one why!

Original poster
Crazycatlaydee · 08/10/2015 13:21

Thanks.

I have another hour left and I keep being pressed to book more. I don't want the last hour to be hell though which is why I'm always polite. How do I approach saying something? My instructor is really, really bad!!!!

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 08/10/2015 13:57

I'd probably chicken out sand say your going away fir two weeks and you will call when you get back to rearrange Blush

I'd be inclined to find out if there's a governing body fir instructors though and report him. lessons are so expensive he's clearly getting paid for parts where he shouldn't ie the driving between appointments. over the week that would add up to hours worth of extra "lessons" he's fitted in and taken money for.

TheWitTank · 08/10/2015 13:58

Do your last hour, then if he presses you to book more at the end just say that you can't make any plans at the moment because you are not sure of your schedule over the next few weeks. If you are feeling brave (I'm non confrontational myself so I do understand!) then tell him that you haven't got the time to spend another hour on top of your lesson every week driving others around and that you would prefer to go elsewhere. You don't need to be arsey about it, just polite and straight forward. Good luck with your lessons!

Gileswithachainsaw · 08/10/2015 13:59

2 hour lessons are like 50 + quid aren't they? imagine if he's getting paid fir two hours a day which should he unpaid between lessons (travel time) as he's incorporating pick ups and drop offs into lesson time. that's 250 quid a week extra

HelenaJustina · 08/10/2015 14:01

This is why I used the AA, they were slightly more expensive but much more professional than the private instructor I used before hand.

I'd be looking elsewhere if I were you, and maybe leave a less than glowing review on the fb page?

WitchSharkadder · 08/10/2015 14:12

Shock that's terrible, definitely don't be pressured into doing more lessons with him and report him as that's really bad practice. If you really don't want to tell him how shit he is to his face then do the 'not sure of schedule, will call next week when my diary is sorted' excuse.

99percentchocolate · 08/10/2015 14:16

Just as a point of reference in case this helps, as I'm having lessons at the moment.

  • my instructor drives to me house and is there to the minute.
  • I get in the car and straight away I start driving.
  • After a while we start on a mock test. This could be driving a test route, practise driving into the test centre, or driving to a place by following road signs
  • most lessons I practise a manoeuvre
  • ten minutes before the end of my lesson we start driving back towards my house.
  • we pull up at the end time of my lesson, to the minute.
  • If we get stuck in traffic and I overrun a little bit I don't get charged extra. It just happens sometimes.
  • my instructor never, ever shouts or treats me like a child. Ever.
  • if she is going to be late then she pulls over to let me know and apologises when she gets here. If I can, we make up the time at the end.
  • first lesson she asks you to boon your theory test if you haven't already done it.
  • tests are done when you are ready, she doesn't drag it out for a year to make more money. She doesn't need to, she always has clients because she is good at her job.

I'm with BSM in case anybody was wondering Grin

helenahandbag · 08/10/2015 14:29

I would find a new instructor and tell them bluntly why you're firing them. That's shite behaviour on the instructor's part and a terrible way to run their business. They are obviously just looking for a way to fit in as many lessons and make as much money as possible with no regard for their customers.

Original poster
Crazycatlaydee · 08/10/2015 14:56

I have found another instructor who I'm having alongside at the moment, she seems a lot better.

But I just don't know how to tell old one how terrible he was! I'm not confrontational so would struggle to do it in the lesson. He's already nagging me to book more so I think I'll go with the hol excuse.

Interestingly loads of people in the area slate the current one I have on Facebook but he still gets clients... HOW?!? Sadly I checked the dreaded FB too late for that discovery

OP posts:
WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 08/10/2015 15:02

Argh. I typed an essay for you earlier!
It didn't load.

This instructor is breaching customer confidentiality. There is no reason for any of his other students to know who,you are or where you live. Same for you, with their details.

He should arrive a couple of minutes before your lesson ( or apologise for traffic...).

Discus your lesson plan/recap your last lesson.
You drive until the last couple of minutes of your lesson. These few minutes are to recap today's lesson, book the next one, ask any questions.

Then he goes off to his next customer.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 08/10/2015 15:04

I would also check his insurance, for carrying extra passengers in the car!

hairbrushbedhair · 08/10/2015 15:11

And there I was getting annoyed at mine for last minute cancellations! I would blow my lid if he rolled up with other learners too

Londonista123 · 08/10/2015 15:17

OP, if you don't want to confront him (fair enough), how about a text message/email, "I don't feel your lessons provide good value for money, and have found another instructor who I prefer. I find it unprofessional that you have multiple paying client in the car at once."

Incidentally, driving tests in Kenya involves four candidates in the car with a tester, and each driving about 100m before swapping round. There's a standard bribe fee so driving ability isn't much of a factor / it's very normal to have people do the whole "test" in first gear. I speak from experience Grin

Original poster
Crazycatlaydee · 08/10/2015 15:27

Haha londonista perhaps my instructor is a fan of the Kenyan method then GrinGrin Although given his pretty abhorrent views on immigration which he has kindly shared with me, I don't imagine it's for the right reasons - why are some DIs (I guess like a percentage of people in any profession) professional bigots?!

I am so tempted to send that text after my final lesson but am scared for two reasons

  1. I didn't saying anything during the lessons themselves so DI could argue I didn't mind (not that I'll care as I'll be long gone!!)
  1. DI knows where I live

I have clearly watched too many bad tv show for number 2 to be a properly valid point though. Time to put my big girl pants on and face the... Music? Crunch of tyres as DI runs over my body? Wish me luck lovely mnetters

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