AIBU to think driving instructor is a con man?

[UsernameAB12]

I am learning to drive in an automatic. There is a waiting list of at least 2 - 3 months in my area. Some are not available until next year. Found one guy who was available right away. This was a bit suspicious to me but he is registered on the dvsa website.
He only allows 2 hours lessons minimum at a time. And you have to block book 4 hours minimum at a time.
After 6 hours of lessons I still have not gone on a main road and have only done steering at a junction, pulling up and parking and revering backwards. Each lesson alot of time is waisted and he kept asking on the first lesson about me having enough money because people keep dropping out claiming then don't have enough money to continue.

First 2 hour lesson - alot of time was waisted with filling forms, trying to chit chat by asking about personal questions and talking about himself. Then covering cockpit drill and MSPSL routine. Then there was more talking after the lesson about what we coverered. Overall I was behind the wheel for 40 minutes.

Second 2 hour lesson - by the time he drove to practice location, filled in more forms, talked about what we did last lesson, talking about MSPSL again and then going off on rants that are not related to driving it was 30 minutes from the start of the lesson before I was behind the wheel and then he finished 15 minutes early to do more forms, talk about the lesson and drive to drop of point. So an hour and 15 minutes behind the wheel in a 2 hour lesson.

Third 2 hour lesson - he drove to a residential area that was further than previous lesson (a 15 minute drive away), then more forms and talking about last lesson and MSPSL again. I had to stop him from trying to talk about nothing related to driving again. It was 30 minutes from the start of the lesson before I was behind the wheel. And he finished the lesson 20 minutes before the end to go over the lesson, drive to drop off location and book another lesson. So only 1 hour and 10 minutes behind the wheel for a 2 hour lesson.

He says I am still not able to go on main roads and wants the next lesson at the same residential area! I texted him that I will arrange my own travel to the practice area so I don't need a pick up and drop off so I can spend more time behind the wheel.

He has replied saying he has a job offer with the DVSA and I should start to look for a new driving instructor.
Because I am trying to stop him from waisting 30 minutes of my lesson driving to a practice area I have to take a break from driving for 2 or more months and I have waisted 200 pounds on lessons (I live in a area where driving lessons are 30-34 pounds an hour).

Is there anyone I can complain to about this? To try to warn other people from waisting time and money on this instructor?

Thanks for reading

Did you post about this the other day?

I’m going to have a punt here-he is deliberately wasting your time. He’s clearly more interested in having a social then doing what you’re paying for. Get rid.

My first few lessons the driving instructor would drive me to a quiet place to practice and back again, I think that’s quite normal. Going through how the car works is also quite normal. In my case the test centre was a half hour drive away, so even once I was proficient an hour Of every lesson was spent driving there and back along a boring road, with only an hour practicing test routes.

I can see why you’re frustrated and there seems to be a lot of forms but some of what you describe sounds fairly normal to me.

There is waiting lists of 2 months minumum for other drivers, so I am going to have to take a 2 month break from driving. No family near by to teach me in their car.
And when I try to put a stop to his time waisting behaviour he makes an excuse (I assume its a lie) to stop lessons so he can just keep getting new students (since there is long waiting times to get lessons in my area) and conning them about of time and money until they get fed up or confront him.

He sounds rubbish to me. I had to try a few different instructors (many years ago) until I clicked with one. The first 2 had odd tactics like this that didn't sit right. The last was fantastic!

I can understand there are forms to fill in but surely not each lesson? I can understand a review of the last lesson but wouldnt that be about 10mins at the beginning?

He's stringing you along. I'm guessing previous people used the excuse of low funds to politely bin him off. I would just start again and maybe see if someone can take you out in the meantime.

What forms are you filling in? I've been learning to drive for a while and I've had a few instructors, I dont think I've ever filled one form in never mind many!

If you're doubting your instructor now, ditch him and wait for another. I felt like this early on with my last instructor and then spent many more months with her because I felt I'd wasted my money on the lessons I'd already had. In reality I was throwing good money after bad and letting her dent my confidence even further. I still feel quite annoyed about all the money I gave her but I'm more annoyed with myself than anything.

My first driving instructor did exactly this, my friend said hers was nothing like that and gave me his number. I'm 3 lessons in with her instructor and we have been doing roundabouts and 60mph roads today so I would say he is taking it slow to get more money from you

The only time a driving instructor drove me anywhere was my first lesson after my parents waved me off as he didn't want me to stall in front of them. Get rid.

Go on a waiting list with a decent instructor. There aren't any tests available currently anyway.

My friend teaches auto. She works full time and has at least a 5 months wait for new students.

My god he's dragging that out. I remember all be it 12 ish years ago now, my first lesson we were on quiet but busy roads and by lesson 3 main roads.

You are learning in an automatic.... the controls are simple. I'd expect you to be behind the wheel for the entire time after lesson 1. Get rid!

Con man? I don’t know, but he is really dragging it out. Save yourself some money and book elsewhere

I think the first few lessons I was driven to a quite area.

I do take the point though, a lot of driving instructors seem to be a law unto themselves.

Do you need to learn quickly, if you have no other choice maybe better to use him while waiting for you other driving instructor. You must at least be learning something.