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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be charged almost £50 for a mistake which was not mine......

17 replies

purpleduck · 23/04/2008 12:24

HI! I am learning to drive. I have had about 7 double lessons with bsm. We have been doing very well, happy with instructor etc etc. Today (and next week) I have a lesson booked at 12.30. I went to town today, got back just past 11. There was a message on the phone from my driving instructor - she thought my lesson was 11, and said she has to charge me!

I understand that if I pulled out at the last minute, she would have to charge me, but this was obviously a mistake. She had me down for 11 next week too.

I am sooo I have prepaid these sessions.

OP posts:

VacantlyPretty · 23/04/2008 12:25

Message withdrawn

foxythesnowfox · 23/04/2008 12:27

Yes, thats not fair, its her mistake.

If she insists tell her you'll go elsewhere.

Cheek of the woman!

pinkspottywellies · 23/04/2008 12:27

How soon after 11 did you get back? I would have expected her to wait for 15 mins or so especially if it's a 2 hour lesson (have I understood that right?)

Does she write it in her diary at the end of your lesson? Or was it booked over the phone? Did you write it down straight away?

So many questions, sorry! Just trying to figure out how she's made the mistake!

Have you spoken to her yet? Perhaps you'll be able to arrange something.

harleyd · 23/04/2008 12:29

bloody hell it was a fiver a lesson when i did mine

harleyd · 23/04/2008 12:29

i would give off stink to her btw

Dropdeadfred · 23/04/2008 12:31

I would calmly state that all future lessons are cancelled with her ifshe does this

SenoraPostrophe · 23/04/2008 12:32

I would threaten to call trading standards.

but did she know it was 12.30 and not 11 when she called?

Beelliesebub · 23/04/2008 12:33

Are you absolutely positive that your lesson was booked for 12.30.... have you got it in writing? or on an appointment card?

Kitti · 23/04/2008 12:34

Yes if you had pre-paid the time and she thought it wa 11-1pm then she should have sat around and waited. I've had this happen before but at least my driving instructor would call me to check - in future make sure you see them write it down and they see you write it down too. Lessons are way too expensive without them shortchanging you.

LemonMagnolia · 23/04/2008 12:35

My driving instructor always rang me 10 mins before the lesson, how come she didn't ring you? Was your phone switched off?

Original poster

purpleduck · 23/04/2008 12:36

I got back at about quarter past I guess.

We had arranged all the lessons at once. She had her planner out, and I had my diary - we did this at the end of a lesson, so we were face to face.

I told her I wasn't happy, and didn't think it was fair. I was trying to be "nice" and say our wires just got crossed, but she still insisted I had to pay, then said I had to ring the office. I did, and they are going to talk to her.

I am because one day she had a toothache, and I said it was fine if she ended early (she did) and said we could just add the time we missed on to another lesson.

grrrr!!

Just waiting to hear back from the office.

OP posts:

pinkspottywellies · 23/04/2008 12:38

She sounds a bit useless. Maybe find a new instructor.

Original poster

purpleduck · 23/04/2008 12:38

No appointment card, just writing it down in diary.

The instructor doesn't usually call to remind me.

I honestly think that she wrote it down wrong, but said 12.30

OP posts:

VacantlyPretty · 23/04/2008 12:46

Message withdrawn

Beelliesebub · 23/04/2008 12:50

Yanbu....
If you've got it in your diary that the lesson is at 12.30 then to be honest I'd have to tell her that as far as I was concerned she got it wrong and if she makes you pay you want a refund for the rest and you want another instructor because if she forgets when lessons are than she might be forgetting to tell you something for your test....
Is that how she makes her money - by ripping people off????

Kitti · 23/04/2008 12:50

Tell her you'll set the greyhound on her How many more lessons have you got to have with her?? Whether she relents or not I would find a new instructor because she does sound pretty useless. Go for another one that offers a few cheap "first lessons". I had 3 driving instructors in the end and the last one was definitely the best (2nd one had me in tears almost) - 1st one got arrested.

Original poster

purpleduck · 23/04/2008 13:03

at arrested instructor!!!

If she doesn't relent, I will go elsewhere.

I think I have been flexible to her when she was poorly, so I am a bit taken aback that she is being so rigid.

And I looked in my diary for the NEXT weeks lesson, and that said 12.30 as well. I don't think I wrote THREE down wrong!

Kitti - the greyhound would just get excited, sniff, shrug, then go back to bed

OP posts:

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