Urgent help please

[BuntyCollocks]

I, stupidly, thought I had researched an addition to my skills thoroughly enough and after considering for a few months decided to go ahead and book on to a course to learn the new skill.

I booked and paid for the course on Thursday night. The course is taking place a week today (Saturday).

By Friday afternoon, it became apparent that learning this new skill will not actually be beneficial and will actually cost me £££ to put into practice, when all I wanted to do was add a small additional income to our household.

I contacted the course provider less than 24 hrs after booking/paying, who have said that I cannot cancel the course - despite it being booked online and therefore I assume distance selling/cooling off periods being in place?

Can anyone help, please? I genuinely haven’t slept last night and sleep is elusive again tonight. It was over £1k, money I was happy to spend to try and get us a bit of a better life, but I can’t a)lose it or b) afford to fling money at it.

Im really hoping someone will confirm they’re chancing their arm and I can withdraw and either get all or most of my money back 🥺

Unfortunately I don't think the consumer act for long distance sales of goods will apply to this no. www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/i-want-to-cancel-a-course-i-booked-online-what-are-my-rights-aassz5p3mdCx

Is it a beauty type training provider or could you ask them as a goodwill gesture if you could transfer on to another course to learn which could be beneficial.

Full disclosure, I work in the nhs which is as we all know, shit, and was going to do some aesthetics to hopefully dial down my hours and supplement income.

as such, going by which, I think I would be regarded as a consumer as it is different to my day job.

also, this: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-s-a-cooling-off-period-and-how-do-i-use-it-to-cancel-an-order-avk4B3g0YAuH#cooling-off-period-exemptions-for-services

hands on training isn’t at the moment, I’ve been sent some pdfs.

In the circumstances you describe, I think there is a good chance the courts would agree that you are a consumer and are therefore entitled to the cooling off period. However, it sounds like the provider has started to provide the course by sending you some PDFs. That means any refund can be reduced by the value of the service you have already received.

Thank you so much. I’m happy to take a small reduction as obviously pdfs were provided (not tailored or anything and extremely basic but still provided)

I was already struggling with anxiety and this has just made me hit the roof.