Driving instructor has dissapeared with my money, any advice?

[Bekki]

I have been taking lessons for two months with an independant driving instructor who was recommended to me by the (over- booked) instructor that I originally asked for. He began being late, 5 mins usually and then cutting 5 mins off the end of the lesson, saying that i had reached my "optimum learning potential" for that session. He then began cancelling 10 mins before lessons with different excuses each time. He was inappropriate in his behaviour, telling me who he had been going out with, telling me about his divorce and his kids and then eventually about a bladder and bowel problem that meant he had to stop teaching in two weeks time. He seemed like a nice guy if a little unprofessional. Today he cancelled again and my mum had travelled quite a way to be able to babysit for me, and I had had enough. I text him saying (very polietly) that I would like to cancel the rest of my lessons and would like to be refunded the £120. He didn't text me back. i realised I had no home address for him and no proper receipt for the money, which i paid in cash. I have an assesment book with his driving instructor number on it and a note saying how much I paid and quite clearly how many lessons that i had actually taken. Does anyone know where I stand here? What authorities do I call? It is alot of money to me at the moment, and I gave up a lot to be able to afford these lessons. The whole situation has really upset me and I feel such an idiot for paying for a second block booking with him, can anyone help?

Hi-haven't had the same experience as you with the money but once had a very inappropriate driving instructor who used to tell me all his personal problems and ran another business from the car so half the time was on the 'phone whilst I was learning! You can really see the difference in your progress when you switch instructors!!
I don't really know what to suggest for the money but if he is an approved instructor he must be registered with the DSA or driving instructors` body so you could contact them or at least threaten to contact them? As in any case involving this amount of money it might be worth contacting the Citizen's Advice Bureau who could tell you how to make a claim through the small claims court. Good luck! It's enough of an ordeal learning to drive without having all this to deal with!

Hi Bekki, there is a register for appproved driving instructors it will be on the DSA website. They are very strict about issuing liscences and these are renewed every 2 years. If you can't get anywhere with him or get help from the other over booked instructor get in contact with them, there must be some proceedure for this. Try to remember when your lessons were (diary?) and then try to remember if anything happened in each one - finishing early, comments like you said.
Also there was a program about dodgy Driving Instructors a few weeks ago, I think it was on south today, there might be some tips if you can find the report on the program. Will have a look for you in a mo and try to do a link if any joy!!

I mean information willbe on the web site, not the register!

I think that I will have to assume that I won't get my money back so that i can start to get over it and then if the money does turn up, it will be a bonus. I feel quite upset about it, instead of angry, I guess its the pregnancy hormones. Everyone told me to get rid of him, but I felt commited to him and I beleived he was a good instructor, now everyone is going to know how stupid I've been. I hope this hasn't put me off learning altogether.

Thanks runragged I will definatley look it up if you can find it, i'm terrible at finding sites.

Just sending you sympathy. I had a real mental block when it came to learning to drive. In the end I had got through 5 instructors - (1st one behaving 'inappropriately' discussing his relationships etc, 2nd yelled at me and I was not paying him to yell at me, 3rd put me through the test and then told me after I failed that she knew I wouldn't pass anyway, no4 I can't remember why I got rid of, 5 - I nearly got rid of because he was a twat and ridiculously annoying) BUT, I finally passed with no 5 and it is GREAT to be able to drive. Please don't let this put you off - it's difficult, particularly when pg (I took my first test when 8months pg). I hope you get your money back, let us know how you get on. Good luck

bekki, I can't find that programme but will ask my friend who saw it if she remenbers what channel. Also, anyone out there who feels that your driving instructor is acting inappropriately should report them to the DSA.

I have said on a few other threads that I am about to train as an Instructor and havebeen given loads of infor on the DSA. I will have to pay £200 for my licence which has to be renewed every two years and will have to work really hard to get it. So they should do something for their money and if they get enough complaints at the very least they should think about renewing his licence.

Bekki, I would phone up the dsa (website did it work?) and ask them for advice. You might still get your money back, after all he only cancelled today and there might have been a crisis, you say he seems like a nice guy. Try calling him from another phone so that your name doesn't come up (in case he has pupils names in phone book) and he might answer.

I start my course on 6th August and I will ask the instructors for advice for you if you havent got it sorted by then.

Where do you live? If you're close Ill teach you when I get my licence!

bekki, I can't find that programme but will ask my friend who saw it if she remenbers what channel. Also, anyone out there who feels that your driving instructor is acting inappropriately should report them to the DSA.

I have said on a few other threads that I am about to train as an Instructor and havebeen given loads of infor on the DSA. I will have to pay £200 for my licence which has to be renewed every two years and will have to work really hard to get it. So they should do something for their money and if they get enough complaints at the very least they should think about renewing his licence.

Bekki, I would phone up the dsa (website did it work?) and ask them for advice. You might still get your money back, after all he only cancelled today and there might have been a crisis, you say he seems like a nice guy. Try calling him from another phone so that your name doesn't come up (in case he has pupils names in phone book) and he might answer.

I start my course on 6th August and I will ask the instructors for advice for you if you havent got it sorted by then.

Where do you live? If you're close Ill teach you when I get my licence!

sorry!

No it didn't work but never mind. This guy would answer all of his text messages no matter what, even in the middle of lessons, I've no doubt that he has deliberatley ignored my message. Theres no point in making any complaints as he is giving up being an instructor in a couple of weeks to become a lecturer to teach future driving instructors! Although apparentley he still needs to keep up his two year test thingie. He also went on about how he was at level 4 but wanted to get to level 5 to be better than everybody else, I had no idea what he was talking about. I got the impression that he was trying to tell me that he was better than your average instructor and that I was lucky to be taught by him. When he informed me on monday that he was giving up being a driving instructor he told me that he was going to find another instructor that would be suitable for me. He said that it was going to be tricky as most driving instructors had no patience to deal with woman who struggle to get to grips with the basic mechanics of the car. He made me feel really worried about hiring someone else and I don't think i could ever be taught by a man again, as he made it seem like some big boys club where I would be a joke. Good luck runragged with your test thingie and make sure that you don't talk about your bowel movements to your stressed out, financially hard-up students.

you have to report this axxxxhole. Don't let him get away with treating you like this and nicking your money!

Had a similar experience with a driving instructor in Cardiff, only 52 quid involved but it still annoyed me. DH was all for going to the small claims court but moving kind of knocked on the head. I'm tempted to get someone to let his tyres down though as i know where he lives!

Needless to say I went through the AA when we got to Merseyside and feel much happier. Oddly enough my driving is coming along slowly and this instructor hasn't suggested I give up, as the other did after only 5 lessons.

What is it with driving instructors? There seem to be far more bad ones about than good ones. Bekki your eperience is terrible - you've been paying this ae to destroy your confidence. Have you thought about taking it to the small claims court? You really can't let him get away with this.

As Marialuisa has said, once you get a decent instructor your confidence will grow and your driving will improve big time - I know, I've been there

would Trading Standards be interested - perhaps they have already logged similar complaints.

Four text messages later, I have a reply. He will send me a cheque a.s.a.p. It sounds good but then I haven't got the cheque in my hands yet. I feel a bit better now but I don't know why he felt that he had to end it like that, I guess some people don't care what people think about them. I've had a look for some female instructors but there are only two in my town and needless to say that they will be booked up for the next few months. I'll have to be brave and phone a male instructor, fingers crossed this ones o.k.

Bekki, keep text message, if he has finally offered to pay you back he probably will but needs pressing, don't let him go more than a week without pushing him. BUT REPORT HIM, do you think he should be teaching future instructors! (Wait until you get your money back though!

Good luck