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Original poster

NCT Virtual Classes (due to Coronavirus)

127 replies

TwinklyTwinkle · 19/03/2020 11:37

Hi everyone,

Me and my husband signed up to start NCT classes in April. Obviously with everything happening with Coronavirus, they've now been cancelled. We haven't been contacted to be told, but I saw it on their Facebook page that they are starting virtual sessions online instead. I called NCT to see if there was any chance of a refund or partial refund if we didn't feel virtual sessions were for us and they said they were still waiting to hear from Head Office (I got a feeling this wasn't true and they were trying to avoid refunds) she said they'd run 50 virtual classes already so far and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We paid £200 for the classes including a breastfeeding session and I understand that everyone is in the same boat and this was unexpected, but I feel that's a lot to pay for what are now virtual classes. One of the main reasons I signed up was to try and meet other new local mums because I'm really worried about being isolated during maternity leave.

Has anyone had any experience of these virtual classes? We've also done the NHS Antenatal classes too which were helpful.

OP posts:
EllieDeer · 19/04/2020 13:31

@2020Aug - that's really not good :( when is your course due to start, can I ask? I'm worried I'll get the same email.. but conveniently with less than 4 weeks to go and therefore making it too late to claim a refund!

Pyrotechnics · 19/04/2020 14:03

Am I right in thinking the the NHS classes are £70?
I think in my area, the private and NHS ones are run by the same group, only the private ones are smaller and local.
I didn’t book onto the course as this whole Covid thing was starting up and I didn’t want the uncertainty of not knowing if it’ll go ahead or not.

Hope you all get some sort of refund as virtual classes are very different from face to face ones x

2020Aug · 19/04/2020 14:10

@EllieDeer was meant to be 16 May but they've bought it forward to 11 May. I think under legislation I can get a full refund as they're not offering like for like, even though it is within the month like they specify. I'm querying the hours and changes at the moment though, so will see what they say.

Rebelwithallthecause · 19/04/2020 14:11

I did the free NHS online classes. They are still available on Facebook to catch up on so you can dip in and out as you please

I never bothered with NCT. Always seemed like waste of money

dadad2020 · 19/04/2020 14:13

@EllieDeer NCT have changed what you originally purchased. You are entitled to a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act. Do not let NCT fob you off with admin fees and discounts. If you want your money back in full now the product you purchased has changed you are entitled to it.

I got my course fee repaid in full by NCT.

If you paid by credit card you get even better protection.

NCT has done itself no favours during the coronavirus crisis.

EllieDeer · 19/04/2020 14:18

Thanks for the info all! Very helpful :)

babyonetwothree · 19/04/2020 14:33

@dadad2020 or perhaps in the first week or so when this was all new, they were very worried about their income and the big chance they may have to fold?? Glad you got your refund though 🙄

dadad2020 · 19/04/2020 14:45

@babyonetwothree they pay their CEO over £100k. They might have charitable status but they are a business plain and simple

babyonetwothree · 19/04/2020 15:01

@dadad2020 I think you'll find they have a large volunteer sector, plus other campaigning sides to them, which the income from the classes pays for. And I would think most decent sized charities pay their CEO a salary commensurate to their responsibility? With no government funding most charities have to be businesses these days...?

BurlyShriggs · 19/04/2020 15:15

dadad2020
As well as various community projects the NCT supports, significantly reduced course fees are available- not something offered by any business I know of that provides perinatal courses.
Having been involved with the NCT for 30 years first as a parent, local volunteer and then as a practitioner, I often haven’t agreed with how it has been run. But there has always been a passionate commitment to fulfilling the charitable objectives from people I have met in the NCT at all levels.

BurlyShriggs · 19/04/2020 15:20

EllieDeer
If your family has lost significant income because of the lockdown, ask the course organiser whether you could qualify for a reduced fee. Why not contact her anyway, so she can explain what the course will now be like and you can decide whether you and your partner think it will meet your needs.

dadad2020 · 19/04/2020 16:26

Everyone I have ever spoken to agrees that the courses are utter rubbish and the only good thing about them is the social aspect and making friends with other people who’s babies are due similar times.

roarfeckingroar · 19/04/2020 22:34

I'm not due until October but I haven't signed up for NCT classes precisely for this reason. They're about £300 in London and I'm mostly doing it to meet people in the same position so it seems very expensive for virtual classes that just aren't the same. Hoping it'll be over by September.

dadad2020 · 20/04/2020 02:30

@roarfeckingroar in your area there will be plenty of mum to be groups, mum and baby groups. All will allow you to make friends and all will be a zillion times cheaper than NCT (if not free)

roarfeckingroar · 20/04/2020 09:52

@dadad2020 thank you - where do I find them?

babyonetwothree · 20/04/2020 10:31

@roarfeckingroar NCT areas have branch volunteer FB pages with local, mostly free activities (some have a nominal charge) and these can be found on their website, plus courses starting in August are planned to be face to face.

openscanofworms · 21/04/2020 17:15

@dadad2020 can you screen shot the details about NCT cash reserves as I believe you are be wrong?
Half the staff have been furloughed and the exec team have taken a substantial pay cut to save the charity.
If you had heard the courses were rubbish, why did you book?
I have heard amazing things of this charity from people who have been on their online courses; that it’s not like watching a video and they are making friends. I, for one, would be glad to have a group of mates to rely on while I’m stuck inside for another 4 weeks who I can look forward to meeting when this is all over. Does your partner have lots of mummy friends to support her when her baby comes along? I couldn’t have done without mine.
Also, I am glad to see some discount on courses and some refunds. If they had used the term force majeure, no one may have got anything!

dadad2020 · 22/04/2020 09:53

@openscanofworms

Accounts can be viewed here
apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends95/0000801395_AC_20190331_E_C.pdf

Screenshot of cash in hand at bank as of 31 March 2019 - £2,083,000

NCT Virtual Classes (due to Coronavirus)
Original poster
TwinklyTwinkle · 27/04/2020 23:04

Has anyone doing the online courses received their goody bags in the post? Does anyone know what comes in them?

OP posts:
mrsg101 · 28/04/2020 07:07

3 Lidl nappies and a child’s farm soap, in a NCT Lidl tote bag, and a few money off vouchers. That’s what I received in the post yesterday anyway

Original poster
TwinklyTwinkle · 28/04/2020 08:40

Thanks @mrsg101 😊 Was wondering if it was just gunna be a bag of leaflets with nothing in particular in it haha

OP posts:
Christmastree43 · 28/04/2020 09:00

Hello all, we had our first Zoom class last Wednesday and thought I'd report back.

To be honest I really didn't enjoy it and am wishing I had been more decisive and cancelled and requested my money back.

We found it really hard to be engaged with the content when you're sat in your own front room. The physical demonstrations from the course leader are obviously not the same. This week we are covering positions for birth but we are doing them in our own houses with the cameras off...

As for the social side of course this is massively curtailed, it's really difficult to get personality across on Zoom when you've never met, everyone has been very restrained and afraid of interrupting others etc and it's so hard to get a sense of people's personalities, talk about your trivial concerns or excitement in this format.

I have sympathy with NCT and obviously appreciate the circumstances but overall I do feel it was a massive waste of over £200, DP didn't realise that was how much it had cost us and was very annoyed when I reminded him 🤣

Sorry for such a negative post but just my opinion.

Sarahsmith12 · 28/04/2020 11:07

I just wondered if anyone managed to get a full refund? Our course leader is stating they can still take the £30 admin fee?

sel2223 · 28/04/2020 11:19

For those looking for an online class, I just thought I'd share a recommendation I've had for online antenatal classes through a website called 'let's talk birth and baby'....apparently the first class is free then the following classes are only £5 per class and they're really good.
I've not done the classes, just thought I'd pass on the recommendation for those on a budget, like myself.

Rebelwithallthecause · 28/04/2020 11:34

There are free ones by the nhs online too