I recently paid for a training course through a company i won't name (on this thread) for the time being.

When i first made contact with them they said there was a course available the next week, so i signed up and paid.

They sent out a training pack and a thing for me to sign and send back, which i did, but i didn't receive specific info on the course, EG the exact location and start time etc.

I started to get concerned so i called them up and got told they would phone me back..they didn't.

I called again and got told it looked like there may have been some mistake as it would appear i was not booked on the course but they would look into it and call me back..they didn't.

The next day i called then again and was told by someone else that the problem was that the trainer had broken his leg...my bullst alarm is now ringing loudly. They then tell me there is another course available that started four days later, which i agreed too as they already have my money and it could have just been a mistake and a silly lie to cover it.

I then don't receive the location and start time for the second course so i start calling the up and getting the run around again until yesterday when they finally tell me that they are no longer dealing with that training facility
but they will try and get me on a course within a month...

At this point i told them i would like a refund and was told they would keep half the money if i cancelled more than 7 days after payment, even if i cancelled because they were not holding up their end of the bargain!!

Having read their T's and C's, that is what they seem to say.

Surely that can't be legal?

All they have to do is promise you a course that starts 8 days after you pay, and by the time you suspect you are being blagged, they get to legally keep half the money if you cancel?

I am tempted to take them to small claims court and look else where for training, rather than wait another month to find out for sure if they are just stringing me along.

Advice?

This company has not gone bust, and i seem to be the only person talking about them on the internet, so i don't think they do this to everybody.

I am just sick off all the lies, and lack of contact.

Your contract with them was for the date you specified. That is just as much part of the contract as their T&Cs.

They can't fulfil that - they are in breach.

How much money are we talking about?

I hope you are right, in their Terms it does say that if a course is cancelled they will re-arrange a course at a time that is convenient to me so theoretically i can turn down any further courses as not being convenient..

I paid £1,350..

Ahh - that's worth the hassle chasing.

3dee above has given some very good advice there. Outline what you have been told, the delays, and outline the specific point that you booked to go on the course rapidly as promised, and from this point it is no longer 'convenient' for you to wait any longer.

You *may* find that their business model is to wait until they have a few people together and *then* make the arrangements to fulfil the course...

My money is on this.
The sell the course, if they get the required numbers the run it, if not they roll it into the next one or the one after until it becomes profitable for them.